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“That’s the last of it,” Eiden says, patting the crates loaded into the carriage.
“Thank you, Eiden. It would’ve taken much longer if you hadn’t been here to help. The other knights and I will deliver this to the Temple in the morning.”
“No problem. Ready for that picnic now?”
Edmond sighs and glances at his pocket watch. “I—”
“No, I get it.” Eiden smiles, but it’s thin-lipped, and there’s no mischievous sparkle in his eyes. “You have responsibilities. Maybe another time.”
Biting his lip, Edmond hesitates. He did promise, after all. Mind made up, he puts his hand on Eiden’s arm.
“My duties can wait.”
Eiden’s face lights up like a starlit sky shining just for Edmond. It’s embarrassing.
“Really?” Eiden threads their fingers together.
“Just this once! And…and…” He looks at their joined hands. “You must behave.”
“But I can still hold your hand, right?”
“I-I—I mean, we can—” Edmond’s hand is now sweating, thanks to the way Eiden is looking at him. “…fine.”
Eiden grabs the picnic basket, and they walk away from the little village. There’s a hill with a scenic view, and they settle there. Eiden spreads out a blanket, and Edmond takes food and wine out of the basket.
A warm breeze caresses their skin, and all around them are the sounds and sights of spring. The trees are finally beginning to bud, the first green leaves poking out. Birdsong creates background music as they sip their drinks and nibble on the sweet fruits and pungent cheese.
With no other warning than leaning closer, Eiden pops a berry into Edmond’s mouth. He giggles at Edmond’s startled expression.
“Yakumo packed those. They grow in his home village.”
Edmond flushes. “It’s…very good.”
They continue their meal, Eiden going on about all sorts of unassociated topics. Edmond’s head buzzes a bit; perhaps he’s had a little too much to drink. He’s been doing that lately, getting so absorbed in something with Eiden that he’s failed to notice when he’s gone too far.
It’s not hard to do. He’s no longer able to control the way his heart races or the way he longs to touch Eiden’s soft hair, hear his naughty little whispers, feel his lips and his hands…
Edmond shakes his head and sets his glass down. No more. He trains his gaze on Eiden, intending to tell him they should go. But when he reaches out to tap him for attention, he leans over too far and suddenly finds himself half in Eiden’s lap.
“What’s up?” Eiden asks, eyes and mouth wide with surprise.
“Ah, just thinking we should—we should—”
The words die on his lips as Eiden leans in. To stop whatever vulgar thing he’s about to say, Edmond quickly closes the gap and presses their mouths together. A thrill runs straight down his spine, making him gasp into the kiss.
Beneath Edmond’s hands, now clutching his shirt, Eiden shivers. He moves to push Edmond onto his back. Before they can continue, a loud clap of thunder causes them to jump apart.
Eiden swiftly gathers their picnic into the basket, but before they can make a break for the carriage, it begins to rain. Edmond grabs Eiden’s wrist and drags him toward the nearest building—a small supply shed. They barely make it there before the rain begins to come down harder.
Even though they escaped the worst of the rain, they’re both still wet and shivering. They only have the one blanket and no towels. Edmond squeezes water out of his hair, and when he’s through, he looks at Eiden, now shaking like a leaf.
“Here.” Edmond steps over to him and begins pulling off his wet clothes. He wraps the blanket around Eiden’s shoulders and turns around. “You should take off the rest of your wet clothing.”
Eiden’s teeth chatter. “A-all right-t-t.” A few minutes later, he says, “W-what ab-bout y-you?”
“I am fine.”
Edmond opens the picnic basket again and pulls out the wine. He pours some for both of them and offers one to Eiden.
“Th-thank-k-ks.” Another shiver racks his body visibly.
Edmond peels down the top of his uniform, leaving his lower body covered. It’s a bit chilly, but the wine will warm him, and he can manage. It’s Eiden he’s concerned for.
Speaking of which, Eiden sneezes. “Ugh, sorry.”
“We need to warm you up.”
Edmond stands there looking at him for a moment before making a decision. He sits on the floor and beckons Eiden over. Once he’s seated, Edmond shifts closer, tucking himself under the blanket and using his remaining body heat to transfer warmth to him.
Eiden shakes against him. Edmond’s face heats when he remembers this was a plot point in the book he just finished. The lovers were caught in the rain, and being close together in the shelter led to—
“Edmond?” Eiden turns his head, nearly bumping their noses together.
“Nothing! It’s nothing.”
“Are you cold?”
After another moment of deliberation, Edmond does something he’s fairly sure is only because he’s wet and cold and partway to drunk. He straddles Eiden’s lap and picks up his glass.
“You need to drink this,” he commands.
Eiden’s eyes look like they might pop right out of his head. “O-okay…”
“Silence!”
Edmond tilts the glass against Eiden’s lips, forcing him to part them. He swallows a sip and breathes a sigh of relief.
“I’m good now, thanks. You can, uh…” Eiden glances down at where their bodies are pressed together. “…”
“I am not through warming you up.”
Edmond places a hand on either side of Eiden’s face and pulls him into a long, heated kiss. He slides his tongue into Eiden’s mouth, tasting the wine.
Eiden allows it to go on for several minutes before he pulls away. “I’m a lot warmer now, thanks.”
“Are you?” Edmond puts a hand on his chest. “Your skin still feels cool.”
“Yeah, I’m—wait a sec.” Eiden pries Edmonds fingers off him. “You’re shaking like a leaf. You sure you’re not cold?”
“No, I’m fine.”
Edmond sucks up all his courage and shifts his body weight, intentionally making their lower bodies press together more firmly.
“Edm-mph!”
Shoving him onto his back, Edmond kisses him again. Eiden gives in this time, tangling his fingers in Edmond’s hair and pulling a little. Edmond moans into his mouth. When they finally break apart, they’re both panting.
“Kissing me like that! Edmond, what’s gotten into you?” Eiden stares at him.
Edmond can’t answer that, mostly because he doesn’t want to admit he likes the idea of roleplaying his book. His cheeks heat when he remembers they’ve done that before, but it was Eiden leading the way.
“You foolishly got us caught in that rainstorm, and now you need to be prepared to deal with the consequences of your actions.”
“Wait a minute, that wasn’t my fault!” Eiden tries to sit up.
“Be quiet! You disobeyed an order from your captain.”
“I did wh—oh.” A grin flashes briefly on his face before Eiden clears his throat and composes himself. “I didn’t mean to cause problems, sir! I was only trying to do my duty.”
“Next time, you will listen to me and follow the directions you are given.”
“I will, sir. I promise.”
“Good. Now. Allow me to warm you so you don’t catch cold.”
Edmond stands and strips the rest of the way, shivering with the sudden chill on his bare body. He steels his resolve and drops back into Eiden’s lap.
“We should remain close until we are no longer in danger from the cold.”
Eiden wraps his arms around Edmond, the blanket slipping from his shoulders. Edmond pushes up and looks down at him. It’s always Eiden admiring him, touching him, licking and kissing and squeezing every inch of his flesh. Until now, Edmond’s never dwelt on Eiden’s body. He does so now, tracing his collarbone and running a finger down to his nipple.
“Sir,” Eiden says, the swallows visibly. “Is this part of your discipline?”
“Indeed it is,” Edmond says, glaring at him. “Are you questioning your superior?”
“N-no, sir!”
“Good.”
Edmond plants a hand in the center of Eiden’s chest and braces himself. He leans down for another kiss as he grinds their bodies together. He grits his teeth, desperate to hold on and see this through to its conclusion. Just a bit more, and they’ll both be ready.
When Eiden tries to move, Edmond pushes harder on his chest. “No. Remain still.”
Eiden nods, his breathing ragged and his eyes full of lust. Now or never. Edmond raises his hips and adjusts his position so he can drop them and let Eiden fill him. As he does, he gasps and shuts his eyes tightly, biting his lip. It’s so intense.
“Sir—” Eiden tries.
“Be quiet and allow me to do my duty.”
Edmond can’t even think straight anymore. He has to breathe slowly in order not to simply give in. Channeling the naval officer from the novel, he braces himself on Eiden’s shoulders and begins to ride him. He knows Eiden needs more; he can’t simply bounce gently and think that will get them anywhere. Mustering his strength, he rises up on his knees and then drops quickly, gratified when Eiden cries out.
He does it again and again, faster and harder until his knees ache and his muscles protest. Beneath him, Eiden is writhing and moaning. He does nothing to take over, allowing Edmond full control.
“Sir!” Eiden says, followed by a desperate groan. “I promise, I’ll do as you say from now on!”
“Too right you will,” Edmond agrees. “Unless you want more…consequences.”
Half expecting Eiden to turn mischievous and say he does, in fact, want consequences, Edmond prevents it by pressing their lips together again. He’s nearly at his limit, both ready to burst and to collapse from fatigue. How does Eiden do this without tiring? Edmond refuses to give up, even in the face of wearing himself out.
“Edm—sir! I’m about to cum!”
Edmond’s attention is back on Eiden. He moves just slightly and gasps. So that’s the spot Eiden’s so clever at finding. He tries to hold it in, but he lets out a low moan. This time, he won’t finish until Eiden does.
“Do…it…” he grinds out.
With a sharp cry, Eiden releases. In the next heartbeat, Edmond lets out a breath and closes his eyes, allowing his orgasm to wash over him. He immediately collapses on top of Eiden.
A short time later, he feels a gentle hand in his hair and looks up. Eiden—the real person, not the character he was playing—wears a soft smile.
“You’re always amazing,” he says, his voice full of tenderness and awe.
“I-I am?” Edmond replies, barely above a whisper.
“Yeah.”
They lie together on the blanket, both of them warmer now. Edmond listens for the sound of the rain, but it’s quiet. He sits up.
“We should probably go before someone discovers we’re in here.” His face flames.
“Good idea.”
Eiden uses a bit of essence to dry their clothes the rest of the way. They dress in silence and gather their things, leaving the storage shed exactly how they found it.
The sun is out, and the clouds have dissipated. Hand in hand, they walk back toward the carriage. When they’re nearly there, Eiden stops abruptly. He bends down and takes something from the ground.
“April showers bring May flowers,” he says, handing Edmond a small, blue blossom.
Tucking it behind his ear, Edmond can’t help the smile that blooms on his face. It stays there all the way back home.
April love is for the very young
Every star's a wishing star that shines for you
April love is all the seven wonders
One little kiss can tell you this is true
Sometimes an April day will suddenly bring showers
Rain to grow the flowers for her first bouquet
But April love can slip right through your fingers
So if she's the one don't let her run away