Page 41 of His Noble Savior

Richard huffed and slid his hand to the small of Lilian’s back. “Better?”

“A little.” Lilian exhaled. “Why did you stop?”

“It happened so quickly. I was desperate to hold you, to have you, because I don’t know how much longer I can. I lost control, wanted to show you how I yearn for you. When you flinched, it broke me out of my haze, and I realized with great shame that I’d gone too far.”

“Flinched?” Lilian almost laughed. “I didn’t flinch. Why in the world would I flinch away from you?”

He hadn’t finished the sentence when understanding dawned on him.Oh. Richard had mistaken his blissed-out shiver as a sign of fear. Thus far, Richard had exercised extreme caution around him, ensuring Lilian saw each touch coming. Richard had surprised himself with his outburst of emotion, and he worried he’d reminded Lilian of unpleasant experiences. If only Richard knew how different this was for Lilian. He wantedRichard to touch him, couldn’t live without his scent, his heat.

“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Lilian said. “I liked it. You could never scare me.”

“That’s good.”

“You’re human, and I’m a fae, and sometimes you forget what that means.” Lilian chuckled softly. “You couldn’t hurt me if you tried.”

Richard hummed, holding Lilian tenderly. He was in for a surprise. Lilian had arrived weak and injured at Somerdale Castle, but those days were gone. With the good food and Richard’s care, Lilian’s strength had returned weeks ago, surpassing his. He tightened his grip on Richard’s hips, and then he picked him up and threw him three yards across the room and onto the bed where he landed on the mattress with a bounce.

His jaw slack, Richard gaped as he pushed onto his elbows, watching Lilian saunter over. He climbed onto the bed and on top of Richard. “Sorry.”

Richard blew out air. “Don’t worry about it.” He pressed his lips to Lilian’s. “It’s easy to forget how strong you are.”

“Compared to a human. Or a gnome.”

Richard snorted. “Thanks.”

Lilian sobered. “I couldn’t hold my own against another light fae. Bellerose would take me down in one strike. A dark fae would need less than that. An orc…”

Lilian swallowed, and Richard nodded. He didn’t need to say anything more for his lover to understand.

Richard kissed him, cautious and full of affection. Their lips moved together in harmony, and Richard’s hands returned to Lilian’s neck, to his hip.

“Roll me over,” Lilian said against his lips.

Richard wrapped his legs around Lilian’s, and in one swift move, he reversed their positions. Lilian groaned when his backhit the bed, and Richard came to rest on top of him, pressing him into the mattress. Lilian’s physical strength might’ve returned, but he needed Richard to ground and reassure him. Richard was the one who’d taken his broken pieces and put them back together.

“Is this all right?” Richard asked, kissing Lilian’s ear, grinding against him.

“More than all right.” Lilian’s fingers wandered to Richard’s chest, pulling at the strings that laced up his doublet. “Undress me.”

Richard growled and pushed onto his hands and knees, giving Lilian space to work open his jacket. The strings came loose under his deft fingers. Richard untucked Lilian’s shirt, pushing it up his torso, dragging it over his sensitive skin.

They’d never done it like this, Richard on top and in control, Lilian on his back and sprawled out for him. In light of Lilian’s captivity, they’d both felt safer with him on top, setting the pace. But Lilian would never be afraid of him. If the whole world came after him, he’d turn to Richard for protection. Everything about him exuded safety. If Lilian could crawl inside him, he would. The only way that would be possible, in any sense of the word, was if he and Richard married, their souls uniting in an eternal bond. Never mind. Lilian would enjoy the things he could have.

They shed the rest of their clothing, and Richard came to rest on top of him, deliciously heavy and hard, both their precum pearling onto Lilian’s lower abdomen as they kissed. Naked, Richard’s scent was the strongest, and it wrapped around them like a shield, keeping them safe in their bubble.

Lilian parted his legs, allowing Richard to sink between them. “I want you like this.”

“Me on top?” Richard’s hazel eyes searched his, hesitation shining in them.

“Yes.” Before Richard could say anything else, he added, “I’msure. I want to feel you as you take charge. I want you to ravish me like you’re not afraid to break me. And you can’t break me because you’ve made me strong.”

Richard’s lips spread into a smile, and he pressed them to Lilian’s cheek. “You’re very strong. And yet I want to protect you.”

Lilian’s eyelids fluttered, and he bucked. Richard’s cock twitched. Encouraged, Lilian dragged the backs of his blunt fingernails over Richard’s spine. He sealed their mouths together, parting his lips for Richard. Lilian moaned when Richard’s tongue rolled across his in a drawn-out, sweeping motion.

Richard let go of him with a peck to his lips and fetched the faerie oil from the nightstand. Kneeling between his spread legs, Richard lubed his digits. He pressed a fingertip to Lilian’s rim, rubbing him. These days, it took Lilian mere seconds to loosen, and Richard overcame the remaining resistance, gliding inside. The shock of heat followed, and Lilian dropped a low, pleased sound as Richard bottomed out.

Tingles rushed onto him, sizzling through his hole. Richard withdrew, only to return with two fingers. He pushed inside, and Lilian’s sphincter slackened for him, letting him in. Richard stretched him, ensuring he was slick and relaxed. Scissoring his fingers, he parted Lilian’s walls, provoking a filthy little noise. Lilian’s hole undulated, unsuccessfully trying to squeeze closed. Richard held him open, Lilian’s inner muscles clenching lustfully.

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