Rorie (a steamy m/m Romance): Rorie

By L.L. Loremir

The last place Ewan thinks he ever wants to find himself is in bed with a royal, but Rorie's charms quickly work their magic on the loner-magician, and before long there's no turning back for either lover. Rorie is quickly revealed to be much more than the arrogant, self-entitled royal he at first appears to be. He's got a political side that isn't at all in line with the iron rule of the Mech King. When Ewan learns he's on the run, he sets off to find him, realizing how much the seemingly invulnerable royal needs him as he continues with his plan to free Nemech City of the force that's tethered its spirit for far too long.

 

A 49k word/230 page steamy m/m tale of love, passion, and fantastical intrigue

• Language: English
• Publisher: 3Distributions
• Release date: Jan 11, 2014
• ISBN: 9781502205223

Book preview

The last place Ewan thinks he ever wants to find himself is in bed with a royal, but Rorie's charms quickly work their magic on the loner-magician, and before long there's no turning back for either lover. Rorie is quickly revealed to be much more than the arrogant, self-entitled royal he at first appears to be. He's got a political side that isn't at all in line with the iron rule of the Mech King. When Ewan learns he's on the run, he sets off to find him, realizing how much the seemingly invulnerable royal needs him as he continues with his plan to free Nemech City of the force that's tethered its spirit for far too long.

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A 49k word/230 page m/m tale of love, passion, and fantastical intrigue

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Rorie

Ewan has lived alone for many years, and he likes it that way. The occasional roll in the leaves makes for a wonderful pastime, but he prefers his play mates to return to their homes after that. He's determined to replenish the stock that was seized from his mother's shop if it kills him by the time he opens its doors again. He already has more than enough to occupy his time.

The royal halfling who appears in the under-traveled part of the forest he resides in is instantly an unwelcome sight, considering the prince's father is the very culprit responsible for causing his mother's shop to be shut down in the city. It's difficult to control the way his body reacts to the sinewy prince, though, and fight it as he may, Prince Rorie's charms are as deft out of the bedroom as they are beyond it. Can he fight the deeper feelings this royal inspires in him, against all he feels about the royal family? Will he even want to when Rorie is done weaving the spell that binds his heart?

A 11,555k hot, fantasy romance novelette.

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Ewan sized the stranger, frowning deeply when he spotted the red and yellow insignia of the Mech King on the hood of his cape. He watched with disbelief as the heavy covering fell to a heap at the feet of the lithe royal poised and ready to jump from the edge of the spring.

A ripple of disgust coursed through him.

The royals were little more than thieves who thought they owned everything and could have anything they deemed their own. Bitter memories surged to the surface of Ewan's thoughts, but he pushed them back when tears pricked his eyes. He'd lost too much behind these arrogant hybrids. He wasn't about to stand for this snob's intrusion upon his land.

The fist of his free hand clenched as he eyed the trespasser, but the royal paid him no mind as Ewan approached him with the flute he'd been fashioning gripped tightly in hand. He'd been in the process of singing the day's quota into form when the interruption of resounding Limek claws touched the stone floor upon landing by the spring.

Limeks were hatched exclusively in the royal region, and they were assuredly not arriving at the mouth of his humble abode without a royal leash around their necks.

Ewan's thick fingers tightened around the thin flute, and when the irritation stirring his thoughts finally progressed to his throat, he called out, tucking the magical item into the apron he still donned, purpose roaring to life in his gut. He was tired of the royals ignoring the treaties and roaming wherever they pleased.

It truly had to stop.

You do not belong in these woods, Royal.

He couldn't be sure what kind of royal this one was as he eyed the pale-haired half-nymph. Maybe the son of a Duke or Council Mage?

I am right on the line. This spring is clearly owned by no one, per the Mech King's treaty with the people of your quadrant, Frowning one. Turn around, and go back to what best occupies you. I desire a swim, and I will have one. Right here and right now.

The royal's large, almost disarmingly innocent eyes met Ewan's with the kind of daring that only a one of his class could give in that time. Rebellion roiled in Ewan's core to be spoken to and looked at in such a way. He'd long disavowed the city court, and he didn't consider himself subject to its whims.

Oh how he loathed the dismissive way the royals spoke to people! It was so often with an arrogance that communicated a disdain for the lowly commonfolk. They all seemed to think themselves better since they'd bred with the magically-wrought nymphs their court magicians had originally bred only for pleasure services.

Now they weren't even truly men.

Their bellies incinerated the food they consumed once the nutrients were extracted, and they drank wine and liquor like they were water with no destructive effect on their primary eliminative organ.

They were something else altogether now and even looked the part with the strange metallic glitter that rose in sprinkles on their almost luminous skins, like freckles, and their hair which also mimicked metals in stark brassy tones, leaden grey-blacks, and silvers to complement their unnatural skin tones which were nearly metallic-looking under the light of the moon.

Taking a deep, steadying breath looking over the unnaturally attractive man-thing, Ewan scowled, but the royal was right. He could choose this moment to fight him, or he could wait until he'd replaced every last piece of stock the Mech King had criminally seized from the shop Ewan's mother left to him. He hadn't been to the city since the King took it over and gave it a new name.

Hadn't yet bothered to fight back.

Fighting corrupt powers took time and planning.

You have plenty of springs at your disposal, royal. I do not see why you wish to use mine.

The half-nymph grinned, his eyes flashing playfully, almost flirtatiously.

"I think I'll like the water better in this one, and I assure you, it is not yours."

Ewan frowned, ignoring the disrespectful royal as he pulled his tunic over the rippling muscles of his abdomen, his eyes returning to Ewan with daring before he pulled his trousers down. Ewan refused to watch the royal strip and enter his spring so rudely.

It was his spring.

This was his house, and no stranger had disturbed the waters for the twenty long years he'd resided by its side.

Turning with a huff, the dark-haired Ewan returned to the small house beyond the den that enclosed the spring, resolving to roll up a dried batch of soma leaves as soon as he was well away from the arrogant royal violating his waters.

––––––––

Ewan started when he heard the insistent knock at his door, shaking off the throes of sleep with a barely conscious reluctance. One didn't ignore visitors in the late of night in his parts. He'd long mastered the ability to wake at least as much as necessary to maintain a healthy awareness of his surroundings.

His eyes blinked rapidly to shake the sleep from his mind, and he leaned up on his arms in his bed, looking quickly to the windows, confirming the late hour by the midnight shade of the sky. Sighing, he threw off the thick, emerald covers keeping his body toasty warm and made his way to the door to answer the call.

Ewan's wide eyes narrowed when they met those of the royal intruder, and he folded his arms over his chest protectively.

What do you want, Royal?

My Limek's gotten off of its ties, I'm afraid, and I won't have a way into the next town until the boats run again. A storm is on the horizon, and most services have closed until it passes over the quadrant.

So it was, and it served the royal right didn't it?

And the man-thing, if he could even be called that, needed to keep true to the reality of the lands. This was no true quadrant. There were six land borders; the Mech King was just too much a coward to brave the flying Hanu and the Mer kinds who would love nothing more than to drag each royal daring to breach their waters down to the depths of the aquatic world they ruled.

Looking the royal over, Ewan sighed and resolved to do the thing that separated his kind from the royals, even if it made his mouth bitter. He'd at least give the half-man a blanket and some fruits to tide him over until the storm passed, but the born tempter would sleep in the spring he so coveted, rather than the comfort of Ewan's house. His ownership of the latter was indisputable, and he would not have that over-written.

Have you eaten?

Not since earlier, but I'm not one for an appetite. My body uses up all that enters it. One meal can tide me over for days.

I'm aware of the differences in your physiology. I'll gather some things, so you don't freeze or starve. You can meet me at the spring, Ewan told him, unmoved by the flicker of disappointment in the other male's eyes. Giving him a curt nod, he closed the door and set to finding an old blanket he wouldn't miss if the spoiled stranger made off with it, and a bowl he'd also just as soon discard, so he could fill it with fruits.

He made the royal wait for the better part of an hour before he emerged at the mouth of the den, his eyes widening to find the royal naked and swimming in the hot spring, looking like a male nymph in its waters, his silvery hair spreading out from his head like long, floating wings when he turned on his back, floating above the clear, bluish-green pool.

Ewan swallowed his initial reaction to the intruder and stepped forward, clearing his throat before he claimed the royal's attention.

Your fruits and a long blanket. You can bunch up the ends, and tuck it under your head, to make it more comfortable. I'm sure you're used to more lavish things.

The royal rose upright in the waters and trained his eyes on Ewan.

Most kind of you, he said, but his eyes had other messages in their depths.

Ewan was uneasy as he held the royal's gaze, and he strained against the sight of the water reflecting the slight light of the moon rocks. They cast an almost ethereal glow from the edges of the den onto the skin of the half-nymph floating in the water before him, a silvery trail of his hair now hanging wet and heavy from his crown, billowing out at the ends behind him on the water's surface.

I'll bid you good night, he said shakily, starting when the royal male sighed and cocked his head to the side before he lowered himself more deeply into the water, submerged himself fully, and swam to its edge.

The royal's pretty face broke the surface of the waters again before Ewan had a chance to recover himself and depart, and he climbed out of it just as speedily, gracefully perching his lithe form at its edge.

Ewan tried to force his eyes from the thick member that sat lazily against the top of the royal's thighs. The other man was completely and unapologetically naked, and it was clear he wanted Ewan to see every inch of him.

The old need for attention, then, Ewan considered, coming back to himself and gritting his teeth. Setting his jaw, he clenched his fists and backed away from the arrogant half-nymph who'd nearly pulled him into his spell.

If I have offended you, I am sorry, the royal said too late, realizing that he'd somehow flicked the half-on switch in Ewan all the way to its off setting. His eyes searched Ewan's who no longer showed indications of a visible internal struggle when the half-nymph reached for his tunic and pulled it over his head. Maintaining Ewan's glare, he kicked his legs from the spring next and slipped trousers over his sinewy legs.

Your accommodations are more than hospitable, and I do appreciate them, he added as he'd slinked his pants over his wet, tightly-muscled thighs.

Good night then, Ewan managed, unsure what else there was to say but strangely feeling a tug of regret when he realized the royal who'd invaded his spring actually possessed manners.

Will you stay? Maybe we can share the fruit and some wine? I'd like the company if you wouldn't be troubled by it.

Ewan's eyes averted to the smooth, stone walls of the den, and he sighed, feeling like he might regret what he said next. It was easier maintaining a brusque facade when he was responding to arrogance and insult. The royal's subdued tone and manners were quickly disarming him.

The fruits are for you, but I'll take a swig of wine, he relented finally.

Splendid, the royal replied, beaming, and Ewan watched him hurry over to the pack he'd set by the wall near the Limek's abandoned ties to retrieve a bottle of vino.

It's from a few towns over, he informed Ewan, sounding somehow nervous but dignified. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm sure it will smooth the nerves well enough.

Ewan frowned slightly. It's not as if he should have expected the royal to share the good stuff.

Taking his shoes off, he settled at the water's edge and pulled off his boots, so he could rest his feet in the waters. He might as well take the full load off of his shoulders for the short time he had until morning came and duty called again.

A drink would be nice, though the last person he wanted to have it with was the man at his side. It had been awhile since he'd had wine. It was expensive, and the fiend owed him something for sullying his waters so presumptuously.

You first, the royal insisted, passing the bottle into his hands with an encouraging smile.

Ewan wasn't sure he liked the look the young man was giving him, but he accepted the bottle and tugged the rope-cork from its top. Without looking at the royal, he took a healthy swig then, and after a lingering moment, passed it back over to the royal halfling, somewhat begrudgingly.

He caught the rise of the royal's smile as he took the bottle in hand and raised it to his lips before extending it back to Ewan.

I didn't know there was anyone living around here, he said conversationally.

I don't see how that can be true, Ewan answered without raising his eyes, his gaze fixing upon the surface of the water. Your majesty keeps extensive maps, does he not?

He does, the royal answered without protest. "But,