“It is truth. It’smytruth.” His lips found mine, soft at first, tasting of mineral water and mountain air. Then with growing heat, growing need. “You’re overthinking again.”
“I always overthink.”
“I know,” he murmured against my mouth. “It’s oddly endearing, even when you’re being an idiot.”
“How dare you call a prince an idiot—”
He silenced me with another kiss, deeper this time, his body shifting over mine. The aches of the day transformed into something else entirely, a different kind of fire that had nothing to do with bruises or exhaustion or mountain baths.
His hands mapped familiar territory across my skin, each touch a promise that I was wanted—no,needed.
“No more thinking,” he commanded softly, and for once, I was happy to obey.
His hand slid from my cheek to the back of my head as the wet heat of his tongue slid from my chin to where my throat bobbed.
“Es, we can’t—”
His other hand found my stiffening cock and gripped.
All thoughts fled.
There was only feeling and sensation—and Esumi.
His mouth found mine again, his tongue no longer gentle or tender but hungry and desperate.
I felt his need.
It filled me.
It drove me.
My body responded, cock twitching, muscles tightening. Pain shot through me from the day’s practice, but I didn’t care. In that moment, Esumi’s touch was all that mattered.
“I love you, Akira Haru, Prince of the Empire,” he muttered between kisses. “You aremyprince,mylord,mylove. You will forever be mine.”
My mind thrilled at his words.
I knew them. Of course, I did. But hearing him whisper them into my mouth, against my tongue, filled my soul with wonder and hope like no sunrise ever could.
“Esumi—”
“Shut up and kiss me, you royal idiot.”
I barked a laugh into his mouth.
His head pulled back, a broad, toothy grin parting his lips.
“Gods, I hate you,” I said, planting both my palms onto his muscular chest.
“No, you don’t,” he replied, eyes glittering in the lamplight. “You love me with the force of a thousand suns. Just admit it and give yourself to me.”
I almost argued, almost teased back, but the way he saw me—sawintome—stilled my tongue.
“I do,” was all I could say.
His mouth smothered mine once more.
I kneaded his chest, loving the firmness of him, the feel of smooth skin against my palms.
