Nicholas
ISTOOD UNDER the spray of the shower for far longer than I usually did, letting the scalding water wash the day off me and ease the tension in my shoulders. Part of me was exhausted by the jam-packed schedule and meeting with so many different people, and it was only day one.
But the interactions had also energized me, something I hadn’t expected. There had been so many smiling faces, so many stories they’d shared with me, of my father, my mother, of their own lives, funny little stories and kids who had no filter.
There’d also been one more huge part of the day, one I wasn’t sure I could’ve done without—Noah.
I’d thought Gabriel was crazy to suggest asking him to join me in my car, but it turned out to be exactly what I needed. Noah knew what to say, what to do, to give me the calm and confidence I’d needed today.
I’d never had that, no one to hold my hand or tell me I did a great job or soothe my emotions when it felt overwhelming. No one to give me advice that wasn’t coming at it from a purely professional standpoint.
No one to wander through the markets with me…
I shut off the water and toweled off as I thought about catching glimpses of Noah taking it all in for the first time and wishing I could be there beside him.
Holding his hand as we sampled the wares from the vendors, watching him smile as he caught sight of his first street performers.
He’d been so curious, even as he tried to remain professional in his role.
I wrapped the towel around my waist and caught a glimpse of myself in the foggy mirror, not looking anything like a king in this moment, my hair wild. I was just a man, just Nicholas, and it made me long for the one person who saw me the same way.
In the back of my mind, I knew better than to do it, but what was the point of being the king if I didn’t take advantage of the perks?
Before I could convince myself it was a bad idea, I knocked on my door to alert my security, and they opened it right away.
“Your Majesty?” Paul asked, scanning me up and down and then looking past me for any sign of disturbance.
“I’m fine, Paul, but I need you to bring Noah Bennett up right away, please.”
Even though it was an unusual request, he nodded and said, “Yes, sir,” without so much as blinking. He took off at once, leaving his partner on guard as I shut the door.
Oh God. I was really going to do this. Everything had been building up to Noah and I finally being alone together, out of tunnels and stolen moments—finally taking the next step, the ones our bodies had been screaming for.
I paced the suite, suddenly aware of everything—the lighting was too bright; there were too many pillows on the bed; the curtains were still open except for the privacy sheers.
I double-checked the bedside drawer, where I’d tucked away some lube and condoms, just in case, even though Noah and I were both on PrEP—something he’d mentioned after our interlude off the tunnels, which confirmed to me we were both on the same page about what we wanted to happen next.
I pulled the curtains shut, then searched for a dimmer, and was messing with it to get it just right when there was a knock on the door.
“You may enter,” I said, dropping my hand before realizing I was still in my towel.
Even though I’d dismissed Noah and the rest of the staff for the evening, he was still in his livery—or maybe he’d just quickly thrown it on when Paul came calling, since his hair was still damp, like he’d showered recently too.
Either way, Noah was a beautiful sight as he stepped inside, giving me a long once-over.
He looked up at me and said, “What can I do for you…Your Majesty?”
“I put him to bed already.” I started toward him. “But there are a few things I need that require your assistance.”
He reached out and traced the top of the towel where it wrapped around my waist. “I’m at your service, sir. Always.”
His hazel eyes twinkled as we reached for each other at the same time, our mouths meeting and hands moving everywhere in an effort to get closer.
After we’d arrived at our accommodations for the evening, it’d been a flurry of activity that kept us apart, and having him back in my arms now felt like coming home.
His lips were soft but hungry, and my cock stirred as I licked inside his mouth for more of him. I threaded my fingers through the wet strands of his hair while his strong hands traveled up my bare back, kneading my muscles as he pulled me in closer against him.
“I missed you,” I said.
“I was with you all day.”
“Not like this.”
Noah brushed his lips over mine. “No. Not like this.”
He angled his head and kissed me, deeper this time, and I reached between us to unbutton his vest. When I got it free, I started on his shirt, but Noah pulled back, glancing at the door.
“We can’t… Your guards—”
“Won’t say a word.”
“They might tell Baxter or—”
“No one,” I said, curling my finger into the front of his pants and pulling him back to me. “Unlike the rest of the staff, my guards are sworn to secrecy. You were never here.”
Noah searched my eyes, his breathing heavy, like he was hoping I was telling the truth but scared about all the what-ifs.
Fuck the what-ifs. I was king.
“If you want to leave, I won’t hold it against you,” I said, but the words were barely out of my mouth before he shook his head.
“No. God, no. I don’t want to leave. I just don’t want to jeopardize you…” His voice trailed off as I unbuttoned his pants.
“Trust me,” I whispered. “Be with me.”
Noah’s eyes closed as he leaned into the kiss, slowly at first, still cautious—but as the urgency of our mouths grew, so did our hands, removing every obstacle between us as fast as we could.
Gone was my towel, his uniform, all of it heaps of clothes on the floor when we finally pulled apart—and saw each other for the first time.
Naked. Hard. Ready to take this further without any more hesitation.
He was the first to move, cradling my face as he kissed me. The urgency and desire radiating off him made my body tremble as I smoothed my hands around his hips to his spectacular ass.
I hummed as his cock rubbed up against mine, the delicious friction making my pulse race as he walked me back toward the enormous bed in the center of the room.
The silk of the opulent duvet tickled the backs of my thighs as they came into contact, and Noah gently urged me up onto the mattress.
I reluctantly let him go, shifting so I could move up the center of the bed, all the while keeping my eyes locked on the gorgeous man standing proud and naked at the end of it, his eyes fixed on me, his dick in hand.
Gone was any trace of the nervous, unsure footman I’d met weeks ago, and in his place was a man who knew exactly what he wanted and had finally been given the permission to take it.
I lounged back on the bed, the mountain of pillows behind me propping me up so I could see every glorious inch of the thick cock Noah was stroking, and I reached for my own.
He lowered his eyes, and I spread my legs for him, making sure he could see just how much I wanted him.
“You’re stunning,” Noah said.
“And you’re too far away.”
He placed a knee on the edge of the mattress and started moving up toward me. “Of course you’re demanding in bed.”
I lowered my gaze from his mouth to the muscles of his arms as he crawled up over me, and then farther down to the light dusting of hair across his broad chest.
“I’m the king. I’m used to getting what I want.”
Noah’s eyes darkened at the edges. “And what is it that you want, Your Majesty?”
I swallowed, the question and my title sounding so sexy on his tongue.
“I want your mouth on me.” I angled my cock toward his lips and Noah flicked his tongue out. “Goddamn.”
“Like that?”
I nodded. “Yes, just like that.”
He planted a hand on either side of my hips and lowered his head until his lips grazed the sensitive tip, then he opened his mouth and swallowed me down.
I reached for that thick, wavy hair of his, spearing my hands through the strands. When he drew his lips off me, I chased him with my hips and pulled him back down.
To see Noah’s head buried between my thighs, the way I’d imagined him so many times before, was like throwing gasoline on a fire.
My need and desire hit a fever pitch as I arched up and thrust into his mouth. Noah slid his hands under my ass and urged me deeper, taking me so far down his throat that his nose was nuzzled against the short crop of curls surrounding my cock.
I crossed my ankles over his back as he moved up and down my length, and when he finally raised his head and released me, he licked his lips.
I was in so much trouble.
It was one thing to be infatuated, to be attracted to my footman and want him near. But as Noah started up my body and took my lips in a fiery kiss, I knew this had gone way beyond that.
I ran my fingers down his cheek to his jaw. “I never stood a chance with you.”
Noah turned his head to kiss my palm. “I never could’ve imagined, never dared to.” He leaned into the touch. “The idea you’d ever see me, ever be mine…”
“You’re all I see.” I lifted myself up off the pillows to touch my lips to his. “Even when you aren’t there, you’re on my mind. Be with me, Noah. Claim me as yours.”
His eyes flared, then he looked to the bedside table and I nodded, answering his silent question before he leaned over to pull out the small bottle I’d stashed in there earlier.
He moved back between my knees and poured some lube into his hand, and I reached behind me and threw several pillows to the floor.
Noah’s lips quirked, his eyes moving to the discarded bedding.
“It was in my way,” I explained as I took the bottle and poured some cool liquid into my palm. Then I stretched out, my head cushioned by the one remaining pillow.
“I want you comfortable,” he said, his eyes roaming down my stretched-out body.
“Not possible with you looking at me like that.” I placed my feet flat on the mattress and spread my legs for him. “I just feel…needy.”