Pulling back just enough to look into Riven’s eyes, Soren whispered, "Just because we did it once doesn’t an we can’t do it again. You feel amazing."
"Or maybe we should practice self-control..." Riven gently elbowed him. And then he frowned.
What the hell happened to ? I never say no! Is this what growing up feels like? Am I mature now?
Soren pouted, clearly reluctant to let go of their flirtatious mont. "C’mon, just a little more?" he coaxed, reaching for the soap with a mischievous grin, hoping to lure Riven back in.
But Riven shook his head, a twinkle in his eye. "I’m already done lathering," he said, stepping out of the spray and grabbing a towel. He wrapped it around himself like a cosy shield and flashed Soren one last teasing smile before strutting out of the shower. He did not like his ears getting wet any more than they had to.
Left alone, Soren let out a dramatic sigh, the sound echoing in the steamy bathroom. He couldn’t help but smirk at Riven’s antics. His wet tail had been swishing with purpose, making sure the cold water droplets hit Soren.
Soren leaned into the shower, a satisfied grin on his face as he watched Riven bounce back to his cheerful self. It was like a switch flipped—one mont, they were tangled up in playful banter, and the next, Riven was out of the shower, looking fresh and radiant. That was all Soren wanted: Riven happy and unapologetically himself.
He was worried after the incident about how Riven would be feeling. He went to deal with Nicholas but lost him. He did not let him go, though. He had inford his n to search every nook and cranny for him. That man could not have gone far. He will be caught. And brought back to experience hell.
anwhile, in his room, Leon sat on his bed, deep in thought. "Soren said I’d never asure up?" he muttered to himself, eyebrows furrowed. The guy had so nerve. Didn’t he know that Leon had a reputation? Sure, he’d been called a "selfish lover" before, especially after all those late-night escapades with palace maids. But this was different!
He bit his lip, an idea brewing. "I’ll show them! I’ll co up with a plan—a way for Riven to love being with more than with Soren!" His eyes sparkled with determination, and he felt like a cartoon character plotting a grand sche, complete with a lightbulb mont over his head.
Without wasting another second, Leon jumped up and bolted for the door. "I can’t stay in here any longer!" he declared, bursting out into the hallway.
Just as he stepped out, Riven walked by, fully dressed and looking very cute. A faint blush still dusted his cheeks, and Leon felt a pang of annoyance mixed with sothing else—was it jealousy? He couldn’t help but hate the fact that he knew exactly why Riven’s face was flushed.
"Nice outfit, Riven," Leon said, trying to sound casual but failing miserably. He could practically hear Soren’s laughter in his head, as if the guy was just waiting to poke fun at him.
"It’s just what I wear every day," Riven laughed lightly.
"Uh, yeah, I noticed," Leon stamred, feeling a little flustered. "So, um, Soren and..."
Before Leon could finished, Riven added, "Yeah, he is totally fine with you staying here." Riven’s face turned a deeper shade of crimson.
Leon took a deep breath, trying to act casual as he leaned against the wall. "So, uh, what do you guys do for fun around here?" he asked, his tone light but his mind racing with thoughts of competition.
Riven’s cheeks flushed a bright shade of pink at the question. Fun? Well, he just spent half the morning getting all hot and bothered with Soren... And whenever he ca here, that was what he did for fun, but he couldn’t just say that out loud, could he? "Um..." he stuttered, his mind scrambling. "We could go out to the comrcial district!"
It sounded innocent enough, right? Plus, it was a good distraction from whatever awkwardness was hanging in the air.
Leon nodded quickly, relief washing over him. "Yeah, that sounds great. I need to get out of this place. Like, urgently." He was practically bouncing on his heels, eager to escape the confines of his room and the cloud of self-doubt that had been hanging over him.
Riven noticed the eagerness in Leon’s voice, and it made him smile. "Aweso! There’s so much to see! Although it is not like what we saw in your kingdom, here it’s a bit more elite."
"More Elite? More elite than the richest clan of the four? Then, I have got to see it." Leon smirked.
You don’t need to ask Soren before you leave?" Leon asked curiously, raising an eyebrow.
Riven turned to him, mouth opening as if he was about to say sothing profound, then promptly shut it again. "Well, I don’t need to ask him," he finally replied, trying to sound confident. "I’ll just tell him. Because that is just good sense! You tell soone where you are going before you go!"
"Right, good sense," Leon echoed.
As Riven said that, he felt a little twinge in his gut. He lingered on Leon’s statent more than he wanted to. Sure, he liked to think of himself as a ’free spirit,’ but deep down, he knew that all his bravado was kind of built on the backs of Soren and Ronan’s power and status.
He had no power of his own. And that kinda... Sucked.
Riven stared at Soren and then mustered, "You said you wanted to find yourself, outside of the kingdom, outside of being just the king. Maybe I should too..."
Leon crossed his arms, feigning a serious expression. "I an, you could beco a professional pillow tester. You’d be a natural! Lot’s of experience." He rembered Riven napping like a lazy cat back when he was ordering him around.
Riven burst out laughing. "Oh yeah, that’s my dream job! Riven, the Pillow tester."
Leon then tilted his head and smirked, "Might as well be a mattress tester while you’re at it."
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