[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Beneath his hand, Amery nodded. Kissing his ear, Tovin lowered his voice to
mere breath as he sighed into his lover, If something happens to me, to the
castle, anything at all that puts you in danger I want you to run. Do you
understand me? Don t stand and fight. There s a sluiceway that runs beneath
the castle Amery licked Tovin s palm in an effort to get him to remove his
hand, but Tovin simply laughed at the gesture. Stop it and listen.
I am listening, came the muffled reply.
Amery s eyes were shiny and large above Tovin s hand;
the knight pressed his lips to his lover s ear again. Stacia s is
THE REGENT S KNIGHT
82
the last inn when you ride through Konstas. Two days
journey from here with a fast steed. He waited for Amery to nod before he
continued. There is no need to buy the place
I know my sister, and much as she complains about that inn, part of the reason
she s had no buyers is that she refuses to sell. But she knows of us. If you
ever find yourself free from the castle, go there. She will see to it you re
kept safe until I
can find you. Do you hear me?
Yes, Amery replied as Tovin removed his hand. But nothing will happen.
Perhaps not, Tovin said, snuggling closer to his lover.
But if it does, you run. Don t be contrary, just this once, please? Go to
Stacia s, and when I can get away, I shall find you there.
Okay, Amery whispered. With a grin, he added, Just this once.
* * *
The next morning, Amery stretched himself awake. Fading dreams blurred his
mind, lingering images of Tovin in him, loving him, holding him tight. But
when he reached an arm out for his lover, he frowned to find the bed beside
him empty.
Tovin? he called. It wasn t too late in the day. The knight should still be
in his chambers&
I m right here, Tovin assured him. His voice carried in from the sitting
room, and as Amery settled back against the pillows, his lover came to stand
in the doorway between the rooms. His breeches were already tied into place
around his
THE REGENT S KNIGHT
83
waist, and his heavy boots echoed off the stone floor with each step. As he
shrugged on his surcoat, he winked at Amery.
Morning, glory. You looking for me?
Come here, Amery said, patting the blankets. I
command it.
Tovin laughed at that. You command it?
Amery sighed. There was a playful banter in his lover s voice that told him no
amount of cajoling would get Tovin back between his sheets. With a pout, Amery
tried, Tovin&
I wasn t made castellan to spend my days in your bed.
There s a war to be fought, the knight reminded the regent.
No amount of pretty pouting will turn the Cyrians around.
Are you sure? Amery teased. Maybe if I ask real nice
No, Tovin replied. Crossing the room, he leaned down to give Amery a quick
Page 41
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
peck on the cheek. When the regent turned, trying to catch that kiss on his
lips instead, the knight pulled away. There is work to be done, Your
Highness. I
have a castle to defend. Get your royal ass out of bed.
With another sigh, Amery kicked the sheets away. The knight s eyes widened at
the sight of so much taut, nude flesh, and Amery allowed himself another
languid stretch so his lover could see just what he was missing by not
returning to the bed.
But Tovin was a stronger man than Amery despite his greedy stare, he
restrained himself. Only a faint tremor in his fingers as they buttoned his
surcoat belayed his desire. As
Amery lay amid his blankets, displaying his nude body for his
THE REGENT S KNIGHT
84
lover, Tovin sighed. What a glorious sight. Too bad I must get to work.
Tonight
I have to wait that long? Amery cried.
With a laugh, Tovin turned and headed back into the sitting room. Amery
climbed off the bed and, naked, followed the knight. When Tovin retrieved his
sword from where it lay on the floor, Amery took it from him. Let me, he
said, securing the knight s sheath to his waist. You re so dashing in armor.
That won t get me back into the bedroom, Tovin warned him.
Amery laughed. I know. Your duty calls. Duty which
I
assigned. He kissed Tovin hungrily once, twice, and the third time the knight
staggered back against the door beneath the regent s insistent attentions.
Tonight, Amery promised.
Until then, Tovin agreed. His last kiss lingered on the regent s lips long
after the chamber door closed behind him.
* * *
Tovin had a million things to do before he would consider the castle safe from
attack there were fortifications to check, ramparts to secure, a weak guard to
whip back into shape&
And you shall think of the regent throughout the day.
Absently, he touched his hand to his face, where he could still feel the ghost
of Amery s mouth against his. Whenever he closed his eyes, he saw Amery
stretched out on his bed, his lithe, nude body begging for Tovin s touch. The
evening when they could be alone again would not come soon enough.
THE REGENT S KNIGHT
85
He had been tempted to take Amery up on his offer just spend the day in his
lover s arms and let the others worry about the war that rumbled like a
thundering cloud on their northern borders. Berik and Lohden would take care
of the
Cyrians, he knew it, and Giles s men would have no trouble stifling the few
who dared to come into the kingdom from the west. Couriers had been dispatched
the previous day, racing for the southland with news that would bring Tovin s
own troops storming to the castle. Within three days at the most, his own men
would fill these empty corridors, weapons at the ready. Nothing could bring
down these stone walls, nothing.
Tovin would see to that.
But until he had those extra men under his command, he would stay wary. As
they had cuddled in the regent s bed the night before, Tovin had gone over
directions on how to get to the abandoned sluiceway that ran beneath the
castle. He repeated them, over and over, forced the regent to repeat them as
well, until they both felt comfortable about the plan. Now if an opportunity
Page 42
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
would just present itself&
The sluiceway was naught but an ancient piece of masonry, one they d played in
as children, one even he had forgotten about until he found it again while
studying the castle maps. It ran straight beneath the garden where he d first
met the young prince, all those years ago. It was in that same garden where
they d first shared an experimental kiss, the beginning of a lifetime of
kisses, when Amery had been a young boy barely fifteen years of age, a scrap
of the man he d become, but already beautiful in Tovin s eyes.
THE REGENT S KNIGHT
86
Despite the passage of time, the knight could still remember the nervousness
that had churned his own stomach, and the way the regent s hands had twisted
in his tunic.
They d huddled together in the shade of an old birch tree, out of sight from
the castle. After the brief crush of their lips, Amery had sighed and flashed
Tovin an anxious smile. You taste sweet. I bet you hear that all the time.
You re my first, Tovin admitted.
Amery s eyes went wide. No. You re so much older than me.
Tovin laughed. Who else do you think I ve bothered to kiss? Lohden?
Giles
?
Laughing himself, Amery suggested, Berik.
But Tovin waved that away. He s too damn hairy for me.
I like you.
I like you, too. Amery smiled again and scooted closer so he could rest his
head on Tovin s shoulder. Picking at the knight s tunic, the prince whispered,
I think& I might like you more. I mean, I know I m still too young, really,
but maybe, if you don t have anyone else, and you don t mind much, maybe you d
want to be mine?
Tovin felt his insides melt and he d kissed Amery again.
There s no maybe about it. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl aikidobyd.xlx.pl
Beneath his hand, Amery nodded. Kissing his ear, Tovin lowered his voice to
mere breath as he sighed into his lover, If something happens to me, to the
castle, anything at all that puts you in danger I want you to run. Do you
understand me? Don t stand and fight. There s a sluiceway that runs beneath
the castle Amery licked Tovin s palm in an effort to get him to remove his
hand, but Tovin simply laughed at the gesture. Stop it and listen.
I am listening, came the muffled reply.
Amery s eyes were shiny and large above Tovin s hand;
the knight pressed his lips to his lover s ear again. Stacia s is
THE REGENT S KNIGHT
82
the last inn when you ride through Konstas. Two days
journey from here with a fast steed. He waited for Amery to nod before he
continued. There is no need to buy the place
I know my sister, and much as she complains about that inn, part of the reason
she s had no buyers is that she refuses to sell. But she knows of us. If you
ever find yourself free from the castle, go there. She will see to it you re
kept safe until I
can find you. Do you hear me?
Yes, Amery replied as Tovin removed his hand. But nothing will happen.
Perhaps not, Tovin said, snuggling closer to his lover.
But if it does, you run. Don t be contrary, just this once, please? Go to
Stacia s, and when I can get away, I shall find you there.
Okay, Amery whispered. With a grin, he added, Just this once.
* * *
The next morning, Amery stretched himself awake. Fading dreams blurred his
mind, lingering images of Tovin in him, loving him, holding him tight. But
when he reached an arm out for his lover, he frowned to find the bed beside
him empty.
Tovin? he called. It wasn t too late in the day. The knight should still be
in his chambers&
I m right here, Tovin assured him. His voice carried in from the sitting
room, and as Amery settled back against the pillows, his lover came to stand
in the doorway between the rooms. His breeches were already tied into place
around his
THE REGENT S KNIGHT
83
waist, and his heavy boots echoed off the stone floor with each step. As he
shrugged on his surcoat, he winked at Amery.
Morning, glory. You looking for me?
Come here, Amery said, patting the blankets. I
command it.
Tovin laughed at that. You command it?
Amery sighed. There was a playful banter in his lover s voice that told him no
amount of cajoling would get Tovin back between his sheets. With a pout, Amery
tried, Tovin&
I wasn t made castellan to spend my days in your bed.
There s a war to be fought, the knight reminded the regent.
No amount of pretty pouting will turn the Cyrians around.
Are you sure? Amery teased. Maybe if I ask real nice
No, Tovin replied. Crossing the room, he leaned down to give Amery a quick
Page 41
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
peck on the cheek. When the regent turned, trying to catch that kiss on his
lips instead, the knight pulled away. There is work to be done, Your
Highness. I
have a castle to defend. Get your royal ass out of bed.
With another sigh, Amery kicked the sheets away. The knight s eyes widened at
the sight of so much taut, nude flesh, and Amery allowed himself another
languid stretch so his lover could see just what he was missing by not
returning to the bed.
But Tovin was a stronger man than Amery despite his greedy stare, he
restrained himself. Only a faint tremor in his fingers as they buttoned his
surcoat belayed his desire. As
Amery lay amid his blankets, displaying his nude body for his
THE REGENT S KNIGHT
84
lover, Tovin sighed. What a glorious sight. Too bad I must get to work.
Tonight
I have to wait that long? Amery cried.
With a laugh, Tovin turned and headed back into the sitting room. Amery
climbed off the bed and, naked, followed the knight. When Tovin retrieved his
sword from where it lay on the floor, Amery took it from him. Let me, he
said, securing the knight s sheath to his waist. You re so dashing in armor.
That won t get me back into the bedroom, Tovin warned him.
Amery laughed. I know. Your duty calls. Duty which
I
assigned. He kissed Tovin hungrily once, twice, and the third time the knight
staggered back against the door beneath the regent s insistent attentions.
Tonight, Amery promised.
Until then, Tovin agreed. His last kiss lingered on the regent s lips long
after the chamber door closed behind him.
* * *
Tovin had a million things to do before he would consider the castle safe from
attack there were fortifications to check, ramparts to secure, a weak guard to
whip back into shape&
And you shall think of the regent throughout the day.
Absently, he touched his hand to his face, where he could still feel the ghost
of Amery s mouth against his. Whenever he closed his eyes, he saw Amery
stretched out on his bed, his lithe, nude body begging for Tovin s touch. The
evening when they could be alone again would not come soon enough.
THE REGENT S KNIGHT
85
He had been tempted to take Amery up on his offer just spend the day in his
lover s arms and let the others worry about the war that rumbled like a
thundering cloud on their northern borders. Berik and Lohden would take care
of the
Cyrians, he knew it, and Giles s men would have no trouble stifling the few
who dared to come into the kingdom from the west. Couriers had been dispatched
the previous day, racing for the southland with news that would bring Tovin s
own troops storming to the castle. Within three days at the most, his own men
would fill these empty corridors, weapons at the ready. Nothing could bring
down these stone walls, nothing.
Tovin would see to that.
But until he had those extra men under his command, he would stay wary. As
they had cuddled in the regent s bed the night before, Tovin had gone over
directions on how to get to the abandoned sluiceway that ran beneath the
castle. He repeated them, over and over, forced the regent to repeat them as
well, until they both felt comfortable about the plan. Now if an opportunity
Page 42
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
would just present itself&
The sluiceway was naught but an ancient piece of masonry, one they d played in
as children, one even he had forgotten about until he found it again while
studying the castle maps. It ran straight beneath the garden where he d first
met the young prince, all those years ago. It was in that same garden where
they d first shared an experimental kiss, the beginning of a lifetime of
kisses, when Amery had been a young boy barely fifteen years of age, a scrap
of the man he d become, but already beautiful in Tovin s eyes.
THE REGENT S KNIGHT
86
Despite the passage of time, the knight could still remember the nervousness
that had churned his own stomach, and the way the regent s hands had twisted
in his tunic.
They d huddled together in the shade of an old birch tree, out of sight from
the castle. After the brief crush of their lips, Amery had sighed and flashed
Tovin an anxious smile. You taste sweet. I bet you hear that all the time.
You re my first, Tovin admitted.
Amery s eyes went wide. No. You re so much older than me.
Tovin laughed. Who else do you think I ve bothered to kiss? Lohden?
Giles
?
Laughing himself, Amery suggested, Berik.
But Tovin waved that away. He s too damn hairy for me.
I like you.
I like you, too. Amery smiled again and scooted closer so he could rest his
head on Tovin s shoulder. Picking at the knight s tunic, the prince whispered,
I think& I might like you more. I mean, I know I m still too young, really,
but maybe, if you don t have anyone else, and you don t mind much, maybe you d
want to be mine?
Tovin felt his insides melt and he d kissed Amery again.
There s no maybe about it. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]