“Y-yes,” Felix stammered out before Leo could change his mind.
Leo’s eyes were dark as he cupped Felix’s face with one hand. “So you’d like that, being my boy?”
Felix didn’t reply, instead tangling his hands in Leo’s hair and pulling him in and kissing him, hot and desperate. “I’d like that a lot,” he breathed out once they’d parted, lips still tingling and stomach swooping with anticipation.
“And the position as my bodyguard?”
Felix rolled his eyes. “Yes, fine. But I want my own horse,” he added, feeling bold. “I want Shadow.”
Leo’s face lit up with a pleased smile. “Right now, you can have anything you want.”
Felix grinned back. “In that case? I want you to take me to bed and show me if you’re any good.”
The words had barely left his mouth when he found himself swept up in strong arms and carried across the bedroom.
Leo dropped him on the mattress. “That,” he said, his voice thick with want, “would be my absolute pleasure.”
ChapterSix
Leo took in the sight of a grinning Felix sprawled across his bed and felt his own mouth curve into a smile. If he was lucky, he might be able to keep Felix for the rest of the afternoon, perhaps even into the evening. There were no pressing matters of state, no meetings, nothing urgent that he needed to attend to at all. The only thing that demanded his attention right now was getting Felix out of his clothes and possibly over his lap.
First, though, he needed to ensure they weren’t disturbed. To that end he said, “Wait here. I’ll be right back,” then fastened his trousers and strode out of the room. He hurried along the corridor and down two sets of stairs, stopping outside Mattias’s offices. He nodded at the guard standing there. “Is he in?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Leo didn’t bother to ask if Mattias wasfree—he was the king, and as such his needs took precedence over anything else Mattias was doing. He poked his head in the door and Mattias looked up and smiled. “Finished with the correspondence?”
“That’s not why I’m here,” Leo said, hedging, having forgotten the stack of paperwork he was meant to be dealing with. “I just wanted to tell you I’m not to be disturbed until morning unless it’s life or death, except to deliver two trays for supper.”
Mattias stood, giving Leo a suspicious look. “Twotrays?”
Leo grinned. “Let’s just say that since you wouldn’t allow me to go riding without a guard, I’ve arranged alternative entertainment.”
“But you were meant to be in your office working. How have you managed—” Mattias let out a heavy sigh. “Never mind. Forget that I asked.”
“That’s probably for the best,” Leo agreed, and ducked out of the room before Mattias decided to ask awkward questions after all.
He scampered back up the stairs, anticipation fizzing under his skin. When he got back to his chambers, he had to stop for a second and stare. While he’d been gone, Felix had stripped naked and was now sprawled cross his bed, all long, lean-muscled limbs and milky flesh, and his cock, pink and enticing, was draped in a most beguiling manner against his thigh. He looked mouth-watering.
He looked like hebelonged.
Felix’s eyes were bright with anticipation, and he ran his tongue over his bottom lip while looking Leo up and down. “So tell me, were you planning to get your arse out of those trousers anytime soon? Because I’m a busy man. I have horses to tend, stable boys to terrorise, and a royal body to guard. I can’t just lie about in bed all day while you stand there gawping.” He gave a mischievous grin.
“Sodisrespectful.” Leo sat on the edge of the bed and dragged his boots off, then stood and removed the rest of his clothing. Felix’s eyes darkened and his breathing sped up at the sight of Leo’s naked form, and Leo felt a thrum of satisfaction at the want written all over his face. Leo reached out a hand and skated his fingertips down Felix’s side before stroking the curve of his hip and tracing a hand across his belly. Felix’s skin was soft and smooth, and it would colour so prettily under a firm hand. “I did warn you what I do with mouthy brats, didn’t I?”
“Oh, was that a warning? I thought it was a promise.” Felix grinned, rolling over onto his stomach and propping himself on his elbows so that his deliciously pert arse was on display. “Yet here I am, unrepentant and unspanked.”
“The nerve of you! It’s almost like youwantme to put you over my lap,” Leo said, wondering all the while how he’d gotten so lucky.
“Obviously.” Felix’s grin widened.
There was nothing Leo would have liked more than to bend Felix over the side of the bed right then and indulge his fantasies of seeing that peach-perfect arse tinged pink. But the more sensible part of himself, the part that oversaw an entire kingdom and engaged in diplomacy and negotiation on a daily basis, was aware that sometimes people onlythoughtthey knew what they wanted and were unprepared for the reality of it. He needed to be sure that Felix was serious about what he was asking for.
He cupped Felix’s jaw in one hand and caught his gaze. “Are you sure? Is thisreallysomething you enjoy?” He was desperate for the answer to be yes, and he found himself holding his breath as he waited.
Felix huffed impatiently. “Well, I wouldn’t have suggested it otherwise, would I? Trust me, Ienjoythese kinds of games.” He lifted one eyebrow and wiggled his arse in blatant invitation, one that Leo had no intention of refusing now that he was assured of Felix’s enthusiasm.
Leo reached across and slapped Felix’s arse cheek, which earned him a yelp followed by a delighted laugh. Leo found himself unable to look away from the pink handprint that bloomed against the pale skin, flesh jiggling with the impact of the blow.
