Page 4

“You are making it difficult.” The man’s accent thickened.

Theo smiled. Good. “Is this better or worse?” He leaned forwards and sank his mouth over the man’s cock. He didn’t moan or cry out, only his thighs trembled next to Theo’s head, then as Theo opened his throat and took the man almost all the way into his mouth, the man’s breathing became ragged. He had one hand on Theo’s shoulder, and the other was ... nowhere. Theo glanced up. There was just enough light to see that the man had his fist jammed in his mouth. Theo shuddered with pleasure, at the knowledge that the man had to stop himself from crying out with such force.

“Do you want me to do this?” Theo lifted his head to ask because he needed to be sure. It was one thing to observe the signs but another to know with certainty. The man breathed in so deep that the air whistled as it flowed in through his nostrils.

“Yes.”

Desire blended with smugness. He’d always loved the power he gained from being on his knees for someone. In this moment, he could get this man to do anything for him, although he knew from experience that this feeling of control wouldn’t last. He loved doing this too much, and he could already feel the heady rush of pleasure coursing through his veins. He licked and sucked at the man’s cock, loving the weight and texture of it in his mouth, and the salty taste of him as the man’s thighs shook and his muffled cries escaped from behind his fist. Theo pushed the man’s trousers down a bit further, so he could slide his hand under the man’s balls, guiding them forward until he sucked one into his mouth.

“Fuck.” The man opened his legs wider and Theo could see the way his trousers were digging into the hard flesh of his thighs. For some reason that sent Theo flying close to the edge, and he licked all the way the man’s shaft again and sucked him deep into his throat. He used his hand to cup his balls, gently squeezing, and then slid one finger behind to caress his hole. The man’s hips bucked and he gripped Theo’s head as he came, filling Theo’s mouth with a rush of salt with a force that left tears leaking from the corners of Theo’s eyes. He swallowed, then pulled off, stood up, and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. The man’s eyes widened, and he pulled him closer and kissed him. Theo let the man attack his mouth as he swallowed down the last remnant of the man’s come. He was hard and on the edge, and the kiss—a desperate thankful kiss—was almost enough, but it wasn’t. He grabbed the man’s hand and guided it between them. The man pressed his hand against Theo’s cock, and the two of them fumbled over his fall to release it for the man’s touch.

“I want it rough.” Theo’s whisper was hoarse, well used, and the man shuddered against him. The man grabbed his cock and Theo moaned into their kiss.

“Shh.” The man broke their kiss to spit in his hand, then wrapped his wet hand on Theo’s cock and his dry hand around Theo’s head. He pulled them together and kissed him while he stroked, hard and fierce, and it didn’t take long before Theo’s eyes were rolling back in his head, and he came in a rush of light and stars and volcanic heat. It was everything he’d hoped for. Several ragged breaths later, he realised what he’d done. He’d spilled all over a stranger and he didn’t even know the man’s name.

Chapter 4

Adam had charmed and slept his way through most of the good-looking members of society—women, men, he liked everyone—the ones in bad marriages were especially good, always so grateful for his attention. Never before had he been hauled into a servant’s cupboard at White’s and fucked so beautifully. Lord Milnes-Wilkes had an impressive mouth. What a shame he would one day discover the truth between them. Unusually, Adam had nothing to say. He grabbed his handkerchief and wiped away his lordship’s spunk, cleaning them both up as much as he could. It was mostly on his shirt, and the dampness left behind after he’d cleaned it could be hidden under his jacket.

“I have a dinner appointment.” The Earl dismissed him, while he was pulling up his trousers. They must teach that level of detachment at Eton because the Earl straightened his jacket, nodded once, and then left without another word, or even a smile. Adam was left standing there with his pants open, his shirt damp, and his handkerchief ruined. Fuck. His heart pounded, although perhaps he deserved the dismissal after what he’d done. Except the Earl—probably—didn’t know about that and Adam didn’t feel any guilt about it either. The old Earl had needed to be brought down and Adam was proud of his actions. Being dismissed was more personal than that, a little shard stabbed into his chest. He stuffed the handkerchief into his jacket pocket, fixed his clothes, and followed his lordship out into the world.

“Mr Milnes, are you here on business?” The Duke of Edenwick stood in the hallway beside the Earl, and at least His Grace had the decency to stick out his hand. Adam shook it.

“Yes.” He ignored the way that Edenwick’s gaze flicked between the Earl and himself, and he definitely ignored the way the Earl’s perfect Byron hairstyle was messed up. Adam resisted the urge to fix his own hair; what they’d been doing in the cupboard would be obvious to Edenwick. So fucking obvious, especially given His Grace’s own situation.

“How is Sebastian?” Adam’s childhood friend Sebastian Wildgoose was the Duke’s bloodstock manager and lover.

His Grace smiled and his entire ducal disposition relaxed. “Good. He declined to travel to London this time.”

“Give him my regards.” Adam smiled, knowing that Sebastian never left his horses, only leaving Edenwick's farm when one of his horses was racing in an important race.

“Of course.”

The Earl cleared his throat. “Shall we go to dinner, your Grace?”

“Mr Milnes, would you care to join us? Sebastian would be terribly put out if I didn’t invite you.”

Adam smiled. “I would be honoured to join you.” And if he could make the Earl a little uncomfortable, that might be amusing too. He might suck cock beautifully, but Adam still wasn’t sure if he was a miniature version of his father or something else entirely.

“I’m afraid you have an advantage over me. We are yet to be introduced.” The Earl’s comment made Edenwick’s eyes go comically wide, like one of Rowlandson’s caricatures.

“Mr Milnes, at your service.” He put a little purr into his tone.

“Milnes?”

“It is a common enough name, Lord Milnes-Wilkes.” Adam had been given the name by the nurses at the orphanage. All the children were named after the sponsors of the Duke St Orphanage, and his personal curse was that the Earl’s father had sponsored the facility for years. He frowned; suddenly realising how out of character said sponsorship would have been for the selfish old asshole. A dark heat began to fester in his lower back, spreading through his body, as he realised that the old fucker had, probably, sponsored the orphanage to meet his young brides. Like Rose, who the old Earl had married too young. He managed to follow the two other men into the dining room, not really listening to them chatter. They all sat and Adam tried not to squirm. His clothes scratched at his skin and he wanted to leave.

“I’d love to get your advice on what to do with the horses, your Grace. They are eating too much.”

“Take them to Tattersalls. I’m surprised you haven’t sold them yet already.”

The Earl sighed and Adam suddenly paid attention. Horses?

“I didn’t want to dump them all on the market at once. But ...” The Earl had a forlorn expression. “The entire ton appears to know that my father nearly bankrupted us. I had hoped to sell them at a time that would at least try to make some money for the estate.”

“Your father was a fool.” Adam couldn’t stop himself and he cursed his loose tongue.

The Earl stiffened. “My father was many things, but he was not a fool.”