Page 65 of The Lost Art of Finding Where You Belong

He resumed stroking the other man’s back, hands sliding up and down, enjoying the feeling of the smooth skin beneath his fingers.

“Morning,” Brannal murmured.

“Morning.” Perian rocked up into Brannal so he could feel how happy Perian was to have him here like this.

Their cocks were nestled together, hard and aching.

Brannal returned Perian’s motion, and they were soon rutting together in earnest. There were so many things Perian wanted to do with Brannal, but this was nice, this was sleepy and easy and wonderful as they slid together until they were coming against one another’s skin.

Brannal lifted his head and kissed Perian.

“Mm, that’s a nice way to wake up.”

“Last night was a nice way to wake up,” Perian told him. “I thought you weren’t getting back until today!”

Brannal shrugged, but he looked slightly embarrassed. “I might have decided to keep riding later than was entirely sensible in order to get back a little earlier. Delana and Cormal will arrive today. Delana thought it was hilarious, and Cormal thought I was ridiculous.”

Perian could only imagine what Cormal had said on the subject. But Brannal had done it anyway. Perian grinned at him.

“I missed you, too.”

Brannal still looked a little embarrassed, but he smiled at Perian.

“I wanted to wake up like this,” he confessed quietly. “And I knew I’d have so much to do when I got back.”

“I already told everyone but Renny they were all out of luck for the next few days because I would be spending every free moment with you.” Perian cleared his throat. “The, uh, entire castle might think I’m going to spend this entire week having so much sex with you?”

To Perian’s great relief, this made Brannal shout with laughter.

“Oh, you only told the entire castle, did you?”

“Well, not theentirecastle,” Perian uselessly defended himself. “But it might have come up a few times in front of a few people, because I was being all moody, and then people asked if I was looking forward to you coming back, and what was Isupposedto say to a question like that?”

Brannal was grinning, and he leaned in to kiss Perian, one kiss and then another and then another. It was kind of hard to kiss when they were both smiling so much, but they made a concerted effort.

“That was exactly what you were supposed to say,” Brannal told him, affection clear in his voice.

Perian sighed in contentment again.

“However,” Brannal admitted, “I do need to start moving for the day.”

Perian nodded. “I assume you need to report to the Queen, check in with everyone, catch up on everything you missed?”

Brannal nodded. “But I think there’s time for us to get ready together if you want.”

Perian grinned at him. “Oh, I most definitely want.”

He was not embarrassed to admit how much he wanted this, and it was definitely worth it for the way Brannal smiled back at him, with warmth and heat in his gaze.

Molun and Arvus’s admiration had been lovely while Brannal was gone, but the two of them would always, first and foremost, have one another. Perian might not be quite ready to name what he thought was between him and Brannal, but it was powerful, and in moments like this, he could believe they both felt it equally.

The two of them climbed out of bed, both of them naked and sleep-rumpled, which Perian was confident was going to lead to exactly the sort of encounter he wanted in the bathroom—but he’d forgotten one critical thing.

Naked and on this side of an orgasm, Brannal’s eyes immediately fell to Perian’s bandaged arm.

“What happened?”

Perian pouted. “It’s really not fairthat’swhat you concentrate on when I’m standing here naked in front of you.”

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