The moment their hands touched, Ceremus felt something shift in the air. Hael's fingers were warm against his.
The world seemed to shatter around them.
Hael stiffened for a brief second, startled by the suddenness of Ceremus' actions, but the tenderness of his lips quickly erased all hesitation he had.
The frustration, the restraint—everything Ceremus had held back for so long spilled into the kiss, raw and unguarded. His hands, once clenched at his sides, now found their way to Hael's face, fingers kneading through his hair, holding him desperately.
Hael, though caught off-guard, reciprocated the same intensity—tenfold. His grip tightened on Ceremus' jaw before sliding down, grasping at his robes, drawing him near, until they were one.
Ceremus slid his tongue inside the guard's mouth, searching every crevice, deepening the kiss. A fire was ignited in his body as he felt Hael's hands make their way to his waist, kneading and massaging the tender and sensitive area. The king only realized until now how much he enjoyed embracing Hael. The feeling was akin to drinking wine, leaving him in a state of perpetual inebriation. Wherever he touched, Ceremus felt as though he was burning on fire and the only way to light out these flames that were threatening to burn him alive was by feeling his touch even more.
He was trapped in a constant limbo, with no escape in sight. The two fought for dominance, neither willing to relent nor hand over control. Ceremus felt his own hands roaming Hael's body, tracing every inch of his skin—claiming it as his own.
He tore the outer robes off his body, disliking how they impeded his exploring. Hael trembled when he felt the cool air against his now naked skin. As he felt Ceremus' hands brushing against his sides, a certain part of him awakened, growing harder and harder with each passing moment. He wrapped his arms around Ceremus' waist—now flushed against each other, and the king felt something hard rubbing against his loins. A low grunt left his lips, reverberating inside Hael's throat, causing his own member to stiffen.
His hips unconsciously rubbed against Hael and a strange feeling erupted within the white-haired giant. He suddenly pulled away in shock, unsure of what he had just felt.
"What…what was that?" he murmured, his voice ragged and unsteady.
He glanced down, his brows furrowing when he saw the mass that had formed inside his trousers. Confusion and innocence laced Hael's eyes, momentarily stilling Ceremus' thundering heart.
An abrupt dawning came over him, one he couldn't believe he had forgotten.
Hael was still pure and naïve to the things of this world—that also meant bodily desires. He couldn't understand what was happening to him, why he felt so constrained and had a powerful urge for release.
Ceremus shut his eyes as he tried to calm himself. Only then did he open his eyes. He shifted on the bed, putting some distance between the two. Something flashed in Hael's eyes when he saw Ceremus moving away from him.
He wondered if he had made yet another mistake, but his worries soon vanished when he saw Ceremus grabbing his hands, a serious expression on his face.
"Did…Did I do something—"
"No," the king swiftly cut him off. "You did nothing wrong…this is my fault. I failed to realize how quickly we were moving and…" He winced as he found himself at a loss for words.
Ceremus had never previously had this type of conversation, because his partners were always experienced. This was a first for him, and he didn't know what to do. But he knew one thing for certain.
There was no way they could proceed. Not like this.
"Hael," he tried once more. "Do you recall the conversation we had a while back when we went to the night market?"
Hael's frown deepened. "We've been to the night market many times…I'm not sure what conversation you are referring to." He said honestly.
The corner of Ceremus' mouth lifted when he thought back to the times they had spent together. He didn't realize until now how intertwined their lives had become, even then.
"You're right, we've had a lot of conversations since then," he nodded, "but I am referring to the first time you accompanied me outside. Do you remember?"
Hael wracked his brain as he tried to recall the memory. Suddenly, a knowing look flashed across his face. "I remember asking you about what you did when you went out. You said Anemone always believed you went out to visit the night district…where you would engage in certain activities…" he said, his face suddenly darkening at the thought.
Ceremus nodded, ignoring the delight he felt at Hael's jealousy. "Yes. We talked about mates and the like…"
Hael's jaw tightened. "Why are you bringing this up now?"
Ceremus pursed his lips as he contemplated how to broach the subject naturally, but he had no clue how to do so without possibly upsetting Hael.
Seeing how hesitant Ceremus looked, Hael's expression softened. "Whatever it is you need to say, just say it. I promise I won't be upset." He assured him.
He didn't know where the conversation was going, or why Ceremus suddenly brought it up, but he could tell it was important with how serious he was being.
Ceremus' face hardened as he took in a breath. "When people get into relationships, they often reach a certain step where they wish to connect with each other. It is an important step, one which shouldn't be taken lightly. Usually a man and a woman will share a bed and…copulate."
"Copulate?" He repeated.
Ceremus nodded, observing him. "Yes. It is a natural progression in many relationships."
Hael's brows furrowed. "I don't understand. You mean sleeping beside each other?"
A flicker of something unreadable passed through Ceremus' eyes. "No, Hael. I mean… something beyond that."
Hael's frown deepened. "Beyond sleeping?" He seemed genuinely puzzled, as though Ceremus were speaking in riddles.
Ceremus stared at him, silent for a long moment, before letting out a breath. "Hael," he said carefully, choosing his words with immense caution. "When humans are in a relationship, there are certain… physical expressions of affection that differ from simple companionship."
"Like what we did just now?" He asked, referring to the kiss they had just shared.
The king's mouth twitched. "Yes. Naturally, there is a step that comes after that. When you start feeling…good and wish to go further."
Hael's confused expression shifted into realization and his entire body went rigid. The tips of his ears were tinged red, finally understanding what Ceremus meant. "... Like what the animals do…"
Ceremus furrowed his brows, not at all pleased with the comparison, but nodded his head as it seemed it was the only way to make Hael understand.
"I-I see. So my body reacted this way because I was feeling…" His cheeks heated, unable to bring himself to finish his sentence.
Ceremus suddenly felt at a loss. He never imagined how naïve Hael would be concerning such things. Having spent his entire life in the forest, it was no surprise he never got the chance to feel sexual desire.
The king realized how tough things were going to be for them from now on.
"Let us rest for now. It has already gotten late and your body is still recovering." He suddenly said, changing the subject.
He felt that if they continued on this path, they would be up all night getting nowhere. It was best to leave things as they were now and let time handle the rest.
The young man nodded in agreement, and the two put back their robes before laying back in bed. Sleep quickly overtook the king while Hael still laid awake, their conversation running through his head once more.
He didn't know why, but he felt like there was something he was missing. Hael lacked the knowledge to understand what Ceremus was trying to convey. He suddenly felt at a loss. Like he had disappointed Ceremus because of his inadequacy.
A newfound determination surged within him at that moment. He needed answers and decided he would stop at nothing to get them—especially if it meant pleasing his beloved.