“I’m taking Blackbird out. You’ll join me on Shadow.”
Felix beamed. “Of course, sire.”
Even though Felix was using his title in its proper context, it still sent a shiver up Leo’s spine, making him think all sorts of indecent thoughts. He pushed them aside. For now, he had a horse to mount.
The groom could come later.
* * *
They spent a pleasant afternoon riding. There was no urgency to get back, so they travelled farther than the day before, not stopping except to let the horses rest. Felix was good company, irreverent and entertaining, and it was a long time since Leo had laughed so hard or been so relaxed. Eventually, though, the sun started to dip lower in the sky, and Leo turned Blackbird towards home.
When they got back to the stables, the rest of the horses were grazing in the meadow and there was nobody around, which meant Leo could indulge himself and crowd Felix into a stall and press against him, running his hands down his back and imagining bare skin. “Come and see me tonight?” he said, forgetting for a moment that he wasn’t going to ask.
Felix shook his head. “I wish I could, but I’ve barely slept in two nights. I’m buggered.”
“I know. I was there.”
Felix snorted. “I’m serious. I have a job to do, and so do you.” There was no sting to his words, though. “Tomorrow?”
Tomorrow sounded forever away to Leo, but he gave a reluctant nod. “Fine.”
Felix rewarded him with a quick kiss, then reached behind himself and grabbed something and pressed it into Leo’s palms, whispering, “If you’re very lucky, I’ll be terribly disrespectful, and you’ll have to show me my place.”
Leo blinked down at the riding crop. He imagined the lovely marks it would leave, stark red against Felix’s pale arse, and his cock throbbed in anticipation. He tucked the crop into the side of his riding boot. “Until tomorrow, then.”
Felix grinned and shoved him lightly backward. “Tomorrow. Now go and do some work and let me do mine.”
Leo left, a spring in his step and a crop tucked in his boot.
* * *
It was just before midnight when Felix slipped into Leo’s rooms. Leo was already naked and erect, having spent the last hour teasing himself in anticipation. He wasted no time peeling Felix out of his clothing, pausing only to place a series of kisses down the side of Felix’s elegant throat before pulling his shirt over his head and running his palms down his torso, following the curve of his muscles. He slid his hands around Felix’s back and cupped his arse, giving it a light squeeze. Felix had such pretty, soft skin.
Leo couldn’t wait to mark it.
Felix let out a breathy sigh and Leo echoed it before kissing Felix properly, the heat of Felix’s soft, welcoming mouth stoking Leo’s desire to new heights until he was achingly hard. He backed Felix against the wall and slipped a hand between them to stroke Felix’s cock, relishing the way it hardened further against his palm. Felix gave a shaky moan and Leo’s own cock throbbed at the sound, slapping against his belly. He stepped back and removed his hand lest he give in to the temptation to stroke them both off then and there.
“You’re a damned tease,” Felix complained, but it was half-hearted at best.
“Is that any way to speak to your king?”
Felix grinned, his expression pure, delicious insolence. “It is if he’s a tease. What are you planning to do about it?” Felix cocked an eyebrow and ran the tip of his tongue over his bottom lip, making it shine in the dim light. He looked delectable, and Leo didn’t want to—couldn’t—wait any longer.
He reached up and gripped Felix lightly around the back of the neck, steering him over to the end of the bed, bending him at the waist, and pressing him into the bedding. “Hands beside your head. Don’t move,” he growled.
Felix placed his hands where instructed and breathed out, “Yes, sire.”
He made such a pretty picture, laid out with his legs spread wide to accommodate his height. Leo took a moment to appreciate the sight before running his hands over the globes of Felix’s backside, kneading and working the flesh to warm it up for what was to come.
Felix jerked at the first crack of Leo’s hand against his arse, and Leo relished the pink that bloomed across his skin. He rubbed his palm over the spot and Felix moaned softly, arching back into the touch. Leo grinned to himself and followed the first slap with a series of swats that increased in intensity, his blood heating at the way Felix whined and squirmed under his hand.
When the skin of Felix’s arse was a delicious, rich red, Leo leaned in and whispered, “Are you ready for the crop, sweetheart?”
Felix tipped his head back, breathing heavily. “Please, sire.” He shuffled back slightly and spread his legs farther as if to brace himself.
Heat raced through Leo’s veins at the sight in front of him, and he wrapped a hand around his cock and stroked himself in a slow tease, only stopping when the touch threatened to become too much. Leo pressed a soft kiss to the small of Felix’s back and picked up the riding crop, then ran the tip lightly up and down Felix’s spine, making him shiver.
Next Leo dragged the wide leather tip back and forth lazily across Felix’s arse a few times, drawing patterns and letting the anticipation build, and it was only when Felix’s breath hitched that he flicked his wrist. The tip connected with Felix’s arse, the softthwacka glorious counterpoint to the sound of Felix drawing in a sharp breath. Leo adjusted his grip and let fly again, harder this time, and Felix let out a satisfying squeal, muscles going taut before relaxing again. Leo laid a palm in the centre of his back. “Yes?”
