GOLDEN POISON - BOOK 1 DOMINA - {MXM}

Volana

Aleksander has changed. Now dressed in his purple night shirt and soft white pants, he hurries to get under the covers. He positions himself on the left side of the bed to leave space for the prince on the right. The brunette is finishing his bath and will join him in bed shortly. The blonde clutches the sheet between his fingers, unconsciously biting his lower lip. Just moments earlier, he had been taking a hot bath with the heir, who was helping him clean up. He still feels the touch of the brunette's large hands and closes his eyes gently,recalling the slender fingers of his lover pressing on the damp fabric. The sheets wrinkle further under his grip, and he turns onto his side to avoid facing Mahery when he arrives. The marquis is unsettled by this kind of gesture, he has never been this intimatewith someone. The relationships he had before were quick and without feeling. With Mahery, it's different. Although he shares his life with several people at once, Mahery seems more serious and experienced in long-term relationships. Aleksander is not opposed to this, he just needs more time to adjust. The pale one feels like his heart will explode or his body will give out if the prince continues to charm him this way.

Alex fears giving himself completely. He realizes he is a novice in many areas despite his age. The Duchess always said it takes a lifetime to learn, but the former commander thought his mother was saying this because he was a man. He only half understood her words before, but now he fully grasps their meaning. Surrendering to the prince without knowing what the next day will bring is tempting. However, in such a heavy context, it remains difficult, reality always catches up with them. The marquis exhales loudly and hears the heir's footsteps approaching. With genuine flexibility, the brunette slips into the blonde's bed. A heavy silence reigns for several minutes. The pale one hears his heart pounding against his temple, echoing against the pillow. He doesn't know what to do and prefers not to act, fearing that anything he does might not be well-received or natural as a lover. He wonders why he told the prince to continue charming him. Now he hesitates to go back on his decision, it's already too much for him when they have barely started be having like real lovers. Aleksander feels foolish, it's not the first time he has let himself be carried away in one-on-one moments with Mahery. He notes to himself that in the future, he should think before hastily suggesting ideas.

''Do I mean so little to you that you turn your back on me like this ?''

Mahery's voice rises in the bedroom, breaking the oppressive silence. The marquis swallows quietly and slowly turns toward the prince. When his blue eyes rise to his lover, his mouth falls open unconsciously, and his breath quickens. Prince Mahery is a stunning man, even magnificent. Aleksander remembers the first time he saw him in the palace's backyard. The first feature that struck him was the prince's orange, smooth hair. One of Aleksander's hands releases its grip on the crumpled sheet to touch the soft hair of the alpha with his fingertips. Mahery is bare-chested, lying on his back, with his eyes closed and breathing steadily. The prince seems calm, as if nothing could disturb his peace. Of course, the marquis suspects the brunette is feigning a relaxed demeanor. Aleksander's firm fingers sift through the prince's hair, tenderly playing with the strands for a long time. He drifts off and thinks of nothing, for the first time since arriving in Erath, he manages to clear his mind, though he never expected it would be while idly playing with the heir's hair.

Mahery keeps his eyes closed and sighs in pleasure, quickly trapping Aleksander's wrist in his hand to bring the marquis's hand to his face. The pale one's expression shows surprise as his warm palm rests on the prince's cold cheek, and Alex is touched by this gesture. Without knowing why, his heart breaks, he doesn't understand why something that is meant to be romantic makes him feel so melancholic. Is this gesture reflecting Mahery's loneliness ? Has he done the same with his other lovers ? Is he sincere ? Yet, the prince seems well surrounded, but this act seems to indicate otherwise. Everyone seems to know him and read him like a book, but that's only partly true. Mahery's heart hides something else, and Aleksander wonders if the prince knows himself ? This last question makes the marquis's heartbeat faster. He doesn't know why he thought of it, but if one day the heir has the answer, it could be terrible. The marquis is certain of that.