Chapter 40

With sudden force, William pushed him back, guiding Est until he dropped onto the couch with a grunt. William followed immediately, kneeling between his spread thighs, hands sliding up his chest, his neck, dragging him into another deep kiss that left them both gasping.

“Whatever had you so upset,” William murmured against his lips, voice low and coaxing, “forget it. Forget everything, love. Just focus on me.”

Another kiss – wet, lingering, filthy. His hands moved swiftly to Est’s belt, fumbling it open, tugging buttons loose. He pushed fabric aside, exposing him, and Est hissed sharply as William wrapped his hand around the thick weight of his cock.

Then William leaned down, lips trailing over the flushed head, tongue lapping, tasting. He spat deliberately, wetting him further, and then swallowed him down in one smooth motion. His throat opened to take him deep, Est’s hand shot down instantly, tangling into his hair with a sharp tug.

“Fuck – “ Est groaned, head dropping back against the couch. His hips jerked involuntarily as William’s tongue swirled, teasing the underside before sliding lower.

William moaned around him, the sound vibrating deep, and Est nearly lost control. William pulled back with a wet pop, lips flushed, spit slicking his chin.

“I missed you in my bed…” he whispered, voice husky, before swallowing him down again.

Est cursed, hips arching.

William pulled off again, gasping for air. “…missed you in my arms…” His hand stroked him, pumping him wet and fast, before lowering his mouth again, taking him deep until his throat flexed around the thick head.

He moaned, the sound wet, worshipful, obscene. Strings of drool dripped down, slicking Est’s cock even further. He came up for air again, lips shining, pupils blown wide.

“…missed your taste… the way you make me choke on you…” He licked a broad stripe up the shaft, gathering spit, before sinking down hard, swallowing him until Est’s thighs trembled.

Est groaned, fist tightening in his hair, dragging a strangled moan out of William’s throat.

“…dreamed about you every night,” William whispered hoarsely between sucks. “Your hands on me, your cock in my mouth, your voice when you fall apart for me, love…”

He took him deep again, slurping and moaning shamelessly, spit pooling on his tongue, spilling past his lips. His eyes flicked upward, worshipful, utterly undone, as if Est were the only thing in his world.

Est looked down, chest heaving, cock buried between those swollen lips, watching William’s face flushed and wet, eyes half-lidded with need. It was filthy and reverent all at once, devotion and desire dripping from every sound, every glance.

And it hit Est all at once – the guilt, the confusion, that cursed seed of doubt gnawing at him. He wanted to drag William up, kiss him until he forgot every whisper and rumour. He wanted to ask him, to force the truth out, to know if his love had ever wavered.

Est’s fingers clenched tighter in William’s hair as his cock slid in and out of that wet, worshipful mouth, caught between raw lust and the ache in his chest. Every moan, every swallow, every obscene noise should have undone him completely – should have let him fall into William, drown in the devotion pouring out of him.

But the seed of doubt gnawed cruelly at the back of his mind, spreading like poison.

He stared down at William’s flushed, perfect face – lips stretched wide around him, chin dripping with spit and precum, eyes heavy with adoration – and guilt twisted sharp in his chest. Could those same lips have been wrapped around another? Could that devotion be split, shared?

He hated himself for even letting the thought touch him. Hated James for planting it. Hated his own heart for wavering.

“Fuck…” Est rasped, chest heaving, torn between thrusting up into that wet heat and dragging him off. “William – “

William moaned around him, eyes fluttering shut, throat working as he swallowed him deeper. The sound vibrated all the way through Est’s cock, pulling another broken curse from him.

“Gods, I can’t – ” Est’s voice cracked. His hand tugged sharply, dragging William off with a wet pop.

William blinked up at him, lips swollen, spit smeared across his mouth and jaw. His cheeks were flushed crimson, pupils blown, chest heaving with effort. The picture of filthy devotion – and confusion.

They just stared at each other for a beat, both panting, the air thick with heat and tension. William’s lips parted as if to ask why – but Est beat him to it.

“I need – ” Est swallowed hard, his voice rough and trembling. “I need to ask you something.” The last word broke, raw and vulnerable, as if dragged out of him against his will.

William’s brows drew together. His chest still rose and fell rapidly, but his voice was softer, touched with disbelief. “Right now? You really want to stop… right now… to talk?”

“Yes.” The word was firm, even as Est’s voice wavered. He dragged a shaky hand down his face, then met William’s eyes with something pained and desperate. “Because I can’t keep going like this, not with it clawing at me. I don’t want to build theories in my head, I don’t want to live off doubts or shadows. I need to hear it from you. I need to clear this, before I can touch you again.”

William froze, his lust-hazed gaze sharpening instantly. Concern etched into his face, edging out the flush of arousal. Slowly, deliberately, he lifted a hand and wiped his mouth with the back of his wrist, smearing away spit and precum. His other hand smoothed down Est’s thigh, steadying, grounding.

“Alright,” he murmured, voice low and careful now. “If it matters this much, we’ll talk. Whatever it is – just ask me.”

Est’s chest rose and fell in uneven rhythm, still standing over William, who knelt on the carpet, lips swollen, flushed, worship written into every line of his face.

For a long beat, Est just looked at him. Looked down at those adoring eyes, the red of his mouth, the mess on his tongue. And instead of triumph or satisfaction, guilt rose like bile in his throat. The sharp pang of something unspoken pressed at his ribs until he couldn’t stand it anymore.

Est’s cock throbbed painfully in his trousers as he forced himself to tuck it back in, pulling his pants up over the aching bulge. His hands trembled faintly, betraying the storm beneath his calm exterior.

William shifted up beside him on the couch, close enough that their thighs pressed together. His chest still rose and fell quickly from arousal, but his focus was entirely on Est now. His hand lingered at Est’s knee, a gentle weight, his eyes searching his face.

Est turned to him, throat tight. His hand twitched at his side. His lips parted. But nothing came out.

William noticed. He always noticed. His lashes fluttered and his voice came low, coaxing:
“Est… speak. Whatever’s on your mind. It’s bothering you, isn’t it? You’re acting different.”

Est’s throat worked. He took a breath that didn’t feel like it reached his lungs. His voice was slow, like every word had to be weighed before release.
“Do you remember… when I asked you if anyone had touched you while I was gone?”

William’s eyes softened, and then – something shifted. A small, knowing look flickered across his face. He swallowed hard, his gaze breaking from Est’s for just a moment before returning.
“I remember,” he said simply.

The silence stretched between them. Est watched every flicker of William’s face like it might betray him. And when he finally spoke again, it felt clumsy, bare, too sharp for the moment.

“I heard about the rumours.”

The room stilled. Neither moved.

Est’s heart thudded painfully at the sight of William’s unreadable expression. For a second, it was like he couldn’t see through him at all – like William had closed himself off entirely. And then, faintly, that same disappointment from before – tried to be hidden but written all over him – flickered across his features.

No one spoke. Not for a long while.

Then William broke the silence, his voice cracking on the edge of restraint.
“What is it you want to say, Est? Or ask? Because I don’t understand.”

The shame tightened like a chain around Est’s throat. His mouth opened, but nothing came. He couldn’t ask – not about Kenta, not directly. The stupidity of it burned him from the inside.

So William stood instead, rising from the couch, moving past Est. His steps carried him to the balcony doors. He stood framed by them, his shoulders tense, the night wind slipping through.

“I knew,” William said finally, voice low and frayed, “that sooner or later you’d hear.” He drew in a breath, then let it out in a long, weary sigh. His next words faltered. “But…”

He stopped. His eyes tracked the floor. Then suddenly, sharply, he lifted them to Est’s and pinned him there.
“Do you believe the rumours?”

The question landed like a blow. Est was on his feet immediately, the words bursting from him.
“No. No. No. Not for a moment.” His voice was firm, desperate. He took a step forward, his chest tight. “I could never imagine you with that man. That despicable man. Not even for a second.”

William’s jaw clenched. His eyes softened, but the edge of disappointment remained.
“Then why ask?”

Est faltered again. His lips parted, but it took him a moment to force out a single name:
“James.”

William’s laugh was bitter, humorless. It burned and vanished just as fast.

Est pushed on, words awkward and heavy, tumbling over themselves.

“I don’t believe it. But James has a way of getting under people’s skin. And people talked. They said they saw Kenta leaving your bedchambers often, marked and bruised-” His voice broke, ” – like a lover….” His eyes fell to the floor, shame thick in his throat as the words trailed off.

For a heartbeat, silence again. And then William’s voice – soft, heavy, almost resigned:
“That part… is true.”

Est’s head snapped up. His eyes went wide, shock and confusion carved into his face.

William looked at him with something almost sad. Tired.
“I’m not proud of it,” he said, voice quieter now. “But it was the only way I could find out where you were. To get you back.” His throat worked, his gaze finally breaking. “So I did what I had to – for you.”

Est’s lips parted, but no sound came. His chest ached.

William dragged in a ragged breath, his knuckles white against the railing. When he spoke again, his voice was lower, but harsher – like every word was being dragged out from a wound that hadn’t healed.

“Do you know what it felt like? To let him think he had me?” His lips curled, bitter. “After everything I’d done to put him behind me, after all the power I had stripped from him – standing above him, forcing him to bow – and then… then I had to yield.“

His eyes glistened, throat working hard as though the words themselves scorched. “It burned, Est. Every second burned. To let him believe, even for a moment, that he had power over me again. That he could put his hands on me, mark me, press himself into my space like he owned any part of me. I felt humiliated – sick in my own skin. I’d go back to my chamber and scrub myself raw until I bled because I couldn’t stand the thought of him still on me.”

Est’s stomach twisted, a sharp ache spreading through his chest.

William’s voice cracked, softer now, laced with desperation. “But I endured it. Because I thought – if it led me back to you, if it meant even the faintest whisper of where you were, then it was worth every scar on my soul. I let myself be humiliated, disgusted, used – because all I wanted was you.“

He turned then, his face broken open with anger, shame, and love all tangled together. His jaw trembled, but his eyes never left Est’s. “You were the only thing in my mind, Est. Every time he touched me, I shut my eyes and clung to your face, your voice, your touch. That was the only way I survived it. I would have burned myself to ash if it meant getting you back. And yet here I stand, and you – ” His voice faltered, his chest heaving. ” You doubt me. You think I wanted it. You think I let him close because I needed him.”

His hands clenched at his sides, fury trembling in them now. “I never needed anyone but you.”

The room felt unbearably still after William’s confession, the words hanging in the air like smoke that refused to clear. Est’s heart pounded in his chest, torn open by everything he had just heard – his prince admitting to enduring humiliation, crawling skin, bitter degradation… all for him.

He turned, anguish carved deep in his face. “Do you know what it cost me to let that man touch me? But I did it anyway – because it was the only way to get you back.” His breath hitched, cracking. “And I , never in a million years – never – thought it would be you who’d doubt me for it. I let that filth think he’d won because the only thing I cared about was getting you back alive. But gods, Est…” His voice broke, almost a whisper now. “I never imagined you’d look at me and wonder if it meant something else.”

The words shattered between them.

Est’s breath caught. His own shame flared hot, guilt rushing through him so hard his knees nearly buckled. He looked at William’s face – at the lines of weariness, at the cracks in his strength – and it was unbearable.

Across the room, William exhaled shakily and reached for his shirt. Est’s eyes locked on him, drinking in the sight with aching helplessness. William’s face had gone quiet now – quiet in the way that hurt more than rage ever could. He smoothed his tunic down with trembling fingers, fastening the last button as though building armor piece by piece. Straightening his posture, though his shoulders sagged under the invisible weight.

Est’s chest constricted with every movement. This wasn’t just William dressing – this was William building a wall, piece by piece, stitch by stitch. Straightening himself against the storm raging inside.

Est wanted to cross the space, wanted to grab him and hold him, to beg forgiveness. But his feet felt rooted to the floor. Shame pressed on him, heavy and unrelenting. How could I have doubted him? After everything?

William tugged the last button closed, fingers lingering at his throat for a heartbeat before dropping. He drew a breath and reached for his cloak. His movements were too quiet, too steady, and that steadiness hurt more than rage ever could.

“Will…” Est’s voice was raw, strained, breaking with everything he couldn’t say.

William’s shoulders tensed, but he didn’t turn immediately. He adjusted the clasp of his cloak with careful precision, and only then did he look back. His eyes shimmered in the firelight, full of unshed things he was trying to bury.

Est reached a hand toward him, desperate, but William stepped back.

“I need… some time,” William said softly, his voice rough, cracked with exhaustion. “Please, Est.”

“No,” Est rasped, moving toward him, grief spilling out of him in a broken rush. “Don’t walk away from me. Don’t – ” His voice broke, and the sound of his strangled cry – William! – hung raw in the air.

William’s steps faltered at the door. He turned, and his eyes – red-rimmed, gleaming with everything he was trying to swallow – found Est’s. He gave the faintest shake of his head, a bitter smile that was more wound than comfort.

“I’m not angry with you,” he murmured. “I should’ve known… what James would do. How his poison spreads. But gods, Est – ” his voice cracked again, “it hurts, that after all we’ve endured, you doubted me at all.”

Est flinched as though struck. His throat worked, words collapsing before they could form.

William lingered for a heartbeat longer, gaze drinking in Est’s devastated face, and then he slipped out into the corridor, the door closing behind him with a final, shattering click.

The silence that followed was unbearable. Est stood rooted to the spot, his whole body trembling. His chest heaved, his fists clenched until his nails bit deep into his palms. His mind replayed everything William had confessed – his humiliation, his sacrifice, his crawling skin, his desperate clinging to Est’s memory.

And still – still – he had doubted him.

Est pressed both hands over his face, dragging them down as a strangled sound left his throat, grief and shame and confusion all tearing through him at once. He had let James plant the seed, let it grow. And now – now the man he loved had left with hurt in his eyes that Est wasn’t sure he would ever be able to erase.

_______

The night was heavy, thick with silence, yet Est couldn’t sleep. His mind churned endlessly, wrestling with everything he’d just discovered – the guilt, the shame, the grief that gnawed at him. Hours passed. The castle’s corridors were dark and empty, the moonlight spilling faint silver across the stone floors. By the time the clock whispered three in the morning, he could take it no longer.

Something inside him snapped – he needed William. Not just his presence, but the reassurance that the tiny seed of doubt planted by James hadn’t grown into something monstrous in his heart. He had to see him, touch him, let him know he had never truly doubted him.

The castle corridors were empty, the hush of the night pressing in as Est moved like a shadow, avoiding every patrolling guard, every creaking step echoing too loudly in his own ears. The moonlight spilled in thin streaks across the stone floor, painting silver lines that guided him forward. Hours had passed since he’d lain awake in his room, wrestling with guilt, shame, and the gnawing, relentless doubt that James had planted. Now, he had made his decision: he needed William. He needed to see him, to hold him, to prove to himself that the rumors and seeds of doubt were meaningless in the face of truth.

He reached William’s chambers. Guards were stationed outside, their positions static and unquestioning. Est paused, chest tight, willing himself to calm the pounding of his heart. Then he noticed a side entrance, slightly ajar, and with careful, silent steps, he slipped inside.

The room was dim, bathed in the soft glow of firelight. Shadows danced across the walls, warm and flickering. And there William was, lying on the bed, arms curled around a pillow, head buried into it. He wasn’t asleep, that much was clear – his eyes lifted slightly at the soft sound of Est’s approach.

Their gazes met, and everything seemed to pause. Time, the world, even the fire – all irrelevant. Est felt his stomach knot, throat tight, words caught somewhere between urgency and disbelief at being here, finally, before the man he loved.

“I… I’m sorry,” Est whispered first, his voice fragile, almost breaking. “I never meant… never wanted you to think I doubted you. I didn’t. That doubt… – James… it shouldn’t have been there. And I… I can’t imagine what you put yourself through for me. I know it must have hurt… how badly it must have hurt to think I could… even for a moment…”

William’s eyes softened, but there was still a weight there, a hint of lingering pain. He set the pillow aside slowly, arms opening in a quiet invitation. “Come to me,” he murmured, his voice hoarse, patient, filled with an unspoken reassurance.

Est’s steps were hesitant at first, heart hammering against his ribs, but he crossed the room, tumbling into William’s arms. William shifted to accommodate him, pulling him flush against his chest. Est pressed close, burying his face into William’s neck, inhaling the warmth, the scent, the very essence of him.

For a long while, they just held each other, faces inches apart, hearts racing in tandem. The room was quiet except for the soft sound of their breathing, the distant crackle of the fire. Est’s hands roamed lightly over William’s shoulders, tracing the lines of his back, seeking some tangible confirmation that he was real, that he was here, that none of it had been a dream.

Finally, Est lifted his head slightly, brushing the remaining moisture from William’s face. “I… I’m sorry,” he whispered again, softer this time, trembling with vulnerability. Then, almost reluctantly, he leaned forward and pressed his lips to William’s.

The kiss was tentative, searching, a question posed on trembling lips. William answered immediately, arms tightening around him, drawing him even closer. The warmth, the familiarity, the weight of all their unspoken words, grief, longing, and love – the intensity of it filled the room, consuming them both.

They lingered in that kiss, slow and deep, lips molding together, teeth and tongues teasing, tasting, exploring. Est’s hands moved over William’s chest, memorizing the heat, the firmness, the subtle tremble beneath his touch. William’s hands combed through Est’s hair, cupping his face, his jaw, grounding him, anchoring him, while soft, almost shuddering moans escaped him.

Est pressed his forehead against William’s, breathing in unsteady, shallow gasps, savoring the closeness, the intimacy, the way their bodies fit together as if they’d been waiting for this moment their whole lives. Every flick of a tongue, every squeeze, every breath shared was electric, pulling them closer to the edge of something more, something urgent.

For a long time, they stayed like that, wrapped around each other, shivering in shared warmth, hearts hammering, until finally Est whispered against William’s lips, trembling with both desire and emotion, “I need… I need you.”

William’s eyes softened further, filled with awe and longing, yet still tinged with the fatigue and weight of their recent trials. “I’m here,” he whispered back, voice low, trembling. “Always… I’m here.”

Est pressed another lingering kiss to William’s mouth, slower now, deep and consuming. His hands roamed freely, memorizing every inch of him, seeking reassurance, expressing his need, and William’s own hands roamed over him in return, combing through hair, tracing shoulders, holding him as if he could never let go.

After a while, Est pulled back and continued to mumble apologies, each word laced with guilt. “I… I never meant to doubt you… I – “

William’s hand rose to gently cup Est’s cheek, silencing him with a soft, firm, “Shh. Stop. Don’t speak any more.”

Est’s lips pressed together, falling quiet, though his chest still heaved from the emotions he had been holding back for days. His eyes searched William’s, anxious and raw, still unsure if the storm of guilt inside him could ever settle.

After a pause, William’s voice broke the silence, calm but tinged with his own lingering hurt. “I’ve thought… about everything. About the situation, from your perspective. I know you had questions, doubts – even if you never wanted them. And in my absence, I realized that seed James planted must have grown, and you needed clarity.”

He swallowed, voice softening, “I should never have walked away like that. I took it out of context. I didn’t see it from your eyes. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you what I went through, all I did while you were gone… There was no way for you to know.”

Est shook his head, a shadow of uncertainty crossing his face. “But… you had every right to be mad at me. I never wanted to doubt you, not for a second. But I did, and – William, you deserved better than this – from me.”

William gently pressed his forehead against Est’s, letting the closeness speak where words might fail. “It’s not like that,” he murmured, soft, unwavering. “We’ll always make mistakes, Est. We’re human. What matters is that we understand each other… and move forward, together. That’s what counts.”

Est’s chest tightened at the words, feeling the weight of relief and lingering guilt mingle. He exhaled slowly, leaning into William’s warmth. “I… I don’t want to make the same mistake again,” he whispered.

William brushed a thumb along the line of Est’s jaw, holding him steady. “Then don’t. We’ll figure it out together. I don’t blame you… not really. We just – need each other, and that’s enough.”

For the first time in what felt like hours, Est allowed himself to relax fully into William’s arms. The firelight danced across their intertwined forms, the quiet intimacy of the moment filling the spaces left by misunderstanding, bridging the distance that had grown between them.

They stayed like that, close and quiet, the only sounds their shared breathing and the faint crackle of the fireplace, each finding reassurance in the other’s presence, their bond strengthened by honesty, vulnerability, and the promise of moving forward together.

________

Est woke slowly, the first light of morning spilling gently through the curtains. William’s face was nuzzled into his chest, his arms still wrapped around him as if afraid to let go. For a moment, Est simply let himself take in the sight – the tousled hair, the relaxed line of William’s jaw, the rise and fall of his chest against him. A pang of guilt tightened in his chest. The memories of last night – the hurt he had caused, the doubts he had whispered to himself – made his fingers move unconsciously, tracing over William’s face, down his nose, along the curve of his lips.

His touch was tentative at first, almost reverent, but as he felt William stir, a low, content hum escaping from his lips, the restraint slipped. Soft kisses began to follow – on the cheeks, along the jaw, lingering on the lips, each one a wordless apology and confession all at once.

William’s eyelids fluttered open, eyes meeting Est’s. They were heavy-lidded, still touched by sleep, but glowing with warmth. “Good morning, love,” he murmured, his voice low, rough with sleep and something deeper – need, desire, relief.

“Good morning, my prince,” Est whispered back, his own voice trembling slightly, betraying the swirl of emotions he felt – guilt, love, desire, fear, and longing all at once.

William let out a small, satisfied hum, pressing closer against him. “I really like being woken up like this,” he murmured, fingers sliding into Est’s hair, gently tugging him closer.

Est leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to his lips – tentative, slow – but as William’s arms tightened around him, the kiss deepened, teeth grazing lips, tongues tracing, the heat between them sparking instantly. Est felt the familiar pull of desire, the ache of missing him so acutely, and yet the intensity was mixed with vulnerability – a careful, trembling need. William melted into it, letting his legs fall open to accommodate Est’s frame. Their lips moved together slowly, teasing and exploring, their breaths mingling, a quiet rhythm of intimacy and desire.

“I love you, William.” Est whispered between kisses, voice low, hoarse, carrying the weight of the last few days – the doubt, the fear, the longing. “I love you so much… and I’m so proud of you.”

William pressed closer, nuzzling against him, letting himself soak in the words.

Est continued, voice trembling with vulnerability and awe. “I can’t believe… I can’t believe you put yourself through all of that, for me.”

William’s lips moved against his with slow, deliberate care, as if tasting every word, every syllable, every heartbeat of that confession. “You don’t need to worry about deserving me,” he murmured, his voice barely more than a breath against Est’s lips, “just being here is enough.”

But Est shook his head slightly, burying his face into William’s neck, letting his lips brush against the sensitive skin there, inhaling the familiar scent. “I… I can’t stop thinking about everything you went through for me,” he admitted, voice shaking. “All the things… all the moments you endured… for me. I used to think… I thought I’d never be enough for you. That you’d never care for me as I care for you. And yet… you prove me wrong every day.”

William let out a low groan of both pleasure and yearning, his hand pressing against Est’s back, urging him closer. “You already are enough,” he whispered, pressing a lingering kiss against Est’s temple, moving down to brush against his jaw again, “more than enough. Don’t think otherwise.”

Est felt the warmth building again – the heat of their bodies pressing together, hearts hammering, breaths mingling. “But… I haven’t been able to do the same for you,” he admitted, voice breaking slightly. “I haven’t… I haven’t proven it yet. I don’t know how to deserve you, William… but I want to. I want to make every day matter. To show you, to make up for the doubt, the fear… the selfishness…”

William’s hands cupped his face, thumbs brushing over the dampness at the corners of his eyes. “Est… it’s okay. We’ll learn to be there for each other…”

Est leaned into him, pressing kisses over his lips, over his jaw, down his neck, feeling the warmth of William’s chest against him. Every sigh, every groan, every soft hum from William sent shivers through him. Their lips met again, slow at first, simmering, hungry in a restrained way that teased, then deeper, more passionate as the heat built between them.

“I missed you,” Est whispered against his lips, voice low, desperate, “every night… every moment… I wanted you. I needed you…”

“I missed you too,” William murmured, hands tangling in Est’s hair, holding him flush against himself. “More than I can… more than I thought I could stand. I needed you with me, like this… always.”

They stayed like that, bodies pressed together, hearts hammering, breaths ragged, each kiss carrying unspoken confessions of love, regret, desire, and relief. The morning sunlight seemed to wrap around them, but inside the small chamber, time slowed, the world outside fading, leaving only the intensity of their connection.

Est’s lips brushed William’s again, softer now, lingering in a tender, almost worshipful rhythm. “I love you,” he murmured again, voice full of awe and vulnerability. “I… I want to be with you… only you… forever.”

William’s eyes softened, misting slightly, thumb brushing over Est’s cheek. “And you have me… always. I want only you. Forever,” he whispered back.

They stayed in that embrace for long moments, the intensity of the night’s emotions settling into a quieter, simmering warmth. Every touch, every breath, every heartbeat was a reminder of their love, their trust, their shared vulnerability.

__________

Hmm, fortunately or unfortunately, William is very softhearted when it comes to his man…

Lots of spicy smit coming up in the next chapter!

Hope y’all liked this chapter, and that it lived up to expectations. 

Do leave me your thoughts in the comments! I appreciate each and every one!

P.s I know I promised getting back on a quicker schedule but I’m getting busier day by day so I hope y’all understand – I’ve been losing readers because of the slower updates I feel, but I just can’t go any faster. So to all who’re staying by my side and waiting patiently for updates, Thank you, I appreciate you greatly.

– Author S.