:: 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.

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[eblouissant]

A soft chuckle, "I promise you that it will not be hours to take care of you, unlikely that I have enough willpower to resist you." that was true, he had vows to King and Country, to his Prince. Therefore-- that meant that Liam could tell him to do something and he would be willing to do it (as long as it coincided with his moral compass, even then well..). His fingers continued to arch and stroke and then he very carefully removed them and then crawled up between those thighs even further, settling there while he moved to take his own cock in his hand.

"Only minutes, maybe even seconds.. is that acceptable, my Lord?"

He settled the thighs against his own waist and then gave the outside leg a stroke while he looked into those eyes, to make sure that it was alright to start entering him. Because Riley was a good boy.

[giveanything]

"I can abide minutes, Sir Cyril." Because if Riley was going to call him my Lord, Liam would answer in the most regal tone he could manage -- total failure at the attempt. He was breathless and turned on and wanting, so it came out in a rush interspersed by a soft moan as Riley moved closer, as Liam felt his legs lifted. His teeth caught at his lower lip, and he looked up at Riley.

"Please, Love?"

Riley was such a good boy, Liam's good boy, and Liam wanted him more than words could ever truly hope to capture. Maybe the look in dark eyes, swirling in the low light of his bedroom, catching what illumination there was like deep, amber whiskey. "I need you."

[eblouissant]

That was alright, Riley thought that it was very attractive-- in fact Liam was always attractive but here in the moment with writhing, he looked like heaven itself, and thus he very softly allowed himself to press a soft kiss to the neck, leaning over the other man with one arm posed to the side to prop himself up.

The other was slowly guiding the cock to very indolently rub it against the very pliant hole, he pressed soft kisses against mouth, open and like rain while he started to press himself into his dearest love with a very definite care for him.

"Tell me if it is uncomfortable, I would not want to hurt you my darling."

[giveanything]

Liam wound his arms around Riley as the other man leaned over him, hands running up his sides, around to that broad, strong back. He looked up into those eyes, sky with the promise of warm rain, familiar and comforting and so divinely beautiful that even if Liam had never really had any exposure to religion of any sort, he was still quite certain he was having a religious experience here in this moment. It was a secret sacrament, between the two of them, and oh he would happily worship this beautiful, gentle creature who touched him so sweetly and called him darling.

He leaned up to meet those lips, whimpering softly as Riley first teased at him, the feeling of that blunt cock head at his hole a promise that Liam needed kept now. And then, then Riley was finally pressing inside him, and his hole seemed to welcome him inside.

The sound that let his lips was half moan and half laugh. "You could never hurt me. My Riley." And just to underscore that this was the furthest thing from pain that Liam had ever felt, he rather deliberately wound his legs around Riley's hips.

[eblouissant]

"I would never wish to." burying his face against that neck he then arched and started to push himself into Liam; there was a precious tenderness to it, both of their first times when it came to this. Riley could feel the other man melt against him, it was a beautiful feeling and he understood in this moment that very little could be more perfect than their connection, the way that they both clung to each other with such hope and love, it was the summer sky right now-- no clouds, no rain.. no sadness.

Everything was hope and light.

Kissing a trail against the jawline, felt the smoothness at the hint of aftershave, that too was a scent that lingered and made him want to lick and bite against skin; he was not normally this wild and yet the other man caused him to forget himself.. but he'd been given permission to do so; there was no titles here for all their teasing, they were just two men desperately in love.

[giveanything]

Liam knew it was impossible. He knew that there was no way harm could ever come to him from the hands of this sweet, wonderful man. The only pain Riley could ever bring was in making Liam worry for his brave knight's safety, in putting himself in harm's way.

But right now, thoughts of harm or danger were so far away from Liam's mind. Everything was exactly as it should be, the world spinning on its axis as it was always meant to, Liam's world which orbited the bright shining sun that was his lover.

"Ah..." Soft and sweet, half breath and half moan, as Riley moved inside him, slowly filled him, and oh god was it cliche to think that perhaps they were made for each other? Because Liam felt like that had to be the case. There was pain as his body adjusted, but it was barely a whisper amidst the sheer ecstasy of being so close, of having Riley with him this way.

His eyes fluttered shut, neck falling to the side as that mouth played over his neck. "My love... please." One hand ran up and along and into Riley's hair.

[eblouissant]

And how Riley would argue that was his duty to protect Liam, it would be a point between them that would be contested quite a few times no matter what life held, Riley's need to protect him and Liam's need for Riley to remain safe.

It was a smooth glide aided by the oils that Liam had so helpfully provided, but it did feel as if they were meant to do just that for he fit perfectly and he wondered if Liam would fit just as perfectly within him? Romantic thoughts for a very romantic moment where their two bodies were twined into one. A few more kisses to that neck, soft and beautiful like the dawning sun before finally he lifted his head to press a kiss to that jaw.

And his own hips starting a fluid roll, all sinewy and poetry-- knights honed despite his young aged, those muscles were lean but still there, stronger than he appeared.

[giveanything]

They could fuss over who was meant to keep who safe and perhaps agree to disagree. That would be as close to coming to terms on that as they likely could on that particular subject.

But that could wait for a moment when Liam could think of something beyond that body above him around him inside him. He felt like he was being subsumed by Riley entirely, and it felt like he was coming home, finding the place he was meant to be in this world.

Riley's hips rolled against him, and Liam arched to meet it, welcoming each thrust, as Riley's cock now did an excellent job of finding that spot inside him that his fingers had teased earlier. Liam made no secret of his pleasure, soft moans interspersed with gentle praise of how perfect Riley was, how good he felt, how much Liam wanted him. Loved him.

[eblouissant]

They moved like waves into each other, shore to sea-- everything that drew the tides to come back to the beach again and again-- it was a certain sort of bliss that he felt, the way that Liam snuggly encompassed him, those breathless sighs that made him feel as if he was far more than he really was-- to tender such things from his love's lips.. was that not the height of accomplishment?

The thrusts angled upwards so that he could press against that spot that had previous too been attended to my finger, then he shifted himself so that he could watch Liam's expression.. and oh how that entranced him beyond anything he'd ever experienced; those eyes hazy with pleasure, the parted mouth that begged to be kissed.

And he did just that even as he quickened his pace, using his body as leverage to bring the other man an even sharpen height of pleasure, though he would be there all the way, promising that with those grey eyes that held all the intensity of a storm, a benign one for he would never dare hurt his love.

[giveanything]

This was so much more than every book, every story and every love poem that Liam had read -- and oh he'd read his share. He was nothing if not a deeply hopeless romantic. And finding out that reality was so much more, so much better than the dream was breathtaking. Riley was taking him apart as if he were some expert musician, and Liam his willing, singing instrument, crying out again and again, even if he tried to keep himself quiet, to be mindful that in a palace, walls often had ears.

His own cock dragged along the flat plane of Riley's lean stomach, smearing the slick of his own precome as he arched against him. Between that delicious friction and the sweet assault of Riley's cock hammering at his prostate, there was no way that Liam could last very long.

It was the kiss that did it, those lips and that quickened pace. His arms tightened around the other man, clinging to him like he intended to never let him go. Riley was a storm, but one that promised shelter and safety, and Liam would happily run to it. He broke from the knight's lips to whisper his name, the only precursor to his release. A hot splash against both their stomachs, and a quivering clench of his body around the length inside him, rhythmic and repeated.

[eblouissant]

And the Knight would do everything in his power to protect that romanticism in Liam, to the heights and to the depths; because that made the Prince who he was-- perhaps they were both idealistic in the manner of their naivete, and yes blind to what was going around them but they were still not old enough to see what was in front of their eyes.

Except for each other.

With each movement he made sure that his own stomach caught Liam's dick, and with his movements the cock was stroked between the planes of their abdomen's, he did not want the other man to last because he would not either, already it felt good.. far better than he had ever imagined (and arguably he had not imagined much, he did not have a very good imagination when it came to sexual things like this because they had never before held their interest) and here was the other man like a dream come true.

The orgasm hit, the clench of walls around his own cock, a harsh groan and then his own mouth, his own tongue seeking as Liam coaxed the climax out of him, it hit him like a storm fury, and perhaps it was his emotions as well, the desire built up as his own lips rained down kisses like rain after the thunder burst, but he was still rocking and spreading his seed deeper and deeper inside, making sure to smear it and leave no part of Liam unsowed.

[giveanything]

They were both incredibly naive to so much of the darker parts of the world. Eventually they'd learn, of course, but not now. Not here. Now they had this love, with each other, and no matter what the world had in store for them, this love would always be born of this simple, clean truth -- that they loved one another, and the world was a better place for it.

Liam leaned up to try to devour that groan from Riley's lips, eager to taste the sound of ecstasy, to let himself down in it as he felt Riley find his release as well, knowing that his lover was marking him, filling him, claiming him in a way that Liam desperately wanted to give him. And soon he'd return the favor, if Riley was on board. They had the future laid out before them, after all.

"Riley..." just his name, soft and with a voice that trembled ever so slightly.

[eblouissant]

"I am forever changed because of you." He could never go back, did not want to-- his heart a mess of feelings that were neither neat nor orderly but still they were real and sincere; the soft beathing of Liam as he rested atop him, plying him with kisses as the afterglow settled atop them like a mantle against the other world.

There was no 'where do we go from here' as it was already self explanatory, their paths were twined inexplicably as well as their fates.

No place but the future for them.

"I never imagined it could be that good however."

[giveanything]

"So am I... I'm a better man for knowing you. For loving you." Riley had changed the shape of his head in the same subtle ways that he'd altered his soul, so soft and gentle that he hadn't even noticed as they happened. But Liam wanted to be someone deserving of Riley's friendship. Of his affection. Of his love.

He met each kiss happily, soft, pleased hums he didn't realize he was making, as content and at ease as he felt.

"Neither did I," Liam agreed, hand slipping over Riley's shoulder, down over his chest, to find the necklace that Liam had put on him out in the garden, finger brushing pendant before his hand settled flag against Riley's chest, where he could feel his heartbeat. "I love you, Riley. So much."

[eblouissant]

That gave Riley such a cozy feeling, to know that the other man's life was improved with him in it. He found himself tucking up against the Prince in the sweet bliss of the afterglow, where everything made far more sense; affection was true but there was also that deep and abiding love-- the realize that this was his soulmate.

"Then it is shared, the love that I feel for you.. I wish that I could give you something as well." he had nothing that he could think of; all of the jewelry he possessed was not precisely meaningful, his parents bore no strong love for each other as it was a marriage of convenience. "I have nothing to give you but love." and then he lifted Liam's hand so that he could press a kiss against the knuckles.

"I hope that is enough."

[giveanything]

Having Riley in his arms, and having those arms around him, oh it made everything so much better. He was warm and safe, aching pleasantly and oh so entirely sated. This was the afterglow, wasn't it? The way those spicier stories talked of it. He very much liked it, could bask in it an din Riley's warmth for a very long time.

Up until forever if he were allowed. He had found his match, he thought, and there was something so right and safe and strong about that.

Then Riley went and said words that unraveled Liam's heart entirely. His face flushed dark as those lips grazed his knuckles. "That.... that is more than enough. It's the most amazing treasure I've ever known. Love me, Riley. Let me love you in return, and I can't imagine ever needing anything else in the world to be happier than any man has ever been."

[eblouissant]

Riley nearly glowed with that permission as it came, the knowledge that it was enough that his love would be enough. He settled against Liam, half on him and half on him.. while he rested his hand on chest as he ran upward and downward. The pale skin and then looking downward at the line of hair that lead to the slowly flagging prick.

Even in this his Prince was beautiful, a perfect work of art that he could worship for hours upon end.

No matter, he believed that Liam would change the world and he wanted to be supporting him when he did that, to give him all the faith and love in his heart and hope that would guide him. "Whatever dreams you have for the future, I will lend whatever aid I can..."

[giveanything]

He let his fingers run down through Riley's hair, smiling, the expression drenched through with affection. He hadn't realized just how all encompassing love could be, how it could feel like it softened and brightened the world itself, changing the warmth of the light that shone from whatever source.

He was starting to feel the pleasant tug of sleep, made more pleasant by the thought of spending the night wrapped in Riley's arms. "You are my dream. But... mm. We'll work together, love. Side by side... and we'll make things better for everyone. There's so much beyond the borders, our people deserve to know the world. And the world deserves to know us."

Oh he was naive and optimistic, the stubborn determined sort that wouldn't let anyone tell him something was impossible just because it had never been done before, just because it would be hard.

[eblouissant]

"I think that a shared dream where we make Olympia a better place where we can walk together side by side and hand in hand, that is a worthy dream and one that everyone should be allowed to experience." he was romantic enough to think that would be perfect, he was sentimental enough to wish that for every single person who existed that were like them. He pressed a kiss to that neck and then settled in close, into Liam's arms.

Legs twined with legs, bodies pressed close. And yes with Liam being the Little Spoon as he wished, because how did Riley want to sleep in a way with Liam that he was ready to protect him at a moment's notice.

"Together we can do it, Liam--" and then he leaned down to press a kiss to the top of Liam's chest, right where the heart would be.

[giveanything]

Right where Liam's heart used to be. Now it lived very firmly in Riley's strong, gentle hands. But he melted nevertheless, smiling at the blond as he cozied himself in, tangled and twined together. They would. "A better place, for everyone..."

They would. Side by side and hand in hand, even if it would be hard, even if there were those who might try to fight them on it.

Liam had never been so comfortable in his life as he was in Riley's arms, and he wondered if perhaps he couldn't come up with a reason for Riley to need to spend more nights at the palace. He very seldom played the crown prince card, but, maybe it would be okay in this instance.

[eblouissant]

Whenever Liam needed, he would be there-- he would come there when called; felt almost certain that he would feel him beyond space and time, would be there because his soul could not fathom not doing such. But for right now they were tucked up and safe and with little regards to the world around.

And Riley would accept any sort of new position where he was required to be in attendance to the crown prince constantly.

"Mmmm on your side, Liam-- I want to cuddle up with my arms wrapped around you." that was a command, but it was a gentle and thoroughly loving one.

[giveanything]

Sir Cyril Valiase, especially in the light of his recent victory in the jousting grounds, would make a perfect champion and personal protector of the prince wouldn't he? Liam was already turning the thought over in his head, the best way to phrase it when he made the request to his father.

Then Riley spoke and he refocused on the immediate present. Yes. Good.

Liam would've complied no matter what the tone honestly, but it was so very Riley, a command spoken as if it were made of something soft and warm. He shifted onto his side, all too happy to live his little spoon fantasy in the right here and now.

"I'd like that too," he murmured, ready to welcome Riley's arms around him, to cozy his way backwards against him. They were both still entirely naked, nothing to possibly get between them. So perhaps it was a bit of mischief in him that had him deliberately wiggling his ass back against Riley.

[eblouissant]

And Sir Cyril would accept any offer made of protection of the Prince, and any failure he would take deeply and internally until they felt like glass shards in his soul. But now that Liam was on his side, the Knight very carefully tucked himself up behind Liam, his arm around that waist and then resting his face very carefully against the back of the other man's neck; truth was that all night Liam would be able to feel the comforting puff of his best friend and lover sleeping against him.

The surge of mischief and Riley groaned. "Love, My Prince? I thought we were going to sleep?" he said with the barest hint of amusement. then in a way that was infinitely loving, "Perhaps I should call you brat prince..." though let's be real, Riley knew that the other man had always been the one to get into trouble and he'd followed on the waves of it.

[giveanything]

Oh that was amazing, the solid warmth pressed against him, chest to back, strong arms around him. Liam had rather thought this would be nice, but he had somehow underestimated just how good it was. Of course, that didn't mean he wasn't above the trouble making, even within the circle of those arms.

He glanced back, all smiles and near beatific innocence. A brat? Who him?

Liam couldn't stop the laugh, quiet, but it shook his shoulders as he tried to stifle it. "Perhaps you should," he agreed. Another wiggle to make sure there was no doubt that Riley was exactly right in his assessment. "I expect I'll need you to keep me in line. I'm sure you're up to the task."

[eblouissant]

A muffled exclamation into the back of that neck, perhaps already wondering what he signed up for.

This moment though, may it be immortalized in gold forevermore; those soft sweet memories that would be laced with regret and other such things; a reminder never to take anything for granted. "Go to sleep..." he said this and firmed his arms around Liam. "Maybe you will cause chaos in the morning, that is entirely possible." he would expect nothing less from his Prince.

But he would meet it gladly, just like he loved the dawn.

"There is no way that I could ever keep you in line, I will only fall behind and make sure that I offer support to you as you do whatever it is that you please."