“You must be hungry,” Dominatus said. “I don’t have much, but we should eat.”
He took out some dried meat, smoked cheese, and biscuits with beans. There was even some mead in a leather pouch.
“When I heard from Nerrus that you headed for the mountain, I thought it was best to bring some food along, just in case,” Dominatus said.
“You’re always so prepared,” Lucianus said.
They sat in front of the fire and skewered the meat and cheese on branches to broil them before taking a bite. Lucianus had been prepared to travel on an empty stomach, and he was grateful to eat what little food they had.
“I feel bad for what I did to Nerrus,” Lucianus mumbled.
“You don’t have to worry about him,” Dominatus assured. “I gave him some money as a token of our apology, and I told him to set off by himself if we didn’t return. We should head out too once dawn breaks. If the peak isn’t covered with snow, we should reach D’Aleppo by tomorrow night.”
Lucianus should’ve been happy that their long trip was drawing to a close, but a part of him felt a touch lonely. After finishing their meal, they laid on the fur coat and wrapped themselves up in a cloak. Lucianus was lying down on Dominatus’s arm while gazing at the fire, when he noticed his butt being fondled.
“Wh-what?” Lucianus stammered. “I’m done for today.”
“I know,” Dominatus replied. “I just felt like petting your adorable buttocks. It’s like a sheath made specifically for me.”
“A sheath?” Lucianus repeated in confusion. “Whatever does that mean?”
“It’s an important place to store my sword.”
Lucianus wasn’t sure whether to laugh at or feel exhausted by Dominatus referring to his own cock as a sword. He turned around, tempted to scold Dominatus if this was his idea of a joke, but he saw Dominatus gazing blissfully at the fire. Lucianus turned back to the fire.
“If you sheathe your blade elsewhere, I’ll never forgive you,” Lucianus said.
“I’ll never do such a thing. I’ve only got eyes for you,” Dominatus said. He kissed Lucianus’s cheek from behind.
“Are you sure?”
“I am. I’m yours, just as you’re mine.”
“Then swear to me. Swear that you’ll never leave my side or let me go.”
“I swear it,” Dominatus whispered in Lucianus’s ear. “I’ll never leave your side again. I’ll never let you go. I’ll spend the rest of my life protecting you.”
Tears welled up in Lucianus’s eyes at this solemn oath, and he kept his back turned to his beloved. He took Dominatus’s scarred hand and planted a kiss on his knuckles.