The princess leaned in close and said something to Leo that had his eyes widening before he nodded and muttered something back that had them both laughing.
Do your job. Do your job. Do your job.
Leo had said he had no plans to propose, but if that had changed, well, shouldn’t Felix at least be glad that the new queen was beautiful and clever and able to make Leo laugh? Maybe Leo could even be happy.
Leo’s already happy—with you,a treacherous voice whispered.
Felix ignored it, fixing his eyes on the centre of Leo’s back as they rode on and doing his best to ignore the interactions between Leo and the princess. They’d asked for privacy, and he was going to give it to them. He wasn’t going to tie himself up in knots just because someone else was making Leo smile.
Mercifully it wasn’t long before Leo turned back towards the stables, and Felix whatever the couple—and didn’tthatword make his gut curl?—had wanted to talk about had apparently been resolved to their satisfaction, if the broad smiles they were both wearing was any indication.
It was a relief when Leo and Sophia dismounted and handed over their reins, because it meant Felix didn’t have time to think too hard. He busied himself with grooming, feeding, and watering the horses and taking extra care of the princess’s filly—partly from professional pride, and partly because she really was a sweet little horse. By the time he was done, the hot flare in his blood, which he was forced to acknowledge as jealousy, had settled into a low simmer. It was probably as good as he could hope for.
His father had stayed, tending his own mount, and before he left, he bumped shoulders with Felix. “I know you don’t want to hear it, but she’s not the worst match for him.”
“You’re right,” he said. “I don’t want to hear it.”
His father gave him the look he reserved for idiots. “You need to, though.”
Felix leaned against the fencing, arms wide and chin resting against the wooden rail. “I know.”
His dad rubbed between his shoulder blades, a comforting gesture Felix remembered from when he was a child. It was soothing in its familiarity, and it helped a little. “I’ll be fine,” he mumbled into the railing. “We’re just having fun. It’s not like I have feelings for him, right?”
His father didn’t dignify that with a reply, just patted Felix on the back once more before he walked away.
* * *
Felix tossed and turned on his bed, unable to settle. He decided he was blaming the quantity of cheese he’d consumed with his dinner. He huffed and sat up, punching at his pillow like it was somehow responsible before trying once again to get comfortable. He was tired and he needed to sleep because the rest of this week was going to be busy, but his brain insisted on replaying images of Leo and Sophia laughing. and Leo gazing at Sophia with admiration. Felix scowled at the thought of her delicate laugh and exquisite features, features that any man would admire, were he inclined that way.
And Leowasinclined that way—or had been, in the past. He’d told Felix about a dalliance with a young noblewoman in his youth. So conceivably, Sophiacouldbe an ideal match, which meant that at tomorrow’s banquet, Leo would probably propose.
Felix punched his pillow again.
He was staring up into the darkness when there was a soft tap at the door. He tilted his head, unsure if he was hearing things, but there it was again.Tap-tap-tap-tap.
He lit the lantern next to the bed and made his way over to the door, opening it the barest crack only to see Leo waiting there. He gave a hesitant smile when he saw Felix, and Felix’s heart flip-flopped in his chest. “Can I come in?” Leo whispered.
Felix couldn’t hold back a smile at seeing Leo, despite questioning the reason for the late-night visit. He opened the door fully and then Leo was pushing inside, crowding up close and tangling his hands in the front of Felix’s nightshirt as he shoved him against the wall and dragged him in for a kiss. Felix responded instinctively, lips parting to allow Leo’s tongue entrance as he licked his way inside his mouth in a way that was as familiar as breathing. Leo kissed him thoroughly, and when he pulled back, his eyes were bright. “Hello, sweetheart.”
Felix swallowed around the lump in his throat at the pet name. “Not that I’m not happy to see you, but it’s late. What are you doing here?”
He waited for Leo to tell him he was getting engaged, that this was one final goodbye, but instead, Leo trailed his fingertips down Felix’s cheek. “Imissedyou,” he said with a quiet tenderness that had Felix’s heart racing. “Obviously. So I waited until dinner was done—gods, it dragged on tonight—and slipped away. Aren’t you glad to see me?”
The tightness in Felix’s chest eased the tiniest bit. “Always.” He couldn’t help adding, “But aren’t you meant to be charming your future wife right now?”
Leo huffed. “Itoldyou, I have no intention of marrying Sophia.”
It shouldn’t have been as much of a relief as it was. “But you took her riding,” Felix said, hating how it sounded like an accusation but unable to help himself. “You don’t take anyone riding.”
Except me.
Leo rolled his eyes. “That was her idea, not mine. She said she had things she wanted to tell me without half the court listening in. And what shewantedto tell me was that she has no intention of marrying me, so I shouldn’t bother to propose. She’s happy to set up a trade treaty, whatever her idiot brother thinks. He’s the one who wants her married off.” Leo stopped to press a kiss to the hollow of Felix’s throat before he murmured, “She also said I should take some time to visit you tonight and fuck the jealous scowl off your face.”
Felix drew in a sharp breath. “Sheknows?”
Leo shrugged and slid his hands around Felix’s back, hitching up his nightshirt and running his hands over Felix’s bare arse. “I told her.”
Felix froze. “Really?”
