Page 74 of The Curse Between Us

Zephyr slid across the sheets towards him, the long lines of his naked body pressing against Edric’s with a flatteringurgency. Edric drew back to press kisses along the curve of his jaw, the place under his ear where his dark hair curled in the warm Rafrian air, his bare, sunkissed shoulder. Though they still travelled back and forth between their lands, they did not have to part in order to do so. They could both maintain their health no matter the length of their stay, further proof that something broken in the world had been mended. In the past three months, they had not spent one night apart, nor had they failed to make the most of that time.

With a soft sound of pleasure, Zephyr tilted his head to the side, inviting. Edric laughed but indulged him, continuing to press kisses along the exposed skin, experimenting with the pressure of his lips and cataloguing every noise Zephyr made in response. He could feel Zephyr’s cock hardening against him, his own stirring in response, and without breaking the kiss, Edric reached into the table by the bed for the jar of oil they kept there.

But when he moved to slick his fingers, to reach between Zephyr’s legs, Zephyr stopped him with a hand on his wrist. “I believe it is your turn,” he said, eyes heavy-lidded with pleasure and anticipation.

In this, as in most things, they were well-matched, both taking great pleasure in any and all types of lovemaking. Edric shrugged, less interested in the fairness of it than in the sheer enjoyment, and passed the jar to Zephyr.

With a firm kiss, Zephyr rolled him onto his back, gazing down at him with so much appreciation and affection in his eyes that Edric felt himself flush. Smiling, Zephyr placed a kiss to the centre of his chest as he coated his fingers in the oil and ever-so-gently pressed one against Edric’s opening.

Edric’s body welcomed him easily, his legs spreading further to allow better access. He closed his eyes, luxuriating in the sensation of Zephyr’s long, clever fingers inside him, the peach-scented breeze adding to the heat building in his body.Zephyr worked him open with infinite patience, alternating between sweet kisses and sweeter words murmured into Edric’s ear as he did.

The low simmer of arousal began to climb higher, small sounds of need falling from Edric’s lips. He arched into Zephyr’s hand, three fingers inside him now, and opened his eyes.

Zephyr raised one eyebrow at him. “Yes, Edric?”

Scowling, Edric shifted his hips. “You know what.”

“No, I don’t believe I do.” Zephyr crooked his fingers in a way that made Edric gasp with pleasure. “Is there something you wish of me?”

Edric laughed and leaned up for a kiss. As he did, he tugged at Zephyr’s shoulders, rolling him over onto his back, hand sliding free of Edric’s body. Grinning down at him in triumph, Edric settled himself over his hips, Zephyr’s hands instinctively closing at his waist as Edric slowly sank onto his cock.

“Yes,” Edric said, once he had caught his breath. “That is what I wanted.”

“How convenient.” Zephyr smiled up at him, looking all too pleased with himself. “It is what I wanted as well.”

Edric kissed him again, briefly but deeply, and then began to move. He loved the way Zephyr felt inside him, the way he allowed Edric to set the pace while still moving with him in perfect rhythm. He was slow today, indulgent, taking Zephyr as deep inside as he could before raising himself up again, helped by Zephyr’s strong hands at his sides. A rivulet of sweat wound its way down Zephyr’s chest, highlighting the sharp cut of his muscles, and Edric reached down to follow its path, leaving Zephyr shivering under his touch.

Shifting his hips slightly, Edric clenched his muscles, making Zephyr curse under his breath. His hands tightened on Edric’s hips, pulling him down fiercely, his own hips risingoff the bed to meet him. Edric increased the speed of his movements, rising and falling more rapidly now, eyes locked onto Zephyr’s as they climbed higher towards the peak of their pleasure.

He knew the signs of Zephyr’s impending climax well: the shallowness of his breath, the way his eyes would flutter closed despite his intentions, the way he would gasp Edric’s name over and over in broken whispers. Wrapping his own hand around his erection, Edric stroked himself, leaning back slightly to put himself on blatant display, knowing it drove Zephyr wild, a reminder of the times when this was all they could have of one another.

As expected, Zephyr’s eyes flared wide, and he batted Edric’s hand away to replace it with his own. He was thrusting up into Edric now, no finesse or control, and Edric tipped his head back, shuddering, as his orgasm hit him with sudden intensity and he spilled over Zephyr’s hand.

“And now it is your turn,” he murmured, still moving over Zephyr’s body. “Let go for me, Zephyr.”

With one last impossibly deep thrust, Zephyr did. Edric hummed in satisfaction as he felt the warmth of his release inside him, moving his hips in shallow thrusts to coax the last tremors of pleasure from Zephyr’s body.

Slumping forward onto Zephyr’s chest, Edric kissed him, slow and deep. “A bath, and then breakfast?”

He closed his eyes in contentment as he felt Zephyr’s hand settle in his hair, smoothing it away from his forehead. “Yes, I think so.”

“Or we could simply remain here,” Edric suggested. “Surely they can manage without us.”

“A tempting idea.” He could hear the amusement in Zephyr’s voice. “But I believe we would come to regret it.”

Sighing, Edric rolled off him, rising from the bed and stretching his arms over his head in a shameless display. Equally shameless, Zephyr watched him with clear appreciation, eyes tracking a slow path from the top of Edric’s head down the naked length of his body.

Jutting out one hip, Edric winked at him. “Come along. If we’re quick, we may have time for more play before the attendants come in search of us.”

He had never seen Zephyr scramble out of bed with more speed. Laughing, Edric caught him around the waist and dragged him towards the bathing chamber, stopping every few feet to exchange teasing kisses. It would be a marvel if they ever managed to make themselves presentable, but then, they had accomplished far more marvelous deeds together.

???

Two hours later, Edric and Zephyr were dressed in formal yet comfortable attire, their clothing perfectly suited for a ride through the countryside. A procession of courtiers and ordinary citizens trailed behind them as they rode out from the palace along the newly constructed road. The road stretched northwest from the heart of the palace, winding its way toward the distant mountains, offering a glimpse of the beauty that lay beyond.

The past three months had been a blur for both Edric and Zephyr, filled with moments of personal discovery and growth. These months had also seen monumental changes for the kingdoms. Crews, consisting mostly of former soldiers, had labored relentlessly to carve out new paths through the rugged terrain of the mountains. The road east of the palace had been expanded to accommodate wagons and carts, making trade and travel easier. In addition, this new road that Edric and Zephyrnow traversed was meant to serve as an alternative route into Eskarven, climbing steadily into the mountains. It passed beneath the peak where Abyss had been laid to rest, winding its way toward the Eskarven path on the other side. Along the way, it skirted the edges of the newly-named forest, Eskria, a symbol of the new era of cooperation between their lands.

Though Edric and Zephyr had traversed this road countless times in recent months, stopping to lend a hand with the construction at times, today their journey had a very different purpose. Today, they were not crossing the mountains, but rather heading to their destination, nestled in the heart of the range: a perfect, serene blue lake, its still waters a mirror to the sky above.

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