Submission and Addiction [Part 21-c]
Needless to say, things changed between them. Some of their kisses lasted longer, reached deeper. The edge that neither of them had really noticed was there (especially Adam) had been relieved. The next morning, Kris didn’t hesitate to wake Adam with a long kiss before pulling him into the kitchen for his favorite breakfast. When Kris got to work cleaning the dishes afterwards, Adam came up to wrap his arms around Kris from behind. He bent his head down to press a tender kiss in the crook of Kris’ neck and then left his mouth there to murmur, “Thank you,” against his skin. Kris wasn’t exactly sure what it was for, so he just took it as a general, blanket statement for everything. Kris turned in his arms to kiss him, sliding his arms up around Adam’s neck. Adam didn’t withdraw once the kiss started growing deeper. He pulled Kris closer. Sharing this with him felt indescribable, incredible. It was something so essential that Adam somehow hadn’t even realized they’d been missing - the chance to hold Kris this tightly against him and kiss him with all the love he felt, not holding a single thing back.
That afternoon found the two outside, tending to their two horses. They gave them both food and water before combing the horses’ manes and brushing their backs.
“You know, Adam…I feel like I need something to keep me busy.”
Adam looked over at Kris and asked him, “What do you mean?”
“I’m not sure that I’m old enough yet for a life this relaxed. I know you said we have plenty of money but…I think I might want a job anyway. I feel better, more useful when I have things to work on.”
“You mean you want to do things other than cooking delicious meals for me?” Adam asked with a fake, wobbly frown. “How will I live without your cooking all the time?”
Kris laughed, shaking his head a little. “Of course I’ll still cook for you, silly. I was just thinking I may want some kind of job on the side to fill some time.”
“Well, whatever you want to do is fine with me. Whatever keeps you happy. As for me, I’m content with a life of relaxation and lethargy, thank you very much.”
“You deserve one, Adam, without a doubt,” Kris’ reply was serious despite the joking tone of Adam’s previous statement.
Adam was just as serious when he added, “So do you, Kris. You’ve certainly been through a lot, too.”
“I suppose that’s true…but I just feel so anxious when I stay in one place for too long, not doing anything. I guess the servant part of me runs deep.” Adam had to look over at Kris again to see that he was joking and not making a bitter comment.
“Like I said, darling, whatever makes you happy. But don’t feel obligated, not to me or anyone else. Don’t feel like you owe your time to anyone.”
Kris nodded as he pulled the brush in his hand across his horse’s back. “I know. Now, all my time is my own to do with as I please.”
Later, they made supper together and sat down to eat at either side of the kitchen table. The room was illuminated by a few candles that stood in the middle of the table. The dim lighting didn’t matter, neither of them wanted to look anywhere but at each other anyway. Kris remembered not too long ago when they’d sat here over a tense dinner and Kris had tried to hold Adam’s hand only to have the other man pull away. Kris reached across the table. Almost like he was thinking the same, Adam gripped Kris’ hand tightly right away.
During dinner, Adam couldn’t help the same thoughts he’d been having the entire day - thoughts of the night before. The kisses Kris had left all over his skin. The wet inside of Kris’ mouth. Adam wasn’t quite sure whether it was just his imagination, but the air around him and Kris seemed to hold some kind of charge or pressure. Adam wanted to touch Kris again, kiss him in the incredible new way they had discovered, feel Kris’ bare, silky skin against his own.
Kris would be hard-pressed to find anyone with more experience than Adam. Adam wanted to put that to good use, for once, and make Kris feel so good he wouldn’t be able to think straight. It was clear now to Adam that Kris really did see him differently than Adam saw himself. Where Adam saw something ruined and tainted, Kris saw pureness and beauty. Adam believed him now. Being able to see himself this new way thanks to Kris made Adam feel such a need for him, such a desire to bring Kris pleasure in return, and Adam no longer felt guilt accompanying such thoughts about Kris. It was so freeing and Adam wanted to take every advantage of this new way of thinking. And he knew damn well that Kris wanted him to as well.
“Kris,” Adam spoke softly, once both their plates were empty. He gave Kris’ hand a squeeze. “Can we go to bed?”
It was too early in the evening for there to be anything but one meaning to his words.
Despite everything, a hint of doubt still crept into his voice. But when Kris heard what Adam had asked - of his own volition - a wide smile burst onto his face. Adam looked down to Kris’ hand in his, his thumb rubbing over the back of the younger man’s hand.
“This time let me be the one to show you how very much you mean to me. …Show you the way you look in my eyes.”
Kris suddenly pushed everything covering the table to the side, heedless of the clinking dishes or spilled water. He let go of Adam’s hand so he could bodily lift himself over the table and reach Adam’s mouth to kiss him hungrily. It was all the answer Adam needed.
Now it was Kris’ turn to lie bare in the bed, spread out on his back with Adam above him.
“You’ve never had anything like this done to you before, right?” Adam asked from where he was kneeling above Kris. His own tunic was stripped off but he still wore pants.
“Nothing,” Kris affirmed, swallowing a bit anxiously. “Last night was my first experience of the kind.”
Now Adam was smiling down at him reassuredly. A few of his fingers came up to gently stroke Kris’ cheek back and forth. Kris let himself relax, closing his eyes and turning his head into the touch. He tipped his head down to kiss Kris’ forehead and then his lips lightly.
“Don’t worry about anything. I promise I’ll make it incredible. And it’s hardly like we have to go all the way to the main event tonight. We have our whole lives together. We can take our time.”
Kris smiled again, and Adam could see him relaxing beneath him. Kris turned his head to the side to press a kiss to Adam’s fingertips that were still against his cheek.
“I know, Adam. I trust you. I love you.” Kris lifted a hand to Adam’s hair, brushing the long strands back from where they framed Adam’s face and pushing them behind his ear gently.
Adam got that feeling in his chest that Kris sometimes gave him - like his heart was so impossibly filled with joy it might burst. Adam lowered himself down above Kris, his mouth positioned just beside Kris’ ear so Adam could tell him softly, with the intimate brush of his warm breath against the shell of Kris’ ear, “Me too. More than you can imagine.”
That was the moment when Adam truly let all his previous inhibitions go. Kris clearly loved and trusted him so. He really cared for and wanted Adam despite what his past held. That was all that mattered, and Adam was going to make Kris happy by giving him everything he wanted.
Adam pulled back, shifting his weight to his haunches. He decided he’d leave his pants on for the moment. He wanted the focus to remain entirely on Kris.
Adam couldn’t help spending a few seconds just taking Kris in. He’d had a rough life as a servant, first for the merchant caravan he’d told Adam about and later for Lord Dallon. Kris’ years spent in labor had left his naturally small body lined with muscles. It was maybe a little ironic. Kris was such a gentle, easygoing person, yet he had this kind of toughened body beneath his clothes. He was utterly gorgeous and Adam felt what he’d only experienced in earnest a few times in his life - true and powerful desire. What he felt right now was so much stronger than anything before, heightened by the depth of the feelings he already had for Kris. Suddenly, Adam could hardly wait to make love with Kris for the first time.
But for now, they were taking this in stride. One thing at a time, Adam reminded himself. Right now, he was focusing on Kris’ pleasure.
His hands fluttered down Kris’ sides with light touches until they found Kris’ hips. Adam settled down in place between Kris’ thighs, shifting Kris a little and guiding him so his thighs rested over Adam’s shoulders. Kris shuddered pleasantly as Adam kissed the inside of his thigh and his hands smoothed over Kris’ hips and down to his ass. Adam nosed Kris’ inner thigh before slowly trailing his way to Kris’ cock. It was partially erect and Adam assumed it was Kris’ remaining nerves keeping him from full erection. Adam would have to fix that before they could get down to business.
He began placing feather-light kisses along the base of Kris’ cock. Just tiny, barely-there brushes of his lips that made Kris softly gasp from the never-before experienced intimacy of it. Adam continued, circling slowly around the base a few times until the other man’s cock started flushing and curving up towards his stomach. Adam pulled back, a small smile of satisfaction on his face as he wrapped his hand around the base and loosely pumped Kris a few times, feeling how hard he was. Satisfied that Kris was properly prepared, Adam settled down with his weight rested on his elbows and his hands slid under Kris’ ass to hold him in position.
“You can put your hands in my hair if you want to. You can move your hips a bit too, but try not to move around too much.”
Kris shivered when he heard Adam’s voice and looked down again. Adam’s voice had taken on a little bit of the seductive purr Kris had heard directed before towards customers. He looked down to Adam’s face and saw what looked like dirty mischief in his expression, but it was still easy for Kris to see the same warmth and love in Adam’s eyes. He was 100 percent still the same Adam. Still his Adam. But now Kris knew he was totally in Adam’s playing field.
And that was when Adam opened his mouth and swallowed Kris whole in one single, deft movement. Kris’ eyes flew open wide and he cried out at the sudden onslaught of sensation. Only a moment later, Adam’s lips were sliding off. He’d chosen to start out with a bang. Not wanting to keep Kris waiting for even a second, Adam extended his tongue and flicked it across the head of Kris’ cock. Without even touching his lips to Kris, Adam started trailing his tongue along and around Kris’ length. He would call Kris’ penis about average-sized, but Adam already loved the taste and texture of it. Maybe it was just because it belonged to Adam’s favorite person in the world, but Adam already thought this one was better than any other.
Adam tongued the underside, paying attention to find the sensitive vein there. When he did, he worked his tongue against it and the mewling sound Kris produced sent a shiver and a gasp through Adam. He lapped back up towards the tip so he could tease the sensitive slit there with his tongue. He used a few fingers to pump Kris’ sensitive spot on the underside at the same time and Kris bucked up a little, crying out. Kris already felt lost in sensory overload. It was like never having tasted a drop of wine before and suddenly being intoxicated past the point of reason on the best wine in the world.
Adam’s lips had closed around the first few inches of him now and he was sucking while his tongue continued to work the head. Kris arched off the bed a little, gasping. He almost felt like he was drowning in this ocean of pleasure and he needed something to ground himself. His hands searched for Adam until they found his hair and wound tightly into the strands. Adam gave a slight moan, heat flashing through him when he felt Kris’ hands tight in his hair. Adam was already beginning to taste the first sweet drops of Kris’ precome. He didn’t have much more time as, understandably, Kris was so sensitive.
Adam held Kris’ cock steady with one hand at the base so he could work the whole length now. He began sliding his lips rapidly down and back up, keeping even suction as he sunk down a little lower each time. Kris’ hands intermittently tugging at his hair drove him on, his own cock starting to harden between his legs as his lips grew nearer to the base, his lips kissing the hand that held Kris there. Finally, he let go with his hand so he could open his throat and take all of Kris each time he sunk down. By now, Kris was a constant stream of moans and cries and pleas above him, and Adam wanted to make him come just as badly as Kris kept saying he needed to. Adam knew it wouldn’t take much. He could practically feel Kris’ tight body tensing beneath him, straining to reach release. Adam spread his hands to grip Kris’ hips, holding him still as Adam sunk down one last time, taking Kris’ entire length into his mouth. He pressed his tongue against that spot on the underside. And then he swallowed around Kris, and Kris completely came apart, losing control of his body and writhing helplessly on the bed as he came.
Adam began to pull of a little when he felt the first spurt of hot cum down his throat. He kept his mouth wide open so he could catch as much as possible. This was usually his least favorite part of the whole act, but this was Kris and this was worlds different. Adam wanted to taste him. Wanted to swallow as much of him down as he could and bring Kris into himself.
Adam kept gently sucking until Kris ran completely dry. Only then did he pull back to lap Kris clean. Kris was falling limp beneath Adam, sinking back down into the bed as his high slowly faded and he tried to catch his breath. Adam slid up the bed to drop down by Kris’ side with a smile.
“How was that, darling?”
“A-..Adam..” Kris mumbled, tripping over his name with a slight blush. “That was…kind of the best thing I’ve ever felt.” Adam’s smile grew into a full grin.
“It’s almost a shame…you have nothing to compare it to. I can almost guarantee mine are the best you’ll ever have,” Adam teased a little.
Kris rolled closer, giving Adam a poke in the stomach. “Then I’ll just have to compare that blowjob to any others you give me in the future. Good luck, you’ve got a really incredible precedent to beat.”
Adam cursed with a laugh. He reached out for Kris and pulled him closer, so their bodies were nestled together, front to front. Kris settled in but he didn’t close his eyes. He felt far too awake. Plus, he was still stark naked and Adam only had pants on and they were still so close…
Kris felt Adam nuzzling the top of his head. Kris tilted his head up so their lips could reach each other. Adam tugged him even closer as they kissed, one of his hands coming up to cup Kris’ neck, guiding him into the right angles for their slow, deep kisses. Adam hadn’t come, and Kris was made keenly aware of that when he realized he could feel the press of Adam’s cock against his abdomen. Kris shuddered, his mouth falling open the slightest bit when he did and Adam took advantage immediately, slipping his tongue past Kris’ lips. Kris let out the smallest moan as he sucked at Adam’s tongue for a moment. Adam’s tongue swept through his mouth and suddenly Kris was panting and he was achingly hard all over again
Their mouths parted but stayed close. They could each feel the other’s hot breath against their lips. Kris’ hands were at Adam’s shoulders, fingers holding tightly to him. Adam had Kris gathered close against him with his arms around his waist.
“Kris,” Adam murmured, “I know we both said we were going to wait but…”
“I want to,” Kris said immediately, clear want and need in his voice.
“Are you sure? I don’t want to rush or pressure you if you’re not ready.”
“No, I’m with you. I trust you and I want you. I don’t want to wait anymore.”
Adam kissed him suddenly and deeply, claiming Kris’ mouth as he rolled on top of the smaller man. But then Adam pulled back with one last concern.
“When that tonic cured me, it took away all remnants of the disease, right? There’s no risk of me spreading it?”
Kris hadn’t even thought of that. He remembered back to when Adam had been lying unconscious on the bed in the Pharaoh’s chambers, the doctor hovering over him as he examined Adam. Kris hated thinking about that. But because it was so horrific, he remembered everything in stark detail. He nodded.
“Yes, when the doctor told me about the tonic, he said it would completely rid your body of the disease.”
Adam took a deep breath, some anxiety still obvious in his expression. If anything happened to Kris because of him, he’d never be able to forgive himself.
Kris reached up to cup Adam’s face between both of his hands. He smoothed his thumbs across Adam’s cheeks, trying to erase the anxiety from his lover’s face.
“Those things in your past don’t matter to me, remember? I thank the gods everyday that you recovered from that disease, but it’s gone now. It doesn’t matter. I still love you and I still want, more than anything, for you to make love to me right now.” Kris could already tell Adam was about to ask him are you sure? again, so Kris laid his hand over Adam’s mouth to silence him. He looked up into Adam’s eyes for a few moments before drawing him down and removing his hand so he could kiss him.
Kris shifted around a little beneath Adam so he could open his legs with Adam between them. Adam breathed in sharply when their groins rubbed together. Kris reached down, his fingers finding the cloth of Adam’s pants and tugging.
“Please…” he whispered.
Adam searched Kris’ face for a few more long seconds before he made up his mind. It wasn’t a hard decision to make. Kris wasn’t the only one practically out of his mind with desire at this point.
Adam suddenly pulled away and got up from the bed and Kris watched him leave the room with a confused expression. But Adam returned only a moment later. He was carrying a flask of oil from the heating lamps.
“We’ll need this,” he said in a low voice that brought a shudder to Kris. Adam rid himself of his remaining clothing before he crawled back into the bed, settling over Kris. They both had to hold back groans just from the long-awaited press of bare skin.
“Okay, Kris. I want you to just stay relaxed. I’ll take care of everything. Just do the things I tell you to do, okay?” Adam’s heart warmed a bit in his chest when Kris immediately nodded with implicit trust. Adam was certain he would never deserve this man.
Adam kneeled between Kris’ legs, balancing the flask in one hand. He set it down on the bed so he could take one of Kris’ knees in each of his hands and gently guide them upwards, fitting himself in close between them. He looked back to Kris’ face and then had to kiss him. He bent down to reach Kris’ mouth and Kris moaned into the kiss, his legs tightening on either side of Adam’s body. Just having Adam there in that position, so close and intimately, made Kris’ heart beat excitedly in his chest.
Adam remained in that position, his body slotted against Kris. Adam’s cock was already hard and aching, pressing against the inside of Kris’ thigh and now Adam could barely wait to feel the inside of Kris’ body.
“Let me explain what we’ll do,” Adam whispered. A moment later, he was flipping them both onto their sides with Kris’ legs still framing him. Adam slid his arms around Kris to hold him in the same position. One of his hands slid down close to Kris’ ass.
“First, before we start, …I’ll have to stretch you to prepare you.”
Adam slid one finger down between Kris’ cheeks, and he felt the smaller man shudder in his arms.
“Just one finger first. I’ll go slowly, only adding one finger at a time as you’re ready.”
Kris was clutching Adam closer now, and Adam kissed the side of his head gently.
He finished, his mouth just near Kris’ ear, “And when I’m sure you’re stretched and ready, I’ll push inside of you.”
Kris actually moaned aloud now, his legs twining more tightly around Adam.
“Now, Adam, now. Start now,” he begged.
Adam didn’t want to be cruel. He knew he’d made Kris wait long enough for this already.
“Yes,” Adam said hurriedly, maneuvering them both back into their previous position. He sat up on his knees, propping Kris’ legs apart. He fumbled to reach the oil and pour enough out so his fingers were entirely slickened. He curled his other arm around Kris’ inner thigh, stroking the sensitive skin there soothingly.
Adam glanced up to Kris’ face and found the other man watching him with wide, wildly excited eyes. His hands were fisted in the blankets and his lips were parted. Adam automatically made a hushing sound. “You have to relax, Kris. You can’t be so tense.”
Kris tried his best to school his breathing and calm his body, but he was practically thrumming with arousal and want. He wasn’t sure how relaxed he could be. Then Adam moved his hand between Kris’ legs, and Kris’ whole body seized.
Adam’s first touch to Kris’ hole was gentle, but nonetheless he found Kris completely tightened and closed off. Adam looked up to his face again. Kris had his eyes closed now and his jaw clenched.
“Kris. Kris, my love, look at me.”
Kris opened his eyes and searched frantically for Adam for a few seconds before his eyes fixed on the other man’s face.
“A-Adam…” Kris’ voice wavered.
“It’s alright, Kris. I’m going to give you what you want, I promise. I want it too, incredibly so. But we won’t get anywhere like this. You have to relax and let me in.” He started sliding his hand gently up and down Kris’ thigh, trying to calm him. He pressed a soft kiss to the inside of Kris’ knee. “Everything’s alright, Kris. We have all night. We have all the time in the world together…”
Little by little, Kris’ breathing was slowing. Adam kept stroking his thigh, kept murmuring calming words and endearments to him.
“I love you more than anything, Kris…” and a kiss just above the knee.
Finally, Kris was calmed down. His muscles were relaxed now, just letting himself sprawl there on the bed on his back and letting Adam hold his legs where they were with his own body propped between them. Adam’s hand stilled on Kris’ thigh but he kept rubbing gentle circles into Kris’ thigh with his thumb. He dipped his other hand back into the oil before lowering it to Kris’ entrance again.
This time, he found Kris open and welcoming. Burning need surged up in him at just the first touch, but it wasn’t an option to go at any pace other than as slowly as Kris needed.
Adam slid just the tip of his finger in, watching with interest as a gasp fluttered through Kris at the first press into him. He was so beautiful, and Adam told him such as he sunk his single finger in farther.
“More…more, Adam,” Kris gasped. Only a moment later, Adam was slowly pushing his finger the rest of the way in. Out, and then slowly all the way back in again. Adam felt like there was a war going on inside him - his need to go slowly to avoid his lover feeling pain, fighting with his own throbbing cock and desire for Kris. The former was stronger. Kris was far more important than himself. And this was Kris’ first time. Adam was determined to make it the best imaginable for Kris.
Adam dipped his fingers back into the oil before he started urging a second finger into Kris. The younger man was opening beautifully. It only took a few slow movements in and out before Adam could fit both fingers inside. He scissored his fingers slowly and carefully. By the time Adam was fitting a third finger in, Kris was rocking down onto his fingers slightly, seeking more stimulation. Adam could give him that. He pushed just two fingers in and felt around until he found the spot that made Kris jump and gasp. Adam rubbed the spot with his fingertips, Kris’ moans sending hot shivers through him. Adam needed to get to the main event, and fast.
He used three fingers again, making sure Kris could take them with no trouble. Adam stretched him just a little more to be sure before removing his fingers.
“Now, I’m ready, Adam…I’m ready,” Kris gasped when he felt Adam remove his fingers. “Please.”
“I couldn’t wait another minute even if I wanted to,” Adam said all in one rushed breath. He was so hard it was starting to hurt. Adam quickly coated his hands in oil and slicked his cock, making sure that every bit was covered. Protecting Kris from any pain was still the undisputed priority.
When he was ready, Adam grasped Kris’ knees again. He lifted them higher so they were almost at his shoulder height and when Kris folded his legs around Adam, they would be at the middle of his back. He slid his hands back to Kris’ hips, pulling Kris down against him and lining up.
Adam looked up at Kris one final time for confirmation. Just to see, one last time, that Kris truly wanted this, wanted him. Kris met his gaze, as if he expected Adam’s moment of hesitation. Kris moved one hand down to Adam’s at his hip. He slid his fingers between Adam’s and kept them there. When Adam looked back to Kris’ face, Kris was giving him that smile that was only Adam’s - the one that spoke more of Kris’ devotion and love for Adam than any amount of words ever could.
This was love. And this was why it was different than anything Adam had experienced before, like Kris said. Tonight, in a sense Adam was just as much a virgin as Kris. He had never made love before. But finally, finally, after days and years of wishing for a man that held his hand and smiled at him just like this, Adam had the chance.
Keeping his one hand entwined with Kris’, Adam pushed in. Kris gasped loudly, his head falling back into the pillows and back arching when Adam slid into him the first time. Adam was slow and gentle, yet moved with precision. He landed deep inside Kris, seated almost fully in him. After a few seconds to let Kris adjust and taking in the incredible way Kris felt around him, Adam slid out and pushed slowly back in. Kris moaned loudly as Adam’s cock came into him again and more deeply. With the third thrust, Adam pushed entirely into Kris. Kris was left panting and clutching Adam’s hand in a death grip.
“S-start moving, Adam,” Kris gritted through clenched teeth. His body writhed and moved around Adam desperately, communicating how badly he needed Adam to fuck him in earnest. “I’m ready..I know I’m ready…”
And Adam did just that, pulling out again and thrusting in with more force this time. He gripped Kris’ thigh with his free hand for leverage as he worked his way into a rhythm, fucking into Kris with more speed and drive this time. He started letting his prurience seep through the wall he’d pushed it behind, bringing more strength behind each push into Kris’ waiting, slick, tight heat. Adam could feel something taking him over, almost consuming him in its power. He would have to call it passion. Adam was almost entirely lost in it, in his need and love for Kris.
Through the near-overwhelming pleasure of Adam thrusting inside him again and again, deeper and deeper, Kris tugged on Adam’s hand. He wanted them to be closer. Adam responded immediately with the same desire. He let go of Kris’ thigh and Kris’ legs immediately wrapped tight around Adam’s back. Adam leaned down so their torsos were pressed together. Kris’ hands came up behind his shoulders, gripping him close.
“Kris,…fuck, Kris..” Adam gasped as he dove into Kris again and Kris’ body arched up into him.
“Adam..,” Kris moaned, clinging to him.
Now when they were pressed together, they began to move as one. Kris rocked into the firm, searing thrusts of Adam’s cock. He would cry out and tremble in Adam’s arms every time Adam drove into his spot. Adam soon mastered its location. It wasn’t long before Kris’ thighs were trembling where they were wrapped around Adam, and he couldn’t stop panting and gasping and moaning through the intense, incredible pleasure burning through him. Kris could never have come close to imagining feeling like this - like he was unraveling and coming apart with each thrust of Adam’s body into him.
Adam bent his head down to rest his forehead against Kris’ chest. He closed his eyes, breathing hard as he focused on his movements in and out of Kris, thrusting in with force directed right to Kris’ spot, sliding out before quickly sinking in again. Adam would never have words for how good Kris felt around him.
Now Adam could feel the way Kris’ body was beginning to tense and shudder beneath him. He was letting out the most beautiful moans and Adam felt Kris tightening around him. Adam had expected Kris to come rather quickly. He started moving a bit faster inside Kris, trying to get himself closer to that state as well before he slipped one hand between their sweat-slicked bodies to wrap around Kris’ leaking cock. It only took a few strokes from Adam’s hand. Kris let out his loudest cry yet and his nails dug into Adam’s back. His hips bucked wildly up against Adam as he came in spurts. Kris had never felt anything near this intense in his life.
“Adam! …adamadamadam..” Kris exclaimed almost to the point of drivel as the waves of sensation crested over his head and slowly began to ebb away.
Adam could feel Kris coming beneath him. He could feel Kris’ body writhing beneath him, hear his cries and moans, but the best was the way Kris was clenching and tightening around his cock while Adam continued to drive into him. In that moment, nothing could have made Adam stop.
Feeling and hearing Kris reach his peak sent Adam abruptly speeding towards his own. Suddenly he was a lot closer than he realized. He dropped his head into the crook of Kris’ neck and shoulder, resting it there as he worked into Kris for the final few times.
“Stay in,” he heard Kris whisper from above him, out of breath. At first, Adam didn’t know what he meant through the haze of pleasure in his mind, but then Kris added, “When you come…stay in.” Adam groaned out loud and dropped his head back down against Kris’ shoulder.
At that point, Adam’s instincts seemed to take over. His hips snapped forward into Kris a few more times and Adam was so close he just wanted to hold Kris there and keep going until he couldn’t any more.
“Yes, A-adam…I want-I want to feel you…” Kris was murmuring from below him and if Kris kept talking like that Adam wouldn’t be able to handle it. Adam cursed and exclaimed Kris’ name in the same breath as he surged up to kiss him messily. His hips stuttered unevenly, falling out of rhythm as Adam finally felt the first taste of his climax. He pushed in hard one last time and, as Kris had asked, he stayed, buried all the way to the hilt in Kris. Even though he was growing sensitive as the final shocks from his orgasm filtered through him, Kris spread his legs wider so Adam could reach as deep as possible. Kris moaned softly against Adam’s mouth, shuddering while his lover came so deep within him. They clung to each other and kissed sloppily and there was no way they could be any closer.
They were one.
There was a fogginess over both of them while Adam withdrew and slowly untangled himself from Kris. He didn’t want to lose any of their closeness. His arms stayed around Kris as Adam’s exhausted frame slumped down beside him. Kris was still breathing hard, still trying to recover and catch his breath. His stomach was still sticky and so were the inside of his thighs a little, but he couldn’t have cared less. There was nowhere in the entire world he wanted to be other than in Adam’s arms.
Adam let out a sigh of utter happiness and content, nuzzling his nose against the side of Kris’ head gently. His face took on a look of deep concentration then, soon followed by frustration.
“What is it?” Kris asked immediately, the proximity of their faces making Adam’s expression difficult to miss.
Adam reached a hand up to stroke Kris’ cheek with fond tenderness as he replied softly, “You’re going to find this so awful, but…I realized I don’t know any happy songs.” Adam continued before Kris could voice his bout of confusion, “I wanted to sing for you. It would be perfect, right after we’ve made love for the first time. But…..I’ve only ever had the will to learn the saddest of songs. For the longest time, singing was how I dealt with the worst of my misery. But now, when I want to sing in a moment of unrivaled, total happiness,…want to sing about you,…I don’t know any song that would be right.”
Kris was smiling so wide it almost hurt and he wasn’t even sure why. All he did know was that his eyes were a little teary and he was reaching out to clutch Adam closer as his heart swelled with emotion for the other man.
“Well I promise you something, Adam. We’re going to find all the happiest songs in this world for you to learn. And they’re the only ones you’re ever going to need from now on.”
Adam gathered him in and Kris practically crushed himself against Adam’s chest, holding him tightly.
Adam hummed instead. He held Kris close and hummed little snippets of tunes to him. Eventually he started singing instead, no words, just singing little spirals of melodies. Every tone was filled with bright colors and Kris felt the love and happiness spilling out.
It was the most beautiful thing he had ever heard.
Laying awake in bed, with Kris curled up around him asleep, Adam felt something for the first time he could remember. Every inch of him was happy. This place in the present world was perfect. For the first time in his life, everything in Adam’s past - everything he had gone through since that horrible night when he was thirteen - none of it mattered one bit. He thought back on the past like it had happened to someone else. It didn’t have power over him anymore.
Kris woke up the next morning tangled just as tightly around Adam as he had fallen asleep. The morning sun was trickling in through the single window, and Kris looked up quickly for the chance to watch Adam slowly wake from sleep. Adam’s face scrunched up a bit as he stretched his arms up over his head. He finally cracked his eyes open as his arms settled back around Kris. Kris smiled and kissed the corner of his mouth.
“Morning.”
Adam tilted his head to the side to give Kris a soft smile.
“Morning.”
There was a new kind of warmth in his voice, a new kind of intimacy. Adam closed the space between their mouths and gave Kris a deep, tender kiss. Something had changed between them for sure. It was only the most positive of changes and neither of them had to voice it.
Kris laid his head back down on Adam’s shoulder, where it had been when he’d awoken. Adam wrapped his arms more tightly around the smaller man. He reached up to stroke the fingers of one hand through Kris’ tousled hair.
“I’m amazed, Kris,” Adam finally said softly after a long while of comfortable silence. “You were right. It was like…a whole new experience, it was so incredibly different…”
Kris smiled when he heard Adam say that, and he snuggled in closer against Adam. He was immensely relieved and happy that what they had shared had had just as much of an emotional impact on Adam as it had on him.
“I’ve never felt closer to you,” Adam said, kissing Kris’ forehead. “I didn’t know sex could do that.”
“It was so much more than just sex, wasn’t it?”
“I don’t think I could even describe all the other things it was,” Adam sighed wistfully. “So much more. I felt so…connected to you. And it was special, unique because I would never want to share something like that with anyone else. I was never able to have that with someone else and I won’t ever, because there’s no one else I could love the way I love you.”
Kris just kissed Adam’s chin, feeling honored and warm from head to toe and unsure of quite what to say in the face of these words that meant so much to Adam after all he had experienced.
“All this time, I just needed to find you. I just needed to find you, Kris.”
When they needed a trip to the markets a few days later, they went together. It didn’t take them long to find and purchase all of the food goods they needed, and afterwards Adam grabbed Kris and dragged him over to his favorite clothing vendors. There were some beautiful silk tunics that Adam squealed over a bit while Kris laughed to himself. He found Adam’s glee over clothes shopping nothing but adorable.
Adam had picked up a deep blue tunic and held it towards Kris to see how it looked on him when they heard a voice calling, “Adam? Adam!”
Adam lifted up his head and looked around. Then he found the source - Brad had been standing at a stall a little ways away and was now hurrying over towards them.
“Adam! It is you!” Brad exclaimed with a grin, immediately throwing himself into Adam’s arms. Adam looked just a bit uncomfortable as he folded his arms around Brad just to give him a small hug. But even when Adam lowered his arms, Brad kept his arms around Adam’s waist. He was still close at Adam’s side when he noticed Kris.
“Oh, you’re the servant kid, right? You’re cute.”
“Not my servant. Not anyone’s servant anymore,” Adam answered a little too quickly, pointedly ignoring the ‘cute’ comment. Brad’s appearance had caught him off guard. At one point he had been rather close to the man, but everything in Adam’s life had changed since then.
But Brad’s attention quickly shifted back to Adam as he leaned up on his toes, his eyes on Adam’s lips and intention to kiss him clear. Adam kind of jerked his head backwards, giving Brad a shake of his head to deter him.
Brad sighed and said jokingly, “You and your policies.” Brad put his hands on Adam’s chest, rubbing one hand in circles. If Kris didn’t already thoroughly dislike him, that would have done it. Kris wasn’t quite sure what to do. He just stood ramrod-straight a few feet away, watching.
“I can’t believe my luck to see you all the way out here!” Brad was rambling to Adam, “I’ve really been meaning to come back and see you again. I really, really missed you, y’know. But now I see you all the way out here! Imagine that! I’ve had a really tough day, it would be great if we could go back to your home or mine even if you don’t have one around here. I haven’t been with you in so long…” Brad’s voice was beginning to take on his own kind of purr and he was reaching up to twine his arms around Adam’s neck. That was when Adam blanched and he knew he really had to put his foot down and pull away.
He did just that, backing up out of Brad’s arms.
“Sorry, Brad. I guess you didn’t hear the news. I quit the business.” Brad looked utterly stunned and perplexed. “Yeah, sorry Brad, but I’m done with that. I don’t need it anymore. You could have come by much more often though, you had plenty of time while I was still working. But I know it wasn’t a priority.”
There had been a time when Adam had been bitter over Brad’s obvious unwillingness for there to be anything more than a seller/customer relationship between them. Adam had thought they had potential. Brad had acted sometimes like he felt the same, but ultimately Adam knew Brad visited him only when it was convenient.
Adam sidestepped towards Kris, sliding his arm around Kris’ shoulders. Kris finally smiled a bit, the awkwardness of the situation beginning to lift.
“Ready to go home, Kris? We got everything we needed, didn’t we?”
“Mhm,” Kris agreed with a smile, holding up the bag in his hands that was filled with food and cooking supplies.
“Wait,” Brad interjected, looking between Adam and Kris. His expression was puzzled and a tiny bit affronted. “I thought you said you quit, Adam.”
“I did. I sure did,” Adam responded with a proud smile. He squeezed Kris’ shoulder a little. Then he bent his head down to press a tender kiss to the side of Kris’ head. Kris’ lips lifted in a smile and he turned his head to leave a soft kiss on Adam’s lips. Adam looked back towards Brad, his arm still tight around Kris. “He’s the reason.”
Brad finally understood and he huffed, crossing his arms.
“Well, fine. Like I need to pay people for sex, anyway. Have a nice life or whatever.” Brad kind of tossed his head in a ‘hmmph’ kind of way before stalking off with a vague wave over his shoulder.
“I always hated him,” was what Kris said immediately. Adam laughed.
“Really?”
Kris nodded with quite a serious-looking expression. “It always seemed like he didn’t take you seriously even though you liked him.”
“You can read me so well, it’s a little scary.”
Adam smiled though, tugging Kris closer to give him a squeeze. “Neither of us have to worry about him anymore. He’s just a blip in that history I’m leaving behind.”
Kris slid his hand down into Adam’s and gave him a wide smile.
“So. Heading home?”
“Absolutely.”
Adam gave Kris a peck on the lips before they started making their way out of the marketplace.
What Adam had said to Kris about leaving his past behind was completely true. And what Kris had realized and shared with him about why Adam hadn’t been able to let go of prostitution had been right. Kris had been right about everything. But Adam truly felt that everything about him, everything in him, was changing. With Kris as his partner, Adam had been pushed into an entirely new life. He didn’t need his old one anymore. It was jarring, to be honest, to have the whole earth pulled so suddenly from under his feet. But Adam was slowly finding his balance on new ground. And this new landscape was luscious and green and beautiful and Adam wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
The next day, Kris felt like riding. His horse, that is. (Although he had experimented with riding Adam as well.) Kris untied his horse and clambered up onto her back. He rode aimlessly for a few hours, just for the feeling of the wind and the horse’s muscles rippling under his body. Riding reminded him of when he’d been younger and a servant to the merchant caravan. He had spent all his time riding and taking care of the camels, and he’d enjoyed it. When he’d been stuck with Dallon, Kris had always thought back to the caravan and the camels to comfort himself. He certainly didn’t need any comforting now, but it still wasn’t unpleasant to think about.
As Kris’ horse galloped back and the house came into view, Kris saw a shape or pile or some sort outside in front of the house. When Kris got closer and dismounted the horse, he saw that the messy pile was made up of the rest of Adam’s makeup - the brushes, broken pots of kohl, cracked containers of rouge - and some of his clothes bundled up carelessly and tossed outside. Kris recognized the tight pants Adam had always worn for customers. The silken, transparent robes Adam had been wearing the first time Kris had met him.
Puzzled, Kris tied up his horse and went inside. He found Adam in the bedroom. He’d bought a new mirror since the old one had broken, but this one was smaller and propped up on the wall. Adam wasn’t sitting at the vanity table, he was just standing in front of the mirror. He was holding shears in one hand, a clump of his hair in the other. It was a shock that slammed through Kris when he realized Adam had cut off the whole left side of his hair. Kris watched in shock and fascination as Adam lifted up a handful of hair from the back of his head and chopped away until it stuck up from his head.
“Hey, you’re back,” Adam said softly, dropping the handful of hair on the floor before lifting the next chunk.
“Yeah,” Kris said softly as he came into the room. He watched Adam cut away more hair. “I can’t believe you’re doing that…” Kris whispered, obviously completely stunned.
“I needed a change. My hair’s been like this ever since my father made me grow it out.”
Kris watched silently while Adam snipped more of his hair. The dark strands fell in messy clumps to the floor.
“Can I help?” Kris finally asked softly.
Adam paused, the shears still mid-air. He looked over to Kris, just watching him for a few seconds before finally smiling faintly. “I guess you could get the back more neatly than I can.” He handed the shears to Kris.
Kris couldn’t help the slight shake of his hand as he lifted the shears to Adam’s long, beautiful hair. Kris had always loved running his fingers through it. He looked to Adam’s face in the mirror one last time, saw the certainty in his expression, and Kris chopped a section of hair.
Once Adam’s hair had all been cut so the short strands stood out mussed from his head, Adam swept up all his discarded hair from the floor. He carried it all outside and Kris followed him. On his way outside, Adam picked up the flint he used to light his pipe.
When they were facing the pile of objects sitting outside, Adam said, staring at it, “I cleaned out everything. Took it all out. All the clothes, the makeup, the hair products…”
Adam kneeled down to be on the same level as the chair from the vanity table, where it was buried under all the other things in the pile. He struck the flint a few times against the wood of the chair until it sparked and flames burst out. Then Adam stood back up and he tossed one handful of his hair onto the pile. Kris reached out and grabbed his hand to stop him before he threw the other handful.
“Wait…” Kris opened Adam’s fingers and took the locks of hair from them. “If you don’t want to keep any of this, is it alright if I keep just this little bit? I don’t want to lose all these things from the person you were…I loved that person a whole lot, you know.”
Adam just watched Kris for a few seconds before smiling. “Of course, Kris.”
Kris folded his hands around the bit of Adam’s hair, and Adam folded his arms around Kris. They watched together as the bright orange flames slowly spread through the whole pile. The fabrics lit and burst into flames. The glass and clay makeup containers cracked and warped in the heat. But as the fire slowly spread, it’s light brightened. Eventually it had consumed the entire pile, and Kris and Adam watched together as the beautiful flames danced and shone in the night.
“Do you think it can really be like this?” Adam asked Kris a while later, once the flames were halfway burnt out. “With something beautiful rising out of something old and not?”
Kris looked up to Adam’s face and he wrapped his arms a bit more tightly around him. Kris rested his head on Adam’s shoulder before replying, “Yes. I’m sure it can.”
[[Continue]]
That afternoon found the two outside, tending to their two horses. They gave them both food and water before combing the horses’ manes and brushing their backs.
“You know, Adam…I feel like I need something to keep me busy.”
Adam looked over at Kris and asked him, “What do you mean?”
“I’m not sure that I’m old enough yet for a life this relaxed. I know you said we have plenty of money but…I think I might want a job anyway. I feel better, more useful when I have things to work on.”
“You mean you want to do things other than cooking delicious meals for me?” Adam asked with a fake, wobbly frown. “How will I live without your cooking all the time?”
Kris laughed, shaking his head a little. “Of course I’ll still cook for you, silly. I was just thinking I may want some kind of job on the side to fill some time.”
“Well, whatever you want to do is fine with me. Whatever keeps you happy. As for me, I’m content with a life of relaxation and lethargy, thank you very much.”
“You deserve one, Adam, without a doubt,” Kris’ reply was serious despite the joking tone of Adam’s previous statement.
Adam was just as serious when he added, “So do you, Kris. You’ve certainly been through a lot, too.”
“I suppose that’s true…but I just feel so anxious when I stay in one place for too long, not doing anything. I guess the servant part of me runs deep.” Adam had to look over at Kris again to see that he was joking and not making a bitter comment.
“Like I said, darling, whatever makes you happy. But don’t feel obligated, not to me or anyone else. Don’t feel like you owe your time to anyone.”
Kris nodded as he pulled the brush in his hand across his horse’s back. “I know. Now, all my time is my own to do with as I please.”
Later, they made supper together and sat down to eat at either side of the kitchen table. The room was illuminated by a few candles that stood in the middle of the table. The dim lighting didn’t matter, neither of them wanted to look anywhere but at each other anyway. Kris remembered not too long ago when they’d sat here over a tense dinner and Kris had tried to hold Adam’s hand only to have the other man pull away. Kris reached across the table. Almost like he was thinking the same, Adam gripped Kris’ hand tightly right away.
During dinner, Adam couldn’t help the same thoughts he’d been having the entire day - thoughts of the night before. The kisses Kris had left all over his skin. The wet inside of Kris’ mouth. Adam wasn’t quite sure whether it was just his imagination, but the air around him and Kris seemed to hold some kind of charge or pressure. Adam wanted to touch Kris again, kiss him in the incredible new way they had discovered, feel Kris’ bare, silky skin against his own.
Kris would be hard-pressed to find anyone with more experience than Adam. Adam wanted to put that to good use, for once, and make Kris feel so good he wouldn’t be able to think straight. It was clear now to Adam that Kris really did see him differently than Adam saw himself. Where Adam saw something ruined and tainted, Kris saw pureness and beauty. Adam believed him now. Being able to see himself this new way thanks to Kris made Adam feel such a need for him, such a desire to bring Kris pleasure in return, and Adam no longer felt guilt accompanying such thoughts about Kris. It was so freeing and Adam wanted to take every advantage of this new way of thinking. And he knew damn well that Kris wanted him to as well.
“Kris,” Adam spoke softly, once both their plates were empty. He gave Kris’ hand a squeeze. “Can we go to bed?”
It was too early in the evening for there to be anything but one meaning to his words.
Despite everything, a hint of doubt still crept into his voice. But when Kris heard what Adam had asked - of his own volition - a wide smile burst onto his face. Adam looked down to Kris’ hand in his, his thumb rubbing over the back of the younger man’s hand.
“This time let me be the one to show you how very much you mean to me. …Show you the way you look in my eyes.”
Kris suddenly pushed everything covering the table to the side, heedless of the clinking dishes or spilled water. He let go of Adam’s hand so he could bodily lift himself over the table and reach Adam’s mouth to kiss him hungrily. It was all the answer Adam needed.
Now it was Kris’ turn to lie bare in the bed, spread out on his back with Adam above him.
“You’ve never had anything like this done to you before, right?” Adam asked from where he was kneeling above Kris. His own tunic was stripped off but he still wore pants.
“Nothing,” Kris affirmed, swallowing a bit anxiously. “Last night was my first experience of the kind.”
Now Adam was smiling down at him reassuredly. A few of his fingers came up to gently stroke Kris’ cheek back and forth. Kris let himself relax, closing his eyes and turning his head into the touch. He tipped his head down to kiss Kris’ forehead and then his lips lightly.
“Don’t worry about anything. I promise I’ll make it incredible. And it’s hardly like we have to go all the way to the main event tonight. We have our whole lives together. We can take our time.”
Kris smiled again, and Adam could see him relaxing beneath him. Kris turned his head to the side to press a kiss to Adam’s fingertips that were still against his cheek.
“I know, Adam. I trust you. I love you.” Kris lifted a hand to Adam’s hair, brushing the long strands back from where they framed Adam’s face and pushing them behind his ear gently.
Adam got that feeling in his chest that Kris sometimes gave him - like his heart was so impossibly filled with joy it might burst. Adam lowered himself down above Kris, his mouth positioned just beside Kris’ ear so Adam could tell him softly, with the intimate brush of his warm breath against the shell of Kris’ ear, “Me too. More than you can imagine.”
That was the moment when Adam truly let all his previous inhibitions go. Kris clearly loved and trusted him so. He really cared for and wanted Adam despite what his past held. That was all that mattered, and Adam was going to make Kris happy by giving him everything he wanted.
Adam pulled back, shifting his weight to his haunches. He decided he’d leave his pants on for the moment. He wanted the focus to remain entirely on Kris.
Adam couldn’t help spending a few seconds just taking Kris in. He’d had a rough life as a servant, first for the merchant caravan he’d told Adam about and later for Lord Dallon. Kris’ years spent in labor had left his naturally small body lined with muscles. It was maybe a little ironic. Kris was such a gentle, easygoing person, yet he had this kind of toughened body beneath his clothes. He was utterly gorgeous and Adam felt what he’d only experienced in earnest a few times in his life - true and powerful desire. What he felt right now was so much stronger than anything before, heightened by the depth of the feelings he already had for Kris. Suddenly, Adam could hardly wait to make love with Kris for the first time.
But for now, they were taking this in stride. One thing at a time, Adam reminded himself. Right now, he was focusing on Kris’ pleasure.
His hands fluttered down Kris’ sides with light touches until they found Kris’ hips. Adam settled down in place between Kris’ thighs, shifting Kris a little and guiding him so his thighs rested over Adam’s shoulders. Kris shuddered pleasantly as Adam kissed the inside of his thigh and his hands smoothed over Kris’ hips and down to his ass. Adam nosed Kris’ inner thigh before slowly trailing his way to Kris’ cock. It was partially erect and Adam assumed it was Kris’ remaining nerves keeping him from full erection. Adam would have to fix that before they could get down to business.
He began placing feather-light kisses along the base of Kris’ cock. Just tiny, barely-there brushes of his lips that made Kris softly gasp from the never-before experienced intimacy of it. Adam continued, circling slowly around the base a few times until the other man’s cock started flushing and curving up towards his stomach. Adam pulled back, a small smile of satisfaction on his face as he wrapped his hand around the base and loosely pumped Kris a few times, feeling how hard he was. Satisfied that Kris was properly prepared, Adam settled down with his weight rested on his elbows and his hands slid under Kris’ ass to hold him in position.
“You can put your hands in my hair if you want to. You can move your hips a bit too, but try not to move around too much.”
Kris shivered when he heard Adam’s voice and looked down again. Adam’s voice had taken on a little bit of the seductive purr Kris had heard directed before towards customers. He looked down to Adam’s face and saw what looked like dirty mischief in his expression, but it was still easy for Kris to see the same warmth and love in Adam’s eyes. He was 100 percent still the same Adam. Still his Adam. But now Kris knew he was totally in Adam’s playing field.
And that was when Adam opened his mouth and swallowed Kris whole in one single, deft movement. Kris’ eyes flew open wide and he cried out at the sudden onslaught of sensation. Only a moment later, Adam’s lips were sliding off. He’d chosen to start out with a bang. Not wanting to keep Kris waiting for even a second, Adam extended his tongue and flicked it across the head of Kris’ cock. Without even touching his lips to Kris, Adam started trailing his tongue along and around Kris’ length. He would call Kris’ penis about average-sized, but Adam already loved the taste and texture of it. Maybe it was just because it belonged to Adam’s favorite person in the world, but Adam already thought this one was better than any other.
Adam tongued the underside, paying attention to find the sensitive vein there. When he did, he worked his tongue against it and the mewling sound Kris produced sent a shiver and a gasp through Adam. He lapped back up towards the tip so he could tease the sensitive slit there with his tongue. He used a few fingers to pump Kris’ sensitive spot on the underside at the same time and Kris bucked up a little, crying out. Kris already felt lost in sensory overload. It was like never having tasted a drop of wine before and suddenly being intoxicated past the point of reason on the best wine in the world.
Adam’s lips had closed around the first few inches of him now and he was sucking while his tongue continued to work the head. Kris arched off the bed a little, gasping. He almost felt like he was drowning in this ocean of pleasure and he needed something to ground himself. His hands searched for Adam until they found his hair and wound tightly into the strands. Adam gave a slight moan, heat flashing through him when he felt Kris’ hands tight in his hair. Adam was already beginning to taste the first sweet drops of Kris’ precome. He didn’t have much more time as, understandably, Kris was so sensitive.
Adam held Kris’ cock steady with one hand at the base so he could work the whole length now. He began sliding his lips rapidly down and back up, keeping even suction as he sunk down a little lower each time. Kris’ hands intermittently tugging at his hair drove him on, his own cock starting to harden between his legs as his lips grew nearer to the base, his lips kissing the hand that held Kris there. Finally, he let go with his hand so he could open his throat and take all of Kris each time he sunk down. By now, Kris was a constant stream of moans and cries and pleas above him, and Adam wanted to make him come just as badly as Kris kept saying he needed to. Adam knew it wouldn’t take much. He could practically feel Kris’ tight body tensing beneath him, straining to reach release. Adam spread his hands to grip Kris’ hips, holding him still as Adam sunk down one last time, taking Kris’ entire length into his mouth. He pressed his tongue against that spot on the underside. And then he swallowed around Kris, and Kris completely came apart, losing control of his body and writhing helplessly on the bed as he came.
Adam began to pull of a little when he felt the first spurt of hot cum down his throat. He kept his mouth wide open so he could catch as much as possible. This was usually his least favorite part of the whole act, but this was Kris and this was worlds different. Adam wanted to taste him. Wanted to swallow as much of him down as he could and bring Kris into himself.
Adam kept gently sucking until Kris ran completely dry. Only then did he pull back to lap Kris clean. Kris was falling limp beneath Adam, sinking back down into the bed as his high slowly faded and he tried to catch his breath. Adam slid up the bed to drop down by Kris’ side with a smile.
“How was that, darling?”
“A-..Adam..” Kris mumbled, tripping over his name with a slight blush. “That was…kind of the best thing I’ve ever felt.” Adam’s smile grew into a full grin.
“It’s almost a shame…you have nothing to compare it to. I can almost guarantee mine are the best you’ll ever have,” Adam teased a little.
Kris rolled closer, giving Adam a poke in the stomach. “Then I’ll just have to compare that blowjob to any others you give me in the future. Good luck, you’ve got a really incredible precedent to beat.”
Adam cursed with a laugh. He reached out for Kris and pulled him closer, so their bodies were nestled together, front to front. Kris settled in but he didn’t close his eyes. He felt far too awake. Plus, he was still stark naked and Adam only had pants on and they were still so close…
Kris felt Adam nuzzling the top of his head. Kris tilted his head up so their lips could reach each other. Adam tugged him even closer as they kissed, one of his hands coming up to cup Kris’ neck, guiding him into the right angles for their slow, deep kisses. Adam hadn’t come, and Kris was made keenly aware of that when he realized he could feel the press of Adam’s cock against his abdomen. Kris shuddered, his mouth falling open the slightest bit when he did and Adam took advantage immediately, slipping his tongue past Kris’ lips. Kris let out the smallest moan as he sucked at Adam’s tongue for a moment. Adam’s tongue swept through his mouth and suddenly Kris was panting and he was achingly hard all over again
Their mouths parted but stayed close. They could each feel the other’s hot breath against their lips. Kris’ hands were at Adam’s shoulders, fingers holding tightly to him. Adam had Kris gathered close against him with his arms around his waist.
“Kris,” Adam murmured, “I know we both said we were going to wait but…”
“I want to,” Kris said immediately, clear want and need in his voice.
“Are you sure? I don’t want to rush or pressure you if you’re not ready.”
“No, I’m with you. I trust you and I want you. I don’t want to wait anymore.”
Adam kissed him suddenly and deeply, claiming Kris’ mouth as he rolled on top of the smaller man. But then Adam pulled back with one last concern.
“When that tonic cured me, it took away all remnants of the disease, right? There’s no risk of me spreading it?”
Kris hadn’t even thought of that. He remembered back to when Adam had been lying unconscious on the bed in the Pharaoh’s chambers, the doctor hovering over him as he examined Adam. Kris hated thinking about that. But because it was so horrific, he remembered everything in stark detail. He nodded.
“Yes, when the doctor told me about the tonic, he said it would completely rid your body of the disease.”
Adam took a deep breath, some anxiety still obvious in his expression. If anything happened to Kris because of him, he’d never be able to forgive himself.
Kris reached up to cup Adam’s face between both of his hands. He smoothed his thumbs across Adam’s cheeks, trying to erase the anxiety from his lover’s face.
“Those things in your past don’t matter to me, remember? I thank the gods everyday that you recovered from that disease, but it’s gone now. It doesn’t matter. I still love you and I still want, more than anything, for you to make love to me right now.” Kris could already tell Adam was about to ask him are you sure? again, so Kris laid his hand over Adam’s mouth to silence him. He looked up into Adam’s eyes for a few moments before drawing him down and removing his hand so he could kiss him.
Kris shifted around a little beneath Adam so he could open his legs with Adam between them. Adam breathed in sharply when their groins rubbed together. Kris reached down, his fingers finding the cloth of Adam’s pants and tugging.
“Please…” he whispered.
Adam searched Kris’ face for a few more long seconds before he made up his mind. It wasn’t a hard decision to make. Kris wasn’t the only one practically out of his mind with desire at this point.
Adam suddenly pulled away and got up from the bed and Kris watched him leave the room with a confused expression. But Adam returned only a moment later. He was carrying a flask of oil from the heating lamps.
“We’ll need this,” he said in a low voice that brought a shudder to Kris. Adam rid himself of his remaining clothing before he crawled back into the bed, settling over Kris. They both had to hold back groans just from the long-awaited press of bare skin.
“Okay, Kris. I want you to just stay relaxed. I’ll take care of everything. Just do the things I tell you to do, okay?” Adam’s heart warmed a bit in his chest when Kris immediately nodded with implicit trust. Adam was certain he would never deserve this man.
Adam kneeled between Kris’ legs, balancing the flask in one hand. He set it down on the bed so he could take one of Kris’ knees in each of his hands and gently guide them upwards, fitting himself in close between them. He looked back to Kris’ face and then had to kiss him. He bent down to reach Kris’ mouth and Kris moaned into the kiss, his legs tightening on either side of Adam’s body. Just having Adam there in that position, so close and intimately, made Kris’ heart beat excitedly in his chest.
Adam remained in that position, his body slotted against Kris. Adam’s cock was already hard and aching, pressing against the inside of Kris’ thigh and now Adam could barely wait to feel the inside of Kris’ body.
“Let me explain what we’ll do,” Adam whispered. A moment later, he was flipping them both onto their sides with Kris’ legs still framing him. Adam slid his arms around Kris to hold him in the same position. One of his hands slid down close to Kris’ ass.
“First, before we start, …I’ll have to stretch you to prepare you.”
Adam slid one finger down between Kris’ cheeks, and he felt the smaller man shudder in his arms.
“Just one finger first. I’ll go slowly, only adding one finger at a time as you’re ready.”
Kris was clutching Adam closer now, and Adam kissed the side of his head gently.
He finished, his mouth just near Kris’ ear, “And when I’m sure you’re stretched and ready, I’ll push inside of you.”
Kris actually moaned aloud now, his legs twining more tightly around Adam.
“Now, Adam, now. Start now,” he begged.
Adam didn’t want to be cruel. He knew he’d made Kris wait long enough for this already.
“Yes,” Adam said hurriedly, maneuvering them both back into their previous position. He sat up on his knees, propping Kris’ legs apart. He fumbled to reach the oil and pour enough out so his fingers were entirely slickened. He curled his other arm around Kris’ inner thigh, stroking the sensitive skin there soothingly.
Adam glanced up to Kris’ face and found the other man watching him with wide, wildly excited eyes. His hands were fisted in the blankets and his lips were parted. Adam automatically made a hushing sound. “You have to relax, Kris. You can’t be so tense.”
Kris tried his best to school his breathing and calm his body, but he was practically thrumming with arousal and want. He wasn’t sure how relaxed he could be. Then Adam moved his hand between Kris’ legs, and Kris’ whole body seized.
Adam’s first touch to Kris’ hole was gentle, but nonetheless he found Kris completely tightened and closed off. Adam looked up to his face again. Kris had his eyes closed now and his jaw clenched.
“Kris. Kris, my love, look at me.”
Kris opened his eyes and searched frantically for Adam for a few seconds before his eyes fixed on the other man’s face.
“A-Adam…” Kris’ voice wavered.
“It’s alright, Kris. I’m going to give you what you want, I promise. I want it too, incredibly so. But we won’t get anywhere like this. You have to relax and let me in.” He started sliding his hand gently up and down Kris’ thigh, trying to calm him. He pressed a soft kiss to the inside of Kris’ knee. “Everything’s alright, Kris. We have all night. We have all the time in the world together…”
Little by little, Kris’ breathing was slowing. Adam kept stroking his thigh, kept murmuring calming words and endearments to him.
“I love you more than anything, Kris…” and a kiss just above the knee.
Finally, Kris was calmed down. His muscles were relaxed now, just letting himself sprawl there on the bed on his back and letting Adam hold his legs where they were with his own body propped between them. Adam’s hand stilled on Kris’ thigh but he kept rubbing gentle circles into Kris’ thigh with his thumb. He dipped his other hand back into the oil before lowering it to Kris’ entrance again.
This time, he found Kris open and welcoming. Burning need surged up in him at just the first touch, but it wasn’t an option to go at any pace other than as slowly as Kris needed.
Adam slid just the tip of his finger in, watching with interest as a gasp fluttered through Kris at the first press into him. He was so beautiful, and Adam told him such as he sunk his single finger in farther.
“More…more, Adam,” Kris gasped. Only a moment later, Adam was slowly pushing his finger the rest of the way in. Out, and then slowly all the way back in again. Adam felt like there was a war going on inside him - his need to go slowly to avoid his lover feeling pain, fighting with his own throbbing cock and desire for Kris. The former was stronger. Kris was far more important than himself. And this was Kris’ first time. Adam was determined to make it the best imaginable for Kris.
Adam dipped his fingers back into the oil before he started urging a second finger into Kris. The younger man was opening beautifully. It only took a few slow movements in and out before Adam could fit both fingers inside. He scissored his fingers slowly and carefully. By the time Adam was fitting a third finger in, Kris was rocking down onto his fingers slightly, seeking more stimulation. Adam could give him that. He pushed just two fingers in and felt around until he found the spot that made Kris jump and gasp. Adam rubbed the spot with his fingertips, Kris’ moans sending hot shivers through him. Adam needed to get to the main event, and fast.
He used three fingers again, making sure Kris could take them with no trouble. Adam stretched him just a little more to be sure before removing his fingers.
“Now, I’m ready, Adam…I’m ready,” Kris gasped when he felt Adam remove his fingers. “Please.”
“I couldn’t wait another minute even if I wanted to,” Adam said all in one rushed breath. He was so hard it was starting to hurt. Adam quickly coated his hands in oil and slicked his cock, making sure that every bit was covered. Protecting Kris from any pain was still the undisputed priority.
When he was ready, Adam grasped Kris’ knees again. He lifted them higher so they were almost at his shoulder height and when Kris folded his legs around Adam, they would be at the middle of his back. He slid his hands back to Kris’ hips, pulling Kris down against him and lining up.
Adam looked up at Kris one final time for confirmation. Just to see, one last time, that Kris truly wanted this, wanted him. Kris met his gaze, as if he expected Adam’s moment of hesitation. Kris moved one hand down to Adam’s at his hip. He slid his fingers between Adam’s and kept them there. When Adam looked back to Kris’ face, Kris was giving him that smile that was only Adam’s - the one that spoke more of Kris’ devotion and love for Adam than any amount of words ever could.
This was love. And this was why it was different than anything Adam had experienced before, like Kris said. Tonight, in a sense Adam was just as much a virgin as Kris. He had never made love before. But finally, finally, after days and years of wishing for a man that held his hand and smiled at him just like this, Adam had the chance.
Keeping his one hand entwined with Kris’, Adam pushed in. Kris gasped loudly, his head falling back into the pillows and back arching when Adam slid into him the first time. Adam was slow and gentle, yet moved with precision. He landed deep inside Kris, seated almost fully in him. After a few seconds to let Kris adjust and taking in the incredible way Kris felt around him, Adam slid out and pushed slowly back in. Kris moaned loudly as Adam’s cock came into him again and more deeply. With the third thrust, Adam pushed entirely into Kris. Kris was left panting and clutching Adam’s hand in a death grip.
“S-start moving, Adam,” Kris gritted through clenched teeth. His body writhed and moved around Adam desperately, communicating how badly he needed Adam to fuck him in earnest. “I’m ready..I know I’m ready…”
And Adam did just that, pulling out again and thrusting in with more force this time. He gripped Kris’ thigh with his free hand for leverage as he worked his way into a rhythm, fucking into Kris with more speed and drive this time. He started letting his prurience seep through the wall he’d pushed it behind, bringing more strength behind each push into Kris’ waiting, slick, tight heat. Adam could feel something taking him over, almost consuming him in its power. He would have to call it passion. Adam was almost entirely lost in it, in his need and love for Kris.
Through the near-overwhelming pleasure of Adam thrusting inside him again and again, deeper and deeper, Kris tugged on Adam’s hand. He wanted them to be closer. Adam responded immediately with the same desire. He let go of Kris’ thigh and Kris’ legs immediately wrapped tight around Adam’s back. Adam leaned down so their torsos were pressed together. Kris’ hands came up behind his shoulders, gripping him close.
“Kris,…fuck, Kris..” Adam gasped as he dove into Kris again and Kris’ body arched up into him.
“Adam..,” Kris moaned, clinging to him.
Now when they were pressed together, they began to move as one. Kris rocked into the firm, searing thrusts of Adam’s cock. He would cry out and tremble in Adam’s arms every time Adam drove into his spot. Adam soon mastered its location. It wasn’t long before Kris’ thighs were trembling where they were wrapped around Adam, and he couldn’t stop panting and gasping and moaning through the intense, incredible pleasure burning through him. Kris could never have come close to imagining feeling like this - like he was unraveling and coming apart with each thrust of Adam’s body into him.
Adam bent his head down to rest his forehead against Kris’ chest. He closed his eyes, breathing hard as he focused on his movements in and out of Kris, thrusting in with force directed right to Kris’ spot, sliding out before quickly sinking in again. Adam would never have words for how good Kris felt around him.
Now Adam could feel the way Kris’ body was beginning to tense and shudder beneath him. He was letting out the most beautiful moans and Adam felt Kris tightening around him. Adam had expected Kris to come rather quickly. He started moving a bit faster inside Kris, trying to get himself closer to that state as well before he slipped one hand between their sweat-slicked bodies to wrap around Kris’ leaking cock. It only took a few strokes from Adam’s hand. Kris let out his loudest cry yet and his nails dug into Adam’s back. His hips bucked wildly up against Adam as he came in spurts. Kris had never felt anything near this intense in his life.
“Adam! …adamadamadam..” Kris exclaimed almost to the point of drivel as the waves of sensation crested over his head and slowly began to ebb away.
Adam could feel Kris coming beneath him. He could feel Kris’ body writhing beneath him, hear his cries and moans, but the best was the way Kris was clenching and tightening around his cock while Adam continued to drive into him. In that moment, nothing could have made Adam stop.
Feeling and hearing Kris reach his peak sent Adam abruptly speeding towards his own. Suddenly he was a lot closer than he realized. He dropped his head into the crook of Kris’ neck and shoulder, resting it there as he worked into Kris for the final few times.
“Stay in,” he heard Kris whisper from above him, out of breath. At first, Adam didn’t know what he meant through the haze of pleasure in his mind, but then Kris added, “When you come…stay in.” Adam groaned out loud and dropped his head back down against Kris’ shoulder.
At that point, Adam’s instincts seemed to take over. His hips snapped forward into Kris a few more times and Adam was so close he just wanted to hold Kris there and keep going until he couldn’t any more.
“Yes, A-adam…I want-I want to feel you…” Kris was murmuring from below him and if Kris kept talking like that Adam wouldn’t be able to handle it. Adam cursed and exclaimed Kris’ name in the same breath as he surged up to kiss him messily. His hips stuttered unevenly, falling out of rhythm as Adam finally felt the first taste of his climax. He pushed in hard one last time and, as Kris had asked, he stayed, buried all the way to the hilt in Kris. Even though he was growing sensitive as the final shocks from his orgasm filtered through him, Kris spread his legs wider so Adam could reach as deep as possible. Kris moaned softly against Adam’s mouth, shuddering while his lover came so deep within him. They clung to each other and kissed sloppily and there was no way they could be any closer.
They were one.
There was a fogginess over both of them while Adam withdrew and slowly untangled himself from Kris. He didn’t want to lose any of their closeness. His arms stayed around Kris as Adam’s exhausted frame slumped down beside him. Kris was still breathing hard, still trying to recover and catch his breath. His stomach was still sticky and so were the inside of his thighs a little, but he couldn’t have cared less. There was nowhere in the entire world he wanted to be other than in Adam’s arms.
Adam let out a sigh of utter happiness and content, nuzzling his nose against the side of Kris’ head gently. His face took on a look of deep concentration then, soon followed by frustration.
“What is it?” Kris asked immediately, the proximity of their faces making Adam’s expression difficult to miss.
Adam reached a hand up to stroke Kris’ cheek with fond tenderness as he replied softly, “You’re going to find this so awful, but…I realized I don’t know any happy songs.” Adam continued before Kris could voice his bout of confusion, “I wanted to sing for you. It would be perfect, right after we’ve made love for the first time. But…..I’ve only ever had the will to learn the saddest of songs. For the longest time, singing was how I dealt with the worst of my misery. But now, when I want to sing in a moment of unrivaled, total happiness,…want to sing about you,…I don’t know any song that would be right.”
Kris was smiling so wide it almost hurt and he wasn’t even sure why. All he did know was that his eyes were a little teary and he was reaching out to clutch Adam closer as his heart swelled with emotion for the other man.
“Well I promise you something, Adam. We’re going to find all the happiest songs in this world for you to learn. And they’re the only ones you’re ever going to need from now on.”
Adam gathered him in and Kris practically crushed himself against Adam’s chest, holding him tightly.
Adam hummed instead. He held Kris close and hummed little snippets of tunes to him. Eventually he started singing instead, no words, just singing little spirals of melodies. Every tone was filled with bright colors and Kris felt the love and happiness spilling out.
It was the most beautiful thing he had ever heard.
Laying awake in bed, with Kris curled up around him asleep, Adam felt something for the first time he could remember. Every inch of him was happy. This place in the present world was perfect. For the first time in his life, everything in Adam’s past - everything he had gone through since that horrible night when he was thirteen - none of it mattered one bit. He thought back on the past like it had happened to someone else. It didn’t have power over him anymore.
Kris woke up the next morning tangled just as tightly around Adam as he had fallen asleep. The morning sun was trickling in through the single window, and Kris looked up quickly for the chance to watch Adam slowly wake from sleep. Adam’s face scrunched up a bit as he stretched his arms up over his head. He finally cracked his eyes open as his arms settled back around Kris. Kris smiled and kissed the corner of his mouth.
“Morning.”
Adam tilted his head to the side to give Kris a soft smile.
“Morning.”
There was a new kind of warmth in his voice, a new kind of intimacy. Adam closed the space between their mouths and gave Kris a deep, tender kiss. Something had changed between them for sure. It was only the most positive of changes and neither of them had to voice it.
Kris laid his head back down on Adam’s shoulder, where it had been when he’d awoken. Adam wrapped his arms more tightly around the smaller man. He reached up to stroke the fingers of one hand through Kris’ tousled hair.
“I’m amazed, Kris,” Adam finally said softly after a long while of comfortable silence. “You were right. It was like…a whole new experience, it was so incredibly different…”
Kris smiled when he heard Adam say that, and he snuggled in closer against Adam. He was immensely relieved and happy that what they had shared had had just as much of an emotional impact on Adam as it had on him.
“I’ve never felt closer to you,” Adam said, kissing Kris’ forehead. “I didn’t know sex could do that.”
“It was so much more than just sex, wasn’t it?”
“I don’t think I could even describe all the other things it was,” Adam sighed wistfully. “So much more. I felt so…connected to you. And it was special, unique because I would never want to share something like that with anyone else. I was never able to have that with someone else and I won’t ever, because there’s no one else I could love the way I love you.”
Kris just kissed Adam’s chin, feeling honored and warm from head to toe and unsure of quite what to say in the face of these words that meant so much to Adam after all he had experienced.
“All this time, I just needed to find you. I just needed to find you, Kris.”
When they needed a trip to the markets a few days later, they went together. It didn’t take them long to find and purchase all of the food goods they needed, and afterwards Adam grabbed Kris and dragged him over to his favorite clothing vendors. There were some beautiful silk tunics that Adam squealed over a bit while Kris laughed to himself. He found Adam’s glee over clothes shopping nothing but adorable.
Adam had picked up a deep blue tunic and held it towards Kris to see how it looked on him when they heard a voice calling, “Adam? Adam!”
Adam lifted up his head and looked around. Then he found the source - Brad had been standing at a stall a little ways away and was now hurrying over towards them.
“Adam! It is you!” Brad exclaimed with a grin, immediately throwing himself into Adam’s arms. Adam looked just a bit uncomfortable as he folded his arms around Brad just to give him a small hug. But even when Adam lowered his arms, Brad kept his arms around Adam’s waist. He was still close at Adam’s side when he noticed Kris.
“Oh, you’re the servant kid, right? You’re cute.”
“Not my servant. Not anyone’s servant anymore,” Adam answered a little too quickly, pointedly ignoring the ‘cute’ comment. Brad’s appearance had caught him off guard. At one point he had been rather close to the man, but everything in Adam’s life had changed since then.
But Brad’s attention quickly shifted back to Adam as he leaned up on his toes, his eyes on Adam’s lips and intention to kiss him clear. Adam kind of jerked his head backwards, giving Brad a shake of his head to deter him.
Brad sighed and said jokingly, “You and your policies.” Brad put his hands on Adam’s chest, rubbing one hand in circles. If Kris didn’t already thoroughly dislike him, that would have done it. Kris wasn’t quite sure what to do. He just stood ramrod-straight a few feet away, watching.
“I can’t believe my luck to see you all the way out here!” Brad was rambling to Adam, “I’ve really been meaning to come back and see you again. I really, really missed you, y’know. But now I see you all the way out here! Imagine that! I’ve had a really tough day, it would be great if we could go back to your home or mine even if you don’t have one around here. I haven’t been with you in so long…” Brad’s voice was beginning to take on his own kind of purr and he was reaching up to twine his arms around Adam’s neck. That was when Adam blanched and he knew he really had to put his foot down and pull away.
He did just that, backing up out of Brad’s arms.
“Sorry, Brad. I guess you didn’t hear the news. I quit the business.” Brad looked utterly stunned and perplexed. “Yeah, sorry Brad, but I’m done with that. I don’t need it anymore. You could have come by much more often though, you had plenty of time while I was still working. But I know it wasn’t a priority.”
There had been a time when Adam had been bitter over Brad’s obvious unwillingness for there to be anything more than a seller/customer relationship between them. Adam had thought they had potential. Brad had acted sometimes like he felt the same, but ultimately Adam knew Brad visited him only when it was convenient.
Adam sidestepped towards Kris, sliding his arm around Kris’ shoulders. Kris finally smiled a bit, the awkwardness of the situation beginning to lift.
“Ready to go home, Kris? We got everything we needed, didn’t we?”
“Mhm,” Kris agreed with a smile, holding up the bag in his hands that was filled with food and cooking supplies.
“Wait,” Brad interjected, looking between Adam and Kris. His expression was puzzled and a tiny bit affronted. “I thought you said you quit, Adam.”
“I did. I sure did,” Adam responded with a proud smile. He squeezed Kris’ shoulder a little. Then he bent his head down to press a tender kiss to the side of Kris’ head. Kris’ lips lifted in a smile and he turned his head to leave a soft kiss on Adam’s lips. Adam looked back towards Brad, his arm still tight around Kris. “He’s the reason.”
Brad finally understood and he huffed, crossing his arms.
“Well, fine. Like I need to pay people for sex, anyway. Have a nice life or whatever.” Brad kind of tossed his head in a ‘hmmph’ kind of way before stalking off with a vague wave over his shoulder.
“I always hated him,” was what Kris said immediately. Adam laughed.
“Really?”
Kris nodded with quite a serious-looking expression. “It always seemed like he didn’t take you seriously even though you liked him.”
“You can read me so well, it’s a little scary.”
Adam smiled though, tugging Kris closer to give him a squeeze. “Neither of us have to worry about him anymore. He’s just a blip in that history I’m leaving behind.”
Kris slid his hand down into Adam’s and gave him a wide smile.
“So. Heading home?”
“Absolutely.”
Adam gave Kris a peck on the lips before they started making their way out of the marketplace.
What Adam had said to Kris about leaving his past behind was completely true. And what Kris had realized and shared with him about why Adam hadn’t been able to let go of prostitution had been right. Kris had been right about everything. But Adam truly felt that everything about him, everything in him, was changing. With Kris as his partner, Adam had been pushed into an entirely new life. He didn’t need his old one anymore. It was jarring, to be honest, to have the whole earth pulled so suddenly from under his feet. But Adam was slowly finding his balance on new ground. And this new landscape was luscious and green and beautiful and Adam wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
The next day, Kris felt like riding. His horse, that is. (Although he had experimented with riding Adam as well.) Kris untied his horse and clambered up onto her back. He rode aimlessly for a few hours, just for the feeling of the wind and the horse’s muscles rippling under his body. Riding reminded him of when he’d been younger and a servant to the merchant caravan. He had spent all his time riding and taking care of the camels, and he’d enjoyed it. When he’d been stuck with Dallon, Kris had always thought back to the caravan and the camels to comfort himself. He certainly didn’t need any comforting now, but it still wasn’t unpleasant to think about.
As Kris’ horse galloped back and the house came into view, Kris saw a shape or pile or some sort outside in front of the house. When Kris got closer and dismounted the horse, he saw that the messy pile was made up of the rest of Adam’s makeup - the brushes, broken pots of kohl, cracked containers of rouge - and some of his clothes bundled up carelessly and tossed outside. Kris recognized the tight pants Adam had always worn for customers. The silken, transparent robes Adam had been wearing the first time Kris had met him.
Puzzled, Kris tied up his horse and went inside. He found Adam in the bedroom. He’d bought a new mirror since the old one had broken, but this one was smaller and propped up on the wall. Adam wasn’t sitting at the vanity table, he was just standing in front of the mirror. He was holding shears in one hand, a clump of his hair in the other. It was a shock that slammed through Kris when he realized Adam had cut off the whole left side of his hair. Kris watched in shock and fascination as Adam lifted up a handful of hair from the back of his head and chopped away until it stuck up from his head.
“Hey, you’re back,” Adam said softly, dropping the handful of hair on the floor before lifting the next chunk.
“Yeah,” Kris said softly as he came into the room. He watched Adam cut away more hair. “I can’t believe you’re doing that…” Kris whispered, obviously completely stunned.
“I needed a change. My hair’s been like this ever since my father made me grow it out.”
Kris watched silently while Adam snipped more of his hair. The dark strands fell in messy clumps to the floor.
“Can I help?” Kris finally asked softly.
Adam paused, the shears still mid-air. He looked over to Kris, just watching him for a few seconds before finally smiling faintly. “I guess you could get the back more neatly than I can.” He handed the shears to Kris.
Kris couldn’t help the slight shake of his hand as he lifted the shears to Adam’s long, beautiful hair. Kris had always loved running his fingers through it. He looked to Adam’s face in the mirror one last time, saw the certainty in his expression, and Kris chopped a section of hair.
Once Adam’s hair had all been cut so the short strands stood out mussed from his head, Adam swept up all his discarded hair from the floor. He carried it all outside and Kris followed him. On his way outside, Adam picked up the flint he used to light his pipe.
When they were facing the pile of objects sitting outside, Adam said, staring at it, “I cleaned out everything. Took it all out. All the clothes, the makeup, the hair products…”
Adam kneeled down to be on the same level as the chair from the vanity table, where it was buried under all the other things in the pile. He struck the flint a few times against the wood of the chair until it sparked and flames burst out. Then Adam stood back up and he tossed one handful of his hair onto the pile. Kris reached out and grabbed his hand to stop him before he threw the other handful.
“Wait…” Kris opened Adam’s fingers and took the locks of hair from them. “If you don’t want to keep any of this, is it alright if I keep just this little bit? I don’t want to lose all these things from the person you were…I loved that person a whole lot, you know.”
Adam just watched Kris for a few seconds before smiling. “Of course, Kris.”
Kris folded his hands around the bit of Adam’s hair, and Adam folded his arms around Kris. They watched together as the bright orange flames slowly spread through the whole pile. The fabrics lit and burst into flames. The glass and clay makeup containers cracked and warped in the heat. But as the fire slowly spread, it’s light brightened. Eventually it had consumed the entire pile, and Kris and Adam watched together as the beautiful flames danced and shone in the night.
“Do you think it can really be like this?” Adam asked Kris a while later, once the flames were halfway burnt out. “With something beautiful rising out of something old and not?”
Kris looked up to Adam’s face and he wrapped his arms a bit more tightly around him. Kris rested his head on Adam’s shoulder before replying, “Yes. I’m sure it can.”
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