Page 56 of The Night Prince 6

He pushed that thought aside. There were far more important things to think about. Like the fact that Declan wasn’t alone in having a first this night.

“To be honest, I think this is the first time I’ve been with someone I truly care for, too,” Aquilan said and found his cheeks heating.

Declan tilted his head to the side and the faintest smile parted his lips and showed the hint of fangs. Heat pooled between Aquilan’s legs and his cock pulsed in reaction.

The Kindreth are so like us and so different, too.

There was the sense he was in the presence of someone incredibly dangerous. Not that Declan would ever hurt him. But it reminded him of the time when he’d found himself face to face with a wyvern.

He’d been climbing in the Cithrel Mountains and accidentally stumbled upon a nest. The golden creature had been curled around a single egg that was half as large as him. The wyvern, too, had red eyes, which had been fixed upon him, but less with desire than… Well, maybe it was desire. But it was the desire to eat him.

Declan didn’t want to eat him.

Not that way.

He shivered at the pleasurable thought of Declan wanting to do the other kind of devouring.

“I am glad that you feel similarly, but I know you have lived a long time,” Declan answered. “So you have had much experience with lovemaking.”

Lovemaking? No. Having sex? Yes. But the word still sticks in my throat, too, my Shadow.

“Not as much as your father,” Aquilan found himself saying with a wry smile.

Declan let out a huff of laughter. “No one has as much experience as him. And he will proudly tell anyone who asks about it.”

Aquilan chuckled. Vex attempting to give his son sexual advice had been rather endearing if not exactly traditional.

“I hope you don’t mind that I sent him away,” Aquilan said. “I assumed you wanted us to be alone, but–”

“I am most grateful.” Declan’s eyes glowed a sulfurous red and he tossed his head back. “He talks too much.”

Aquilan let out a tinkling laugh. “You truly are bold to say such a thing about the Night King!”

Declan shrugged. “It is distracting and the last thing I want is to be distracted from you.”

Aquilan’s throat became tight. He’d had attentive lovers. He’d had lovers who had composed poetry about his beauty. They’d sung songs about their adoration for him. And it wasn’t that he didn’t appreciate their efforts–or know how precious it was to inspire such artistic expression–but this felt different. Having all of Declan’s attention meant more than any epic poem or romantic ballad.

“I am honored,” he admitted.

“As I said, I know you have had much experience in this so I do not believe it will be as momentous for you–”

“It will be,” Aquilan breathily cut him off. “Shadow…”

Declan slow-blinked at him, obviously enjoying his pet name.

“Shadow,” his voice dropped, “quality always trumps quantity. But, more importantly, this is our first time together and I can assure you that I have never experienced something as meaningful.”

Declan slow-blinked once more and nodded. “I understand. This matters as much to you as to me.”

“Yes.”

“I am so glad. I cannot… words are not my friends, as you know. But that truly makes me happy,” Declan said, proving, yet again, that words were his friends. He always expressed himself so beautifully.

“Now that we’ve got that out of the way. Tell me what you want to do,” Aquilan urged.

He is new at this and I will guide, but let him take the lead. Not that he seems uncertain or shy…

Like in all things, Declan appeared to be studying the situation and coming up with a strategy to conquer. His toes curled again.