“Babe, you need to get out more. See your court. Meet the people.”
He set his mug down and sighed. “Find out what Mannix has really been doing.”
I pointed at him. “Exactly. But first, go complement these nice people.”
I could tell that he really didn’t want to by the way his wings fluttered and how he couldn’t seem to figure out what to do with his hands. But he went over to the big man behind the bar who’d gotten us settled last night and the woman standing beside him. I couldn’t hear what Hydris said, but the gruff expression on the man’s face smoothed out, and the woman blushed and smiled like Hydris was making her day. He handed over some coins, and then came back to our table, his cheeks pink now, too.
“That was excellent.” I stood up, ready to leave.
He tried to tuck a little purple violet behind his ear, but it refused to stay put. “They were very appreciative.”
I bet they were. Maybe they’d tell their friends what an awesome guy the prince was. Get him some good press, so tospeak. Make it a little harder to reconcile their sweet prince with the policies the palace was making. Get them thinking about who was actually doing what.
We went out to the stable and found that the kid out there had bathed Mason and braided his mane and tail, ribbons everywhere. I was pretty sure he held his head a bit higher because he was such a lovely boy.
While we waited for Mason to get hitched up to the wagon full of grass, Hydris stood just in front of me, his flower crown right there. Despite how we’d rolled around in bed all night, not a single petal was crumpled. Even the big pink one that I’d been nose deep in just a couple hours ago looked pristine.
“How are these not crushed?” I asked as I brushed my fingertips over some of them.
Hydris shrugged. “They only wither when I make them go away.”
I cupped his cheek. “No more of that.”
“No more.” He grinned and another little white flower grew out of his hair.
I so wanted to kiss him, but the kid returned with Mason all ready to head out. We climbed up onto the seat, and Mason jauntily trotted us out of the village. This time, we took a real road back to the main one instead of cutting across a field and were on our way.
At some point, I realized that Hydris wasn’t just snuggled against me, he’d fallen asleep with my arm curled around him. I didn’t mind in the least, enjoying the warm weight of him. And when he woke up and blinked at me, cheeks pink and eyes at half-mast, I finally got to kiss him.
“Let’s stop for a break,” he suggested while rubbing his eyes.
“Yeah, okay.”
Mason was happy to stand under a tree sporting tiny green leaves and pale pink flowers so he could chomp on new springgrass. I’d thought we would be back before lunch so hadn’t gotten anything to bring with us, and honestly, that breakfast had been hearty enough to stick with me anyway. I was looking for the flask of water when Hydris called, “Bridge, could you come here a moment?”
“Something wrong?” I asked as I rounded the tree only to stop short. “Oh. Hi.”
Hydris stood there against the tree with his pants open and dick in his hand. “I was having a very wicked dream.”
“I guess so, yeah.”
“Would you mind helping me?”
I didn’t have to be asked twice. I pressed him back against the tree and got on my knees. Sparing a glance at the road, I realized someone could maybe guess what was happening back here, but they probably wouldn’t be able to see us around the horse, cart, and tree.
I flashed Hydris a grin and said, “This is the first time I’ve had sex outside.”
“Oh, is—ahhh!”
Hydris had a beautiful cock, but it wasn’t so long that I couldn’t deep throat it in one swallow. I had him panting and pulling at my hair in no time. He was not quiet, letting out breathy moans, throaty ones, and desperate little whimpers. I loved that because I could close my eyes and concentrate on every naughty thing I was doing to him without missing his reactions.
At one point, I stuck my hand into his trousers to fondle his sac and discovered a few flowers growing in his bright blue hairs. I pulled back to look, opened his pants more, and discovered he had a whole garden of little blooms in there and stretching up his treasure trail, too.
“Oh, goodness,” he said when he saw himself. “I’m sorry. Just let me?—”
I grabbed his hands to press them against the tree. “Don’t you dare make them go away.”
“But—”
