Page 60 of Drown Me Gently

I will carve myself into your memory, so that even when I am gone, you will remember the echoes of my touch.

Ulric stroked him with deliberate motions. Learned every ridge. Every breath. Every gasp and bite of lips. Auren’s hands tangled in the sheets, his mouth parted in desperate moans as Ulric brought him to the edge. He increased the speed of his strokes, squeezing tighter.

“Ulric-Ulric!” Auren said in a hurried panic.

“Don’t fight it. Let go, my prince. I’ll be here to catch you.”

And with a final motion of his wrist, Ulric coaxed Auren over the edge.

He came with a cry, spilling across his stomach in hot, white ribbons.

Ulric leaned forward and kissed him through his orgasm, tasting every moan, sharing in his pleasure. When the member in his hand stopped pulsing, Ulric released him, giving him a moment to return to himself.

“Are you alright spriteling?”

Auren took a moment to respond.

“I-I think so.”

“Are you in any pain?”

Auren shook his head, but looked troubled.

“What is it?” Ulric asked, alarms ringing in his ears.

“Does that… is that a one-time thing for humans? You feel it once, then it’s gone?” He looked so sad as he asked it.

Ulric laughed and pressed a heavy kiss to Auren’s lips.

“Oh no, my prince. I can make you come like that a million more times if you’d like.”

Auren smiled and nodded, “I’d like that.”

Afterward, they lay together, tangled in sheets.

“I didn’t know this body could feel so good,” Auren murmured sleepily. He turned his head, blinking at him. “You make me feel that way.”

Ulric kissed his forehead. “Always.”

And as the fire dwindled to embers, they drifted into sleep, limbs entwined, hearts steady.

Ulric was running out of time. He could feel it. Could sense the magic ebbing away from him day by day. Hour by hour. But as long as this mortal realm would have him, Ulric would stay. He would live in the moment… because in this moment, he had everything he ever wanted resting in his arms.

The town square bustled with late morning life, and Ulric’s coin passed freely. Auren supposed that was the reward for centuries spent scavenging treasures from shipwrecks.

The merchants were delighted to see Ulric. They clapped him on the back and whispered good-natured gossip with a kind of familiarity that struck Auren deep.

He’s been here before. Often.

There was a depth of knowledge that Ulric had hidden from Auren. But they were free now, and Auren didn’t hold back. He asked about anything and everything—the odd way humans preserved food with salt or why some hats were shaped so outrageously tall. And every time, Ulric had an answer, never laughing at his questions (well, maybe a little bit), and offering informative answers.

The sheer amount of information left Auren dazed. He was sure that he'd asked the same question twice, but Ulric never acted annoyed. He answered with the same calm patience every time. And the look in his eyes as he answered them… It made Auren’s knees weak with need.

And yet, through it all, Auren’s mind kept wandering. Kept slipping back to the night before—the feel of Ulric’s hands on his body, his calloused touch, the shared heat of their skin.

How badly he wanted to feel that again.

Still, a part of him remained suspicious. Normally Ulric, practical to a fault, would have insisted they return home by now. After all, if Auren was well enough to walk the bustling streets, surely he was well enough to endure the transformation potion and swim back to Atlantis. To fill his role as prince, and Ulric his station as Court Sorcerer. The thought of them returning to the cold, touchless way they’d been before made Auren want to grind his teeth in frustration.