Page 37 of Their Master

Instead, he said, “Thank you, sir.” He cleared his throat. “Might I ask what my new position will entail?”

“I’d like you to be the body servant for my new lover, Miss Moira Dunsmuir.”

Luke’s eyes bulged. Smith’s new lover was awoman? He knew the other man engaged female whores, but for some reason this surprised him. “Er, of course, sir.”

“Does the fact that she is a woman change your mind?”

“No, sir, not at all. I’ll be pleased to offer my services to the lady in question, provided she finds me suitable.”

“How could she not find you suitable—as well as desirable?”

Luke flushed at the warmth in the other man’s eyes. “Thank you, sir.”

Smith leaned forward and kissed him—a long, lingering kiss that caused him to harden and scattered his already frazzled wits.

When Smith pulled away Luke had to clear his throat several times before asking, “Will this be a full-service position, sir?”

“It will include whatever she wants,” Smith said, and then cocked his head. “I know you served female clients at the Birch Palace, but I don’t know if that was your preference?”

Luke’s current preference was to serve only the man across from him, but he knew what Smith was asking.

“I enjoy women as much as men, sir.” Normally that was true, but nothing about his current situation was normal. He’d made the worst mistake of his life and had fallen in love with his employer. It would rip him in half to watch another person—male or female—supplant Luke in his master’s bed.

Perversely, just thinking about such a humiliating event was enough to make his already hard cock leak even more. Luke had given up wondering why he reveled in pain and degradation, but that didn’t mean he had to like the effect on his body.

He saw that Smith was watching him intently and wondered—not for the first time—if the other man had realized just how much such humiliation aroused him.

But no, why would he? He employed Luke to service his needs, not the other way around. Besides, he didn’t know how Luke felt about him; falling in love had not been part of the contract Luke had signed and he should never forget that. Indeed, Smith had made it quite clear when he’d hired Luke that the arrangement would never become anything other than master and servant. If Mr. Smith ever discovered the way he felt, Luke suspected he’d be sent packing so fast it would make his head spin.

“I will be glad to take the new position, sir.” Luke hesitated and then added, “It is an honor to serve you in any way I can.”

Smith looked pleased by his declaration, and if he’d noticed the raw emotion throbbing below the surface of Luke’s words, he gave no sign of it.

“There is one other thing,” Mr. Smith said.

“Yes, sir?”

“Miss Dunsmuir has agreed to bear me a child.”

Luke’s jaw dropped. “But—but that is wonderful, sir!”

Smith looked nonplussed at his obvious joy, the uncertain expression sitting strangely on his normally confident features. “Er, thank you, Luke. You like children, do you?”

“I adore them.” Indeed, it broke his heart that he’d never have any, but he kept that to himself. Instead, he said, “I might have mentioned that my brothers have children?”

“Yes—two brothers, was it?”

“Yes, sir. Six children between them, five boys and one charming girl and I often visit them on my free day.” Luke smiled fondly. “My brothers and sisters-in-law have threatened me with life and limb if I don’t stop spoiling them.”

Smith chuckled. “You sound like the perfect uncle.”

“I hope so, sir.” Luke had to bite his tongue to keep from asking whether or not Mr. Smith would be marrying the woman. Or was she going to give up the child? How would such an arrangement work? There had to be money involved.

“You have questions?” Smith asked.

“Will you be marrying Miss Dunsmuir, sir?”

“No, Luke.”

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