Page 7 of If the Shoe Fits (Rainbow Tales #2)

Xander spent the next morning repairing a hole in the roof.

He didn't expect to see Leo, but he still found himself searching the treeline from his vantage point every few minutes.

When noon approached, every rustling plant caught Xander's attention until he gave up, cursing himself for a fool.

Leo was never coming back. Xander finished the roof and climbed down to find a piece of chicken pie wrapped in a napkin for him at the bottom of the ladder.

Alma. He grabbed it with a grin and headed to the well.

After Xander washed up, he took his lunch to the tree he always ate and rested under.

It was where his mother used to read to him.

As Xander approached the tree, he glanced at the stable. Leo was peeking out of the cracked-open door. He grinned and waved. Xander dropped his lunch.

The thud of the pie hitting the ground brought Xander out of his shock.

He bent to pick it up, then looked back toward the manor.

No faces in the windows, not even Alma. He was alone.

Still, he walked slowly, casually, toward the horse stable.

Xander opened the door, stepped inside, shut the door, and latched it. Only then did he look for Leo.

Leo stood in the doorway of their stall, smiling.

Their stall. What was Xander thinking? As if this were romantic? A fucking horse stall and blankets on hay? Staring at Leo, he thought maybe it was romantic. At least for Xander. The mere fact that Leo had returned felt romantic to him .

“You came,” Xander said.

“I told you I would.” Leo held out a hand. “Are you hungry?”

Xander strode over to Leo and yanked him into an embrace. Then they were kissing, and Xander was reeling under the feelings that swept over him. Such shivers. Like bubbles rising through water. He didn't understand them, but he wanted more. He couldn't stop kissing Leo.

All through the night, lying before a banked fire in the kitchen, Xander had thought about Leo.

Sleep evaded him, his mind keeping him awake with images of them together.

And feelings like this. Xander had thought he was remembering incorrectly.

He thought he couldn't have felt this wondrous from merely merging lips with another man. He had to have enhanced the memory.

Now, he knew there had been no enhancement. If anything, his memory paled in comparison with reality.

There were no words spoken. Both of them were too desperate to feel more of this magic. The slide of flesh on flesh. The grip of fingers. The rush of whatever the fuck this was.

Xander went down to the blanket with Leo, fumbling with Leo's fine garments. His were much easier to remove, and he found himself naked while Leo retained his pants. With a growl, he yanked down Leo's trousers, pulled them from his legs, and tossed them away.

“Fuck, I dreamed about this.” Leo cupped Xander's face. “About your savagery.”

Xander paused. “You think I'm savage?”

“In the best ways, Xander.” Leo angled his hips to bring their shafts together. “I love it when you lose control. It makes me feel desirable. ”

Xander grunted. “As if you've ever not desirable.”

Leo blinked. Then he laughed.

Xander scowled.

“Don't be cross.” Leo brushed his lips over Xander's mouth. “I only laugh because I believe you, and it makes me very happy.”

Xander scowled deeper. “Why wouldn't you believe me?”

“Let's not get into my self-confidence issues.” Leo slid his leg up the outside of Xander's. “I want you to go wild with me. Take me however you want. You've got me so riled up, I'm about to get as savage as you.”

Xander's gaze lowered to Leo's lips. He wanted to kiss him again. And then maybe more. But his stomach chose that moment to rumble.

Leo's eyes went wide.

Xander bit his lip and looked away.

“Hey.” Leo turned Xander's face back to him.

“I saw you up on the roof. You've worked hard today.

Of course, you're hungry. I should have insisted on lunch first. Come on.” He sat up and drew Xander up with him.

“I brought us some lovely things to eat.” He crawled over to a basket waiting by the stall door.

Xander watched, fascinated with Leo's ass—how it twitched when he crawled. He was about to tell Leo that the food could wait, but then he was back, and Xander got a whiff of what was in the basket. “Is that meat?”

“Steak pies, sliced parsnip salad, fresh bread, butter, and cake for dessert.” Leo pulled out pottery containers of food as he spoke, each one covered with fabric tied with string. Then he set out some plates, silverware, and glasses. “I also brought us a bottle of wine. I hope you like white.”

“I've never had wine.”

Leo looked up.

Xander cleared his throat and looked away.

“I'm sorry. I shouldn't have assumed.” Leo laid a hand on Xander's arm. “I know you're a servant here, and I don't think less of you for it, Xander. The servants I know are treated better than you. Most regularly eat fine food and drink wine.”

“Not here,” Xander whispered.

“Hey.” Leo squeezed Xander's arm. “A man cannot control who he is born to. All of us, from prince to pauper, are victims of birth.”

“Some are just luckier than others.”

“Indeed. Luck is all it is. That's why a man's station in life doesn't impress me. It's what he does with his life—how he lives it—that I believe tells of his true worth.”

“Oh?” Xander met Leo's stare. “And what do you see when you look at my life?”

“Not much.”

Xander gaped at him.

Leo burst out laughing. “We've just begun to get to know each other. But what I've seen so far makes me want to know more.” He cut a slice of steak pie and put it on Xander's plate. “Go on. Get started, my big, hungry boy. I'll dish out the rest while you try that.”

Xander looked at the food—fare better than anything he'd had in years—and then at Leo. “Thank you.”

Leo paused to look at Xander. “You're welcome.”