RPS Fic: Spoil Of War [Adam/Tommy] 14/14

[toobusy2write]

[Part 13]
[Master Post]

Part 14

Tommy walked up to the door to Gregory's former chambers and took a deep breath. Queen Sasha-the sovereign of Ubertas-had taken up residence there upon her arrival. After bowing low in respect, the guard who stood watch ignored him in favor of staring down the length of the corridor in deference to his station. Tommy's hands were sweaty and his stomach lurched as he wondered why she had wanted to meet with him-and with all the others-in private.

She had arrived just before nightfall yesterday for an unannounced visit, making the messenger Brooke had sent the day before Gregory's death unnecessary. Apparently word about the battle between Vox and Tousma and Tousma's supposed surrender to Vox had made its way back to Queen Sasha, and instead of sending a messenger to inquire why she hadn't been informed of the outcome, she had decided to surprise Vox by coming to see what was going on herself. She hadn't even sent a messenger ahead to announce her arrival.

Two weeks, Tommy thought to himself as he stared at the door. It had only been two weeks since he'd been there, at that door, about to enter the chambers where he and Adam planned to kill Gregory, but it felt like a lot longer. So much had happened since then.

The day after taking the throne, Adam had abolished slavery in Vox and, along with Neil, had set about the task of restructuring the kingdom to accommodate the newly freed men and women, often with council from Tommy on what had worked and what hadn’t in his kingdom. Even with the benefit of experience, though, it had been rough going, a much larger portion of the population resistant to it than Tommy had had to face in Tousma. Tensions were high as a result, and after only a few days, Tommy had sent Monte on the day and a half journey back to Lootus, both to bring word to them of Tousma's freedom from Vox's rule, and to bring back a contingent of servants willing to help out with everyday tasks that were falling through the cracks as a result.

Tommy knew it boiled down to the fact that Tousma had been in a much more peaceful state of existence as a kingdom when the transition had taken place than Vox was, due to the type of ruler Tommy's father had been, versus the type of ruler Gregory had been. True, Adam was king now, but he'd barely had time to take a deep breath since assuming the throne, let alone set the mood for the kingdom through action.

Personally, Tommy thought maybe Adam should have waited a month or two to undertake such a complicated task, but he fully understood Adam's need to abolish all things that reminded him of Gregory's reign and cruelty, so after giving Adam his opinion when Adam had asked, Tommy held his tongue and did his best to help Adam and Neil through the chaos that followed.

When, after a mere week of high tension, fights started to break out, Adam and Tommy had decided to announce their engagement, hoping to distract everyone with it. Thankfully, it worked for the most part, and even though they had yet to set a date, Erus had erupted into a flurry of activity to prepare for the upcoming ceremony.

Next to the door, the guard quietly cleared his throat, interrupting Tommy's train of thought. Tommy glanced at him, but the guard was still staring straight ahead, gaze fixed on the corridor, pretending not to notice Tommy's hesitance.

Looking back at the door, Tommy took a deep breath and knocked.

"Come in," came a light, airy voice from inside.

Tommy entered and closed the door behind him, unsure if he should cross to the middle of the room or stay where he was. "You wanted to see me, Your Majesty?"

He wasn't the first person she'd called to her chambers, or even close to the first. After the morning meal, she had started sending for all the royalty from Vox, Tousma and Solvo who were present in the castle, one after another, to meet with her in private. As close as Tommy could tell, he was the second to last to be summoned. The only other person left was Adam.

Queen Sasha turned around from the window she'd been staring out and smiled at him. "King Thomas. You needn't look so nervous. I don't bite."

Tommy smiled back, some of the tension leaving his shoulders at the friendly expression on her face. Queen Sasha was beautiful, with her heart-shaped face, her dark brown eyes and her cute nose that scrunched a little when she smiled. It was hard not be taken in by her.

"I'll keep that in mind," Tommy said lightly.

Queen Sasha's smile widened. She gestured toward a couple of chairs near the fireplace and said, "Come. Sit."

As he passed it, Tommy couldn't help the way his eyes drifted to the spot on the floor where they had left Gregory struggling for his last breaths. A cold chill ran through his body, but he shrugged it off as he sat facing the sovereign.

"Before we get started," Queen Sasha said, "I would like to offer my condolences on your father's death. I met him a few times when I was still a princess. He was a good man."

Gut-wrenching sorrow temporarily stole Tommy's breath, reminding him that he'd never been allowed a proper mourning period to adjust to his father's death.

Deciding right then wasn't the time to start, though, he pushed down the feelings and said quietly, "Thank you. He was."

After a moment of silence, Queen Sasha cleared her throat and asked, "Shall we get to the matter at hand?"

Tommy nodded. "What do you require from me?"

"Answers," Queen Sasha replied.

"Answers about what?"

Queen Sasha studied him for a long moment, her gaze taking in his closely cut sides, the fringe of hair falling over one side of his face, and finally, the sex slave piercing still in his ear. "I would have thought you would want to be rid of all reminders of your supposed slavery as soon as you were able."

Tommy shrugged, not wanting to explain his reasons for keeping his piercing to Queen Sasha when he hadn't even explained it to Adam yet. Finally, he settled on saying, "No disrespect intended, Your Majesty, but it's … a private matter between Adam and I."

"Ahh," Queen Sasha said, eyes sharp and knowing. "I'll leave it be, then, and move on to the next matter at hand. You took an awfully big risk, doing what you did. If your chieftain hadn't been able to intercept the messenger sent to announce Vox's victory, or if he had betrayed you by not even trying, you would have doomed yourself to a life of slavery."

"I had no other choice, Your Majesty. My kingdom was depending on me, and I trust Monte with my life. I knew he wouldn't turn on me."

Queen Sasha studied him for a long moment, a glint of envy in her eyes. "You are indeed a lucky man, then. Not many can say that once you reach positions of power like ours. I believe the late King Gregory can attest to that."

Tommy blinked, carefully keeping his expression neutral, although he had the feeling she wasn't falling for it for a minute. "Your Majesty?"

Queen Sasha's gaze sharpened. "Do not play games with me, Thomas. I am well aware his death was not of natural causes."

Tommy swallowed. "If I may, what do you intend to do about it?"

"Put his killer on trial and sentence him to death if so warranted, of course," Queen Sasha said blandly, as if discussing the weather on a beautiful summer day among many beautiful summer days.

Tommy felt panic well up inside him at the thought of Adam dying. But no, the plan was that Tommy would take the blame if need be, given he couldn't be put to death. He had been Gregory's equal since the end of the battle at Reus hadn't been announced, meaning Vox and Tousma had in theory still been at war when Gregory died, making Tommy's actions-if he had actually killed Gregory-completely justified.

"It baffles me how the killer has been able to stay hidden this long," Queen Sasha said, for all appearances oblivious to Tommy's fear for Adam. "Are all efforts being made to locate him?"

Tommy blinked, completely confused. "I'm sorry?"

Queen Sasha cocked her head to the side a little and explained patiently, "Randal. It's been what? A week and a half? In your estimation, are all efforts being made to find him?"

Tommy's mind raced as he tried to figure out what was going on. He had been sure she knew the truth, but now she was asking about the whereabouts of Randal? Who was apparently enough of a coward to have gone into hiding the minute he'd found his husband dead?

Before Tommy could formulate an answer, Queen Sasha said, "You agree, do you not, that he is the logical choice when one considers foul play in the king's death, given his disappearance and the fact that the night before he attempted to rape a slave? It's just too bad that not much can be done about the assault, or about the other incidents I've been informed of, including the time he tried to cut off that same slave's hand unjustly. Murdering a king, though, that I can do something about."

Tommy's eyes widened a little, understanding dawning. It was clear by the look in her eyes that she knew who had really killed Gregory. It was also clear that she had no problem overlooking that and bringing to justice a truly wretched man who would not get much of a punishment for his many crimes otherwise, the laws of the land being what they were.

Finally, Tommy nodded. "I agree. He is the logical choice. As for every effort being made to find him, yes. That I can attest to."

And he could. No matter that Adam couldn't punish Randal with much, he was vehement that Randal be punished as harshly as allowed under law for attempting to rape Jeffery. It irritated the both of them to no end that they couldn't seem to track Randal down. Adam and Tommy had come to the conclusion after the first few days that someone was protecting Randal, someone Randal probably had something on. It was the only explanation for why he hadn't been found. Randal was a coward and a sniveling idiot. There was no way he was cunning enough to evade them the way he seemed to be.

Queen Sasha nodded her head. "I will talk with Adam about it, of course, but while I'm here, I shall lend him several of my best knights to help with the pursuit. If Randal isn't found before I leave, I will hand down a decree to kill him on sight once he is found."

She shifted in her chair and said, "Moving on. I am told you and Adam would like to marry and unify your kingdoms. You intend to rule as coregents?"

Clearing his throat, Tommy said, "Yes. We intend make Vox and Tousma regions that we split our time between inside the new kingdom formed by our marriage. There is only a day and a half ride between the two strongholds, the path of which will be safely at the heart of our kingdom once the merge takes place. Adam has already appointed Neil chieftain of Vox, and put him in charge of the day to day responsibilities whenever we are in Tousma, and my chieftain, Monte, will do the same in Tousma whenever we are here in Vox."

Queen Sasha looked pleased with that answer. "You have thought this out, then. That is good." Her expression turned intent. "Coregencies are a tricky thing, though. Throughout our realm's history, more than one have failed. How do I know this will not happen with you and Adam, which would force me to intervene and sort out the mess it creates?"

Tommy held her gaze and said with complete confidence, "All I can do is promise you it won't. We have also already agreed that whenever there is a dispute between us on how to handle any particular issue, whoever's former kingdom it involves the most will make the ultimate decision."

Queen Sasha looked at him consideringly for a long moment, before finally nodding her head. "Then let it be so. I will be staying on here for four more days. Discuss it with Adam, but unless you want to wait several months for the next time I'm able to make the journey back here, the ceremony will have to occur before I leave."

Tommy's eyes widened a little. "Preparations are already being made," he said, "but we hadn't set a date yet. I have no idea how far along the household is with them, especially with the added confusion from slavery being abolished."

Queen Sasha nodded. "I realize it is not ideal. I know you've brought over servants from Lootus, and I will lend the servants I brought with me as well. Between all of us, I believe it can be done."

Tommy swallowed. In three days at most, he was going to be married. To Adam. The sudden flood of nerves that hit him must have been written all over his face, because Queen Sasha leaned forward and rested a hand on his knee, her forehead creased in concern.

"Are you okay? Is there something you're not telling me?"

"Like what, Your Majesty?" Tommy asked, unable to fathom what she could mean.

Queen Sasha sat back. "You just turned white as a sheet. I thought maybe…"

Tommy swallowed. "Maybe what?"

Queen Sasha shrugged. "Brooke told me you were forced into sexual slavery by Gregory, but that you claimed you willingly gave yourself to Adam. Was that the truth? Or do I have another trial to conduct?"

Tommy's eyes widened and he shook his head vigorously. "No. No, Adam did not force me. In fact, he gave me many outs. I was willing." Tommy's cheeks heated, but as much as he wanted to keep things between him and Adam private, he wanted to make sure Queen Sasha didn't think ill of Adam in any way, especially after all Adam had done for him since the day Tommy had met him, so he found himself admitting, "We even had a private ceremony of sorts, since the official one was a complete farce. We sealed the Master-slave contract then."

Queen Sasha's expression cleared up and she smiled. "Good. That is good." Standing, she said, "I believe I have all the answers I require. You should go discuss the situation with Adam and come to a decision on whether you would like to be married right away or not. I'll get your answer when I question Adam later today."

She held out her hand, which Tommy stood and bowed over, then kissed, before straightening and saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Queen Sasha smiled at him. "Thank you, Thomas."

Tommy turned to leave, but Queen Sasha's voice calling his name stopped him at the door and he turned to face her.

"Your Majesty?"

Head tilted a little, expression curious, Queen Sasha asked, "What will this new kingdom's name be?"

Tommy smiled. "Saatus, from-"

"-the ancient language, meaning destiny," Queen Sasha inserted. "I like that. It's fitting."

Tommy's smile widened. "We thought so, too."

Expression turning serious, Queen Sasha said, "From what I have heard and seen so far, what you and Adam have is rare. Made even more rare by the circumstances you found it under. Never take that for granted."

Tommy saw a flash of sadness in her eyes and suddenly remembered hearing a few years back that Queen Sasha-then a princess-had lost her wife to consumption not long after their union.

Nodding his head, Tommy said, "I won't. I swear it."



The next three days went by in a blur and before Tommy knew it, he found himself staring into Jeni's mirror, willing himself to breathe and his stomach to stop trying to turn itself inside out with nerves. He was getting married in an hour … that is, if he didn't pass out and miss it.

There was a knock at the door and Sutan breezed in without waiting for an answer.

"Come in," Tommy said dryly.

Sutan laughed and crossed to where Tommy was sitting at Jeni's dressing table. Neil and Jeni had lent him their chambers to prepare for the ceremony while Adam used his own chambers. Afterwards, Adam's chambers would become Tommy's and Adam's chambers. They could have moved into the king's chambers together, but both had agreed they had no desire to take up residence in a place where they had ended a life, so they had declared Adam's chambers the new royal chambers and had the old royal chambers re-designated as a guest chamber for visiting royalty, which was why Queen Sasha was currently occupying it.

Bending to brush a kiss on Tommy's forehead, Sutan said, "You were the one who told me to treat you as I do Adam. I never wait for an invitation from him. Besides," Sutan added with a wink as he straightened, "Now that you're not a pleasure slave anymore, I have to rely on the element of surprise if I ever want to catch a glimpse of you without your clothes again."

Tommy laughed, some of the tension that had been coiling inside releasing with it. Shooting Sutan a suggestive smile, Tommy said, "Don't be so sure. Adam might have something to say about that."

Sutan's eyes flashed with heat, even as he arched an eyebrow. "Oh? Just Adam?"

Tommy blushed. He hadn't meant to phrase it in a way that would give away his and Adam's arrangement, but really, what was the harm? If Adam followed through on what they'd talked about the night Sutan watched them have sex, Sutan would figure it out soon enough.

Tommy cleared his throat, and shifted in Jeni's chair. "Well, he did ask me, and I agreed, but…"

"Ooh," Sutan said, a knowing tone suddenly in his voice. "You liked the submission. You're going to continue with it."

Tommy bit his bottom lip and nodded. Glancing up at Sutan, Tommy asked, "Is that … odd, do you think? Given our stations?"

Sutan's gaze turned soft and he knelt down next to the chair so that they were closer to eye level. "What I think is that it would be odd for you to deny a part of yourself that clearly gives you pleasure." Tommy's cheeks started to heat at the implication of Sutan's words, but Sutan quickly shook his head. "I don't mean sexual pleasure, although that too. I mean that you radiate when you're around him, and he around you, especially when the two of you are in chambers where neither of you have to shoulder a king's responsibilities. Whatever the two of you have agreed to, it works, so why question it?"

Tommy blew out a breath, sending his fringe fluttering in the air in front of his face for a brief second before it settled again. "I know. I'm not really questioning it. I'm just…"

"Nervous and your mind is racing?" Sutan asked when Tommy trailed off.

Tommy nodded. "How did you…"

Sutan laughed and stood, setting the satchel he'd brought in with him on Jeni's dressing table. "Please. It's written all over your face."

Tommy's shoulders slumped, until Sutan reached out and squeezed one, saying, "If it helps at all, I just came from Adam's chambers and he's no better off."

Tommy smiled at Sutan's reflection in the mirror. "It does help. Thank you."

"Anytime. Now, let's get to work on your face."



"Take a deep breath, brother, before you pass out and miss your own handfasting," Neil said dryly as they stood in a corridor off the great hall, out of sight of the guests gathering within.

"I think I've forgotten how," Adam responded, not rising to the verbal sparring he knew Neil was trying for.

"Wow," Neil said. "Not even an attempt at a retort. Maybe you should sit for a minute before you really do pass out."

Adam chuckled. "No. Thank you, but no. I just need this ceremony to get started already. The waiting is killing me."

Neil snorted. "The waiting isn't all that's going to kill you if you don't calm down." Starting for the entrance to the great hall, Neil said, "I'll go see if there's anything that can be done to speed this up."

Adam reached out and grabbed Neil's hand, shaking his head when Neil looked back at him. "No. I'll be fine."

Neil hesitated before nodding. Adam dropped his hand and took a deep breath like Neil had suggested. It didn't help.

Neil reached out and gripped Adam's shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You have nothing to be nervous about. You've picked well. Tommy is a good man. I know the two of you will be as happy as Jeni and I."

Adam took another deep breath. That time when he released it, a good portion of his nerves went with it.

Offering Neil an affectionate smile, Adam said, "Thank you. Your approval means a lot to me." He paused before adding, "I fully apologize for the way I teased you the day you married Jeni. Now that I know what it feels like, I'm surprised you didn't run me through."

Neil laughed. "Yes, well, believe it or not, you helped take my mind off it. The teasing was exactly what I needed at the time."

Overwhelmed with a burst of love and gratitude for his brother, Adam reached out and pulled him into a tight hug. "I would have never made it through all these years since our father's death without you."

Neil hugged him back. "Nor I you."

Impulsively, Adam said, "I mean it. To this day I do not know what you said or did to our uncle to stop what was happening in the beginning, but whatever it was, you saved me. There aren't words for how grateful I am for that."

Neil stiffened for a moment in Adam's arms, understandably so since they had never once talked about it, with the exception of the night Gregory had been about to rape Tommy, and even then, Neil's role in stopping Gregory's abuse had never been discussed.

Just when Adam started to worry he'd said too much, Neil relaxed and hugged him so tightly it cut off Adam's air. "That is behind us and we both know you would have done the same for me. In fact, you probably would have gone farther and killed him. I wish I had had the guts to do that at the time."

Adam pulled out of the hug and set Neil away from him, hands on his shoulders. Staring into Neil's eyes, Adam shook his head. "You were barely a teenager. Trust me, you would not have wanted that burden on your shoulders. I'm a full grown man, and even with what he had done and threatened to do, it still weighs on me at times. It's not the same as killing someone on the battlefield."

Glancing around them before speaking, Neil said solemnly, "So it was you, not Randal. I thought so, but you didn't say anything, so I let it be."

"It was me," Adam confirmed. I used the poison we asked Sutan keep on hand for us."

Neil reached up and laid his hands over Adam's, which were still on his shoulders. "I wish you had allowed me to be there with you so you wouldn't have to do it alone, but I'm glad you did it. His life needed to end before he hurt anyone else."

Adam looked past Neil to the doorway at the other end of the great hall, which led outside. Tommy was to walk through it at the start of the ceremony. The symbolism being that Adam-who was to enter from the corridor he was currently waiting in-was coming from Vox and Tommy was coming from the direction of Tousma to meet in the middle and join their kingdoms together. He couldn't see Tommy out there, but he spotted Monte and figured Tommy had to be nearby.

"I wasn't alone," Adam said. "Tommy insisted on coming with me. He was going to claim responsibility for it if we were found out, since he couldn't be punished for it the way I could have."

Neil squeezed Adam's hands. "Like I said. Tommy is a good man. You picked well."

Adam smiled, gaze focusing back on Neil. "I really did, didn't I?"



"Tommy," Monte said from off to one side.

Tommy had been staring up at the sky in the courtyard, trying to will his nerves away. It took a moment for him to blink away the spots in front of his eyes as he focused his gaze on Monte.

"Wow," Monte said. "You look amazing."

Tommy started to bite at his painted bottom lip, but stopped, reminding himself of Sutan's threat of bodily injury should he mess up any of the work put into his face. It was tradition in Vox for the people who were to marry to wear paints on their faces that accentuated their eyes and lips and cheeks. Adam had told him they didn't have to do it if Tommy didn't want to, but the idea had intrigued him, so he'd agreed.

Tommy was glad he did. After Sutan had gotten through with him, Tommy had to admit, he liked what he'd seen in Jeni's mirror. He wondered if maybe there might be other occasions they could work the tradition into. It seemed a shame to never get to have his face made up this way again.

"Thank you," Tommy said.

"I have the ring," Monte said.

Tommy glanced at the satchel Monte held up and nodded, feeling a little like he was about to lose his midday meal. "Good."

Monte peered at him, then stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Tommy's shoulder, pulling him into his side. Head turned toward Tommy, Monte said, "Relax. Take a deep breath."

"I believe I'm about to throw up," Tommy confided just above a whisper, glancing around desperately for somewhere with a bit of privacy.

They were outside, though, and while they were being given a wide berth by those out there with them, there was no real place of privacy anywhere nearby.

Monte chuckled and tightened his arm around Tommy's shoulders. "Remember when Lisa and I married?"

Tommy glanced over at Monte. "Yes?"

"I threw up three times that morning before you came in to help me get ready." Tommy's eyes widened and Monte smiled. "And the ceremony went on as planned anyway, and we have been happily married ever since. You will be too."

Tommy returned the grin and relaxed fractionally. "Thanks."

"Any time," Monte said.

"No," Tommy said, turning a little under Monte's arm to wrap his own around him and hug him back. "I mean it," Tommy continued quietly. "Thank you, for everything. For being the big brother I needed growing up, for believing in me when everyone else started to worry I'd never be anything more than a hopeless brat, and for being loyal to me through all this and coming to the rescue when you thought I was in trouble."

Monte snorted. "I almost got the man you love killed. You don't need to thank me."

Tommy laughed. "Yes, well, there is that," he teased. Turning serious, he added, "But he's fine and we're fine. It was an impressive battle plan, by the way, in case I hadn't mentioned that before, which proves my confidence and trust in you as chieftain is well deserved."

Monte pulled back and gripped Tommy's shoulders. Looking into his eyes, Monte said with conviction, "And you have turned into a fine man and a worthy king, proving my words to your father and my faith in you were well deserved."

Tommy blinked back moisture, not wanting to ruin the amazing work Sutan had done on his eyes.

Before anything else could be said, Jeffery came out of nowhere and plowed right into Tommy from the side, wrapping his arms around Tommy and nearly knocking them both off their feet.

Tommy oomph'ed as he stepped backwards to brace himself, laughing as he threw his arms around Jeffery in return.

"You know him, I assume?" Monte asked dryly.

Hot on Jeffery's heels, Richard ran up, admonishing, "Jeffery! I know you met King Thomas as a slave," Richard paused to flick a glance at Tommy like he was concerned Tommy might be angered at the reminder, then continued, "but he is a king. You do not just run up to kings and tackle them."

Jeffery tensed in Tommy's arms and started to pull back, mumbling, "Sorry. I didn't mean… I just haven't seen you much in the last couple of weeks or hardly at all for so long before that, and I missed you, and-"

"Jeffery," Tommy interrupted, hugging Jeffery closer for an instant before setting him away to look in his eyes. "You never have to apologize for wanting a hug from me. I consider you a friend and my friends are allowed all the hugs they want."

Jeffery's smile was blinding.

Tommy returned it, then added, "That said, Richard is right, it's not the wisest idea in the world to tackle a king, especially since you are not well-known to my men yet. If my guards hadn't stepped aside to give Monte and I privacy, you might have found yourself on the wrong end of a sword before I had a chance to call them off. However, anytime you want a hug, all you have to do is ask and I will make sure you get it."

Pulling him in again, Tommy gave Jeffery another hug, then turned them both toward Monte. "Monte, I'd like you to meet Jeffery, the only other person in all of Vox besides Adam and I that Wild will allow near him. Jeffery," Tommy continued, "Monte, my uncle, although he's always been more like a brother to me."

Jeffery nodded his head. "Nice to meet you, My Lord."

Monte nodded in return. "Tommy speaks highly of you. It's good to finally meet you."

Jeffery looked like he'd been struck speechless.

"Okay," Richard said, stepping forward to pull Jeffery away. "Let King Thomas get ready for the ceremony. You can talk to him later."

Jeffery turned back to Tommy and hugged him one last time, saying, "Good luck," before running off.

Richard turned to leave as well, but Tommy called his name, stopping him.

Monte glanced between them and excused himself, leaving Tommy and Richard alone. "Is there something you need, Your Highness?"

"First, there's no need for that. Not that long ago I was calling you sir. I'd rather you just continue to call me Tommy, if you don't mind."

Richard visibly relaxed at that, reminding Tommy that they hadn't had an opportunity to talk since Tommy had been recognized by Adam as a king.

"Second," Tommy said, "I'd like to thank you."

"Thank me?" Richard repeated.

Tommy nodded. "You treated me like a person, not a thing when I was pretending to be a slave, and even went out of your way to point out when I would lapse and do or say something that could get me in trouble. I won't soon forget that."

Looking pleased with the acknowledgement, Richard said, "Thank you, Your- Tommy."

Tommy smiled. "Three. Adam told me once that you made a difference in his life growing up, that you were like a second father to him when his own couldn't be around due to the duties of a king."

Looking embarrassed but pleased with the compliment, Richard said, "From very early on, I've thought about him like a father would a son."

Tommy tilted his head to the side consideringly. "And how do you think of Jeffery?"

"I'm sorry?" Richard asked.

"Jeffery. Do you have fatherly feelings toward him, as well?"

Richard blinked. "I hadn't stopped to think it through, but … yes. I do."

"For my first official act as coregent of Saatus, how would you feel about my seal of approval on adoption papers making him legally your son?"

Richard's eyes widened considerably. "What? But I thought…"

Tommy could see what he'd thought written on his face. It was obvious it had pained him to think about losing the day to day time he got to spend with Jeffery now, which proved Tommy's instincts on this were right.

"You thought Adam and I would adopt him, given our protectiveness toward him," Tommy finished when it became obvious Richard wasn't going to go on.

"Yes," Richard said.

"If you would rather not have the responsibility, we could do that. We've discussed it, actually, but if you're willing-"

"I'm most definitely willing," Richard interjected.

Tommy nodded. "Good, then since you're willing, we both feel he would be better off with you. We would love him to distraction, of course, but he would be a prince, royal bloodline or not, and as a prince, he would have to learn to become a knight, even though he is a bit old to be starting out as a squire at this stage and seems to have no inclinations in that direction. Worse, he would have to give up his duties in the stables to do it. It's obvious he loves those horses and equally obvious he has a gift for training and caring for them. It would be a shame to pull him away from a life he could thrive in and force him instead into a life he would most assuredly do well at, but would not be passionate about. Also, with our kingdoms newly joined, neither Adam nor I would have the time to devote to Jeffery that he requires at his age. All the way around, you are the better choice for him. Adam agrees."

Richard's eyes turned glassy and he blinked it away, saying in a choked voice, "I would be honored to be his guardian. My wife and I…" Richard broke off, cleared his throat, and continued, "When she was alive, we wanted children. We waited on them for years, but when it never came to pass, we decided it was best since the child would be born into slavery. And then she passed, and…" Richard swallowed and took a deep breath. "But now slavery's abolished and I do not know how I can possibly thank you for this gift you and Adam are bestowing upon me."

Tommy smiled. "Take care of him and teach him how to be the kind of man you are. That is all the thanks we need."

"I'll make a deal with you," Richard said, expression intent.

Tommy's eyebrows lifted. "Oh? What's that?"

"You take care of Adam and love him as much as I loved my wife, and we'll call it even."

Tommy grinned, holding out his hand. When Richard took it to shake, Tommy said, "Deal. There is nothing I would rather do."

Richard squeezed his hand. "I knew there was something different about you from the moment I met you. At first I put it off to your bloodline, but then I saw a light in Adam whenever he was around you that I hadn't seen since his father died and I knew there was something special there. I'm glad the two of you found your way to each other.”

"So am I," Tommy said softly, throat thick with emotion.



The ceremony itself wasn't overly long. Adam walked in from the corridor, looking every inch a regal king in his embroidered tunic and silk shirt. As Tommy entered from the courtyard, he stared at Adam, awed at the way the face paints Sutan had applied to Adam transformed his face. Tommy had always thought Adam was extremely attractive, but now he had to add beautiful to the list of ways he could describe Adam's face. They met in front of the steps to the throne and Tommy found he couldn't quite catch his breath as they faced each other and Queen Sasha started the ceremony, speaking to the room in general about commitment and unity and alliances.

Before Tommy knew it, it was time for the rings. Monte handed the one he held to Tommy and Neil handed the one he held to Adam, then together Tommy and Adam slipped them on each other's hands.

Once that was done, Queen Sasha took Tommy's right hand and Adam's left and brought them together, then began the handfasting part of the ceremony by winding a long strip of rich blue embroidered cloth around their wrists and interlocked hands in an intricate pattern, leaving the ends to hang down nearly to the floor.

"Thomas," Queen Sasha asked, "will you honor Adam?"

Tommy stared into Adam's eyes and said with conviction, "I will."

"And Adam, will you honor Thomas?"

"I will," Adam said firmly.

"Will you seek to never break this union?"

"We will," Adam and Tommy said together.

"And so you are bound together," Queen Sasha said, using the two ends dangling down to tie the first knot just below their clasped hands, locking them together.

Straightening again, Queen Sasha asked the next question, "Thomas, will you remain faithful to Adam and to your marriage for as long you both are alive?"

"I will," Tommy vowed.

"Adam, will you remain faithful to Tommy and to your marriage for as long as you both are alive?"

"I will," Adam said, squeezing Tommy's hand inside the cloth.

"And so you are bound again," Queen Sasha said, leaning down to tie another knot beneath the first.

The handfasting continued that way until they had ten knots in the strip of fabric, symbolizing the ten promises they had made each other.

Afterwards, Queen Sasha said, "I now declare your lives bound together, as well as your kingdoms. You shall go forward and rule your new kingdom, Saatus, side by side. May Saatus be blessed with riches and bounty and may your marriage be strong and unwavering."

A cheer went up throughout the great hall and Tommy turned toward the room, assuming it was now time for the various nobility present to come over and offer their congratulations, but Adam surprised him by waving off the minstrels-who had started to play a song. The music died out and Tommy looked up at Adam questioningly.

Adam grinned and squeezed Tommy's hand, then faced the crowd, saying loudly to as to be heard by all of them, "There is one more tradition I would like all of you to witness. I was told this morning of a ritual that is part of Tousma's marriage ceremonies."

Wondering which tradition Adam could be talking about, Tommy's gaze flew to Monte, guessing it had been him who had told Adam about whatever it was, but Monte just shrugged. Seeking out Isaac, Tommy found him standing nearby and the grin on his face was all the confirmation Tommy needed that it had been him.

Looking back over at Adam, Tommy waited to hear which tradition he meant. There were a few it could be. With only three days to get ready, there just hadn't been enough time to prepare an elaborate ceremony and include everything from both kingdoms. When there was overlap, Tommy had opted to go with Vox's traditions since that was where the ceremony was taking place.

Adam motioned Sutan forward, then turned to Tommy and said, "I was told it's traditional in Tousma to receive matching ringed piercings at the top of the left ear in lieu of a ring on the finger. While we followed the Vox tradition of rings for our fingers, I do believe there is nothing saying we can't honor Tousma's tradition and have both. That is, if you agree, husband."

Touched, Tommy bit his bottom lip and nodded his consent. Sutan stepped forward, and while their cloth wrapped hands remained locked together, Sutan prepared Adam's ear. When he lifted the needle to Adam's ear, Tommy reached out and grabbed Adam's other hand in his, holding that one, too.

Sutan pierced Adam's ear, then followed it through with a ring and stepped back.

Tommy swallowed and said, "With this ring, I bind my life to yours."

Adam smiled at him, love shining in his eyes.

Sutan circled around and prepared Tommy's left ear, then shoved the needle through it, right above the sex slave piercing Tommy had not taken out. Tommy sucked in a breath at the flash of pain that settled into a dull throb as Sutan fed the ring through the newly made hole in Tommy's ear, then stepped back.

Squeezing Tommy's hands in his, Adam said, "With this ring, I bind my life to yours."

Everyone cheered again, then started chanting for them to kiss. Tommy laughed, joy swelling within him, as Adam shrugged and reached out with his free hand, pulling Tommy into him for a kiss. What started out as a chaste press of lips turned heated quickly when Tommy impulsively licked at the seam of Adam's lips, tasting not only Adam, but the paint on his lips, too. Adam took the invitation for what it was and deepened the kiss, arm wrapped around Tommy's waist, holding Tommy against him as he slid his tongue into Tommy's mouth. Tommy kissed him back fervently, forgetting completely where they were until the group gathered in the great hall started cheering even louder.

Pulling free of the kiss, Tommy licked his lips and stared dazedly up at Adam. Adam grinned smugly at him and Tommy couldn't help the roll of his eyes or the grin that crept onto his face.

Leaning in, he reached up and rubbed at the corner of Adam's mouth, saying, "Your paint is smeared."

Adam chuckled and returned the favor, saying, "So is yours."

As Adam rubbed, his expression turned from amused to intent and he said quietly, "I cannot wait to get you alone."

Tommy swallowed hard. "Let's make this celebration short."



An hour later, they were finally receiving the last of the gifts and congratulations up at the throne. The chairs could not even be seen any longer for all that was piled on top of and around them, and Tommy was lightheaded with drink, servants having kept their goblets topped off while they talked to guests.

Once the last of the nobility walked off, Tommy took a deep breath and said quietly, "Finally. I thought it would never end."

Adam chuckled and squeezed Tommy's hand inside the binding still wrapped around them. "Just think if we'd had the weeks to prepare we should have had, instead of days. There would have been easily three times as many people here. We'd never be done."

"Remind me to thank the sovereign for rushing the schedule then," Tommy said sincerely.

Adam glanced around, then pulled Tommy over to a shadowy corner. Tommy followed and let Adam press him against the stone wall at his back as Adam closed in for a kiss.

Afterwards, Adam brushed Tommy's fringe out of his face and cupped his cheek. "I love you."

Tommy leaned in and pressed his lips to Adam's before pulling back to say, "I love you, too."

Adam chased Tommy's mouth with his and soon they were kissing heatedly, Adam pressed against Tommy, his free hand low on Tommy's back, Tommy's free hand twisted in the front of Adam's embroidered tunic as music played around them and people danced and laughed.

So lost were they in the kiss that Tommy didn't notice at first when the laughing and talking shifted into chanting aimed in their direction yet again. When he did notice, it took a moment longer to decipher what they were saying, distracted as he was by Adam's tongue in his mouth. When Tommy did finally catch on, he pulled out of the kiss, sucking in a sharp breath, eyes widening.

They chanted, "Con-su-mate, con-su-mate," over and over and suddenly, Tommy realized that in a kingdom where public sex was normal, it stood to reason it would be expected that a couple would consummate their marriage in public, too.

Adam smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. It's not required. We can choose not to."

Tommy licked his lips, heart pounding in his ears as he asked, "Do you want to?"

Adam's eyes widened a little, but then he shook his head, smiling softly at Tommy. "No. Not this time. I want you all to myself tonight."

Tommy's breath caught and his body warmed. He was amazed he could still feel shy around Adam after all they'd been through together, not to mention all they'd done together. "I would like that too."

Turning to the crowd, Adam motioned for them to quiet, then said, "Thank you, all of you, for witnessing our union. We are going to take our leave, now, but the rest of you are welcome to stay and celebrate as long as you like. Goodnight."

Various sounds of disappointment sounded through the crowd that they weren't going to get a show, but it quickly turned into cheering and rice throwing as Adam and Tommy made their way to the corridor that led to the royal wing.

They broke free of the throng of well-wishers and rice-throwers when they reached the entrance to the corridor and broke out into a run, laughing the whole way down the hall and up the stairs of the tower.

Tommy's lungs burned and he felt like a youth again by the time they reached the landing that led to Adam's-correction, their-bedchamber. Stumbling after Adam, who was pulling him along by their joined hands, Tommy huffed out a breath as they reached the door.

"Wait," Tommy said as Adam opened the door. "Weren't we supposed to get these bindings off and leave the knotted cloth in the great hall to hang on the throne wall?"

Adam cursed and looked back the way they'd come, then at Tommy and said, "Tomorrow will be soon enough to hang it. If I don't have you now, I will surely die."

Tommy rolled his eyes, but couldn't stop the pleased smile that curved his lips. "Dramatics will get you everywhere."

Adam winked as he pulled Tommy into the room and closed the door behind him. "I'm counting on it."

Wasting no time, Adam shoved Tommy against the door and pressed himself against him, grinding his hips into Tommy's stomach. "Feel how hard I am for you already?"

Tommy groaned and spread his legs, allowing one of Adam's knees between them. Grinding himself against Adam's thigh, Tommy responded, "As hard as I am for you."

"Gods," Adam said, "Come here."

They kissed urgently, Adam pressing their bound hands to the door, next to Tommy's head. Their free hands roamed over each other, sneaking under clothing to bare skin, until they were both frantic with the need to be naked and together.

Pulling away, Adam stepped back and brought their bound hands between them to work on freeing them. "This needs to come off, now."

Tommy tried to help him, but quickly got annoyed.

"Either I am too drunk or too turned on to figure it out," Tommy mumbled after a minute of trying to work the snuggly wrapped cloth off his wrist and over his hand.

Adam grunted in frustration. "Me too." After one more fruitless tug, he huffed out a laugh. "This is probably why it's supposed to be taken off in the great hall."

Tommy tilted his head a little, looking at Adam. "Should we go back down?"

Adam seemed to consider it, then shook his head and used their bound hands to yank Tommy to him. "No. I want to be inside you now. We can make it work."

Tommy shivered as Adam's free hand roamed over his ass and squeezed, pressing Tommy's hard dick in against him. Tommy hissed out a breath and reached out, pulling at the belt holding Adam's tunic closed. Adam followed suit, and both belts hit the floor, leaving the tunics hanging loosely off them.

Thankfully, since they were ceremonial tunics and not for practical wear, they were open at the sides. Quickly, Adam and Tommy helped get each other's tunics over their heads. They tossed them on the nearby table, then went to work on each of their undergarments. Before long, those fell to the floor, leaving them both in nothing but silk undershirts, their hard dicks jutting out from underneath obscenely.

Tommy studied Adam's shirt. "How do we get these off?"

Adam reached up and grabbed a fistful of the front of Tommy's. Pausing, he asked, "Do you have any particular attachment to this?"

Getting what Adam was going to do, Tommy licked his lips, blood heating, and said huskily, "Not a one."

"Good," Adam said, then yanked.

Tommy sucked in a sharp breath, beyond aroused as Adam literally ripped it from his body. He allowed Adam a moment to stare at him before he reached up and grabbed Adam's undershirt.

"Any attachment?" Tommy asked, echoing Adam's question.

"Not a one," Adam said, repeating Tommy's words back to him.

"Good," Tommy said, then yanked.

"That was… Come here," Adam said.

Tommy stepped in close and Adam grabbed him by the back of his head, smashing their mouths together. The kiss was violent, all tongue and teeth, bodies grinding together as they stumbled toward the bed.

Tommy ran into it first and lost his balance, falling backwards on it. The room spun for a moment and he giggled. "Definitely too much drink."

Adam climbed on the bed after Tommy, straddling his thighs as he reached down for Tommy's erection, fisting it. "Not too much, no."

Tommy moaned, pressing his head back into the mattress as Adam's hand slid up and down his dick.

"Want me inside you?"

"Yes," Tommy hissed. "So much."

Together they scooted up the bed clumsily, their bound hands making everything awkward, but at the same time, twice as hot. While Adam reached for the oil on his nightstand, Tommy pulled his knees up to his chest.

"Here," Adam said gruffly, pressing the bottle of oil into Tommy's free hand.

Tommy held it while Adam pulled the stopper out, then Tommy tipped it over himself, sucking his stomach in so that the oil pooled in his navel.

Adam rubbed his fingers through it before bringing them to Tommy's ass, probing and then sinking in, two on the first go.

Tommy groaned, eyes fluttering shut, but Adam said, "No. Leave them open. Want to see you."

Tommy forced his eyes open and stared up at Adam, breath caught in his throat at the heat and love in Adam's eyes.

When Adam went to add another finger, Tommy shook his head. "I'm ready. Now. Please. Want you inside me now."

Adam hesitated before nodding and swiping up more oil to rub over his dick. Tommy reached out blindly and set the oil on Adam's nightstand just as Adam entered him. Tommy gasped at the burn, but it was a good burn and soon he was wrapping his legs around Adam's waist, the fingers of his free hand digging into Adam's shoulder as he rocked up into Adam's thrusts.

"So good for me," Adam breathed against Tommy's neck, thrusting in fast and hard. "So tight, so hot."

Tommy grunted and tried to get his legs higher, wanting Adam deeper. Adam took the hint and hooked one of Tommy's legs over his arm, but the other just wouldn't work with their bound hands complicating things, so Tommy left that leg wrapped around Adam's back.

That got Adam deeper and Tommy moaned out, "Yes."

Adam leaned over him, trying to capture Tommy's mouth in a kiss, but ever time he put his weight on their joined hands, the material of the cloth binding them together slid against the silk sheets on Adam's bed and Adam lost his leverage. Finally, he made a sound of frustration and let down Tommy's leg.

Sitting back, he pulled out of Tommy completely and ordered gruffly, "Kneel up."

Wondering what Adam's plan was, Tommy scrambled up to his knees, only to have Adam manhandle him around until his back was to Adam's chest, Tommy's legs spread on either side of Adam's, Tommy's bound hand crossing the front of his body, their joined hands resting on Tommy's hip as Adam guided himself back into Tommy from behind.

Tommy sank back until he was sitting on Adam's dick, even deeper than he had been before. "Oh… That's…" Tommy said, trailing off as his head dropped back to Adam's shoulder.

"Good," Adam asked breathlessly against Tommy's ear.

"Amazing," Tommy replied, rotating his hips a little to feel Adam move inside him.

"Mmm," Adam said, nipping at Tommy's ear. "Think I found a new favorite position for you. Fuck yourself on me."

Tommy moaned at the order, dick jumping in the air in front of him. He pulled his head up from Adam's shoulder so he could lift partway off Adam's cock, then sank back down. He did it again and again, wave after wave of pleasure crashing through his body as Adam's dick rubbed against that spot inside him that always drove him crazy.

"That's it, love," Adam said on a groan. "Just like that."

While Tommy fucked himself on Adam, Adam pressed their bound hands into Tommy's stomach, keeping his back flush to Adam's chest. His other hand reached up and pinched Tommy's nipples in turn, the jolt of pleasure-pain going straight to Tommy's aching cock.

Tommy moaned and sped up a little, but Adam pinched hard and said, "No, not yet. Keep it slow."

Tommy whimpered. "Please."

"No," Adam said firmly. "Want to make it last."

Tommy moaned pitifully, but slowed down, even as his body screamed for more, dick leaking, urgency building in the pit of his stomach until he had to reach down with his free hand and dig his fingers into Adam's forearm.

Adam pushed his hand up past Tommy's chest, over the side of his neck and around to the back of his head. He continued up until his hand was at the top of Tommy's head, then he fisted the fringe there and pulled back, making Tommy's neck arch and his rhythm falter.

Once Tommy settled into the new position, Adam licked a line up the side of Tommy's exposed neck and asked against his ear, "You want to speed up, don't you? Make yourself come on my dick right now?"

"Yes," Tommy hissed.

"But you won't," Adam said, hand slipping away from Tommy's hair and around to his throat, the web between thumb and forefinger framing Tommy's chin.

"No," Tommy responded.

"Why?" Adam asked, squeezing Tommy's neck slightly, just enough to make Tommy gasp and his dick jump.

"Because you told me not to," Tommy said, swallowing hard against the hand at his throat. Tension coiled hot and tight in his gut as a fresh wave of arousal slammed through him.

"And?" Adam asked.

Tommy faltered, not sure what Adam wanted to hear, but then Adam's teeth closed over the bottom ball holding Tommy's sex slave piercing in his ear and tugged lightly.

"Because I'm yours," Tommy blurted. "My mind, my body, my everything. I'm yours."

"Gods," Adam said, voice rough. He buried his face in Tommy's neck, hand still at Tommy's neck, forcing Tommy to still for a moment.

Tommy felt Adam's hot breath against his skin, felt him shudder against him, and knew Adam was fighting off his orgasm, all because of Tommy's admission. The knowledge was nearly Tommy's undoing and he clenched around Adam reflexively.

Adam gasped. "Hold still."

Tommy tried, eyes squeezed shut, breathing labored, but he was so damn close it was nearly impossible. Finally, Adam lifted his head and dropped his hand from Tommy's neck to his waist.

"Now."

Tommy groaned in relief and started riding Adam's cock fast and hard. Adam's hips snapped up to meet Tommy's downward thrust, sinking so deep inside that Tommy cried out, body starting to shake with the overload of pleasure.

And then Adam wrapped his hand around Tommy's dick and said against his ear, "Come for me," and Tommy was gone, body convulsing as his balls drew up. He came all over his chest and arm and Adam's hand.

Adam followed him a few thrusts later, and Tommy sank back against him, boneless, as Adam froze, groaning out his pleasure and flooding Tommy's insides.

Afterwards, they sank down to the bed together. With Adam laying half on top of him, Tommy wiggled around until he was on his back, one of Adam's knees wedged between Tommy's legs, their bound hands lying on Tommy's stomach. Tommy lay staring at nothing in particular as he enjoyed the afterglow.

After a time, Adam leaned in and kissed the side of Tommy's neck, causing him to shiver, then licked along it to his ear. He sucked the lobe and Tommy's piercings into his mouth, then released them and licked along the outer shell until he encountered Tommy's sex slave piercing. Tommy felt him flick it with his tongue, and then he asked the question Tommy had been waiting for him to ask for the last two and a half weeks, although with everything that had been going on and the fact that as a result they hadn't had much more energy at night than to fall in bed exhausted together, it wasn't surprising Adam hadn't mentioned it yet.

"Why haven't you taken this out?" Adam asked, propping himself up on his arm so he was staring down at Tommy.

Tommy looked over at Adam and asked, "Do you want me to?"

"I didn't say that," Adam replied. "Now, answer the question."

Tommy really shouldn't be turned on by an order to share his thoughts, especially so soon after one of the best orgasms he'd ever had, but he found he was, even though he was far from being able to get hard yet.

"Because I'm still yours," Tommy said simply.

"But you're also a king," Adam said.

Tommy shrugged. "So? Slavery's been abolished. The piercing should carry no more stigma within the kingdom. It only means something to you and I now, something beyond our marriage promises and the rings on our fingers and in our ears. It's a sign of the first commitment we made to each other, and I don't want to get rid of that."

The love shining in Adam's eyes at Tommy's answer filled Tommy up to bursting.

"You are truly amazing," Adam said, awe in his voice.

Tommy smiled and looked down at Adam's chin, the intensity in Adam's eyes a little too much just then. "Not really, no."

Adam reached up and tugged on Tommy's hair until Tommy met his eyes again. "You are." Glancing up at Tommy's fringe, Adam asked, "What about this? As good as you looked with long hair when we met, I find I rather like you like this and don't look forward to it growing back out."

Tommy reached up and tucked a strand of long dark hair behind Adam's ear that had worked its way free of the leather thong at the back of Adam's neck.

Thinking through what Adam had asked, Tommy said, "I could leave my hair like this and just tell the people it's a symbol to remind them that slavery no longer has any meaning in our kingdom. I could use the same excuse for why I'm not getting rid of the slave piercing."

Adam grinned. "I like that."

"Then it's settled," Tommy said. "As far as our kingdom is concerned, I will be bucking tradition."

The grin that spread across Adam's face was nothing short of breathtaking.

"What?" Tommy asked, replaying his words in his head and trying to figure out what could have caused that kind of reaction.

"Our kingdom," Adam replied, his bound hand squeezing Tommy's. "You said, our kingdom. "

Tommy smiled in return. "I did, didn't I?"

Adam nodded. "Did you ever think we'd get here?"

Tommy swallowed the sudden lump in his throat. "Until I admitted the truth to you and you forgave me for my lies, I never even dared to hope there was a 'here' to get to."

Adam leaned down and brushed his lips over Tommy's. Pulling back, he asked, "And now?"

"And now there's nowhere else I'd rather be. Nowhere else I can imagine being," Tommy said.

Adam brought Tommy's bound hand up to his mouth and kissed a sliver of skin visible between strips of cloth. "Me either."

Tommy grinned. Glancing at their hands, he commented, "We should probably call someone in here to unbind this."

Adam laid down on his side, his head on Tommy's pillow, their cheeks pressed together, and brought their intertwined hands to rest on Tommy's chest, the trail of blue knots traveling down to Tommy's waist before dropping off to the side and sprawling over the sheets.

"No. Leave it. I rather enjoy having this extra connection to you just now. Who knows? Maybe it will even start a new tradition when the kingdom-our kingdom-realizes why the cloth is not hanging from the wall behind the throne yet."

Tommy stared at their hands and realized he liked the extra connection also.

Something that had been weighing on Tommy's thoughts from time to time over the last couple of weeks came to mind then, and with the firelight crackling and the quiet of the night pressing in around them, Tommy asked just above a whisper, "Adam?"

"Hmm?" Adam responded, sounding close to sleep.

Tommy cleared his throat. "Would you come with me to my father's grave?"

With everything that had been happening since Adam got injured in battle and took over Vox-not to mention the sovereign's arrival and the rushed marriage ceremony-there had been no time to even consider traveling to Tousma, let alone going to visit his father's grave. Monte had said it was located in the woods just outside Lootus. They had managed to spirit his body away from the battlefield before Vox's knights burned the rest of the bodies, and had made a pyre a safe distance away, then gathered the ashes and took them back to Lootus, where they buried him in secret before Vox's army arrived to take Tousma over.

Adam lifted his head, sounding a lot more awake than he had a moment ago when he spoke. "I would be honored. Why don't we take tomorrow to rest and then we can head out? We should spend some time at Lootus anyway. I've never been to Tousma, and I'm sure you're anxious to see your homeland again, and your people. Neil is more than capable of seeing to Vox in our absence."

Tommy swallowed the lump in his throat, a wave of homesickness hitting him hard and fast, followed by a rush of love for the man who was now his husband. "I would like that, yes." He paused, then added, "Thank you."

"For what?" Adam asked, bemused.

Tommy grinned. "For making me happier than I ever thought possible."

Adam smiled in return. "You know, we are going to sicken everyone around us with how disgustingly happy we are together. "

Tommy chuckled. "I can think of worse things to be sickened by."

Adam leaned in and licked along the line of Tommy's lips. When Tommy opened for him, Adam whispered into his mouth, "Me too, love. Me too," before slipping his tongue in to meet Tommy's.

-The End