Page 81 of A Gathering Storm

“Well,” Ward husked. “I must say, I did not feel like your master this morning.”

Far from it. On his hands and knees and begging for Nicholas’s cock while Nicholas teased him slowly, mercilessly.

Nicholas laughed softly.

“Honestly though, do you mind?” Ward asked, watching Nicholas anxiously. “Being my servant in the eyes of the world?”

They’d been over this before, but it still worried Ward. He remembered Nicholas’s bitter words, that night in Truro.

“In your eyes, you are the master and I am the servant . . .”

Nicholas shook his head, his gaze soft and warm with affection. “It doesn’t matter to me what the world thinks we are—landlord or tenant, master or servant—all I care about is what we are to each other. And we know that now, don’t we?”

Ward swallowed against the lump of emotion that swelled in his throat. “Yes,” he whispered. “You own my heart, Nicholas. And there’s nothing to be done about it.”

“Nothing except thank God for it,” Nicholas murmured, leaning in close to whisper in Ward’s ear. “And for you. My lover, my friend, my soul mate, my helpmeet . . .”

Ward’s mouth curved. “The keeper of your heart?”

“That too.” Nicholas agreed, trailing kisses towards his mouth, the nibbling caress of Nicholas’s lips making Ward shiver and shift as he wound his arms round Nicholas’s neck.

“Forever?” Ward pressed, shamelessly.

Their lips were just touching now, and Nicholas’s breath was warm against Ward’s lips. “Such a demanding fellow,” he murmured. “Forever and always—will that suffice?”

“I suppose it will have to do,” Ward whispered, and captured Nicholas’s lips again.