Etienne stiffened and lifted his chin as all hope drained from him. Bile burned the back of his throat, and his breath came haltingly, as if unsure how the breathing process worked. He swiveled his head away. His hands shook as he finished dressing himself, each button complex. He blinked rapidly.
The wonderful night shattered, the morning more horrible than one Etienne had ever experienced. Usually, Etienne awakened grateful a new day had arrived and the past lay behind him.
Certainly, the man might not desire to be with him, but did he need to deny him with such vehemence? As if Etienne hadn’t been present when Geoffrey moaned and writhed in apparent delight?
Geoffrey stared at him dispassionately, his arms crossed.
Etienne’s skin prickled, and he turned to him, angry. “You needn’t act so lofty about me. You’re an unnatural as well.”
Geoffrey’s face hardened even further. “You’re calling me unnatural?”
“Yes.”
“You? Men like you aren’t supposed to be here. And maybe you were guiltier in your experiences in Lyngate than you let on.”
Etienne’s fists clenched, and he gasped for air. He swung around, clothed. “That doesn’t change who you are. There’s a reason you’re not married.”
Geoffrey shook his head, but fear flickered across his face. Etienne had seen that expression before. Usually right before somebody implored him to keep quiet, either by flinging money at him or threatening to beat him. Etienne eyed Geoffrey’s bulky arms and backed away involuntarily. Geoffrey raked his hand through his hair and rose from the bed. He wrapped a sheet around him. “Look, I just was startled you remained here.”
“I slept soundly.”
Geoffrey lowered his gaze. “I should have asked you to leave in the night.” He inhaled. “I’m sorry.”
Etienne glanced at him, and his eyes widened.
Geoffrey moved nearer him. “You just can’t go about calling me an unnatural.” He cast a stern look at Etienne. “To anyone.”
Etienne’s shoulders slumped, but he pushed past Geoffrey.
“I won’t.” Etienne grabbed hold of the door handle and yanked it open.
“Wait.” Geoffrey’s hand darted over Etienne’s, and he forced the door shut. Etienne’s heart hammered at their proximity, as if his body did not know that Geoffrey now hated him.
“I—” Geoffrey’s voice sounded more high-pitched than normal, and Etienne turned. Geoffrey scratched the back of his neck.
Etienne waited, his breath unsteady.
“I’m going about this all wrong.” Geoffrey’s eyes flickered down, and he shifted his feet. “I do favor men. More than favor in fact. It’s the only option for me.”
“Indeed?” Etienne tilted his head.
Geoffrey nodded. “Indeed.”
“So it’s me or nobody,” Etienne said.
Geoffrey exhaled. “It’s nobody. Not you. Never you again.”
Etienne’s heart squeezed, and his breath quickened.
“The maid will have noticed you weren’t in your bed.”
“Oh.” Etienne bit his lip. “They’ll think I’m wandering. I’ll make sure to sneak out. I should leave anyway.”
Geoffrey stilled beside him.
Etienne needed to fetch the horse he had tied at the duke’s. Heavens knows Gawain is probably confused.
“For good?” Geoffrey held on to the door handle with a white-knuckled grip.
Etienne frowned, though something like optimism formed at Geoffrey’s stricken expression. He pushed against the wall. Visions of Geoffrey, naked, inside of him, filled his mind, and he cursed himself again for his foolishness. “Do you want me to?”
Geoffrey averted his eyes.
“The thing is,” Etienne swallowed, “I still don’t have a place to go.” And the general wants me here.
“Then stay.” Blank eyes regarded Etienne.
“Thank you.” Etienne’s voice cracked, and his mouth tightened. Geoffrey’s expression remained impenetrable, and Etienne closed the door to the room, and to Geoffrey.
Chapter Fifteen
Etienne paced his room. He reached the end in five hurried strides and swung around to repeat the process. Perhaps he might exhaust himself and discover this was all a dream. Perhaps he might forget last night. Perhaps he might forget Geoffrey.
He paused mid-step and shook his head. Impossible.
Frowning, he pulled the handle of his door open. He gritted his teeth and crept to Sir Ambrose’s room. He slid his fingers against the iron key, one he snatched from the set of keys Geoffrey hid in his desk in the library.
The general’s men had already searched Sir Ambrose’s room, and he tapped his finger against the man’s massive desk, pondering what oversights possibly could have occurred. He pored through the papers. Sighing, he gazed around the room. Gold and crystal candelabras sat on every surface of the room. French paintings lined the walls,
All of Sir Ambrose’s money lay in his art—he had little holdings in any banks, as if anticipated the need to make a hasty departure.
His lip curved up even as his stomach formed a hard lump.
He stared at Sir Ambrose’s fineries. Etienne still hadn’t discovered anything that tied Geoffrey to knowledge of Sir Ambrose’s more nefarious activities.
Heaving a sigh, he let himself out into the darkened hallway and walked toward Geoffrey’s door. Geoffrey had fled, and the man’s room was empty. He needed to search it. It was good he was talented at breaking into rooms.
Footsteps paced the hallway, and he halted, his heart beating fast, even though he had every right to be in the corridor.
Somebody lumbered toward him with a torch. He flattened his back against the wall of the hallway in the corner of the hallway and steadied his breath.
“Etienne,” a voice hissed at him.
Etienne’s chest tightened, and he blinked as a familiar face stared at him. “Barnesley?”
The man’s jaw was set. The words, when they came, were gruff. “I must speak with you.”
“Oh?” Etienne raised his eyebrows. He made an effort to avoid the man, and the man seemed to duplicate this desire. Barnesley seemed to hate being in the same room as him. Why would he speak, much less instigate speech?
Barnesley shifted his legs, and his eyes darted to the side. “I—I wanted to apologize.”
“Oh.” Etienne tilted his head at the other man.
“I hope you might forgive me. I simply wanted to protect Geoffrey and—”
“I forgive you,” Etienne said hastily.
“Good.” Barnesley gave a terse nod of his head. He turned and plodded back down the hallway, his boots striking heavily against the wooden floor.
“Right.” Etienne frowned as the man disappeared. He peered around the hallway again. Empty, thank goodness. After this morning, Etienne was reluctant to infuriate Geoffrey any further. Just like I’m likely doing now.
He snuck into Geoffrey’s room and searched through his documents. He found letters to Sir Ambrose in support of the French. Treason. And Geoffrey knew about it. He stuffed the papers in his pocket.
The doorknob turned, and Etienne’s eyes widened as Geoffrey came through the door, his body bent as if tired.
“Hello.” Etienne’s voice squeaked.
“Etienne.” Geoffrey stared at him and then strode to him, narrowing the gap. “What are you doing here?”
“I—” Etienne shuffled his feet from side to side, and his mind raced for a lie to tell to explain away his presence. But all he could think about was how they ended things, and how he despised that. “This morning, I’m—”
“Sorry?” Geoffrey closed the gap between them, and his eyes softened. “Thank goodness you’re back. I wasn’t able to forgive myself for what I did.”
Etienne swallowed. “Forgive?”
“I was horrible to you.” Geoffrey’s voice roughened, and his eyes flickered shut for a moment. “You’re right. No one saw anything, and we can be more careful in
the future. You won’t be here for long, and I . . . I want to make the most of it.”
Etienne’s heartbeat quickened, and his lips parted.
“Unless…” Geoffrey’s face paled. “Unless you don’t want to.”
“I want to,” Etienne interrupted him. “I want to.”
He didn’t need to think—the answer came quickly. He didn’t realize he was holding his breath until Geoffrey exhaled. The man’s eyes shone. His bronzed arm stretched toward Etienne, and Etienne swallowed hard, his mouth dry. They locked eyes.
Etienne stepped toward him, and coiled an arm around Geoffrey, pulling the other man toward him. He tightened his hold, allowing himself a brief smile as the man moaned. With care, he slid his other hand up the side of the man’s face, brushing his fingertips against the square jaw, stubble-marked cheeks, and advanced to the man’s thick locks. He wanted to memorize each angle, each texture. He didn’t want to forget Geoffrey. The man would come to his senses and would push him aside again. For now though, Geoffrey was his.
Heat coiled through him as he recalled another statement Geoffrey had made this morning. He moved his hands lower, scraping his fingers against Geoffrey’s back, and proceeded to the man’s taut arse. He swept his hands over the area, and then tightened his hold.
Geoffrey groaned, a rough, deep sound that sent a jolt straight to Etienne’s cock. Time sped and everything blurred, and Etienne was only conscious of the sensation of Geoffrey’s hands tearing off Etienne’s clothes. Etienne undid Geoffrey’s jacket, and the man’s shirt sleeves billowed from underneath his vest. The vest came off next, and Geoffrey and his fingers tangled together as they pulled Etienne’s shirt up over his head, and then did the same to Geoffrey’s.
Somehow they moved to the bed. Geoffrey’s brawny chest gleamed like gold against the white sheets, and Etienne ran his fingers through the dark, furry curls scattered over the man’s broad torso.
“Etienne.” Geoffrey’s voice roughened, and seconds later their buckskins lay tossed on the floor.
Geoffrey’s lips brushed against Etienne, but the tentative gesture soon hardened. His lips feathering against Etienne’s turned into his lips sucking onto Etienne’s. And that soon gave way to Geoffrey’s hot, skilled tongue entering his mouth, and all Etienne concentrated on was the sensation of the man’s tongue dancing and melding with his own.
“Oh, God.” Geoffrey’s voice rumbled against his ear, and Etienne touched his lips with his.
The heavy doors were shut, the servants all in their wing, and Etienne allowed himself to relax. His breath grew louder, carried on by Geoffrey’s enthusiasm.
If Geoffrey wanted this too, Etienne wouldn’t complain. No way. He hadn’t spent all those months being miserable to stop this now.
His lips turned up. He knew just how to make this good for Geoffrey.
He flipped over, tearing himself from Geoffrey’s arms. He crouched on the bed, his back arching in just the way to highlight his bare arse.
Geoffrey sucked in a sharp breath of air, and Etienne grinned. He had this. He wiggled his arse from side to side.
Soon Geoffrey’s hands would be on him. Soon Geoffrey would be inside him.
Except—no shuffling of covers sounded, and Geoffrey’s hands didn’t grab hold of his arse, and his cock didn’t press against Etienne’s entrance.
Etienne’s chest tightened, and his shoulders slumped.
But in the next moment, Geoffrey pulled him toward him, so his chest once again nestled against Etienne’s. He flickered his eyes away from Geoffrey. Everything had seemed to be going so well.
“Perhaps you would prefer me in other manner?” He whispered. His fingers tapped against the blanket, but he pressed on. There must be something Geoffrey would like. “Should I be in women’s clothes? Or perhaps—perhaps you desire to flog me?”
Geoffrey’s body stilled. “You like that?”
“I like what you like,” Etienne said.
For once that was true. He would be whatever Geoffrey wanted.
“Though I appreciate the offer,” Geoffrey said finally, and Etienne braced himself to being sent away, once again, “I have no desire for you to do anything except be yourself.”
Etienne’s shoulders relaxed. “I would have—”
“I know. And I—I do appreciate it.” Geoffrey laughed, and Etienne’s heart warmed at the sound. “I’m really not very brutish at all. No matter what society thinks.”
“Not really planning to take over your uncle’s smuggling empire then?” Etienne laughed back. He paused. “Sorry.”
Geoffrey shook his head, but his eyes seemed to glisten. “It’s nice to be able to talk to someone about that. Society isn’t always right.”
Etienne snuggled more against Geoffrey, brushing his bare legs against Geoffrey’s. Geoffrey pulled him tightly against him, and their cocks touched. Energy pulsed through Etienne.
“Perhaps though,” Geoffrey said, “You would care to enter me.”
Etienne swallowed. Surely he had misheard. Gentlemen like Geoffrey didn’t want him inside them. None of the men Etienne encountered had indicated a desire for that. His cock swelled though at his words, and Geoffrey laughed again.
Geoffrey brushed his lips against Etienne’s face. “Thought you would go for that.”
Etienne’s eyes widened, and soon Geoffrey’s hands were once again on his cock.
Geoffrey had found the oil again and lathered up Etienne. “Let me guide you in.”
Etienne raised his chin. “I’m sure I can find the way.”
Geoffrey’s lips turned up, and Etienne grabbed the man’s muscular legs, parting them. He wanted to watch Geoffrey when this happened. Geoffrey’s eyes smouldered, and Etienne tore his gaze away from them. His mouth dried at the sight of Geoffrey’s hard cock, dripping with moisture.
The candles in the room flickered, but the sight of his cock against Geoffrey’s entrance was vivid. It was more than he ever had dared to imagine. He gritted his teeth, and shoved his cock inside.
Geoffrey’s sucked in a deep breath of air, and Etienne’s gaze turned to his face. The man gritted his lips together.
“Are you–?” He swallowed. “This is your first time. Like this.”
“Yes.”
“Oh.” His heartbeat quickened, and a smile flickered across his face. Geoffrey was sharing this moment with him. “But you must hurt.”
“I’m quite well,” Geoffrey grunted, glowering back at him. “Spectacular.”
“Good.” Etienne grinned and began to thrust.
The sensation was wonderful. The sensation of rocking back and forth inside another man surpassed everything else he had ever experienced. Energy continued to soar through him, and he inhaled.
He wasn’t going to spoil this by ending it soon. He leaned down, gripping the sheets in his fists, concentrating on his breath.
And good heavens, he concentrated on Geoffrey.
He memorized the manner in which the candlelight flickered over Geoffrey’s hair, revealing glistening lighter strands. He memorized the arches of Geoffrey’s face, and the way the man’s eyes, even now, remained fixed on him.
Despite his expression of confidence, this must be strange for him. But soon Geoffrey’s arse squeezed against his cock, and his moans once again sounded. The man’s cheeks darkened, and a sheen of sweat gleamed from his face.
He brushed his hand over Geoffrey’s forehead, wiping some of the moisture away. It was hard to keep from smiling. This moment was something he never experienced before.
Geoffrey’s nipples tightened into dark peaks, and his legs wrapped around Etienne’s pulling him down toward him. Geoffrey’s lips once again devoured him, even as Etienne continued to thrust in and out, even as his heartbeat quickened, and even as Geoffrey stroked his back and arms—as if longing just to have his hands on him somewhere, somehow.
Energy pulsed through Etienne, and Geoffrey’s pants quickened. Warm liquid spilled onto Etienne’s stomach, and in the next
moment Etienne erupted inside Geoffrey. He collapsed onto the man, indulging in the scent, and in the way Geoffrey pulled him toward him.
Things were not like before. Life would be different.
He swallowed hard, thinking of why he had entered the room in the first place, and when Geoffrey fell asleep, Etienne’s thoughts still raced.
Chapter Sixteen
Frost crystallized the grass, and the fields sparkled under the blue sky, untainted by clouds. Etienne ran to the library, his feet sliding over the slick ground, and swung the heavy door shut behind him. Christmas garlands, tied with red satin ribbons, swung from the timbered ceiling.
Geoffrey’s eyes flickered when Etienne approached his desk, and Etienne swallowed.
Despite the general’s insistence, he knew he should depart; the servants would soon start speculating on his good health. Yet he doubted he could draw himself away, even if the general did not demand he search the castle.
He shivered as Geoffrey stood and wrapped his arms around Etienne’s waist, pulling him close. Flutters raced up through his stomach, the strange energy soaring through him whenever in Geoffrey’s presence, and he buried his face in Geoffrey’s chest. If only he might remain here. The past two weeks had been perfect, sneaking between their rooms at night. He clung to Geoffrey’s waistcoat and pressed his body against his.
He lifted his head, smiling as Geoffrey beamed at him. “You’re having a party.”
“Yes.” Geoffrey leaned down and pecked Etienne on the lips.
The quick kiss startled him, resembling the pecks of couples rather than the passionate embraces of people desiring carnal pleasure. For some reason, the simple gesture pleased him. He stammered as he hurriedly concentrated on something else. “When were you going to tell me?”
“I hoped to surprise you.” Geoffrey nuzzled his face against Etienne’s, and his hot, delightfully wet mouth progressed to Etienne’s ear. His lips pulled at Etienne’s earlobe and then trailed against his neck.
In vain, Etienne fought to constrain a moan.
Captured At The Castle (Scandal in Sussex Book 2) Page 14