Chapter 38

The knock on the door startled them both. They sprang apart clumsily, breath uneven, hastily smoothing hair, wiping cheeks, straightening collars as though nothing had happened. William’s heart still pounded, and Est’s lips still burned from their kisses, but when the door opened, it was only Nut.

The healer paused in the doorway, gaze flicking between them – William standing a little too quickly, Est’s flushed face and mussed hair, the way their gazes refused to quite meet. For the briefest heartbeat his eyes flickered between them, reading the room. Then, with practiced discretion, he simply inclined his head and set down his satchel, cheeks flushing lightly. He didn’t say a word, but the faint stiffness in his posture betrayed that he knew he’d walked in on… something.

He moved briskly to Est’s side, checking his pulse, pressing a hand to his forehead. “Already much stronger,” he murmured, voice gentle but clipped. “The fever’s gone. You’re weak still, but with rest and good nourishment, you’ll mend in a few days.”

Est nodded faintly, fingers twitching beneath the coverlet. William hovered at the bedside, arms stiffly folded, as though trying to mask the way his heart still thundered in his chest.

Nut withdrew, closing his satchel with quiet finality. His gaze lingered once more on Est – and then William – before he said, carefully: “He’ll recover well. But only if he rests.” His pause, subtle though it was, hung in the air like an unspoken warning.

William felt his ears burn. Est looked down, lips twitching with the faintest, betraying ghost of a smile.

“Good night,” Nut finished, bowing. He left without another word, the door shutting with a decisive click behind him.

The silence that followed was suffocating.

William cleared his throat, forcing composure. “He’s right. You need sleep.” He smoothed the coverlet at Est’s side, unable to meet his gaze. “I should let you rest – I’ll be close, if you need me – “

But before he could take a single step away, Est’s hand shot out from beneath the blankets, curling firmly around his wrist.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

William froze. Slowly, he turned back. Est’s grip was steady despite his weakness, his dark eyes fixed on William with quiet intensity.

“You need your strength,” William said softly, though his own voice betrayed him, rough with something heavier. “I don’t want to tire you – “

“All I need,” Est interrupted, softer now, his thumb brushing against William’s pulse point, “is you, Will.“

William’s breath hitched, his flush rising hot across his cheeks. His heart slammed against his ribs at the weight of those words – the ache, the certainty in them.

“Stay with me tonight.” Est’s voice faltered for the first time, tender, uncertain. His eyes searched William’s face, vulnerable in a way that made William’s chest ache. “I’ll sleep better if you’re here.”

He hesitated, lips parting as if afraid of asking too much. Then, after a heartbeat, softer still, almost breaking: “Please.”

William’s resolve shattered. The plea melted him, stripped him bare. He sank back down at Est’s side, their joined hands trembling between them.

“You don’t have to ask me,” William murmured, voice low, unsteady with the force of his emotion. He leaned closer, so close their foreheads brushed. “Just say it – and I’ll always stay.”

For a long moment, neither of them moved. Their breaths mingled, warm and uneven. William’s free hand rose, hesitating, then brushed along Est’s jaw, reverent, tender. Est tilted into it, eyes fluttering closed, his lips parting in a quiet exhale that sent a shiver through William.

The air between them thickened, charged. Their earlier confessions hung there still, sweet and raw – but now, the silence brimmed with something more, the faintest undertone of hunger neither dared name aloud.

William pressed a kiss to Est’s temple, lingering, then to his cheek, his lips trembling with restraint. Est turned his face slightly, so their mouths nearly met – close enough that William felt the ghost of his breath.

“Stay,” Est whispered again, not pleading now, but promising.

William swallowed hard, his voice rough when it finally broke free. “I couldn’t leave you if I tried.”

And when he eased down beside Est, slipping carefully beneath the coverlet, their bodies brushed in the quietest, most electric of ways – warmth and need and the fragile newness of something deeper sparking like fire beneath the surface.

“We’d better be careful,” Est said quietly, though his jaw was tense. His eyes didn’t leave the ceiling. “I’m pretty sure Nut saw it. Realized something… The way he looked at me – he knows.”

William tilted his head, studying him, and then let a faint, almost secretive smile soften his face. “It’s okay. Nut won’t say anything.”

Est turned to him then, brows drawing together. “How can you be so sure?”

For a moment, William said nothing. He reached under the covers, found Est’s hand, and laced their fingers together. His thumb brushed slowly over Est’s skin, steady and grounding. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, carrying a kind of careful honesty that made Est’s chest tighten.

“Because Nut and Hong… they’re lovers. Hong told me.”

Est blinked, caught off guard. “Hong – ?”

William nodded, his expression raw, unguarded. “They trusted me with their secret. At a time when I was lost and worried about – us….” His throat tightened, but he forced the words out, his eyes not leaving Est’s. “It meant more than I can explain – that they trusted me, that they let me carry something so fragile when I had nothing left to hold on to.”

Est stared at him, stunned into silence. He had never seen William speak like this – so openly, without any of the usual lightness or bravado.

William’s grip on his hand tightened, almost desperately. “If they can find a way to be together, so can we. I don’t know what’s waiting for us, Est. I don’t know what we’ll have to face. But I do know this – if we trust each other, if we stay side by side, nothing can take this from us. Not duty, not fear, not anyone else.”

Something inside Est gave way then, something he’d kept locked tight for so long. His breath came uneven, his throat constricting. He turned fully toward William, unable to look anywhere else. The sincerity in those eyes, the weight of those words – it unraveled him.

William reached up, brushing his knuckles along Est’s jaw. “You don’t have to carry all of it alone anymore,” he whispered. “I’m here. I’ll always be here.”

Est leaned into the touch, his eyes fluttering shut, and his hand came up to cover William’s. For a long moment, they stayed like that, suspended in the quiet – until Est lowered his forehead to William’s, their breaths mingling, their closeness charged with something unspoken.

William let out a shaky laugh, so soft it was almost a sigh. “We’ll be okay. As long as it’s you and me.”

William’s confession still lingered between them, heavy and tender, when Est leaned in, their mouths meeting again. This kiss was deeper, warmer – no longer trembling with fear of loss but burning with the promise of what they’d just admitted aloud. Est’s hand slid into William’s hair, tugging him closer, and William pressed against him in kind, the heat of his body sinking through thin layers of fabric.

Their breaths quickened, lips parting, tongues brushing – each movement steeped in longing. William’s hand had slipped to Est’s waist before he even realized, thumb brushing circles against bare skin where his shirt had ridden up. Est shivered, his own grip tightening.

But then William broke away, panting, pressing his forehead to Est’s with a ragged sigh. His hand lingered on Est’s chest, feeling the frantic beat of his heart. “We should stop,” he whispered, his voice hoarse with want. “You need rest. You’re still weak.”

Est let out a low sound, almost a growl of protest, eyes dark with heat. “You can’t expect me to believe you’re going to lie here all night and keep your hands to yourself.”

William flushed, his ears pink, but forced a shaky laugh. “You need sleep, not me undoing you.”

Est tilted his head, smirking faintly despite his exhaustion. His voice dropped, husky, teasing, every word meant to make William squirm. “If I were well… do you know what I’d be doing to you right now?”

“Est – ” William choked out, his face blazing, torn between embarrassment and the undeniable throb low in his stomach.

Est chuckled softly at the sight of him – his proud prince, undone by nothing more than words.

His hand caught William’s wrist before he could retreat fully, eyes dark with heat despite the weariness in them. His lips curved in a slow, almost dangerous smile. “You really expect me to believe,” he murmured, low and taunting, “that you’ll lie here all night beside me… and keep your hands to yourself??”

William flushed, ears burning, but he tried to muster a steady tone. “Yes. Because you need sleep, not – “

“Not what?” Est interrupted, his voice dropping into a husky purr, deliberate. He tugged William closer until their mouths were a breath apart. “Not me stripping you down? Ruining you until you’re crying for more? Not me fucking you so deep you can’t – “

“Est – !” William broke, a strangled sound leaving him, his entire body trembling at the words. His grip on Est’s shirt tightened desperately, his cheeks blazing.

Est chuckled softly, the sound low and wicked, then softened it with a brush of his lips against William’s. “Your Highness,” he murmured against his mouth, savoring the way William shuddered at the title. “If I had my strength, I’d ruin you tonight. I’d keep you begging until dawn.”

William’s head dropped forward with a half-laugh, half-groan, as though the words alone had unraveled him. “Gods, Est…” he muttered, his voice breaking, his pulse racing. “You’re – you’re impossible.”

Est smirked faintly, but his expression was warm, adoring even in the teasing.

“Plenty of time for that later, hm?” William managed, though his voice cracked halfway, his hand gripping Est’s shirt like an anchor. “When you’re better. When you’re strong again. Then you can… do everything you just promised.”

Est huffed, clearly dissatisfied, but his smirk softened into something gentler. He leaned forward, brushed his lips once more against William’s, and whispered, “You’re cruel.”

William only smiled faintly, tugging him closer until Est’s head rested against his shoulder. “I’m patient,” he murmured. “You’ll thank me when you wake up rested.”

Est snorted, but the sound melted into a quiet laugh, affection bright in his eyes even as fatigue weighed them down. He gave in, finally letting himself sink against William’s warmth.

Within minutes, his breaths evened out, the teasing words giving way to the vulnerable trust of sleep. William stayed awake a little longer, one arm curved protectively around him, fingers idly brushing along Est’s back. He pressed a lingering kiss to his hair, whispered something too soft for even himself to hear, and only then let sleep claim him – Est safe and warm in his arms.

________

William stirred first, the early light slipping past the drapes and brushing across Est’s sleeping face. For a long moment, he only lay still, drinking in the sight – Est’s features softened in sleep, the faint crease of strain finally eased, his lips parted in slow, even breaths.

Something within William ached and swelled all at once. It had been so long since he had felt this – pure joy, unshadowed by fear. He loves me. The thought rang through him like a hymn. He almost didn’t dare believe it, even after last night’s words, after the heat and tenderness of Est’s kiss.

His hand lifted almost without thought, brushing a stray lock of hair from Est’s brow. He leaned down and pressed a reverent kiss there, lingering as if to brand the moment into his soul.

Carefully, he shifted, moving to slip from the bed before Est could stir. But the knight murmured softly, his voice thick with sleep, “Why are you leaving?”

William froze, his heart pulling painfully. He crouched back down, brushing a hand along Est’s cheek. “I have to,” he said gently. “Your attendants will be here soon. And mine have already missed me since last night – We shouldn’t provoke suspicion.”

Est’s lashes fluttered, his eyes barely opening, but he gave a tiny nod. “Okay,” he whispered, voice still rough with sleep.

William bent low again, capturing his lips in a soft kiss that held both sweetness and longing. He pulled back just enough to murmur, “Rest, and eat well, love. I’ll be back tonight.” His thumb traced Est’s jaw, a smile curving his lips. “I’ve a busy day ahead, but… there’s a surprise coming for you later.”

Est’s eyes cracked open a little more, curious despite his drowsiness. “A surprise?”

William chuckled softly, kissing him again before he could ask more. “Mm. But I won’t spoil it. You’ll have to wait.” His grin turned teasing, boyish almost, though his voice was low and warm.

Est made a faint sound of protest, but William only pressed another lingering kiss to his forehead, then drew away. He looked back once at the door, at Est still watching him with heavy eyes, and the sight nearly undid him again. But with a final, teasing smile, he slipped away.

________

By midmorning, Est was already feeling more like himself. He had eaten a careful breakfast, endured a fussing bath from his attendants, and now sat by the open balcony with the sun warming his skin. A book rested in his hands – another gift from William, its binding rich, its pages smelling of new paper. He traced a thumb over the prince’s handwriting on the slip tucked inside, a note wishing him strength, and found himself smiling faintly.

A knock broke the quiet.

“Visitors for you, sir,” an attendant said, bowing at the doorway.

Est’s brow furrowed, but he nodded. The next moment, the door opened wider, and all at once he was engulfed – arms thrown around him, voices tumbling over each other.

“Est!”
“Brother!”
“Are you well?”
“Gods, you’ve grown thinner – “
“You scared us!”

His mother clutched his face in both hands, eyes wet as she pressed frantic kisses to his brow. His younger sister clung to his arm, babbling questions and half-sobbing. His brother thumped his back a little too hard in his eagerness. It was chaos – happy, noisy, overwhelming – and Est let himself sink into it, feeling as though his heart might burst from the sudden flood of love.

When at last he caught a breath, he asked, voice rough with emotion, “How did you find out I was ill?”

It was his sister who answered, eyes bright. “The prince sent word. He said you weren’t well, and that we should come stay with you a few days. He thought you’d feel better if we were here.”

Est froze for a heartbeat, then warmth surged through him so fiercely it left his throat tight. William. Every second seemed to deepen this unbearable, beautiful ache in his chest.

“You’ll stay?” he asked quickly, his voice almost boyish with hope.

“Yes,” his brother said, grinning. “The prince arranged everything. We’ve been given the two rooms beside yours. We’ll be here a week.”

“And Will left gifts!” his younger sister chimed in, bouncing on her toes. “So many! Clothes and sweets and books – our rooms are full of them!”

The elder sister gave Est a teasing smile. “Clearly, someone’s looking after you better than you admit.”

Est closed his eyes briefly, overcome. When he opened them, his smile was soft, trembling. “I’m glad. I’m so glad.”

Then his protective instincts took over, his voice turning gentle. “And you – are you well? Truly well? You haven’t been struggling?”

His mother’s hand found his again, squeezing tight. “Better than ever. Don’t worry for us. We’ve been cared for – provided for. The prince sees to it. Not with coin, but with what we need. Always thoughtful, always generous.”

His brother nodded firmly, adding with pride, “He treats us with respect, Est. Not like charity, but like family.”

Est’s throat tightened all over again, a different kind of ache. He bowed his head, covering his face briefly with a hand before pulling his youngest sister close, holding her against him.

The rest of the morning passed in laughter, chatter, stories exchanged. His elder sister teased him mercilessly, his brother argued cheerfully with her until their mother hushed them both, and his youngest clung to his side as though afraid to let go. They fussed, they scolded, they filled his quiet chambers with life. Every word, every laugh, seemed to pour strength back into him. And beneath it all, Est felt something bloom deep inside him – warm, steady, unshakable. Love for his family, yes. But more than that, love for the man who had given this back to him. Who had thought of everything, who had given him joy again.

William.

He felt stronger with every passing moment.

______

That evening, word arrived from the attendants: dinner had been set up for Est and his family on a private palace balcony.

The news set his siblings buzzing with excitement. His younger sister darted about the chamber, peeking into every mirror as she fussed over her hair. His brother tried to look nonchalant, though his grin betrayed him, while his elder sister teased him mercilessly over his clumsy attempts to straighten his collar. Their mother, quieter but no less awed, kept shaking her head at the grandeur of it all, murmuring that she’d never dreamed she’d sit to dine within a palace.

When they were finally ushered to the balcony, even Est found his breath catch. The table was laid with silver and crystal, candles flickering gently in the dusk breeze. Platters gleamed with rich foods, the scents of spice and roasted meats curling into the night air. Beyond the railing, the gardens stretched in moonlit shadow, fountains whispering faintly.

His siblings could hardly contain themselves. They whispered to one another, eyes darting everywhere – the tapestries on the walls, the livery of the servants, the way the stars seemed brighter from this height. Their laughter was infectious, bubbling through the air until Est felt himself smiling without effort.

As they settled, Est allowed himself a fleeting thought – a pang, really. If William were here, he could show him this. Not the food, nor the luxury, but the sight of his family happy, safe, filled with joy. A happiness that William had given him.

The dinner unfolded easily, conversation spilling across the table. Est found himself drawn into talk with his mother, her voice steady and soothing, when suddenly a sharp squeal split the air.

“Your Highness!”

Est’s youngest sister shot to her feet, her chair skittering back.

Est turned, startled, just as William stepped into the glow of the candles. Smiling, at ease, his eyes softened as they lingered on Est before sweeping across the family with unguarded fondness.

For a moment, Est could only stare. His sister had greeted him as though she knew him – and the way his brother and elder sister immediately rose, the way they moved toward William without hesitation, told him this wasn’t their first meeting.

William bent easily into their welcome, exchanging words, his laughter low and genuine. His youngest sister launched herself into his arms, and he caught her without missing a step, lifting her against his chest as though she weighed nothing. He carried her forward, all while greeting their mother with a warmth that made her eyes shine.

Est’s throat tightened. He had never seen William like this – unarmored, unselfconscious, a man moving as if among his own kin.

“Have you… met before?” Est asked at last, unable to keep the wonder from his voice.

His mother smiled knowingly. “Yes, child. He’s come to us two or three times now. We didn’t know who he truly was, of course – he came plain-dressed, quiet, like any young man. Sat at our table, drank tea, listened. It wasn’t until the day he told us you were unwell that he revealed himself.”

Est swallowed hard, his pulse uneven. William. He had gone to them – on his own, without titles, without guards. He had sought them out as people, not subjects, respecting Est’s fears, respecting their world.

When William’s gaze found his across the table, Est’s lips curved helplessly. A smile – small, overwhelmed, trembling at the edges. William returned it, a flicker of pride and something deeper glinting in his eyes.

“Is there room for me here?” William asked lightly, still balancing the youngest sister on his hip.

Three voices answered at once, overlapping in eagerness:
“Of course!”
“Here, sit beside me!”
“Move over, brother – make space for him!”

The table shifted, chairs scraped, and William was seated before Est could find words.

And somehow, the evening grew even brighter. Laughter carried higher, stories wove thicker. Est’s siblings leaned toward William as though he were already one of them, and William, with that ease that was uniquely his, matched them step for step.

Est said little after that, content instead to watch. To let the warmth of his family fold around the man who had given this night to them. To let it sink into his heart – the sight of William smiling beside his brother, of his mother clasping William’s hand, of his youngest sister refusing to leave his lap.

The ache in Est’s chest returned, sweet and overwhelming. Love, sharp and certain.

Dinner unfolded in a swirl of voices and laughter, the table alive with energy. Est’s brother tried every dish with wide-eyed wonder, while his younger sister declared she would live in the palace forever if it meant desserts like these. Their mother kept shaking her head in disbelief, though the corners of her mouth softened more with each passing moment.

William, seated among them as though he had always belonged, spoke easily with each one. He listened to stories, teased gently, laughed at their jokes. And then, when the laughter lulled, he leaned forward with a conspiratorial smile.

“I’ve had some things arranged for the next few days,” he said. “Walks in the gardens, a morning with the stables, a tour of the galleries. There will be games and music, if you wish it. I thought you might enjoy seeing what the palace holds.”

Est’s siblings erupted in delighted chatter, questions and plans tumbling over one another. His younger sister clapped her hands, his brother grinned so wide Est thought his face might split, and even his elder sister’s usual composure gave way to bright-eyed excitement.

“And if there is anything more you’d like,” William added, his voice gentling, “you need only ask. Anything at all.”

Their mother lowered her gaze briefly, hands twisting in her lap before she looked back up at him. “You’ve been more than generous already,” she said softly, her voice touched with both shyness and gratitude. “We can never thank you enough, Your Highness. For this night… for all of it.”

William’s answering smile was warm but modest. “It’s nothing,” he said. But Est knew better. He felt the words like an ache in his chest. It was everything.

The night lingered in laughter and stories until the candles burned low. At last, William rose, gently setting Est’s youngest sister back in her seat. “Enjoy the rest of your evening,” he said, with a nod to them all. His gaze brushed Est’s, just for a heartbeat – tender, weighted, unspoken – and then he excused himself, slipping into the shadows beyond the balcony.

Est’s heart tightened. A small pang, sharp and bittersweet. Not just because William had gone, but because his absence was deliberate. A choice made out of respect for Est’s wishes – that his family not know what bound them together.

When the family returned to their chambers, the liveliness of the balcony carried over. They lingered in Est’s rooms, talking well into the night, voices rising and falling with stories and laughter. Est’s mother insisted he eat more sweets, his brother begged for tales of the palace guards, and his sisters teased him until he was laughing hoarse.

Only when his attendants entered, bowing with reminders of his condition, did the evening wind down. “Sir Est needs rest,” one said firmly, eyeing Est’s pallor.

Est smiled, reluctant but yielding. He embraced each sibling in turn, kissed his mother’s hand, and bade them all goodnight. Their voices trailed down the hall until the chambers fell quiet once more.

Later, as his attendants settled him into bed, smoothing sheets and dousing candles, Est lay back and let the silence press around him. His body felt heavy with the day, but his heart brimmed over.

It had been a day of immeasurable joy. His family close, their laughter spilling into his chambers, their happiness shining in their faces. A gift he never imagined having again.

And yet, in the quiet, a faint ache lingered. A sliver of sadness, sharp and unavoidable. William had given him everything tonight – everything he could have asked for – and yet he was not here, beside him.

Est closed his eyes. For the first time in weeks, sleep came easily, and he drifted into dreams with William’s face, William’s smile, etched behind his eyelids.

______

The palace was deep in slumber when Est stirred restlessly in his bed. The day had left him buoyant, yes, but now, alone in the quiet, the absence pressed heavier than ever. His family was close, his health was mending, joy had been restored to his chambers – yet none of it filled the hollow ache inside him.

He missed William. Desperately. More tonight than on any other.

He turned onto his side, eyes open to the dark, when the faintest sound broke the stillness. A soft scrape of hinges, the whisper of a door closing. His breath caught.

And then – there he was. William.

His figure moved in shadow, careful, almost guilty, until he drew near enough for the candlelight from the hall to glint over his features.

“Will…” Est’s voice was a whisper, but it cut through the silence like a blade.

William froze, then let out a quiet, sheepish laugh. “I thought you’d be asleep.”

Est pushed himself up slowly, his chest tightening just from the sight of him. “I couldn’t sleep.” A beat passed, and then, softer, almost boyishly: “What are you doing here?”

William’s smile was boyish, guilty. “I came to check on you. To see if you were sleeping.” A pause, then with a soft huff of honesty, “That’s a lie. I just… missed you.”

The confession lodged in Est’s chest like a spark catching fire. He swallowed hard, heat spreading through him. “I… missed you too.”

William’s gaze softened, but there was a flicker of nerves. He stepped closer, until the moonlight brushed across his face. “You’re not angry with me? For going to meet your family without telling you?” His voice trembled, carrying the weight of fear – fear that he might have overstepped.

Est’s throat tightened. He reached out, tugging William down to sit beside him on the bed. His fingers lingered over William’s wrist, grounding them both. “There was a time,” he admitted quietly, “when something like this would have angered me. When I would have felt betrayed not to know. But tonight… after seeing how you treated them, how they laughed with you, how they like you – how you fit into them so easily…” Est’s voice faltered, his eyes glistening as he smiled faintly. “No, Will. I couldn’t be angry. Not with you. My love for you – it only grows, every moment.”

The words seemed to steal William’s breath. He leaned in, forehead pressing to Est’s as though he couldn’t bear the distance. His hand cupped Est’s jaw, thumb brushing the corner of his mouth, trembling with restrained want.

“Est…” His whisper was raw, reverent. “You’ll ruin me saying things like that.”

Est’s lips curved, a shaky exhale escaping him. “Thank you,” he said interrupting softly.

William blinked, startled.

“Thank you,” Est whispered again, his thumb brushing William’s cheek. “For bringing them here. For making them smile. For making me smile.” He kissed the corner of William’s mouth, then whispered it again against his lips. “Thank you – for seeing what I needed, before I even said it.” A deeper kiss, lingering, then another wordless breath. “Thank you – for treating them like your own. For treating me like I matter.”

Each confession came with a kiss – softer, longer, needier – until Est’s gratitude blurred into hunger. His body pressed forward, urging William back until his shoulders touched the mattress. Est broke the kiss only to murmur, shaky and raw, “You’ve given me more than I ever thought you could have… Will, I don’t know how to stop loving you.”

And then he pushed William fully down and climbed over him, mouth catching William’s in a kiss that was no longer soft but deep and claiming. His hands framed William’s face, his body pressing close, the gratitude turning molten, uncontainable.

William let out a sound – half gasp, half groan – his fingers finding Est’s waist, gripping as though he’d fall apart without him.

Est’s lips trailed lower, soft at first, then insistently, down the curve of William’s jaw and along the length of his neck. His hands were no longer idle – sliding up William’s shirt, fingers brushing lightly over the sensitive swell of his chest, teasing, exploring.

William let out a shuddering breath, a sound he couldn’t fully hide, and his hands froze for a moment against Est’s sides. The heat radiating from Est pressed into him, unbearable and intoxicating.

“Est…” he rasped, voice thick, almost pleading. He tried to push gently at first, but Est only pressed closer, lips brushing the hollow of his throat. “No… we can’t. Not yet. You’re… not well.”

Est paused, gaze heavy and burning with need, but his hand lingered, almost reluctantly. “I’m… I’m fine,” he murmured, voice soft, breath hot against William’s skin. “I want… I want you.”

William closed his eyes, jaw tightening as he tried to steady himself, torn between desire and reason. He cupped Est’s face, thumbs brushing his cheeks, eyes glimmering with equal parts longing and restraint. “I want you too… more than I can even – ” His words caught in his throat, choked by emotion and want. “But we can’t. Not yet. You need rest. I won’t risk you, not now.”

But Est pressed closer, warm and unyielding. His lips moved to the hollow of William’s throat, soft kisses trailing down, teeth lightly nipping, breath hot against his skin. William’s hand slid into Est’s hair, tangling in the dark strands as his other hand traced a careful line along Est’s back. Every touch, every whispered word, made William ache with want.

Est’s breathing hitched, lips brushing against William’s ear. “I… I need… I need you…” The words were desperate yet soft, almost fragile in their need.

William kissed the crown of his head, pressing his lips there, fingers stroking his back, holding him tight. “I’m here… I’m not going anywhere… I’m right here…”

Est tilted his head up, dark eyes shimmering with want and vulnerability. “…I don’t care… I want you… want you now… I’ve been dreaming… aching… all the things I’d do…” His words tumbled out, breathless, unrestrained, a confession of filthy desires whispered against William’s skin.

William’s hand slid into Est’s hair, holding him close while brushing his other hand along his back, stroking slowly, coaxing. “I know, I know… I feel it too… I feel everything you’re saying,” he whispered, half-laughing, half-choked with emotion. “But we can’t… not yet… just a little longer… my love… just rest with me.”

Est whined softly, nuzzling into his chest, lips brushing William’s shoulder. “I… I can’t… not want you… my prince… “

William kissed the crown of his head, stroking his back in long, careful movements. “I know… and soon… when you’re well, all of it… all of your wants, all of mine… nothing will stop us,” he murmured, voice low, soothing, coaxing. “Tonight, just rest… let me hold you… let me be here.”

Est pressed closer, whispering each filthy thought, each desire, the words a heated litany, but slowly, William’s gentle insistence, the warmth of his embrace, and the softness in his eyes coaxed him into surrender. He let himself melt against William, murmuring the last of his confessions in the quiet of the room, lips brushing William’s, breath mingling, the hunger simmering but held in check.

William’s arms tightened around him, brushing over every inch he could reach, kissing the top of his head, murmuring softly, “I’m here… I’m not going anywhere… I’m right here…”

The night stretched on, slow and intimate. Their bodies pressed together, warmth radiating, breaths mingling, and lips occasionally brushing in gentle, teasing kisses. The restraint didn’t lessen the desire – it only deepened it, an unspoken promise that soon, when Est was fully well, nothing would hold them back.

_______

I think the fluff is a bit much for me now ughhh. They’re so in love. But I’m going to stir the pot soon – sorry guys. Enjoy this while it lasts. 

And as always do let me know what y’all thought. Your comments keep me motivated. 

Thank you and Cheers!!