Page 34 of If the Shoe Fits (Rainbow Tales #2)

Xander stood in his new bedroom. An entire room to himself. It was once his father's. He wouldn't think about the last occupant. She was on her way to another type of living arrangement.

“Congratulations.” Nevan appeared at the foot of the four-poster bed. He looked it over. “Nice. But you might want to change the décor.” He waved at all the feminine touches Xander's stepmother had added.

“I will. I'm still adjusting. I can hardly believe this happened.”

“Yes, it's almost like magic.” Nevan sprawled across the bed.

Xander narrowed his eyes at him. “Did you have a hand in this?”

“Kid, I've been helping you from the very beginning. Of course, I had a hand in this.” Nevan waved that hand toward the door. “I saw an opportunity and gave that Helping man a little nudge.”

“Helpin.”

“Yes, I know. I'm teasing the appropriateness of his name. One letter off. And he was so very helpful.”

“Maybe now the King would approve of a match between Leo and me. ”

Nevan grimaced. “Kid, you had two things against you, and you've only corrected one. That's why our plan has to continue even though you've got your status back. This will help immensely, though. The King will be more inclined to accept the situation with your being noble.”

“But I can't blackmail him now. If I do, he'll be disinclined to rule in my favor.”

“Oh, right.” Nevan sat up. “Yes. I agree. We must wait until this inheritance business is settled. Then, Cinderella can reveal himself.”

“That's what I was thinking.”

“Until then, you can fuck your little prince in a real bed.” Nevan winked at him.

“Leo,” Xander whispered. “He'll know soon.” He looked out the window. “Do you think he'll come and—”

“Xander!” Leo's voice came from outside.

“Well, that was fast.” Nevan chuckled. “Yes, I do think he'll come. In multiple ways.” With a wicked grin, Xander's fairy mentor vanished.

“Don't you dare hang around and watch!” Xander shouted.

“Your Highness, please, let me announce you,” a woman's voice came from the hallway.

“He'll want to see me,” Leo said.

Xander hurried to the door and opened it. “It's all right, Jess. Let him back.”

“Yes, Your Grace.” Jess smiled at him.

All the servants were ecstatic. They'd seen Xander suffer for years, and most had known him from before.

He'd been a kind-hearted child, beloved by all who knew him.

All except his stepmother and stepbrothers.

Because of his sweet disposition, the servants had done what they could for him, albeit not very much.

Still, they had become Xander's family, and they shared in his joy.

With every smile he saw, he vowed to do right by them. They were more than servants to Xander.

“Thank you.”

Before he could say anything more, Leo grabbed his hand and yanked him into the master bedroom. Xander shut and locked the door, then spun toward his lover. The kiss they shared was celebratory, even though no words were exchanged. Joy could be felt on both sides.

“Wait.” Leo drew out of their kiss and cupped Xander's cheek. “How was it? Was it satisfying enough? Did she cry? Oh, please tell me she cried.”

“Was it satisfying to see my stepmother dragged out of my house shrieking?” Xander grinned. “Yes, it was satisfying. No, she didn't cry, but her sons did. That was satisfying too. Thank you, Leo. This wouldn't have happened without you and your faith in me.”

“I didn't do much. I set it in motion. Fate saw things to rights today, Xander.

Everything worked out. Can you believe it?

Helpin just happened to be the man sent to your house to look for Cinderella.

And you spoke up at the right time, to the perfect man, in the perfect way.

It was magical. I couldn't have planned it better.”

“Yes.” Xander glanced around, hoping Nevan was gone and not smirking in a corner. “Yes, it was magical . But you started the magic, Leo. And you're here. So soon.”

He chuckled and stood back. “Helpin raced back to the palace with that painting. On his way to speak to my father, he stopped to tell me what happened. He knew I'd want to know. And I came straight here.”

“Do you think your father could still decide that my stepmother is telling the truth?”

Leo snorted. “Not with that painting as proof. And then there's Helpin's testimony, and he said something about one of your stepbrothers confessing.”

“Yes, Hubben let it slip when he was begging me for mercy.”

Leo snorted a laugh. “My father will want to see you and that ring to compare it to the painting himself, of course.

But all of that is just to verify the matter.

It's as good as settled. Helpin is very respected, especially by my father.

That's why he was chosen to look after me.

He's also amazed. I've never seen Helpin so shocked and delighted.

I told him you were a good man. That you wouldn't lie to me. But he didn't believe me.”

Xander's throat constricted. He had to work it loose before he could say, “Thank you for believing in me. You've given me back all that I've lost.”

“Not everything, but all that can be recovered shall be yours.” He stepped back into Xander's arms and pulled him down into another kiss. “Now, Your Grace, it's time to be pleasured as your status demands.”

“Oh?” Xander lifted a brow. “I had no idea that was part of the benefits of being a duke.”

“It is when your lover is me.” Leo stepped back, his hands going to his jacket.

One button. Two. Three. The jacket fell to the floor.

Then it was the vest. His shirt. His boots were kicked away.

At last, his pants slithered down his legs.

Leo stepped out of the pile of clothing and climbed onto the bed.

“Come here, Duke Xander.” Leo sprawled back on the pillows and hooked his finger .

Xander shucked off his simple clothing much faster than Leo had taken off his.

Tossing them as he went to the bed, he kept his eyes on Leo.

It was impossible to look away from that slim, hard body.

Those brilliant blue eyes, set off by the fall of midnight locks.

The graceful fingers. The pouting lips. And that long piece of flesh reaching for him. It was all a fantasy come to life.

The new Duke climbed onto his bed and reached for his princely lover.

“Uh-uh-uh.” Leo pushed Xander onto his back. “I said you were going to get pleasured.”

“Can't we both be pleasured?”

“Oh, I promise I will find pleasure in this as well. Now, lie back and spread your legs.”

Xander grabbed an extra pillow and propped himself against the headboard.

A moment had to be spared to appreciate the softness.

He hadn't realized how fortunate he was when he was a child, but now, just lying there for a few seconds, he remembered how wonderful his bed had been.

The pillows, the thick mattress, and the slide of cool sheets in summer.

When winter came, those sheets were reinforced with fluffy down comforters.

Warmth when needed, coolness when not, but always softness beneath his head.

And now, on his head. His lower head.

Xander groaned as Leo took his shaft in hand and kissed the tip.

Leo held his stare while he settled between Xander's thighs and lowered himself.

Heat. The vacuum of Leo's mouth. The slide of a strong tongue.

And that soft bed beneath Xander. It was more pleasure than he'd ever experienced.

But it was Leo's stare that threatened to send Xander into completion.

“Stop,” Xander gasped. “I'll come. ”

Leo drew off Xander's cock and kissed his thighs. Nuzzling, kissing, and biting, Leo worked a more gentle delight over Xander's legs until his orgasm eased back.

As if he could sense it, Leo asked, “Better?”

“Yes, I'm in control again.”

“Are you sure?” Leo grinned as he straddled Xander's hips. He reached back to position Xander at his opening and then slid down.

Xander watched in awe as Leo ground and undulated down his flesh, taking that piece of Xander into himself.

The pleasure Leo felt registered in every inch of him.

From his thrown-back head to the fingers he curled against Xander's chest. He radiated uninhibited ecstasy.

Those spread thighs worked to lift and lower Leo.

His hips circled, churning Xander's cock in his channel.

The ring of muscle at his entrance squeezed and released, drawing Xander deeper.

Xander tried to pump up into his lover, but Leo had his hands pressed on Xander's belly, holding him down.

He was being pleasured as promised.

“You're beautiful.” Xander slid his hands up Leo's tight belly and across his chest to tease his candy-pink nipples.

He pinched them, and Leo cried out.

“Was that a good cry?” Xander pinched harder.

“Yes!” Leo jerked forward, his cock flopping. “Oh, yes!” He arched his chest into Xander's grip.

“Is Your Highness going to come if I keep doing this?”

Leo grabbed Xander's hands to still them and lifted his head. “Not yet, Your Grace. There is much more pleasure to be had. ”

“Oh?”

“This is how our first time should have been.” Leo leaned down and smoothed Xander's hair across the pillow. “On silken sheets that, despite their fineness, can't compare to the silk of your hair.”

“Are you getting romantic with me? Xander grinned.

Leo undulated his hips. “Maybe a little.” He nipped Xander's lower lip. “I could just grind on you for hours.”

“I don't think I have time for that. Your father will be sending for me soon.”

“Could we not talk about him while we're making love?” Leo pushed back upright and grimaced. “It rather ruins the mood.”

Xander laughed to cover his delight at Leo's words—making love, not fucking.

“I'll get the mood back.” With a burst of strength, Xander sat up and pushed Leo onto his back, holding onto Leo's waist to keep them wedged together. Leo's eyes went wide as Xander set his ankles on his shoulders and slammed into Leo's channel.

“Oh, yes, you will! You have!” Leo grabbed his legs and pulled them back until they were touching the bed. “Fuck me, my duke!”

Seeing the Prince spread like that, just for him, called to something wild inside Xander.

A tide of primitive possessiveness rose to wash away all the tenderness.

He set his hands on the bed beside Leo's legs and thrust into him savagely.

Maybe it wasn't making love, and maybe it was more appropriate for the stable, but Xander couldn't stop himself. He had to claim his lover.