I couldn't believe my ears. I couldn't believe my eyes. Heck, I couldn't even believe my sense of feeling as Wilhelm raised my hands to his hips, slowly leaned down and kissed my lips.

When Wilhelm messaged me, I thought maybe he wanted to take some space because of the pictures resurfacing on the internet. But this - this was something I was not expecting at all.

He pecked my lips softly first, and then kissed me again, and again, and again, going deeper every time.

"You reckon the paparazzi has gotten a picture by now?" he asked, "or should I give you another kiss?"

I giggled, "Let's give them a better pose."

I raised my arms and wrapped them around his neck, kissing him again.

"Mm, I like this," he moaned softly in his throat. My heart swelled to double its size. So this is what it is like to be with a not-anxious-Wilhelm.

"I guess that's enough," I chuckled, because I had a feeling he was going to give me neck kisses if I didn't stop him.

"Sure baby," he said, smiling so wide, it made me want to cry with glee.

Wilhelm slipped his hand in mine and we walked through the streets. It was dark now.

"Let's have a coffee?" he asked.

"Sure," I said. Wilhelm gently traced little circles on the back of my hand with his thumb as we made our way to a cafe I liked going to.

"Wait a second," I said, letting go of Wilhelm's hand.

"What happened?" he asked.

"I - uhm, wait," I raised my arm and looped it through his. Wilhelm raised his eyebrows.

"I've always wanted to do this," I said, a crimson blush creeping up my cheeks.

"You are adorable," he said, gently fixing his arm to a more comfortable position. I buried my face in his arm, "shut up."

"What? You are. I am not joking," he said. I slapped his arm playfully. "Idiot," I said.

"Your idiot," he said without missing a beat.

I wanted to melt into the earth so badly.

We walked into the cafe and ordered two coffees. I chose a seat in the corner; it was my favourite place to sit as almost no one ever paid attention to this side of the cafe.

Wilhelm and I sat opposite to each other. As I looked at him, a bout of sadness suddenly overwhelmed me. His mother was going to treat him like shit for this. I strangely felt guilty.

"What's going on in that beautiful head of yours sweetheart?" Wilhelm asked, reaching for my hands over the table, and fondling my fingers.

"Life is going to turn into hell for you," I said, not able to hold eye contact with him.

"Hey," he said softly, "look at me."

I did. He gave me a small smile, "You choose the wars you fight for."

The weight on my chest got heavy.

"Listen, let's not brood in the few precious hours we have before the photos go viral, yeah?"

I nodded.

"And anyway, as long as you loop your arm through mine when we walk down the streets, I am going to be alright."

I immediately blushed, making Wilhelm chuckle.

Our coffees arrived. I had barely lifted my cup to my lips when a ping went off on my phone. I pulled it out of my pocket and saw Sara's name flash on the screen.

Sara

Are you coming back home tonight or what?

I put down the cup on the table

Simon

Yeah, most probably

Sara

Mom is asking if Wilhelm will join us tonight?

I was about to type 'i don't know' when I felt a slight touch on the bare skin of my shin. I nearly dropped my phone.

I squinted my eyes at Wilhelm who was smiling notoriously.

"Who are you texting?" he asked.

"Sara," I replied, "she was asking if I - what the fuck," I breathed out as I felt Wilhelm's toes gently pulling up my trousers underneath the table. He moved his toes up and down my leg, teasing me so sweetly, I wanted to lean back and enjoy it.

"What are you doing?" I asked, holding back a sigh that was threatening to escape my lips at any moment.

"Take off your shoe," Wilhelm said, nonchalantly taking a sip of his coffee.

I complied immediately.

"Good boy," he said, licking his lips, continuing his teasing.

Those goddamn lips.

He looked at me, his eyes shining- he was fully aware of the effect he had on me.

Wilhelm scooted over till he was sitting right beside me. His hand sneaked under the tablecloth and clutched my thigh.

Oh my god, no, no no.

"Wille, stop," I begged as his hand ran up and down my thigh.

"Do you really want me to stop?" he asked, taking full pleasure of my helplessness.

"No," I said defeatedly, "Let's leave. Let's go somewhere."

"Where do you want to go now?"

"Anywhere that I can undress you," I said, placing my hand on top of his.

Wilhelm grinned, nothing good was going on in his head.

"Let's go to my place," I said.

"Of course, darling," he said; he had gotten exactly what he had wanted, "let's go then."

...

I knocked the door of my house and Sara opened it.

"Hey," Wilhelm greeted.

"Hello," she smiled back.

We walked inside. Wilhelm was a little stressed, maybe he was apprehensive of my mom's reaction.

"Hi Wilhelm," Linda said, she was carrying a pile of plates in her hands that looked on the brink of falling.

"Hey Linda," Wilhelm nodded, then before I could, he rushed over and took some plates from her hand, "here let me help."

"Thank you so much Wilhelm," she said, making me feel warm inside. She still likes him.

When they came out of the kitchen, I looked at Wille suggestively, "So, uhm, wanna go to my room?"

Wilhelm was about to speak when mom cut him, "Not just yet. Simon, go to your room, I want to talk to Wilhelm for a second."

"Well, can't I just stay?"

"He will join you soon, don't worry," mom replied.

I sauntered back to my room and pressed my ear against the door.

"Listen, you are a sweet boy," I heard my mom's voice. Okay, she was going to lecture him. Wow.

"Thank you Linda," Wilhelm said immediately, and mom laughed politely.

"I know that you like my son a lot, so here is a relationship advise from me," she said, "Handle people with kindness okay? You are young, you will make mistakes. It's alright, but there comes a time when you start taking the people in your life for granted, and if you can keep your relations strong through that phase, you have passed."

I could imagine Wilhelm nodding.

"Simon likes you a lot as well, he talks about you literally all the time. Be kind with his heart okay?"

I slapped a hand across my face. Why does mom have to expose everything about me?

"Okay now go. Have a good time. You can stay for dinner as well if you want."

"Thank you so much Linda. Thank you for everything," I heard Wilhelm's voice and then his footsteps approaching the door. I quickly sat back down on the bed.

Wilhelm walked inside and took off his sweater, "so you talk about me with your mom, huh?"

"What?" I said, faking a frown.

"Oh, come on, stop acting like you didn't have your ear pressed against the door the whole time."

"I didn't," I said, blushing.

"You are going to lie to me now?" he said, tilting my chin up with his finger.

"I - ," I breathed as he planted hot, wet kisses down my neck, "I am not."

"Say what again?" he asked, sneaking his hands underneath my t-shirt.

"Fuck," I sighed, helpless to his touch. "Wille," I moaned, his touch sending electric bolts through my body. I twisted my hands in his hair, "I want you."

"I want you too, Simme," he said, taking off my t-shirt.

"Sit down," I said, making him lean back against the wall as I sat down in his lap. He kissed my lips while I fumbled with the buttons of his shirt.

"You are so beautiful," he sighed as I left small kisses down his chest.

"You too," I replied, my hands memorizing every crest and groove of Wille's skin.

And for these few moments, we could forget that he was Prince Wilhelm, and I was Simon, the non-res from Bjasta. We were just two lovers tonight.