Free Song of the Spring Moon Waning by E. E. Ottoman Page B

feel exhaustion making his limbs heavy, and the corners of his eyes prickled painfully. He stood and went to find Liu Yi to help him carry the desk and papers back inside. Wen Yu was too tired to talk much as they moved the desk, and he repacked the books of poems back into their box.
    "How is your progress?" Liu Yi asked, and Wen Yu gave him a small smile.
    "I'll be back tonight." He hesitated for a moment and then dropped a soft kiss onto Liu Yi's cheek.
    "You can stay here," Liu Yi said. "Sleep, and I'll make you breakfast for when you wake."
    "I need to study." But Wen Yu knew he was too tired to get any work done.
    "Come." Liu Yi took him firmly by the hand and led him through the main room to the doorway at the back.
    Beyond the door was a small bedroom that contained a few chests for Liu Yi's clothing and a table with combs, hairpins, jewelry, and a polished silver mirror on it. The bed took up most of the room, a heavy wooden thing. It looked more like an alcove then a bed, surrounded by three heavily carved wooden walls with the ceiling made out of a silk canopy. Set into the two side walls were circular cutouts in place of a headboard and footboard, almost like small windows. The one open side of the bed was facing out into the room, and Wen Yu could see it was made up with a silk comforter and pillows.
    The bed did look tempting, Wen Yu had to admit. It had been a long time since he'd slept in an actual bed, although the one at his parents' home was not nearly so large. Liu Yi did seem to have many soft-looking pillows too.
    "Sleep a little." Liu Yi let go of Wen Yu, smiling at him. "This way, you don't have to bother walking all the way across the city, and I'll have food ready when you wake up. Or would you prefer if I slept with you?"
    The idea of Liu Yi curled against him as he slept made Wen Yu feel warm all over, and he looked away. "I really shouldn't stay."
    "Please." Liu Yu closed the distance between them, hands framing Wen Yi's face. "Rest a little, at least."
    He kissed Wen Yu on the lips and then turned, ducking out of the room. Wen Yi looked from the bed to the doorway and weighed his options. It would be a long trek back to his rooms, and that prospect was becoming less and less appealing by the minute. Finally making up his mind, Wen Yu pulled his robe over his head and, after folding it over one of the chests, climbed into the bed. The silk blankets felt wonderful against his skin, and the pillows were just as soft as they had looked. Wen Yu was asleep as soon as his eyes closed.
    He woke to the smell of something delicious and saw Liu Yi lying curled on the bed next to him. Liu Yi was still fully clothed, now in a fresh pair of robes, and lying on top of the blankets, but his hair was down around his shoulders again. He must have sensed Wen Yu watching, because he opened his eyes and smiled.
    "Hello."
    Stifling a yawn, Wen Yu smiled back. "Hello. How long did I sleep?"
    "Almost all day."
    When Wen Yu made to roll off the bed, Liu Yi held out a hand, pushing him back down. "You seemed like you needed it, so I thought it best to let you sleep."
    "But all day? I shouldn't have intruded that long."
    Liu Yi rolled, pushing Wen Yu back against the bed, and straddled his waist. Bending, he kissed him on the lips. The kiss was hard with nothing chaste about it. When Wen Yu made a startled noise, Liu Yi took the opportunity to pry Wen Yu's mouth open and thoroughly explore it with his tongue. Wen Yu's hands settled on Liu Yi's waist, and his eyes fell shut as he let his own tongue press into Liu Yi's mouth in return. They broke apart to breathe only when Wen Yu was on the verge of becoming lightheaded.
    "Having you in my bed will never be an imposition." The tip of Liu Yi's tongue darted out to wet, pink lips, his hair falling across his face, and Wen Yu ached with the need to sink his fingers into it and taste Liu Yi's lips again.
    There was nothing to stop him from doing either, so he let himself reach