Page 29 of Bloom
From a small box he took from his chest of drawers, he pulled out a necklace. He didn’t wear much jewelry, but sometimes he liked to wear a necklace of Mother’s. The little gold rose on a fine chain had been a gift from Father a few months before she’d become pregnant with the twins.
“A rose for my Pearl.”
Aleric had to use the looking glass in the privy to see the clasp and secure it. Once he tucked it in his shirt to keep it safe, he sighed at his reflection. Mother would roll over in her grave outback if she knew what her only surviving child was dealing with. It was almost a mercy she’d died. She didn’t have to know.
Or things would have been different overall with her alive. At least she hadn’t had to watch the twins wither. Aleric, so young back then, still remembered thinking they’d grow big and plump like other babies he’d seen. There hadn’t been any hope for them.
His anger flared right back up when he entered the sitting room to find Jaime asleep on the couch with the blanket on the floor. He was supposed to be awake, not snoring. Alerictightened his jaw and came around the couch. Even with looser sleep pants, Jaime’s morning wood was beyond obvious.
Aleric was not going to think about how he’d like to get on his knees and do the sucking off for a change. It had been years since he’d enjoyed that pleasure. His favorite way to do it was while his hands were tied behind his back so the other could grab his hair, have complete control, and force his head down if they wanted. Deepthroating was no issue for him. He absolutely loved pleasing the other with his mouth, and the degradation aspect was even better if they came on his face and called him a slut.
Damn it. Jaime would laugh at him if he knew how much of a submissive bottom Aleric truly was inside, and the thought infuriated him further.
“Why are you asleep?” He kicked the couch. “Get your ass up!”
Jaime jumped. “What the fuck?”
“We’re going hunting. I told you this.”
Jaime blinked at him. “Do I have to go?”
Aleric wished he could leave him behind to get away from the source of his tangled thoughts. It was his fault Aleric was having thoughts he shouldn’t. Still, it was better to have him around as a deterrent. Better than nothing.
“Yes, you have to go. Now get up, or I’ll drag you off the couch.”
“Fuuuck.” Jaime rubbed his eyes as he sat up.
“Lose the attitude.”
Aleric caught Jaime’s glare as he headed for his bedroom. “I don’t have to like getting up so early.”
When Aleric met Father in the yard, he acted normal just like he had at dinner the night before. He’d rather stick his head in a privy than admit to Father that he’d gotten heat fever and had to be cured by his new aid’s cock. Oh, and he’d gotten the feverbecause his new aid had busted in while he was fucking himself with a toy, and in a fit of anger, he’d thrown the phallus.
Thankfully, Jaime was quiet when they left, although he still appeared a bit grumpy. He wasn't the only one since a few courtiers who were coming along also didn’t like the getting up early part. Egg buns had been passed out to those who wanted a quick and easy snack.
Aleric ate his while they rode, and a couple of guards led the way with large crystal lanterns. Everyone else had lanterns hooked on their saddles, and they left Côte at a steady pace. Zacharie was somewhere ahead with his Lord Gautier, and Jaime kept his borrowed horse a little behind Aleric’s.
Specks of light in the city from other early risers faded in the distance. As the cool night air helped everyone to wake up, talk grew a little. Aleric kept to himself. Elira knew what thoughts Jaime had. He’d probably be stroking himself later while imagining Aleric showing his wet hole and begging to be fucked like a slut.
Aleric didn’t want to die, but if the ground opened up and swallowed him, he wouldn’t complain too much.
Once the sun fully came over the horizon, and they could see the road better and watch for obstacles, they rode faster. It helped to distract Aleric. He remembered Father had taken him hunting once several months after the twins died. It had been just them two. Back then, Father had listened to him and didn’t say he was overreacting or a liar about anything. Zacharie hadn’t been alive to call him a disgusting, jealous pig either or run to tattle to Father and twist everything.
Gautier had come around occasionally to visit, but he’d mostly been another courtier to Aleric back then.
Mother and the twins' passing had been like a knife, but at least he’d felt like he had a proper Father who would always be there for him no matter what. He’d been safe, and so had Father.He’d known sickness could take people away, but he’d never thought about a person attempting to murder him.
Beyond Father smacking his bottom one time for pushing Clementine when they were three, he also never thought anyone would hit to truly hurt him.
Servants and a couple of stablemen had left the morning before to head to a certain spot and wait. When the hunting party arrived in the large clearing, they’d already made fires and were cooking a proper breakfast. Tents had been set up, and horses were taken to be cared for. Andy, a newer stableboy with a face full of freckles, took Mighty. Someone said the hares and rabbits had been plentiful that year, so they’d likely catch a feast, and a few of the men started betting on who could first catch a jackrabbit.
The area was heavily wooded, and there was a town not too far if one was willing to take a decent ride. The citizens in the area were permitted to hunt, and Father had permission from the local lord who didn’t care who hunted there.
He stepped into a wide, open tent intended for the Monets and stretched. Jaime followed, looking unsure of himself. “What am I supposed to do? Resaddle your horse? Hold the rabbits you catch?”
“No. She needs a few days to get to know you, so the stableboy can do it.” He’d been there for about a month. Mighty had barely seen Jaime at all, and she’d fuss if he tried to saddle her. “If I need anything, I’ll say so, and I carry my own kills. For the most part, I don’t care what you do when we go. Stay here, hunt rabbits, take a walk-whatever. I’d be careful if you go alone out there.”
“Panthers?”
