“Ido,” Sebastian insisted. “I can keep you here, at my mercy, as long as I—shit.”
The heavy sensation in Wesley’s limbs promptly doubled. There was a clatter somewhere in the house, the sound of dishes falling and someone cursing.
The magic abruptly disappeared, and Wesley instantly rolled them over. “Oh no,” Wesley said, deadpan, as he pinned Sebastian to the bed. “What happened, duck? Don’t tell me you…lost control of your magic?”
“Don’t be smug,” Sebastian said, as he squirmed under Wesley.
Wesley pinned him more firmly to the bed. “And which of my staff did you knock down with that little slip?”
Sebastian winced. “I think it was Ned.”
Wesley tsked. “And are you going to keep trying to control your magic while my poor staff tries to work?”
“No,” Sebastian muttered.
Wesley leaned in, lips close to his ear. “So I guess you’re just going to be atmymercy now.”
Sebastian’s eyes seemed to darken, his tongue darting to wet his lips. Wesley settled on top of him, pullinghis wrists up to pin them to the mattress on either side of his head. “We are most certainly skipping the handcuffs, though; I’m not quite mad enough to chain either of us up when your control is questionable.”
“But however will we entertain ourselves without handcuffs?” Sebastian said wryly.
“Oh, don’t worry,” Wesley said, leaning in for a kiss. “I keep more than just handcuffs in my nightstand.”
“Wait, what?”
Wesley found his lips, slipping his tongue into Sebastian’s mouth, kissing him long and slow until Sebastian was soft and pliant under him. When he finally pulled back, Sebastian’s cheeks were flushed and his gaze hazy. Wesley shifted to place lingering kisses below his ear and over his throat, keeping his hold on his wrists.
Sebastian’s breath was coming faster. “Wes, you can’t draw things out tonight; I really will keep losing control of my magic.”
A shiver of desire went through Wesley. “I love how you say that as if it could possibly turn meoff.”
Sebastian half laughed, half groaned. “I’m serious.”
“So am I.” Wesley kissed his jaw. “I changed my mind; my staff will just have to adjust, because I want to see if I can make you send the whole house to the floor by the time I’m done with you.”
Sebastian groaned again and turned to catch Wesley’s lips in another kiss. Clothes needed to come off, Wesley’s hands desperate for warm skin, the endless touch he craved and Sebastian had promised was welcome.
But his gaze was drawn up the bed, where Wesley was still pinning Sebastian’s wrists to the mattress as he had only days prior. Except this time, the lion wasa bright blaze of color dancing on Sebastian’s wrists: Sebastian’s magic, which had trusted Wesley enough to show him the lion before they’d even kissed—had trusted Wesley enough to take shelter with him these past weeks. The brilliant colors were like a glimpse inside Sebastian, into the bright, kind heart that had somehow inexplicably decided it wanted Wesley.
Wesley couldn’t resist stretching up to press his lips to the tattoo.
Sebastian’s inhale echoed around the room. “Still mine,” Wesley said, against his wrist.
“Always yours,” Sebastian whispered.
I love you so much, Sebastian had said, back at Valemount Hall.
And the realization hit Wesley harder than the magic, and he was finally brave enough to think the word.
He loved Sebastian too.
“Ah.” His tongue suddenly seemed too big for his mouth. “Sebastian. We didn’t talk about that thing. You remember. That thing you said. Back at Valemount Hall, before the kidnapping bit? The thing?”
“Oh.” Sebastian’s cheeks colored. “You mean the thing I said after I found out you sabotaged the fox hunt? That thing?”
“Yes,” Wesley said. “When you said…the thing.”
Sebastian’s cheeks were still flushed, but he raised his chin and met Wesley’s eyes. “I remember.” He swallowed. “You don’t have to say it back, not tonight, not ever,” he said quickly. “But I meant it.”
