Page 33 of Six Types of Apology

“Ignore that for a moment,” Vincent said, giving it a pat, before kneeling again. “I do, all the time. Can I help you get these off?” His warm fingers were against Orion’s belly, lingering by the fastening on his pants.

Another nod. It wasn’t as though Orion could speak when his heart was pounding so hard it was difficult to hear anything else. He understood Vincent’s caution – Orion, both throughhis nature and because of his accident, had kept his husband at arm’s length for what felt like forever. But in that moment he wished his body hadn’t been broken and Vincent would just ravish him the way heroes of storybooks were apparently known for.

“Easy does it.” Vincent seemed to be mumbling to himself, opened up Orion’s pants’ fastenings and easing the material down Orion’s legs. Orion had to lever himself up at one point, so the material covering his butt could be moved, but in what seemed like a very short time, Orion was as naked as Vincent.

“I have dreamed of this moment.” Vincent looked up, catching Orion’s eyes. “I always knew, when we could be together this way – naked with no titles between us – that things would be all right, that I would’ve earned your forgiveness and that…that…”

“I care so deeply for you, right here.” Orion took Vincent’s hand and placed it on his chest, over where his heart would be. “Feel that beating? It pounds for you.”

“Oh, by the goddess, Orion. I love you, too.”

Orion found himself scooped up the bed, and seconds later his body was blanketed with Vincent’s heat. Vincent’s lips found his again as Vincent rolled them on their side. Vincent’s leg was caught over his, and all Orion could do was rest his hands around Vincent’s neck…and feel.

There was so much to process. The warmth of Vincent’s skin. The slight bristle against his skin of Vincent’s arm and leg hairs. The arousing way Vincent’s cock nestled against his own, the pair of them sandwiched between their bellies as they moved together.

Harsh breathing filled the air, as they’d kiss before breathing became necessary again, only to take a few breaths and dive backin on each other again. When Vincent’s hands slid down Orion’s back, over the swell of his butt, holding it tight, Orion moaned. His orgasm hit him, causing him to pull back from their kiss just so he could breathe.

“Oh, Orion,” Vincent moaned against his neck as Orion felt more spunk joining his in the mess between. “You…you…”

By the goddess, I do believe he’s finally speechless,Orion thought with a grin as he kept his hold on Vincent for just a few moments more while his body buzzed with the afterglow of endorphins.I really didn’t believe it was possible.

/~/~/~/~/

Cleaned up, under the covers this time, Vincent held his husband as Orion slept. His body was tired, but Vincent kept reliving the last hour in his mind, over and over again. Orion’s trust in him, the way he shared his body, and his arousal were actions Vincent had despaired of ever seeing at times. Vincent had fallen in love with his husband back before Orion could even get out of bed on his own, but he knew he’d have to be patient.

And now my patience has been rewarded because my husband loves me, too. As Vincent tightened his hold on Orion and closed his eyes, he mentally grinned as he recalled how far he’d come from the reckless fool he used to be.I really can’t play cards ever again, because that hand I won against King Oscar is the best damn win I’ve ever had.Not that he’d ever say so out loud, of course. He knew better than to take his husband’s love for granted.

Epilogue

Three months later

“Do you have any idea why the queen wants to see us?” Orion asked as he and Vincent got into their open air carriage. They’d been walking around, visiting local businesses, getting a feel for what public sentiment might be for the proposed market venture Orion wanted to set up in the city of Faast. They were just thinking about getting lunch when a footman from the castle came to notify them Queen Julia wanted to see them urgently.

“With mother it could be anything,” Vincent admitted, sitting beside him and taking his hand as the carriage made its way back to the castle. “I think she just likes seeing your face every day, and we did slip out this morning before breakfast.”

“It was worth it. I just had an urge for those bakery pastries this morning. The ones at the castle are not the same.” Orion grinned as he and Vincent waved at Molly who was waving back at them. “Hello, Lady Molly.”

Orion was loving life in Faast. In fact, it could be said he was thriving. After the celebration event, he and Vincent settled into a comfortable routine that was only mildly interrupted by Vincent’s occasional spontaneity. Like the time Vincent took him off in the dead of night just to soak in some healing hot pools up in the mountain region. It was very relaxing and did help Orion’s back, although it was a hike to get there.

Or another time when Vincent took it into his head to try and cook for Orion personally. He’d heard somewhere it was a romantic thing to do, and Orion didn’t know anything about it until he was called down to the castle kitchen.

“Get him out of my kitchen, your highness, please,” the chef had pleaded, waving his dishcloth in Vincent’s direction. “He’smaking a mess everywhere and he says it’s all for you. If you eat that food he’s making, I’m sure you’ll die.”

Fun times, so Orion was fairly confident that whatever reason the queen had for speaking with them, it would be something he and Vincent could handle together.

Queen Julia was in her private sitting room, and Orion was struck by how worried she looked, sitting as she was with a bundle of papers in her hands. “Your Majesty, is something wrong?”

“Sit. Sit.” The Queen waved at the chairs next to her. “I’m sorry, I didn’t want to come across as dramatic, but there’s been news from Tyrion.”

“Bad news?” Orion collapsed into the chair, a huge pit of lead in his stomach. He and Onyx still kept in touch regularly, and he and Vincent had traveled to celebrate the first shipment of crystals leaving the mine the month before. “Has there been an accident at the mine?”

“No, the mine is fine.” The queen smiled at him. “It concerns the castle.” She looked at her pages. “Your brother has finally taken the unusual step of asking the World Council to assess your father, King Oscar, in terms of his mental capacity and fitness to lead the country.”

“Oh, boy. That doesn’t sound good,” Vincent said. “There’s no way anyone could hide King Oscar’s condition from the truth sayers at the World Council.”

“Exactly. The World Council found that King Oscar is to be permanently detained in a facility that will ensure his continued comfort and treatment. Because of this it was decided by the World Council that King Oscar can no longer remain in his position.”

“And my mother?” Orion was stunned. “How is she taking all this?”

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