#royalcaptain

Grillstember Day 2 (it’s day 3, but i’m a day behind thanks to the cosplay event I attended and trying to finish other cosplays). 

A continuation from day 1′s entry.

Continued from here: [x]  @princesircastic

James whirled around at the familiar voice, too stunned to respond properly until Liam’s hand was in his own, and a strong arm secured around his waist. He had believed it would still be a long time before he would see the captain again, if he ever did - and yet here he was, expertly guiding him through a dance he had struggled to learn for days. How many nights had he spent thinking about the man who had stolen the one thing he had thought impossible? Too many.

“Captain Jones,” he murmured at last, his voice and expression successfully concealing the utter delight he felt at seeing him again. “One might think it not your place to step in without permission.” His fingers locked tightly with Liam’s, and his lips curved into a grin. “You are just lucky I care so little for titles and ranks and status.” The press of Liam’s body against his own only served to remind him of the strength and power it contained, the strength that had been used against him in the hurried hour of their intimacy.

Gods, I want him already. He is like a fine wine I cannot get enough of. “What brings you back to my kingdom, Captain?”

“Aye, Prince James, one might if they had not had such personal dealings with you on a former visit...” Liam chuckled, voice calm despite the mess of emotion below the surface, the thrill at seeing the royal after all these months. Shifting his step, he brought James about in a twirl, steps of the dance becoming almost second nature to him, though it did occur briefly that he would have to teach James to lead for his visitors, not follow.  

“Opportunity presented itself in my favour,” he explained, squeezing James’ hand as a prior warning before he spun him, then stepped in close, narrowing the gap between them to almost nothing. “The Captain due to escort your current visitors took ill, and so I volunteered in his place. My crew were restless for another voyage after a spell on shore, and I was not going to deny an opportunity to sail to these lands.” Not when I would have the chance to see the Prince who has plagued my mind since that fated night. 

Nonsexual acts of Intimacy - meme  |  Accepting 

Leaning in the doorway of the prince’s chambers, Liam watched on as the usually confident royal stumbled his way through the steps of traditional dances from his own realm, clearly an expectation to learn them had enforced a tight deadline. Though the sight of the prince twirling with an invisible partner was a sight entertaining, the pang of sympathy Liam felt for him took a hold of his heart and he stepped into the room, boldly catching James around the waist, lacing their fingers together with his free hand.

“It is generally a custom to learn to dance the steps with a partner, your highness,” he murmured in greeting, trying to restrain the smile threatening to burst across his face, the months away from the royal after his first visit to this realm fading away into dust as he took the opportunity to hold James in his arms. Their last meeting had been a hurried press of bodies and panted breaths, neither willing to say goodbye or allow emotions to cloud the raw connection they had experienced in the waxing light of dawn before Liam had departed for home on the Jewel. The much simpler, relaxed hold that he had on the prince now contrasted to those moments entirely, though he could not deny he favoured the absence of the urgency of their former meeting. 

Being sent to recruit the unpredictable James Nolan, no matter what he demands had already set alarm bells ringing in Liam’s mind. He had heard all the whispers, the way James had played the field of agents, hoping from bar to bed with most of them only to break his contract when he tired of them, working instead through his brother’s agent or managing his own business.It had been a deal with the odds stacked against him from the start. 

A nervous edge to his smile graced his face as James lay forth his demands, the fingers that weren’t curled around the complimentary champagne flute in his hand pressing against his lips, the firm pressure helping him find the words he needed in the somewhat concerning mind blank he’d experienced when he’d felt that heated gaze travel the length of his body. “You mean, like -” The words stumbled from him as his hand dropped to the side, but he could not form the sentence correctly, too hooked on propriety and privacy of certain matters in the public eye. He could not keep his eyes on James, glancing around the room to make sure no one was hearing their conversation, to make himself think straight before he formed the second question he had in mind.