Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Intruder
In the dead of night, Alaric tossed and turned like a beached whale on a stormy sea. Sleep eluded him as he pondered weighty matters. Earlier, he’d been jawing with Kastiel ’til all hours about this and that - especially now that they’d returnedorio victus from the great war to their palace home. As crown prince, duty called no matter how weary, even if exhaustion begged for respite.
Alaric sighed heavily as he recalled his earlier conversation with Kastiel. The man seemed preoccupied, almost distracted by some unknown force. It was as if Kastiel had been bewitched by Carlton himself! Alaric shook his head ruefully at the absurdity of it all.
He knew full well that whatever Carlton had said to Kastiel must have been utter nonsense - the kind of drivel that would make even the most sane person question their own sanity!
As if on cue, a fragment of memory from just an hour prior resurfaced in Alaric’s mind. He recalled how Kastiel had hesitated before issuing a cryptic warning to Carlton as he departed from the study room:
"Your Highness! Be careful! You... you... accidentally unleashed something that should’ve stayed locked up tight!"
Alaric blinked in bewilderment at this cryptic proclamation.
"...Huh???"
Too late, Kastiel had already fled the scene like a startled deer. Alaric blinked rapidly in confusion as Kastiel beat a hasty retreat from the study room without further elaboration. His loyal confidant was acting more and more bizarre by the minute, leaving him curious.
Now Alaric lay in bed, his mind spinning with all manner of ridiculous possibilities. He couldn’t help but feel a twinge of regret for allowing Kastiel and Carlton to spend so much time together this night. Who knows what other preposterous notions had taken root in Kastiel’s brain during their little chat?
But what in the seven hells did Kastiel mean by that cryptic warning? Alaric’s curiosity was piqued, but alas, the sandman had other plans. Drowsiness crept up on him like a sneaky thief, stealing away his ability to ponder further.
Despite his best efforts to unravel the mystery of Kastiel’s words, Alaric found himself overwhelmed by sheer exhaustion. The day’s events - not to mention Carlton’s antics - had taken their toll on both body and mind.
Alaric hoped that his frosty demeanor and harsh words towards Carlton would serve as a stern punishment. After all, the current version of Carlton... was head over heels for him! It was almost too much for Alaric to handle.
Until Carlton snapped out of this bizarre behavior or regained his senses, Alaric decided he would maintain an aloof attitude. No more coddling or special treatment!
With this newfound resolve firmly in place, Alaric finally succumbed to slumber’s sweet embrace. As he drifted off into dreamland, he silently prayed that when morning came, Carlton would have returned to his usual cold and aloof self - no longer an extraterrestrial being from some far-off galaxy.
But lo and behold, an hour after Alaric had drifted off to dreamland, a shadowy figure managed to infiltrate his royal chambers with the stealth of a ninja. The intruder crept towards Alaric’s bed with predatory intent gleaming in their eyes.
As the mysterious visitor climbed onto the bed, Alaric found himself ensnared in a most peculiar dream. In this fantastical vision, he was confronted by a bride - but not just any ordinary bride! This one was decidedly masculine, with bulging muscles that strained against the delicate fabric of the wedding gown.
The hulking groom-to-be pinned Alaric down and flashed him a devilish grin.
"Come now, hubby-to-be! The big day is here at last. Let’s tie the knot already!"
Alaric blinked in bewilderment as he took in his surroundings. They were apparently in some sort of lavishly decorated wedding venue, surrounded by family members and nobles all eagerly awaiting their nuptials.
To his horror, Alaric realized he was clad head to toe in a dapper groom’s outfit. Cold sweat trickled down his brow as the gravity of the situation sank in.
Just as Alaric began to fear that this was no mere nightmare but some twisted reality, he suddenly jolted awake with a gasp. His heart raced wildly as he blinked against the darkness, trying to make sense of his surroundings.
And then, like a punch to the gut, Alaric realized that someone - or something - was sitting astride him in the shadows. A silence scream escaped his lips as he struggled beneath the weight pressing down upon him.
"@#$%_£¥@#$%#!!!!!!!!!!!"
But the mysterious figure quickly clamped a hand over Alaric’s mouth, silencing his startled cry.
"Shhhh! Not a peep, my love. If you alert the guards, we’ll have quite the ruckus on our hands - and I don’t think you’d want that."
Alaric’s eyes widened in recognition as he took in the familiar features of his longtime companion. Relief washed over him... but only briefly. The unpredictable Carlton of late was far more perilous than any common foe; one could never anticipate his next move or absurdity.
Even though they were close friends, Alaric would not stand for such brazen intrusion into his private chamber at night, let alone having Carlton perched atop him like some sort of nocturnal predator.
Alaric arched an eyebrow sternly at Carlton’s audacity.
"I must ask again: what in God’s name are you doing here at this ungodly hour? You know full well that if we’re caught in this compromising position, I’ll have no choice but to mete out severe punishment. Are you prepared to face the consequences?"
Carlton simply shrugged, as if the notion of punishment was mere trifle.
"I just wanted to sleep with you. Why should I be punished for that?" he asked, his tone casual and unperturbed.
Alaric’s body stiffened like a board and his face flushed crimson with embarrassment.
"You... you can’t be serious! We’re friends, and we’re both men for goodness’ sake! This is utterly unacceptable!"
Carlton drank in the sight of Alaric’s flustered, red-faced expression, finding it immensely arousing. This bashful version of Alaric was a refreshing change from the bold, forward man he knew in the future. Carlton reveled in this momentary power dynamic shift.
He leaned in close to Alaric’s ear, his warm breath tickling the sensitive skin as he whispered huskily,
"I just wanted to curl up next to you and hold you close... did you really think I had something more scandalous in mind? Although now that you mention it..." His voice trailed off suggestively as his fingers traced teasing patterns on Alaric’s chest. "...perhaps there are other activities I’d rather engage in."
Alaric blushed even deeper at Carlton’s brazen touch and flirtatious tone. Annoyance flared within him and he struggled beneath Carlton’s weight, trying desperately to dislodge the infuriating man from atop his body.
"Get off me at once!" Alaric demanded indignantly. "You’re far too heavy! I won’t allow you to stay here or do anything untoward!"
Carlton merely tightened his grip on Alaric’s wrists, pinning him down with ease. A wicked grin spread across his face as he made an outrageous demand,
"If you don’t want me to follow through with my sleeping arrangements, then give me a kiss. Just one little smooch and I’ll abandon this idea entirely."
Alaric’s mind flashed back to their heated kiss that morning, stealing his breath away and making him tremble uncontrollably. He shook his head vigorously in refusal.
"No! Absolutely not! No kisses!"
"Oh come now, we shared a passionate kiss this very morning. There’s no need for such maidenly shyness," Carlton purred, his voice dripping with salacious intent as he leaned in closer to Alaric.
Alaric shuddered at the perverted laughter that sent icy tendrils down his spine. As Carlton brought his face mere inches from Alaric’s own, the crown prince quickly turned his head away. Undeterred, Carlton tried again and again to capture Alaric’s lips in a heated kiss, but each time Alaric deftly avoided him by whipping his head in the opposite direction.
Their heads darted back and forth like a bizarre game of cat and mouse until both men were left breathless and exhausted from their exertions. The constant motion had taken its toll on them both.
Carlton finally let out an exasperated sigh, clearly frustrated by Alaric’s continued resistance. He shifted off of Alaric’s body, allowing the prince some much-needed respite... or so it seemed.
Who would have guessed that Carlton was still so stubborn and determined? He simply repositioned himself, draping his arm around Alaric’s waist in a possessive embrace.
"Since you refuse to grant me even a single kiss, then I shall simply sleep beside you instead," Carlton declared with a hint of petulance in his tone.
Alaric renewed his struggles, trying desperately to break free from Carlton’s iron grip. However, the once-even playing field had shifted dramatically. Carlton’s strength seemed to have grown exponentially while Alaric remained same. After a futile attempt at escape, Alaric finally resigned himself to his fate and ceased resisting.
Alaric, trying to maintain a semblance of composure, issued a stern warning to Carlton as he settled in for the night.
"Listen here, Carlton. I mean it this time - do not lay a single finger on my body while I sleep. Understood?"
Carlton merely smirked in response, his eyes gleaming with mischief and ill intent. It seemed the warning had fallen on deaf ears.
No sooner had Alaric uttered those words than Carlton’s hands began their nefarious journey across Alaric’s slumbering form. They crept and crawled like tiny spiders, seeking out every sensitive spot they could find.
One particularly bold hand even dared to venture further southward, skirting dangerously close to Alaric’s most intimate area. The prince jolted awake at the touch and immediately began swatting at Carlton’s wandering appendage like a man possessed.
Throughout the long, torturous night, Alaric found himself engaged in an endless game of whack-a-mole with Carlton’s roving hands. Every time he managed to bat one away, another would pop up somewhere else entirely.
By the time dawn broke and light began to filter into the room, Alaric was a wreck. His eyes were so darkly circled that he resembled a panda who had just gone through a particularly rough mating season. Even his fellow pandas would have looked at him with pity and concern.
Meanwhile, Carlton slept on undisturbed, his face split in a wide, satisfied grin as drool leaked from the corner of his mouth. The very picture of innocence... if one ignored the fact that he had kept poor Alaric up all night with his relentless groping...
