#liaden

“Okay, wow!” Liam gapes as he opens the door to my private bathing chamber. “This would actually be worth becoming wingleader for.” 

He takes in the room with the sink, the separate toilet, the tub, and, most prominently, the large shower. It isn’t anything special, rather simple, all in all. But I know the fact that I have a private bathing chamber is a luxury around here.

“Just… wow! Too bad Rhiannon is already heading for the leadership position, or I might give it a try. But to be honest, she’s far better suited than I am anyway.”  

I snort. From what Violet told me, Liam’s probably right there.

With a gleam in his eyes, he turns toward me. “Would it be okay if I took a shower here? So I don’t have to sneak down to the first-years’ bathing rooms?”

Chuckling, I make an inviting gesture. “Sure. It’s all yours.” 

He throws me a smirk that seems to say ‘Hopefully not,’ then peels off yesterday’s clothes. And even after how intense last night was, I can’t help my body reacting to the sight of him naked. His firm ass, the muscles covered by smooth golden skin, but most of all how unguarded he enjoys the hot water running down his skin have my cock filling out in an instant.

Halfway to distract myself, I pick up Liam’s clothes. Like most things around here, they’re the standard we all get issued, so I throw them into my laundry and pick fresh ones from my stash for him. It’s a good thing we’re the same size. 

As I reenter my bathing chamber, I find Liam still beneath the hot spray of the shower—and I pause. I don’t know why it took something as ordinary as this, but in this moment, it hits me. That Liam is truly back in my life—and not just as a fellow rider, a friend, someone as close to me as a brother but… more. And in opposition to last night, where I had to maintain the role he’d asked me to play and couldn’t risk slipping out of it, I now have my head clear enough to truly examine what that means, to realise and accept why I’m so happy, to put into words what it is I feel for him.

It’s ridiculously easy. 

With an inner calm I haven’t felt in a long time, I place the clean set of clothes onto the shelf by the sink then take off my own. “Mind if I join you?” I ask, more so I don’t startle Liam as I step into the spray of hot water behind him. 

Liam huffs a laugh. “Almost feared you wouldn’t.” 

He turns toward me, and that spark of… of something in his eyes makes my chest grow tight. Without hesitation, without thinking about it, I get closer to him, ignoring the water running down my face. My hand curls around his jaw, sliding to the back of his neck, and I kiss him. 

If he’s surprised he catches himself quickly, his one hand mirroring mine as the other arm curls around my waist, his hand splaying at the small of my back. He hums against my mouth, his lips curling into a smile before he angles for a deeper kiss, his tongue gliding along my lower lip. Groaning, I give in, give him access and let him pull me against him, momentarily too stunned to do much else. Too many emotions whirl around in my head, my heart, as he licks into my mouth, his tongue stroking against mine in a long-forgotten dance. Stoking a fire deep inside me that is near impossible to resist.

But even though there’s nothing I want more than to give in to this fire, there’s something I need to do first. Something I need to say.

“Liam,” I gasp, tearing my mouth from his. “There… there’s something I…”

“Yes?” he asks, waiting, breathing hard. 

I press my eyes shut, my forehead resting against his as I search for my words. “I… I’m sorry.” 

Those were the wrong words. I know it even before Liam’s shoulders slump, and I know he’d retreat if there wasn’t a tiled wall at his back. But I shake my head, hoping to convey what it is I meant. 

“I’m sorry for… for pushing you away all those years ago when I should have talked to you instead. I was a fool, I know that now. And I’m so relieved, so grateful that you agreed to give this a try, to give  us a try. Because…” I pull back to search his eye, need to see them, to look at him. “Because I love you, Liam.”

Something flickers in his eyes, but with the spray of hot water blurring everything, I can’t be sure whether it’s joy or hesitation. 

One second passes in silence, then a second and a third.

Liam swallows. “You do?” He sounds hesitant, maybe disbelieving even. But also… hopeful?

I take a deep breath. No backing out now. “I do. I… wasn’t in a good place back then, in my head, wasn’t able to examine my feelings with the grief and anger still overruling nearly everything else. And I’ve been too scared and frightened to admit it to myself since then, it seemed pointless anyway. But I’ve been in love with you since the first night we spent in that tiny room at Duke Lindell’s castle and you smiled at me despite what my family cost yours. And I—”

I don’t get the chance to say more. Liam’s hand curls around the back of my neck, and before I can comprehend what’s happening, he pulled my mouth back against his. 

This time, I don’t fight against the fire. I said what I needed to tell him, to confess, and this alone fills me with a sense of euphoria that makes me feel lighter, dizzy, makes me yield into his touch in a way I rarely did before. Our bodies align, pressed together all the way down to our feet, and yet it feels like it is not enough. My hands glide from his shoulders down his arms, to his waist, up his back. Mapping every part of him as he does the same with me. My lips and tongue trace a line down his jaw, and I deeply inhale his warm woodsy scent, tasting it on his skin. Every touch of his wet skin against my own leaves a prickling trail, a sensation I quickly get addicted to. I want more, need more.

“Liam…” I grind against his body, needing to feel him everywhere, and can’t suppress a groan. Where my cock was already filling out earlier, it’s completely hard now, pressed against Liam’s in the wet heat between our bodies. And it feels exquisite. 

Before I can further chase the sensation though, Liam grabs my shoulders and spins us around. From one moment to the other, I’m the one with hard tiles at my back while Liam’s the one grinding into me, taking the lead, and honestly? I can’t help but grin. 

Despite last night and how much he assured me he enjoyed me dominating him, I’m glad to see this confident playful streak is still in him. 

Honestly, he fits in perfectly with Violet and me.

Liam

I love you, Liam.

Xaden’s word keep echoing through my mind as we make out beneath his shower. Words I’d long given up hope of ever hearing.

I love you, Liam.

Over and over, like waves crashing against a cliff, they wash through me, hollowing out my defenses. 

I love you, Liam.

Amari help me, I so badly want these words to be true. And for now, I’ll act as if they are.

Xaden groans as I grind against him, the friction and the sound of him equally sweet. Almost unbearably so. Gods, I want more. I want it all.

Xaden

“Fuck… Liam!” I let my hand glide to his broad shoulders, can’t get enough of feeling his skin, his muscles moving beneath. 

It’s like the years melt away, as if they never happened. Like we’re still these young boys, grieving yet innocent in a way. Like were not fighting for our lives every day, like it’s just him and me. Except that our reality is so much more than that, which makes this even sweeter.

After what felt like hours and mere moments alike, Liam snakes his hand between us, and I can’t suppress a grunt as he manages to wrap it around both our cocks, enough to press them together. Fuck, does this feel good. 

With my forehead resting against his, I can do little more than stare down at where he holds us both, so different in shade yet similar in so many other ways. I can’t look away as he moves his hips, slowly, sliding his cock along my own, his head dragging along my frenulum. 

“Fuuuuuuck,” I moan, clinging to Liam’s arms. My knees tremble, my mind wiped clear of any thoughts at this new and powerful sensation. It feels unlike anything else, powerful yet so intimate. Light and intense at the same time.

“Fuck, indeed,” Liam groans as I watch precome bead at his tip, captivated. “Gods, I fantasised of doing this but never dared hoping…” His words trail off into a low moan as he keeps moving, his gaze caught just like mine.

“Liam…” His name is but a plea on my my tongue, imploring to… I don’t even know to do what. To pause so I can get a grip on these intense sensations? To go faster? Rougher? To slow down and draw it out? Fuck if I know. I feel my orgasm building, feel the moment coming where I could hold it back, stay in control. But in this moment, I don’t want to. 

My grip on his shoulders tightens and a low growl is rumbling in my chest as I watch more pre leak from both our tips, feel him twitch against my cock. Fuck, I’m so close.

Liam

It’s amazing, the things you remember. Like the intimate little tells that let you know your partner is close, even though it’s been years. Or, at least years since the last time you were focused enough to notice them.

Last night and during the one with Violet, I wasn’t, but now I am. I see—feel—Xaden’s body go tight as a bow string, hear that deep sound he always makes right before he comes. And it is too much for me to hold back, too. 

With a low curse, I come, and barely a second before Xaden does, as well. My mind is entirely blank as come shoots up to land on our chests, impossible to determine which is who’s, as it covers my hand, our cocks, as we both twitch, Xaden’s groan. Fucking perfect.

We stay like that, entangled and leaning against one another, both chuckling from the sheer intensity of the moment. Then Xaden hisses, far more sensitive to overstimulation than I am, and I loosen my hand. But even then, we stay close, closer even than before, ignoring the mess on our skin. Just basking in this rediscovered closeness. 

“Fuck, I missed this,” Xaden murmurs, his lips gliding against my skin, and I can only hum in agreement, too blissed out for coherent words.

Until his words from before echo through my mind once more. 

I love you, Liam.

Sucking in a breath, I step back. My eyes dart to the small window, to the rising sun outside. “Shit, I have to to hurry. I mustn’t be late for library duty, especially with Violet being ‘ill’ today.” 

It’s not only an excuse, but if it weren’t for this weird feeling spreading through my chest, I probably would draw this moment out a while longer. We clean and dry ourselves up quickly, then I put on the clothes Xaden hands me. They feel strange on my skin, even though I know, logically, they’re the same as the ones in my own armoire.

I’m just about to leave as Xaden holds me back. “Hey, Liam?”

Feeling tense, I turn to look at him.

“If you need time to think about, well, tonight and just… everything, then that’s okay. Take as long as you need.” He smiles, but I know I’m doing a bad job hiding the turmoil inside me. “Just know that me as well as Violet are here for you, to talk, to answer questions, whatever you need. And… I meant every word I said.”

I love you, Liam.

I don’t think he was lying. But I also know that what’s between him and Violet goes beyond any normal bond. It can't be the same. I want to fit in with them, and I believe them when they say they want me with them as well. But how can I even compete with what they have? 

“I know,” I reply, covering my turbulent emotions as best I can. I squeeze his hand on my arm, smile, and add, “And I love you, too, Xaden. Always have.”

For whatever it’s worth.

________

AN: I don't quite know what happened here...

I only meant to show that Xaden very much knows and accepts his feelings for Liam. And then Liam went all doubtful again, the poor boy. 😣

But then, this also has to tie into Easing Tension And Worries which takes place after this one.

“Oh,” Xaden relaxes visibly, and something of a smile spreads across his face. “What about it?”

“I…” I hesitate, not quite sure how I’d planned to pose this question when I thought about this over the last few days.

“Hey, you can ask me anything, remember? And Violet, too, for that matter. That’s the only way this can work, when we talk openly about whatever bugs us.”

His words comfort me, even though they still feel as surreal as during that first night.

I nod, and this should be my opening. But instead, another question pushes itself to the forefront of my mind, my tongue. “Why did things between us change back then? Why did we drift apart when you discovered dominance as a sexual tool?”

“That’s not…” Xaden stiffens for a heartbeat, then takes a deep breath and nods, mostly to himself. “Right, so… back in Tirvainne, when I discovered these kinds of relationships and how they could influence my sex life, I was… overwhelmed by all the possibilities.” He rubs the back of his neck. “It was intoxicating, and I was eager to learn and try everything about it. There was a group of people living in town then, who… taught me, you could say. Who were more experienced.”

I frown, remembering how he kept sneaking out of our room at Duke Lindell’s estate, night after night. “So… that was it? Things between us changed because you didn’t want me to be your submissive?”

Xaden exhales a shaky breath. “I… never said that.”

Something flares in my chest, a mix of hope and heat. And yet… “But you never asked me, either.”

For a heartbeat or three, Xaden closes his eyes, his face contorted in what could be pain, and when he looks at me again, there’s a vulnerability in his eyes, I’ve rarely seen on him. “Because I was scared,” he all but whispers. “I… back then, above everything else, I was inexperienced. I didn’t yet know how far this control could truly reach, how to make sure my being in control was still consensual. And with… with how close we were, I was scared to go too far with you, wasn’t sure I could still recognise the line between being a dominant partner and being a Dom.”

I nod. “I see.” And I do. Looking back, I can understand his worries, what with how I enjoyed and often even encouraged him to take the lead.

“Yeah,” Xaden sighs. “But don’t worry. I know by now how to separate these things. It won’t affect you aside from how I treat Violet on occasion.”

Biting my lip, I avert my eyes. “And… if I wanted it to affect me more?”

Xaden stills, and when I glance back up at him, there’s a strange gleam in his eyes. “Do you?”

I take a deep shaky breath to gather my courage. “You were right, back then I wasn’t interested, and even found your new interest intimidating. But now… I saw how it worked out for you and Violet the other night, and… I’m curious, I guess. It certainly wasn’t as… as frightening as I imagined it.” I laugh weakly.

Xaden stays serious, though, and pulls one of the chairs away from the table to sit on it the wrong way around, his arms crossed atop the backrest. “It can be a lot to take in at first,” he concedes. “But if you really want to give it a try, we can start simple.”

“That sounds as if you already have something in mind.” Following his example, I also sit down, leaning back in an attempt to appear calm. I don’t think I’m fooling anyone, though, not even myself.

Xaden shrugs, something like half a smirk tugging at his lips. “It’s possible that I, at some points in my life, imagined what I’d like to do to you if you’d ever let me.”

I gulp. His words could be considered scary or at the very least obtrusive. But they have the opposite effect on me, heating my blood and making my heart beat quicker. “And… what would you have in mind?”

The way Xaden looks at me makes it impossible for me to look away. “For this first trial run, I’d pick something… something we already used to do, in case you’re still into that, but ramp it up a bit.”

I listen avidly to Xaden explaining, and with every word, it becomes more and more difficult to sit still. To not shift into a position that might accommodate my hardening cock better, to not let my hand fall between my thighs and rub against the growing bulge there. It sounds amazing, all of it, but especially when he promises me the best orgasm of my life, and I know I’ll have difficulties falling asleep later.

“The most important difference is that I wouldn’t necessarily end it just because you beg for it,” Xaden explains, his face still as serious and calm as if he’s not affected by our conversation at all. “In fact, getting you to beg can be half the fun, depending on the situation.” He smirks. “But in general, I determin how far I push you–ow far I can push you–unless you use a specific safe word. For this time, I’ll accept it if you say stop or something like that, but should we get deeper into it, you’d have to pick some other word, something unrelated to the scene, something you’ll only say when things don’t feel good anymore, when you truly need me to stop or it’ll get too much for you.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard about safe words before. I just… have no idea what I could use.”

Xaden shrugs. “As I said, for this time, stop is fine. You can come up with another one in case you want to do this more often, or you can adopt one of ours. I usually use parapet, and Violet, for whatever reason, chose squad leader.” He rolls his eyes, and I can’t suppress a grin. Violet teasing him even when she’s supposed to be submissive is so her.

“I like parapet. Important enough that I certainly won’t forget it, but definitely not sexy.”

Xaden snorts. “Agreed.” He straightens and stretches as if to get rid of some stiffness in his muscles. “Right. Any more questions? Or do you want to get started directly?”

I blink, dumbfounded. “W-what? Tonight?”

“Well, you certainly seem to be aroused enough.” He nods at where I apparently started to palm my cock through my leathers without noticing it, and smirks. “And it’s not as if I’m expected anywhere else, with Violet needing her rest before the long flight tomorrow. But if this is too sudden now, we can pin down another date. Up to you.”

“N-no,” I stumble across my words. “Tonight is fine! I just…” I gasp out a small laugh. “I didn’t expect it, I guess.” Then another thought crosses my mind, and I frown. “But about Violet… are you sure this is okay? Won’t she be… upset or something?” Furious is more like it. Last time I checked, borrowing someone else’s boyfriend, especially without them knowing about it, wasn’t taken lightly by anyone.

However, Xaden’s expression softens, and he stands to walk over to me. “Liam… we meant what we said the other night. We’d like you to be a part of our we, and that means it doesn’t always have to be all three of us together. And before you bring that up now, that wasn’t only meant to apply to Violet and me spending the night without you. We’re not going behind her back here because she knows and agreed to us spending time together without her, including having sex.”

I know they explained this to me already, but I’m still having difficulties wrapping my head around it. “So… what? You’d be fine with me ‘fulfilling my guard duty’ in Violet’s bed instead of my own?” I laugh, shaking my head. This sounds so absurd.

But Xaden only snorts. “That would make a lot of things easier, eh? But yeah. While I openly admit I’d selfishly prefer to at least watch when you two are at it, it wouldn’t be an issue for me, as long as we’re all open and honest about it.”

I exhale a shaky breath, trying to wrap my head around that he’s actually serious about this. “So, you’d tell her about this? About us?”

“You mean, aside from the fact that she deliberately closed the door so the two of us had some privacy?” He raises an eyebrow at me. “But, yes and no. I’d let her know we had sex. However, how much she learns about the specifics is up to you. You deserve your privacy, too.”

Something settles in me at his words. I can’t say what it is, exactly, or how much of it I’ll accept later on, but at least for tonight, I don’t have to worry. “Alright. Let’s do this.”

. o O o .

Xaden

Maybe this is a dream. Maybe I should pinch myself to make sure I’m truly awake, but then… If this is a dream, then it’s the most realistic one I ever had and I don’t want it to end.

In his chair, Liam squares his shoulders, something within him visibly clicking into place. “Alright. Let’s do this,” he says, and I smirk at his eagerness.

Somewhere in my mind, something switches, settles, turning me into who he asked me to become. “Come here,” I say, my voice calm but firm, and when he obeys immediately, jumping out of his chair to stand before me, a pleasant shiver runs up my spine. As a youth, I woke far too many times to having made a mess of myself after dreaming about Liam letting me dominate him. Him now actively asking me for this… it’s so much better than any dream could ever be. Knowing that he trusts me so completely.

“From now on, you’ll do everything I tell you to,” I repeat what we’d agreed to earlier. “And only what I tell you to. You will not touch me and you will not touch yourself. Understood?”

Liam nods, eyes glassy, but that won’t do.

“Understood?” I repeat, one eyebrow raised, and he swallows.

“Yes, I understand,” he says, his voice hoarse in a way that makes my stomach clench.

“Good. Now, hold still for me.”

I push myself off the table to stand directly in front of him, as close as I can without our bodies touching. Our eyes meet, and the excitement and anticipation in his let me settle into my role completely, the rush intoxicating.

I bring my left hand up to cradle his face, gliding along his jaw and down to his neck, tilting his head to kiss him. His lips are soft and yielding, and I relish in kissing him again after all these years apart, but the moment he moves closer, his hands settling on my hips and his lips parting, I pull back.

“Ah, ah, ah. What did I tell you?”

Liam blinks, a little dazed, but quickly catches on. “You told me not to move,” he rasps, swallowing.

“Exactly. Now, shall we try again?” This time, I accept his silent nod, and when I kiss him again, he, indeed, doesn’t move beyond what I prompt him to do. Smiling, I deepen our kiss, my tongue slipping between his lips to slide along his, exploring, claiming every corner of his mouth. Liam moans, but otherwise does as I told him to, holding still and letting me have my way with him. Filling me with a high I’ve never felt with anyone else aside from Violet.

My lips trail down his neck, and with no effort, I find the spot I remember well, the one where I can feel his heartbeat pulse against my tongue and that makes his knees go weak when I suck on it.

Liam moans, trembling, and with my free hand, I place his hand on my waist, indicating that he now may hold on to me, then wrap my arm around him to stabilise him further. Fuck, this is so hot, better than I imagined, better than I remember. Just Liam clinging to me, strong arms holding on to me as I ravage his neck, nibble at his ear, my fingers tunnelling through his blond spiky strands. I feel like I could do this all night.

But the prominent bulge beneath Liam’s leathers, grinding against my own, reminds me of the plans we discussed, and, frankly, I’m more than ready to play.

“Mmh, that was nice, well done,” I purr into his ear before pulling back. “Now, I want you to strip off all your clothes. You won’t be needing them tonight anymore.”

Liam’s cheeks, already flushed, darken further, his gaze eager and hungry as he follows my order, and I get to enjoy watching his muscles move beneath his skin. It’s strange; Liam is the exact opposite of Violet, with his broad shoulders, muscles bunching with every move, hard beneath tanned skin. And yet, I never felt this kind of inner satisfaction I’m feeling watching him with any other partner, only with her.

Once he’s naked, I rake my eyes down his body, taking all of him in, including his cock hanging half-erect between his legs. I let my gaze linger, my lips pulling up into a crooked half-smile as he fills out more and even twitches the longer I wait. “Eager, are we? But you’ll have to be a bit more patient tonight.”

Liam swallows, his cock hardening even further, but doesn’t reply. Good.

I walk around him, reminding myself of all the sensitive spots I discovered years ago, letting my fingers trail over his skin but never touching those spots. Not yet.

Instead, I nod toward the bed at the other end of the room. “Lie down. On your back, on the middle of the bed.”

I watch Liam follow my order, biting the inside of my cheek against the warmth pooling at the base of my spine, then follow him slowly. Once he’s in the position I want him in, I crawl onto the bed and on top of him, still fully clothed against his naked skin, making sure I brush against him as much as possible. It has the desired effect, making him shudder and grunt at every other contact. Without a word, I push his arms up above his head, my hands gliding along his skin, until his hands brush against the headboard, the sturdy wooden bars worked into it.

“I won’t restrain you tonight,” I murmur against his temple, my lips brushing against his skin. “But I want you to hold on to these bars. If you let go of them before I tell you to, I’ll stop. Do you understand?”

A groan slips off Liam’s lips, his eyes fluttering shut. “Y-yes,” he gasps. “I understand.”

I smile and nib at his ear. “Good boy.”

A full-body shudder races through Liam, his cock twitching against my inner thigh, and I smirk. I’m not surprised he has a bit of a praise kink, but it certainly works in my favour.

I work my way down his neck, his jaw, and flick my tongue against his tightly pressed shut lips. “None of that, handsome. I want to hear you.” Liam gasps, his lips parting for a low moan, and I hum against his neck. “Yeah, just like that. Let me know what you like.”

I already know what he likes, remembering so much despite the years that passed—that thing the other night doesn’t count, since I barely got the chance to get my hands on him. But it’s always good to start off with exploring a partner, getting a feel for how they react, what gets them going.

So that’s what I do, mapping his body with my hands and lips. His skin is hot against my own, his moans like sweet music to my ears whenever I reach and linger on a sensitive spot, his body twitching and shuddering. “You look so good, stretched out like this,” I muse, my lips near his navel, and he grows tense, his breathing coming in laboured gasps. “And all for me.”

I draw a circle around his navel with my tongue, remembering how sensitive he is here, but pull back when his hips buck up in search of just any stimulation against his cock.

“Sh-shit,” Liam groans, fighting to keep himself still as I watch him with a raised eyebrow. “No, please don’t stop. I…I’m sorry. I’ll be good now.”

I suppress a groan as desire spears through me and right down to my cock, making my leathers grow tight. Liam isn’t the only one who needs to be patient tonight.

“I hope you will,” I growl, my hands on his knees as I kneel between his legs. “Only good boys get to come. Eventually.”

Liam lets out another shuddering groan, and I smile, letting my hands glide up the inside of his thighs. His breathing quickens and his cock fills out even more, fully erect now as my fingers move closer and closer. His head is lifted, watching with avid eyes, just like me, his legs trembling with the tension of holding himself still for me.

“You’re so good for me,” I murmur, smirking. “But it’s still too early for this, don’t you think?” My hand slides further up his body, past his cock without touching it, and Liam’s desperate whine makes my cock strain further against its confinement. But it’s too early for this, too, I remind myself.

I keep exploring his gorgeous body, every plain of sweat-covered skin, every defined muscle, every strained sinew. I lick and feel and kiss all of him, fully indulging in having Liam in my bed again. Gods, I’ve missed this so much, missed him.

When I reach his nipples, he curses low under his breath, again trembling with the tension in his body. Smiling to myself, I focus my entire attention on these sensitive buds, caressing one and licking the other, pinching and sucking, biting and twisting. It draws a stream of moans and curses from Liam’s throat, his chest heaving beneath me, and I keep going for a minute or two longer before I release him. From the corner of my eye, I see pre beading at the tip of his cock.

With a satisfied smile, I move further up until my lips reach his again. “You’re doing great, handsome. So good, holding still for me and letting me play with you. I think you deserve a small reward.”

“Yes,” Liam mewls, his eyes fluttering shut. “Yes, please.”

Humming, I kiss him, deep, my tongue in his mouth before he can react, claiming every part of him as I grind my crotch against his thigh, letting him feel me. “See what you’re doing to me? Fuck, I can’t wait to have you, making you scream as you come on my cock.”

“Oh, shit!” he groans, his body arching off the bed without his help. He catches himself, but not before his cock grinds against my stomach, smearing his pre along my tunic. “Ah, no. S-sorry… I’m sorry! Oh, please…”

I snort. “Naughty. But don’t worry, I won’t punish you for this mishap. I imagine what I’ve planned will be… hard enough for you.” I pull back to kneel upright between his legs again, leaving him whining at the loss of contact. Fuck, he’s so hot. This will be hard for me, too.

“Stay exactly like this. I’ll be back in a moment.” I get off the bed and walk over to my armoire, or my treasure chest, as Violet named it, unable to keep myself from smiling when I think about her. I hope Liam will enjoy this night, will allow me to play with him again, maybe even with him and Violet at the same time. Gods, the options…

I shake my head. This night is only about Liam, and I owe him to focus on him alone.

I grab a bottle of oil and, after ponding for a moment, a butt plug, too. Not too sizable, but a little longer and curved. Just perfect for tonight.

“I want you to bend your knees and place your feet on the bed,” I say as I return to the bed. “Yeah, just like that. You’re a fucking natural at this, aren’t you?” Liam grunts, and I smirk. I resume my position between his legs and run my hands down the undersides of his thighs and grab his ass, beautifully on display for me. “Fuck, you’re so gorgeous.”

Liam moans, but seems to have calmed down at least a little, his cock now resting against his stomach, flushed and heavy, a small pool of pre gathering at its tip.

“I’ll work open your ass now. At least try to hold still, okay?” I smirk at Liam’s groan, turning into a strained cry when I bring my lubed finger to his hole. My other hand is on his knee, his thigh, comforting him as I draw tight circles before pressing in a little, gently, slowly. I take my time for this, both for his sake and mine, enjoying the give of tight muscles, the never-ending stream of whining and keening sounds. In and out I move, only going in the tiniest bit deeper with every turn. Fuck, he’s so hot, so tight, and so fucking responsive, his cock twitching and leaking constantly.

Eventually, I add a second finger, pushing in even deeper and scissoring him open before crooking my fingers to search for his prostate. I know when I find it, Liam shouting and arching off the bed. “There we go,” I croon. I press my free hand against his pelvis, keeping him in place as I rub and press against that spot a few more times, relishing in how he becomes louder and needier with every second, before pulling out completely.

He’s shaking, his breathing quick and shallow, but his eyes are open wide, watching me with parted lips and eager anticipation.

“I’ll put a plug into your ass now,” I announce, making sure he can’t see the toy. “Don’t worry, it’s not too big. But I think you’ll like it.” After covering the plug in a generous amount of oil, I insert it carefully, making sure it doesn’t rub him the wrong way. It’s quite obvious when it reaches its perfect position, Liam letting out another shout as it presses against his prostate.

“Oh, shit,” he groans. I watch with a satisfied smirk as his muscles clench and unclench around the toy on reflex, making it press against that spot again and again. “Shit! Ahh. Xaden!”

Smiling another crooked smile, I lean over him. “Yes? Is there something you want to tell me?”

His eyes roll back into the back of his head, his hips unable to stay still. “Y-yeah. I… I need to… need to come. Oh, please!”

I click my tongue. “Oh, please,” I repeat his words, though with an entirely different meaning. “We barely got started. But you did well so far, so I’ll grant you another small reward.”

With another deep groan, he watches as I retreat back between his legs and lay down on my stomach, propped up on my elbows. “Your cock got criminally neglected until now, didn’t it? How about we rectify that, mh?”

Liam’s eyes are wide as saucers as I lean in to brush a kiss against his balls. “Oh, shit,” he mewls but keeps staying still for me.

“Such a good boy,” I groan, running my lips up along the underside of his length. “So patient for me.” I take his tip into my mouth, flicking my tongue against the tip and humming at his taste. “Now, hold still while I give you your reward.” And with those words, I start sucking him for real.

Liam howls but manages to hold himself still, even though his entire body is shaking as I wrap one hand around his base, then move my mouth up and down his tip in measured but intense motions. I let my tongue glide along his sensitive underside, sucking his tip on the way out before letting him slide right back in.

I love doing this, actually. The amount of pleasure I can bring to a partner with just these simple motions. The amount of power I have over them. With a sense of inner satisfaction, I listen to Liam, to the increasing degree of desperate need in his voice as I keep up the slow but intense pace.

I could easily make him come like this, I know that all too well. If I go a little faster, suck a bit harder, then I can push him over the edge in no time at all and, knowing Liam, could probably do it again after only a short break. But that’s not the plan for tonight, not what we talked about and he agreed to. So I continue with the slow build-up, moving even slower still when he’s nearing the edge after all.

“Ah, shit. Shit!” Liam howls, and I have to use all my strength to keep his hips from bucking up into my throat, from mindlessly taking what’s dangling right in front of him. “I’m so close, please. Just, please, Xaden. I— fuckshitshit!— I’m gonna… gonna…”

I pull away from his cock completely.

“N-NO!” Liam cries out. “Oh, please. Xaden!”

But I just cluck my tongue. “Not yet, handsome. You’ll come on my cock, and only on my cock, and not until I allow you to.”

Keening, Liam writhes on the bed, still holding on to the bars above his head but otherwise seeking friction against the sheets in every way he can without going directly against my orders. It’s an amazing sight, but… I still have to make sure.

I walk around the bed and sit down on the edge near his head. Leaning over him, I brush a soothing kiss against his forehead. “Liam?” I ask, my voice softer, falling out of my role for a bit. “Are you alright? Do you need your safe word? It’s okay if you do. We’ll stop and you can get relief right away.”

Liam’s breathing quickens. His arms above his head are shaking, his grip on the bars so tight his knuckles stand out white, his muscles visibly strained beneath his skin, all the way down to his pecks, his abdomen.

“N-no,” he gasps after a short pause. “I… I can keep going. I want to keep going.” His eyes flutter open, and the look in his eyes hits me somewhere deep within my chest. So full of warmth, of trust, of—

Without thinking about it, I kiss him. There’s a jumble of emotions in my heart, one I’m not in a position to examine right now, so I pour it all into this kiss, into the way our lips move together, tongues entangling, my hands cupping his face gently.

When I pull back, I’m calmer again, fully in control. “Very good.” I settle more firmly on the bed beside him. “When I tell you to, you’ll be allowed to let go of those bars now. But you won’t touch yourself, understood? And you won’t seek friction against the sheets or any other way, either. You won’t come until I tell you to.”

Liam nods, almost frantically. “Yes. I understand.”

A cool smile tugs on my lips. “To make it easier, I have a gift for you.” I lift a hand and a tendril of shadows rises from the bed. It wraps itself around the base of Liam’s cock and his balls, forming tight rings around his heated flesh. “There we go. Now, you won’t come as easily. Wouldn’t want you to disobey me by accident, would you?”

Again, Liam groans, his hips flexing. “N-no, I wouldn’t. Tha-thank you.”

Heat flares in my groin and I have to bite on my cheek, hard, to keep from reacting to his words. Fuck, he’s playing the game well.

“Right. You may let go of the bars now. But remember your orders; no touching.”

With a sigh, Liam pulls his arms back down, and I give him a moment to relax his shoulders, settling more comfortably against the headboard as I watch him. He behaves himself, his hands not even twitching down to stroke his aching cock.

“After I was so good to you,” I say when he throws me an expectant look. “You may now return the favour.” I nod down at my crotch. “Unlace my leathers, then you may worship my cock. Make it ready for when I take you and make you scream.”

I smirk at how quickly Liam scrambles to get between my legs, his fingers trembling as he unlaces me. Once my cock springs free, having been hard for nearly the entire session, I can’t suppress the groan coming from deep within my chest. My head falls back against the wood and my hands move directly into Liam’s hair the moment he lowers his head between my thighs. Not to guide or even force his movements, but simply to hold him, to give both of us this sense of connection.

“Keep your ass up, your knees spread,” I groan around him covering my cock in kisses and licks. “Wouldn’t want you to rut into the sheets like an inexperienced youth.” He snorts, and I grin.

Liam’s mouth is amazing. He’s sloppy, messy, drool dripping down his chin and covering my cock in no time, and I hum, fingers flexing against his scalp. He’s so good at this, his tongue flickering around my tip, along my frenulum, cheeks hollowing when he takes me so deep he nearly chokes.

I can feel the first tendrils of my orgasm reaching out for me, but I’m well-versed at ignoring them by now and simply relax into enjoying the moment. The moment that stretches out into minutes, a small eternity of tense bliss as Liam’s hot mouth spoils my cock, his entire body moving with the action. He can’t help it, not with the toy in his ass constantly nudging against his prostate, keeping him on the edge. His never-ending moans around my cock are a welcome addition, too, and I don’t hold back my groans, either, letting him know just how good he makes me feel.

Fuck, I could spend hours like this. Just me settled comfortably with him lavishing my cock, all while knowing that every roll of his hips shoots another flash of pleasure through him. That every moan vibrating around my length is him trying to cope with the desire taking over his mind. It’s perfect.

Eventually though, Liam’s sounds become more urgent, his movements broader, harsher. He even goes so far that he tries to force more of my cock down his throat than he can take, his entire body convulsing as he gags and chokes, still trying to take even more. It’s his desperate need that becomes obvious again, even this distraction not enough anymore.

“Stop,” I order, using my fingers in his hair to push him off my cock.

Breathing harshly, Liam sinks back to sit on his haunches, yet keeps fidgeting, moving his hips this way and that. Moving the toy inside him for more stimulation.

With a smirk playing around my lips, I push myself up until I kneel right in front of him. “Look at you,” I purr, my hands around his face pulling him up onto his knees until our bodies are flush. “Such a poor needy thing you are.” I cant my hips, my cock brushing against Liam’s, and he nearly convulses. “How about we put you out of your misery now, mh?”

“Yes!” Liam gasps, visibly forcing himself to keep it together as the plug pushes against him harder in this position. “Yes, please. Please!”

Smiling, I brush a thumb over his lower lip. “Then lie back down on your back for me.”

I resume my former position between Liam’s legs, knees bent for better access. His cock is leaking constantly now, making a mess of him and the bed cover alike. “Poor thing, indeed,” I coo, reaching for the plug. I press against its base to push it in a tiny bit deeper, drawing a beautiful strangled cry from Liam’s throat. “You must be so desperate.”

“Yes. Yes, I am. Please!” Liam nods frantically, his hands scrambling across the smooth coverlet in search of something to hold on to.

“You may clutch at the covers. Or, if they’re too slippery, you could grab the bars again, if you want to,” I say, casually, and heat flares in my chest, my eyes, as he indeed reaches for the bars above his head again, voluntarily restraining himself. Oh, playing with him in the future is going to be so much fun, in case he lets me.

“I’ll take out the plug now. Brace yourself, but stay relaxed.”

Liam takes a deep breath and nods, forcing his body to go limb. Or, as limb as he can at this point, at least. With one hand on his thigh for comfort, I take hold of the toy’s base and pull, slowly. I don’t remove it in one go, both not to jar him too much and to keep teasing him. So I move it out and then in a bit again, gradually pulling it out.

Liam is anything but quiet during the whole process, howling and keening, his head moving this way and that. His arms are shaking again with how tightly he holds on to the bars, but to his credit, he manages to keep the tension there, his lower half still pliant beneath my hands.

“You’re doing so good,” I groan. “Now, I only need to stretch you a bit more, prepare you to take me. You’ll be good, right? You won’t come, will you?”

Liam moans, his hips twitching. “I won’t come,” he gasps. “I promise.”

“Good boy,” I smirk.

Then I wrap my hand around his cock, one oiled finger easily sliding into him, and he howls. I need all my strength to keep him from bucking up into my hand, half leaning on him until the initial outburst is over. “Hush. I know it’s intense, but you can take it.”

Holding still, I wait until his harsh breathing turns a bit calmer again, his body loosening its vice grip around my finger. “Okay,” he rasps. “I… I’m good.”

I merely hum in response before I move my hands again. I start slowly, simple, moving in and out of him as my other hand lazily strokes his cock. It draws another deep groan from Liam, but once he adapts to that, I add a second finger. I push in a little deeper, go a tiny bit faster. His insides squeeze around my fingers, and I moan as I imagine how he’ll feel around my cock. But not yet, I remind myself. I’m not quite done with him.

I speed up further, my fingers inside him as well as my fist around his cock. I push deeper, squeeze harder, add a third and then a fourth finger. Liam is a spectacle beneath me, howling, shouting, keening, writhing atop the covers as he tries—and regularly fails—to keep from fucking himself onto my hands. I don’t say anything, just watch with avid attention, taking in every glorious detail. How the sweat glistens on his contracting abdomen, how his cock is completely slick with his own pre-come at this point, how his hands are still holding on to those bars as if they’re the only thing that’s keeping him sane.

If it weren’t for the tight rings of shadow around his cock and balls, I know Liam would have come by now, no matter how hard he tries not to. I know his buttons too well for that. But even with the rings, he’s getting closer now, all but sobbing as he fights to hold back, garbled begging in between incoherent noises. Licking my lips, I push even harder, twisting my hand around his head in the way I know could break him. At this point, Liam could come easily, all he’d have to do is stop fighting it. And yet, he holds on, body so tense he might snap as I keep going, crooking my fingers inside him to find that bundle of nerves until—

Right before Liam breaks, I stop.

My hands still, and I let the rush of emotions wash through me, a mix of arousal, power, and gratification nearly as intense as an orgasm, as Liam cries out, though whether it’s with grateful relief or desperate need I can’t tell. I don’t think he can, either.

I pull my hands away from him, letting them slide down his thighs in the process. “Oh, sh-shit,” he whimpers, his eyes rolling unfocused as he tries to look at me. “Ple-please, Xaden. I…” He hisses, his body twitching with unresolved tension.

“Yes, it’s time. “ I get off the bed and quickly take off my clothes, then lean over him. “You kept your promise,” I whisper into his ear. “Now, I’ll keep mine.”

I give myself a few strokes to make sure I’m hard and spread more oil over my shaft as I resume my position between his thighs. Reaching for his knees, I lift one leg over my shoulder, the other loosely wrapped around my hip to get him into the perfect position. Liam won’t be able to move like this, balanced only on his shoulders and arms, his hands still clutching at the bars, won’t have any leverage, but that’s the point.

“Are you ready?” I ask, my tip teasingly bumping against his loosened hole but not quite breaching him yet. Every contact makes the coil in my guts tighten further from where it’s been building all night, but I keep ignoring it. This is not about me; only about Liam.

Liam, despite the exposed and powerless position he’s in, tries to roll his hips against me, to coax me into finally penetrating him. “Yes,” he mewls, his cock still dripping from where it hangs over his chest now. “Yes, I’m ready. So ready. Xaden, please.”

Smirking, I rest my cock more firmly against his hole. Hearing him beg, it’s like sweet music to my ears, and I have half a mind to keep teasing him, just a tiny bit longer. But I don’t think either of us could take it.

With one hand on his hips and the other holding his thigh, I push into him in one long, slow slide. “Fuck, you feel so good,” I groan, unable to help myself. Gods, I’ve missed this.

“C-could say the same,” Liam gasps, clenching so tightly around me that I think I might come just from this alone.

I give myself a moment to enjoy this, having Liam around my cock, so hot and tight, yet velvety soft and… and just… Liam. It’s better than I remember, more than I ever dared hope for.

But this is not the right moment to relish in this development.

“Xaden, please…” Liam’s voice is strained, and he again tries to roll his hips, to get me going.

Giving in to the inevitable, I smile and tighten my hold on him. “Yes,” I breathe and start moving.

I start with a couple of slow strokes, sliding in and out to get accustomed to the intense sensation. But then, I quickly pick up the pace. Neither of us needs a slow build-up tonight. It takes a while, since I’m focused on simply fucking into him, on the feeling of him around me and on his beautiful sounds, but eventually, I get the right angle, find what I’ve been looking for.

“Ahh, shit!” Liam howls as I hit his prostate again. “Shitshitshit!”

I bare my teeth in a harsh grin and ramp up my movements, thrusting my hips forward to pound against it, hard. Liam loses all semblance of coherence, his eyes rolling back into his head, and he cries out every time my balls slap against this ass. His cock is drooling, a small puddle of pre already gathering right above his navel. Fuck, if this isn’t a sight to remember I don’t know what it.

At this point, I’m fighting my own orgasm just as hard as I try to keep him on the edge with me. I want to make this last. But I know I can’t stretch it out forever.

“Get ready for it,” I snarl through gritted teeth and reach for his cock, stroking him in time with my thrusts. Liam’s cries become louder still, shriller, his insides turning tighter, like an iron vice around my cock. “Fuck, yes!” My grip around his cock tightens, too, jerking him off as I let the rings dissolve back into shadows. “Come for me.”

And he does. With a hoarse scream, Liam succumbs to the pleasure consuming him, his cock erupting all over his chest, his abdomen, my hand. His inner muscles clench around me with every spurt of come, and I fight to hold out a bit longer, to ride him through his climax. Fuck, he’s an amazing sight, eyes screwed shut and mouth open wide, his arms and shoulder trembling from how tight he still grips the bars while his lower body, covered in white stripes of his own spent, twitches and spasms with the pleasure rolling through him.

I can’t hold back any longer. When I feel the intensity of his orgasm lighten, I stop holding myself back, thrusting a couple more times with raw strength, then press in deeply. “Fuck, yes! Liam!” I shout as the coil in my guts snaps and I shoot my load deep into Liam’s body.

“Aaahhhhsshit, fuck, shit, SHIT!” Liam curses, growing tight once again, and I watch in awe as he comes a second time within seconds. A raw scream echos through my room as he arches off the bed and nearly slips from my hold with how his entire body spasms under the renewed pleasure, wrecking him completely. I knew he generally doesn’t need much time to recover, but… damn.

Once it’s over, I guide his legs back down onto the bed and slip out of him. Liam whimpers at the loss but otherwise doesn’t react, his eyes dazed as he gazes at the ceiling, his body limp, unmoving. Keeping one hand on his skin at all times for comfort, I reach for one of the small towels I have stored in my bedside table and clean him and my hand of the worst of the mess, the motions all but automatic.

I can’t take my eyes off Liam, too stunned by what just happened. But I know I need to snap out of it. Liam needs me now, there’s time to work through this later.

So I lean over him and brush a light kiss against his brow. “Can you turn over for me, Liam?” His only answer is a weak moan, but he lifts an arm so I take it as a yes. I help him turn onto his front then straddle the small of his back and start massaging the tension out of his shoulders. With how tightly he held on to the bars, it’s no surprise how cramped and tense they are, and I focus on kneading each area individually, taking my time.

After several long minutes, Liam’s moans turn into halfway coherent words as the pain eases and he slowly comes to again. “Ah, that’s good. Yes, right there. Mnnghh…”

“Back among the living?” I tease, working out a particularly persistent knot.

Liam snorts. “Not so sure about that. Shit, that was…. well, that was something else.”

Biting my lower lip, I fight down my nervousness. “Still good, I hope?”

Huffing out a laugh, Liam turns his head to at least somewhat look at me. “I don’t think good covers it. That was… that was just…” He shakes his head, lips moving but not finding the right word. “Guess you didn’t promise too much, after all.”

“So… you’re not feeling intimidated anymore?” I ask, smiling as I finish massaging him and move to lie on my side next to him.

With a deep satisfied groan, Liam rolls his shoulders, then turns to lounge across from me. “Hell, yes, I am. But…” He runs his tongue across his lower lip, thinking. “But in a good way? This was… intense. Amazing. But I don’t think I could…” He trails off, shrugging.

“…do this every night?” I suggest, having a déjà vu, and he nods. “That's fine. I’m already happy when you’re considering ever doing something like this again.”

“Definitely!” Liam smiles, then yawns, his eyes drooping.

“Good. Because I have ideas,” I smirk. “But we can talk about those another day. Now, you should sleep.

Liam groans, a grimace on his face. “Yeah. Too bad my bed’s so far away.”

He peaks at me with only one eye open, and I snort at the blatant question on his face. “Of course, you can stay here. Just let me remove the coverlet, and then you can make yourself comfortable.”

“Thanks.” He manages to stand just long enough for me to remove the stained bedspread, then slumps down onto the mattress again. I can practically watch him fall asleep within seconds, and a soft smile spreads across my face, warmth in my chest.

Violet was right, I didn’t need to fear losing him. Shaking my head at myself, I clean up the remnants of our escapade, pondering. I thought Basgiath would be hell, three years of practically being at war with everyone around me. I didn’t expect to find happiness here, with Sgaeyl and the friends I made, Garrick, Bodhi, Imogen. But most of all, I didn’t expect to find something more, not here and not ever in my life. And yet, Violet found me. Violet who loves me despite all the secrets I could only gradually reveal to her and who I fell in love with when I thought I could never feel like this again.

And now, Liam is back in my life as well. Liam, who…

I swallow. I’m not in the right mindset to examine my feelings there, not yet.

Forcing my mind to grow quiet, I curl up on my bed next to Liam, letting his even breathing soothe me until I fall asleep as well.

. o O o .

I wake to someone nudging me, and on reflex, I wave my hand around to shoo whoever it is off. There’s a giggling in my mind, and slowly, it dawns on me that the nudge that woke me wasn’t physical.

“Seems like you had an exhausting night,” Violet’s cheery voice echoes in my mind. “When you’re still this sleepy now.”

Smiling, I glance over to the other side of the bed. “Yeah, I can’t complain.” I send her a mental image, nothing but Liam’s blond spikes and his naked shoulders visible above the sheets.

Violet chuckles. “Looks like it. But you’re good?” Her voice sounds apprehensive now, careful. She knows how much Liam means to me, after all.

“Year, we’re good,” I sigh. “He… took it better than I hoped for.”

“That’s good. I’m happy for you.”

Another smile tugs at my lips, and I can’t help but send all my feelings for her through our bond, all my love for this woman who doesn’t mind sharing my heart with someone else after I told her it’d be all hers.

Her answer is like a tender caress against my soul, warm, soft, soothing. I wish I could hold on to that feeling and keep it with me all day.

“I have to go now, Imogen is getting impatient. Tell Liam I said hi.”

Snorting, I shake my head. “Safe journey.”

“Was that Violet?”

I jump at Liam’s sleepy voice, but when I glance at him, he’s watching me with clear eyes. “Yeah,” I admit. “How do you know?”

Liam snorts. “I’ve spent months now watching you two. It’s not hard to guess that you found some way of communicating that goes past everyone else, and I’ve also learned the difference in your expressions from when you talk to your dragons or each other. You’re not as sneaky as you think you are.”

My lips twitch. “Fair point. She wanted me to tell you she said hi.”

Liam blinks, then swallows. “This… really isn’t awkward for you at all?” He averts his eyes. “Me being…”

I shrug. “Not unless you make it awkward. I told you, we want you to be a part of this us.”

“So….” Liam drawls. “If I were to kiss her right in front of everyone in the dining hall…?”

I huff a laugh. “Then Aetos is probably going to have a heart attack. So I’d say go for it.”

. o O o .

AN: Now, if that wasn't convincing. 😏

I'm slowly running out of prewritten shorts. There's one (almost) finished for the 21st, and I hope I can get one or two more finished in time after that. But the rest will probably come at a later time since my fandom bestie is coming to visit me for a few days, and I'll be too busy to write while she's here. 😁

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I am but a street artist, offering my art to those around me. If you enjoyed it, a tip in the form of a comment and a ❤️would be highly appreciated. 😊