Chapter 38
Chapter
Thirty-Eight
Elias led Gerard down the corridor to the rooms provided for the royal family of Draconia.
Elias had no plans to ever return to his room and be anywhere near his stepmother or half-siblings again. And honestly, he really didn’t want to see any more of his father.
Of course, he would have to go and see Colette regularly. But perhaps he could move her into one of the Draconian rooms. They could both pack up their stuff and move into this part of the monastery, and Elias could avoid his family for the rest of the peace assembly. Perhaps his life.
His lungs clenched at the thought of never seeing his father again. Because he didn’t hate his father. If he did, that might make it all easier. Elias knew his father cared for him and loved him even in his own way. His father just loved his stepmother more. And unfortunately, she despised Elias.
He shoved those thoughts aside. He was married! It was his wedding night! There was no need to think of anything unpleasant now. He wanted to focus all his attention on Gerard.
Elias threw a smile over his shoulder. “We’ll finally make it to one of our beds tonight.” They’d yet to manage that.
Gerard smiled. But it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Elias stopped. “What’s wrong?”
Gerard glanced back towards the banquet hall. “You and Luther. Did you ever …”
Elias laughed, shaking his head. “No! Never. But he did lead Onyx to believe that we’d had sex.”
Gerard frowned. “What? Why would he do that?”
Elias rolled his eyes. “You’d have to ask your brother. I don’t know how Luther’s mind works. But my guess is to make Onyx jealous.”
Gerard nodded. “That would make sense. Luther did used to enjoy annoying Onyx a great deal.”
“And it definitely annoyed him. Onyx used to glare at me like I’d … well, like I’d fucked his husband. But Luther must have told him the truth, because he doesn’t glare at me anymore.”
“But what was that thing he mentioned?” Gerard asked. “The comment about your magic.”
“Oh. That. I told him that although my magic is rather weak, the sparkles can be fun in the bedroom.” The word weak tasted like ash on his tongue.
Elias had never minded lying to others about his powers before. The only person he’d ever wanted to tell the truth to was his father. And he’d been right to keep that secret. But continuously lying to Gerard rankled.
“Really?”
Elias winked. “I’ll show you tonight.”
They walked the rest of the way to the Draconian quarters. Four Draconian guards saluted. Two of them opened the doors as one.
“Well-trained guards,” Elias murmured.
And as they entered the quarters, he noticed several more on duty, standing down the corridor.
In fact, he’d noticed guards constantly trailing after several of the royal family, especially the king and queen consort.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you didn’t trust the warrior monks to protect you. ”
“We must be careful. Especially at present.” Gerard fixed Elias with a firm gaze. “In fact, I would like to provide you with your own personal Draconian guard to escort you when you leave our quarters.”
“You don’t have any following you around,” Elias pointed out.
“I can defend myself. I’m a dragon, and I’ve also been trained in hand-to-hand combat,” Gerard said. “But you are lacking in any ability. If you were attacked, you would be unable to protect yourself.”
It wasn’t meant to be an insult. Gerard said the words so matter of fact. Because to Gerard they were. After all, how many times had Elias practically boasted about his lack of magical ability?
When Elias didn’t respond, Gerard took his hand and squeezed. “We are yet to determine who Warden Flint worked with. I would not want you hurt or killed.”
Elias lowered his gaze to hide his face. He swallowed. The thing was, he could defend himself! He just couldn’t tell Gerard that.
“Fine,” Elias said.
Gerard let out a breath, and they continued to walk.
A guard stood by the door. Gerard slipped a key into the lock and turned it. “Only myself and one of our trusted servants has a key to my room. I’ll provide you with one too.” They entered.
“So this is your room?” Elias asked.
Gerard nodded.
There was a seating area with some chairs, a large table, a dresser, a bathtub, and several cupboards. Candles flickered. A bottle of wine and glasses sat on the table along with a platter of food. But what most captured Elias’s attention was the large four-poster canopy bed.
“Nice.” Elias strode straight towards the bed. He glanced at Gerard. “Whatever should we get up to now?” He pulled out hairpins and placed them on furniture as he passed. He dropped his clothes and boots onto the floor.
All the while, Gerard watched him silently.
Elias turned and sat on the bed, completely naked now. He tilted his head up.
“Are you ready to consummate our marriage?” He reclined. “I know it is a hardship, but we really must do our duty.” He slid a hand down the centre of his chest and towards his quickly filling cock. “For peace.”
He stroked himself and moaned.
Gerard stood in the middle of the room, watching Elias. His gaze fixed on the motion of Elias’s hand jerking his length.
“Well, if it is for peace, then we must,” Gerard said, voice husky. He tugged off his coat.
Elias crawled back until he lay in the middle of the bed. Gerard turned away and hung his coat over the back of a chair. He removed his boots and trousers. Then his fingers reached for the ties of his tunic. He hesitated.
Elias didn’t speak. That first day they’d been together, at the Tournament of Dragons in Gerard’s tent, Elias could sense Gerard had not wanted Elias to see the scars on his torso. Since then, Gerard’s chest had always remained covered in front of Elias. Elias hadn’t commented or pushed.
After a moment, Gerard tugged at the ties. He took a deep breath and removed his tunic.
In the dim light of the candles, Elias could see that the lightning scars covered a large part of his chest and travelled over his shoulders and half his stomach.
But just like the scars on Gerard’s face, Elias did not find them unappealing. Not at all. Elias licked his lips as his cock throbbed in his hand.
Gerard strode towards the bed, gaze not meeting Elias’s. Elias reached for him. Gripping his arms, he pulled Gerard down on the bed beside him.
Gerard’s breath came fast.
Elias cupped his cheek. “You’re beautiful. You’re so fucking magnificent.” And before Gerard had time to respond, Elias kissed him, hard and firm.
When the kiss broke, Elias asked, “Is it okay if they are touched? Or would you prefer I avoid doing that?” Honestly it would be difficult for Elias to avoid touching them. But if Gerard did not wish for Elias to touch the scars, then he wouldn’t.
He wanted Gerard comfortable more than anything else.
Gerard swallowed. “It’s fine. But you should know they feel like … well …” He trailed off.
“Like scars?”
Gerard nodded.
Elias kissed him again. This time, he swept his hands over Gerard’s shoulders. Not seeking out the scars but not avoiding them either. He just wanted to touch Gerard, his husband, the dragon warrior, the man who had almost killed him and who he’d almost killed.
At first, Gerard tensed, but as they continued to kiss, his muscles relaxed beneath Elias’s hands and his lips softened against Elias’s. Their tongues entwined.
Elias’s chest tightened. Gerard had let down his guard with Elias.
And yet Elias still kept his lies. He wished, not for the first time, that he could tell Gerard his truths. But he knew he could not.
It was just that Gerard was so strong and straightforward. He made Elias feel safe. And Elias hadn’t felt safe with anyone in … Well, not since his mother. He wondered what it would be like to tear down the walls between them. To be honest and be his complete true self for once.
Their naked bodies pressed together. Gerard’s hard cock rubbed against Elias’s thigh. Gerard gripped his arse and squeezed. Elias groaned.
Despite the fact they were both completely naked, wrapped up in each other, Elias could feel the lies between them.
But he did not wish to think of that anymore. Not tonight.
Elias rolled Gerard onto his back. He leaned over him. His hair hung down around them like a silken white curtain blocking them off from the rest of the world.
“So do you want to see what my magic can do?” Elias had held back the sparkles with Gerard. He’d been uncertain about using his magic on the man he’d almost killed with it.
But he’d been denying Gerard. And he didn’t want to deny him anymore.