Alex was walking along the main street, just about to turn into an alley, when a hand grabbed his cloak.
He gripped the handle of the knife strapped behind his back, but when he turned, he found himself face to face with William.
His heart leapt to his throat. "Ah, it's you."
The mage frowned. "What are you doing in town?"
"I could ask you the same thing."
"I had to buy a book."
Alex lowered his gaze to the paper bag William was clutching to his chest. "One about magic?"
The other flushed. "No, it's… a novel."
"I imagined you more as the type who reads boring essays."
William gave him an irritated grimace. "You have a strange opinion of me."
"The feeling is mutual." Alex straightened his cloak and smiled at him. "Well, take care getting home and, please, don't tell anyone you saw me."
"Did you sneak out?"
"Yes. After what happened, I deserve half a day off, don't you think?"
The frown on William's forehead deepened. "You're going to a brothel, aren't you?"
"Want to come with me?"
"Of course not."
"Good. Then you can go back to the palace and pretend you didn't see me."
William went pale. "You can't stay alone. Someone might—"
"Then come with me."
"Have you lost your mind?"
Alex smirked. "Your choice, William."
The mage shot him a look so sharp it made his heart beat a little faster.
"Fine, I'll follow you. But only to stop you from doing anything else foolish. Once you've done what you have to do, I'm taking you back to the palace."
The smile on Alex's lips faltered. He'd said it just to tease the mage; he certainly hadn't expected him to agree.
He didn't want him to come along—just the thought of William waiting for him in a brothel made Alex uneasy.
But there was no taking back what he'd said.
He sighed and led the way, cursing his loose tongue.
The brothel's façade was lit by paper lanterns imported from the Empire of Xia. They hung between the windows and on the little balconies of the rooms, giving the building a distinctive foreign charm.
William's lips twisted in a displeasure.
"Those lanterns are sacred in Xia."
"Really?"
"They use them to guide the dead to the afterlife during the Day of the Ancestral Spirits."
Alex scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed. "I doubt they know that, but try not to tell them, alright?"
He stepped inside, and the mage followed him with the same expression he'd wear at a funeral. Who knew why he'd insisted on tagging along… and why the thought of him being there made Alex so tense.
A pretty girl welcomed them and took their cloaks. William handed his over with great reluctance and refused to part with his book.
"Master Alex!"
The brothel owner emerged from the back. He was dark-haired, handsome, with a pair of adorable dimples at the corners of his mouth. Always smiling and impeccably dressed, as if he were about to receive the King himself.
Alex couldn't remember ever seeing a single hair out of place on him, nor had he ever seen him go upstairs with any client.
He cast a tense glance at the mage, then looked back at the owner.
"All right… the boy from last time, if he's available."
The man nodded and shifted his gaze to William. "And your friend?"
"He's just waiting for me."
"Are you sure? If you prefer, we have several boys available right now. Or he can go up with you. In that case there's an extra fee, but it's still cheaper than a private service."
William turned red to the tips of his ears, and Alex stepped in before the mage decided to drag him back to the palace.
"No need. He just came with me."
"A pity. He's utterly gorgeous." The owner walked around the counter. "Your friend can wait on the couches; I'll go get Sasha."
As soon as they were alone, William shot him a glare.
"I don't understand why you have to come here."
"I can have fun here, not at the palace."
"I'm sure some courtier would be more than happy to satisfy you."
"Maybe, but… I'd rather not."
And no one had ever caught his attention anyway. Except William. Alex had wanted to kiss him a few days earlier, when he had been taking care of him during the fever, but it had probably just been a fleeting whim.
After all, that mage had a terrible temper.
"Maybe you should take advantage of it."
William gave him a sharp look. "Not a chance."
"Why? Don't you like sex?"
A faint tremor tugged at his lips. Something in William's expression clouded over.
"No," he murmured, "I don't like it. Is that a problem for you?"
"No, it's just that…"
That it felt like a lie, as if he were hiding something.
The prostitute from last time, Sasha, came down the stairs and broke into a warm smile.
"Alex! I'm so happy to see you!" He cast a curious glance at William. "You brought a friend? Is he joining us?"
The prince stiffened, and a flicker of irritation tightened his jaw. "No, he's waiting here. We have to go home together, so I can't stay long."
"Too bad, he's gorgeous ."
Alex pressed his lips together, annoyed. "Shall we go?"
Sasha took him by the arm. "Of course! The usual treatment?"
"Yes."
The prince glanced over his shoulder as he headed toward the stairs leading to the upper floors; William was staring at him, frowning, arms crossed over his chest.
Seeing him like that, Alex had to admit he really was handsome. And for a moment he regretted not returning to the palace with him.
----------------------------------------------
Sasha unbuttoned Alex's shirt and pushed him onto the bed.
The prince smiled and let him. At least in that moment, when he could pretend he was no one important, he preferred to give up control entirely.
He closed his eyes and let out a deep breath as the young man's fingers slid expertly along his skin.
Sasha caressed his abs, moved down to his groin, and pulled down his trousers.
"It's always a pleasure to serve you," Sasha murmured.
He slipped between his legs and traced Alex's neck up to his ear. He nibbled it, licked the lobe, and took itgently between his lips. A scorching heat flared in Alex's chest.
"Keep going," he whispered hoarsely.
Sasha smiled and climbed onto his lap. He pulled off the thin robe and remained naked, his skin the warm color of almond shells.
Alex caressed his chest, pinched a nipple between his fingers, making the prostitute moan.
That sound was pleasant music brushing his ears, like a note melting away all the frustration he'd built up and stripping him of duties and unmet expectations.
The more Sasha moaned and begged for him, the more aroused he became, and he didn't care that it was all performance.
When they were both ready, the prostitute fetched the oil, poured it onto his palms, and began smoothing it over Alex's abdomen, chest, and the insides of his thighs.
His touches were gentle, skilled, building him up little by little, like an intimate dance between two lovers.
Alex moaned and closed his eyes. Sasha brushed his fingertips over his sex, slid along its entire length, then wrapped his hand around it and began to work him.
"You like that, don't you?"
His movements, slow at first, grew faster—only to stop just before he brought him over the edge.
Sasha brushed a brown lock away from his face and shot him a mischievous look. He licked his own fingers with deliberate slowness, then leaned over Alex and kissed him on the lips.
The prince kissed him back, surrendering to the taste of his mouth, something like spices and lemon. The kiss was soft, warm, his tongue grazing him with delicate care.
The prostitute broke the kiss, straightened his back, and uncorked another vial. He poured the contents over his fingers, then spread Alex's legs and slid a finger inside him. The oil was cold, slick, and pleasant.
Alex moaned, his body trembling as pleasure washed over him. It was a comforting intrusion, one he had missed during those long weeks. And just to feel those sensations again, he was willing to become the center of court gossip.
He was even willing to be known as the king who got fucked in brothels.
He didn't care; he just wanted to feel free.
Sasha slid in a second knuckle and moved his fingers slowly to prepare him.
"If it hurts, tell me."
He pulled his fingers out, spread the oil over his cock, and then grabbed Alex's thighs. He eased into him gently, and Alex threw his head back, a moan slipping from his lips.
Sasha began to thrust, changing rhythm and depth, and the only sounds filling the space between them were their moans.
Alex clutched the sheets, begged him to fuck him harder, and the young man obliged. His thrusts grew faster, pleasure swelling in Alex's chest like a rising wave, culminating in a hoarse growl.
Alex came, spilling across his own chest. His breath burned in his lungs, his heart drummed in his ears and against his temples. A haze of confusion and satisfaction settled over his muscles.
Sasha kept thrusting for a few more seconds and came inside him with a strangled cry. He lay down on Alex's chest, his bronzed skin coated in a sheen of sweat, his warm breath brushing Alex's ear.
For several minutes they remained still, wrapped in a languid embrace. Alex half-closed his eyes and wondered if William was still downstairs waiting for him.
If he was still angry with him.
Sasha lifted his head to look at him sidelong and traced a circle on his chest.
"You're the best client a prostitute could hope for. Sex with you is always fun."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"There's something I want to ask you. Actually, two things."
Alex ran his fingers through his own hair and let his head sink into the pillow. "What are they?"
"Why do you never take off your right glove?"
He looked at him again; the prostitute's eyes were fixed on the gloved hand, the one missing part of the middle finger. If he took it off, someone might recognize who he really was—and he couldn't allow that.
Everyone in the kingdom knew that Prince Alexander had lost half a finger in an ambush.
"I have a nasty wound. I don't like showing it."
"Mmh, fair enough. Only nice things should go in there, after all."
"You don't like ugly things?"
"No, but this job sometimes forces me to endure them."
"Is it a bad job?"
"Sometimes. I don't think pleasant jobs really exist—and maybe even being king isn't that great."
Alex chuckled. "I guess not. What was the second question?"
Sasha pushed himself up on his elbows and looked at him with a curious expression.
"Who's William?"