"poor maybe," he tightened his grip, "but i think i would be willing to try if it is with you dear wife"

He grew frozen with his leg halfway in the air while a hand gripped it tightly as the rest of him sat rigid against his bench. "I am sure there are many a thing you would do if it were to be with me, my lord."

the haughtiness from before was back and angrily he swing the leg back down and mindless of the jarring sound of it hitting wood turned away from his obstinate wife in favor of watching the land pass by

The force with which his leg was thrown back was a surprise enough, and the pain that erupted as it crashed against the wood was not pleasant either. A gasp had fallen from his lips before he grew silent again, slowly bending forward in his seat as he felt the pain linger deeper. He drew a deep breath as he turned his head up to look at the Prince only to find him red faced and clearly unhappy. His face fought between a deep glower and a grimace a before he closed his eyes and sat back against the bench feeling less pleased than he had in a long time.

the ride was long though not nearly long enough for the shame of his impotence to leave and as soon as they passed into their own gates and had stopped he was out of the carriage and stiffly fled to find proof he was not to blame for his surly wife

The ride itself did not feel as though it were long enough to curb his ill feelings towards the man who sat across from him, and it was only when he fled from his sight that he could feel his ire begin to dwindle. He did not waste his time in the gardens or halls and retreated to his quarters with the decision that he was not to visit the Prince already set in his mind.

he was quick to find eager arms to sate his wishes and though the lass was willing and he felt needful it was not the same as his frigid wife and when he was done with her he found his way to his chambers to find his comfort in sleep

As the knuckled came knocking against his door the following morning to inform him to make his way to mass, he did not feel like rising from the warm bed only to see his wretched husband. The call of the servant through the door to assure he woke came through the door and he was left with no choice. Calling back out he went to ready himself for chapel.

the first thing he noticed was that his wife was dressed in the somber dove-colored robe from before their wedding. the second thing he noticed was that the lad looked as angered as any demon. letting his eyes drift off of the other he turned back to face the podium as the other came to be beside him, "that look does not suit you wife. you would do well to find another before prayers end"

The words did not make him any more pleased than he'd felt, but as the congregation plunged into the book of prayers he felt his attention slipped away from the one that sat beside him and back to the idea that the one thing that did not seem to change from home was morning prayer. When it was time for all to leave he felt enlightened

the lad's mood seemed much improved by the end and as they stood he grabbed the other by the arm to keep him from escaping as they left. he kept his voice low, "wife, i request that tonight you come to my chambers"

He made the attempt to shake the hand from his arm, but he was left with the grip steadfast. "Is it because I did not care to visit last night?"

"it is because despite anything else you may be you are also my wife. i will not be made the fool because you insist on treating me as a low-born servant with whom you can play." tightening his grip he kept them walking until they were free of other ears, "the only time you are not cold to me is when i bend over so far for you that my back feels as if it is breaking. you should learn appreciation before i teach you cruelty"

He had to hide a grimace that tried to take its place on his face as he was pulled toward their silent corridor where no one ever saw his husbands abuses. Muttering softly beneath his breath as he tried to pry the strong fingers away from his arm while trying to wriggle himself away

he pushed the lad into the closest wall and pressed against him with the arm still in-hand, "speak up louder wife or i will think you are talking poorly about me." the lad looked up at him and he could see more anger than fear there. it caused ire and desire in equal measures and he found his lips against a soft ear, "what would you have me do? i will not release you from this gilded cage"

He took a deep breath, trying to puff out his chest as best he could given his position against the wall. Leveling his eyes to the Princes he spoke strong, "I would have you unarm me, but as you won't release your morning dove I'd have to ask you to take me somewhere where you could set me free. I do not wish to be caught in these hands."

he was pulled away from the distractions of whether an ear would be as nice to touch as skin by the words and keeping close offered a soft chuckle. he let go of the hand but in doing so moved his arms to either side of the wall so the lad still could not leave. "the problem with that dear wife is when you are offered a larger cage you still will not sing and you fly away so that i may not touch you either. you don't want to fly you want to escape and i will not allow it"

He could feel his upset of the morning beginning to bubble up in his gut again. "This songbird is living in a rusted cage, and while it might be good enough for its keeper it is not pleased a shall not sing a single note lest it is appeased"

the lad's insolence was too much and turning his hands in he grabbed the other tightly by the waist. "this bird is mindless of a good thing and mistakes brass for rust when all it has known is salvaged wood from a paupers hut. you could live no better anywhere in the world than here!"

He tried pushing the Prince away by the shoulders, looking to gain any slack from the hardness of the rocks pressed firm against his back. "I could live back at home," he spoke through gritted teeth as he pushed his hips back against the body that had his own pinned firmly. "Without you to hurt me or the ladies to tease me. I'd rather live in my nest of straw than this cage"

his grip tightened. "i would burn your nest to the ground and break the wings of any that would cause you harm so as not to share you or give you any place to pine. you are mine"

He had no response for a lasting moment while he looked into those slate eyes of anger, and though he was still caught firm against the rough wall he tried to push off. "You are like a protective nightingale, hording your hen all to yourself though no one would even think of taking such a fowl back to their own nest. Though you would destroy my home just to keep me close, I cannot help but be flattered by your deeds."

he did not know if the words were spoken in sincerity or to appease him but they mostly worked and he pressed in close. "you undervalue yourself my beautiful hen, you have a worth greater than those who would wish to pluck you simply because you were mine." dipping down he stole a kiss

He bared his neck to allow the Prince enough room to take what kisses were offered as he ceased his fighting against the iron-clasped hands keeping him pinned tight against the wall. "My plumage is only as lovely as the others, but to have one graced such as you makes everything better."

he kissed only until the words were spoken and letting one hand go slipped it under the false hair that so often kept him from touching. smoothly he turned his head and pressed his brow to the other so he could whisper in one delicate shell, "do not misunderstand, you are a rare color and lovelier by far"

A shudder passed through him, goose-flesh running across his arms and leaving his hair standing on end as he leaned into the Prince's hand. He thought to say something but decided against it while the other's still lingering in the space between them, and taking his freed hand he let it fall against a velvet-covered shoulder

everything but the hand wanted him he could see but he knew this particular trap. if he kept pushing he'd leave angry and his wife bruised. he did not press and let his hand fall away as he pulled back. "you are as cruel as any woman wife, i will see you tonight"

Even he could not deny that he was not dreading to meet the Prince in his chambers that evening, and though he felt willing to travel the halls early he waited to leave, and was surprisingly greeted at the door by a waiting Prince. For looks of formality he made a cursory curtsy, "My lord, I thought you'd be inside."

he did not mention he had been waiting there for quite some time, "and you have changed." "this one is much more flattering than the other." a soft smile. "i disagree but it is good that you chose differently, you would have stood out too much otherwise. tonight we play in the garden"

Half of him was surprised while his other half was thrilled with the change in their evening scenery to a place he could never frown to see. He let the hand take his own without hesitation and obediently followed after the Prince to their place of secrecy among the flowers and the fae

the garden was beautiful tonight and he pulled his wife to the spot the lad was most fond of and eased him down. it was hard to remember it was a man under the soft folds and he felt the wish to call him her and say sweet nothings in her ear. letting his wife sit he lost his jacket and loosened his beaches before sinking down against her. "tonight you are my fae queen"

It did not take long for the lips to find the moonlit skin of his neck and the lush velvet hiding his chest from view and for the hands to offer gentle touches as they laid among the sweet smelling flowers of the queen's lace. As he felt one of the hands softly touching his side, he lifted a hand to rest against it and rub lightly over the smooth skin. "And tonight you are my human Prince come to spend time in this moon bathed gardens"

as he passed over his wife's hips he gave them a light squeeze and the hands covering his matched him. sighing softly he let his lips find the soft fabric over the hidden breast. he kissed it lightly "i wish to touch you wife, as a lover would"

A shiver passed through him by the Prince's touch though his skin felt warm where the Prince's hand lay. "Was that not why you brought your queen of fae to her home for the evening?"

"no, i brought her here to see if i could warm her cold garden with my warm seed but now i wish to do more than simply plant what will not grow. it is something i cannot simply do wife, not unless you wish it." closing his mouth he buried his face against the narrow chest and waited for his wife's reply

He inhaled the deep scent of the flowers before his chest fell again, the sweet face falling alongside it as he lifted a hand to brush his fingers across the smooth cheek. "I could have just as easily failed to meet you at your chambers this eve as I did the last, but I arrived at yours doors anyway. If my Prince wishes for it to be tonight it may be"

the words pleased him and lowering himself farther he trailed his affections downwards until he found the jut of one hip and let his mouth take it's pleasures while his hands sought to find the end of the garment and remove the thin barrier

the hands felt cool against his skin as they came to graze across the pale skin of his legs as the velvety material was pushed away. Even through the thick skirt he could feel the Prince's ministrations, but as the fabric lifted away the tongue felt smooth against the jut of his hip. Gently he found himself squirming against the flowers while the mouth worked against him

the lad writhed deliciously under him and as he tasted the softly glowing skin and still pushing up the garment he meandered slowly over the duke's soft belly and up to the base of his ribs, the dress could go no farther and softly kissing the flesh he let his mouth fall away, "...lord ainsley...you must remove your woman's trappings if i am to continue"

Given their paired position he knew he could not remove the rest of his dress, and reaching out he only barely pushed the Prince back far enough to allow him to sit up from his flower bed. He knew he was eager for the Prince to continue, and though he was not sure of the other he made the assumption; Even so he did not rush himself and took his time to reach behind him to find the tie of his dress and to unravel them enough that he could feel the corset loosen. Gentle hands reached out to trail along the strong arms to find those cold hands from prior. He lifted each to his lips for a kiss before neatly wrapping them around his back to find the loosened threads that only barely held his dress against him