13. Ignatius #3
“The better to prepare you for a life spent in service to the Order.” Regret filled Iggie when Alistair grimaced. “Sorry. Forget I said anything. This night is only about you and me.”
“That’s right.” With a visible effort of will, Alistair forced down whatever emotions Iggie’s mention of the Order had dredged up. He shifted so that he lay atop Iggie, another flex of his hips leaving Iggie’s body rigid with desire. “It’s past time we both did our best to distract ourselves.”
A blush rose over Iggie’s pale skin as Alistair’s hands crept lower, drifting beneath the waistline of his pants.
His stomach fluttered. “Wait!” Alistair froze, giving him an uncertain look.
Iggie cleared his throat. “I…uh…” He swallowed the awkward knot lodged in his throat.
“I’ve never really this with anyone before. ”
Alistair furrowed his brow. “Done what, exactly?”
Iggie’s blush intensified until he felt an instant away from combusting.
“This. Anything.” Alistair’s eyes widened, and Iggie rushed to preempt any more questions the paladin might’ve asked.
“I’ve been on the run since I was eleven, never staying too long in any one place in case someone realized what I was or the Order found me.
That doesn’t leave much time for intimacy, especially when every encounter is so full of risk. ”
The understanding in Alistair’s gaze left Iggie feeling far too exposed. “Fair enough. I guess I hadn’t really thought about it.”
A mixture of relief and regret filled Iggie when Alistair withdrew his hand, shifting it to stroke Iggie’s messy hair. Iggie didn’t entirely want to know the answer to the question on his mind but felt like he needed it all the same. “What about you?”
Alistair quirked an eyebrow, seeming more amused than embarrassed.
“I’ve had my fair share of encounters over the years.
There are plenty of people eager to get close to the heir of a noble house, even one as relatively small and unimportant as ours.
” He cleared his throat, reddening slightly.
“Also, plenty of horny boys as new recruits in the…in training.”
Iggie’s heart sank as he nodded. Chuckling, Alistair cupped Iggie’s face, rubbing his thumb along his chin.
“No need to look so glum. We can go at your own pace, and I’m happy to assist if you require any guidance.
Besides, I assure you that most of those exchanges hardly count.
My own intensive training and familial duties left little time for more than fleeting encounters. ”
Fleeting encounters…just like tonight.
Iggie shoved the thought aside, annoyed at himself.
They’d both known this was a one-time deal—no sense pretending otherwise.
In the morning, he’d return to being the fugitive necromancer while Alistair resumed his duties as a Knight of the Order.
This was never going to be anything more than a fleeting encounter. The least he could do was enjoy it.
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he grasped Alistair’s hand and dragged it lower, determined to pick up where they’d left off. To his surprise, Alistair stopped him with a small frown and a hand on his chest.
“Are you sure? I would never force you to do anything you’re not ready for.”
Iggie smiled, his lingering tension easing. “I know. I trust you. You’d never hurt me.”
Alistair froze, his entire body going rigid. Iggie had time to wonder if he’d said something wrong when the paladin burst back to life, hugging Iggie hard enough to crush the air from his lungs. “Never,” he whispered.
There was little time for talking after that.
Iggie lost himself to the delicious slide of flesh on flesh.
His hands combing through Alistair’s silky hair and running along his pebbled skin.
Alistair’s hot breath as he panted into Iggie’s neck while his firm grip tightened around Iggie’s waist. The muscled ridges of Alistair’s abs tensing and relaxing as Iggie caressed them with his lips and tongue.
Alistair’s contented groan when his back arched with pleasure, followed quickly by Iggie’s own ecstatic moan as his mind, heart, and body all thrummed as one.
Afterward, Iggie lay nestled against Alistair’s side, resting his head on the paladin’s shoulder while Alistair absently stroked his hair. Tucked beneath piled blankets beside the still-burning dawnflame, Iggie felt his eyes drooping, the ordeals of the last day catching up to him.
“Are you sure you’re comfortable?” Alistair asked for the hundredth time, his voice laced with worry. “You still feel colder than I’d like.”
Iggie burrowed his face into Alistair’s neck, inhaling his intoxicating scent. “Never better. We can’t all have the holy Light warming our insides.”
Alistair snorted a laugh. “All the more reason to worry about your safety.”
Iggie was fading fast, only half-awake. “Then, I guess you’d better keep me close,” he murmured dreamily, snuggling against Alistair’s side.
That’s how he fell asleep—with Alistair’s arm wrapped protectively over his back, listening to the smooth rhythm of the paladin’s breathing while contentment flooded him for the first time he could remember.