Angelo opened his eyes to find Yuri's eyes still screwed tightly shut. His mouth was open, but limply, like he was asleep, or unconscious.
“Baby? Are you all right?”
Yuri shook his head without opening his eyes. “No.”
Carefully, Angelo pulled out of Yuri's body. “What is it? Tell me.”
His eyes snapped open and Angelo found himself staring into blue fire. Yuri punched him on the shoulder hard enough to leave a bruise.
“Fuck, ow, what was that for?”
Yuri burst into tears. “I love you, you prat.”
Angelo wanted to laugh and shout and roar in triumph. Instead, he pulled Yuri close and kissed the top of his head. “I know, baby.”
“God, you're such a bastard.”
“I know.” Angelo stroked Yuri's sweaty hair.
“Is that all you have to say?” Yuri's voice was thick with tears.
“I love you, too, Yuri. I always have.”
Yuri shook in Angelo's arms. “I don't understand you. I don't get any of this.”
“I've always loved you, Yuri. Always. Even when I hated you. But you're mine now, in ways you never were before, and I'm not planning on ever giving you up. So let me hold you, because I'm going to do it anyway. Because you're mine, Yuri. Mine.” Mine. The word repeated over and over in Angelo's head and heart. “I’m never letting you go. Not now.”
There was a long silence between the two of them as Angelo held tightly onto Yuri. After what might have been either a year or a few minutes, Yuri spoke.
“Good.” Then he sighed and relaxed in Angelo's arms.
27
Yuri Learns the Truth
As children, Yuri and Angelo had often been at odds. They bickered and sniped and sometimes even brawled. But sometimes they didn't.
One holiday spent with Angelo's family, there had been a huge storm that started in the middle of the night. Yuri, perhaps eleven or twelve at the time, had woken to crashing thunder and flashing lightning. He'd lain in bed for several minutes, his heart pounding heavily with fear.
He told himself over and over that he was nearly a grown-up and grown-ups didn't freak out over weather. Then lightning lit up his room just as thunder boomed. Terrified, Yuri leapt out of bed and ran down the palace corridor to Angelo's room.
“That you, princess?” asked a sleepy voice.
Yuri was too terrified to do anything beyond run for Angelo's bed and throw himself onto it.
“Hey, there. Just invite yourself over, already.” Angelo's voice was amused and not in the least bit frightened of the storm.
There was another simultaneous crack of thunder and lightning and before he was conscious of moving, Yuri snuggled into Angelo's thin, wiry arms.
“The lightning scared me,” Yuri confessed, feeling like a big baby but not able to help it.
“It's just a storm, Yuri. Nothing to be scared about. You should try to go back to sleep.” Angelo let out a massive yawn.
“Can I stay? Here? With you? Please?”
Angelo sighed deeply, like he was being put upon, but held Yuri a little tighter. “Sure. I'll keep you safe from the scary weather.” Angelo's voice was mocking but his arms were steady and strong.
Normally Yuri would've said something horribly bratty in response, but he was still too shaken for that. “Good,” Yuri whispered. He hugged Angelo tighter and had later fallen into a fitful doze.
He woke a few times to find Angelo staring at him intently.
“I think the storm is letting up,” Angelo said at one point. The quiet outside was nearly palpable.
“I guess I should go back to my room.” But Yuri didn't want to leave and go back to his large, quiet, and lonely bedroom.
“You can stay,” Angelo whispered back.
Yuri hugged Angelo hard. “Thanks.” He then fell asleep again beside Angelo, feeling safe and utterly secure.
Yuri woke in Angelo's embrace, the memory/dream of Angelo holding him during the storm still fresh in his mind. He could almost smell the lush foliage of Tanzhir and feel the heavy, humid air on his skin.
“You officially back to the land of the living or are you going back to sleep?” Angelo asked softly.
“What time is it?”
“No clue, but late. Or early. Doesn’t matter.” Angelo’s hands grazed up and down Yuri’s body as far as he could reach.
“This is so odd.”
Angelo kissed Yuri’s temple. “What is?”
“You. Me. Every damn thing. You wanting me.”
“Yes.” Angelo sounded highly amused.
“Even after gay sex, you’re still not freaked out.” Yuri felt so strange. Happy and terrified at the same time.
“I think gay sex is the wrong way to put it,” Angelo said. “I’m not gay.”
Yuri snorted. “Whatever. Sex with another man. Bi sex. Dicks touched, however you want to label that.”
“Yes, Yuri. And no, I’m not freaking out.”
“But why not?” Yuri’s voice came out in the embarrassing area between a wail and a whine.
Angelo groaned. “If you’re going to keep prattling on, we might as well get up. I’m hungry and I’m pretty sure you could use some food, too. I can make something.”
Yuri wanted to stay exactly where he was, but his stomach rumbled and betrayed him.
“Sounds like you’re hungry, too.”
“Yeah, I am, I guess.” Yuri sighed. “But it’s so comfortable here. You need servants. They could bring us food in bed. What’s the use of being a prince if you don’t have servants? Or at least a Philippe.” He frowned. “Come to think of it, why don’t you have a Philippe?”
Angelo nudged Yuri until he sat up. “Get up and I’ll tell you over our midnight snack. Or breakfast. Depends on what time it is. I could heat up a pizza if you want.”
Yuri considered that. “Yes. Pizza. There is no time of day when it’s inappropriate to eat pizza.”
Twenty minutes later, they sat at Angelo’s table eating shite frozen pizza and drinking mugs of tea. It was four in the morning and the sun had yet to put in an appearance.
“Why don’t you have a valet or manservant or even a housekeeper?” Yuri asked. “Doesn’t make sense, especially when your family gave us Philippe. I’ve never understood it.”
Angelo colored and
