Mattias tended to have that effect when he was serious about something—and it obviously wasn’t confined to just Leo. Felix nodded, gripping the edges of the quilt so tightly that his fingertips were white. “I won’t, I swear.”
Mattias raised an eyebrow. “Actually, I wasn’t talking to you, Flick. I knowyouwon’t duck your responsibilities.”
Leo gasped. “Mattias! Are you implying I’m irresponsible?”
Mattias arched one eyebrow at him in reply, and while Leo wasn’t completely certain it was an insult, it probably was. He decided to make Mattias squirm a little in retaliation. “I thought you’d be pleased to know that Felix is available whenever I want to ride.”
“Oh my gods,” Felix muttered and covered his face with one hand, the tips of his ears now scarlet.
“He’ll act as my personal guard when I take Blackbird out,” Leo continued, pretending he didn’t know exactly how that had sounded.
Mattias let out a long, slow breath. “You’re talking about appointing him your personal guard?”
Leo gave a bright smile. “Of course. What did you think I meant? His father trained him in weapons and hand to hand, so he’s able to protect me. He can accompany me when I go riding instead of half the guard tagging along.”
Mattias tilted his head to the side. “That,” he said slowly, “actually makes good sense.”
“Thank you,” Leo said tartly. “Nice to know that as yourruler,I’m capable of making the odd good decision. Now if you’ll excuse us.” He gestured toward the door, eager to have Felix to himself again.
Mattias let out a low chuckle. “I’ll leave you to your supper. Goodnight, Leo. Goodnight, Felix.”
Once he was gone, Leo fetched the tray and carried it over to the bed, where Felix had let the quilt pool around his waist. He looked considerably more relaxed now that Mattias was gone. “That went better than I thought it would,” he admitted, fidgeting with an oat cake.
“I told you there was nothing to worry about. Mattias would never interfere unless you were a spy or an assassin.Areyou a spy or an assassin?”
Felix shook his head, smiling now.
“Then there’s no problem. Now eat something,” Leo said encouragingly. “You need to keep your strength up.”
“Oh, I do, do I?” Felix asked, his smile widening, making Leo want to kiss him—and do all sorts of other things as well.
“Oh, absolutely,” he purred as he pressed a cube of cheese to Felix’s lips. “After all, I have you to myself for the rest of the night, and I plan to make the most of it.”
ChapterSeven
When Felix blinked awake, Leo was spooned up behind him, warm and solid, with a hand curled around his hip, and he was nestled in the most comfortable bed he’d ever had the pleasure of sleeping on. He pulled the quilt up around his chin and let himself enjoy it.
It wasn’t surprising that Leo was still asleep, since he’d made good on his promise to make the most of their night together. They hadn’t fucked in the end, but that was more due to lack of preparation than anything else. There had been no oil to be had anywhere in the room, and the prospect of either calling for some or leaving their bed hadn’t appealed to either of them. Leo had briefly tried to convince Felix to go and fetch some, but Felix had refused point blank, citing Mattias’s appeal that they be discreet. He’d pointed out that wandering around the castle at near to midnight looking for lubrication was the opposite of that, which had earned him a pout, but Felix had been firm. Fucking would have to wait.
It had turned out not to matter. There was plenty of fun to be had in other ways.
They’d spent time exploring each other’s bodies, teasing and touching, sharing gentle kisses and playful nips and more than one orgasm—the king had been able to make Felix come just from teasing at his nipples while Felix rutted against his leg—and afterwards, when they were both at a point where they were too tired for more, they’d curled up together and talked until the wee small hours. Felix had found that Leo was surprisingly down to earth. He’d always assumed that his public persona of a man of the people was a front, but he discovered that Leo genuinely did care about the citizens of Lilleforth.
It reassured him somewhat about his heat-of-the-moment acceptance of Leo’s proposition. In truth he hadn’t been sure at first if it was a wise move, because he was, first and foremost, in the employ of the castle, and he’d worried that if it all went to hell, it would affect his job. But Leo had looked so hopeful when he’d asked, and Felix had felt like something of a tit for having accused Leo of only wanting him for a bed warmer. Saying no after finding out that he had been wrong felt a little too much like slapping Leo in the face because of his own misconceptions, when really, Leo hadn’t set a foot out of line.
And apart from all that? Leo was a clever, witty, interesting man, and there was something about him, a spark of life and an irresistible charm, that drew Felix in and made him eager to spend more time with him, both in and out of bed.
But more time was a luxury he couldn’t afford, not right now. He needed to be gone by morning before the maids came to make up the fire and the valet came to tend to the king. He tried to extract himself from Leo’s grip without waking him, but the hand on his hip tightened.
Leo’s voice was sleep-rough. “Where are you going?”
“I have to get back,” Felix said softly. “Discretion means not being here in the morning.”
“I don’t like discretion if it means you leaving,” Leo mumbled, petulant.
“Maybe not, but apart from anything else I have a job to do, and if I’m to do it properly, I need at least a few hours of undisturbed sleep.”
Leo kissed the spot at the top of Felix’s spine that he’d discovered last night, the one that made Felix shiver. “You make far too much sense for this early in the morning,” he grumbled, but he loosened his grip and allowed him to escape. Felix dressed by the dim glow of the last remaining coals, and he was halfway to the door when Leo spoke. “When will I see you again?”
