CHAPTER 571: HELD IN PLACE

Without checking the time, Luca could’ve sworn they’d been there for ages.

Because each slow inspection that felt like a caress took so long that the guide thought he’d pass out.

Not long because he was repulsed, but long because Xavier would use just the right amount of force to keep him in a very odd state of awareness.

Just like now.

Xavier’s hand slid from Luca’s upper back to his arm, fingers curling lightly as he guided the shorter man’s elbow to bend. From behind, he traced the crease of the joint with slow, deliberate pressure, his thumb following the inside seam of the suit.

"Here," he murmured, voice low against Luca’s ear, "the pull will affect your precision. Especially when you lock or extend your arm under strain." His palm pressed forward, keeping Luca’s elbow bent so the suit tightened around the area.

Luca’s breath hitched. "I... see..." His voice was already thin, the heat crawling up his neck making it hard to think.

"Good. Keep your arm like that."

Before Luca could recover, Xavier’s hands moved lower to his sides, tracing up along the ribs in a slow, unbroken line until they reached the underarms.

"Arms up."

Luca obeyed automatically, raising them above his head. The fabric shifted with the motion, hiking up just enough to squeeze against him. The sudden constriction drew a sharp gasp from his lips, and his head fell back instinctively.

A broad chest caught him, cushioning the motion.

"That reaction," Xavier’s voice was velvet and steel in equal measure, "is exactly why this cut matters. Note it down, Luca."

Now the dazed guy barely heard him over the pounding in his ears. His finger quivered against the tablet as he tried to obey, the strokes uneven, yet he still managed a trembling nod.

The next touch came at his lower back. Xavier’s thumbs pressed inward, catching him entirely off guard. The sudden contact sent a jolt racing up his spine, his knees nearly giving out.

"Hhh—ah..."

The sound made Xavier pause. "Are you alright?" His tone was gentler now, though his body stayed close behind. "Do you still want to continue?"

Luca turned his head slightly, meeting that steady gaze looking down at him. His knees felt like jelly, his entire body flushed, but the face before him—his favorite face—pulled words from somewhere deep in his chest.

"Please... continue to instruct me."

The corner of Xavier’s mouth curved, but his eyes darkened in a way that made Luca’s stomach twist with heat.

"As you wish."

His hands slid forward, the spot between thumb and forefinger pressing into Luca’s waist from both sides. The pressure made Luca’s body jolt, his hips bucking back without thought.

The unintentional movement pressed his behind against Xavier’s body—and he froze when he felt it. The unmistakable hardness.

Wide-eyed, Luca looked back over his shoulder.

Xavier’s expression was a mix of apology and heat. "Sorry... for being unprofessional," he said softly, though the smile tugging at his lips was far from repentant. "It is impossible for my body to follow my mind when faced with such a trial."

Luca’s blush deepened to his ears. His breath came quicker, but his gaze stayed locked on those eyes that always made his toes curl.

Xavier, still flush against him, one arm braced on the wall and the other circling him, leaned close enough for Luca to feel the shape of his lips as he spoke. "If you think it’s too much, we can stop now."

Luca’s heart pounded. He realized Xavier was giving him a choice. The weight of that settled in him for a moment before something inside tipped.

He pushed back with his lower body, pressing deliberately into the hardness behind him. The sound that rumbled low in Xavier’s chest made his own breath hitch.

Then, with hands trembling, Luca reached behind to take one of Xavier’s arms and guided it forward—until his husband’s palm rested over the front of his suit, right where his own arousal strained.

He shivered, speaking in a whisper. "We’re the same."

Xavier’s fingers tightened fractionally, and the sound Luca made in response filled the small hideout like a quiet confession.

That large palm stayed where Luca had guided it, cool and deliberate against the front of the suit. He cupped him gently at first, his thumb brushing in slow arcs over the sensitive material.

Oh no—why there? His hands twitched against the wall. Don’t make a sound. If I make a sound, he’s going to—

He covered his mouth quickly, muffling the startled sound that threatened to escape.

Luca reacted with his whole body. His back arched, his breath caught, and his knees weakened until he sagged against Xavier’s chest.

Xavier leaned close to his ear. "We might need to think of a good way for this area to have a wider range of movement," he said smoothly, as if making a technical observation rather than drawing ragged breaths from his wife.

Luca swallowed hard, trying to focus as Xavier’s hand finally eased away.

"But I will praise you for the hip creases," Xavier continued, his voice dipping into approval. "They are important for leg control."

Large hands settled on Luca’s hips, tracing along the seams with precision. "If you angled the cut diagonally from here—" his thumb pressed at the crest of Luca’s hipbone "—to here—" his forefinger followed down toward the inner thigh "—you would give the muscles their proper range. If you pair that with stretch inserts when other material is lacking, it would work even better."

From there to... oh stars— Luca’s head tipped forward, eyes closing as the touch shot straight down his spine to his tailbone.

Focus.

Just focus on the words. He’s talking about... fabric?

Yes. Fabric. Not... not the way his hands feel.

A hot pulse made his grip on the wall tighten. His breath came unevenly, soft sounds catching in his throat no matter how he tried to bite them back.

"Note it down," Xavier murmured, fingers ghosting over the inside of his thigh before retreating.

Luca fumbled for his terminal projection, blinking away the moisture in his eyes as he wrote with shaky precision.

Then Xavier’s hands slid lower, one steadying Luca at the hip while the other guided his right leg to bend.

"Knee creases," he said, voice calm despite the heat in his eyes. "You need them here for stability during rapid dismounts."

To demonstrate, he balanced Luca on his left leg, lifting the right until it was folded close to his chest. The suit tightened in several places at once, including along Luca’s inner thigh and lower back.

"A-ah!" Luca’s yelp broke free before he could stop it. The sensation was dizzying, the pressure and pull making his mind swim.

Xavier smiled faintly behind him, steadying his balance with one arm wrapped securely around his waist.

Next, Xavier’s attention dropped to his ankle. "And here. If there is no allowance, it will bind when you point your toes."

He shifted the raised leg slightly, curling Luca’s foot forward and then straightening it again. The movement tugged at the suit in an almost teasing drag, rubbing against his already straining front.

Luca’s chest rose and fell rapidly, a broken breath escaping him. "Hhh—Xavier..."

"Last part," the prince murmured, his voice dipping lower. His stance adjusted so that his hardened length pressed firmly against Luca’s behind through the fabric. His hands slid to Luca’s front again, cupping him through the sensitive suit.

"In crucial moments," Xavier said, thumb brushing in a maddening stroke over him, "this design will be a problem. It will be impossible to... do anything about it."

The pressure at his back paired with the careful, steady touch at his front made Luca’s body jolt. His head fell back onto Xavier’s shoulder, and he couldn’t stop the small, helpless moans that spilled out despite his best efforts to stay quiet.

No—no, no, I can’t—

The suit magnified everything. Every pass of Xavier’s fingers made the tension coil higher, his body thrumming on the edge. And when Xavier’s hand finally closed around him with more certainty, Luca’s restraint shattered.

His release hit in a wave, his body trembling violently against the prince who held him through it.

Xavier steadied him easily, one arm wrapped firmly around his middle, the other gentling his touch as the aftershocks rolled through him. He pressed a kiss to Luca’s temple, then his cheek, and finally his ear.

"For now," he whispered, "that is what I think we could improve on."

Luca was still hazy when he murmured, "What about you...?"

Xavier’s lips curved faintly against his skin. "It is alright... unless we are only planning on testing once?"

The flush that rose up Luca’s neck deepened, but the little inventor, still catching his breath, squared his shoulders. "N-no, there are improvements to make..." he said softly, already thinking through the adjustments.

Xavier chuckled low, his hands still resting possessively on Luca’s hips. "Good. Then we have more tests ahead."