:: The Joust of Riley's 17th Year ::

[eblouissant]

It was the first time that Riley had been on the field, he'd trained hard for this. Very hard, all around him the area of people watched from their stands and seats. His armor gleamed pristine, the visor over his head, the jousting javelin tucked firmly underneath his arm.

Riding astride on his stallion, he galloped toward the ready line as the Games Crier spoke out his name. "Sir Cyril of House Valiase and his opponent Sir Germaine Moreau, please take your positions." and then Riley was in place, his heart thundering in his ears even while all around him the stadium turned as silent save for a few coughs here and there. The horn was blown and then he dug his heels in, pressed himself forward and started.

Grounding himself into the saddle, his eyes never leaving his opponent. Pounding hoofs the only thing to break the silence. That moment of fear, the way his stomach hit his throat and made him choke, so close so close. Held Breath. And then the sound of armor where he prepared for anything. No thinking, nothing-- head empty.

A clatter behind him as he charged forth. He had expected weightlessness, pain, but nothing as he made it to the end and he turned his horse around to see the attendants on the field rushing to Sir Germaine's side to help him from where he had stopped. Already they were assisting him off his horse, medics and his page. And then the crier called out.

"The Winner, Sir Cyril of House Valiase!" and the crowd went almost wild. Somewhere in the stands, he knew that his father was smiling approvingly, but his eyes did not search for his father. But a pair of eyes that he knew quite well, sitting in the royal box. There he could see them there, clapping along with the crowds-- his father not too far away from King Etienne itself.

A polite smile at his father and his King. And then his eyes searched out his best friend Guillaume with a far more shy smile; he was handed a rose by his page and there was a moment where he tried to figure out what to do with it.. he knew what to do, give it to a young lady of the court as was the proper procedure. A look at best friend, fleeting before he cantered his horse up to one of the young ladies of the Court and he handed her the rose.

--

Parties were like this, the celebrations were massive and with no expense spared. Now Riley could have found much more useful things to spend money on than a fountain of champagne and one of matching chocolate side by side-- but he did not make the rules nor did he hold the purse strings, so he held a glass of wine and watched the dancing.

He'd already done the required dancing with the young lady he'd given the rose to, also had been grilled on his mother on if she would make a suitable 'wife' for him. He did not care either way, if they arranged it then they did, it was not uncommon for parents to arrange matches for their children though he'd heard Guillaume state that his father the King was attempting to change that, to make Olympia more accepting. Trying to bridge the gap between Sylvia and Olympia, attempting to give women more rights.. everything that most Lords balked at (including Riley's father).

It felt like a fairy tale that was told, a fairy tale where magic existed and where women could be knights, where a marriage was only dictated by love. it was such a beautiful fairy tale, but Riley heard his father speak in contempt of such things, and Riley was not sure of the country was ready for that yet.

Comments

[giveanything]

Mm. Forearms. Liam was looking, almost respectfully. Maybe the way he bit at his lower lip as he turned around to give Riley the once over ruined the whole respectfully image, but oh well. He shook himself from his momentary stupor and wandered over to Riley.

"Here... for you." He held out the offered pajamas.

And then Riley brought up pastries and he couldn't help a fond laugh. Riley and his sweet tooth were well known in the palace. "They do, and if word gets to the chef that you are passing the night here, she'll make a double batch." Riley had a knack for being so polite and kind and sweet that people fell over themselves to do little things like that for him, especially since he'd never ask of his own accord.

[eblouissant]

"Well I would not want to make extra work for her, but if she makes them I will eat them." and also take some home and do as best as he was able to hide them from his siblings since they loved sweets just as much as he did. Once the Prince came close, he surveyed the man with a soft glimmer in his eyes- accepting the pajamas and then laying them very carefully and neatly on the chair before he lifted his hands to softly undo the buttons of Liam's waistcoat.

"It is not proper for the Prince to ready himself for bed without his valet so I suppose that I shall have to do in his place."

Was this a furtive excuse to get his hands on Liam? Perhaps, but he was only going to admit it very lightly; not to mention was there any greater joy than to serve his Prince? His Love? There really was not, and Riley was by nature one who took his responsibilities very seriously as well as the loyalty to his future King.

Oh no, the collarbone had no right to look that delicious and that ready to be assailed with kisses-- the storm of his eyes darkened only a little bit. The question became did he do it now or did he wait until Liam was properly dressed in his night things? Oh this moral quandry.

[giveanything]

Liam's smile only widened as Riley proved his point about being that exact considerate and courteous gentleman. See? No one could resist that at all, including Liam. He watched as the pajamas were set down and then, well, then Riley went and tried to murder him.

So maybe the idea of those hands on him was suddenly forefront in his mind. Maybe the thought of Riley undressing him had him simultaneously blushing and thinking entirely sinful thoughts, that he was certain that Riley would be able to read in suddenly wide, dark eyes. His dedicated, loyal knight.

"That is, ah, very kind of you. Heaven knows I'm a disaster left to my own devices." He was also a disaster left to Riley's devices, clearly, but he was not complaining in the least.

[eblouissant]

Riley was no man of the cloth, thank goodness for nobility of an earthy sort, and that was how just at that moment Riley ducked his head in order to brush his lips reverently against the collarbone presented; perhaps Riley may not worship a god, did not understand that gods did exist-- but he did worship Liam, his goodness and kindness. This man would be his reason for doing better, being better.

Even as his fingers unbuttoned each fastening slowly to reveal skin that looked even more kissable than the last.

For all about taking it slow, he really just wanted to slowly kiss Liam and that was what was occurring to him, that maybe he would be allowed that bit of decadent worship. It felt as natural as breathing to do so, and Liam was not stopping him.

If they made it through the night without making love, they would deserve medals of mutual self-restraint.

[giveanything]

Oh. The first touch of those lips against his collarbone, he could feel a heated twist low between his legs, a stirring of his arousal and a warmth that seemed to settle at the base of his spine. Liam was becoming very quickly aware that his own self-restraint was not anywhere near as good as he might have hoped, at least when it came to Riley.

His fingers found their way into soft, golden hair, all encouragement in every movement he made, every hitch in his breathing.

"That feels nice... so nice..." He murmured, low and soft, fingers carding through Riley's hair.

[eblouissant]

"You like it?" which was probably a rhetorical question, where every breath was a prayer spoken against skin, the arousal sharpened and made it far more apparent than it had been; but at least they were in it together.. fully and surely. He could tell by the whispered hitch of Liam's breath that he was enjoying the kisses. "I could do it more, if you wish." sliding his gaze up to look at Liam, a smile on his face that was shy and yet also...

Certain.

"So I think that it may have been a error on our part to think that maybe only sleeping would get done.. especially like this." and then he slowly pushed Liam's shirt off the shoulders until they fell in a whisper to the ground.

"But I.. I did say I was open to whatever happens.." to clarify.

[giveanything]

"Mmhmm..." Liam answered in a distant, blissfully distracted hum, even if it were a rhetorical question. Yes, he liked it. And yes, by all things holy and unholy that existed, he wanted more. He wanted Riley.

He let his shirt be slipped off, freeing his hands from the sleeves and letting it fall from his fingertips. The blush still rode high in his cheeks as he stood before Riley, shirtless. Liam was lean and athletic, skin fair but with the promise that the sun would be gentle with him despite.

His fingertips brushed oh so softly against Riley's cheekbone, down and along that strong, smooth jaw. "I wish. I very much wish," he began because wow did he wish for Riley to do more. His fingers caught Riley underneath his chin, urging him to look up so that Liam could steal a kiss from those lips again.

Riley was right, of course. The idea of not chasing this shining thread of desire seemed an impossibility. When Riley's touch sent sparks shooting through him, when the heat of those plush lips graced his skin, all he could possibly think about was this beautiful man and being closer to him, close as he could get, as two separate people could be.

"You did say that..." He murmured the words to Riley's lips in between kisses. Riley had said that and oh Liam was in full agreement. So he let himself stand at the metaphoric edge for only a breath and he leaped. "Make love to me?"

[eblouissant]

The mouth that felt better than the sun, a warmth he was privileged to soak up with every sense that he possessed; gods he would make up senses if he did not have access to them just so that he could bask further in the sensory pleasure. His mouth met Liam's softly, the sensual whisper of tongue as they swayed together-- delicate and yet still full of promise.

"It would be my pleasure and my honour to do so." Then Riley reached for his Prince and started to undo the belt, then he was easing fabric over hips to fully bare Liam's lovely body to him.

"You are exquisite." And Riley always wanted to be able to see this, to bask in the beauty of his Prince but more importantly his love. Sorry Liam, but Riley was terribly romantic, there would be time for filthy disrespectful sex between them later but now he just wanted to treat Liam like the treasure he was.

[giveanything]

Liam wasn't entirely certain how he'd wound up entirely naked while Riley was still wearing all his clothes. When had that happened exactly? He'd been so deliciously distracted by that mouth and those hands.

There he was, naked and with no way -- or inclination -- to hide the effect that Riley had on him, his cock hard and straining up as if seeking Riley's attention and approval. The blush on his face darkened at being called exquisite because how could Riley be saying that to him? What had he done to deserve something so amazing?

His knight was terribly romantic, and Liam adored him for it, among so many other reasons he loved him. His own romantic's heart was racing away inside his chest, as he reached up to curl his fingers into Riley's shirt and pull him closer. "You're still dressed... how are you still dressed? I want to see you, too. All of you."

[eblouissant]

"I am still dressed because it is my duty to make sure that you are taken care of first." not that Riley minded, he found that there had always been a need deep within him to seek approval from the Prince-- every smile, every hand touch was as precious to him as breathing, and as natural to accept it. "But you know that I cannot resist anything coming from our mouth."

And he punctuated it by pressing an open mouthed kiss to Liam's lips.

"Will you.. undress me, my heart?"

He knew that he would start the melt when those hands were upon him. The nightclothing were forgotten, on second thought they would not be needed at all and could pass the night undisturbed on the chair where Liam had settled them, and he felt his own face flush with anticipation over the other man ridding him of everything that kept his body away from Liam's

[giveanything]

"I see. Well then, you are... exceptionally dutiful. And should be properly rewarded for it." Clearly Liam would be very interested to provide that reward -- extremely fucking interested, thanks. Anything that Riley wanted, whatever would make this beautiful man in front of him happy, Liam would give it to him without hesitation.

He would also return that kiss with the same level of eagerness, utterly breathless as it broke. And his lungs would not be recovering when the breath was stolen from them again by that invitation, and that endearment.

"Yes. I... yes. I will. I would like that very much."

He set about unwrapping the most delectable present that he had ever seen, carefully undoing fastenings of all Riley's finery. He slid waistcoat and tunic off those strong shoulders, fingers dragging along skin as he pushed the fabric down and away. Then there was nothing stopping him from leaning in and kissing along the line of that shoulder as he moved his attention to Riley's trousers. "You are impossibly beautiful. I wonder if you ever noticed me looking at you... too closely... too long."

[eblouissant]

The truth was that he had not, because he was a virtuous boy and had tried to look at Liam with everything that was respectful-- but affectionate. He found himself wanting to melt at those words though, at the way that Liam stated that he had been looking.. out of everyone else, him which gave him a very particular glow deep down within his heart.

His torso was now bared, all peach and pink skin, though with a definition of muscle; it was not showy but there was sinew there, and the abdomen had an outline of a six pack though not fully defined yet, more prevalent though was the v-of his hips, and the bitable skin just underneath that certainly disappeared into his dress pants.

But he was only a little shy, but perhaps a lot hard. "I can only blame the beauty on genetics, I had nothing to do with that.. but I am glad that you like the cut of my cloth." he only chuckled a little bit softly as he uttered that. "But I suppose I was too busy looking at you to notice that you were looking at me?"

[giveanything]

Liam was fighting the urge to drop directly to his knees to explore that tempting v and where it disappeared into his trousers up close and personal, with his tongue, perhaps. For the moment he somehow managed to resist, letting himself instead be distracted by running his hands over that chest, the flat plane of his stomach, and then down, down down.

He would focus on the task at hand and getting those pants undone and tugging them off, down off his hips before letting gravity take them the rest of the way down. His lips trailed down and along one pectoral, a scrape of his teeth soothed by a sweet kiss in their passing. Peeking up at Riley, he offered a smile, playful even through the desire that had made his dark eyes look all the darker. "Well, I shall send your parents a heartfelt letter of thanks for what they have created then. But... it is more than that. The most beautiful part of you is your heart, I think. The one you wear on your sleeve, the one that shines through every smile and word from your lips."

Liam was so helplessly smitten, Riley. His expression softened at Riley admitting to looking at him. "Then, I am so glad, that we finally see each other clearly. Like this."

[eblouissant]

The two of them were now naked and with nothing in their way, no fabric and certainly no inhibitions about what they were doing-- now, they both had made a conscious decision to do this and he found that he would've done it gladly no matter what, but they were here now and safe and warm in the intimacy of each other's perceptions.

And damn but he felt beautiful with the way that those eyes raked over his form, the way that that mouth kissed his chest. "Oh dear, well they would probably be thrilled about the heartfelt letter though it would likely have them lamenting the fact that you were not born a woman, or myself one." to marry off to the Prince.

Boys were prized but in this case his father was kicking himself for having so many heirs.

"But I happen to like the both of us right at this moment, as we are."

[giveanything]

"I do too," Liam agreed, hand winding its way down along Riley's stomach, lower this time, until his fingertips brushed along his cock, fingers feather-light, a gentle trace to learn the shape of him, a brief startle as they found that bead of precome, but then happy to let his touch continued, slickened now. "Very much, as it turns out."

It was the first time he'd ever touched another man -- the first time he'd touched anyone so intimately -- except for himself. And oh, it was Riley. His Riley.

Liam could not imagine being with anyone besides Riley. The crush had started small, a small pulsing flicker that had taken hold and settled into a constant warm glow that made his stomach twist when Riley smiled at him, when he saw his dear, gallant knight atop his horse, sun shining in that golden hair, when he watched Riley patiently and gently deal with Patrice's eagerness to know everything about what it was like to be a knight.

His gaze flickered back to Riley's face, looking at him through a thick fringe of dark lashes, as if making sure that this was all right, that he was helping himself to touching the other man like he wanted.

[eblouissant]

When Liam looked at Riley's face, it would to see that lower lip caught between teeth as his cock was touched for the very first time by someone other than himself; and those eyes were now subsumed as they looked at Liam though there was intensity there that was quiet without being showy, also exceedingly gentle for he was gentle if anything.

"I.. like that.." his voice cracked a little bit, it was where his soft groan was trying to get out of his mouth but being indicated by the surprise on his lips as well, that it could feel even better than touching himself. "You can.. keep going, but just know that I am going to want to.. you know, please you too.. and if I do not get a chance too I will.. "

Be immeasurably saddened by such a loss.

[giveanything]

Liam leaned up to touch his lips to Riley's cheek. He would take that encouragement as a good reason to wrap his fingers around the other man's length, marveling at how velvet soft skin could feel over the hard, heated member, the way Riley's body reacted to him. It was intoxicating, and he felt dizzy with the rush of it all.

"I would not dream of denying you anything you wanted," Liam assured him, nuzzling where he'd just kissed as he stroked slowly at Riley. "I want to feel your hands on me. Your lips." Hands, mouth, whatever Riley wanted honestly.

But Liam was just bold enough to add, mouth just by Riley's ear as he murmured a secret there. "I want to feel you inside me. Please?"

[eblouissant]

The advantage of Liam having his fist wrapped firmly around Liam's cock was that when Liam whispered that 'please' along with a 'I want to feel you inside me' his cock gave a very excited twitch-- that was unavoidable and caused him both desire and chagrin. He wanted that, very much-- he wanted to press inside the other man and observe pleasure blossom over other man's face like the rays of dawn.

"Yes.. I.. I want that too." He tried to act casual about it but judging from the flush of his cheeks as well as the way he continued to bit his lower lip.. there was no way he could be anything other than eager.

"Should we-- " and for a moment his body seized up with pleasure, "Should we lay down on the bed?"

And then--

"Do you have any oils you use to touch yourself with?" For recreational purposes of course.

[giveanything]

Oh that was a fascinating feeling, the way Riley's cock reacted for him. It had Liam smiling where his face was still tucked half against the other man's cheek, lips still dangerously close to his ear. "Mmhmm. I think we should."

Bed sounded like the perfect plan. He wasn't entirely certain his legs would continue supporting with him, weak kneed as Riley had him feeling. A shiver danced over his skin, at the thought, and Liam was reluctantly drawing his hand away from Riley and even more Reluctantly stepping away from him.

He turned to make his way to the bed, casting a glance back over his shoulder to make sure that Riley was following. The blush was vivid and obvious on his own face as he paused to retrieve a vial from the small leather box set atop his bedside table.

"I do."

With as much casual confidence as he could muster, despite the way his heart was racing, despite the flight of butterflies fluttering erratically in his stomach, he took a seat on the bed, hand braced behind himself to lean back just slightly, looking at Riley. "Should I admit that when I touch myself, I am closing my eyes and imagining you?"

[eblouissant]

Oh no, there was a certain amount of demisexual panic that was twined with lust stemming directly from love, watered ever since he had emmerged into puberty with the Prince right next to him growing up alongside him. The way that Liam was casually lounged like that, like a kings feast that Riley had been personally invited to sit at the table of.

He approached, his footsteps slow and then he knelt in front of Liam on the bed and then he lowered his mouth to the side of Liam's knee where he pressed a reverent kiss to the skin of his beloved. Eyes then moving upward across body, against a body that was gorgeous but also part and parcel of a man who was far more precious to him than life itself.

If anything ever happened to him..
?

But he did not think he had to worry about that, they had a long life ahead of then full of nameless events and yes, shared love that transcended the world itself.

"I like that, that you would think about me like that, that you would moan my name while you reached pinnacle." With a near hesitancy he reached between Liam's legs and wrapped his fist around a long shaft, giving it a slow stroke as if he was savoring the first moment of giving Liam pleasure.

"May I hear.. your name on my lips?"

[giveanything]

Liam watched as Riley approached, entranced with each step, each movement that the other made, unable to look away from him. But it was a vision he was witnessing, something that no artist no matter their skill could ever truly hope to capture in its wonder. He wanted to commit it to memory, everything about the moment and all the magic it had intrinsic to it as a beginning, as a first.

His throat tightened with that simmering lust rising to a roiling boil as he watched Riley drop to his knees in front of him. Then he was wondering how a simple kiss to the inside of his knee had a wave of ecstasy rolling straight through him. Liam's fingers trembled only slightly as he brushed Riley's hair back from his face and then buried their way into soft spun gold strands.

"Riley..." he breathed out, soft and low. His head fell back with a moan as that hand wrapped around him, rips rocking towards the touch to encourage more. "My Riley..." His. His love and his treasure.

[eblouissant]

His fingers slotted in against ridges almost as if they were born to be there, a soft stroke back and forth while he watched with rapt fascination the way that his touch made Liam come apart; he did not think that there existed anything more beautiful than this, watching the way that Liam responded to him. He wanted to desperately take him apart and then very tenderly and lovingly put him back together again.

"Yours, always yours for as long as you want me."

Perhaps even past death, though that was not something he actively thought about. He was only focused on the here and now, the way that his fingers lightly grazed and brought skin up with each stroke, precome gathered at the slit and then downward pass and he was slickening up Liam. This was a holy and sacred thing between them right now, he could not think of anything but that it was-- HIs breath catching in his throat because of course it did, robbed quite willingly by Liam's signs and moans.

[giveanything]

Liam was no angel. He was quite familiar with his own body, with what in his own touch felt good, what could bring him to climax, but Riley's touch was so much better, so much more. Lips parted around another soft, breathless murmur. His fingers slipped through Riley's hair again, then out to run along his jawline.

"Always. Until time reaches it end. And maybe after that, too."

Liam knew that this was their first time, that they'd only just admitted these feelings. But he had known Riley his entire life, and his heart was very made up on where it belonged and who it belonged to. He loved him, and that love was not going anywhere.

Those strong fingers stroking him over, the callouses he could feel from where they were at home around the hilt of a sword, they had him moaning again. "Oh... that feels good. You feel so good..."

[eblouissant]

Riley was not going to bring him off like this, he wanted to be so deeply buried in his love-- to look down into his eyes as he did so, to see the pleasure bloom across his features, he was almost enamored by that thought. And thus did he with his free hand reach for the bottle of massage oil, the vile glimmering underneath the glow of candlelight with that alluring tincture that would prepare the way so that his Prince found only pleasure in this encounter.

"Tell me.. tell me more about your thoughts?" Riley had to draw his hand from the cock so that he could pour and then rub the fragrant oil all over his hands, taking especial care to coat his fingers that would be used to prepare. "Your thoughts involving us... in your alone time." And then he spread those legs wide and shifted to move in closer while the tips lightly circled the hole presented, and he had a nice view of the pink gated entrance, with those little ridges set in a starburst, and now glimmering with a sheen of oil.

[giveanything]

Liam shifted back further onto the bed, settling back into pillows as he watched Riley open the vial and work that oil over his fingers. The prince shifted his thighs apart, everything about his movements invitation, encouragement, welcome. His heart was beating so fast he didn't know how it hadn't hammered its way out of his chest.

His face heated again at that request, but he was all too happy to comply, to give Riley what he had asked for. A soft gasp at the first touch of slick fingers, and Liam took a breath to settle himself before trying his voice.

"I've imagined so many things. Sometimes... ah... sometimes just picturing your lips or your hands was enough. Sometimes I imagine clinging to you while you're moving inside me, while I'm full of you and begging you for more, begging you to claim me as yours."

His hand slipped down his own chest, his own stomach, to wrap around his prick, giving himself a slow squeeze before stroking slowly. "Sometimes I picture surprising you in the stables and dropping to my knees and taking you into my mouth... or bending you over a table in the library while I fuck you and we try to stay quiet..."

Liam had a very active fantasy life, apparently.