🛡️ ERIC 🛡️

After dinner, we went back to our rooms and I asked Hannah to prepare for a bath.

After Hannah and the other maid were done preparing my tub, I started to bathe. Jean knocked as I was bathing so I shouted that he could come in. I heard the door to my room opened and closed.

In my bathrobe, I went out after I finished bathing and smiled for Jean. He asked if he could share my room with me.

Father asked him if he could share his room with the prince from Escotto, who'll arrive later tonight or early tomorrow. Turns out he rather wishes to share my room with me and father only approves if I liked Jean's idea. He persuaded me that he is comfortable with me and why not because he liked me.

In my mind, I was thinking that sharing with him was a very bad idea. I could be firm with my feelings of not liking him. However, I liked his company more than anyone here in the palace anyway. Worse is he could have been closer to his new roommate if I won't allow us to be roommates.

I could not bear that he can be all clingy to his new roommate and leave me all alone. So I told him he could share this room with me.

He informed father while father asked to vacate Jean's room immediately so it could be cleaned.

After Jean managed to move his stuff into his new room, he also bathed and changed into his sleepwear.

He walked out of the bathroom wearing a pair of comfy shorts which covers almost only half his bulky thighs and a light, short sleeved shirt. I looked at him sternly.

"This is your sleepwear?" I asked with an irritated tone.

"Is there any problem with this?"

I don't like him to imply that being uncomfortable with his clothes could mean that I liked him. "Nothing. It just looks too comfortable."

I headed to the bed and sat at the edge. I rolled my eyes and weaved my hands together.

"You're sleeping already?" he asked.

"Why not?" I am attempting to sound disinterested.

"Nothing. Anyway, can I borrow a book?"

"You can borrow anything, be at home." I turned and smiled abruptly, then looked back away from him.

"Anything?" He is clearly annoying me.

I rolled my eyes then nodded. I adjusted myself and laid to the far side of the bed looking away from him. I put a pillow on my head and clutched it with my arm.

He looked sexy and I want him to do anything that involves me, except reading in here, to stare at his sexy looking body, so close to being naked. He may lay down here and hold hands with me and talk or whatever.

Or even kiss.

I'm just pissed.

Almost an hour passed away with me thinking about him doing anything with me in his sexy clothes. It is difficult to move but I did not budge and breathed slowly to seem like I'm sleeping already.

Lights from the receiving room dimmed, almost all lights are off. I heard the wooden floor creaking, footsteps heading towards the bed. The mattress moved with his weight. I tried to close my eyes but as soon as I did, his face and body wearing those shorts and shirt is what I saw. I gave up.

With my eyes wide open, I turned to face him. With the moon giving enough light to clearly see everything, I looked into his calm face, melting myself into realization that those eyes are so lovely I would like to delve into them forever. He breathed slowly but became more intense. He bit his upper lip to wet them which gave me desire to taste it and be carried away. I liked to reach for his hands, which touched mine carefully when he do, maybe he thought that mine were so fragile they might break into his grip.

His hands when touching mine feels more cozy than the linens and pillows here, so soft and smooth designed for utmost comfort. The bed is big and spacious, another two could still sleep here comfortably but I could feel that it is much wider because of the gap that we have. I want to touch just any part of his body with any part of mine.

He was also examining me, while I scattered my sight all over him. My desire burned like how the cherry firewood at the hearth.

I could not take it anymore. My mind clouded with anything but him, his gaze, his body. I need to feel anything in him to make me comfortable. So I moved closer, so close but still not touching any part in him. I moved my face closest, our noses only a centimeter away from each other.

His face looks so amazed but confused about my actions.

"What are you trying to do, just now?" he asked gently.

I don't know what to say but admitted it. "I don't know anymore."

I tried again to think. Nothing. I moved my face left to right. I was more than satisfied with how his nose lightly rubbed against mine.

He touched my cheeks with his hand. I held his other hand.

"Continue doing all these and I'll kiss you," he warned me softly.

I would want to feel that, to finally savor his mouth and sleep with him kissing me. But I couldn't. It felt wrong even if just our nose touched felt so right.

I finally decided to enjoy his company. "Please be a gentleman and don't do that. I am just trying to be comfortable."

He smiled.

He moved my head down to his chest carefully. His arm wrapped around my head while the other hand held my hand. This was comfortable. We dozed off like that.

🌺 🌺 🌺

The next night was different. I requested from the maids for more pillows. I used some as barrier in the middle of the bed and some wherever I feel like putting them. Whenever I felt to hold him or to cuddle him, I would hold those pillows and fought in my head the urge to touch him up to dozing off.

🌺 🌺 🌺

The night after I had more pillows in bed, I was shocked as we get into our room to prepare to sleep.

“And where are the pillows?”

I know they are there before dinner. I was sure.

“There.” He pointed at the pillows on our headboard.

“You know they aren’t what I am talking about. Where are the other pillows?”

“Oh,” He pretended like he just thought of it. “those pillows. I asked them all removed, I told Hannah I am not comfortable with them all here. Why?”

“Its just that I need them.”

“Why? The first time I slept here, you didn’t need all those.”

“I need them now. I want them back.”

“I’m thinking you need them because you like it when we you were cuddled with me. It is so uncomfortable to sleep beside me now because of that.”

“That isn’t true!”

Well he was right. But I need them to help me.

“Prove it. I dare you to don’t add the extra pillows tonight.”

He could not fool me now, I know he was teasing or trying me.

“Fine. I won’t.”

“Good.”

Victorious, he changed to his usual boxers and almost see-through sleeveless shirt. His arms flexed while walking. What a sight! I massaged my head for a bit while changing to my pyjamas.

While laid down, all lights out now except for one oil lamp in the dressing room. I was trying to sleep for what feels like an eternity. Based from the wall clock, it was nowhere near midnight.

Jean on his side faced against me, his thigh muscles all defined with the shadows from the lone light we had. His figured curved down his waist then widens again up to his mighty shoulders.

I turned around attempting not to think of him, but he still occupied my head. I have to be strong! I was the crown prince and I needed to fight all the urge to be near him or touch him or be cuddled to him. All my other problems flashed in my mind, endlessly.

Morning came and I felt the lack of sleep. I was mad at Jean. His persistent self did not win against me, who tried my best to ignore him all day because he teased me last night.

🌺 🌺 🌺

After work in the afternoon while we headed back into our room, Jean was only silent while following me. The tapping of our shoes against the granite floors was the only sound echoing through the corridors of the right wing of the palace.

When we went in the room he spoke.

“Why are you ignoring me?” His voice a bit louder than his usual voice.

Well, I made it all day so I ignored him still.

“Please talk!”

I pretended like I was mute.

“You won’t? Okay, I’ll move out tonight. Will have to share chambers with anyone but you.”

As he turned, I held him so he won’t escape out.

“I was mad,” I spoke.

“Why are you mad?”

“The pillows. I need them.”

“Oh, that is why you ignored me the whole day?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, I will request them all in here again.”

So that night, we slept with pillows again between us on the bed.

Author's notes:
I dedicate this chapter to the
Dreamland Community-
The home for us dreamers!
I'll tag you guys when this is ready.