Page 14 of Centerpiece

“No.”Holburn, the very devil, kissed him again.He left Agreeable to whimper.“That they will not do.But you will stay and be mine, Agreeable.”

“Remi.”Agreeable closed her eyes and accepted another kiss.They were no longer soft kisses but they had the same effect on her insides.He squeezed his thighs around Holburn and Holburn shifted, rocking gently into him and making him gasp.“Remi, please.I am not agreeable now.You must see.I want you.”

“Remi,” Holburn agreed, tugging the scarf down to bare the bird’s nest of Remi’s short brown hair, then pulling one of Remi’s legs over his shoulder.Remi scrabbled to get a hold of him, fingers sliding over delicate linen until she was nearly clawing at shoulders of oak.“Remi,” Holburn’s voice was smoky, “are you ready?”

Remi nodded before opening his eyes, although he would never be the same.“Now, please.”

“Anything for my good girl.”Holburn set him afire with words, roughly kissed his open, hungry mouth before Remi’s startled moan reached the ceiling, then began to fuck him as though Remi was entirely for his pleasure.As though that was Remi’s pleasure too and he knew it.As though Remi was his for the night, and he would make proper use of his girl.Of him.OfRemi.

Remi turned his head to moan into the back of one hand.He left the other at Holburn’s shoulder, grip tight in his chemise, and held on.

He would never be the same.

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Part Two

Agreeable woke to theabsence of damp air and birdsong and knew where he was before he opened his eyes.The mattress was soft beneath him, Holburn breathed quietly in and out behind him, and Agreeable was as well-used as if all of the lads had had him.Well, all of the lads with a mind to be good at fucking.

He was also naked, and yet still warm.The fire hadn’t died in the hours he’d slept, although it was low.He wondered if Holburn had risen to add logs to it in when he hadn’t been spreading Agreeable’s legs to have him again or pressing Agreeable down while Agreeable had whimpered and hadn’t spent and loved every moment of it.

Holburn had no right to be such a force.He’d never know what he’d done to Agreeable.

ToRemi, Agreeable thought reverently to himself in the growing light of dawn.

The town would be waking up soon.Betram or his wife would have been up to use the ovens for some time.The doors would be unlocked, the hallway likely empty.Agreeable should go while he could.

He rolled his aching body to the side of the bed and slid his feet to the floor.He had marks along his thighs but no slippery mess or dried seed.Had Holburn cleaned him too?When Remi had told him to use him as he pleased, he hadn’t intended that.

Remi glanced over his shoulder to study the line of Holburn’s back.The chemise had disappeared in the night.Holburn was pale as a lord.His skin was smooth, Remi remembered, but didn’t allow himself another touch.He turned to consider the clothing scattered across the floor and smiled despite himself.

The dress was a simple matter to slip over his head, the laces a bit more complicated with how Agreeable had disturbed them last night.The scarf was on the bed, but he snatched it up and had it in place before he found his cowl.He took some of the grapes for his breakfast and ate them as he watched Holburn sleep.They would never meet again.That was certain and for the best, for Agreeable was foolish, and there were only so many dreams he could talk himself out of.

In the world as it was, Agreeable would die in the woods or on the gallows someday, hopefully with a few coins to leave to his ma, and Holburn would perhaps marry his Aliette and return to the capital.Holburn had given him a few hours of something else, and that was a blessing, even if it not one any priest-mage would consider making.

Agreeable swallowed the last of the tasteless grapes and made himself move to the door.He cracked it open to peer down the hall, met the startled gaze of a large, armed figure standing next to another large, armed figure, let out a sound rather like a toad that had been stepped on, and shut the door.

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