Page 102 of The Lost Art of Finding Where You Belong

It hurt to even suggest, but he felt like it had to be said.

Brannal started forward, his eyes wide. “Perian, there is absolutely room. I swear there’s room!”

“No, but I mean…” Perian struggled to find the words. “Are you sure you want there to be? I don’t want to be the reason you don’t live up to that legacy, you know?”

“You could never be that,” Brannal hastened to assure him, his eyes steady and intent on Perian’s face.

“But you said I was reckless and thoughtless andstupid.”

“No,” Brannal said firmly. Perian shot him a look. “I mean, yes, I said that, but that doesn’t reflect on you at all. That was all me and my insecurities. It’s a lot to live up to and sometimes the pressure is suffocating. But do you know what reduces the pressure?”

Perian shook his head.

“You do,” Brannal told him.

Perian sucked in a breath.

Brannal gathered him into his arms. “I’ve spent six years since that attack focused on how to ensure it never happened again. I spent six years being Summus, and Molun will tell you how hard it was to get me to be Brannal, to let go of those responsibilities a little bit, to just be me. I can be Brannal with you.”

Perian sniffed. “I like Brannal.”

He huffed a laugh. “I like Brannal when he’s with you, too. I mean, I won’t ever stop being Summus, but you’ve brought so much light and laughter into my life. You’ve reminded me that there is life outside of my position, and you make me want things I haven’t wanted in a long time.”

“What sort of things?” Perian asked, waggling his eyebrows.

Brannal smirked. “Definitely all those sorts of things. But also… having someone to come home to. Cuddling in front of the fire. Having breakfast together each morning. Hearing all about your day. No one else would have ridden in circles around the Princess, and that means we would have missed out on that joy and silliness without you. Iwantto make space for you, Perian. Please.”

Perian blew out a breath and told himself he was definitely not going to cry. He swallowed thickly.

“I want to make space for you, too,” he whispered, staring into those deep, dark eyes. “I was so lonely before I met you.”

“Me too,” Brannal said softly. “I’ve been lucky to have good friends like Molun who don’t let me lock myself in my office, but it’s not the same as havingyou.”

Perian was feeling a little overwhelmed, which was probably why he said, “You can have me anytime you want.”

And Brannal read the moment right, because he raised an eyebrow and tugged Perian closer.

“Oh, can I?”

Perian hummed an agreement. “Yes, please.”

Before he realized what was happening, Brannal had scooped him into his arms and was carrying him into the bedroom, which was exactly what Perian wanted.

The morning was a little awkward. It started just the way the best mornings did, the two of them entwined in bed, but it seemed they both remembered the night before around the same time, freezing up. It had ended well, but it had been an emotional night.

They sighed at the same time, and this made Perian laugh.

“Let’s fix it with sex.”

He could hear the smile in Brannal’s voice as he shifted closer, his cock nestling right against the crack of Perian’s ass. “Does that solve all issues?”

“Mm hm.” Perian hummed a happy agreement.

Brannal slowly pressed inside, using short, slow movements that were akin to torture, but in the best possible way.

When he was finally buried all the way inside Perian, he lay there for a moment, letting them both enjoy the connection, no space between them.

Brannal pressed a kiss to the sensitive skin behind Perian’s ear that made him shiver.

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