He pressed his fingertip into Elias’s hole, wiggling it in, feeling the tight muscles gripping it.
Elias cried out, body going rigid. His inner muscles squeezed Gerard’s fingertip. His cock jerked in Gerard’s hand. Cum splattered over Gerard’s fist and on his cock and torso too.
Elias tightened his grip and stroked Gerard faster.
Gerard shouted, throwing his head back. He spilled, shooting pulse after pulse of thick cum as his orgasm burned through his veins.
Both of them sated, Elias lay on top of him.
“Well, that was a nice way to wake up,” Elias said eventually.
“It was.” Gerard pressed a kiss to Elias’s forehead.
Elias sighed. “Is it time to rise?”
“Not yet. Rest a little more.”
Almost immediately, Elias dropped off into sleep, despite the sticky mess between them. His body slackened, and his breathing deepened.
But Gerard didn’t sleep. He stared at the canopy above. He wrapped his arms around Elias.
Elias had dreamed of him.
He squeezed Elias tight. Elias murmured something unintelligible. Gerard smiled. He’d not thought the two of them would ever have something like this. He’d never thought there would be desire or feelings or easy comfort.
Gerard exhaled. It all felt too good to be true. He hoped it wasn’t.
Chapter
Forty-Six
“We appreciate the increased protection that you are offering our people, Grand Shield,” Gerard said. “But that does not change the fact that we still wish to have our own guards for protection.”
Grand Shield Dahlia smiled, thin and tight. “And whilst that is understandable, the number of guards you are requesting is just not feasible.” She rested her tightly clasped hands on the desk. “Especially since we have already allowed so many of your guards within the White Monastery.”
Her voice was calm, but lurking beneath, Gerard could hear the desire to snap at him as if he were one of her warrior doves.
The grand shield sat opposite him and Senta in a small meeting room. She dressed as usual in her armour with a beige surcoat hanging over it. On the surcoat, a white dove had been sewn.
Gerard completely understood the grand shield’sposition. And if he trusted the ability of the warrior doves to protect and defend the Draconians, he might acquiesce.
But warrior doves were part of a monastic order committed to peace. They were used for escorting monks out in the world and stopping common bandits. They were not prepared for serious threats. Gerard would not put his people’s safety in their hands.
Nothing had preceded Senta and Gerard’s decision to increase security. But since the identity of the co-conspirator still had not been discovered and there appeared to be no solid leads, the two had grown steadily uneasier. And in Gerard’s experience, having your own people with swords tended to make that unease decrease.
Unsurprisingly, the grand shield took issue with them wanting more Draconian guards in the monastery.
She’d been displeased with the number he’d brought in immediately after the attack on Onyx and Luther. But she’d not protested then. After all, their brother had almost been killed. Now it seemed she’d reached the limit of her tolerance.
Gerard would no doubt do the same in her position. He’d not want someone else’s guards wandering the Castle of the Dragons. He’d definitely put up a fight over such a suggestion.
But Gerard needed to protect his family and all Draconians. And also Elias. And if that meant pissing off the grand shield and insulting her monks with swords, so be it.
At present, he felt his father was well protected. That was the most important thing. The rooms provided for the royal family, nobles, dignitaries, and ambassadors were also adequately protected. But now he and Senta wanted guards protecting specific individuals, suchas himself and his siblings.
“I understand that we are putting you in a difficult position, Grand Shield. But this is something that is very important to us. And whilst I know you are doing everything to determine who is working against the peace treaty, the reality is that you have failed to uncover them.”
Her face did not change, but she drew herself up.
