Beautiful Dreamer

Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm

THE peasant boy sat dreaming of a different life where magical carriages were pulled by imaginary cars and the buildings were so high that they wore clouds as wreaths. In that life, he had found a love so true and rare that it transcended space and time. This love was powerful enough to sustain him through the everyday drudgeries and give him hope when his stepfather sought to stamp out such fruitless emotions. His stepfather was not a cruel man but a practical one with strong beliefs. He had been saddled with a child not his own, whom he had to raise in a world that was often cruel to the unprepared. Unfortunately, this child was a dreamer and such individuals rarely fared well in the world. So the stepfather went about each day trying to teach the child to walk with both feet firmly planted on the ground. It was not an easy task, nor was he appreciated for his efforts. The young man sat by the pond and sighed. He respected his stepfather and was thankful the man had come to love his lonely mother. He had even come to love the man. But he hated that the man could not accept him. Worse yet, his mother was convinced that her husband had the right of it, and it hurt the young man deeply, knowing that no one loved and accepted him for who he was.

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm A single tear of misery slid down his face to fall into the pond. As it made concentric rings in the fluid surface, the peasant boy wished for someone to love him just like in his dreams. He was a score and a year again. He should have had a wife and family by now, and yet, he sat in the meadow escaping from the chores he’d been assigned since he was a young boy. Now that he was a man, he felt that things should be different. He even had to come in when he was called. How he yearned for things to change.

“HE’S here again,” growled the Right Reverend Ezekiel Simpson to his wife. “I have complained and complained to the hospital, but they say that they cannot do anything since he is not breaking any rules. I told them they could say he was loitering, but the hospital says they have no cause. They shouldn’t need cause. He’s a degenerate, and they should not protect him. I tell you, Delores, this country will end up another Sodom and Gomorrah. The land will be covered in salt, and then where will we be?” Delores glanced at the man her husband had pointed out and inwardly sighed. Derek Princeton did not look like a degenerate as he sat quietly in one of the plastic waiting room chairs sketching on a pad precariously perched on his knee. He was dressed simply in a T-shirt and jeans. His dark, wavy hair was neatly pulled back into a thick ponytail. He wore no earrings or piercings. There were no tattoos or

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm radical clothing that said he liked to dance outside of the line. She had even met the man, years ago when he first became her son’s roommate in college. He was a nice, polite person, and she had been happy her son had gotten such a roommate. She had heard horror stories about the vicious fights between college roommates. From the first moment they met, Derek and her son Tyrell had hit it off, becoming best friends overnight. Tyrell could not go five minutes in a conversation without Derek’s name popping up. So it was little surprise that they had decided to move in together in a cheaper off-campus apartment their sophomore year. No one suspected anything out of the ordinary when they both decided to stay at school in the hopes of picking up some extra credits towards possible double majors. Then last summer, Tyrell fell from a ladder while hanging a sign at work. He’d hit his head on a plastic chair, knocking himself out. To everyone’s dismay, he had never regained consciousness. She and her husband had rushed to the campus hospital to oversee her son’s care. The hourlong drive had seemed to take forever. Derek had been there waiting. His eyes red, he informed them of Tyrell’s condition: coma. Delores had been devastated. She had wanted to feel near her son and asked to stay in his room at their apartment. To her surprise, Derek had mumbled something about them only having a one-room apartment to save on

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm money. Despite the oddity of it, Delores had not questioned Derek, and he offered to sleep on the couch, giving up his room and bed. Her husband, Ezekiel, had frowned but said nothing as they spent the day filling out paperwork and consulting with doctors. Ezekiel waited until they got to the apartment late that night to divulge his suspicions. The bedroom only had one big bed, and after a little snooping, Ezekiel found enough evidence to confirm that Ty and Derek were lovers and refused to sleep in such a den of iniquity. They had fled the place, and she had wept while her husband prayed for her son’s soul. As soon as it was deemed safe, Ezekiel had Tyrell moved to a hospital nearer their home and away from Derek.

“WHY are you crying?” The serf, believing that he was alone, jumped to his feet and looked around frantically for the author of the question, his heart banging in terror. The query seemed to have come from the sky, but it was a sunny, cloudless day. There had been no shadow passing overhead or hint of magic to signal the approach of something fantastical. He had no idea where it could have originated. Behind him, he heard the rustling of foliage and then a soft thud as if something heavy had fallen to the ground. Turning, the peasant saw a handsome man standing beneath a tree. It was obvious that he was a noble; his hose and

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm doublet were of the finest quality. They were also royal purple, marking him as part of the royal family. The serf had never seen royalty, and he stood before remembering his place and falling to his knees as a good peasant should. Yet, even on his knees, the arresting picture of the handsome prince refused to be banished from his mind’s eye. The prince was a truly impressive figure. His clothes told the story of an athletic man. The hose clung to long, muscular legs, delineating their supple strength. The doublet served to accentuate broad shoulders and narrow hips. The prince’s face was also quite remarkable. It was leonine in shape and strength from his tilted golden eyes to a wild mane of thick, wavy dark brown hair. His nose was flat and wide, his skin a deep nearly bronze tan, and his lips, wide and soft, were stretched into an inviting smile. The prince barely made a sound as he approached. When the noble was before the lowly peasant, he lifted the serf’s chin until their eyes were level. The peasant had little choice but to gaze upon the regal face. “What is your name?” the prince asked. His voice was warm and soothing. It ran over the peasant like a bubbling brook. “My name is Tyrell, but everyone calls me Ty, Your Highness,” he answered, feeling completely unbalanced by the prince’s nearness.

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm “You may call me Der, Ty,” he said as he smiled that wonderful smile that somehow reached into the peasant boy’s belly, making it flutter. “You are most kind, Prince Der,” Ty said demurely, lowering his eyes. “No, just Der. I am not at the palace. There are no retainers about. So we can do without titles.” Again the warm voice ran over Ty, robbing him of all but the wish to comply, so he nodded in reply. “Good. Now tell me why you were crying.” While not surrounded by the trappings of royalty, Der still had an air of quiet authority about him that made it near impossible for Ty to refuse. Sitting back on his haunches, Ty looked at the ground and whispered dejectedly, “Yesterday was my birthday.” Der heard the unshed tears clinging to Ty’s words and murmured comfortingly, “Then it is a time for joy, not sorrow, for I am very happy that you exist, Ty!” The peasant was surprised that the prince would speak to him in such a manner and with such sincerity. Still, he had been given a compliment and had been raised with manners. He uttered a soft “Thank you” while keeping his eyes trained on the ground. The prince took that moment to ask another question. “I still do not comprehend why you were crying. Did your parents forget about your special day?”

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm “No, in fact, my stepfather gave me a few coins and sent me into town to buy what I willed.” “Hmm. It’s a bit lonely sounding, but I’ve yet to see a cause for tears,” “At first, I wandered through town looking for the perfect thing to buy. I suspected that it was a test. My stepfather believes that character must be tempered in the fire of truth, piety, and constant testing. So I had to be careful what I chose. Then I found a candy dealer who sold the most exquisite treats. My mouth watered the instant I saw his display, I wanted one of his candies that badly.” “A dilemma presented itself. If I bought the candy, then I would be showing avarice. If I didn’t, I would be disobedient. I stood for a time trying to think of what I should do until I puzzled out a solution. I would buy a piece for myself, my mother, and my stepfather. Then I would be showing generosity. I even went one step farther. I would wait until I got home to eat it so they would understand I had bought this for sharing.” The peasant paused, and a faraway look crept into his eyes as he remembered. “The vendor was expensive. The three candies used all of my coin even after haggling with the merchant. I returned home proudly with my gifts. When I showed my stepfather he was furiously disappointed.” Here Ty puffed out his cheeks and chest and began to speak in an abrupt baritone obviously imitating his stepfather.

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm “What a wasteful thing you’ve thrown away your money for. We do not believe in such indulgences. Candy not only rots your teeth, but your very soul promoting lust and greed.” Suddenly the peasant deflated, looking sorrowful once more, “And then he threw all three pieces on the rubbish pile and poured ash upon them. I never got to taste them and never will, for he will not give me coin again to waste. Yet the worst of it is my inability to ever satisfy him. I work so hard to make him proud, and all my efforts ever garner is scorn and beratings.” Prince Der looked on in alarm as the peasant began to cry again. Gently, he wiped away the moisture with big soft thumbs and comforted Ty once more. “Do not cry, Ty, many a man are blind to the very treasures that lie under their noses. Never doubt your worth, for I have only known you a short while, but already I am sure that you are something rare and very special.” Ty’s tears dried as the soft words touched his heart. If a prince could think of him in such a way after their first meeting, then his stepfather’s disparagements lost much of their sting. Smiling up at the prince, he took the noble’s hands and kissed each one quickly, showing abject gratitude. Then glancing at the sky, Ty said with regret. “It grows late. I must be going. Thank you for your kind words; they have eased my heart greatly.” “You’re welcome,” the prince replied, his eyes hooded for the first time. He seemed to be in deep thought as Ty rose to

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm walk away. Just as the peasant made ready to enter the treeline, Prince Der called out to him. “Ty, a moment, please.” Ty turned, surprised by the command. “Yes, Der?” “Will you meet me here on the morrow at about the same time?” the prince asked, his features shuttered. Ty sensed a beguiling vulnerability behind his words. He could not resist this man. “Aye, I will be here.” “Good. I will see you on the morrow, Ty. Fare-thee-well.” “Fare- thee-well, Der,” Ty returned before heading home for the evening in high spirits.

DEREK sat in the waiting room, drawing. His hand fairly flew across the page as a picture took form. He was completely focused on the task before him and unaware of Delores watching him from the doorway of her son’s room. He was a handsome man, both steady and artistic, a very strange mix. She was reminded of her first husband, Xavier, Tyrell’s father. Xavier had been an artist also, and just like Derek seemed, Xavier had been a very practical and steadfast man. He had been able to juggle his creative muses with the responsibility of taking care of a family, which was a rare talent in an artist. Xavier had been a wonderful husband

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm and father. He made sure that his family was well provided for managing their money with admirable skill. Life had been wonderful with Xavier. Laughter had filled every corner of their home, as had love. Many were the times that the three of them had sat around the family room, indulging in their own form of art. Xavier would sketch designs for his exclusive line of jewelry at Tiffany’s while Delores would sew quilts or paint tiles. Often they would look fondly upon their son sitting in little more than his diapers as he played in his finger paints, usually covering the floor and himself in a plethora of colors. She had not a care in the world until the night a driver barreled through Xavier’s car after running a red light, shattering their idyllic life. She had no idea how to cope. Delores had never been good with money, and what little had been left after the funeral costs had run like quicksilver through her fingers. Xavier’s parents had been little help emotionally or financially. They had never fully approved of the marriage. The pressure of trying to fend for herself and her child and the terrible grief from losing her much beloved husband sent Delores into a terrible spiral of drugs and men. Family services had nearly taken her son away before she finally realized she had to do something. Before marrying Xavier, she’d dated a very stuffy young man named Ezekiel. He was steady as a rock and boring as a fish, but he was exactly what she needed. He had never married, and while happy to see her again, had been wary of

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm embroiling himself in what looked like a nasty mess. However, he had always loved Delores, and they had come to an agreement. They would marry, but he was the head of the family. She and her child would follow his rules. In return, he would make sure that they were well cared for, and her son, who was starting to develop some wild ways, would learn discipline at his hand. Delores had been worried that Ezekiel would hurt her son. She did not believe in spankings, but Ezekiel had told her that while the Bible supported such punishment, he did not. Ezekiel had treated Ty as if he were his own son and had never laid a hand on him. He’d gone to every one of Ty’s games, school meetings, and awards ceremonies. He had instilled strong ethics in her son, both work and personal, and she was very proud of the man Ty had grown up to be. Her son had a good head on his shoulders and tended to be an excellent judge of people. Ty had become a conformist, never in trouble, never rocking the boat, which is why this thing with Derek had blind-sided them. They would have never guessed in a million years that Ty would sleep with another man. Delores sighed as she looked at Derek. At least she could say that her son had good taste. Derek looked as though he should be gracing the covers of magazines. Countless times, she had wanted to talk to the man her son had put above his family and the values they had instilled in him, but her husband had forbidden it. After nearly eighteen years of blind obedience, she had automatically followed

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm Ezekiel’s dictates. In most cases, he tended to be right, boring but right. Besides, Ezekiel had come with her to the hospital nearly every day, feeling as though it was his duty to minister to his fallen, if wayward, charge. Still, yesterday was Ty’s birthday, and she had wanted to talk to someone about her son. At home she avoided speaking of Ty; his fall from grace had left her husband with a deep-seated anger he was unable to hide. The subject tended to make Ezekiel short and rather unpleasant, and she had learned to avoid topics that upset Ezekiel. However, it hurt not having anyone to talk to about her only child, someone to talk to who loved Ty as much as she. She needed to share her grief with someone who would understand, and the only person she knew who fit the bill was Derek. Squaring her shoulders, Delores decided that she would defy her husband just this once. Ty had been in a coma for just over a year now. Nothing had changed, despite all of the praying and vigils she held. She doubted that speaking with Derek would make things any worse. So she headed over to the handsome young artist. Derek looked up at his lover’s mother with hooded eyes. Whatever he was feeling, he kept firmly hidden. Despite his expressionless demeanor, Delores got the impression that he would be receptive to her. Taking the seat next to him, she glanced over and looked at the drawing he’d been laboring over. Being an artist herself, she recognized talent. With just a pencil, Derek had drawn a castle that looked so real, she

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm would have sworn it was made by a camera. Delores asked, “What are you drawing?” “It’s a page for a children’s book I am illustrating. It’s a retelling of St. George and the Dragon,” Derek said, his voice cool silk. “What an interesting project,” Delores murmured, and she could have kicked herself. She had not come over here to make inane small talk. She wanted to talk about her son, and the only way it would happen is if she initiated it. So she tried again, “Ty’s father was an artist too. You remind me a little of him.” “How so?” Derek turned towards the mother of his heart, his curiosity captivated. “Xavier was also an artist. He made the most beautiful jewelry. He was quiet but always there. I loved him very much.” Delores had the same faraway look her son did when he was caught in a memory. Ty had her eyes, warm brown and lively with thick, curling lashes. Derek looked into those eyes and felt his heart ache. He missed Ty so much. Delores caught the hint of pain in Derek’s eyes and asked something she had wondered about for months. “Why have you come here every day for the last year and never confronted us about being banned from seeing Ty?” Derek looked at the woman beside him consideringly before answering. “I… love your son, Mrs. Simpson. I have

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm from the beginning. He was—is— the best thing that ever happened to me. Without him, I am only half alive. I come here to feel closer to Ty. I hope that maybe if you see how much I care, how much I am committed to him, you will permit me to see him.” This time Delores saw the wealth of Derek’s pain clearly. He was in agony, suffering in stoic silence, but never giving up hope. Unwillingly, she felt her admiration grow for the man. But he had not answered her question, at least the second part. “But why haven’t you asked about seeing Ty?” It was incomprehensible that he would not do more to see Ty. She would have done anything to see Xavier if she had been in the same situation. “Ty loves you and respects Ezekiel. He would never dream of defying him. Out of respect for Ty and because I know that you are grieving, I will not add to your suffering with a confrontation. It would not help Ty, and it might even get me barred from the waiting room,” Derek answered honestly, showing how someone could be selfless and selfserving at the same time, reminding Delores that the world was not black and white but made up of many shades of grey.

TY breathed a sigh of relief as he finally managed to escape his lessons, which were nothing more than an excuse for one

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm of his stepfather’s tirades about the royal family. His stepfather disapproved of the royals in general and the seemingly frivolous prince in specific. Ty was often forced to bite his tongue; he was too respectful to contradict his stepfather. However, it was difficult, especially when the subject of Prince Der’s pursuit of art came up. The prince was a well-known and incredible artist. His pictures were so vivid that they seemed to leap off the page at a person. He was passionate and dedicated to his craft, but he was also very dedicated to the kingdom. He spent hours poring over missives and treaties for his father. Prince Der was in charge of drafting the legal documents for the country, and he took his responsibilities very seriously. Ty’s stepfather’s criticism also seemed to underscore Ty’s inappropriate feelings for the prince. They had been growing since their second meeting when Der had surprised him with a picnic, complete with the candy he had been denied on his birthday. In the last few months, Ty had to come to some uncomfortable realizations. He did not have a wife or children. Not because of his stepfather, but because he was not interested in women. Second, he was in love with the prince and sensed that Der held strong feelings for him. Lastly, he wanted to be with Prince Der above anything else. With these thoughts in mind, he headed to his afternoon rendezvous with Prince Der, determined to unburden himself. Deep in thought, Ty hurried to his destination. The prince was waiting for him at the manse hidden deep within the king’s forest, and he strode out to meet Ty with an affectionate hug and kiss on both cheeks before leading him

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm into the dwelling. Immediately, they retired to the small but well-stocked library for their visit. It was one of Der’s favorite places. Der loved to lay with his head on Ty’s lap while Ty read to him. This time Ty was distracted by his own feelings, making his reading stilted and off-kilter. Der did not miss the preoccupation and asked, “What’s wrong?” Despite being utterly comfortable with Der, Ty was still too reserved to speak so openly about his feelings. He blushed and looked away, remaining silent and causing Der to sit up in alarm. Still, Der’s insightfulness served him well in discerning Ty’s discomfiture. Turning Ty’s face towards his own with a gentle nudge, Der waited for Ty to look at him. When he had the shy peasant’s attention, Der leaned in to touch Ty’s mouth with his own in the barest of kisses. He saw Ty’s eyelids flutter closed, and his face tilted up, silently asking for more. Without hesitation, Der deepened the kiss, expecting to be rebuffed at any second, but Ty had been waiting months for this and responded with an unexpected hunger. Passion took them over like a raging storm, and the kiss spun out of control. Ty had little cognition of what they were doing until they were bare chest to bare chest with him lying on the couch beneath Der. He came back to his senses with a cold chill, remembering something else his stepfather had called the prince: the wanton seducer. It scared Ty. He needed to know what they meant to each other before he let this go any further.

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm Dragging his mouth away from Der’s, Ty gasped, “No. Wait. I need to know something.” “What is it?” Der’s voice was calm, despite his heated condition. “I need to know what I am to you before we go any further.” Ty’s words came tumbling out in a rush. Der watched his friend for a time, his golden eyes lit with an odd light before answering. The long wait made Ty bite his bottom lip anxiously as he started to dread the answer. Der finally broke his silence with one word. “Everything,” he said with a wealth of emotion in every syllable. “What does that mean?” Ty asked in confusion. “It means that I love you, and you mean everything to me. It means that I want you by my side forever. It means that I want to give vows to you that are sacred and holy but forbidden according to the laws of man.” Der paused here and drew his signet ring from his finger before continuing. “However, I speak these vows anyway.” Kneeling on the floor before Ty, Der slipped a ring on the peasant’s finger before reciting in a solemn voice filled with promise, “I, Derek, Prince of Coraq , take you, Tyrell, son of Xavier the artisan, to be my beloved partner, to have and to hold you, to honor you, to treasure you, to be at your side in sorrow and in joy, in the good times and in the bad, in sickness and in health, and to love and cherish you always. I promise you this from my heart, for all the days of my life.”

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm Ty’s brown eyes glowed as he looked down upon Der, his golden prince. He felt full to bursting with love for this man who made him feel special and gave him worth. Ty took the hands that had placed the ring on his finger and kissed them each reverently before repeating the vows Der had just given him. When he finished, Der crushed Ty to him, sealing their troth with a searing kiss, unleashing a passion of legendary proportions.

DELORES sat next to Derek in the hospital waiting room. On the days her husband had business elsewhere, she would steal a little time to talk with Derek. In the eighteen years since she had remarried, she had never defied her husband, either in open rebellion or by fudging the line a bit. However, by speaking with Derek, she knew she was crossing the line and breaking her promise, but she could not help herself. It surprised Delores that despite his pain, Derek refused to pressure her to see Ty even though she was vulnerable when her husband was absent. Instead, he would just look at her with patient eyes while he listened to whatever she wished to speak about. She was looking for a topic of conversation when she noticed the senior ring on his finger. It looked familiar from the name of the school to the amethyst birthstone with its architecture symbol underneath. Delores was sure it was Ty’s and said as much. “Why are you wearing Ty’s senior class ring?” she asked.

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm Her words lacked any note of accusation. Derek paused, looking off for a few minutes before answering. Delores did not say anything as she waited for him to think. In the weeks since their first conversation, she had grown accustomed to his mannerisms like his habit of thinking before speaking about things that really mattered to him. “We’ve never really talked about my relationship with your son. Are you sure you wish to hear this?” Derek asked, gazing steadily into poignantly familiar eyes. “I’m sure,” Delores answered with conviction. Derek nodded once before starting to speak, “You have to understand that neither of us wanted this at first. Though we were attracted to each other from the very beginning. I had every intention of tomcatting about on my first jaunt at freedom before settling down into a relationship, while Ty had decided to be celibate for the rest of his life and avoid the whole issue of him being gay.” “Wait. Ty was not gay before he left for college. He had very few friends and none of them were male. I remember that Ezekiel used to pray that he was not turning into a philanderer,” Delores interrupted in disbelief. “Then I guess Ezekiel prayed a little too hard, because your son not only did not become a philanderer, he was completely uninterested in women,” Derek drawled in one of his rare flashes of humor, startling an amused snort out of her. “Seriously, Ty knew when he left home that he was gay.

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm He stopped playing football when he became noticeably aroused in the showers after a game and started going to church instead. He prayed for two years that God would take that terrible burden away from him. When it did not disappear, he decided that he was being tested like Job had been and that he would just have to live with it.” Delores felt a pang as she realized that Ty had agonized so much and so unnecessarily over something he could not control. “I wish I had known. I would have told him I was okay with whatever choices he made as long as he was happy,” Delores said. “My only upset over this choice is that it means I will most likely not have any grandchildren.” Derek nodded, understanding her reaction better, especially after getting to know her. She had planned to have more children with Xavier, but fate had made other plans. When Derek gazed at her with comprehension that tears threatened, motioned for him to continue the story.

such a gentle Delores hastily

“We tried to run away from what we were feeling. We even requested new roommates, but student housing was overbooked, and it would have been at least a semester before they could move us. Being stuck together night and day wore down our resistance, and we gave in to the inevitable. At Thanksgiving break we each went home to think about what we wanted. When we got back we realized it was the same thing.”

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm “Neither of us had ever been in a relationship, but we were innocent enough to want to make it official somehow. After our last final we had our own ceremony, pledging ourselves to each other. We sealed our vows by exchanging our class rings. It meant something in high school to give your girl your senior ring, yet it wasn’t too overt.” “I never noticed him wearing your ring,” Delores blurted, wrinkling her brow. “In fact, he didn’t wear any rings.” “He wore my ring around his neck. He said it was so it would be close to his heart. I knew it was because he was afraid Ezekiel and you might see it and start asking questions,” Derek said with a philosophical shrug. “I understood. Ty had problems reconciling his feelings for his stepfather.” “What do you mean?” “Ty felt that he could never please him,” Derek explained. He glanced at his watch. “Speaking of Ezekiel, you better go to see your son and speak with the doctor; your husband should be here soon.” Delores hopped up with a hurried thank you. Time had flown by, and she had little wish for Ezekiel to come in and cause a scene. She was about to leave when a curious thought occurred to her. “I’ve helped the nurses give Ty his sponge bath and have never seen your ring on him.” “I took it for safekeeping when we were in the

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm ambulance. Things tend to come up missing in hospitals. I wear it around my neck like he did, close to my heart.” Delores nodded and hurried to her son’s side. Ty’s doctor was examining him, and she took the opportunity to ask what more could they do to help her son. The doctor answered, saying that many people who came out of comas were usually jarred by something familiar, comforting, or loved. The smell of their favorite food, their favorite song, or the sound of a loved one’s voice could serve as the right stimulus. It just needed to be found. He left Delores thinking of the impossible.

TY tucked the Prince’s ring, threaded on the thong, into his shirt and smoothed it down, making it invisible to the casual eye. At home, he had to be very careful to keep his secret safe. He had known blissful joy since he had pledged his heart, body, and soul to Prince Der and feared what his stepfather would do if he ever found out. So he kept their love hidden, a treasured secret, and slipped off every night to sleep with his love. Soon the prince would be sent to a foreign court far away. He planned to take Ty with him, give him a little polish, and introduce Ty to the kingdom as a foreign nobleman who was serving as his companion. They would be together after that. Ty would help him with his duties, and no one save the king could tear them apart, which meant their future was assured.

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm Der had shared with Ty that the king was very pleased with Der and Ty’s union. He said it had toned down the prince’s wild ways. Ty had greeted the opinion with narrowed eyes and hard questions, but Der would not admit to anything. “You look fine,” Der said, watching his love fiddle with his clothes. “I managed to only leave whisker burns in unseen places this time.” Der’s words elicited a hot blush and heated look from Ty. The golden prince chuckled unrepentantly before rising to give his love a farewell kiss. He hated the midnight trysts and hidden rendezvous. He wanted to proclaim his love for this gorgeous serf to the world, but circumstances conspired against him. The few weeks before he could get Ty away from this land and start their lives together chafed Der terribly. Ty blew one last kiss to his heart before loping off towards home. He made it to the pond where they had first met when a shape rose from beside the water. Ty stifled a startled cry in the instant he realized the stranger lurking there was his stepfather. Ezekiel nodded and sat back down, looking relaxed. “You could not sleep either.” His words were more of a statement than a question, and Ty said nothing in response. “I thought, since I was up I might as well try to catch some fish for tonight’s supper. Why don’t you join me?” Seeing no reason to refuse his stepfather, Ty sat down beside Ezekiel. His stepfather was a tall, spare man with a stern countenance and forbidding demeanor. Ty sat ramrod

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm straight beside him, unsure what to say or do. A long uncomfortable silence stretched between them. The sun was rising over the land when Ezekiel turned towards Ty and said, “I brought some apples, here, why don’t you have one?” Ty took the proffered apple with a murmured thanks and bit into it. It was tart and sweet, and a large piece broke off into his mouth with a loud crunch. Ty chewed the piece dutifully, counting each working of his jaw. Ezekiel expected him to chew fifty times before swallowing and had been known to sit and count to make sure that Ty did as he was instructed. As he chewed Ezekiel began talking again, “I went to the witch woman in the swamp yesterday to try and save her soul. She said that I was so busy looking at what I thought was the devil that I had missed the true sin sitting right underneath my nose. She told me that you were whoring yourself out to the prince.” At that announcement, Ty choked on his apple, but Ezekiel kept speaking as if he were unaware of Ty’s distress. “I did not believe her at first, but then I followed you yesterday. I saw you at that den of iniquity, letting that devil’s son touch all over you. I will not allow you to blacken your soul like that. The witch woman gave me an apple—it had been blessed by a holy man—and said that if you ate one, you would be forgiven your sin. She said that it might kill you, but if you repent He would give you mercy.”

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm Between gasps Ty managed to grit out, “It’s not sin but true love.” Ezekiel laughed at Ty’s wheezing pronouncement. He knew sin when he saw it but said these next words with biting sarcasm. “Then if it is true love, only your prince can save you.” Coughing and fighting for air until tears came to his eyes, Ty ran into the forest back toward the cottage and help. He made it onto the king’s lands before his steps faltered. He managed to crawl a few more feet before his world turned black.

“HOW dare you even ask, Delores?” Ezekiel hissed over Ty’s bed. “It’s his immortal soul you should be worrying about and not his body. I can’t believe you actually asked to let that degenerate see Ty. This coma is His will, probably punishment for the filthy, sinful lifestyle Ty indulged in. I thought I had managed to instill high moral fiber in the boy, but I see I was doomed to failure. Bad stock does tell.” Delores drew back as if she had been slapped. She could no longer make excuses for Ezekiel’s attitude toward her and her son. It was quite clear, the disdain he held for them. It fired a great rage catapulting her back to her old self. Standing tall, she stood up for herself and her child and

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm spoke to the man who had turned them into miserable shadows of themselves. “You can take your high-handed, arrogant ass right out of this room and our lives. I can’t believe I spent years praying, trying to figure out what was wrong with me, when you were the problem all the time. You talk about being a good Christian, but for the last year you have been anything but to a man who did nothing more than love someone while you called him every type of foul name. He and my son are better men than you ever will be.” Delores continued angrily, her fist clenched at her side, ready for him to try to argue. “Ty is my son, not yours, and I will do whatever I must to get him back whole and healthy. You can either stand and watch with your lip buttoned up tight or get out.” Ezekiel lips were tight as he stared at his wife. He had not expected such rebellion after spending years stamping out any hint of independence. He was furious that first her son and then she had defied him. He blamed that degenerate sitting out in the waiting room and would have gone out there to say as much, but nurses and security guards had begun to gather around the room. Being a bully, he slunk off instead. The numbers were against him.

THE prince’s men brought Ty’s limp body back to the cottage. They knelt down before their liege, heads bowed in fear. They knew of the prince’s love for the peasant and feared what his

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm grief over losing his beloved would drive him to do. Der closed his eyes, hoping he was stuck in a bad dream. If not, then his world had just been shattered. However, he could not hide from the truth for long, and his eyes opened of their own accord. Falling to the floor beside his beloved, Der gathered Ty to him as inconsolable sobs shook his body. His grief was terrible, causing the servants to send for his mother and sister, but not even they could give him any comfort. Der remained with his love for hours before he allowed Ty’s body to be taken away. They washed and dressed Ty in finery befitting a prince, an honor he’d earned by winning Prince Derek’s heart, and placed him in a glass coffin. The services were the next day, and Ty’s mother was brought to the manse to attend. She shared Der’s terrible grief, especially after being told that it was her husband who had done this to her child. She held Der’s hand as words were said over Ty’s body. Then an honor guard carried Ty to the pond where they first met. It was a fitting place for Ty’s final resting place. Before Ty was lowered into the ground, Der took the ring from around his beloved’s neck and slipped it onto his hand. Once more Der pledged his love for Ty, and he sealed his vow with a kiss before the coffin was closed once more. Der’s tears fell upon the glass with a soft ping as they prepared to lower Ty into the cold, unyielding Earth. Suddenly Der wiped his eyes, not believing what he was

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm seeing, and he called out for them to halt the proceedings. The prince ordered men to lift Ty back up and fairly broke open the casket trying to get to him.

DEREK sat with Ty, weeping openly as he was able to see and touch him for the first time in more than a year. He talked about the time that had passed until he was hoarse, refusing to stop. When he could think of nothing else to say, he pulled out a ragged copy of Ty’s favorite book. They had found it in a used bookstore one weekend several years ago, and Ty had been enchanted with it. Derek had sneaked back and bought it without Ty’s knowledge. Ty had been delighted by the whimsical gift. He had read it or made Derek read it to him every day without fail. Cracking the book open, Derek began to read it in a practiced voice. Ty had loved the part of the tale when the prince woke his love, especially with the little addition Derek always put in, Derek made sure to read it just the way his sleeping love had liked it. Derek knew this part by heart. Reaching into his shirt, he pulled out the ring hanging from a delicate golden chain. Quickly, he separated the two pieces of jewelry and continued the story, substituting his own vows where the book just glossed over them. Once he completed his customary pledge to Ty, he slipped the ring on his beloved’s finger and kissed him softly on the lips. It happened as Derek was putting away the book.

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm “How long have I been asleep?” Ty asked his voice confused and sleep-roughened. Derek turned back to the bed with a joyful gasp, “Ty? You’re awake!” he exclaimed, bringing Delores running. Ty asked his question again. and it was his mother who answered the question as Derek stepped out of the room to collect himself. While he was gone, she quickly filled Ty in on everything that had transpired while he slept, including her resultant split with Ezekiel and acceptance of Derek in his life. Ty was relieved by the news and blown away when he heard of Derek’s inhuman dedication. Derek had demonstrated his love in so many ways, it was humbling. Seeing Derek’s ring on his finger, where it finally belonged, made Ty smile. He had dreamed of being in a fairy tale only to wake up and find that he was living one. He knew how this story ended. When Derek returned to the room, Ty struggled until he was sitting upright with pillows tucked behind his back. He urged Derek to lean down for a soft loving kiss and then told him in a sure voice, “And they lived happily ever after.” No truer words were ever spoken.

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm

JAELYN STORM has been a writing enthusiast and a bibliophile for nearly as long as she can remember. She started writing gay erotica in high school, though she will admit that it she was not very good at it back then. She lives in Chicago with her husband, whom she adores. She likes anime and manga, thinks yaoi is divine, and is a sci-fi buff. She is the perfect mate for her closet nerd of a husband, and they can be found haunting all types of “nerdy” conventions.

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm

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Beautiful Dreamer ♥ Jaelyn Storm

Beautiful Dreamer ©Copyright Jaelyn Storm, 2009 Published by Dreamspinner Press 4760 Preston Road Suite 244-149 Frisco, TX 75034 http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/ This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. Cover Design by Mara McKennen This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines and/or imprisonment. This eBook cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this eBook can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press at: 4760 Preston Road, Suite 244-149, Frisco, TX 75034 http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/ Released in the United States of America June, 2009

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