Through the blackness of the forest they ran, no longer caring about keeping their footsteps quiet. The only things that mattered were staying on their feet and moving forward. Branches slapped Hugo in the face, and he stumbled over countless tree roots. Here and there he could make out the sounds of other movement, but it was smaller than a man or a horse, so he couldn’t let himself care. Eyes reflected thin streams of moonlight, watching them as they passed by, but nothing attacked.
Sweat poured from his face, and his shirt stuck to his skin. He tripped and nearly fell countless times, but he forced his body to keep moving. Only when he could no longer hear the shouts and breaking of branches did he chance a glance behind him. A tiny flicker of light, as if from a torch, peeked between the trees, but it appeared to be moving in the opposite direction.
They ran until Hugo was sure his legs would no longer carry him. A stitch had formed in his side that felt like a knife slicing through his organs, his throat was raw, and lungs were starved for air. As they slowed, Everand pulled Hugo close and pressed him against a tree with low branches that helped to hide them.
“How…how are you…not dying?” Hugo panted, desperately sucking lungfuls of air.
Everand huffed a laugh and wiped some sweat off his face. “Apparently, I’m in better shape than you.” He was breathing heavily at least, but he still sounded like he could keep running.
“Okay. Fine. Out of all my evil, mean thoughts about you, I take back the part about you being lazy.”
A soft bark of laughter left Everand, and he placed a hand on the bark right next to Hugo’s ear. Hugo’s heart skipped a beat for an entirely new reason as the prince stepped close enough that his thigh rubbed Hugo’s. It was so dark he could barely make out the outline of the prince’s face, but he swore the man was smiling at him as he leaned in closer.
“So generous of you,” Everand whispered. His hot breath touched Hugo’s parted lips, and Hugo’s brain shorted out.
Thankfully, it flickered on in time to register Everand’s soft mouth brushing against Hugo’s. The kiss began featherlight and so gentle, it squeezed Hugo’s heart with its tenderness. As he thought it was ending, Everand dove in with more pressure, more urgency, coaxing a muffled moan of pleasure from Hugo’s throat.
Their lips parted at the same time, and Everand’s tongue dipped inside Hugo’s mouth for a quick taste, caressing that bit of tender flesh and leaving Hugo aching for more. It took him another second to register that Everand’s other hand was resting on his chest, his fingers twisted in his shirt as if he were afraid Hugo would try to escape.
“Why did you do that? I thought you said we were just friends.” The words escaped Hugo in a rush. Surprise and giddiness warred in his chest, but it was Everand’s tight hold on him that kept him grounded.
“We are, but you looked frightened, and I wanted to reassure you.”
“Oh.” Maybe not the most logical reason, but Hugo could go along with it while reminding himself not to take the kiss to heart.
“And maybe I did it because I wanted to kiss you,” Everand confessed, sending Hugo’s heart rate soaring. “I don’t think you would believe me if I told you how long I’ve wanted to kiss you.”
“Oh!” That was a much better reason.
“Will that increase my scoundrel rating with you?”
Hugo tossed aside all attempts to be serious and grinned like a fool. “I haven’t decided yet. I can’t really tell whether you want me to say you’re more or less of a scoundrel.”
Everand leaned in, resting his chest against Hugo’s. His nose brushed against the side of Hugo’s, and he swore he could feel the prince’s lips ghost across his own. “That depends. Which one will let me keep kissing you?”
Hugo made a valiant attempt at thinking of a witty response, but his brain wasn’t working. It might never work again. So he did the only reasonable thing. He tipped his head up and captured Everand’s mouth in a blistering kiss that had the prince groaning and pressing closer. Hugo wrapped an arm around his waist, pulling him in tighter, reveling in the feel of his powerful body.
A branch snapped behind them, cutting the kiss short. Everand ripped away in a flash, turning and positioning his body in front of Hugo. His hand went to his side as if he were attempting to draw a sword that wasn’t there. They stood there frozen, listening for any sound of movement, but there was nothing other than wind rustling tree branches.
“That’s right. We’re in the middle of escaping,” Hugo mumbled.
“Yes, sorry about that. Poor timing on my part. I just…”
“Couldn’t help yourself?” Hugo supplied with a hint of amusement in his voice.
“Yes. I couldn’t hold back.”
Hugo clucked his tongue, teasing. “Such a scoundrel.”
Everand caught his hand and pulled him out from where they’d been hiding by the tree, resuming their escape through the woods but at a more leisurely pace.
They walked for a few minutes in silence. All the blood that had rushed to Hugo’s groin finally made its way up to his brain, allowing sensible thought to take place.
“Not that I am complaining about your spectacular escape plan,” Hugo started.
Everand flashed him a broad smile. “It was pretty spectacular.”
Hugo huffed a laugh. He was quickly learning that all the prince’s bluster and overconfidence was merely a tongue-in-cheek façade. “Yes, but now that we seem to have gotten free of the Wulian scouts, we have a new dilemma, I believe.”
