It was a day of rest for most of the administrative staff at the palace in Romany. So Seiichirou was home and in bed late (for him) for once. Aresh actually refused to let him get out and told the servants to bring them *late *breakfast there.

Sunlight shone in through the windows onto the bed, making it quite warm, and there was a faint pleasant scent of fresh bread and baking wafting through the building’s halls. The sheets were comfortable, too, and Seiichirou supposed it wasn’t *bad *to enjoy such a place. But Seiichirou still squirmed while trapped in Aresh’s arms: Aresh was rather easy to sleep against at this point, and the warmth wasn’t a bother, but Seiichirou’s urge to get up and *do *something was strong. He didn’t like wasting the day! It wasn’t in his biology as a workaholic!

“Later,” Aresh ordered without opening his eyes as he tightened his grip around Seiichirou. “Sleep some more.” He would clearly brook no argument. He’d gotten back from what sounded like a tough monster hunting trip, so Seiichirou supposed he had the right to some rest, too.

Seiichirou was sleeping a bit more these days with more mandatory rest time from his partner, but he had years of it to make up for, so he was still tired, at times. Still, the morning was getting on! There were things to do, even if he couldn’t go to work. Or maybe he could just peek into the office briefly…

Aresh said, “If you so much as inch towards the palace, I will keep you shut in here all day.” He could of course see *right *through Seiichirou’s scheming. It was annoying.

Seiichirou winced and then grumbled in frustration, “I was just going to look…”

“And then several hours later you’d remember you had a day off,” Aresh said in frustration. “If we’re lucky.” He reached down and squeezed Seiichirou’s ass. “It’s your day off. Mine too.”

Seiichirou winced at the pinching, though he didn’t mind it, but wondered if Aresh was trying to indicate a preference for something else. “What, are we going to do it all day or something?” When Aresh didn’t respond for a while, seemingly confirming his typical preferences, Seiichirou squirmed again. “I can’t do that!” The idea was terrifying. He’d collapse and sleep the day away!

Aresh made a noise like he wasn’t happy, but pulled his hand away. “Fine. We’ll get up and have breakfast then.” And he did, eventually, get up and let Seiichirou free, but only after a few long kisses and some groping where it was very clear that Aresh would have rather stayed in bed and had sex.

Breakfast was good as usual: Aresh’s, well, their servants now that Seiichirou lived here, knew both their tastes quite well, and Seiichirou was even able to take some suggestions and try some new things that weren’t too hard on his stomach. With careful moderation and supervision, he was adjusting to magicule-laden food.

They were eating on the patio, with the sun shining down. Birds flew by and nestled in the fresh flowers. It was a nice day, nicer than any Seiichirou had at home in Japan when he ate on his own. And it was different to know that he was sitting with a man who loved him and would move heaven and earth for him in a heartbeat. One who worked *with *Seiichirou’s schedule rather than just leaving when it was clear Seiichirou’s work took precedence. Even if Aresh set his limits quite finely.

Of course Seiichirou knew his parents cared about him, and his coworkers, at least to a degree, appreciated him. But it was different feeling the warmth and affection from Aresh, and the support of the staff here. He had a good life here, and a good community.

It made Seiichirou look more sadly back on his life of lost partners who felt he was just too much with his work. But he couldn’t stay moody for long: things were too pleasant, and the food he’d eaten was too good. Even the smell of the tea was too nice.

“You’re happy about something,” Aresh said thoughtfully after he finished chewing a bit of food. “What?”

“Nothing,” Seiichirou said as he looked down, feeling a bit foolish. “Well, not nothing, I suppose.” He frowned. “I just… It’s nice here. That’s all.”

“Nice?”

“Being with you here,” Seiichirou explained. “It’s nice.” He smiled a little then. “I like it a lot.” He really did, in the end. Even if he felt like he was lazing about too much. It was hard to ignore that he was happy here, too.

Aresh gave him an unreadable look then, before glaring down at his food.

Did I fuck up? Seiichirou wondered, confused. He wasn’t talking about work or anything, just explaining that he enjoyed being with Aresh. Isn’t that what Aresh wanted?

“You say these things and make me regret getting out of bed,” Aresh said, sounding aggravated.

Seiichirou blinked in confusion, and then realized what Aresh was talking about. His own face heated.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself,” Aresh said, finally, smiling at Seiichirou, and looking so handsome in the sunlight with his expensive clothing that clung well to his muscular figure. “I want you to feel that more often.”

In that moment, looking at Aresh, Seiichirou also regretted getting out of bed, too, then, which was a bit weird. He would rather be close to Aresh, perhaps for one of his tight hugs, and… well… the sex was nice, too.

After breakfast, they ended up walking together around the grounds, which Seiichirou hadn’t seen fully before. Aresh pointed out the different flowers, bushes, and trees, named the birds they saw and heard, and talked about the land’s history, and some of his family’s history. It was all quite fascinating.

Afterward, they ended up in a sitting room for tea.

“What is that?” Aresh demanded as he turned to Seiichirou at one point with a frown. He was looking at Seiichirou’s hands, which were holding a book with a green binding.

“It’s just a history book,” Seiichirou protested as Aresh plucked it away from him. A history of economics and that sort of thing.

Aresh replaced the book with a steaming white teacup and looked very disappointed.

Seiichirou nursed his tea, embarrassed. He really wasn’t used to rest days.

“Don’t pout,” Aresh ordered. “Finish your tea.”

Seiichirou was obedient on that front at least, and Aresh finally took the empty cup and set it aside on the table. Then he leaned forward for a kiss.

Seiichirou pressed into the kiss, liking the way Aresh tasted and smelled around him, and letting himself be pushed back on the cushions. He was a bit surprised when Aresh began picking at his clothes, too, pulling them apart, and parting them over Seiichirou’s chest so that Aresh could lean down and suck kisses on Seiichirou’s skin.

“Here?” Seiichirou asked heatedly as Aresh undid Seiichirou’s pants. “On the couch?” The room was at least shut to the servants, who had no reason to bother them, but still…

“Wouldn’t be a first,” Aresh said before he tugged Seiichirou’s pants down, exposing him to the air.

Seiichirou supposed that was true, and he let Aresh move him around so that his legs were on either side of Aresh’s body.

Aresh for his part took his time marking all of Seiichirou’s neck and chest, making Seiichirou shiver in pleasure. Aresh had a gift and it was frustrating how good he was. And how aware he was of places that made Seiichirou contented.

Aresh finally sat back and undid his own pants, baring his large cock to the air before pressing under Seiichirou’s ass, pushing inside, where Seiichirou was loose from him already, due to the amount of time they spent fucking these days and their activities the previous evening. He went in relatively easily , pressing Seiichirou back against the couch armrest.

Seiichirou breathed tightly as felt Aresh fill him, the heavy weight of the man’s cock and his hot gaze becoming overwhelming.

Aresh grabbed Seiichirou’s hips, pulling him forward and back for thrusts. It meant that Aresh’s cock fucked deeper and deeper into Seiichirou’s body. Aresh himself leaned down, lathering more kisses on Seiichirou’s now sensitive neck.

Seiichirou clung to Aresh’s shirt, feeling the powerful muscles in Aresh’s body work as the man kept fucking him. If magic was moving between them for a replacement barrier, Seiichirou couldn’t really feel it. It was just comfortable. Difficult but familiar and comfortable. Being wanted this way, even at his age… it was different.

He hoped he didn’t fall asleep this time.

Aresh was sucking on Seiichirou’s ear when he came, filling Seiichirou up with his seed. Seiichirou was feeling drowsy – clearly Aresh *was *using magic – but thankfully awake.

“You didn’t come,” Aresh said eventually, sounding a bit irritated.

“Sorry,” Seiichirou said, sounding sleepy and annoyed with himself for feeling so. “I was just happy about it all. You can keep going if you want.”

“…You’re ridiculous,” Aresh said as he pressed his face to Seiichirou’s cheek. “We have the day off. You’re going to come. All right?”

Seiichirou thought that Aresh’s determination was funny and a bit cute, so he laughed and said, “Okay,” before grabbing Aresh’s face for more kisses. He honestly was looking forward to it all.