Chapter Five: Milkshakes and Lovemaking

Loras's Point of View

I am blow drying my curls in front of the mirror in the bathroom. Steam from my shower has left condensation on the mirror. When I wipe it with my hand I see Renly's reflection. I turn off the blow dryer and make eye contact with him through my mirror.

"What the hell happened to your back?"

I stare at myself in the mirror. I am covered in bruises from head to toe, quite literally. My back has it worst of all. Quentyn hit me with a wooden bat of some kind, baseball I think. It happened yesterday after detention right before Renly picked me up.

"Is this why you wouldn't let me touch you all week?"

I nod.

"Loras, what is this?"

I put the lid down on the toilet and sit. Renly shuts the door behind him and leans against it to listen. I come clean about everything, but I avoid looking at him. I doubt I could stand seeing the disappointment and anger on his face. When I am finished I finally look at my fiancé.

"I'm going to kick this guy's ass. I am going to ask Ned to find someone else to take care of Robb this morning; I need to have a talk with him."

"No. I don't want you talking with him. I'll handle it. Robb needs you more than I do."

Renly cups my face in his hands and kisses me. I kiss him back, but I feel less than worthy of his love. I lied to him all week. He should be mad at me.

"No. You're my fiancé, Loras. It's my job to protect you. You don't get it. You never did. God, I'm such an idiot, how could I not have noticed something was wrong. You were distant all week. I'm sorry, Loras."

"You called me your fiancé."

"Yeah so, that's what you are."

"You usually call me your flower. Am I not your flower anymore?"

"How could you even think that?" Renly kisses me again. I embrace him. He holds me. I can hear his heart pounding in his chest and it's comforting. His warm hands rubbing on my bare back feel good against the bruises. The mixture of pleasure and pain kick starts my hormones. I make an involuntarily noise somewhat between a purr and a moan.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

"Why would you keep this a secret from me?"

"I didn't want you to turn it into a big deal. I thought I could handle it."

"It is a big deal. And from now on I want you to be honest with me."

"I tried to kiss Robb," I confess.

"I know, Robb told me."

"I am so sorry I lied to you."

"Get ready for school. Gendry is going to take you. I have to get ready to baby sit Robb."

There is an orchid inside my locker, but no note. This is ridiculous. I just want to be left alone. I am in a relationship. Whoever this person is needs to back off. I look around the hallway, but the only person staring at me is Quentyn Martell. I scowl at him. He slams his locker shut and walks toward me.

"I'm not in the mood," I tell him.

"Then I'll give you the weekend off. That's a pretty flower."

"I'm not big on orchids."

"Maybe the sender didn't know what type of flower you preferred."

"Definitely roses," I say.

"What color?" Quentyn asks. I raise my eyebrow in curiosity. He proceeds about how each color means something different. I smile.

"I like white roses."

"Are you going to the game tonight?" Quentyn asks.

"Yes, but I'm not going to the dance."

"Why?"

"My date is too old and Robb is so sick so I didn't really want to go alone."

"Oh."

The bell rings. Quentyn walks me to class without me asking him too. Quentyn invites me to have lunch with him. He sits on the lower platform, it would be like abandoning my popularity to sit with him, but I know my group would forbid him from sitting with us. So after I go through the line I join Quentyn and one of his friends at his table. It quickly stirs up gossip at the neighboring tables. I guarantee this is going to be hot news for the rest of the day.

"Your hair looks good today," says Quentyn. He smiles at me then busies himself with some fruit on his plate. This is the fourth compliment he has given me today. I open my juice bottle as I try to think of what to say.

"I used a blow dryer this morning."

"It shows."

I taste whatever meat we are having today. Beef by the taste of it, it needs a little salt. I toss a carrot slice in my mouth. Quentyn is watching me eat.

"So, uh, could I give you a ride home after school?"

"Okay."

It's against my better judgment to say yes, but he is being oddly sweet to me today. I know it could be a trick to get me to let my guard down, but I am sick of fighting.

"Great, I figured we could go see a movie until the football game."

"I really don't want to go to the cinema in my school uniform."

"Oh I understand. I will take you directly home then, unless you want to get some ice cream."

"Chocolate?" I ask.

I can never say no to ice cream, especially chocolate.

"Whatever you want."

"Well, I don't see a problem in eating ice cream in my uniform. Tomorrow is laundry day anyway."

"Great," Quentyn says.

He acts differently the rest of lunch. I frequently catch him staring at me. He usually knocks something over trying to act casual when I spot him, but it just makes him seem pitiful. I am a little relieved when lunch is over. I dodged a messy bullet. Quentyn's best friend ends up with ketchup all over himself. When I stood up to leave Quentyn knocked it over by accident. He is clumsier than I thought.

I go through the rest of school trying not to think about what ice cream with Quentyn may bring. This could still be a trick, but he seemed really genuine. He's being very sweet to me today. How could I possibly say no?

When the final bell rings I sprint to my locker. I shove all the books I am taking home for the weekend inside and pick up my orchid. I run to the closest bathroom to check myself out. My curls have stayed intact. I take a deep breath and get ready to meet Quentyn.

He is staring beside my locker when I emerge from the bathroom. When he smiles I feel a pang of guilt deep within my stomach, followed by the muscles in my face forcing my lips to curl upward. He is sort of cute.

"Ready to go?" Quentyn asks.

"Yes."

I am a little cautious when I walk to the parking lot with him, but I get to the car with nothing bad happening. Maybe it's not a trick. Maybe he really is trying to apologize. I sit down in the passenger seat.

"What's your favorite band?" Quentyn asks.

"The Ironborn," I say.

"I have their latest album, want to listen?"

"Yes."

We sing along with one of mine and Robb's favorite songs. I have not thought about Robb since this morning. I hope he's doing well. Quentyn is a good driver. He drives better than Robb and Gendry both. I feel safe in his car.

"Why don't you drive?"

"I panic too much when I am behind the wheel."

The ice cream place is empty save for a few families with little kids. Quentyn and I take a table in the back after we order. I sip my chocolate shake and listen to him talk. I run my left hand through my hair as if it's an involuntarily muscle action.

"That's a nice ring," Quentyn says.

"Thank you, it's my engagement ring," I say.

"You're engaged?"

"Yes, his name is Renly. He's great."

"You're too young to be engaged."

"I'm seventeen. It's going to be a long engagement."

Quentyn nods, but he still looks bothered by something. I ignore it and drink my shake. I sip it too fast and get a brain freeze. Quentyn laughs at me.

"He's a lucky man," says Quentyn.

"No, I'm the lucky one. He's the greatest. I don't deserve him."

Quentyn reaches out to move a strand of hair behind my ear. The contact makes my stomach jump. My heart is pounding like bongos. I do everything I can to keep from blushing.

"Not even the stars twinkle as much as your eyes do," Quentyn says. That was pathetic. I smile at the cheesiness of it. "That was lame wasn't it?"

"Just a little," I say.

"Well, I'm trying to impress you. I've never had ice cream with a prince before."

"Maybe you should try for less cheese next time," I say.

I flirt. I have not flirted with anyone but Renly and that cute boy at the Farmer's Market. It feels nice to flirt casually and not have it mean anything. Renly does it all the time to charm people into giving him what he wants. So I should be able to do it too.

"Loras, I'm sorry."

"It's forgotten."

"No, it's not. I was a jerk. I was a massive jerk. I was the king of jerks. I'm really sorry."

"You're lucky Robb wasn't at school this week."

"I'm not scared of Robb Stark."

"You should be."

"I'm more scared of this fiancé of yours. If I were him, I'd be insanely jealous that you were having ice cream with someone else."

"Renly's not the jealous type."

We finish eating and I have to snap Quentyn out of some sort of trance before he's ready to go. He zoned out a lot when we were talking. I wonder what he was thinking about. He opens the car door for me.

When we get to the apartment he opens the door for me there too. He offers to walk me to the door, but I tell him go bye at the car. I doubt Renly would be too thrilled if I showed up with the boy who beat me up every day this week.

I carry my orchid and my backpack up to the apartment. I cannot stop thinking about how kind Quentyn was toward me this afternoon. I had a really nice time with him. It almost felt like a date.

"Where the seven hells have you been?" Renly asks, throwing his arms around me and pulling me into a bear-hug.

"I was out."

"He was out with that Martell creep, I bet. They had lunch together," Gendry says. I spy Margaery giving me a dirty look. Have I betrayed their trust or something?

"Were you?"

"He took me out for ice cream to apologize for everything he did this week."

"And you bought that did you? Loras, did you stop and think that it might have been a trick? Get it through your pretty head that not everyone is a good person."

"Of course I thought it was a trick. I'm not stupid, Renly. Nothing happened. We had ice cream and we talked. That was it. I'd like to think you could trust me."

"I trust you, my flower. I don't trust him."

"I'm sorry. Next time I will call you."

"That's all I ask. I was worried sick."

Renly kisses my forehead. I hug him tightly. I fit perfectly in his arms. This is a safe, warm place, so why do I feel so lightheaded and confused? How come I cannot get Quentyn off my mind? I squeeze Renly tighter and try not thinking about Martell anymore than I can help. Renly kisses me and I melt in his arms.

"I love you," I tell him.

"I love you, my flower."

He's calling me his flower again. I cried myself to sleep last night because he had not called me that in two days and I thought he was mad at me. It's reassuring to hear my favorite pet name come from the lips of someone I love.

"Do you think I have pretty eyes?" I ask pulling out of Renly's arms.

"I think everything about you is beautiful," Renly says.

"I don't want to meet this mystery admirer at the football game. I want to stay here with you, if you'll have me."

"That's our cue to exit, Mags," says Gendry.

"Of course I'll have you."

Renly carries me to his bedroom like I am a bride. He tosses me down on the bed. My eyes target his as our hands begin to undress each other. I pull his lips down onto mine with force. I taste him with a hunger I have not felt since our first time. Renly licks my lips begging my mouth to open wide for his.

He pushes his knee up and rubs is against the forming bulge in my underpants, while still kissing me and I moan into the kiss. Renly smiles and proceeds to press light bites and kisses down my neck, over my chest and even lower all the way to the hem of my underwear. I squirm and buck my hips up, longing for more friction. I want Renly to touch me more, to take me and I know he can sense it because he slides my underpants down and takes me in his mouth. I don't even try to hold back from moaning as Renly sucks on my manhood, licking the underside.

It's been some time since we have done it. I'm so eager to finally become one with my fiancé. I tangle my hand into Renly's dark hair and pull him up in a sloppy kiss. He reaches for the night stand, fumbles through the top drawer and pulls out a condom and lube without breaking the kiss.

I whimper when I feel one of Renly's lubed fingers pressing against my entrance. Soon enough he pushes in another finger and this time I can't stop myself from whining. Renly looks at me with worry in his expression. I give him a reassuring smile and push against him. He fingers me for a while longer. I frown as he suddenly pulls his fingers out but everything is forgotten when I feel him pushing himself inside me and I can't do anything then scream out in pleasure. His thrusts are long and hard, I grind my hips against him. I don't want to seem too eager but all I can say between moans is a whimpering "Harder."

Renly smiles pressing a kiss on my forehead and pulls me up. I roll on top to ride him. We have not done it like this before, this way Renly reaches much deeper. I feel shivers all over my body while slide up and down on Renly's manhood rolling my hips in circular motions.

Renly sits up and holds me while he pushes in harder, and harder. His groans turn me on even more and the combination of the sound Renly makes, pain and pleasure cause me to become even harder. My cock is twitching and already leaking precum. Renly uses his hands on me. His strokes on the burning shaft are in the same rhythm as his body is working beneath me and I lose control over the sounds coming from my mouth.

I cry out Renly's name when I come into his hand. Shortly after he gives a long moan, followed by a deep groan and releases his seed inside me. I fall against his chest panting heavily feeling sated and happy. We cuddle for a short time and I kiss my lover's chest when he stiffens against me again. Renly smirks as I push him back inside of me to prepare for the next round.

"I want to try with you," I say after round two ends and we are cuddling in bed. Renly laughs and kisses me. I have only topped Renly once and that was during our first time. Every time since then I have been the receiving partner.

"Next time, my flower, we must get ready for the football game. Margaery is cheering."

"Okay, but I will hold you to it."

"Get up, my flower; I have to take a shower."

"Can't we take one together?" I ask.

"God, you're cute and unbelievably hard to say no to, but I am afraid I must. If we shower together you know where it will lead and I really need to be clean."

"I guess I will go take one in the other room," I say.

I am walking funny. It hurts in a good way, but I can barely walk. Renly laughs like it's the funniest sight he has ever seen. I throw my shoe at him.

"You're adorable."

"Shut up."

Renly buys my ticket to the football game. I am so glad he is not opposed to holding hands in public. We might have a problem. A little girl stops me for my autograph near the bleachers. Her mother asks for a picture. I never deny children when they ask me. I let the little girl sit on my knee and I kiss her on the cheek.

"Thank you, Prince Loras," the little girls says.

"You're welcome, sweetie."

"Daddy, I got the prince's autograph."

"You're so good with children," Renly whispers.

"They're cute. Let's go find a seat."

We sit in the third row of the cheering section. I spot the cheerleaders warming up on the field and wave to both Sansa and Margaery. Arya and Meera climb up to join us. I am disappointed. I was hoping Renly and I would be alone so we could cuddle, but I enjoy having the girls around.

"How's Robb?" Meera asks.

"His fever broke this afternoon," Arya says.

"Wait, you haven't been to see him?" I ask.

"No. He doesn't want me to see him like that. I think it's silly."

"Honey, if you saw Robb the way I saw him these last couple of days you'd fall out of love with him, trust me," says Renly. I laugh.

"So are you going to meet up with your secret admirer during half time?" Meera asks. She puts her hand on my knee. I put my hand on top of hers.

"I don't know. Why should I? I'm already in a relationship."

"Because you want to know who it is, that's why."

"I don't really care who it is," I say.

"But I do, so you're going to find out."

"I guess that answers your question."

The team sucks without Robb. Not even Gendry whose massive size makes him the perfect defensive can save the team from failure. I focus on the cheerleaders. Margaery is the loudest one. I am not surprised. At half-time I think we are all relieved to see the band take the field.

"Okay, I'm going to go solve the mystery of the secret admirer."

I stand up. Renly pulls me down onto his lap and kisses me.

"Just so you don't forget who you're going home with."

"I'll be back."

"I'm coming too," says Arya.

I nod. We walk side by side in silence to the designated meeting area. Arya waits by the lamp post while I go on ahead. She is near enough if I need her but far enough to give me and this stranger privacy.

"I thought you wouldn't come," says the secret admirer.

I look around for the location of the voice. Out of the darkness walks Quentyn Martell. Arya was right. I should have guessed this.

"You seem surprised," Quentyn says.

He steps close to me and touches my face. I stare into his eyes until he tries to kiss me. I turn my head and his lips touch my cheek.

"Don't."

He starts stroking and petting and touching me. I smack at his hands but he persists.

"I've wanted to do this since I first saw you. God, you are so sexy. I can't stand it."

His hand slides up my shirt. I back away. I refuse to fight him tonight, but I will not let him take advantage of me.

"What are you doing?"

"Don't you like it when I touch you?"

"No, I don't."

"You need to be touched. Someone as beautiful and sexy as you need to have a real man touch him."

"I have a real man. You can't do this."

"I love you."

"You don't know me."

"I know I want you."

"That's not love, Quentyn."

"I don't fucking care. You're going to shut up and let me touch you or things are going to get a little rough."

I shove him. He grabs me forcefully and pins me against the side of the concession building. He puts his hand over my mouth to keep me for screaming for Arya. I bite his hand but he never moves. I wanted to avoid physical conflict, but he leaves me no choice.

Quentyn unzipping my pants is the last straw. I kick him in the stomach. He steps backwards catching his breath, but tries to come at me. I throw him over my shoulder and run off. I grab Arya by the hand and we disappear into the crowd.

"Are you okay?" Arya asks.

"No."

"Loras," Renly calls to me. I have never been happier to see him. "You were gone a while I was about to come look for you. Are you alright? Why are you your pants unzipped? Did someone touch you? Whose ass do I need to kick?"

"Can we just watch the rest of the game? I want to see my sister cheer."

"Of course, my flower, anything you want."

"Hold me," I say.

I lean on him. A pair of strong arms wraps around me protectively and Renly whispers sweet words in my ears, but never tries to kiss me. He just holds me. Sometimes that is all it takes.