The Prince’s Sacrifice (Princely Plans #2)

Chapter One

Pel

Waking up next to Tor for the second morning in a row still felt unbelievable.

But when Pel opened his eyes, there the man was, sleeping next to him, fully relaxed and peaceful in a way he wasn’t when awake.

Pel took a moment to drink in the sight of him.

Even when Pel had been annoyed by Tor, he’d been attracted to him.

Now there was no reason not to avidly take in the lean, muscled form that Pel was beginning to know so intimately.

He could gaze as much as his heart desired at the long stretches of pale skin, the dark hair that had been surprisingly soft in Pel’s grasp, the clever fingers that knew exactly how to elicit a reaction from Pel, the lips that were soft and sweet—and sometimes hot and demanding.

He couldn’t see the bright blue eyes at the moment, but just remembering how intently they’d looked at Pel a few hours ago made a shiver run through him.

Last night had been wonderful, and Pel hadn’t felt anxious in the same way he had the first night.

He’d feared he wouldn’t be able to sleep or they’d constantly wake one another up or Tor would realize this was all a terrible mistake…

but the reality was quite different. Yes, he’d roused a couple of times, and Tor had once shifted sleepily and woken him, but that hadn’t irritated him.

It had actually been a happy reminder that he was here in bed with Tor, although he supposed the novelty might wear off eventually.

But honestly, it was an experience that filled Pel with giddy joy, like bubbles fizzing around inside him.

He liked the sounds the other man made, his smell, the look of him—and obviously all the lovely things they could do together.

They’d scarcely begun, of course, but Tor had been kind and patient—plus he’d definitely reached completion, so even if Pel was out of his depth, he was learning.

And as inadequate as he felt, sometimes, compared to Tor’s vast array of knowledge, Pel still didn’t like the idea of having meaningless sex with people.

He couldn’t imagine doing this with someone who merely tolerated him or secretly wished that he was one of his much-more-attractive siblings.

And that meant Pel was here now at twenty-eight, figuring this out for the first time with, of all people, the High Prince of the United Realms. Tor’s extensive experience was helpful, but he’d also made Pel feel like they were figuring things out together.

Pel knew he couldn’t be that skilled at using his mouth or hands, but Tor’s physical reactions had reassured Pel that Tor wasn’t simply saying he was enjoying himself.

It was a very heady feeling to know that Tor was aroused by Pel, that Pel could get him off.

Plenty of other people had done that over the years, of course, which made a bit of a lump settle in Pel’s stomach, but he recognized he didn’t have the right to judge the man for things he’d done before he’d even met Pel.

Well, not just before he’d met Pel. He knew about Lashuna and the serving woman and the stable hand here in Tond, after all. Was that… still happening? Because Pel was quite sure he couldn’t treat that with equanimity.

Unfortunately, he was still thinking about it when Tor woke up and smiled sleepily at him, dark hair adorably mussed, and somehow, Pel blurted out, “I’d prefer if you didn’t have sex with anyone else.”

Tor blinked at him, sleepiness fading rapidly, confusion replaced with something that looked uncomfortably like hurt. “I’m not having sex with anyone else.”

Pel felt himself flush as he tried to explain hurriedly, “We didn’t actually talk about it.

And I know that there are some people here that you have slept with, and I don’t know what sort of arrangement you have with them.

I suddenly thought that I should tell you how I felt about that, though I realize now that this was probably not the way to do it. Sorry.”

He sucked in a breath and made himself stop talking, because he’d blurted that all out to a man who’d been awake for less than a minute.

Pel was a fool.

Only then Tor leaned over and kissed him, his lips warm and soft. Pel sank into the kiss with relief.

Pressing a final gentle kiss to Pel’s lips, Tor pulled back to say, “I’m new to romantic relationships, as we’ve already discussed, and I still need to improve my communication skills.

I should have clarified sooner, but I guess we’re actually only on day two of being in a relationship.

I haven’t and won’t have sex with anyone else while we’re together. ”

Uncomfortable lump still in his stomach, Pel mumbled, “But what about Lashuna and Takun?”

“We only had sex the once,” Tor assured him.

“But they wanted to have more sex,” Pel strove to clarify. “I mean, they wanted to have sex with more than just the two of them.”

“That was a mutual decision,” Tor responded easily. “Some people like to have sex with more than one person.”

“You do,” Pel pursued doggedly.

He couldn’t simply let this go, not when he knew that he was only one person—and not a person that very many people found appealing. Tor had demonstrated his desire for Pel, but how could that compare to everyone else in the United Realms?

Tor made a complicated face, one that Pel couldn’t identify. He looked… not unhappy, exactly, but a little bit bemused, a little bit wry, and maybe a bit annoyed.

Pel’s stomach sank. “I know it’s foolish.”

Tor shook his head, refuting immediately, “Not at all. How could it be foolish to want to understand your partner and what the two of you want and don’t want?

” He smiled, the wryness more obvious now in his expression.

“I was actually thinking that I probably deserve this. I once made a remark to my brother in his wife’s hearing about all the things he used to get up to before he was married. ”

Pel shot him a look, and Tor had the grace to look embarrassed.

“I know, I know. That’s what I’m saying.

Fernila and I don’t bring out the best in one another.

I was being an ass, but we’ve already discussed that, haven’t we?

Varex said that what happened before their marriage was just that, and I would be relieved one day that the same was true for me.

I was rather dismissive, but now I understand exactly what he was saying.

I don’t know what to say except that it is, indeed, in the past, not the present.

” He grimaced. “Which seems singularly inadequate.”

“I know you did things before me,” Pel told him, still trying to explain himself in a way that didn’t make him seem totally unreasonable. “I’ve been enjoying your expertise. But… I’m also going to pass people in the castle who’ve had sex with you.”

Tor grimaced. “I didn’t think of it like that. And in the spirit of complete honesty, I might be annoyed if the situation were reversed. But I, uh, can’t undo the fact that I had sex with them and can only assure you that I won’t do it again now.”

“What if you get bored?” Pel asked in a voice that didn’t come out as steady as he wanted it to.

“Why would I get bored?” Tor looked more confused than anything.

Pel huffed out a breath, exasperated, and snapped, “Because you like to have sex with more than one person! Because I’m only one person! The most boring and regular and—and Unremarkable person in the United Realms!”

He was inexperienced, utterly average-looking, and possessed the smallest amount of magic. What was appealing about that?

Pel’s world tilted abruptly, and he found himself on his back pinned by the other man. Tor’s blue eyes flashed, and he looked down at Pel from his position a scant few inches above him.

“You are an amazing person. I’ve never found you boring, not since I came here and actually got to know you.

Your magic might be classified as Unremarkable, but you are extraordinary.

You’re kind and thoughtful and beautiful and one of the best people I know.

Yes, you’re only one person, but to be perfectly frank, I can’t imagine dealing with anyone else. Pel, I swear you’re who I want.”

Pel dragged a breath in and then blew it out in a shuddering exhale, trying to quell the storm of emotions inside him.

“I want you so much,” he admitted, his voice unsteady. “I haven’t… I haven’t ever felt like this before. It’s a little overwhelming.”

“We can figure it out together,” Tor assured him. “We can get rid of the people I’ve had sex with.”

Pel blinked at him, stunned. “You can’t just get rid of people!”

“Of course I can.” He sounded supremely certain. “We can send them to Alossa. I’ll find a job for them there.”

Pel’s brain tried to grapple with this cavalier idea of sending people from Tond in the north across the entirety of the United Realms to Alossa in the south.

“They might have families here,” he pointed out. “They might not want to go.”

“Then I could move their entire families,” Tor answered easily. “Or I could pension them off if they’d rather stay here.”

Pel was still struggling with this. “You would pay all the people you’ve had sex with to retire so that they were out of the castle?”

“If it makes you more comfortable,” Tor agreed simply.

Looking at his steady, worried gaze, Pel knew the man was serious. Because he was ridiculous. And incredibly sweet.

It felt like the ground had firmed up under Pel again, and he was able to ask, “Out of curiosity, would the castle continue to function if we got rid of all the people you’ve slept with? I would hate to have to explain a dearth of staff to King Forex.”

Pel’s father didn’t like to be inconvenienced in any way, and he would not be amused.

Tor eyed him for a moment as though to make sure that Pel wasn’t serious, and then he cracked a smile, Pel laughed, and Tor looked desperately relieved.

Pel might be the only one who needed to worry about past sexual partners, but it was clear Tor was invested in this, too.