Alex's eyes went wide, then closed as he surrendered to the warmth of William's mouth. He caressed his tongue, nibbled at his lips, and pulled away.
"What was that kiss for?"
William brushed his cheekbone. "You seemed jealous of Nikolas."
"I was just irritated."
"Because I spoke to him?"
"No, because… when you two talk about magic together, I feel left out."
William gave him a flat look. "That sounds like jealousy."
"It isn't." Alex wrapped his arms around his waist. "It makes me truly happy to see you get along with others. And when you talk about magic, or your books, or anything you care about, your eyes light up so much it fills me with joy."
"Then what's the problem?"
"He hurt you, and I… I don't think I've truly forgiven him. Not really." He sighed. "And maybe I'm a little envious that you two can talk about things I don't understand. I'd like to understand them too, that's all."
William stroked the back of his neck. "Just envy?"
"Yes. I would never stop you from talking to other people, not even Nikolas. Because I only want to see you happy, and I want others to appreciate you the way I do." He looked into his eyes. "Our bond is stronger than iron. I have faith in us."
"You are… truly a good man." William wrapped his arms around his neck. "I'm a little ashamed, you know?"
"Why?"
"I wish I had your fate. Deep down I'm afraid that my awful temper will eventually drive you away from me. And that makes me jealous and envious of others." He rested his forehead on his shoulder. "And sometimes I just want to keep you all to myself."
"But you wouldn't, would you?"
"Never. You must shine, and your light should illuminate the whole kingdom." William lifted his head and smiled at him. "I will try to keep my jealousy from dimming you, Your Highness."
"And I will try not to be envious of Nikolas."
"If you'd like, I can talk about magic with you too."
"I would love that. I adore listening to your voice." Alex brushed his lips. "You have no idea how much it excites me."
"Is there any part of me that doesn't?"
"I'm afraid not. You've stolen my heart, my lovely raven."
William bit his lip. "Would you like to… take me here?"
"Aren't you afraid of being discovered?"
"I've found that I don't particularly care. As long as I'm with you, nothing else matters."
They kissed again, hungry and breathless. Alex slid a hand beneath his clothes and caressed his back; William shivered under his touch.
They parted, and the prince helped him off his lap and kneel on the carpet. He unbuttoned his trousers and pulled them down to his thighs.
"Prepare yourself, Will."
William brought a finger between his buttocks and pushed it inside. He penetrated himself, moving his finger and panting softly.
Alex locked the door and returned to his seat in the armchair, his eyes fixed on William's trembling body at his feet. He pulled down his trousers and freed his erection, stroking it slowly. An unbearable heat burned through his veins.
William slipped in a second finger, and his moans shattered the silence, arousing the prince more than the sight of him ever could.
"Will…" he murmured. He slid to the floor and wrapped an arm around his waist. "I want to take you, please."
He pressed his cock against his rear and moved his hips against his body.
"Can you feel it? It's your doing. All it takes is your touch to do this to me."
William withdrew his fingers, tilted his head, and met his gaze; his cheeks were flushed and his lips damp. He straightened his back, sought his lips, and drew him into another hungry kiss.
Alex wrapped his arms around him and returned the kiss, his fingers caressing his skin and sliding beneath his robe and shirt.
"Take me," the mage murmured.
The prince needed no second invitation. He slid inside him slowly to spare him any pain, then began to move.
William's moans soon filled the silence. With every thrust, his voice grew deeper and heavier with pleasure.
Alex, balanced on his knees, held him by the hips and entered him gently, and the mage's body welcomed him in an embrace that drew him ever closer to climax.
"Y-Your Highness… slower."
"You're a little tight." He bared his shoulder and kissed it. "Do you like it?"
"You know I… like it."
"I'm not… hurting you, am I?"
"N-no."
Alex thrust again and William moaned. His body trembled against his, his voice was nectar and fire to his arousal. He pressed his chest against his back and bit his neck, increasing the pace of his thrusts.
He plunged in again and again, letting himself be carried by his raven's moans, his fingers stimulating him between his legs.
"Your Highness… You're being rough…"
"Do you want me to slow down?"
"No… keep going."
"If you don't lower your voice, they might hear us," the prince murmured. "That would be terribly improper."
"It's your fault… You're the one who started it."
"Do you want me to stop?"
"No," William hissed. "Take your — Ah!"
Alex smirked. "Your what?"
"Responsibilities."
"Am I not doing that?"
"Not enough."
Alex pushed him down onto the carpet on all fours, pinned his hands, and plunged in again. William let out a muffled cry.
"Is this enough?" the prince murmured.
"N-no…"
"Are you challenging me?"
"Perhaps — Ah!"
"Will, you're too loud…"
"It's your — "
Alex pressed a hand over William's mouth before another too-loud moan could escape him, and increased the pace of his thrusts. He kissed his neck and left a hickey near his ear, then slid two fingers into his mouth and caressed his tongue.
William sucked on his fingers. He murmured something incoherent, his body trembling from Alex's ever-faster thrusts, and gave him a look drunk with pleasure; then he arched his back and came. The prince thrust a couple more times and came as well.
For long moments they remained in silence, their breathing heavy and warm from the climax.
Alex withdrew from his body, leaned down between his legs, and licked away the semen sliding along his thigh.
William startled. "Your Highness!"
"I need to clean you."
"There's no need, I — "
Alex brushed his entrance with the tip of his tongue and felt him stiffen. He smiled and bit one of his buttocks, then stood.
"Let's go to my chambers. I want to keep going, but I don't want to get caught."
They dressed and left the sitting room. They walked in silence through the corridors toward the prince's quarters, the shadows barely held back by the few guttering candles still burning around them.
And for a moment Alex felt a flicker of fear.
William grazed his hand as if to reassure him, but said nothing. The prince, however, sensed the silent reproach: he should not have dismissed his escort.
Not at night.
An assassin could have taken advantage of the darkness to strike.
They reached the chambers, guarded by the men of the prince's private guard, and Alex gave them a nod and pulled William inside.
Once the door was shut behind him, Alex took him in his arms and carried him to bed. He climbed on top of him, pinning him with his body.
"Where were we?"
William gave a small smile. "You were tasting me between my legs."
"To think that when we first met you were so shy you seemed like a virgin."
"Talking about certain things with you made me uncomfortable."
"Not anymore?"
"After everything we've done, I'd say not."
Alex traced the line of his jaw with his fingers. "Speaking of which, I wonder what you and Nikolas got up to. And how many of those things you haven't tried with me yet."
William frowned. "Do you want a list?"
"Why not? At least I'll know how far you two went."
"We didn't do anything beyond straightforward penetration. A few times I used my mouth, but only when we were short on time."
"In what positions? Did he ever tie you up?"
"Do you want to tie me up?"
"I'd like to." Alex hesitated, then stroked his cheek. "But only if it makes you feel good."
William looked away. "I think I might enjoy it. Though I prefer giving you orders."
"And I don't mind obeying."
"If you put it that way, undress. You need to finish what you started earlier."
Alex smiled wickedly and slipped off his clothes. William pushed him onto his back on the mattress and undressed, then sat astride his lap and caressed his chest.
Arousal burned low in the prince's belly and his cock gave a twitch.
"What do you want to do, Will?"
"This."
The mage sat on his face, his back turned to him, and Alex's excitement blazed through his veins. Fuck, how erotic it was.
"Your Highness, lick me."
Alex gripped his hips and ran his tongue along the cleft between his buttocks. He descended to his testicles and worked back up, with slow, wet strokes, then pushed the tip inside.
William let out a low moan. The prince sucked at the entrance and the first moans filled the silence.
"Will, bend forward."
William obeyed and Alex resumed licking, sucking, and penetrating him with his tongue. He stroked his cock with one hand, stimulating him from base to tip until he grew hard.
The mage, meanwhile, had collapsed against his body, his face near the prince's groin, his warm and ragged breath, broken by moans, brushed against his skin.
"S-stop." William straightened and looked at him over his shoulder. "I want to feel you inside me again."
Alex did not need to be told twice. He sat up, spread William's legs, and slid inside him.
He took him with abandon, loving him as though it were their last night together, shifting positions several times and drowning in hungry kisses and stifled moans.
He desired him with every fragment of himself, with a force he had never felt for anyone else. William was his other half, the soul that made him whole, and Alex would never allow anyone to separate them.
He fell asleep in the dead of night, with the mage held close in his arms, the taste of his skin and the warmth of his breath still lingering on the tip of his tongue.