a Lout and a Prince

Part 26

Alberu unconsciously brushed his hand against Cale's cheek and he was startled by the lack of contrast. He'd never touched Cale like this while looking like this.

Somehow that really hammered home how wrong it had been to lie to Cale.

Cale frowned at his touch but didn't pull away. His eyes were as clear and expressive as they'd always been.

He was so much more than Alberu deserved. Especially after everything.

"I shouldn't have left." Alberu said, voice weighed down with the guilt of his crime.

"Damn fucking right." Cale growled and how was he so irresistible even while teeming with rage?

Alberu knew that he probably shouldn't kiss Cale until they'd talked properly but the desire to do so was quite enticing. In a marvelous show of restraint, Alberu chose words instead. "I'm sorry."

"And?" Cale pressed his knee between Alberu's legs. A gesture that could be both very sexy and very threatening. Alberu took it both ways, swallowing thickly as he searched for what Cale wanted to hear.

No. That was wrong.

What he should say.

"I never should have lied to you." He said. "You deserved–you... I was wrong. You deserve the truth."

He did. How much had Cale exposed himself to Alberu? Trusted Alberu with the parts of himself that no one else was privy to?

Alberu knew it was wrong. Knew that it wasn't fair to accept all of Cale without ever exposing himself to the same risk. Knew he'd been selfish and cowardly. Looking at Cale now, knowing nearly everything and still glaring him directly at him with the same brash confidence that made it so impossible to look away.

Cale was striking. Gorgeous and amazing and so much braver than Alberu had ever been.

"...I'm sorry." He caressed Cale's cheek gently and relief flooded his heart when Cale leaned into his touch.

"You're a stupid bastard. You're the fucking worst–I shouldn't..." Cale pressed his body against Alberu's, vestiges of anger dwindling. Replaced by something far more concerning. "...why?"

In all of Alberu's ruminations on this conversation, he'd never once imagined Cale would look so raw and hurt.

He never realized how deeply his lies hurt him.

Cale placed a hand over his mouth before Alberu could answer, looking to the ground and breathing in shakily. "Give me a second."

As though he was preparing himself for the worst.

Alberu's heart ached terribly.

Cale finally looked back up at him, attempting to cover his broken expression with pure guts.

Alberu never wanted Cale to look at him like that.

"...was any of it real...?" Cale tried to sound angry. Tried to sound just as intimidating as he'd managed before. Tried to sound like he was unaffected by Alberu's actions.

He failed miserably.

Alberu never regretted his actions more than this moment. How could he let Cale think that it wasn't...?

But what else was he supposed to think?

'I'm an idiot.' Alberu wished he could turn back the clock. Change everything. Come clean to Cale that very first night.

What horrible thoughts had driven Cale all the way to Harris Village?

He reached out to touch Cale but he flinched away from Alberu's touch. Too raw. Too scared.

Words couldn't convey how real it was. How his feelings for Cale were probably the only thing that was truly real about him.

Alberu unclasped his necklace, revealing his true appearance and watched as Cale visibly relaxed at the sight.

A confirmation of what he already knew. Willingly exposed by Alberu.

It would take time to earn back Cale's trust.

"I never meant to... I wasn't intending for this..." Alberu said, knowing that all that was right was to offer Cale honesty. He still hated the way Cale stiffened though. "...but I couldn't stop coming back to you."

Cale frowned at him, making a sincere effort to hate him.

He sighed and rested his forehead on Alberu's shoulder, hiding his face and clinging to Alberu's shirt. Alberu wrapped his arms gently around Cale.

"...promise me. Promise me this is real or I swear to god, I'm tearing off your dick and feeding it to you."

Only Cale could be so crass and so vulnerable and Alberu was nuts but he loved even that. He held Cale close, burying his face in his hair. "I swear. All I lied about was my identity. Nothing else. I promise."

Maybe it was his imagination but he could swear that a tension lifted from Cale's shoulders. They still had a lot to discuss and he had a lot of apologies to make.

But for just a moment he was able to hold the man he loved and believe that just maybe they could make it work.