Page 86 of Master Wolf

Always your loving friend,

Wynne Wildsmith.”

Lindsay gazedat the letter after he finished reading it, running his fingertips over the familiar handwriting.

His reverie was interrupted by a soft, rumbling snore. He glanced at the enormous bed where his lover lay sleeping in a tangle of bed linens, only his barley-fair head visible.

Rising from his chair, Lindsay crossed the bedchamber floor, his bare feet silent on the cool marble floor. For a moment he simply stood by the side of the bed, gazing down at Drew, at his lean, powerful body, curled in the curious vulnerability of sleep.

Lindsay should really wake Drew up, but he looked so appealing lying there. Instead, he eased the tangled edge of the topmost sheet out from under Drew’s body and climbed in beside him, pressing his cool body against Drew’s warm one.

Drew made a soft, happy noise and turned over towards Lindsay.

“Mhmmm.”

Lindsay loved that contented rumbling sound. He ducked his head and pressed a kiss against Drew’s throat, making him rumble again, then laugh softly. When Lindsay lifted his head again, his lover’s eyes were open, the expression in them warm with affection as he gazed at Lindsay.

“What time is it,” Drew murmured.

“Eleven.”

“It can’t be!” Drew protested.

“It is,” Lindsay confirmed. “But you did have a very disturbed night’s sleep.”

Drew grinned at him. “I did. It was… quite a night. I may have to shift to recover.”

Lindsay chuckled. “You seemed to enjoy it—and you were a very good pup for me.”

Drew flushed a little at that, but he smiled too, and his face was so bright with happiness, Lindsay’s heart skipped a beat.

Drew lifted his hand and threaded his fingers through Lindsay’s hair.

“I like your hair like this.”

“It’s not as long as it was before.”

Drew leaned forward and kissed him. “Nothing stays the same forever.”

“Thankfully no,” Lindsay murmured against his lips.

When they finally broke apart, Drew said, “What were you doing up anyway?”

“Reading my correspondence.”

“Oh? Who from?”

“Wynne. I’ve another from Marguerite but I’ve not read that one yet—and she’s sent a note for you too. I have a feeling there may be instructions for us in those ones.”

Drew groaned but he was smiling.

“What was Wynne saying?”

“They’ve taken a house in Bath.”

“Bath?”

“I know. He says Alys likes it there.”