The two then made their way into the long corridors, this time travelling further into the temple.
They went to the second floor, hoping to find empty rooms they could sleep in. Loki had decided he wanted to be alone tonight and so he found a little corner by the entrance to sleep in.
They had been up since morning and the two men were exhausted. They didn't care where they slept as long as they could close their eyes and rest. Even the king wasn't picky at this point. Unfortunately, all the empty rooms were small and wouldn't be able to accommodate either man, at least until Hael came across a large room that was big enough to fit two people inside.
He eyed Ceremus as if asking him for permission. The king rolled his eyes, stepping inside the room. He gave it a once over and let out a relieved sigh as he saw that the room's condition was good enough for them to sleep in.
"It could be worse." He whispered to himself.
The air hung thick with the scent of dust and rusted metal, clogging his throat with every inhale. A massive bronze sits at the center, its fire long extinguished, filled with ashes of past sacrifices. Red and black banners draped the walls, though they had since faded with time. The far end of the room provided a sufficiently large area for the two men to lie down and get much-needed rest.
Hael found a large tablecloth that was soft enough to be used as a blanket or cover. Since the floors were dusty, he laid it down and beckoned for the king to join him. Ceremus raised his brows, ignoring the quickening of his heart as he joined him.
In spite of the desolate environment they were currently in, and the slight chill in the room, the two laid next to each other side by side and were able to find some comfort thanks to the silkness of the cloth which provided enough cushion for their tender and sore bodies. Both were absorbed in their own thoughts, rendering them unable to sleep despite how tired they were. The light warmth emanating from the torch the guard had lit up earlier illuminated his face as he turned around to face the king.
"Why is it that when I want to sleep, I cannot find it, but when I don't, I can." Hael couldn't help wondering.
Ceremus blinked for a moment before chuckling at the guard's innocent musings. "I ponder that myself sometimes."
Hael shifted to face him, a pleased expression on his face. Ceremus met his gaze and frowned. "What's with that look?" He asked.
A light smile bloomed on his face. "You present yourself nicely when you laugh."
His sudden compliment shocked Ceremus and he didn't know how to respond. No one had ever complimented him in such a matter.
"...You say the strangest things." He sighed.
The guard's lips curved into a smile before placing his head against Ceremus' chest. Feeling it rise and fall made the young man relax. The king, however, was the opposite of relaxed. A ripple of tension locked Ceremus' spine as Hael pressed closer. His heat, the weight of his head—was too much, too intoxicating. His throat bobbed as glimpses of the dream he had earlier flickering through his mind. Hael's touch was gentle—saccharine, exactly like the images he had conjured up in the bath. His chest grew heavy as his breath caught in his throat. The sudden change in atmosphere made the young man grow anxious.
"I need to distract myself." He thought. His eyes then landed on Hael's hair, which was left unbraided today. He had the sudden urge to run his fingers through the soft-looking locks, and so he did.
He hesitantly grabbed a few strands before completely running his fingers through. The guard didn't mind the king playing with his hair. It felt nice, so he leaned in closer, urging the king to touch him more and Ceremus was more than willing to indulge him, running his hands through his snowy hair.
Ceremus found it amusing that this seven foot bulky man acted so unabashedly himself in front of him. The king was about to tease Hael when his body tensed up again. He felt his heart thump violently in his chest as he felt Hael inch himself closer to him. Hael buried his nose against Ceremus' neck, his breath hitching. The scent—warm, heady, laced with something faintly sweet—curled around him, drugging his senses. His fingers twitched against Ceremus' chest, gripping, kneading. A pulse of something dark, something hungry, yet comforting echoed in his mind.
Mine…
He inhaled again, slow, savoring. Ceremus smelled so heavenly, a scent Hael couldn't get enough of.
Mine…
"Hael?" The guard heard Ceremus' quiet voice call to him, but Hael failed to register the slight edge in his tone.
"You smell nice." He said as he continued rubbing Ceremus' chest in a circular motion, burying himself deeper in his neck, taking in another breath.
"Hael." Ceremus said more sharply.
"Hm?" the guard responded in a low voice as his hands trailed further down his body.
"What exactly…" his jaw tightened as he took in a shaky breath. "What do you think you are doing?"
His breath hitched as he felt a certain part of him awakening from its slumber and he wasn't happy about it. Not one bit.
The guard peered at him through his long lashes, blinking innocently at him. The king had to resist the urge to swoon at how adorable he was. His face hardened.
His grip tightened on Hael's shoulder, a silent plea—stop. But his own breath betrayed him, shuddering as Hael's warmth seeped into him. His jaw clenched. If he let this go on any longer, he wouldn't be able to stop.
"I think you should go back to your side now." Though his voice was soft, his words invoked a sense of urgency, which didn't go unnoticed by the guard this time.
"What if I don't want to?" Hael taunted.
"Excuse me?" Ceremus exclaimed, his tone tinged with disbelief. Is this man trying to test my patience right now?
The young man said nothing as he inched closer to him. Ceremus' eyes widened and before he could protest, Hael cut him off with a kiss.
The kiss was gentle and a little clumsy, which both surprised and amused the king. He has to resist the urge to bite Hael's lower lip as he sensed his shaky hand still on his hips. The guard pulled away slightly and Ceremus caught sight of the look on his face, causing the king to bring him closer again, kissing him back, but a little roughly this time. He could taste Hael against his tongue, sweet with a hint of spice sliding down his throat, constricting his breath.
Caught in each other's embrace, he could tell that Hael wanted more when he felt his rough hands touching him all over. Ceremus' fingers curled into the fabric beneath him. A strange tightness coiled in his chest, almost like an ache, a deep longing to indulge the young man—give him what he wanted when a sudden thought came to mind.
Not yet. The thought surfaced like an echo. Sudden, unbidden, and unwelcomed. He exhaled sharply, shaking his head as if to chase it away, but it remained. Stubborn, and unwilling to let go.
Ceremus frowned. Not yet? The thought struck him like a cold wave. Since when did he hesitate? Why am I acting like a virgin maiden who is saving herself for marriage?
This isn't like me at all! He thought.
The king was far from being a morally sound man. He didn't believe in things like purity or saving oneself for the 'one'. He often engaged in depravity, abandoning himself in the pleasures of the flesh. And yet here he was, not wanting to take that extra step with Hael.
Why?
Hael was the person he loved, so how could he not want to become one with him? Was it because he was a man, after all? No, that was not the reason. Was it fear? But the fear of what, exactly? Was he perhaps still uncertain about the nature of their relationship? The king was unsure of the reasons, but he knew it wouldn't be right for the two of them to bridge that gap right now.
Something within him told him it was not yet time. And so he pulled away, untangling himself from Hael's arms, much to the guard's surprise.
"Ceremus?" He called.
He pursed his lips, unable to look the young man in his eyes. "I think it would be best for us to sleep separately after all."
Hael's eyes widened. "Is it because I—"
"No!" He briskly cut him off. "That's not the reason."
I'll be unable to resist these temptations if I stay here. Ha, what have I become? He scoffed to himself.
"Anyway," he cleared his throat. "I'll find someplace to sleep, so get some rest." He then left the room.