Caught by the Nordari King Pt 7
Julian appeared visibly relieved. "I've heard talk of your gods and customs. Also, there seem to be certain gestures, ways of showing affection or animosity that I'm unfamiliar with."
Cadell's grin broadened, his eyes sparkling with a mix of amusement and affection. "Ah, you mean like this?" he asked, his voice a low rumble of intrigue. As he reached out, his hand moved with a deliberate slowness, finally coming to rest gently upon Julian's chest. The fabric of Julian's fine Calendrian clothing was soft under Cadell's rough, calloused fingers, a stark contrast to the rugged textures he was accustomed to.
The touch, though light and over clothing, carried the weight of Nordari traditions—a silent language of flirtation and intimacy that spoke louder than words. For Cadell, this contact was more than a mere gesture; it was an exploration, a discovery of Julian's otherness. His chest, less muscular and more delicately built than the Nordari warriors Cadell knew, was a new and enthralling territory. There was something profoundly captivating about Julian's slender form, a blend of boyish charm and effeminate grace that he had never encountered before.
Julian's reaction was immediate and telling. His cheeks bloomed with a rosy flush, a vibrant contrast to his pale skin, as if the very essence of his innocence and youth had risen to the surface. His amethyst eyes, usually so full of curiosity and intelligence, now flickered with confusion and a hint of vulnerability. He seemed taken aback, unsure of how to respond to this culturally loaded gesture.
For Julian, the touch was an intrusion into a personal space he had not yet invited Cadell into, yet it was undeniably thrilling. He was used to the more reserved expressions of affection in Calendrian culture, and this directness was both startling and intriguing. Despite his confusion, there was an undeniable flutter in his heart, a recognition of the desire in Cadell's touch, and an awakening curiosity about the Nordari ways of love and affection.
"Cadell, I..." Julian's voice trailed off as he nervously looked away, his fingers fiddling with the cuff of his sleeve. The layers of his fine clothing suddenly felt more like a shield, a barrier between Cadell's world and his own. Yet, beneath that shield, a new awareness simmered—a tantalizing interplay of fear and fascination, an unspoken question of what it might be like to truly let Cadell in.
Julian's cheeks flushed a rosy hue, his eyes quivering with confusion. "I didn't mean that earlier. I'm sorry, I didn't know—"
Cadell chuckled, taking his hand back. "No need to apologize, Julian. This is a lesson, isn't it?"
Julian's nervously looked away, fidgeting with the cuff of his sleeve. "Yes," he stammered. "It is."
Seated again with his mead, Cadell watched as Julian instructed his servants, who had quietly followed him, to place an ornate chest at the foot of the bed. From it, they began to unpack a few personal effects—books, scrolls, small artifacts.
Cadell sighed inwardly. Julian was taking this slow, incredibly slow. It seemed he was determined to keep his distance, literally setting up his own space within Cadell's chamber, yet somehow still remaining apart. "Is he just too innocent?" Cadell wondered, his thoughts awash with a mixture of annoyance and affection.
Still, as he looked at Julian—this intricate puzzle of a man—he thought that perhaps unraveling the mystery could be just as rewarding as the conquest itself. And who knows? Maybe in the heat of the moment, the young prince would surprise him yet.
In the amber glow of the hearth, King Cadell leaned back on a pile of furs and watched as Julian rifled through the intricate chest brought in earlier. He withdrew an exquisite vial, filled with a vivid purple liquid that shimmered in the firelight.
"Ah, Calendrian Moonshade Elixir," Julian remarked, holding the vial up for Cadell to see. "In my homeland, it's considered a luxurious indulgence, sipped only on the most sacred of occasions."
"Consider this a sacred occasion, then," Cadell grinned, captivated by the young man's presence.
Julian returned the smile, placing the vial back into the chest. At that moment, the servants, who had discreetly stayed in the corner of the room, sensed their cue to leave. The door shut behind them with a muted thud, leaving the two men alone.
Cadell glanced toward the large, fur-covered bed against the far wall. "I must point out, Julian, that there's only one bed."
To his surprise, Julian's eyes didn't dart away in awkwardness; they held steady, glowing almost like his namesake gemstones, the amethysts, mirroring the deep violet hue of his own eyes. Cadell, ever observant of the nuances in Calendrian culture, which often eluded his rough-hewn Nordari sensibilities, thought about it. He would have to present his fiance with a suitable gift someday.
"I see it, and I have no issue sharing it. But you must understand," Julian continued, his voice tinged with a maturity that belied his youthful features, "we are not yet married. I wish to remain chaste until our wedding day."
Cadell felt both a swell of admiration and a twinge of frustration. "If that's the case, these are going to be some very tense nights ahead."
Julian's cheeks turned a delightful shade of rose. "Remaining chaste doesn't prohibit us from self-pleasure, you know. It's a step-by-step process for me, getting accustomed to you and this new life."
The corner of Cadell's mouth turned up slyly. Intrigue danced in his eyes, mirroring the flickering flames of the hearth. "Well, that is an unexpected but fascinating prospect," he mused. "You continue to surprise me, Julian. Step by step, you say?"
Julian nodded, his eyes reflecting the sincerity of his words. "Step by step," he confirmed.
Cadell felt a sense of warmth spreading through him that had nothing to do with the fire. It was as if each moment spent with Julian was pulling him deeper into a story he never knew he'd be so eager to read, each page a new revelation, each chapter a promise of something extraordinary.
"Then step by step it shall be," Cadell agreed, his voice tinged with an emotion he couldn't quite name but knew he wanted to explore.
Their eyes met once more, two different worlds intertwining like the intricate patterns on Julian's vial of Moonshade Elixir, both sacred and indulgent in their newfound intimacy. Step by step, Cadell thought, relishing the profound and simple magic of those words. And for the first time, he found himself looking forward to the journey as much as the destination.
The amber light from the hearth cast a glow on the room's wooden walls, dancing in synchrony with the flicker of the flames.
"Ah, the Moonshade Elixir," he announced, displaying the vial as if it were a treasure. "Would you like to share this experience?"
"Why not?" Cadell grinned, watching as Julian uncorked the vial.
Julian took a delicate sip. As he swallowed, a curious warmth enveloped him, softening his features, making his eyes gleam almost supernaturally. With a slight tremor in his hands, he passed the vial to Cadell, who immediately took a sip, sharing an indirect kiss via the liquid's touch. A rush of excitement surged through him, mingling with the Elixir's effects, which started to spread a tantalizing warmth through his veins.
The tension was palpable. With a shy but bold move, Julian started unbuttoning his shirt, eventually pulling it over his head and casting it aside. Cadell's breath caught. He'd seen Julian shirtless before during their wrestling, but this—this was a different context altogether, a different kind of game they were playing.
"Would you...like to watch each other?" Julian's voice came out as a soft murmur, tinged with vulnerability and flushed with the rose hue that had settled on his cheeks.
A predatory yet gentle smile stretched across Cadell's lips. "A most compelling idea."
To be continued…