Samantha MacLeod is back today as the second part of a double treat (her excerpt from Claiming Thor's Hammer is HERE). Today's sexy snippet is from her new fantasy story The Night Watch, which will be released on November 28th.
When Prince Liam returns to his kingdom after five years away, there's only one person he wants desperately to see: Cerdec, his closest friend since childhood. But Cerdec is now a knight sworn to protect the kingdom, and Liam fears he is the only one who remembers their stolen moments together.
Newly-sworn knight Cerdec has had no shortage of lovers since Liam left, but he's never felt as close to them as he once felt to the prince. Now that Liam has returned, Cerdec is prepared to serve as his personal guard, even if the position torments his with longing he's terrified to voice.
Even if it means he must welcome and protect the bride Liam's father has selected.
Liam paused at the intersection. "If you would be so kind," he said in a level, measured voice. "Please show me to my room."
He did not turn to meet Cerdec's eyes. In the torchlight, Liam looked pale and exhausted. He looked, Cerdec realized, like he could really use a guard.
"Of course," Cerdec said. "You're almost there."
Liam trailed him down the corridor, his steps seeming to slow as they approached the wing reserved for the royal family. They'd spent years renovating; Cerdec had examined the plans along with his father, discussing their defensibility, their tactical implications. And Cerdec had tried, desperately tried, not to think of Liam sleeping there. Of the way his beautiful body would move through those empty rooms.
"This is it," said Cerdec. "It's all new. I... I hope you like it."
Cerdec stepped back, wanting Liam to be the one to open the doors to his new quarters. Liam hesitated at the entrance, running his fingers over the smoothly polished wood.
"Eagles," he muttered, tracing the delicate carving on the door.
"I hope they're still your favorite," Cerdec said. The eagles had been his idea, suggested very discreetly through his father.
Liam closed his eyes and breathed deeply through his nostrils. Cerdec was struck with the sudden, bizarre impression that he was trying not to cry. Then the moment passed and Liam pushed open the doors.
The torches had burned low, bathing the room in soft golden flickers. Liam shook his head as he entered, his fingers lingering on the massive wooden desk. "It's enormous," he said.
"This is just the antechamber," Cerdec said. "Beyond is the, uh, the bedchamber."
"All this for one person," Liam whispered.
Cerdec fell silent. He slept in a bunk in the barracks, in a room he shared with seven other knights. Liam turned toward the bedchamber, but hesitated on the threshold. His shoulders hunched, as if he were in pain, and Cerdec moved toward him.
"If there's anything else I can do for you," Cerdec said.
Liam's hand darted out and caught Cerdec's wrist. His fingers shook as they closed over Cerdec's skin. Liam turned toward him, his eyes burning with mute longing and loneliness, with fear and desire. The space between their bodies trembled.
I might hang for this, Cerdec thought.
And he pressed his lips against Liam's.
Liam's body exploded under Cerdec's touch. His fingers plunged into Cerdec's hair, pulling him closer as he moaned into Cerdec's mouth, opening to his tongue. They pressed against each other, destroying the space between them. Liam pulled away from their kiss to run his lips over Cerdec's jaw, his breath hot on Cerdec's neck and ear. Cerdec wrapped his arms around Liam's waist and lifted him, carrying him through the antechamber as Liam wrapped his legs around Cerdec's back.
The door to the bedchamber was closed, and Cerdec braced Liam against the polished wood, their hips pushing against each other as Cerdec fumbled with the latch. Liam was devouring him, licking and sucking on his bottom lip, digging his fingers into Cerdec's shoulders, his cock throbbing against Cerdec's thighs, and Cerdec could not for the life of him figure out the damn door. It was just a doorknob for fuck's sake—
The door swung open and Liam fell backward. Cerdec caught him, his strong arms around Liam's waist, and their lips crashed together again, their tongues furiously mating as Cerdec pulled at the waist of Liam's pants. Buttons pinged against the stone floor as he ripped open the slacks and shoved them over Liam's hips. Liam's entire body shuddered as Cerdec wrapped his fingers around the hard heat of Liam's manhood.
Cerdec hesitated, his heart in his mouth. Gods, he wanted this—he'd wanted this for years. But he wanted this to be good. He moved his fingers along the length of Liam's cock, rubbing his thumb over the head. Liam moaned into his neck, his body trembling in Cerdec's arms. Cerdec turned to kiss the length of Liam's exposed neck, and Liam's hips began to rock against Cerdec's fingers.
"Shall we test the bed?" Cerdec whispered.
Liam moaned something that may well have been assent, and Cerdec brought his hands to Liam's thighs, lifting him. Liam pressed his lips to Cerdec's and the whole room spun as they kissed and kissed, deeply and hungrily. Liam's hips thrust rhythmically against Cerdec's when they found the bed, his cock hot and hard against Cerdec's stomach, his breath coming in gasps.
Cerdec sat on the bed, releasing Liam's thighs as he brought his hand back to Liam's glorious cock. He ran his fingers along its length, and Liam moaned in response, his entire body trembling. Cerdec smiled, his hand moving faster. Liam panted and then cried out, tilting his head back as he came hot and thick across Cerdec's chest. Cerdec pulled him close, kissing his collarbone, his neck, taking in his scent, the feel of his prince's body in his arms.
Liam's shoulders began to shake. A heartbeat later, a ragged sob escaped his lips. Cold panic coursed through Cerdec's veins. What have I done?
"My prince?" Cerdec whispered. "Liam, are you —"
Liam sobbed again, his arms tightening around Cerdec's shoulders. "Oh, gods," he gasped. "I thought—I thought I was the only one."
Relief spread through Cerdec like sunlight. "My gorgeous prince, you are certainly not the only one."
Liam sobbed louder, his entire body heaving in Cerdec's arms, and Cerdec kissed the top of his head, kissed his neck. "You're not alone," Cerdec whispered over Liam's tears. "You're home."
Preorder The Night Watch at:
Less Than Three Press
Born and raised in Colorado, Samantha MacLeod has lived in every time zone in the US, and London. She has a bachelor’s degree from Colby College and an M.A. from the University of Chicago; yes, the U. of C. really is where fun comes to die.
Samantha lives with her husband and two small children in the woods of southern Maine. When she’s not shoveling snow or writing steamy sex scenes, Samantha can be found teaching college composition and philosophy to undergraduates who have no idea she leads a double life as an erotica author.
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