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It had all been the fault of Aymeric's damned voice. 'Twas truly a testament to his lover's strength of character that he refrained from enthralling all of Ishgard to his will with it, for it certainly had that effect upon Estinien himself. Smooth as Thavnarian silk it was, forceful with an edge of sweetness, and when Aymeric lowered his register just a touch it could fair convince Estinien to agree to just about anything.
And so he had agreed, hopelessly captivated by the shape of pretty words on his lover's full lips, when Aymeric had proposed a new game for them to play while they were parted once again by Estinien's Scion business.
They had been lying in Aymeric's spacious bed, twined together after their lovemaking just minutes before, with Aymeric's hand curled in his hair. Even the blizzard that raged outside the window could not dampen the warmth between their bodies, enclosed in a moment of tranquility that belonged to the two of them alone.
Aymeric had broken the languid silence first. "I shall miss you most ardently while you are away," he murmured, the words soft in Estinien's ear.
Estinien hummed, his head pillowed upon his lover's chest. His limbs were still filled with the warm lethargy of their shared pleasure, and he found himself disinclined to rouse his body or his mind.
Aymeric, however, was not so satisfied. "What of you, my dear? I would very much like to hear your own words, to know if you think of me in turn."
Estinien blew out a breath through his lips, coaxing his reluctant mouth around his words. "Aye. I think of you each day."
Aymeric's fingers ran through the length of Estinien's long hair, sending a light shiver down his back. "I find myself curious, dear Estinien. You are always so insatiable when you return to our bed, and I have wondered just how often you resort to your own touch when you are alone."
Though he had only just been joined in the most intimate of embraces with the man at his side, Estinien felt a warm flush begin in his ears at the unexpected turn in their conversation. Was their passion to kindle anew, or was Aymeric playing some other game with him? The heat only spread further along his cheeks at the thought that he would be equally pleased with either scenario.
"...I already said that I think of you each day," he mumbled at last. "I am sure a mind such as yours is capable of working it out."
Aymeric let out a soft chuckle, showing no signs of shame even as Estinien's face burned all the hotter. "I did not realize you were so needy," he teased. "'Tis a shame I must miss out on seeing you in such a state."
"Hmph. It cannot be helped," Estinien grumbled, though his skin began to prickle in anticipation of what Aymeric would say next.
"'Tis rather flattering to know that you long for me so. But I must confess I greatly prefer to be the one who pleases you," his lover said, his hand moving up to rest at the back of Estinien's neck, in a seemingly innocent gesture that nevertheless made his breaths waver. "It would settle my mind if you would refrain from touching yourself during our time apart."
Estinien bit his lip as the words, so calmly delivered, sent a stronger shudder down his spine to settle in a ball of tension twixt his thighs. "'That is impossible," he protested, though he made no move to pull away from Aymeric's grip. "You cannot seriously expect me to–"
"Oh, but I do," Aymeric said, and gods, there it was. That drop in tone, words rolling from his lover's silver tongue in a purr, making Estinien's mouth go dry. "That is an order, my dear."
That damnable voice roiled within Estinien's mind and loosened his own tongue before he could even think of holding it. "Aye… as you wish, my lord."
He flushed anew as soon as the words left his lips, his treacherous cock giving a renewed twitch of interest that he knew instantly Aymeric had felt, pressed as close as they were. His lover had only smiled, though, and kissed his forehead with a tenderness that melted the edge he had taken on mere moments before.
And now, after some days had passed, there Estinien lay. Stiff upon the bed in Sharlayan, doing his best to think of absolutely anything other than how much every ilm of his being longed for the touch of his lover, while the unassuming little pearl on the nightstand bored into the edge of his vision.
He was failing miserably at his self-imposed task, of course. He had not lied that night in Aymeric’s embrace; his lord commander was ever in his thoughts. A brightly colored trinket in the market, an outfit on a stranger, the title of a book that seemed immeasurably dull to Estinien’s own eyes but that he knew would light Aymeric’s up with curiosity… the most mundane things had always brought that striking blue gaze, those sweet lips into his mind’s eye. But where his idle musings upon his lover’s beauty usually brought him comfort and pleasure, denied as he was in their game, they only drove him nearer to losing his head entirely.
For the thousandth time, the thought sprung up in his mind that he could simply relieve himself right then and there, and it wasn't as if Aymeric would know. Their game was purely one of trust and orders followed, and Aymeric had not even gone so far as to bind Estinien in any way. 'Twas merely a fancy Aymeric had devised on the spot no doubt, and he would not hold it against Estinien if he chose to back out. And if Estinien chose to play within the rules of their game, Aymeric had set them himself; if Estinien could truly take no more, he was free to call Aymeric at any time via linkpearl to ask for his relief.
And yet each time he began to seriously consider it, that damned voice rose up again in his mind, staying his hand even as his need threatened to consume him from the inside out. Aymeric would be attentive to his desires, of course, but he would also tease him, a worse fate than any other punishment devised within their lovers' games. And so, the linkpearl had spent much time being picked up and put down in the first week of Estinien's assignment.
That had been effective for a while, but after a week had passed Estinien’s own mind began to work to undo him. Only the previous night, he had awoken with a start in the midst of a rather disturbingly vivid dream just moments before his unconscious body would have tipped over the edge. His cock had ached, heavy and insistent between his legs as he rolled onto his back, panting.
Twelve above, he had thought in a daze. What even were the rules of their game in such a situation? Was he to call Aymeric up and report that a mere week apart had undone him so completely that he had spilled in his dreams like a boy of a dozen summers? Somehow, the prospect of such a conversation was even more humiliating than simply ending the game in its entirety.
So he had thought, the product of a full day of reasoning in somewhat less than his right mind. Yet at the evening hour, faced with the prospect of going to bed as usual in such a state, Estinien found himself torn. 'Twas never easy to give in to his own weakness, though Aymeric certainly made the process much more enjoyable.
He rolled onto his side, his gaze once again landing on that small pearl, thoughts filled anew with his lover. Aymeric was there, in a sense; tethered to the pearl through some incomprehensible magicks, malms away yet so close he could simply reach out and…
His arm moved without thinking. The pearl fitted into his ear as if it belonged there, and his finger tapped the rhythm near automatically. As it thrummed to life, Estinien’s heart leapt into his throat, a sudden embarrassment threatening to overtake him. Mayhap Aymeric would be so occupied with his endless paperwork that he would not even answer, and Estinien could pretend this lapse of self-control had not happened at all.
He had no such luck. The soft sound of the swirling aether in the pearl lasted but a few short heartbeats before cutting off as the call was answered.
"Hello…?"
Seven swiving hells, Estinien was so pent up that even a single, unassuming word spoken in that damned voice was enough to stir his blood. "Aymeric," he forced through gritted teeth.
He could nearly hear the smile unfurling on his lover's face. "Ah, Estinien. I have been wondering when I might hear from you."
Estinien clenched his free hand in the blankets beneath him, doing his best to temper the prickling feeling of shame in his gut at the idea that Aymeric had anticipated his failure of will. In that case, he surmised, 'twould be best to get this over with quickly. "Aymeric, I need–"
Aymeric cut him off with a soft tsk, stopping the words in his throat. "Have patience a moment longer, if you would, my dear. I have missed you, and I would like to speak with you while we have this opportunity."
Estinien clenched his jaw, muscle straining with the force of it as he bit back an audible groan. Aymeric knew everything, godsdamn him; he could cast his gaze into the depths of Estinien's soul even through the barrier of magically mediated distance.
Yet Estinien fell all too easily into his role in their game, the familiar words of his script tumbling from his mouth. "Aye, my lord."
"Very good," said Aymeric, light and sweet, as if he was wholly ignorant of Estinien's uncharitable thoughts. "It has been a dull week in your absence, my dear. The restoration projects are proceeding nicely, though each of the lords make regular complaints that their own preferred areas are not receiving enough attention. One of these days I fear Lucia may simply decide to toss the Count de Dzemael from the window. And of course, there is ever the matter of imports to feed Ishgard's citizens. I am pleased that our firmer bonds with each nation in the Alliance has smoothed the process greatly from how it was previously. Now, my love, what of your own work? Is all well in Sharlayan?"
Even mired in the tedium of the chosen topic Aymeric's voice, so lovely and clear, was already doing terrible things to Estinien's thoughts. So entranced was he that he failed to notice the space left for his own contribution until Aymeric pointedly cleared his throat, the sharp noise in his ear jolting through his body.
"'Tis fine," he grunted. "I wield my lance where I am needed." Despite all his best efforts, he could not shake the image of his lover from his mind's eye. Even now, he could see the way those soft lips would curve into a fond smile, the way those long lashes would flutter as Aymeric relaxed into his chair.
Aymeric let out a rich chuckle, drawing an answering pulse of heated blood from between Estinien's thighs. "And have you been good for me, Estinien? Have you done as I asked?"
"Aye," Estinien gasped. The prospect of relief, so tantalizingly close if only Aymeric would allow it, made him burn all the hotter. "I can bear it no longer, Aymeric. Please."
Aymeric hummed, the deep vibration of it making Estinien's taut muscles tremble. "'Tis rather gratifying to know that you miss me as I do you, my love. Though you have done admirably thus far, I cannot help but wonder if I should, in fact, allow your release."
"Gods, Aymeric, please. I cannot keep you from my thoughts. Each night I need you all the more." He knew he was talking nonsense, knew he would be consumed with embarrassment the moment this was over, but his scattered mind no longer cared about such things. He would speak any words his lover desired, agree to anything that would bring him relief. "I will do anything you ask, I swear it, just let me bring myself off, I beg you."
The linkpearl was silent for a long moment, and just when Estinien was on the verge of truly humiliating himself in his desperation, his lover spoke once more. "Very well, my dear," Aymeric murmured in his ear. "Let me hear every moment of your pleasure."
Estinien nearly tore the tie of his trousers in his haste, forgetting them entirely once they were round his knees and his swollen, aching cock was wrapped tight in his fist. One frantic pull, then two, and then–
He lost all control of his body as the tidal wave of pleasure slammed into him, back arching like a bow as he spilled hot over his stomach. A noise escaped his lips, some wordless exclamation of relief, or perhaps it was his lover's name. He could not differentiate the two between the pounding of his heart in his ears, the tremors that shook his fingers long after he floated back down from his climax.
"Oh my," Aymeric said, his voice light with amusement as Estinien caught his breath. "I must admit, I did not realize you were quite so affected, my dear."
Estinien forced a vague noise from his throat between pants, his mind a swirling mess of sensations without a single coherent word in its midst. Even with his release quelling his most pressing need, Aymeric's voice yet tugged at something deep in his chest.
"Are you quite alright, Estinien? I shall remain as long as you desire." All the force had left Aymeric's tone, leaving it soft and sweet with affection.
"'M fine," Estinien mumbled. He was sure he had never come so quickly in his life, even in his teenage years. Aymeric had never cast judgment on him for his desires, of course, but a hot wave of embarrassment bloomed across his face as he opened his eyes and saw just how much of a mess he had made of himself.
"'Tis good to hear," Aymeric said. "I would not wish to torture you overmuch. Though it gladdens my heart to hear words of such longing from your lips."
Estinien could only hum in acknowledgement. The last vestiges of his conscious mind wanted him to get up, to clean himself, but his limbs were simply too heavy, growing heavier still as Aymeric spoke to him. A soft laugh came through the linkpearl, his lover drawing amusement from the situation no doubt, yet Estinien no longer had the capacity of mind to care.
A moment passed, and just as Estinien was about to drift into sleep, Aymeric's voice once again pulled him into consciousness. "I could not help but hear, in the midst of your pleasure, a promise to do anything I ask of you," his lover murmured, opening Estinien's eyes with the teasing edge of his words. "If all goes well, you shall return to me after another week. I am certain you are capable of following my order until then… are you not?"
Damn his unfair, beautiful lover, and damn his unfair, beautiful tongue. Estinien was utterly powerless before him, bound by his longing and desire, and once again he found himself only able to agree. "Aye, my lord."