Page 11 of The Cordial Bride

Ian remained frozen to the spot for a few seconds as his brain insisted on revisiting the path of his previous thoughts. There will be nothing to pick up if he leaves with me. No, the idea was insane on the face of it. He’d known the boy for little more than a minute, and the intimacy they’d shared had clearly impacted Calan more strongly than Ian had expected. He was playing with emotional fire, and the best thing to do would be to heed Celia’s warning and back off. And yet, he couldn’t help thinking of Isabeau and Richard, making a happy life and home together on a short acquaintance. That wasn’t unusual for marriages in general, at least not in Moorcondia. Mutual respect and enjoying each other’s company could grow after the wedding and made for a solid foundation if love never bloomed between them. There was a lot to be said for physical compatibility, as well, and there was no denying how much Calan and he had enjoyed each other.

“It’s madness.”

A passing servant stopped. “Your pardon, my lord, did you need something?”

Ian couldn’t help but send his gaze in Calan’s direction. “Yes, it seems as if I do.”

* * * *

“You’ve been avoiding me.”

Ian looked up from where he’d been inspecting the maze fountain’s mechanism, trying not to look too smug over how his ploy had worked. “Not at all, my dear. I’ve merely showed discretion while so many prying eyes surrounded us. I don’t want to hurt your reputation or give your aunt reason to chastise you. I am, however,” he added, stepping toward Calan and running a hand over his head, “delighted that you followed me.”

Calan’s coquettish grin was easy to see in the moon-lit night. “As I’m sure you knew I would.”

“Well, I had hoped,” Ian said on a sigh right before gently kissing the boy. He wanted so much more, but they weren’t that isolated. Breaking off the kiss, he satisfied himself by roaming his hands up and down Calan’s arms. “You’re very beautiful.”

Calan’s eyes were at half-mast. “Can boys be beautiful? I thought that only applied to girls.”

“Beauty knows no gender and isn’t reserved for people. It’s all around us in many things of nature. Someone who spends as much time enjoying the natural world knows that, surely.” A slight trembling of the boy’s body could be felt. Ian knew he aroused them both and probably should step away. He simply couldn’t. His desire for Calan was growing, and his need for him becoming more insistent.

“Hmm, I suppose that’s true. I’ve just never thought of myself as such, and you’re right, no one has complimented me like that. I don’t think they would dare, but you are brave enough to do whatever you please, aren’t you, Count? It’s one of the things I find compelling about you—your strength and courage, your raw, masculine power.”

Amused at the description, Ian cupped the boy’s face and ran a thumb along one cheekbone. “You have quite a flattering view of me. I am, at heart, a farmer. But it is true that I have an irritating tendency to go after what I want…and get it.”

Calan turned his face into Ian’s palm and moaned. “Do you want me?”

“Very much so. Have I been less than clear on that point?” Every fiber of his being was tight with need. His cock acted as if it hadn’t been seen to all day, urgent in its hardness. A thought flashed through him that there were plenty of isolated parts of the maze where he might lie Calan down and…

“Then kiss me some more.”

Ian gave in to the soft demand, tugging the boy in flush against him and capturing his lips once more with urgency. As he plundered Calan’s mouth, he cupped his small ass for leverage to lift him off the ground to better align their groins. Calan helped by wrapping his legs around Ian’s waist. Once again, their hard dicks mated, layers of clothing frustratingly muting their efforts. It didn’t matter. Calan clutched Ian’s shoulders and squeezed his thighs, increasing the friction of their bodies colliding by rolling his slender hips. It took mere seconds before they were sending their stifled cries down each other’s throats. They broke the kiss and stood panting. When Ian’s legs threatened to give out, he moved them both to sit on the edge of the fountain.

Calan leaned his head against Ian’s chest and shuddered. “I have no control when you touch me.”

Ian chuckled. “I have a similar problem with you.”

He tightened his grip on the boy’s arm, a flood of emotion swamping him suddenly. The feeling amplified the burgeoning plan he’d been kicking around in his head since they’d returned from their forest romp. It didn’t seem so far-fetched at the moment and the feeling that he wasn’t quite in control of his own destiny not disconcerting after all. In fact, the idea was quickly crystalizing as the best path forward, both diplomatically and personally. Will Calan agree? Part of him said it didn’t matter, that the boy would do what he was told. But that wasn’t how he wanted it to be. What made these interludes amazing was their mutual eagerness. He didn’t want someone in his bed who was there only out of duty. I will convince him.

“I wish I could invite you back to my room.” Calan lifted his head. “Or, I could go to yours. I assume the council has given you a private space.”

Oh, that was too tempting. The thought of carrying the boy to his bed and making love to him was overwhelming. It was also impossible. “That would be very rude of me. While I have a separate room, I am quartered in a house with my family and their servants, not to mention the dozens of guards. There would be no way for me to sneak you in with me. Word would spread, and I’m sure the council would frown upon such open dalliance. I know my sister would take a strip out of my hide.”

Reluctantly, Ian stood them both up before his better judgment was overruled by his cock. Calan’s mew of disappoint made him smile. “Now, now, there is always tomorrow. We can have another picnic.”

Calan shook his head. “I’m sorry, we can’t. I have to spend the day in my aunt’s workshop, processing what we foraged today. Everything I gathered must be tended to before it rots. Some of it needs to be hung up to dry and the rest should be ground into paste. It takes all day to do so.” He bowed his head in obvious disappointment.

Touched by the display, Ian bent to catch the boy’s eye. “Then I shall sit in a corner and watch you work…if you are amenable to my company?”

Calan’s eyes flashed along with a grin. “Of course I am.” His lips drooped. “You’ll be bored, though.”

Ian nearly laughed at the suggestion. “Nonsense. I find you endlessly fascinating, darling boy. I suspect I would be entertained watching you paint a fence.”

Calan rolled his eyes. “You are quick with honeyed words, my lord, but I will take them at face value because I enjoy spending time with you, too.” He looked at the path they’d both used to reach the center of the maze. “I must be going. Surely the others are leaving the banquet at this point, and I want to beat my aunt home so that she doesn’t see how wet I am.”

A wave of possessiveness crashed over Ian. He liked the thought of others knowing how he’d brought the boy to climax, but it was crass and primitive of him to want it. Calan didn’t need the embarrassment of it all. Taking the boy by the hand, he led him out of the maze. Seeing no one about, he sent him on his way with a quick kiss and a promise. “I will see you tomorrow.”

Calan gave one last look over his shoulder as he hurried away, leaving Ian to take a moment himself to make sure his own orgasm wasn’t obvious. Thank the gods for the layers of good clothing that his station demanded he wear for such formal occasions. Nothing of his interlude with Calan showed. And his timing was perfect. Isabeau was still making her good-byes to Fennic outside the longhouse when he arrived to escort her back to their lodgings.

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