Beth Bolden - Mine, Forever After

Chapter One

Gray woke very slowly, his brain rousing in tiny increments. First he was aware only of a warm figure pressed against his back, and then breath tickling his neck, lifting the hairs and causing him to twitch. Then a brightness against his closed eyelids, and the sounds of rustling and hushed whispers.

Hed been waking up next to Rory for months now, and it never felt less miraculous. Each and every morning felt like the first time. Without opening his eyes, Gray turned and drew the soft, sleeping bundle closer to his own body, and his sleepy brain reveled in how perfectly Rory fit next to him. Like theyd been made for each other. Maybe they hadEvrard dropped hints aplenty, because that was Evrard; always hinting and forever evading any direct inquirybut Gray had decided that whatever the truth was, it didnt matter, because he knew what it felt like when he was at Rorys side. And something so extraordinary, that gave him this much strength of purpose, had to be born of the strongest, brightest kind of magic.

The rustling departed, and for a single moment, Gray thought another kind miracle had just occurred: Rory sleeping through the servants who prepared the fires every morning.

For the last six months, Rory, with an increasing sense of kingly devotion, had risen with the dawn, and worked long past sundown. There was indeed much to learn and much to do, and even more to administer, now that Rory was the ruler of Fontaine, but even though Gray knew how much his responsibilities encompassed, he still selfishly wished, every once in awhile, that he could keep Rory all to himself.

This morning maybe . Gray held his breath, and carefully tightened his grip around Rorys waist. He sighed, still asleep, and snuggled closer. But then, just when Gray was trying to decide if it was better to let Rory continue to sleep, or to wake him for much more pleasurable activities, Rory jerked awake.

What time is it? he asked groggily, and Gray, who had long since learned that beginning their morning with an argument was a counterproductive waste of time, moved his arm, releasing Rory. Gray finally opened his eyes and took in Rorys sleep-mussed curly hair as he stretched his arms upwards, his limbs milky white in the dawn sunlight.

It wouldnt have mattered if hed been unattractive or even ugly, Gray still would have thought him the most beautiful man in the world. So much of his beauty radiated from within: kindness and cleverness and an indomitable strength that nothing could ever dim.

Gray chuckled tiredly, and rolled over onto his back.

The fires already going, Rory said, and Gray heard his feet hit the floor. Im going to miss my lesson with the Mecant elders. He paused, turning back to Gray. Whats so funny? he asked, and Gray would have to be a lot sleepier to miss the aching tone in Rorys voice. He didnt want to leave their bed, even though he knew he needed to. Maybe it should have helped, but even that particular fact didnt really make Gray feel any better.

I was remembering the first time I met you, and how naive and silly I thought you were, Gray confessed.

And that was amusing because? Rory arched an eyebrow as he reached for a shirt, pulling it over his head.

Their gazes caught and held. Because its very far from how I feel about you now.

Rory smiled, the sight nearly as bright as the sun shining through the windows of their shared bedroom. Well, he said, bending over and giving Gray a tantalizing little glimpse of his pale, peach-shaped arse, glorious and muscled from all the riding he did, its very far from how I feel about you, too.

Laughing in spite of himself, Gray found his grumpy mood dispelled by just how much he loved the man in front of him all the parts of him, including the annoyingly responsible part who wanted desperately to care for his kingdom and make sure it was ushered into a new age of enlightenment and prosperity. You are going to be late now, Gray said. But first, before you leave, come give me a kiss.

Rory did, leaning down over the bed, his mouth moving confidently and passionately against Grays own. It was a good kiss, because all their kisses were. This one, however, felt anticipatory, like a dry pile of kindling, desperately waiting for a spark. It didnt take more than a second to light, and Grays fingers were tightening on Rorys hips, and even as he tried to ignore his hardening cock, it seemed to demand a much different response.

Sorry, sorry , Rory said, hastily breaking away, mouth wet and red, panting a little. He wanted it tooGray could see the hard line of his own cock in his breeches. Maybe it should have helped Gray feel better that Rory was suffering just as much as he was with how little alone time they had together anymore, but it didnt. Not even a little. Tonight, Rory promised.

Gray made a face. Tonight is that banquet that Evrard has been rattling on about for weeks. And that Ive spent the last month of my life planning.

After the banquet? Rory said hopefully, and Gray didnt have the heart to remind him that after the protracted formality of a banquet and a few glasses of wine, hed absolutely come back to their room and fall asleep the moment his head hit the pillow. His schedule was so brutal and exhausting that Gray couldnt even be angry about it.

Gray wanted to help ease his burdendesperately, in factbut whenever Gray brought it up, Rory changed the subject or brushed his concerns away. Gray had been trying a more subtle method up until now, but with his frustration and worry mounting, maybe he needed to be more direct.

While Im planning banquets and deciding on seating arrangements, youre running a country.

Sure, after the banquet, Gray said with a reassuring smile. Maybe if by some miracle, Rory wasnt completely exhausted, they could even have a conversation about it. But before that, it would almost certainly be worth his while to consult Evrard on how he could demand to help without being too forceful or accidentally offending Rory, because that was the very last thing he wanted.

Gray knew hed been meant for more than tending the farm in the Valley of Lost Things, and he knew he could absolutely do more than physically protect Rorys back. And not only that, he wanted to do more, if only because that might mean the enormous burden currently resting on Rorys slim shoulders was lessened.

I love you, Rory said, and while the gaze in his eyes was dimmed from exhaustion, the bright happiness in them hit Gray square in the chest, leaving him breathless for a moment.

Hed never expected to have this, not for the rest of his life, and even though it wasnt perfect right now, it was still so much more than anything Gray could have dreamt, when hed been so alone in the Valley.

Were going to figure this out, Gray swore to himself as he smiled at his lover. I love you too, he said.

It was not quite as easy to be that optimistic a few hours later, when Gray, whod been looking for Evrard, had ended up being cornered by a handful of courtiers instead.

Evrard, in the form of Rhys, had spent the first eleven years of Grays life attempting to burn courtly manners and formal etiquette into his brain. Evrard had been resigned, but not surprised to discover that they hadnt imprinted quite as well as hed imagined, as the informal years in the Valley had eradicated most of this knowledge and every single bit of the diplomacy Gray had once learned. Since then, Gray had been trying to regain the lost language, but truthfully, he still found it difficult to bother . If it had been anybody elses kingdom, even his own, he wouldnt have even made an effort, but for Rory he knew he needed to make peace with the nobles. They were understandably rather perturbed by the Autumn Princes new consort, whose manners seemed more suited to a stable than a throne room.