Kade hummed in agreement, running his hands lightly over Killi’s arms. “You can’t do it again.”
“And why not?”
“Someone could see.”
“Yes,” whispered Killi, pressing his lips to a bruise on the side of Kade’s neck. “That is the point.”
Scoffing, Kade argued, “No, Killi. We don’t want people to see. We don’t want people to ask questions. That’s the point. I can’t walk around like this all the time.”
“But you wear them so well.”
“That doesn’t matter.” Kade’s breath hitched as Killi began to trace over the marks on his stomach, and then dipped down over his hips and the tops of his thighs. He shivered as Killi’s teasing brushed right against the base of his cock. Valiantly, he tried to be stern. “You can’t.”
“Hmm. I’ll consider it,” said Killi. Then, much to Kade’s horror, Killi pulled away, taking all his warmth and comfort with him. Killi hooked his pinky through Kade’s and tugged him towards the bed. “Come eat.”
At the foot of the bed, which was empty just moments ago, lay a silver tray stacked with food. There was an assortment of things, delicate meats and soft bread, the sweet meats of ripe, succulent fruit, and even a few desserts.
Kade’s mouth watered at the sight. His stomach gurgled. He hadn’t realized just how hungry he was until it was right in front of him.
“So this is where you ran off to,” said Kade, a huge smile on his face. It was so sweet. “Leaving me all alone in your bed like a tossed aside lover. I thought you’d abandoned me.”
“So dramatic. Come, we only have a few hours before Hokda steals you away from me again.”
“Cake for breakfast?”
“It’s a celebration,” Killi said with a wink. “Come. Eat.”
Kade was helpless not to, he would follow Killi anywhere.
Killi rested against the headboard, his legs spread as Kade sat between them, his back plastered Killi’s chest. Kade felt like a pampered pup each time Killi brought a morsel of his hoard to Kade’s lips, insisting on feeding him by hand, but he preened under the attention, even as his face burned in embarrassment.
They basked in each other’s presence, letting the feel of them—together, as one—sink into their very souls.
There was no space between them, and Kade liked it that way. He was giddy knowing he could have this closeness with Killi forever, locked away in the privacy of this room, the one place they didn’t have to hide.
Truthfully, Kade didn’t mind the thought of hiding, he liked the idea of this thing between them being private, only theirs. He didn’t need it to be shared with anyone else. They wouldn’t understand. They wouldn’t see anything beyond what they wanted, minds narrow and judging.
Drawn in by the quiet and the calm, Kade didn’t realize he had dozed off until he was being moved, manhandled, into a different position. He grumbled, unhappy with the new development, but Killi only laughed at him and continued what he was doing until Kade was wrapped in his arms.
“Sleep,” Killi whispered as he carded soothing fingers through Kade’s hair, dragging blissfully against his scalp. “I’ll wake you in the morning.”
Kade obeyed. He closed his eyes drifted, safe in the arms of the one he called home.
“Late! I’m late!” Kade scrambled around the room in a panic, picking up stray pieces of his robes that hadsomehowended up discarded in every corner of the room. “I thought you were going to wake me up!”
“I did,” Killi said, amused. He leaned against the wall by the door, dressed in a clean and pressed uniform. “It’s not my fault you’re lazy and didn’t want to get out of bed. You just watched me get ready.”
Kade paused, one arm half shoved in his sleeve. “It was quitea show. I couldn’t miss it.”
“I’ll put it on for you again sometime.”
“Tomorrow, I hope.”
“If you have a tomorrow after Hokda gets his hands on you.”
Kade cursed and renewed his dressing with urgency. He looked—and felt—a mess, but it would do until he could get to his own room and change. He paused by the door, pulled Killi into a quick and sloppy kiss by the front of his uniform, and was gone with the farewell of a whisperedI love you.
“Where have you been?” Porthos demanded, clicking his tongue obnoxiously. “Out of bed all night without letting your Mother know.”
