Regretfully, Tor said, “If you’re here much longer, we’re likely to be interrupted.”
Pel made a face, but Tor couldn’t interpret what it meant.
“You’re absolutely welcome to stay if you’re prepared for the gossip,” Tor clarified, worrying suddenly that it had sounded as though he was kicking the man out. “I know this is your home, so I don’t want to do anything that’s going to make life difficult for you, that’s all.”
Pel blew out a breath, though Tor still couldn’t interpret his expression. “Maybe it’s a little early for everyone to know that I’m in your bed. Especially since nothing even happened last night.”
Tor caught him by the chin and pulled him into another, filthier kiss.
“Lots happened last night,” he corrected Pel sternly when he finally pulled back. “We had an amazing time last night. Unless you’re telling me you didn’t enjoy yourself?”
Pel’s eyes were soft and hot. “You know I did. Yesterday and this morning. But I think I’m not quite ready for rumors to run rampant. Is that how you deal with it? Have people leave before the night is over?”
“Sometimes,” Tor agreed. “We don’t always end up in my bed at all. Sometimes, it’s a short encounter. We don’t sleep together. And sometimes I don’t care if anyone knows. I don’t know if you noticed, but I don’t have a lot of shame about this sort of thing.”
Pel snorted. “Yeah, I noticed.” His gaze shifted away. “Didyouwant to say something?”
Well, Tor had gotthatwrong. He leaned in to press a softer kiss to Pel’s lips this time.
“I want very much to leave this decision up to you. Because this is your home. The repercussions are different for you than they are for me, and I’m pretty sure we’ve been in a relationship for less than one night. Can we count from yesterday? I’m counting from our first proper kiss. Is that acceptable?”
Pel looked bemused. “Yes, that’s acceptable. I, uh, don’t have the slightest idea how to be in a romantic relationship, but I’d like to try with you.”
“Me too,” Tor told him. “And if you think about it, that means you’re getting to this seven years sooner than I am. Which I think makesmethe late-bloomer.”
Pel laughed, but he also looked a little pleased. Tor didn’t want him feeling self-conscious about his lack of experience.
Tor wantedeverythingto happen right now. He wanted to shout that they were together from the rooftops, and he wanted to Tendril, and he was pretty sure he wanted to bond… but most of the time they’d been properly together so far, they’d been sleeping. Pel had never been with anyone before, and Tor had never been in a relationship.
He was definitely rushing his fences.
Which meant it made way more sense to take a bit of time, to keep it between the two of them while they got a little more used to it… which meant watching with reluctant acceptance as Pel finally rolled out of bed and pulled on his clothes from the night before.
Pel looked down at himself and then up at Tor and said ruefully, “I suppose wearing clothes from the night before is totally normal?”
Tor couldn’t help but laugh. “It would definitely not be the first time that I’ve done that. But if it will make you feel more comfortable, I would be perfectly happy to keep a change of clothes for you here.”
“Or you could have clothes in my room,” Pel challenged.
“Or yours. Or both, so we have lots of options,” Tor agreed easily.
Pel made a face. “My rooms aren’t that far from Bavil’s and Larexa’s. We’re definitely coming here.”
Tor didn’t think Bavil or Larexa would be either surprised or censorious, but this was about Pel’s comfort. Also, the notion of running into King Forex was genuinely cringe-worthy, especially if there was a chance Forex would assume Tor had been coming from one of Pel’s siblings’ rooms.
No. Just no.
Tor slipped out of bed, still in his nightshirt—and still with half a mind to haul the other man back into bed—but cognizant of time slipping away and the very real chance that servants would be in soon with fresh water and tea. They always checked the fire, too, and relaid it if Tor had used it. The damp held in a chill in the early mornings, though the days were usually pleasantly warm now.
Tor gave Pel a gentle kiss on the lips and then stared into those soft brown eyes, wondering how he’d ever thought them boring.
“Thank you for coming after me,” he said quietly. “Last night and this morning were the best, and I’m so sorry yesterday was terrible.”
But Pel just shook his head. “I’m going to remember yesterday as one of the best days of my life, even if there were moments that weren’t perfect. You have nothing to apologize for.”
Tor thought that was Pel being overly generous, but he appreciated the sentiment.
“You’d better get going,” Tor chided. “Or I’m going to drag you back into bed again.”
