Chapter 3 #2
After a long, agonising moment, Rain lifted his gaze—and groaned at the sight of the adorably flustered man across the room. His cock throbbed painfully.
“Fuck, Rouge… you are bloody intoxicating,” he exhaled.
Jay’s shoulders softened, relief replacing concern.
“That was… intense. You didn’t have to stop, though.” His cheeks flushed crimson.
Rain let out an incredulous laugh. “I most certainly did. We almost had the whole community swinging left, right, and centre.”
Arousal was a dangerous emotion; it was too easy to project and too hard to contain. It had been years since anything short of physical foreplay had pushed him this close to losing control. Embarrassing really—like a premature release. If he’d waited a moment longer…
He couldn’t finish that thought, instead he scanned the area. No alarms. No sudden spikes of lust. Just a mild rise in morale and Jay’s parents feeling unexpectedly frisky.
Jay cleared his throat. “Umm… babe? I could totally vibe being pinned to the wall at your mercy.” He tried for confidence, though his voice wavered. “But if you’re gonna insist we behave…, could you let me down?”
Rain hesitated, his power still holding Jay in place. He forced a slow breath, reining in the lingering energy. With a subtle nod, the invisible force eased, releasing Jay back to the floor.
The tension shifted, softening, though threaded with anticipation.
Jay stepped forward, a shy smile tugging at his lips as he approached. “We can take it slow. But you already know how much I like you.” His fingers brushed Rain’s cheek, tender and sure. “We both know I can’t hide my feelings from you.”
Rain hummed, pressing a gentle kiss into Jay’s palm. He tugged him closer, resting their foreheads together. Jay’s energy soothed the last of his panic, grounding him.
With Jay’s parents’ mere feet away, in a kingdom that would persecute them both if they were caught, Rain couldn’t afford to lose himself.
Maintaining control was exhausting. Every fibre of him yearned to surrender, to close the distance, to drown in the man before him. He had known countless lovers, indulged in every desire without hesitation—yet now, with the one person he truly wanted, he was painfully restrained.
“Jay darling, dinner is ready!” his mother called from downstairs, interrupting the moment. “Come down and set the table, please!”
Jay groaned, pouting like a child denied his favourite treat. “Ah, this sucks.”
“I take it I’m not invited to dinner,” Rain smirked, pulling him in for a soft kiss.
He was joking—mostly. They both knew the truth. There would be no shared family dinners, no normalcy. Their moments would always be stolen, fleeting and precious.
And for now… that had to be enough.
“Stay?” Jay pleaded. “Get comfy, make yourself at home. I’ll be super quick—it’s Mum’s lasagne. It’ll be devoured before you even make it out the window.” He pouted, lacing their fingers together, puppy-dog eyes begging for Rain to agree.
They both knew Rain should leave. But faced with that adorable request and the chance to savour their first real moment together he couldn’t resist. He nodded, smiling as Jay’s joy lit up the room.
“I won’t be long!” Jay squealed, planting a quick kiss on Rain’s lips before darting out the door.
The loss of his touch hit instantly, but Rain kept himself tethered to Jay’s energy, feeling him flit excitedly around the floor below.
He glanced around the room again, struck by how personal it felt.
Every detail—the worn items, scattered belongings, posters, quotes—reflected pieces of Jay’s personality.
Compared to the vast opulence of Rain’s palace chambers, this room was modest. Rain’s ensuite alone was larger.
Yet this space felt warm, lived-in, real.
Jay was nineteen, four years younger than Rain but it wasn’t age that set them apart. It was the innocence. Jay had never been exposed to the brutality of royal life. His presence radiated something unspoilt, something Rain found both foreign and heartbreakingly endearing.
Maybe that was why Rain had tried to resist him. He feared contaminating Jay’s purity with his own toxicity.
He flopped onto the bed, sprawling across the burgundy striped sheets. A broody, dark-haired musician with intense blue eyes stared down at him from the ceiling.
At least I’m his type, he chuckled to himself.
Closing his eyes, he drifted toward Jay’s energy, feeling him through the house.
His mother radiated nurturing warmth—fussing, offering more food, insisting he was a growing boy.
His father felt serious, overworked, distracted.
That, at least, Rain understood. Jay’s eagerness to return tugged at him, and Rain smiled softly.
Maybe this is what love feels like.
Rain had been in relationships before, but they were always superficial.
Escapes, not connections. He had been betrothed to Princess Ivy Emerald of the Green Kingdom since conception.
Their relationship was… complicated. Ivy was breathtaking, powerful, and possessed the ability of sexual seduction—a touch that could incapacitate, manipulate and enthral.
Many had been brought to their knees before her, entirely entranced by her wicked games.
For most, her power was intoxicating. Her touch a siren song leading them toward the icy depths between her legs.
For Rain, it was overwhelming. His empathic abilities made him vulnerable to her.
One touch and they were both swept into a whirlwind of mind-shattering pleasure.
When consensual, it was exhilarating. They once lost a week to lust, much to the dismay of the household staff who had been caught in the amplified energy.
It was one of the few times Rain hadn’t drowned in guilt afterwards and even more surprising–he’d enjoyed Ivy’s company.
But the connection was toxic. Ivy’s enchantment ensnared him in a cycle of pleasure and pain, duty and resentment. She didn’t understand the word no — or refused to. Rain had grown tired of being at the mercy of her power and resented the expectation that he belonged to her.
He had never loved her. He wasn’t sure he could love anyone.
Their marriage had been delayed only because Rain’s lack of control made the union dangerous.
At sixteen a taboo incident during their prenuptial celebrations — involving Ivy’s brother and two friends in a three-day orgy—had exposed the risks.
Buying him time. The incident strained the allied friendship between the Green and Blue siblings.
Sebastian blamed Rain, despite being the instigator and became opposed to the betrothal.
Rain didn’t care; he’d always found him to be an insufferable prick and the opposition aligned with his own agenda.
But Jay… Jay was different.
Rain’s feelings for him were new, frightening, hopeful. He had never fully committed himself to one person, his abilities made it impossible. People became addicted to him, to the emotional high he provided and relationships blurred into toxic cycles.
He believed in monogamy, expected it of his partners, but life had shown him it was out of reach for him. The constant disappointment made him avoid emotional connections.
Yet here he was, wanting something real. Wanting Jay.
The thought terrified him. The weight of Ivy, of obligation, of his past—all of it pressed on him. The idea of being intimate with anyone but Jay now filled him with anxiety, and they had only just kissed. It was madness. Yet, he feared hurting him. He feared contaminating someone so pure and good.
He winced, lost in the tangle of longing and dread. He could almost hear mournful violin strings underscoring his inner turmoil.
Footsteps on the stairs tugged him back. Jay’s energy approached, warm and bright. Rain rolled onto his side, propping himself on an elbow as the door creaked open.
Jay beamed, every sweet emotion visible on his face. “You stayed!” he gushed, stepping inside. “And you’re in my bed… laid like that… looking at me with those eyes. I must be dreaming.” His confidence faltered as he neared the bed.
Rain grabbed a handful of his shirt and pulled him into a kiss. Jay melted instantly, climbing onto the bed as Rain drew him closer. Jay tasted of home-cooked food, and Rain’s stomach growled in protest. Jay laughed, smoothing a hand over Rain’s abdomen as he settled beside him.
Rain’s gaze caught on orange splashes down Jay’s front.
“You seem to have missed your mouth, Master Rouge,” Rain teased, tracing a finger around the stain.
“Oh Gods, how embarrassing!” Jay groaned, scrubbing at the stain on his shirt.
“Don’t be embarrassed,” Rain murmured, voice low and warm. “If it tasted as good as it does on your lips, it makes sense you’d save some for later.”
“You tease too much,” Jay laughed and then, with a sudden burst of boldness, he pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it aside.
Rain’s breath caught. His eyes darkened, the playful energy between them shifting into something deeper, heavier. Jay noticed—of course he noticed—and a mischievous smirk curved his lips.
“It’s my turn to tease you,” he whispered, climbing into Rain’s lap. While straddling him, his hands slid over Rain’s hard abs and up his chiselled chest, slow and deliberate. The movement pressed him against Rain’s awakening bulge, friction sparking heat between them.