Royal Quarry by Charlotte Rahn-Lee Page A

the back of Manning’s throat came those little involuntary moans, like the one he had heard in the forest, expressing pleasure and desire, the hunger that comes with getting what you want. With his mouth now connected to Manning’s, Albert could feel those moans vibrating in his own chest. Albert gave himself so entirely to the kiss that he might have fallen over had not Manning held him.
    Manning leaned down and swept an arm behind Albert’s knees, taking him into his arms. Albert gasped at being suddenly off the ground. He leaned his head against Manning’s shoulder and nuzzled his face into his neck. Manning’s skin was smooth, and he smelled like soap. He’d clearly washed and shaved before coming to Albert’s room.
    “I miss the way you smelled in the forest,” Albert murmured, kissing Manning’s neck.
    “Dirty?” asked Manning.
    “Real,” said Albert, “full of life.”
    “I’m sorry my cleanliness disappoints you.”
    “Mmmm,” said Albert, “I don’t think you could disappoint me if you tried.”
    Manning began carrying Albert around his large room. “Where to, Your Highness?” he asked.
    “The bed,” said Albert.
    Manning put Albert down on his large, soft bed. Kissing his mouth, he ran his hand over Albert’s chest, his side, his lower back. Albert could feel the rough skin of his palms catching slightly at his shirt’s fine silk. Manning’s hand played at the edges of the cloth, slipping underneath the garment. The feel of this hand against Albert’s skin made him shiver. He took his shirt off. Manning smiled and caressed Albert’s skin, bringing his hand down the prince’s naked back, resting it on the bed behind him against the base of his spine. Albert heard himself moan. He could see a bulge pushing at the front of Manning’s pants, and his own penis was stiff and calling for attention. Albert reached forward to undo Manning’s garment and together they divested each other of the rest of their clothing. Manning climbed up onto the bed and knelt next to Albert, his cock full and long, his face flushed, his eyes half closed. Seeing Manning’s desire for him enflamed Albert. He reached forward a hand to touch that cock, and the sound that Manning made in response thrilled him. Suddenly there was nothing but touching and kissing, skin against skin: Manning’s hand on Albert’s penis, gently tugging; Albert’s fingers twisting and twining their way through Manning’s hair; Manning’s cock hot against Albert’s thigh. Albert pulled Manning’s mouth to his and kissed him as though he could never have enough.
    Manning pulled back a little and looked at Albert, both of them breathing heavily.
    “Have you ever…?” he asked.
    Albert shook his head. “No,” he said, “but I’ve read all the Greeks.”
    Manning laughed.
    “I want you inside me,” said Albert. “Please.”
    Manning leaned over and kissed him, placing a hand between Albert’s legs. He made his fingers slick with the salve, which had somehow come to the bed with them, and eased a finger gently inside him. They worked at it slowly, Albert calling out with the alternate pain and pleasure of it, until Manning could enter him, filling him up. Albert gave himself over to the sensation, crying out, gripping any part of Manning he could reach, responding to Manning’s motion. He felt whole, alive, present. And when Manning came, his handsome face open with the pleasure of it, Albert did, too, his fluids falling back down upon them like a celebration.
    Afterwards they lay in Albert’s bed, which for the first time did not seem too big. Albert returned to applying salve to Manning’s back. He found himself apologizing for everything that had hurt Manning in the past few days.
    “Some injuries are inevitable when you’re a bodyguard,” said Manning.
    “That’s why you should retire to a farm and raise rabbits.”
    “Then who will keep you safe?” asked Manning.
    “I’ll come with you,” said Albert.