The privateer and his tracker

Chapter 10

Ever since Nikolai and Mal started having whatever they were having, the king was noticeably happier. It wasn't only because of the mind-blowing sex they were having, but also because of all the support his tracker was giving him and simply because of his presence in the king's life.

He treasured every moment spent with Mal and he was happy that there were many of those. The council did comment on the growing relationship between them but agreed that his tracker is a passable spouse and that the people would like them together. The privateer was pleasantly surprised.

He was by far more surprised when his mother, a woman who always had an opinion, didn't even mention it. He knew that she noticed, of course, she did, but she remained silent and let him be. It was a good feeling.

Their friends were absolutely thrilled and there was no surprise about that. Nikolai could see Alina teasing his tracker a lot. Especially by elbowing him and pointing towards the king whenever he entered the room. The king was surprised to find out that after this, quite a wholesome thing followed.

Whenever the sun summoner pointed towards him, his tracker was quick to stand up and make his way towards him. Every time he placed a quick, but soft kiss on his forehead and Nikolai worried that he'd melt into a puddle right there and then.

Zoya stayed away for the most part, only sometimes making fun of the king. So did David. Genya though? She was having the time of her life.

She spent every second of her time with Nikolai asking him questions and teasing him, almost fangirling over his relationship with Mal.

Many times, she already mentioned the royal wedding. While Nikolai knew that royals marry quite quickly and he was 100% sure that the person he marries will either be his tracker or no one else, the conversation always brought a blush to his face.

Mal, on the other hand, was quite light about the topic. It was all so effortless to him and with him and the king found it like a fresh breath of air that he desperately needed all of his life. His tracker only warmly laughed at Genya, making a show out of kissing the king as it was appropriate for weddings.

Overall, for the first time in his life, things were going great. Of course, it wasn't perfect, they both had a lot to do and didn't have much time to spend together, and they sometimes fought. Mostly because Nikolai's insecurities got the better of him or because the stress was too much.

He had the unhealthy habit of riling Mal up in times like this. He knew he did it only because that was the only way to get his parents' attention when he was young and Mal understood it too.

They always talked about it, knowing it was them versus the problem and not one versus the other. Although, if Nikolai is completely honest, most of the time they talked about it after the amazing make-up sex.

The truth is that while the king enjoyed slow mornings spent in his tracker's arms, full of Mal, thrusting slow and deep, he sometimes liked...well...being a bit, uhm, manhandled per se.

There was something about the possessive, riled-up, hot-headed Mal, that really got him going. Whenever they had sex, Nikolai felt completely understood and both he and Mal almost instinctively knew what the other wanted, and needed.

He always felt that in Mal's company, he could spend forever with him.

They also still spent a lot of time in the barn, training of course. At the moment, Mal had him wrapped up in his arms, with a sword leaning heavily against his neck.

As his tracker was trying to catch his breath, panting into his ear, the king used the opportunity, getting out of his grasp, and knocking his sword away from him in the same move.