chapter 15

The first light of dawn filtered through the thin curtains, casting a soft, golden hue across the room. The air was crisp, a sharp chill lingering from the night before, but neither Alex nor Max seemed to notice. They lay tangled beneath a delicate silk sheet, their bare skin pressed together, the warmth of each other’s embrace shielding them from the cold.

Max stirred first, his eyes fluttering open to find Alex’s face only inches away, his features softened in peaceful sleep. The memory of the night before was still vivid—Alex’s hands, his voice, his presence overwhelming yet comforting. Max felt a dull ache in his body, a soreness that was both unfamiliar and oddly satisfying. He had always feared intimacy, but last night had changed something in him. The vulnerability he’d dreaded had been met not with pain but with tenderness, connection, and a kind of joy he hadn’t thought possible.

He studied Alex’s face for a moment, noting the way his hair fell across his forehead and the faint curve of a smile on his lips, even in sleep. How does he do this to me? Max thought, his heart swelling with an emotion he didn’t have the words for.

As if sensing Max’s gaze, Alex stirred, his eyes slowly opening. When their eyes met, Alex smiled—a soft, sleepy smile that made Max’s chest tighten. Without a word, Alex leaned in and kissed Max gently on the lips, a kiss that was warm and unhurried. Then he kissed his forehead, his nose, each touch as tender as the first.

Max couldn’t help but giggle, a sound that broke the quiet intimacy of the room. “How the hell did you manage to get me into this?” he asked, his voice tinged with amusement.

Alex grinned, his hand brushing a strand of hair from Max’s face. “Magic,” he replied, his tone teasing but his eyes filled with affection.

Max rolled his eyes but couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped him. “ "MaGic" ” he said, shaking his head.

Alex’s gaze softened, and he reached out to trace his fingertips along Max’s jaw. “You look so pretty today,” he began, his voice low and filled with awe.

Before he could continue, Max raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. “Oh, so I don’t look beautiful every day?”

Alex chuckled, shaking his head. “Just listen to me,” he said, his tone patient yet amused. “Today… you just look different. There’s this glow, this softness in your smile.”

Max’s smirk widened as he propped himself up on his elbow. “So, what you’re saying is that having sex with you gave me this glow?”

Alex laughed, a rich, warm sound that filled the room. “Probably,” he admitted, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

Max shook his head, his cheeks flushing as Alex leaned closer. His hand moved to Max’s shoulder, his fingertips trailing a slow, deliberate path down his arm, across his chest, and up to his neck. Alex’s touch was light, almost reverent, as if he were memorizing every line, every curve of Max’s body.

“You’re incredible,” Alex murmured, his voice barely above a whisper as his fingers traced the edge of Max’s jaw.

Max felt his breath catch, the warmth of Alex’s words and touch spreading through him like fire. “You’re not so bad yourself,” he replied, though his voice was softer now, the teasing edge replaced by something more vulnerable.

Alex smiled, leaning in to capture Max’s lips again. This kiss was deeper, more insistent, and Max found himself melting into it, his hands tangling in Alex’s hair. The world outside faded away, leaving only the two of them and the quiet, undeniable pull between them.

As Alex’s hands continued their slow exploration, Max closed his eyes, letting himself get lost in the sensation. Whatever doubts or fears he’d had before were gone, replaced by a certainty that Alex was where he belonged.

Max reclined on the plush sofa, the weight of the previous night still lingering in his body. His long, lean frame stretched out in the most effortless yet royal manner, one arm resting casually by his side while his other hand held a glass of chilled wine. He couldn’t help but smile lazily as the soft hum of the spa environment surrounded him—the gentle trickling of water in the background, the faint scent of lavender and sandalwood, and the rhythmic sounds of the attendants working their magic on him.

Three attendants were present, each taking their turn to pamper him. One was kneeling at his feet, applying steady pressure with skilled hands, massaging away the tension in his legs and calves. Another was behind him, his skilled fingers moving over Max's shoulders, loosening the tightness in his back. The third was gently fanning steam over Max's face, allowing the warmth to seep into his skin, a soft mist settling on his brow.

Max's eyes were closed, a contented smile playing on his lips as he relaxed into the treatment. He had always found solace here, away from the expectations and responsibilities of the kingdom. It was a rare moment of peace, a brief escape from everything that weighed on his shoulders.

One of the attendants, a tall man with sharp features and a slightly mischievous glint in his eyes, broke the comfortable silence. "Majesty," he said, his voice soft but inquisitive, "you seem to be glowing today. Did something good happen?"

Max chuckled, not opening his eyes, but letting out a low, amused hum. "Do I? I suppose it’s the treatment," he replied casually, feeling the heat of the steam against his skin.

Another attendant, a woman with delicate hands working the steam fan, smiled softly. "It’s not just the treatment, Majesty. You look... different. Happier, perhaps?"

Max raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a sly grin, though he still kept his eyes closed. "Do I now?" he asked, his voice just a touch teasing.

The first man massaging his feet leaned in a little closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Does someone make you feel that way?" he asked, his words deliberately light but laced with curiosity.

Max’s fingers tightened around his wine glass. "I suppose someone does," he said, trying to play it off, but his voice betrayed a hint of shyness. He had never been one to talk about his personal life so openly with people, even if they were part of the royal staff, but the indulgence of the moment made him feel uncharacteristically open.

The woman next to him giggled softly, her fingers tracing a gentle path down his arm as she worked on his shoulders. "So," she said, her tone playful, "who do you owe this... glow to?"

Max hesitated for a moment, but the warmth of the steam and the ease of the moment encouraged him to speak. "The King," he said, a slight smirk tugging at his lips as he opened one eye to glance at the attendants. "He makes me feel... alive."

A slight pause fell over the room, and Max could feel the attention shift around him. The attendant working on his back let out a low whistle. "The King, huh? I think we all suspected something," he said with a wink, not missing a beat. "But it’s good to see it confirmed."

Max chuckled, leaning back into the softness of the sofa, his face flushed with a touch of color. "It's not like that," he said, though his tone was warm. "He’s just... different."

Another man, standing off to the side and watching the exchange with interest, added, "Different how?" His voice was filled with genuine curiosity. "Not like other Kings?"

Max let out a short laugh, relaxing further into the cushions. "No," he said, his voice taking on a more serious note. "He’s... warm. Caring. It’s not what I expected, but I’m glad it's him."

The attendant massaging his feet gave a soft, knowing smile. "And that’s what’s making you glow, Majesty?" he teased, his fingers running lightly along Max’s arches, making Max squirm a little.

Max let out a soft groan of contentment, feeling the pleasure from the massage mixing with the sudden heat rising in his cheeks. "Yeah, I guess you could say that," he said, trying to maintain his usual air of control. "He's just... good to me."

The woman beside him looked at him with a soft, teasing smile. "Well, we could all use someone like that," she said, before turning back to her work. "It’s good to see you so relaxed, Majesty."

Max’s lips parted as he sank deeper into the comfort of the moment, his mind drifting between thoughts of Alex and the calm of the spa. The discussion had been unexpected, but strangely pleasant. It was as though his barriers had lowered, his shyness replaced by the warmth and vulnerability that Alex had so effortlessly brought out in him.

As he lay there, feeling the gentle touch of the attendants on his body, his thoughts wandered to the night before, to the intimacy and connection he had shared with Alex. It was different, more meaningful than anything he had experienced before. And as he laid back on the sofa, a smile crept onto his lips, his body humming with a satisfaction that he couldn’t deny.

The attendants worked quietly around him, finishing their tasks, but Max remained lost in his thoughts, enjoying the lingering feeling of warmth and contentment. And though the conversations about the King and the glow of his smile had been playful, the truth was clear—Max was different now, in ways that were hard to explain but impossible to ignore.

When the last of the massage came to an end, and the attendants stepped back to give him space, Max’s gaze wandered to the window, where the light had fully broken through the clouds, brightening the room. He let out a quiet sigh of satisfaction, feeling more at peace than he had in a long time.

"Thank you," he murmured softly to the attendants, a small smile still playing on his lips. "That was... exactly what I needed."

And as they left, Max closed his eyes once more, letting the quiet warmth of the room and the lingering glow of his feelings for Alex wash over him.