“I can’t live out that dream. But that’s all it was. A lovely, convenient story.” Sei’s hand shifts on the rough blanket, sliding the fabric over the stone beneath. “Now, I want something true.”
Marek’s hand closes the remaining breath to cover Sei’s. His grasp is gentle, his eyes piercing. “What a coincidence. We want the same thing after all.”
Sei’s next desire feels like another dream. A better one. “I also really want to kiss you again.”
“Another coincidence.” Marek touches Sei’s chin and tilts up his face. Lifting him up while holding him to the ground. When they join together, Sei realizes he was wrong. This isn’t a better dream. This is real.
Sei doesn’t need dreams when he has this.
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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Marek
Marek barely tastes Sei’s lips before Sei surges against him, eager to deepen the kiss. It’s clumsy, desperate, perfect. Sei is so soft compared to the hard earth beneath their blanket. Marek can’t remember why he resisted this. Why claiming Sei is a bad idea. Marek could have been doing this for weeks if he simply slept in his own bed.
Except it would have been different. This moment is flavored with every moment they’ve shared before. Marek didn’t truly see Sei the first day they met. Sei was still scared of Marek.
Rightfully so. Marek traces Sei’s jawline with his thumb, gently pushing some distance between them. He wants a read on Sei’s mood—and gets one very clearly.
“Show me how to kiss you.” Sei leans into Marek’s touch. His eyes are warm. More mesmerizing than the deadly rainbow waters. “What do you like?”
“I like lots of things.” Marek is ravenous for any way Sei wants to kiss him. He’s tempted to counter by asking whatSeiwants. But Marek promised he’d start listening. If Sei wants guidance, Marek can oblige. “Let’s start with this.”
Marek pulls Sei up and over. It’s clumsy, awkward, and Sei yelps in surprised delight before settling in Marek’s lap. They sit face to face, and Marek tugs Sei closer by the hips. The shocked thrill in Sei’s eyes is even better than the pressure against Marek’s cock.
“Touch me however you like,” Marek says. “But kiss me slowly.”
Sei nods, eyes intent.
Marek pushes strands of sleek white and blue hair behind Sei’s ear. Just as soft as Marek imagined. Then he pulls Sei in for another kiss.
This one is slower, more controlled. Sei kisses back hard at first, then catches himself. His palms flatten on Marek’s chest, and he melts into Marek. Clearly paying attention, Sei easily picks up Marek’s rhythm.
Careful. Leisurely. Barely restraining the urgency boiling through Marek’s veins. He wants this to be perfect for Sei—because with everything else Sei has never done before, Marek doesn’t have to ask about this too.
Sure enough. When Marek finally lets Sei sit back, Sei blinks up, dazed. “I’ve been missing out. Is kissing always like that?”
Arousal pounds against Marek’s ribs. “Definitely not. I’ve been missing out too.”
Sei surges forward to kiss Marek again. Marek doesn’t expect it. Setting down a hand to brace himself, he knocks into the jar of berries. The jar rolls away, trailing berries as it goes.
“Fuck.” Marek lunges to catch it before it rolls onto the dirt.
Sei squeaks and clutches Marek’s shirt—then bursts into laughter as Marek lifts the jar triumphantly.
“I don’t know what you’re laughing about,” Marek says haughtily. “These are very important berries?”
“Why is that, Your Highness?” Sei asks, still smiling. “Wait. Should I call you Your Highness? Or just Marek? Maybe Storm—”
Marek pops a berry into Sei’s mouth. Which both silences Sei and lets Marek touch the well-kissed curve of his lips. “Please call me Marek when we’re alone. Stormrider makes me think I’m commanding troops.”
Oh. From the way Sei shifts in Marek’s lap, that might not be a bad mood to bring into the bedroom. They can explore that some other time, when they know each other better. When they can think clearly.
Thinking clearly may be impossible with Sei. Especially when Sei plucks a berry from the jar and presses it to Marek’s lips.
The berry is sweeter than Marek usually prefers. He’s far more interested in the soft brush of Sei’s fingers. Holding Sei’s gaze, Marek catches those slim fingers between his lips and licks the juice from them. When he sucks them deeper, Sei gasps and rocks against him.
