“And you do realize that most men need to be, uh, prepped more than you do? More stretching or more oil?”
Perian hummed again. “You know, I thought for years that either not all men were created equal or that some of them just weren’t as turned on as I thought they should be?”
Brannal laughed. “Oh, really?”
He nodded. “They taught me at the house of pleasure that preparation was important and it was essential to figure out what made each partner most comfortable, which could mean prepping yourself a bit more so that a partner thought you were ready. I never want anyone to feel uncomfortable, so I always tried to be accommodating.”
Brannal kissed him. “I certainly appreciate how you accommodate me.”
Perian’s grin was lascivious, but then he sobered to admit, “Maybe I should have realized I wasn’t like everyone else.”
It was only now that he fully appreciated that humans weren’t able to relax their muscles as readily as he could, nor did human men produce their own lubricant.
Brannal’s gaze was clear and bright. “You say that like it’s a bad thing, dear heart. I’m delighted by everything about you, including the fact that you’re always ready for me.”
It made sense that carnalions were able to have sex with fewer impediments than humans, but Perian preferred to think about it like that. Perian was always ready forBrannal.
Perian leaned in to kiss him, then leaned his head against Brannal’s shoulder and gazed into the fire.
They sat like that for long, lazy minutes, and then Brannal asked, “Would you like to get cleaned up in the bath?”
“Yes, that’s a good idea. Ooh, that reminds me,” Perian remembered, perking up. “Did Molun write you that he was finally able to have a bath the other day?”
Brannal laughed. “At least three pages about how the water felt on his skin.”
Perian grinned, relieved and amused, because Molun had done the same for him.
“He was so excited,” Perian agreed happily. “Arvus added a postscript that it’s like herding cats, and he’s pretty sure that he’s going to need to tie him to the bed soon. And Molun added a post postscript to ask why he hadn’t started doing that yet.”
They laughed together.
“I’m so glad he’s all right,” Perian said more seriously, swallowing. “I’m sorry I’m not there. Just to see him, but I wonder if I could have helped more with the healing.”
“You helped so much,” Brannal assured him, sounding so relieved.
Perian nodded, trying to breathe out and dispel that feeling that he should have been doing more. It wasn’t like he could sneak back into the castle and crawl into Molun’s bed.
“I hope they’re all right,” Perian said on a sigh.
“Of course they’re all right.” Brannal sounded surprised that Perian would think anything else.
“They don’t have you anymore,” Perian said quietly. “Or me.”
Brannal’s face hardened slightly. “And that wasn’t their choice, unfortunately, but it wasn’t our choice, either. The Queen and Cormal are going to have to live with those consequences.”
“Promise me you won’t regret it?” Perian asked, the words slipping out.
Smiling softly at him, Brannal said, “I promise.”
Perian made a face, shook his head. “No, that’s unfair. Promise me that if youdostart to regret it, we’ll talk about it?”
Brannal looked mutinous for a moment, but he seemed to take in the resolution on Perian’s face, and after a moment, the obstinacy smoothed out, and he nodded.
“I assure you that I don’t regret it at all, and should that change, I will definitely talk to you about it.”
“There are options,” Perian reminded him. “You aren’t stuck here.”
“I’ve never been stuck here,” Brannal pointed out. “This is where I choose to be.”
