Page 32 of The Prince's Sacrifice

Tor’s face lit up, showing that smile Pel only saw directed at him. Pel was pretty sure he was going to wind up heartbroken, but he’d take every moment with Tor he could get. It would be worth it. Pel would make sure of it.

As they realized that the sun was dipping behind the mountains to the west, they finally packed up and remounted their horses to head back to the castle.

They definitely wouldn’t be training with the guards today.

“Oops.” Tor didn’t sound the slightest bit repentant.

Pel took his duty very seriously, but he couldn’t bring himself to regret it, either. He’d Tendrilled for the first time—and rather like every first he’d had with this man, it had been glorious. It meant this was worth fighting for, even if Pel feared it was a fight they were going to lose.

Chapter Six

Tor

Ihave a new idea,” Tor told Pel one night, about a week after they’d started Tendrilling. They were definitely Blending already, even Pel’s magic practically leaping at Tor as soon as they joined hands. It was the easiest thing in the world, and Tor had been told it was as easy as breathing once you were bonded.

Pel grinned. “Oh, yeah? What are you thinking?”

Every few nights, Tor tried to suggest something new that they could do together.

“It’s a surprise,” he said with a grin. “Do you trust me?”

“Of course.”

That trust took Tor’s breath away. He was going to do everything in his power to be worthy of it. He still felt a squirm of guilt when he thought about his original plan. Thankfully, no harm had been done. Torwasn’tusing Pel, even if that was what he’d planned at first. Pel had made him work for it, Tor had actually gotten to know him, and he’d realized this really was the man he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. No subterfuge required. Tor would fight his brother andanyoneto get to keep Pel.

“C’mere,” Tor said with a grin. “I want you in my lap, riding my cock.”

Pel liked that configuration—he seemed to like everything they did together, although Tor was careful to propose things he thought Pel would like and to watch him carefully for his response.

Pel was the one doing most of the work, driving himself down on Tor’s cock as Tor leaned back against the headboard.

“This is going to be murder on my thighs,” Pel muttered.

“Saying you can’t handle it?” Tor asked with mock innocence.

Pel swore at him and tightened all his muscles, making Tor’s laugh stutter off into a groan. Tor held out his hands. Pel took them, and Tor sent his magic reaching for Pel. Pel sucked in a sharp breath and responded, and now Tor was filling Pel with his cockandhis magic. Pel was filling Tor in return, the connection humming between them as Pel sank down.

It made everything feel ten times more intense.

“I didn’t know you could do that,” Pel gasped out.

Tor had never thought to do it before, to be honest. He wondered if this was what bonded people felt all the time when they were having sex, and if so, he could understand why they liked it. Actually, he could see why no one did it with one-night bed partners. This was far too intimate.

Their fingers clenched more tightly together as Pel sped up his motion, thrusting down again and again. Pel kissed him, his cock pressing against Tor’s stomach. Tor wished he could stroke it, but both his hands were occupied at the moment.

The pleasure was building along with the magic inside them, and Tor could happily stay like this forever.

Hewouldfigure out how to keep this. He could truthfully tell Varex no more orgies or drinking. He’d be stayingfaraway from Fernila’s attendants. And if his brother and sister-in-law got tired of him, they could send him to spend time in Tond without anyone thinking it was unusual. So really, there were no downsides, right?

Pel pulled back so he could increase his tempo again, slamming down hard and snapping Tor’s attention back to what they were doing. He clenched his muscles, which made Tor groan.

“You’re really good at that,” Tor gasped out.

“Thanks.” Pel grinned. “You’re an excellent teacher and very motivational.” He squeezed their hands tighter. “This was inspired. I didn’t realize it would feel that different.”

Tor grinned at him. “Me, neither. It was something I wanted to try with you.”

Pel smiled at him, softer this time, the way he did when Tor admitted that they were doing something special. Tor wanted to assure him of that every single day. He grasped Pel’s hands tighter, watching the magic weave around them, and thrust up as best he could from this position.