Macedonia, Late Winter, 339 B.C.E.

--Alexander's PoV--

Months had passed and still it seemed as though Hephaistion and I had just found one another. We spent every day together, as much of it as we could. And our nights were much the same way. He had become a permanent fixture in my bed since we had shared our first kiss all those weeks ago.

I loved to have him around me at all times.

His personality clashed with mine in a most beautiful way. His body was the same, harder muscled than mine. And his soul was a calming force to my own befuddled one.

The situation between my father and I seemed to only worsen. He was always causing me to jump to my mothers defence which drove him to be angry with me.

And today, of all days, my eighteenth birthday, had been no different.

Hephaistion and Saprykin had dragged me forcefully away from yet another confrentation with my father and dumped me unceremoniously on my bed.

Saprykin had left at my demand, leaving Hephaistion and I alone again.

He watched me from the door as I lay on my stomach, arms curled about my pillow, seething. I could tell that he was hesitant to come any closer to me. I was angry and had a few drinks in me. But the anger that had filled me but minutes ago had driven the feeling of uphoria from me.

After a minute of watching me, I could see him reach for the door, "Don't." I said roughly. He looked back at me and I tured my head to him, feeling tired and worn at how tonight was shaping up to be.

He stared at me for a moment before slowly walking towards the bed and climbing up next to me.

I lay my head down and faced away from him. Instantly, his fingers slid into my hair, running the slightly curled strands through his fingers.

The feeling of him touching me was enough to send the most delightful sensations flying through me. I could feel the tension in my body begin to ebb away as his hands moved down to my shoulders where he began to rub.

My eyes fell shut and I moaned softly as he found a knot and set about undoing it.

I have no idea how long I lay there with his hands on me. I scaresly remember him taking my tunic off and straddling my waist. So lost was I in the feelings that I still am astonished that he can draw from me, that I hardly realized that I was beginning to grow aroused.

When his lips began placing gentle kisses on my shoulders, I began to come back to myself.

With his mouth came the awakining of my most delightful reality. No matter what, I had Hephaistion. Someone who would never judge me.

My eyes began to fill with tears and I bit them back, angrily. I would not let Philip draw such emotions from me. He was not worth my time.

Hephaistion, sensing my inner turmoil, lay himself down on my back, wrapping his arms around my chest. He kissed my ear and whispered to me, "You are a beautiful man, Alexander. Our people should be so lucky to have you as their king."

"He doesn't approve of this." I said, my voice dry.

"I know." He continued on quietly, "But my feelings cannot be detered by anyone other than you." At this, my eyes filled once more and I reached under me to take his hand. "No one can change the feelings I hold for you within me. I will love you until my dying breath."

The tears I had been holding back slipped from my eyes. I squeezed his hand and he held me close against him.

"I love you." I whispered.

I felt a kiss pressed to the back of my neck, "I love you as well, my Achillies."

--Hephaistion's PoV--

Slowly, Alexander rolled onto his back, making careful not to push me off of him in the process.

His hands came up behind me and pulled me down on top of him again. I laid down and wound my arms around him once more and felt him kiss the top of my head as his fingers roamed over my back.

He shifted beneath me and I felt his arousal. I smiled softly, nothing could stop Alexander's lust. I suppose that's one of the things that has drawn me to him. His passion.

I pushed myself up until I was eye level with him. I smiled and leaned in to kiss him.

His mouth met mine eagerly, and we quickly fell to each other. He rolled me over, onto my back with him on top of me.

My tunic soon met his on the floor and he situated himself between my legs, rubbing himself against me.

We were soon wrapped in an embrace so like the others we had found ourselves in, but this time I wanted more than just his mouth on me. As he began moving his way down my body, I grabbed him by the back of his neck and pulled him back up.

By this time, we had both forgone our clothes and lay naked with one another.

Our mouths met hotly, "Alexander..." I said, kissing him again.

"What is it?" He asked, desperate to please me.

"I want you." I told him honestly.

His eyes met mine, obviously he sensed that there was more to my request than simply wanting to feel his mouth on me.

He bit his bottom lip and I took the chance to turn him onto his back, leaving him with me between his parted legs, which he quickly snapped closed as much as he could.

Our eyes met and I could see that he was nervous. I kissed him softly and caressed his cheek, bringing my hands to his thighs, I gently pushed them apart again.

"Hephaistion, I don't-" He started, but I cut him off, pressing my mouth to his.

When I broke away, his eyes were wide and hazy as I started to kiss my way down his body. My moaned helplessly as my mouth engulfed him, sucking needfully. His fingers gripped my hair, holding me close to him as his hips bucked slightly.

I slid my fingers into my mouth, alongside his arousal, making sure to get them well covered. He seemed to understand what I wanted to do before I even did it.

He pulled back hard on my hair as I brushed my fingers against his opening.

I gasped in pain as he yanked my head back, our eyes meeting. "No, Hephaistion." He said strongly. And even though his voice was strong in his refusal, I could see the desire my actions sparked in his eyes.

I would have him this night.

--Alexander's PoV--

He ignored me completely and pressed his fingers inside me. I gasped and shoved at his shoulders, pushing him away from me, "Hephaistion!" I growled.

But when I tried to move away from him, he grabbed my arms and wrestled me back onto the bed. My heart rate quickened and I began to fight against him. His hands clenched around my wrists and he flipped me harshly onto my front.

My heart lept to my throat and panic began to sieze my body as he shoved my legs apart and climbed between them.

"I said no!" I cried, trying to force myself up.

But it was to no avail, he was stronger than I was and he knocked me quickly back down. "Hephaistion, stop! Stop this!" My voice was beginning to waver in fear that he would rape me indeed.

His fingers slid inside me, stretching. I cried out, clutching my pillow towards me. When I felt his arousal pressing against me, tears began rolling down my cheeks, "Hephaistion, please..." I whispered.

His body pressed down against my back, kissing my neck, "Calm yourself." He said softly.

"Hephaistion, please, I don't want this." I pleaded.

"Shh..." He whispered, smoothing my hair back from my forehead, "You do."

I shook my head, "No, I... I don't think I'm ready."

"Hush..." He said quietly, kissing my shoulders, "You do want this. I won't hurt you."

"I know you won't." I whispered, really knowing that he wouldn't.

With my confession, he slid his hand down under me and grasped my arousal, stroking softly. I groaned and arched my hips back.

He moaned at the movement and rubbed me harder.

Soon he had me groaning uncontrolably, my hesitence of before all but forgotten as he bit gently along my neck.

I spoke not a word when his other hand set about stretching me again. And I didn't moan at all from the harsh discomfort I felt as he slid himself inside me.

When he pulled me to my knees, I bent forward farther, trying to ease the pain as much as I could. I knew what I was feeling was not what Hephaistion had promised me I would feel none of. He had held up on that promise.

Dispite the biting pain I was feeling throughout my lower body, I could feel the warm sensations of arousal steadily building inside me.

The only sounds that were audible in the room were that of our moaning and the quiet words he mumbled against the back of my neck.

I was in awe of what I was experiencing. After half a year of wanting so badly to be with him, it was finally happening. I could feel him inside me, becoming harder with every thrust into my body. I moaned loudly and rocked back against him.

We continued on like this for a few more minutes before he groaned and pulled out of me entirely. When he didn't return, fearful that something was wrong or he had changed his mind, I turned my head, rasping, "Why do you stop?"

His hand grasped my shoulder and he lifted off of me, "Over. Turn over." He whispered, "I want to see you."

I rolled onto my back and he lifted my legs, up onto his shoulders, thrusting back inside of me. I cried out as he touched some place inside me I had not felt when he had me on my stomach.

My hands shot to his shoulders, pulling him as close to me as was comfortable. I leaned up the rest of the way to kiss him. "I love you." I gasped against his lips.

"I love you too." He said, pushing harder.

His eyes fell shut as he lowered his head, consentrating on the feel of everything we were experiencing together.

I too allowed my eyes to close as he thrust inside of me over and over again. The pleasure inside my body was reaching an unbearable height, "Hephaistion..." I hissed.

As if reading my mind, he took one of his hands from my shoulder and replaced it around my throbbing erection. I cried out at the feeling. All too soon the pressure erupted and I came with a strangled cry at his mouth.

Tensing around him, he thrust only twice more before I felt him let go inside me; heat searing my insides.

His mouth came down upon mine as he emptied himself into my receptive body.

After a long moment, my legs slid from his shoulders and he collapsed against me; wrapping me in his warm embrace. I clutched him to me as I panted softly in the afterglow of our passionate encounter.

His mouth covered mine again and he kissed me hard, hands coming up to push back my hair and kiss my forehead, "I love you, Alexander."

His smile warmed my heart as much as his words, "I love you, Hephaistion. I always will."

Smiling softly, he kissed me again and laid back down on top of me, fingers running lightly over my arm.

I had never before felt so satisfied with anything. I closed my eyes and held him tight to me. And just as I was about to fall asleep, I heard him whisper, "Happy birthday, my beloved."

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Author's Note (1) I'll be taking a short break, no longer than a week to sort out where I want to go from here or if I want this to be the end. Either way, I'll post in no more than seven days and give my verdict on what I shall be doing. Thank you all for continuing to read.