Once Upon A Time… Winter Forced The Boys Together
Many thanks to KornKob – this story is now dedicated to you :3 Disclaimer: Slight quoting from movie ^^ The days after their rather impassioned incident passed in a haze. Adam’s lip healed too fast and too well for his satisfaction and he often found himself sucking on the flesh until it flushed pink. The air was thicker, voices were hazier and the food was harder to chew. Gaston had not moved out of Belle’s room. Adam had not tried to force him out.
The autumnal hunts continued as per usual and the pair spent the first few days talking of nothing else, if they talked at all. They spent most of their time watching each other closely, eyes turning dark whenever their gazes met. The arousal that Adam felt at anything that
hinted at the man – hair, smell, slight mention – was almost choking. He didn’t seem to feel the growing cold of the upcoming winter, but felt a sinful flush whenever Gaston touched him. It seemed to happen a lot, the touching – more so than Adam remembered in the past. Gaston had not made so brazen a move since Belle was mentioned last, but his touches held more meaning. At least, Adam hoped they did.
The prince was excelling at hunting, much as Gaston hated to admit it. Instead of watching the blond fumble about dusk ‘til dawn, the raven-head found himself competing for kills and tiring out by noon. Covered in sweat and animal blood and smiling stupidly at each other, they would lazily ride along until they heard the rushing of the river. The horses would graze whilst the men reclined under the Weeping Willow: Gaston snoring something awful with his arm draped over Adam’s thigh and his forehead digging into Adam’s hipbone. Some days Adam would watch him, noting the slack expression and slight drool with appreciation. Other days he’d read a certain blue book, basking in the last rays of day. By the end of fall, the companions had butchered near half of the surrounding forest.
Winter found its way into France: white, thick and everywhere. Gaston took to hacking phlegm at the almost instant cold front and was banned to so much as look out the window. Mrs Potts would force-feed him in Belle’s room in the mornings and wrap him in blankets by the fireplace from noon ‘til night. Adam would feel sorry for him if it wasn’t so entertaining to see Mrs Potts so overjoyed to boss someone around.
The sleet and growing snow made venturing outside an effort. That and the fact that the woods weren’t the same without Gaston. So Adam spent time in the library, reading book after book until he thought in narratives. Some evenings he spent with Gaston, vaguely listening to the hunter’s whines about what torture the nursemaid had put him through that day. Other nights, he’d have an early retreat, sprawled across his bed and resisting the urge to touch himself. Gaston’s penchant for tossing the blankets aside and ripping his shirt off when he thought Mrs Potts wasn’t around provided horrifically potent fantasy material.
“What’s this?” Gaston demanded, staring at what Adam had tossed into his lap.
“It is called a book. Strange but true, people use them to
read,” Adam replied listlessly, his eyes returning to a worn blue book. This was the 34
th time he read it.
Gaston stared at the heavy volume, then back at Adam, “I’m not reading it.”
Adam ignored the other man, instead turning a page. As expected, Gaston became irritated. Adam ignored the itch of curiosity when he heard movements near him. He wasn’t expecting the arms that stuck themselves to his, the chest that flushed against his back, or the thighs that warmed themselves against his. Adam felt the warm air of Gaston’s breath creeping into the shell of his ear. Accustomed – if not ecstatic – to Gaston’s need for contact, Adam settled against him and continued onto a new chapter. The fire crackled peaceably as the couple sat in companionable silence.
“How can you read this? There’s no pictures!”
Adam chuckled, “People use their imagination,
Chérie. You should try it sometime – might make you smarter.”
Gaston huffed and Adam could feel the gust of air leave his ribs and trail onto his neck. Adam expected a protest leading into an argument, but instead the larger man buried his face into the nape of the prince’s neck, nuzzling slightly.
“As if you want me smarter.”
Adam smiled lazily, “
Mais oui. I like my men dumb. Makes them that much easier to control.”
Adam felt the mouth rested on his shoulder smile as it planted something similar to a soft kiss against his flesh. Adam sighed deeply and moved his head slightly to give the other more access.
“Book looks familiar though…”the hunter mumbled between butterfly kisses. The young prince made a non-committal sound from his nose.
“Belle brought it with her. You must have seen it from… Gaston?”
Burly arms had wrapped around his mid-section and pulled him – forcibly – close. He tried to break free from the grasp but Gaston held him tighter. The man’s whole disposition seemed tense.
“And you kept it?”
“
Chérie, I can’t breathe.”
The grip became tighter, “Why did you keep it.”
Adam lowered the book. The arms weakened a bit. “Gaston, this is the only thing of hers that I have.”
“You have her room.”
“No,
you have her room, remember?”
“Not if you had your way.”
“Don’t start.”
“You started the
minute. You. Kept. It.” Gaston hissed.
Adam sighed, “Am I not allowed to keep memories of her now? You forget your place, Gaston.”
“Oh yes, the esteemed
guest,” Gaston spat, letting go and jumping to his feet. He bounded to the door, briskly. He turned his gaze to Adam, who was seated on the Persian carpet in front of the hearth. His hair was untied and glowed gold in the fire-light, his neck and shoulder flushed pink from the hunter’s ministrations. His expression spoke levels of exasperation. The book lay between his sprawled legs.
The raven-head’s expression almost softened, but his mouth was thin and hard and his jaw had hardened.
“It’s sad how you cling to some bitch who isn’t even here. You shouldn’t need a book to have some stupid memory.”
Adam didn’t see him for another week.
***
A/N: And the inspiration slips ever so slowly. Thanks for tuning in, folks ^^
