My heart's in Cair Paravel

Nights had always meant little more than darkness and bedtime. When Caspian was a child, it had meant being bathed by a fireplace, then tucked into bed by nursemaids as they sang him lullabies. When he was older, it meant thoughts that kept him sleepless and cold.

But of late, the nights had meant something else entirely. Whispered words, glimpses caught of a familiar face in a sliver of moonlight, kisses stolen under cover of darkness.

And tonight, he found himself entangled in soft limbs and his own bed clothes. Caspian lay heated, desperate kisses over his lover’s neck and chest. The air was filled with the sound of quiet panting and stifled moans.

Caspian’s hands paused at his lover’s hips, hesitating at the drawstring around them. A single tug, and everything that he wanted would be laid bare before him. Never had he stood to gain so much with so little resistance. So why, now, were his hands trembling?

“Are you alright?” His lover asked, reaching up to push a lock of his dark hair behind his ear. Caspian leaned into his touch, closing his eyes under the familiar weight.

“I’m fine, I just…” he couldn’t think of why, of what was making him stop when he wanted nothing more than to press forward.

“We don’t have to do this. It’s alright if you’ve changed your mind, Caspian.”

Caspian’s eyes went wide.

“No! No, no. I still- I really do want this. God, I do. But…” he had to avert his gaze as he felt burning creeping up his cheeks, “…I’ve never done this before. What if I’m not good at it? I want to be good for you.”

His lover gave him a soft smile and ran his thumb over his cheek in soothing back-and-forth sweeps.

“I’ve never done this either. But I love you, and I trust you.”

‘I love you.’ Caspian’s head still swam when he heard those words. The very first time, he had damn near fainted on the spot.

“Besides,” his lover continued with a mischievous smile, “we will both get better with practice. Lots and lots of practice.”

Caspian’s face broke into a boyish smile.

“That sounds like fun,” he said, leaning down until his lips were almost brushing the other man’s.

“Do you want to start practicing now?” His lover asked, his breath hitching slightly when Caspian’s hands went back to his hips.

“Yes. Yes I do.”

Caspian kissed him hard, rocking his body forwards until he was between the other man’s thighs. His fingers deftly untied the drawstring of his underwear, then tugged the fabric down over his thighs.

“I love you,” he whispered breathlessly.

“I love you, too.”

For once, they dared to remain together until morning broke, only parting once the light of dawn first touched Caspian’s bedroom windows.

After the prince lay back down in bed and nestled into the sheets as if he had been fast asleep the entire night, he traced the memories etched into his body with his fingertips. Nails digging into his shoulder, an open mouth panting against his throat, a grasping hand on his thigh.