Chapter 104: Sore Morning [I]

Basil didn’t respond. He didn’t even lift his head or make the slightest attempt to acknowledge the praise. He simply remained draped across Darius’s chest, breathing softly, completely dead to the world. Darius glanced down at him and chuckled under his breath. ’I must have really gone harder on him than I intended.’ he thought, looking at the exhausted state of the man in his arms. Well, that served Basil right for trying to avoid Darius for three whole days.

He continued massaging Basil’s hair, perfectly content to let him sleep. As he reflected on the night’s activities, the more he became convinced that he had taken things much further than he had during their first time together. He couldn’t even begin to count how many times he had drawn all sorts of sounds out of Basil, from breathless whimpers to helpless cries that had made it impossible for him to resist teasing his prince further. Judging by the utterly exhausted state his prince was in now, Darius wasn’t sure Basil would be able to stand properly when he finally woke up, much less walk without feeling the consequences of the night’s activities.

A soft, amused huff escaped Darius as he shifted slightly, accommodating the heavy, lax weight sprawled across him. He pulled the edge of the rumpled sheet higher over Basil’s bare back, shielding him from the crisp morning air filtering through the high chamber windows. Basil made a faint, unintelligible sound in response, his fingers curling weakly against Darius’s skin before going still again. The movement drew a quiet chuckle from Darius, who lowered his gaze to the blond head resting beneath his chin.

Basil seemed determined to remain as far removed from the world as possible, showing no interest in anything beyond the warmth of Darius’s embrace. Darius had really worn his prince out. Darius resumed running his fingers through Basil’s hair, occasionally scratching gently at his scalp as he watched the sunlight creep farther across the rumpled sheets.

For twelve years, he had imagined what it would feel like to finally hold his prince like this, but the reality was far more fulfilling than anything his mind had conjured during those long years of longing. His fingers stroked down Basil’s spine, feeling the gentle rise and fall of his breathing against his chest. There had been countless nights when Darius had imagined what it would be like to have Basil this close, to hold him without having to worry about anything.

Nothing he had imagined could compare to the quiet intimacy of this moment, with Basil sleeping peacefully in his arms, seemingly unaware of how much he meant to him.

"If only you knew how much I love you," he whispered against Basil’s crown.

He lowered his head and pressed another lingering kiss to his blond hair before settling back against the pillows, his arm tightening gently around Basil’s waist. For now, he was content to keep his prince close and let him sleep, holding him against his chest as the morning sunlight gradually filled the room.

*****

Darius stood in front of Basil, meticulously fastening the buttons of his shirt while the latter remained seated on the edge of the bed. The morning sun had risen higher, casting warm light across the bedroom, but neither of them seemed particularly eager to leave its comfort. Basil’s blond hair was still slightly disheveled despite having taken a bath, and his expression had settled into a permanent scowl that Darius found far too amusing for his own good. After letting Basil get some much-needed rest, they had eventually agreed that they couldn’t remain in bed forever. They needed to go downstairs and have breakfast with the king and queen, who would undoubtedly asked more questions if Basil continued to avoid everyone in the palace.

The moment Basil attempted to stand, a sharp jolt ran up his spine, causing his expression to tighten as a breathless wince escaped his lips. He immediately reached for Darius’s shoulder to steady himself. His body ached in places he would rather not think about, and even the simple act of straightening his back made him regret every decision that had led to this particular morning. Darius’s amusement vanished almost immediately. He slipped an arm around Basil’s waist, his brows drawing together as he studied his face. "Are you sure you’re all right?" he asked, his voice noticeably softer. "We can have breakfast brought up here. There’s no need for you to go downstairs if you’re still feeling uncomfortable. I’m sure Father and Mother will understand."

Basil shook his head, although he remained leaning against Darius while he waited for the discomfort to ease. "No. That would only make them more worried." He exhaled slowly, then glanced up at Darius with a tired expression. "I’ve been avoiding everyone for three whole days. Now that I’m finally back in the palace, do you really think I can skip breakfast with them too? We always have breakfast together unless someone is away. If I suddenly refuse to join them today, they’ll start wondering what’s wrong with me." He paused, shifting slightly as he tried to find a comfortable position. "Which would only make things more suspicious."

Darius considered his words for a moment before giving a small shrug. "Then I’ll tell them you’re still busy with the schoolwork that kept you occupied for the past three days. I can come up with something convincing enough to keep them from asking too many questions." He reached for the final button of Basil’s shirt and fastened it before smoothing the fabric over his chest.

"Or I could tell them you’re feeling a little unwell and need some rest. They wouldn’t insist on you coming downstairs if they knew you weren’t feeling well." Basil immediately shook his head again, his expression growing more determined. "I’m fine, Darius. Really. I’ll manage." He straightened his shirt and carefully adjusted his collar. "Let’s just go before they start wondering why we’re taking so long."

Darius watched him for another moment, clearly unconvinced, before a teasing smile slowly returned to his face. "All right, my prince. But next time, I’ll try not to go quite so hard on you." Basil’s head snapped toward him, and the glare he delivered could have frozen the morning sunlight. Darius pressed his lips together, desperately attempting to contain his laughter, but the sight of Basil’s murderous expression made the effort almost impossible. "What?" he asked innocently. "I’m only saying I’ll be gentler next time." Basil’s glare deepened, and Darius finally surrendered, stepping forward to wrap his arms around him. He pressed several quick kisses to Basil’s cheek before resting his forehead against his. "All right, all right. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to go that hard on you." His voice softened as he brushed a strand of blond hair away from Basil’s face. "I really am sorry, my prince."

Basil stared at him for a moment, his expression caught between irritation and reluctant affection. He could hardly remain genuinely angry when Darius was looking at him like that, especially when the man had the audacity to appear so pleased with himself. Still, he wasn’t about to let him off the hook so easily. "Just let’s go," he muttered, gently pushing Darius away before turning toward the bedroom door. He took his first few steps carefully, keeping his movements slow and measured as the soreness throughout his body made itself known with every shift of his weight. His thighs felt uncomfortably tender, his lower back ached, and there was a lingering sensitivity that made him painfully aware of the previous night’s activities. Even walking in a straight line required more concentration than he cared to admit. He clenched his jaw and continued forward, refusing to give Darius the satisfaction of hearing another complaint.

Darius followed closely beside him, ready to offer support whenever Basil needed it. When Basil reached the doorway, he paused and turned his head to give Darius another pointed look. "I’m going to make you pay for this one way or another," he warned, his voice low despite the faint breathlessness that accompanied his movements. Darius blinked before placing a hand over his chest in exaggerated alarm.

"Oh, my God. I’m terrified." He shook his head solemnly, although the mischievous glint in his eyes ruined the performance. "Please spare me, my prince. I promise to behave myself from now on." Basil narrowed his eyes at him. "You’d better." Darius immediately leaned in to kiss his cheek again, laughing softly when Basil tried to push his face away. "I’m sorry," he repeated, slipping an arm around his waist. "Come on. Let’s get you downstairs before you decide to murder me before breakfast."

Since Basil was clearly in no condition to manage the staircase comfortably, they took the elevator down to the ground floor. Darius kept an arm around his waist throughout the short journey, occasionally glancing at him to make sure he wasn’t in too much discomfort. Basil, for his part, remained quiet, concentrating on maintaining a composed expression. He knew the moment they reached the dining room, his parents would notice something was different.