Page 8 of Ceridor

He laughed and it broke the bubble of tension.

"Na gut," he said, and it warmed me. "It's only smart to discuss experience beforehand. You should know that I've only had two partners, and the last one was years ago. There's a stigma that bards often moonlight as prostitutes; not only should that not be a stigma, but it also often isn't true."

I nodded in understanding. "I can't believe that you're not married."

"My profession is demanding," he repeated by way of explanation.

Then he licked the head of my weeping cock, lapping up the pearl of precum with the tip of his tongue, and I exhaled praise to the heavens.

Ceridor sucked me down and I saw stars. It was only a few short moments of him pulling me into his throat and lathing me for all I was worth before I came into his mouth and sighed at the ceiling. "Oh my god, that was, that's…"

Ceridor slid onto the bed and opened his arms to me. "Want to have a cuddle and sleep it off?"

"What about you?" I asked. "I want to return the favor."

He shook his head. "I don't need it at the moment. This was just for you."

Confusion and shame washed through me. "I didn't mean to make you do sex stuff when you weren't in the mood."

Ceridor met my eyes, his expression concerned. "I was absolutely in the mood, Johann. I'm just older and my body is accustomed to months on the road with only my hand for company. I have a feeling I'll be touching myself tomorrow while remembering that blow job."

Just the mental image of Ceridor sprawled out on the bed massaging his dick sent a shiver through me; my own cock flopped around, trying to revive. "Can we fuck in the morning—do you think you'll be ready by then?"

He chuckled indulgently. "A virgin no more; he has awakened."

I swatted his arm playfully.

Even though I'd been the one to climax, Ceridor's expression softened into one of bliss. "When it comes to giving you what you need, I'm happy to, even if my body isn't there at the moment.I'm twelve years older than you, after all. You can fuck me in the morning, if you want it, or I can blow you again."

Was he saying I could fuck him, even if he wasn't raring to go sexually? "Don't spoil me, just because I'm inexperienced and younger."

"No," Ceridor protested, his expression guarded as he looked to the side, not touching eyes with me. "I do this because I want to, with someone I can trust. I trust you, Johann. You're a good person."

That warmed me. I was glad he trusted me, and my heart yearned to treasure him in return.

When he lay back on my pillow and opened his arms to me, I couldn't resist. I went to him and Ceridor rolled onto his back so I could pillow myself in the crook of his shoulder, my ear over his heart and cheek against his chest. Ceridor hummed in pleasure and I pulled the blanket up and over us and just settled in, letting the comfort of it sweep over me and nearly bring me to tears. The gentle way Ceridor handled me threatened to crack me open and reveal the deep well of grief lying dormant. I remembered him babysitting us, and how he'd let me sprawl across his legs for hours while he petted my hair and talked with me for as long as I wanted. Remembering that tenderness made me feel vulnerable. It threatened to bring my dark secret to light, that ever since my mother had passed, my father had turned into a monster.

Ceridor petted my hair and spoke softly. "Is it true what Effie whispered to me at dinner, that King Ott beats you?"

I sighed. So we were going there anyway.

"As you know, our mother passed a few years ago. After that, Father's drinking and rage became a genuine problem. At least he doesn't go after my sister, since he has me. If Father ever touched Effie, I'd have to kill him."

Ceridor's breath hitched as I was talking. He cradled me against his chest, one arm around my back and the other wherehe could squeeze the back of my neck. He kissed my hair, his voice full of grief. "I'm so sorry, Johann. If I had known on my visits to your court, I would have taken you and Effie away from here."

We hardly could have managed an escape without it being reported to the king, and his men sent to retrieve us, but I appreciated the sentiment. "Thank you."

We lay there for a while, just cuddling and quietly enjoying each other. Then as Ceridor's breathing evened out in sleep, I finally let go and dropped off.

Chapter Seven

Johann

I woke to pitch darkness all around and thought of my mother, who had referred to the time at 3 or 4 AM as the 'Witching Hour'. Maybe magic was more heightened then, but in my case, my bladder just needed to be emptied.

When I returned to my room, Ceridor got up and also used the facilities. Waiting for him to get back, I lay in bed and tried to tell my body that sleep was in order, rather than another round of tumbling in the sheets.

But my body didn't listen to me, and so by the time Ceridor came back in and once again took his shirt off (he'd thrown it on to be decent in case any staff spotted him in the hallway), I was already so hard I was tenting my sleeping shorts.

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