A Regelence Christmas Read online

  A Regelence Christmas

  JL Langley

  He shut the door, cutting off a loud wail, and debated with himself for the hundredth time in the last hour. The Christmas presents weren’t going to buy themselves, yet he couldn’t quite make his hand ungrip the doorknob. I’m a coward. The manly thing to do would be to ignore the possibility of utter destruction inside and go— he winced at a particularly loud crash sounding from behind the door.

  “Raleigh!” Steven stuck his head out of the lift, nearly knocking off his top hat. “Let’s go. They’ll be fine.”

  “They are going to destroy the entire castle.” And possibly one another. Why had he wanted more than two? Oh yes, he’d wanted Rexley and Payton to have more playmates. Galaxy, had he called that one wrong. Instead he’d given Rexley more self-inflicted responsibility and Payton more partners in crime. Raleigh huddled deeper into his great coat wondering if he should go back in for a scarf.

  “Then let them. We’ll have another one built. Let’s go.” The last word was slightly whiny, then Steven disappeared back inside the lift.

  Raleigh let go of the doorknob and prayed to whatever deity would listen. “Please just don’t let the kill each other.” Pains in the arses they may be, but he was rather attached to them.

  A muffled feminine screech rent the air, followed by Rexley’s exasperated admonishment of “Muffin…”

  “And don’t let them drive poor Rexley insane.” As Raleigh started down the steps toward the lift, the front door flew open behind him.

  “Have fun shopping, Cony.” Tarren ran past, right down the front steps and into the snow, with no coat, no less.

  Raleigh opened his mouth to hail his youngest but was jostled out of the way.

  “Oh! I say, sorry, Cony.” Colton stopped, steading Raleigh with a hand on his shoulder. He was nearly as tall as Raleigh now. “Thought you and Father had already left.”

  “Not yet. What are you—”

  “Got to go Cony, have fun shopping.” Colton bolted down the steps out into the snow, also without a coat, after his younger brother. “You are a dead man, Tarren.”

  Steven stuck his head out of the lift again, this time he did knock his hat off. He looked to the left towards the boys, now wrestling in the snow, and shook his head. He chuckled turning his gaze back to Raleigh. “They’ll be fine. Rexley, Christy and Thomas can handle it until Nate and Aiden arrive.”

  “But—”

  “Pick up my hat, will you?” Steven’s dark head disappeared out of view once more.

  Raleigh groaned and stooped down to grab his spouse’s hat. He climbed into the lift and handed it to Steven as he sat down next to him.

  “Close lift door and continue to our destination.” Steven said to the lift computer, before patting Raleigh’s thigh. Grabbing him by the chin Steven pulled him close and kissed his frown.

  Raleigh tried to relax but—

  Steven let out a long suffering sigh. “And send a message to Jeffers to make certain someone brings Tarren and Colton in out of the cold before they get frostbite.”

  “Yes, your Majesty.” The lift door closed and it began moving…in the wrong direction.

  Steven slid closer, his leg nestling up against Raleigh’s as he tossed his top hat on the bench opposite them. His hand slid up Raleigh’s thigh, fumbling with his coat and his hot breath teased Raleigh’s ear. “Bloody hell, Raleigh. How many layers of clothes do you have on?”

  “We’re going the wrong way. Classige is north of us, not south. I thought we were going shopping.”

  Steven finally managed to get his hand under Raleigh’s coat. “We are, but we’re making a stop first.”

  “Where—”

  Steven pulled at the placket of Raleigh’s trousers, unhooking it, as his tongue swept into Raleigh’s ear.

  Willing his errant prick to stop getting hard, Raleigh closed his eyes. Galaxy, he hated not being in control of everything. He should have never allowed Steven to plan this outing. There was no time to fool around. “Steven, if we’re going to get all the…” A warm hand pushed his small clothes out of the way and gripped his cock, squeezing it into a full blown erection. Goose bumps rose up on his skin from the wicked tongue teasing him.

  Steven licked along the shell of his ear before nipping the lobe. “Mmm.. That’s my Cony, body is willing, but your mind is still ticking away at what all we have to accomplish.” His voice was low and seductive and his hot breath fanned across where his tongue had been seconds ago, making it cool.

  Raleigh shivered, trying to fight his body’s reaction. They had several presents to—

  Steven’s hand slid up his cock and back down as his other hand tugged at Raleigh’s cravat.

  Rallying one last effort, Raleigh put his hand over his consort’s, trying to stop the continuous caress on his prick. “We’ve got so much to—”

  The cravat came loose and Steven sank his teeth into Raleigh’s neck.

  He was a goner. Resisting Steven had never been one of his strong points. He was smart enough to know when he was beat. Thrusting up into Steven’s hand, he reached for Steven’s coat. The man had entirely too many clothes on. Where the hell is my dagger? He’d cut the damned things off.

  Steven chuckled and kissed down his neck. When he got as far as Raleigh’s shirt would allow him to reach bare skin, he growled.

  “I still say we don’t have time for this.” Of course, he no longer cared. He released Steven long enough to get his great coat and waist coat off.

  Steven didn’t let go of his cock. He continued to stroke, at a firm and steady pace, sure to drive Raleigh out of his mind.

  As soon as Raleigh’s outer wear was disposed of, he went back to his consort’s coat, trying to get it out of his way. It was still a little chilly in the lift making his nipples peek and the hair raise on his arms, but Steven was warming him up fast.

  His fingers finally managed work loose one of the buttons of the soft brocade waistcoat. “And you accuse me of wearing too much.” Oh yes, nice soft cotton and— if he pushed his hand inside—skin. He never got tired of running his hands over Steven’s wide shoulders and hairy, sculpted chest.

  Steven merely grunted and pulled Raleigh into his lap.

  Having been tugged by the prick, Raleigh had no choice but to stop fumbling with Steven’s clothing and straddle his thighs. Galaxy, he loved it when Steven was beyond speech. Those little grunts and groans were like music to Raleigh’s ears. He lowered his head, capturing Steven’s lips as Steven jerked his lawn shirt down his arms.

  Buttons flew all over the lift, pinging off the walls. Raleigh shut out the part of his brain that asked what he was going to wear while they were out shopping later.

  Steven sighed into his mouth and ripped his own shirt open. He pulled Raleigh close, mashing their skin together.

  Mmm, he was no longer cold. The hair on Steven’s chest tickled, making his nipples even harder. He moved his hips a little reminding Steven his cock was out and quite ready to play with.

  “Aahh.” Steven took over the kiss, thrusting his tongue inside Raleigh’s mouth. He fed from Raleigh’s mouth, tracing his teeth and nipping at his lips. Grabbing Raleigh’s cock in one hand and his arse in the other, Steven leaned back studying the skin he’d revealed before pulling Raleigh closer and kissing his neck. “So bloody beautiful, Raleigh.”

  Raleigh let his head fall back, pushing his hips up. The firm tug on his cock wrung a moan from him. Bloody hell, it had been days since they’d had time to themselves without interruptions. The last few days had been filled with Christmas planning. At night they’d fallen into bed exhausted.

  “We’re here.” Steven mumbled against Raleigh’s throat.

  What? Raleigh ra
ised his head. The lift had stopped. “Where are we?” He’d thought they were merely going to indulge themselves on the way to town.

  Steven nipped his jaw, then let go of his prick. “You’ll see. Put your coat on and gather you clothes.” He tapped Raleigh’s hip. “Come on.”

  “I can’t get out of the lift in nothing but a coat and my trousers.” Raleigh slid off Steven’s lap, tucked himself back in his trousers and buttoned them up. He reached for his shirt, but Steven leaned forward and caught his wrist.

  “Leave it, just get your coat. We’re not going far and there is no one else around. I’ve made certain there’d be a fire going inside.”

  Raleigh frowned, his erection dwindling. He really did not want to get out of the vehicle nearly naked. Forget the scandal, what if someone attacked them or—

  “Raleigh.” Steven pulled his own coat closed and grabbed Raleigh’s chin, forcing him to look at him. “Trust me.”

  He did trust Steven, more than anyone in the galaxy, but it was his job to protect Steven. If someone— He reached down toward his boot, for the knife hidden there.

  Steven chuckled. “We’re not going to be attacked. Let’s go.”

  Raleigh groaned. “You know me too well.” He stood, deciding to trust his spouse and put his coat on and buttoned it up while Steven gathered the rest of his clothing. Besides, he was nearly as lethal without a weapon. “Steven where are we?”

  “You’ll see.” Steven looked him over with a fond smile on his face. “Open lift and extend steps.”

  The door opened.

  Silence was the first thing Raleigh noticed. There was no electrical hum, no children running amuck. It felt like they were alone in the world. A feeling of peace washed over him, followed quickly by caution.

  The second thing he noticed was the glare of moonlight coming off the snow. It was beautiful, blue and silvery. Little crystals of ice shimmered on the ground below. The snow was absent of any foot prints. Where are we? It was like a winter wonderland with trees and— Raleigh sniffed. Is that chimney smoke?

  Steven climbed down the lift steps and out into the snow, before Raleigh could insist he go first.

  Raleigh hurried after him, “Stev—” He stopped dead in his tracks.

  Steven stood just outside the lift, Raleigh’s clothes gathered in his arms, smiling and staring at something to their right. His silhouette was set off by a background of snow dusted trees. The moonlight highlighted the silver at his temples. Whatever he was staring at pleased him.

  Raleigh turned his head. “Oh.” It was a winter wonderland. Raleigh took a step forward, his boots crunching on the snow. They were on the very south side of their property, approximately three miles from the castle.

  The log hunting cabin sat in a clearing of tall pine trees. A billow of dark smoke rose from the stone chimney. Raleigh felt something in his chest tighten. His knees felt weak. He hadn’t been here in some time. It looked exactly the same as it had the night of their nuptials.

  “Come on, Cony. There’s a fire inside and a warm bed.” The snow crunched as Steven made his way to the cabin.

  Raleigh smiled. The memories came back to him and his prick hardened again almost immediately. This was the first place he and Steven had made love. He’d stormed out of the castle on his wedding night after the “plug tradition” daring anyone to follow him. No one had. No one but Steven that is. Steven had knocked on the door, not fifteen minutes after Raleigh had arrived at the cabin, cursing the cold. They’d warmed one another up while waiting for the fire to heat the one room cabin.

  There was no electricity in the small lodge, it was—in a word—primitive with a water closet and small shower as it’s only modern conveniences. But then that had been part of the charm, Raleigh supposed. Just the two of them out in the middle of the woods. It had been—he decided—the perfect start to a wonderful marriage.

  Jeffers had known were they were—he knows everything that happens on the grounds—but no one had bothered them until morning, when Thomas had brought them breakfast. They’d ended up staying in the cabin for four whole days.

  “Raleigh. Come on.” Steven stood in the open doorway of the hunting lodge, grinning at him. Apparently, Raleigh wasn’t the only one remembering their nuptial night.

  The grin ratcheted up Raleigh’s arousal a notch. He hurried to the cabin, shutting himself and Steven inside.

  He shrugged out of his coat, looking around. Steven had obviously sent someone to clean the place up and lay a fire. The inside was just as he remembered.

  It was rustic, yet cozy. A large bed covered in navy flannel sheets turned down over heavy dark green blankets set adjacent to the large natural stone fireplace. The stone was native to Regelence, charcoal, brown and red lanite stone with glittering glass like veins. The firelight shone of the stone, making it shimmer. Fire from the fireplace was the only light in the room, just as it had been that first night.

  Raleigh shivered remembering the way the firelight had played across Steven’s bare skin. There was a fireplace across from their bed in the castle, but something about that first time. Raleigh went up behind Steven as he lay Raleigh’s clothes out on a chair next to the water closet door.

  Raleigh ran his hands over the wide back, then tugged the coat off Steven’s shoulders.

  After he removed Steven’s coat, he stepped close, making sure their bodies touched. He rubbed his hard cock against Steven’s lower back as he reached around and began parting Steven’s shirt.

  Steven laid his head back against Raleigh’ chest and turned his head sideways to kiss Raleigh’s neck. Groaning low in his throat, he allowed Raleigh to take off his waistcoat and shirt before he turned in Raleigh’s arms. He kissed Raleigh breathless, backing him toward the bed.

  Moaning into his spouse’s mouth, Raleigh let himself be swept away and led to the bed. There was no place he’d rather be. When his legs hit the back of the bed, he broke the kiss and sat, reaching for Steven’s trousers.

  Steven’s thick hard prick strained at the placket of his black pants, making Raleigh’s mouth water. He loved the taste of Steven. Loved the soft tip of Steven’s cock tracing his lips. He unhooked Steven’s pants, freeing his cock.

  Steven groaned and gripped the hard flesh, holding it towards Raleigh’s mouth. “Suck me.”

  Raleigh groaned, his cock throbbing. He licked up his husband’s shaft and then back down before shoving the trousers lower. Tracing the prominent vein, he laved his way to the balls. He pressed his face forward feeling the soft sacks caress the bridge of his nose, before making his way back up and engulfing Steven’s cock.

  The familiar taste and feel exploded in his mouth, jolting his senses. He lost himself in the task of sucking. He knew exactly how to drive Steven crazy and set about doing so, using his spit slick hand to follow his mouth. In no time, Steven was pushing him back.

  “Stop. Get your boots and trousers off.” Steven stepped back and began freeing himself from the rest of his clothing.

  Raleigh watched the play of muscles rippling across his abdomen for a second before turning to his own garments. When he was naked, he pulled the dagger out of his boot and lay it on the nightstand, then lay back on the bed. Without Steven so near, the warn air played over his bare skin making the hair on his legs stand up. It was exhilarating and exciting.

  Steven climbed onto the mattress joining him.

  “Did you bring lube?”

  The grin Steven gave him was downright wicked. He lay down beside Raleigh and turned toward the nightstand, giving Raleigh a view of a firm bitable arse.

  As Steven retrieved the lube, Raleigh gave into temptation, scooted down and sank his teeth in to one round globe.

  Steven jerked forward. “Bloody hell.” He laughed and turned over. Tossing the bottle of lube onto the pillow, he grabbed Raleigh and rolled him onto his back. He straddled Raleigh, his fingers digging in, tickling Raleigh’s ribs.

  They ended up rolling around the big bed, laughing and wr
estling. Raleigh finally managed to get on top. He stared down into sherry colored smiling eyes. Steven was the one and only person Raleigh could play with and cut loose. It was refreshing and relaxing to be able to do so. He always looked forward to his time alone with his husband.

  They stayed there for several seconds just staring into the others eyes. The laughter faded.

  “I love you.” Steven reached for him.

  “And I you.” He bent down, offering his lips to his king.

  Steven seized his mouth, his tongue pushing inside and tracing the depths of Raleigh’s. All the while his hands roamed over Raleigh’s back, hips and arse. “Get the lube, Raleigh.”

  He retrieved the bottle from the half underneath a pillow where it had ended up while they tussled on the bed. Before he could offer it to Steven, he found himself on his back, with Steven on his knees between Raleigh’s spread thighs.

  “Mmm…” Steven bent forward and licked a line down Raleigh’s belly then captured his cock in his mouth. He hummed his pleasure, sending vibrations along Raleigh’s prick.

  It tickled and felt good at the same time. It made Raleigh’s balls draw tighter. He lifted his hips, pushing himself further into his spouse’s hot mouth. “Oh galaxy, Steven.”

  He was barely aware of Steven taking the lube from his hand or him opening the bottle, but the warm slick finger probing at his hole gained his undivided attention. It dragged a moan from his throat and a wiggle from his hips.

  The finger slipped in and out as Steven swallowed his cock. A tingle started at the base of Raleigh’s spine and radiated upward. He pushed down, trying to make Steven go deeper. He wanted Steven inside of him, not just a finger. “Steven, please.”

  Another finger joined the first, working in and out, stretching him. The sting was wonderful, reminding him of that first night and how the feeling had actually frightened him. He’d been weary of the pain. Galaxy, he’d come along way from that naive seventeen year old he used to be…they both had.

  When Steven added a third finger and let Raleigh’s cock slip from his mouth, Raleigh was damned near babbling incoherently. Steven was the only man in the entire universe who could make him beg…for anything.