Page 94 of Bloom
“I’m not an idiot for having my own opinion, and you can’t change how I feel,” Aleric said firmly despite a muscle twitching in Gautier’s jaw. “I'm not changing it to suit you either, so if it pisses you off, that’s your problem. I’d say they react just like us in general. If you were a werewolf, and a fairy walked up to you and spit at your feet-”
Gautier suddenly grabbed him by the throat and shoved him into the wall. His fingers tightened to where Aleric couldn’t draw in a breath. Pure fear shot through him when his feet lifted a couple of inches from the floor, and Gautier’s face drew in.
“Don’t you dare ever compare me to one of those foul beasts.”
Aleric grabbed at Gautier’s wrist. The hand didn’t loosen, and his first instinct was to say his safe word because he needed Gautier off and for everything to stop. Except he couldn’t speak, and they hadn’t been playing. The grip hurt, and his chest ached from panic.
“I didn’t think you’d be a damn werewolf sympathizer. I can guarantee you’d feel quite differently too if your Mother had died thanks to one of those things.”
What the fuck? Why was he doing this? He’d never been violent before. Aleric nearly panicked as he shoved at Gautier’sarm. His hand suddenly loosened, and Aleric had to grab the wall behind him when his feet touched the floor.
“Elira, I-” Gautier reached for him.
“Get the fuck away from me,” Aleric gasped as he stumbled aside.
“I’m sorry-I didn’t mean to squeeze you-”
Aleric clutched at his aching throat. “G-get away…you choked me!”
“Aleric, I’m sorry. I didn’t-” Gautier grabbed him in a hug before he could do anything. “I was angry, but I didn’t mean it like that. I’m sorry. You know I love you.”
How could he love Aleric and treat him like that? His mind reeled at the sudden flip as his hair was stroked.
“I’m sorry. I swear-I don’t ever want to hurt you.”
He’d just hurt Aleric seconds ago, and his throat ached. Gautier squeezed him and kept apologizing. Aleric didn’t pull away. Even though he was still frightened, the other half of him desperately wanted the comfort Gautier was giving him.
***
Gautier damn near smothered him with love and desperately apologized even after Aleric said he was forgiven. He didn’t dare mention werewolves again and decided it was a touchy subject that they’d have to privately agree to disagree on. Some people couldn’t be swayed and would always view them as beasts worthy of nothing but suffering.
Aleric shouldn’t have brought up his thoughts on werewolves. Not about them if Gautier hated them so strongly. He wanted to put the whole incident behind him and not think of it anymore.
A few days afterward, Gautier started bringing up his kink once more. Aleric refused. They argued over it. The matter was dropped for a little while. They argued again over it a few nightslater. Aleric still refused and told him he was sick of being asked when he had no interest.
Gautier apologized, kissed him, and said he wouldn’t ever ask again. Aleric doubted it, but he didn’t want to start anything else. They shared a glass of wine in front of the fire, and it wasn’t long before Gautier got handsy.
It was clear what he had in mind. Aleric, still rather annoyed over earlier, would have preferred to drink a little more wine and go to bed, but Gautier started loosening his trousers. When he suggested they go into the bedroom, Aleric agreed. Why not? An orgasm would chase away the annoyance, and they’d both be happy.
Bent over the bed with his hands tied behind him, he hadn’t taken many strikes from the belt on his ass when he realized he wasn’t going to be able to get into it.
If he pushed his heat, it would help a lot, but he didn’t want to in the first place. Forcing his body to be into it didn’t mean his mind would follow anyway. He’d planned to use it for the sex like usual, so they wouldn’t have to bother with oil, but he wasn’t looking forward to sex either.
“Let’s stop.” With him not truly in the mood, the stinging wasn’t fun. The next lash came a little harder and made him grunt. “Fine. Red.”
He hadn’t needed his safety word before, and it was more for intense things since people don’t usually shout random colors. Before, he’d simply said if anything wasn’t quite right so they could fix the issue and move on.
“We’ve barely gotten started,” said Gautier.
“I want to stop. I’m not feeling it.”
“Why?”
Aleric turned his head a little. Lord Gautier’s erection was obvious in his trousers. He’d taken off his shirt, and he adjustedthe folded-over belt he held in one hand. “I’m not in the mood. Can you undo my wrists now?”
“You seemed like you were a few minutes ago.”
Aleric managed to stand. “Untie me. I’d rather go to bed. You can stay if you want.”
