Healing Fire (14 page)

“But I also brought you a brush and some soap.” He showed them to Jules.

“Oh.” There was a lovely hot spring pool deep in the cave where they bathed and relaxed, and this would only make it better.

“There’s more!” He couldn’t wait to share his gifts.

“More? What more?”

Laughing, he went back to the front of the cave and came back with the two pillows, the books hidden behind his back.

“Lovely! Pillows for our bed. They will be perfect for you. I intend to still use your shoulder.”

“I will always be your pillow, your cover, anything you need.” He had a huge smile for Jules. “There is still more. I saved the best for last.”

“More?” Jules bounced, clapping excitedly. “Tell!”

He loved that joy. Just loved it.

He slowly brought his hand around and offered Jules the two books. Jules’ lips parted, and, to his surprise, his prince began to cry tears of joy. He hugged Jules tight, rocking his prince.

“Books. My Lem. Books.”

“Yes. I have missed you reading to me.” And he knew Jules had to miss reading. It was all his prince had ever done.

Jules kissed him hard, holding onto him with a fierce grip.

“You’ll have to read slowly. Those are the only two books we’ll have for the winter.”

Perhaps Jules would be able to recount the tales from some of his other books to while away their time.

“I will.  Oh, Lem. Thank you. I have missed my books so much.”

Lem didn’t have the heart to tell Jules that his quarters had been burned. His trips to the castle had shown him that the wing where Jules’ quarters had been was quite destroyed.

Lem pushed the thoughts from his mind. “I know. I think I deserve a reward.”

Jules nodded immediately. “What do you wish?”

“You.” Jules was his best and only true reward.

Jules wrapped around him, squeezing tight. He picked Jules up, carrying his prince to their bed. Lying down, he brought Jules down on top of him. His head landed on the new pillows, the pile of cloth and furs making it a perfect nest.

He brought Jules’ head down, kissing hard enough to open Jules’ mouth. His prince held him, framed his face with warm, newly callused hands. He pushed his own hands beneath Jules’ clothes. He needed to make Jules as naked as he was. The loose coverings parted easily, the bare skin warm and soft. There were strong muscles now, earned by the dragon flying.

Jules slid against him, and the strong belly rocked against his. Groaning, he shifted slightly so he was cradling his prince, their shafts rubbing.

“Yes. I would have this before books any day,” Jules whispered.

It was high praise indeed, and it made Lem want to shout it until the mountains echoed with it. Right now, though, he would spend that need on Jules’ skin. He grabbed hold of Jules’ bottom and rocked their bodies together.

“More. More, Lem. Please.”

“I would be inside you.” He loved having the sheath of Jules’ body around his shaft.

Jules nodded and rocked back toward him, the offer clear. He shifted Jules’ hips, moving the lithe body so Jules’ hole was over his length. Then he lowered Jules onto his swelling. Jules’ lips parted, eyes wide and gleaming.

Bucking as Jules came down, he buried himself deeply within Jules’ tight, hot body. He could feel the way Jules rippled, shuddered around him. They were getting better at this, at building the pleasure between them, their bodies finding the best ways they fit together. Moaning, he drew Jules into another kiss.

The now-familiar rush of energy began to fill him, Jules’ magic searching out every ache and worry he had and erasing it. And when Jules hands landed on his chest, his whole body arched as if he’d been hit by lightning.

“Good?” Jules asked.

“So good.” He always felt that Jules brought him far more pleasure than he could ever offer back.

“Home. You’re home.”

The energy between them began to grow.

“With my soul.” For surely, that was what Jules was.

“With your Jules.”

“They are the same thing.” He bucked up, and it felt so good, to feel Jules’ flesh squeezing and dragging along his own.

“Your soul. Your prince. Your own.”

“Yes! Jules!” Lem cried out, Jules’ words bringing his pleasure out of him in a rush.

Jules squeezed his cock, body rippling around it.

More pleasure poured from him. He grabbed hold of Jules’ swelling, wanting to make Jules spend as well.

“My heart.” Jules rocked into his touch.

“Yours. Yours, my prince. All of me.” He panted as he spoke, as he stroked Jules’ length, eager to smell his prince’s pleasure.

He felt every single tug around his cock.

“Spend for me, my heart,” Lem demanded.

Jules leaned down and kissed him deep and slow. He wrapped his lips around Jules’ tongue and began to suck. That made Jules squeeze even harder, made his prince moan. He kept moving, searching for Jules’ pleasure. The long cock swelled in his hand, spreading his fingers.

He rubbed the tip, the tiny little slit that was in the center of it. Jules’ eyes went wide, and the energy about them sharpened. Oh, he knew that look, knew it meant something wonderful had happened. He did it again, pressing in with his finger this time. Jules cried out, body moving furiously.

Lem kept pushing against that beautiful little hole. He loved it every time he found some new way to pleasure his prince. More than that, he loved that it was offered up to him.

He bit at Jules’ lips, hungry for more kisses. These kisses became sloppy, restless. He pumped upward, over and over. The magic made him gasp, made him dizzy, and Jules spent for him with a cry. He wrapped his free hand around Jules and held him close.

“Missed you so,” murmured Jules.

“That was the last long trip before the snows come,” Lem promised.

“Yes? You promise?”

“I swear it to you. We’ll spend the winter here together.”

“Do you think it will snow much?” Jules asked.

“Yes.” He smiled at Jules. “A lot.”

“And we’ll be safe?”

“Of course we will.” Lem had sworn to Jules that he would be safe here, and he would keep that promise.

Jules snuggled into him, resting against him.

“I will always keep you safe, my heart. No matter where the fates take us.”

***

The snows started a few days later, and they came with a vengeance, piling up at the little entrance to their cave and stealing the sunlight. Jules was fascinated.

Lem showed him how to gather the snow and melt it over the fire, the water as fresh as from their little pool. They had teas that Lem had put together from herbs and leaves they’d gather and honeycomb to sweeten the drink. It was luscious, sweet, rich.

Every day, he discovered something new about the world. And Lem seemed so happy out here in the mountains.

Their cave was warm, the fire blazing, filling the room with light.

“We should go play in the snow,” Lem suggested after they’d eaten the last of their fresh berries.

“Isn’t it cold and wet?”

“Yes. But your dragon will keep you warm from the weather.”

“Oh?” Oh, how interesting. He learned so much every day.

“Come on.” Lem began stripping him. “We’ll take our dragons once we’re outside.”

He began shivering almost immediately, “Are you sure, Lem?”

“I’m sure.” Lem pushed the snow out of the way and dragged him out into the freezing cold. “Let your dragon have you, my prince.”

Jules shook, his dragon coming with a roar, refusing to let him freeze. Lem didn’t change until he had. Then Lem’s roared, the sound pleased, proud. Jules bowed and shook out his wings, the snow flying off the trees.

Laughing coarsely, Lem dragged one wing through the snow, then flipped it at him. Jules blinked, flicked out with his tail, sending a branch of snow flying. Lem jumped out of the way, taking to the air. Staying just above the ground, Lem used his wings to create a breeze that sent the snow through the air.

Jules covered himself with his wings, protecting his face and chest while gathering a huge pile in between his claws. He heard Lem land, the wind from his wings subsiding. Jules threw the ball, hitting Lem right in the chest before hiding within his wings again.

Lem roared in surprise, then the coarse laughter began again, and Jules was pelted with little snowballs. He gathered another one, dared to toss it, and then launched himself into the white sky. Lem followed him, flying with him in the cold air.

Icicles formed on his whiskers, the tips of his wings. Lem flew around him, then took the lead, flying through the sky and finding them a warm updraft that melted the ice and sent them even higher.

*Brilliant*
His Lem was so clever.

*You*

Lem didn’t lead them on as merry a chase as he usually did. They were soon back at the cave, Lem shifting quickly. Jules let the dragon go, and the bitter cold hit him in a rush, stealing his breath, his sense. Lem picked him right up and returned them to the cave, the cold backing off as soon as they were through the entrance and out of the wind. He was taken right to the fire, Lem grabbing his thickest robe and wrapping them both in it.

“Oh. Oh, Lem! What adventures we have!” It was like a book.

Lem held him close, warming him quickly. “I was worried I’d never be able to show you the world outside of the castle, but now I feel like I can show you everything.”

A tiny voice inside him whispered softly,
“Only if you never go home.”
That thought wasn’t as worrisome as it had been.

Lem placed kisses on his face, warming his skin.

Jules pressed close. “How long will the snow last, Lem?”

“For many moons. There may even be times when we cannot leave the cave.”

“But we’ll be together.”

“Always,” Lem promised. “And we have plenty of nuts to eat. And I noticed some deer markings on the trees near here. I will be able to find us meat.”

“And all the wood we could need.” He gathered it every time Lem left, spent hours searching for it and adding to their store.

“You don’t need to worry, Jules. I have sworn that I will keep us warm and fed and safe, and I will.”

“I believe in you.” He touched Lem’s face, tracing it idly.

Beaming, Lem nuzzled into his touch, pleasure brightening Lem’s eyes. The fire flared for a moment, the flames flickering as if they were being blown on.

“Our magic.” It gave him such pleasure.

“Your magic.” Lem always insisted he was the magical one, and Lem was only his protector.

“No. Ours.” Jules pinched Lem’s nipple.

Lem squeaked. “Jules!”

Oh, that was fun. “What?”

“You pinched me!” Lem didn’t look as if he knew whether to be upset or happy about it.

“I did. I could do it again.”

Lem blinked and bit his bottom lip, pondering his words. “It made my shaft jerk,” Lem admitted.

“Hrm.” Jules leaned in, nuzzled Lem’s shaft.

Lem shifted, making it easier for him to get to the hot, silky flesh. Which was indeed beginning to swell. Jules didn’t need, but he was enjoying the closeness, the intimacy. He loved touching Lem. For so long, he hadn’t been able to touch anyone, so this was such a joy.

He’d snuggled with Mabon, listened to the heavy heartbeat for hours, but this was special. This was a tempest, lightning and wind and amazing storms.

He traced the lines of the muscles that proved how much his Lem worked to protect him, support him.

Lem shifted and flexed for him. “Your touches make me feel so strong.”

“You are. You are the strongest of all the guardians.”

“That’s because I’m guarding the most beautiful dragon in all the land.”

Jules laughed. Oh, that was lovely. Nonsense, but lovely.

Lem touched his cheek and brought him down for a kiss. “So beautiful.”

“It is good you think so.” The romance books said everyone had someone that found them beautiful.

“Everyone would think so,” Lem insisted.

There was a strange noise from the front of the cave, and Lem stiffened immediately.

“Lem?” Oh. Oh, no. No. Jules didn’t want them to come for him.

Lem pushed him toward their bed. “Hide as deep in the recess as you can with your blankets.” Then Lem moved quietly toward the front of the cave.

Jules slipped to the back and burrowed into the shadows.

Lem disappeared in the darkness. Then there was a roar. Lem came back, holding someone by the shoulders and shaking them.

“Lem!” Jules hurried out, unwilling to let his lover fight alone.

“Jules!” Lem tackled the other person to the ground and sat on them. Then Lem pulled way the hood, revealing a wizened old woman.

Jules stared, shocked to the bone.

“Get off me, you giant scaly idiot.”

Lem fell back, looking about as surprised as Jules felt.

She climbed to her feet, brushing the snow and dirt from her robes. “What are you young ’uns doing in my cave?”

“My cave,” Lem told her, coming around to put Jules behind the solid body.

“Oh, my,” murmured Jules.

The old woman peered at Lem, then her eyes widened. “Little Lem?”

Lem tilted his head, but still kept Jules protected with the big body.

“Do you know her, Lem?” Jules asked.

“I don’t...”

She cackled. “You were young then. And you’ve grown quite a lot since.”

“Marabelle?” Lem asked suddenly.

She nodded. “Who else would know of this cave and know who you were?”

“But you were ancient even then!” Lem protested.

“I see no one taught you manners, child.”

“Lem, you’re naked.” So was he. That was awkward.

“We were surprised!” Lem said, covering himself.

The old woman—Marabelle—cackled again. “Neither of you have anything I haven’t seen before. But cover yourself if you’re shy.”

Jules surrounded himself with a cloak, hiding his hair, his body. Lem pulled on a loincloth. Only once they were dressed, Lem brought Jules around next to him.

“This is Jules. Jules, this is Marabelle. I knew her as a young one.”

“Hello.” Jules nodded, waved, but he wanted her to go. This was their cave.