Chapter Three
Tor
Any time Tor had expectations about Pel, he exceeded them by leaps and bounds. Tor had been willing to bottom for Pel purely because that was what the man wanted, but he hadn’t been entirely sure it was the best way to start.
To be perfectly honest, he’d been more nervous than he wanted to admit, but not only had it been worth it for how much pleasure it brought Pel, it had been exquisite for Tor.
Pel was apparently demonstrating without meaning to why it could be a good idea to start with someone a bit older—or maybe just someone who cared more.
Every intimacy with Pel was better than what Tor had previously experienced.
They still disagreed sometimes, and either one of them could be grumpy, and Tor was sure he still had work to do on how he treated magic compared to how Pel viewed it, but…
everything seemed possible. This felt like something that would challenge and inspire and delight Tor for a long time… like a lifetime.
Was it too soon to mention it to Pel? Was that a bad idea?
Because every once in a while, Pel said something about the future that made it clear he wasn’t envisioning Tor in it with him.
Did he just need more time to come round to the idea?
Was Tor hesitating because it was still too early or because he was afraid?
Well, he didn’t have to make a decision instantly, and in the meantime, he could continue to demonstrate all the awesome benefits of their being together. Because in that respect, it couldn’t be going better. It felt a lot like they were making up for lost time.
They were now making it abundantly clear that they both wanted sex.
When Pel professed himself eager to be on the receiving end of things, Tor arranged them so that Pel was on his back.
“It means I get to watch you,” he said as he fingered the man open. “I like to watch you.”
Pel’s eyes were big and glassy as they fastened on Tor’s. “I like to watch you, too.”
Tor leaned in, and Pel kissed him back hungrily, jerking when Tor found his sweet spot with his fingers.
“Goddess,” Pel breathed. “I knew it was good from how you were reacting, but I didn’t know it felt like that.”
Tor grinned. “Welcome to your sweet spot.”
“Do it again,” Pel commanded.
Laughing, Tor obliged, feeling his own cock respond every time Pel jerked and moaned.
Tor had always liked bringing people pleasure—at least once he’d gotten over himself as a novice—but he couldn’t remember ever wanting it like he wanted this.
Tor would happily make the other man come on his fingers without any stimulation for Tor for the sheer joy of it.
After a few more restless moments with his cock leaking profusely between them, Pel demanded, “Fill me up.”
“Maybe I’m enjoying this part,” Tor said teasingly, solely because he was an ass.
Pel raised an eyebrow. “What if I’m left thinking that I’m actually better at the next part than you are? Won’t your pride be sorely wounded?”
Tor snorted with laughter and leaned in for a kiss. “I would never complain about that, as I’d be getting all the benefits. But I suppose I can show you what I’m capable of.”
Pel grinned at him. “Oh, yeah?”
Tor guided one of Pel’s legs over Tor’s shoulders.
Pel blinked at him. “What? Really?”
“You’re flexible,” Tor told him, unable to stop the silly grin on his face. “And it’ll let me get really deep. If you don’t like it, we can change positions.”
“I like it already,” Pel told him. “It’s ridiculous, like you.”
Tor laughed and guided himself inside Pel in tiny increments, paying strict attention to his every reaction, never letting himself forget this was Pel’s first time experiencing this. Pel watched him with huge eyes and something that looked like wonder on his face.
“Feel all right?” Tor asked once he was fully seated.
It was embarrassing how delighted he was thinking that he was the only person who’d ever done this, that no one had ever been inside Pel as Tor was right now.
Pel considered the question. “It’s actually pretty weird—but nice to be filled with you at the same time.”
Tor felt the same way. He gave Pel a few moments to get used to the feeling of fullness, and then he pulled carefully out. Pel didn’t look away from him, and Tor felt like he was ensnared in that bright gaze.
Tor varied his thrusts, adjusting his hips until he hit Pel’s sweet spot. Pel’s eyes fluttered closed, an expression of ecstasy flickering across his face.
Yes, that was exactly what Tor wanted.
He repeated the motion again and again, until Pel was shaking and moaning, his cock leaking between them—and then Tor eased back just enough to be sure that Pel wouldn’t come. He kept his movements slow, enough to tease but not properly stimulate, slowly building up—and then pausing. Again.
Pel was panting and watching him with a mixture of pleasure and frustration.
“You’re the most incredible tease.”
“I know,” Tor responded happily, feeling joy and pleasure flowing through him in equal measure. “I like to show off. Or hadn’t you noticed yet?”
“But are you capable of the follow through?” Pel demanded. “At this point, I can’t tell. I’m going to need a practical demonstration.”
Tor laughed, punching another moan out of both of them, and then he obediently sped his movements up. This time, he hammered that sweet spot as often as he could, watching Pel’s expressions avidly until ecstasy washed over his face as his cock spurted between them.
Only then did Tor concentrate on his own burning need, no more than a handful of thrusts required before he was spilling inside Pel, grateful for years of practice keeping his magic back in moments like this, because he’d never wanted to share everything with someone as much as he did right now.
Breathing beginning to slow down, he stayed cradled in Pel for a moment, still enjoying his blissed-out look. Then he carefully eased the other man’s leg off of his shoulder before pulling carefully out, catching Pel’s faint discomfort.
Tor leaned in to kiss him. “All right?”
“Yeah,” Pel said, smiling at him softly. “So worth it.”
He said nothing more for the several minutes that it took Tor to clean them up, but it was a very satisfied-sounding silence.
Once they were curled up again, Pel said, “It’s nice to have felt it both ways.”
“Do you have a preference?” Tor asked curiously.
“Well, I mean, you’re really good at this,” Pel said with feeling.
Tor preened. “Thank you.”
“I think I might like both sometimes. Is that all right?”
“Of course.”
Pel turned his head a little to look at Tor more fully.
“Are you just saying that?”
“Why would you think that?”
Blowing out a breath, Pel seemed to take a minute to find words. “You’re very accommodating.”
“And is that a bad thing?” Tor asked.
He wouldn’t have thought so, but the words hadn’t sounded particularly complimentary.
Pel made a face. “I’m not explaining this well.” He licked his lips, and Tor tracked the movement, though it was clear Pel hadn’t been doing it deliberately. “Sometimes it feels a little like you’re catering to me. I mean, like you’re giving me whatever I want whether you want it or not.”
Ah. Tor slung a leg over Pel and straddled him, making Pel let out a squawk of surprise.
“Listen,” Tor said, meeting Pel’s eyes squarely.
“I’ve had a fair amount of sex with a fair number of people.
You already know that. But I rarely have sex with the same person for an extended amount of time.
I’m really enjoying getting to know more and more about you and what you like.
That’s something I didn’t know I was missing before, and I’m very glad that I have the chance to experience it with you now. ”
Pel clutched at him for a moment, and then he relaxed again.
“All right, I see what you mean. Every time I figure out something else that you like, I really feel like I’ve accomplished something. I’m honestly not sure why anyone would want to have sex with a whole bunch of different people.” He made a face. “Sorry. That was probably insulting.”
Tor laughed. “No, I get it. At the risk of sounding too sentimental, all I was looking for back then was something light and fun that didn’t mean too much. And I hadn’t met you yet.”
Pel sucked in a breath, expression open and vulnerable for a moment before he said, “You had met me. You were just undiscerning and too busy flirting with everyone else.”
Tor was so glad Pel could say that in a teasing way now. It was kind of awful that Tor literally hadn’t recognized him. But it seemed like he’d been forgiven, even if it hadn’t been forgotten.
“I see you now,” Tor reminded him.
Pel’s smile was soft. “Yes, you do.”
He leaned up, and Tor met him halfway, the kiss sweet and tender—yet one more thing that Tor hadn’t experienced much of before Pel.
He climbed off Pel and rearranged himself so that he was lying on his back. Pel immediately snuggled closer, resting against the shoulder that he seemed to have decided was his own personal pillow, which Tor totally supported.
“Thank you for coming,” Pel murmured against his skin.
“I always like to come,” Tor told him, so that Pel would laugh.
Tor fell asleep contemplating the convoluted web that had led him here. His terrible original plan had somehow led to this amazing outcome. He didn’t understand, but he was beyond grateful.
Bavil went off on another patrol of the mountain border to check for exile activity. They had more guards deployed on a regular basis, but that was still supplemented by periodic extra patrols, trying to vary the schedule and reduce the ease and frequency with which the exiles were raiding.
Larexa declared that she was ready to take a break from her own defense, and this somehow turned into Tor and Pel sparring without magic—with Larexa watching, so it didn’t lead to anything more fun, but it was entertaining on its own.
Tor didn’t often spar with zero use of his magic, because he was Mantling his skin even if he wasn’t doing anything else.