“Are you okay?” Eno murmured into his sweaty skin.
Rayne huffed out a laugh. “Everything feels amazing right now.”
Eno closed his eyes, content to just hold the panting, sweaty man until the world ended, but he couldn’t. They needed to clean up, and Rayne needed to be properly tucked into bed so he could rest. Even if the wound was mostly healed, Rayne was clearly running on fumes. They would soon land in Sirelis, and nothing about traveling to the capital of Zastrad was going to be easy.
He pressed a kiss to Rayne’s shoulder and forced his eyes open. “I’ll get something to clean us up. Don’t move.” He pulled away, earning a small sound from Rayne that brought a smile to his lips. He didn’t want to leave him even to cross the room.
Eno stepped into the tiny bathroom and wet a cloth. He glanced into the mirror to a goofy grin on his lips. Yeah, he was ridiculous. There was no telling how long this peace between him and Rayne would last. They were both stubborn, sharp tempered, and opinionated. Of course they were going to butt heads again. It didn’t mean Eno wasn’t smart enough to enjoy this cease-fire for as long as it lasted.
He cleaned himself off with cold water and then wet the cloth in the now warm water for Rayne. When he turned into the cabin, it was to find Rayne lying on his back, long body stretched out on the twisted blankets, his head resting on one of his bent arms. Yes, the king’s advisor could look very decadent and sinful without even trying.
Rayne tilted his head toward him, eyes squinting as he likely tried to bring Eno into focus. The smile on his lips was infinitely tender. “I love you.”
Eno froze. The washcloth in his hand fell, making a soft splat on the floor, but he barely noticed it. He couldn’t breathe. Had he really heard that? Rayne had said it as easily as he said “thank you” or inquired about the weather.
“What?” Eno exhaled when he could get his body functioning.
Rayne’s smile grew a little wider, but the words were just as easy and freeing as the first time. “I love you.”
Never.
He thought he’d never hear Rayne say those words to him. Definitely not so smoothly. They sounded as though Rayne had been whispering those three words to him his entire life. Not just for the first time, but for the millionth time. As if he’d loved Eno for years.
Eno stepped over the forgotten cloth and fell onto Rayne, wrapping him up tight, tangling their legs together until they could no longer tell where one of them ended and the other began. He kissed Rayne over and over, getting lost in the feel and taste of him.
When he pulled back, Rayne was still smiling. His jade eyes brightly shining, clear and focused. “I love you, too,” Eno choked out in a hoarse voice. “So very much.”
“I know.” His body shook with a laugh. “It’s why you’re able to drive me so crazy.”
“You’re my everything, Rayne. I may have sworn my life to Caelan, but my heart and soul belong to you.”
Rayne’s expression sobered, and he closed his eyes as he pressed his forehead to Eno’s. “Same,” he whispered. Their lives weren’t their own, and they had no regrets about that existence. Serving the king of Erya was their calling and honor. But their hearts were set on something else entirely.
“Can I ask what brought that on now?” Eno murmured.
Rayne dropped his head back and laughed. Eno stared at him. This was not the response he’d been expecting.
“Shey proposed to me.”
And neither was that.
“What?” Eno roared. He pushed up off the bed, not sure exactly where he was going, but he certainly couldn’t just lie there after that bombshell. He’d known that Shey was a potential threat, but he’d never guessed his feelings for Rayne were that serious.
Fuck that. Rayne should have let the assassin stab the prince a few times.
With a growl, Rayne wrestled Eno to the bed and stretched out on top of him. The quick cleanup was definitely turning into a shower now, but Eno was in no hurry to move. Rayne was lying on top of him, his head resting on his shoulder as a little sigh left his lips. He had no defense against this. He’d never encountered a lazy, relaxed Rayne in his entire life. He was afraid to move and spoil it, but he needed to know more about this proposal, even if it did seem to somehow sway things in his favor.
“Rayne,” he started in what was supposed to be a firm voice but ended up more pleading. “What the hell happened? He proposed?”
His lover propped his chin up on his hand and he smiled a bit wistfully. “Before the assassin made his attempt, Shey said he wanted me to return to Caspagir after this godstone nonsense was complete and he’d marry me. It wasn’t a question so much as a statement of fact. But then, princes aren’t much for asking questions.”