[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
was a moment before Manning, his eyes still downcast,
answered.
Nothing, Your Highness.
Come, said Albert, and he was even so bold as to
reach forward and take one of Manning s hands. He would
speak to the man as to an equal. I know my father. I did my
best to make it seem you did all you could to follow his
orders, without, of course, seeming to know too much. But I
know what he is like when he is disappointed.
Manning stayed silent, neither withdrawing his hand
nor acknowledging the gesture.
Let s have no more lies between us, said Albert. I am
very grateful you brought me home against my orders, but
let s start again, as equals. You won t lie to me, we won t
keep secrets from each other, and I won t issue you another
order. You can see that I am sorely in need of a peer.
Manning s breath quickened. Albert could tell he was
Royal Quarry | Charlotte Rahn-Lee
51
struggling to keep a strong emotion hidden, but what
emotion?
Look at me, said Albert, and then he hastily added,
please, to uphold his end of the bargain. Manning tipped
his face up and looked into Albert s eyes.
I am also in need of a friend, said Albert. I thought I
had one. I hope I still do. What else he was in need of he
didn t have a word for. But then he recalled that he knew
nothing of Manning s personal life. His previous musings
about Manning s potential wives and mistresses returned to
him. Albert wished Manning would give some indication of
what he was thinking.
But perhaps you don t need any. Perhaps you have too
many friends already, he offered despondently.
Your Highness, said Manning finally, his words
coming out in a rush, I have no one. I am very much alone.
Please, said Albert, call me Albert.
After that, Manning took off his shirt to show Albert the
marks on his back from where the king had had him lashed.
The lacerations were raised and red, making them stand out
from the older bruises, which were now dull purples and
greens. Albert leaned forward and kissed them as gently as
he could. Manning sharply drew in breath.
I have a salve my mother gave me, he said. I will
attempt to heal the wounds my father has made.
He retrieved the jar from a drawer and returned,
scooping some of the cool ointment out with his fingers and
applying it gingerly to Manning s shoulders. But before he
could continue, Manning reached back and took Albert s
hands, drawing them forward around his bare chest and
pulling Albert against him.
Royal Quarry | Charlotte Rahn-Lee
52
I m not hurting you? asked Albert anxiously as he felt
the warmth from Manning s skin through his silk shirt.
No, said Manning, I like to feel you there.
Albert smiled into Manning s back and kissed it,
grasping his hands in front of his bodyguard, enjoying the
sensation of encircling Manning s broad, strong frame.
Manning twisted himself around inside Albert s
embrace, turning to face the prince. When Albert saw that he
was wincing slightly, he dropped his arms, afraid of hurting
this man who had suffered for him. But as Manning leaned
down to kiss him he whispered, please, don t let go, and
Albert brought his arms back up to pull the man close.
Manning s mouth was a wonder to Albert. It pushed and
pulled on his own, enveloping his lips and hunting out his
tongue. It matched all the passion Albert put into the kiss
with more to spare, and from deep inside at the back of
Manning s throat came those little involuntary moans, like
the one he had heard in the forest, expressing pleasure and
desire, the hunger that comes with getting what you want.
With his mouth now connected to Manning s, Albert could
feel those moans vibrating in his own chest. Albert gave
himself so entirely to the kiss that he might have fallen over
had not Manning held him.
Manning leaned down and swept an arm behind Albert s
knees, taking him into his arms. Albert gasped at being
suddenly off the ground. He leaned his head against
Manning s shoulder and nuzzled his face into his neck.
Manning s skin was smooth, and he smelled like soap. He d
clearly washed and shaved before coming to Albert s room.
I miss the way you smelled in the forest, Albert
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]