Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 2

shoulders bunched as he leaned to kiss the woman. The image seared into Kent's mind, immediately stirring him. This was Seth in passion, and part of him was desperate to watch.
    Kent's hands tightened into fists, once, twice. "Seth!" he yelled, and Seth jumped, the pair breaking apart.
    "Oh, are you lost after all?" the woman asked, one eyebrow raised.
    "Seth, this is not proper behavior for a knight," Kent snapped, trying to ignore the blush spreading across his face. "If… if the commander saw you…"
    "Kent?" Seth moved away from the wall, facing his friend. "C'mon, don't worry about it. It's harmless."
    "She's a whore," Kent ducked his head from the woman's gaze. "She could have diseases."
    The woman huffed, rolling her eyes. "I don't. Why don't you let your friend make these decisions for himself?"
    "Yeah, Kent," Seth said. He pushed the woman against the wall once again, letting out a small moan as he molded himself against her body. The sound and the sight sent blood rushing to Kent's loins. "It's not as if you cared to see me before this. I've been alone for a week, and I missed the battles. I need some fun." He kissed her again, turning his back to Kent.
    "Seth…" The woman tilted her head up, capturing Seth's lips, and he responded by pressing against her further, opening his mouth.
    How dare she use his name! Red fuzzed in his vision, Kent taking two strides and ripping his friend off of the whore.
    "Kent, what—"
    "You are a knight!" Kent shouted as Seth stumbled. "You, get out of here!" he shouted at the whore, his voice echoing down the alley. The woman fled.
    Seth's eyes burned in the light from the torches. "Kent, what in the name of God are you doing?"
    Kent stepped back, running a hand through his hair. What was he doing?
    Seth had lost weight, his clothes hanging loosely from his frame. He still stood proudly. The swagger of a knight was evident in the way he held himself, his green eyes flashing like chips of emerald. "I've visited whores before; you know I have," Seth said. "And you obviously don't care about me, considering you didn't visit me at all while they insisted on leeching me till I could barely stay awake, so why the concern now?" Bitterness dripped from his voice.
    Kent took a step back, his arousal fading. Seth…
    He should go. He should allow the bitterness to fester, and end their friendship now. It was the perfect way. He could keep his promise to God, avoid the healer's threats, and save both his and Seth's souls.
    But something stopped him from just walking away. Maybe it was the look of betrayal on Seth's face or the torchlight glinting alluringly on his unarmored body. Maybe it was the memory of how Seth had looked in the passionate embrace with the woman. Or maybe… maybe it was just love. He couldn't hurt Seth, not ever.
    "I'm sorry," Kent managed. Seth tilted his head, a smirk crossing his features.
    "Of course you are. Busy stealing all the glory for yourself, right? How many women have you had since it ended?"
    "None," Kent snapped. "I'm not like you."
    Seth bristled. "As long as a knight can fight, it doesn't matter what he does off the battlefield."
    "Enlisted men can fight like knights. A knight's honor is what makes him a knight!"
    "You're not my commander!" Seth shouted. "Curse it, Kent, I know you value honor, but don't force your rules on me. I don't need to restrain myself for some foolish concept of honor."
    Kent ground his teeth. Force rules? He was forced to hide his feelings every day! "You have no idea what true restraint means!" Kent's voice boomed. "You have no idea how much I've suffered!"
    Seth stared, and Kent cursed his loose tongue. "I'm going," Kent said finally. "Enjoy your filthy prostitutes."
    His heart squeezed in his chest as he turned away, the darkness of the alley swallowing him up. This was for the best, for both of them. He would go back to the inn, forget about Seth, and sleep.
    ****
    Sleep wouldn't come.
    His body burned with lust as he lay in bed at the inn, desire and frustration mixed. He was alone in the dark, the knight who shared the room with him out carousing, and there were no distractions.
    Seth's words and his anger swirled in his mind, replaying the scene over and over. His mind fixed again and again on the image of Seth, mouth open, tilting his head to kiss the woman.
    In his mind, there was no woman. Seth kissed him, and he could feel the heat of his breath, the soft bow of his lips.
    No. Kent gripped the sheets with his