Page 26 of Mr Winterbourne's Christmas

“Lysander, my boy!” he said, once Miss Greenhill had gone. He took Lysander’s hand in his both of his own, shaking heartily, a fond smile on his face that Adam wasn’t sure he’d seen before. Lysander seemed equally puzzled by the earl’s unexpected affection.

“It’s good to see you, Father.” He eyed the older man warily.

“And you, my boy. It’s been far too long.” The earl’s smile was wide. “We have a great deal to talk about. I was just saying as much to Mr. Freeman. I will snatch a few minutes with you both, if I may, after dinner.”

Lysander was plainly as discombobulated by this suggestion as Adam, but he agreed amicably enough.

“Of course, Father. I look forward to it.”

“Excellent!” the earl said. “All right. I’d better get washed up myself. I’m quite filthy from travelling.” The earl snapped his fingers at his valet in a rude manner that Adam didn’t care for. At the earl’s gesture, the valet moved forward, lifting a final small trunk that had not yet been removed by the footmen who’d taken the rest of the earl’s luggage away.

The earl mounted the west staircase, his valet treading in his wake. “I’ll see you at dinner, gentlemen,” he said in farewell, disappearing around the corner of the winding steps.

Alone, Adam and Lysander stared at one another. Lysander smiled suddenly.

“I had an idea on the walk home. Come with me.” He started up the east staircase.

“Where are we going?” Adam asked, even as he followed.

“Somewhere we should be able to get some privacy.” Lysander grinned at Adam over his shoulder. “The nursery.”

They took the stairs quickly, climbing flight after flight till they reached the top floor where the nursery was tucked away.

“The servants’ quarters are on this floor too,” Lysander explained, as they approached a pair of double doors. “But they’re in the east and west wings, and the nearest servants’ bedchambers are a good way off. The nursery sits in between, over the main part of the house.”

Lysander glanced around quickly before reaching for the door handle and opening it, sticking his head inside for a peek before entering.

Satisfied they were alone, he opened the door fully, walking in and allowing Adam to follow him inside, closing the door behind them with a soft click.

The main part of the nursery was spacious and bright. Being on the top floor of the Abbey, the ceiling was quite low and the windows were small and high, but there were lots of them and with no drapes on them, the winter sunlight shone through. The few pieces of furniture in the room were huddled under sheets and there were no rugs on the wooden floor. The nursery was plainly not currently in use.

“This main room was where we played, and had our lessons with our governess, Miss Crichton—till we boys went to school, at any rate.” Lysander made for a door on the left of the room. “This was the boys’ bedchamber.”

Adam followed him inside. There were three narrow beds, all bare, a few wooden boxes and a shrouded bit of furniture, the shape of which puzzled him. Approaching it, he lifted the sheet, smiling to find a sizeable rocking horse underneath. Pulling the sheet off, he saw it was a splendid one, with a large white, broad-backed horse and huge green rockers. The paint was badly chipped, indicating this had been a well-used toy.

“I always loved horses.” Lysander chuckled behind him. “So did Perry. We used to fight over that horse all day long when he came to play.” He paused, then added in a different tone. “God, Perry.”

Adam turned at that. “Is something wrong?”

Lysander’s expression was pained and he gave a strange laugh. “Perry saw us earlier—kissing in the snow.”

“What?” Adam’s heart pounded with sudden panic

“Don’t worry,” Lysander soothed, taking hold of Adam’s shoulders and moving closer. “He wasn’t as shocked as you might imagine—it turns out, he’s like us. Mostly he was annoyed I never told him before.”

The immediate panic receded, but a different, more insidious fear snaked into the space it left behind. “Because he wants you,” Adam guessed.

Lysander flushed. “I don’t think he knows what he wants,” he said, which was no answer at all, but then he added, “But I know whoIwant—and he’s standing right in front of me.”

Adam’s mouth went dry at those words. God,Lysander. Now that it was winter, his fair hair had darkened to old-gold, gleaming dully in the sunlight streaming through the windows. Adam lifted a hand and brushed that ever-wayward lock from his lover’s forehead with gentle fingers. Lysander’s bright blue eyes glinted with amusement and affection. Such a sunny lad, this one. How he’d lightened Adam’s life. Adam who was, he knew, sometimes too serious, too driven by work and obligation.

Lysander leaned in, his gaze changing from humorous to dreamy as he moved closer. Adam gave a rumble of pleasure, a deep growl of satisfaction that made Lysander give a soft breathy chuckle, just as their lips touched.

“Have you missed me, Mr. Freeman?” he murmured, the minute movement of his lips a burst of featherlight kisses against Adam’s mouth.

“God, yes,” Adam said hoarsely, taking hold of Lysander’s hips and yanking him close. “Come here.” He pressed their mouths together in a hot, perfect kiss.

Lysander’s tongue slid against his own, making Adam moan and his cock thicken in his breeches. Christ, but he wanted to throw Lysander down onto one of those narrow cots and tear off his clothes. Swallow his cock and ride him hard. Hear all those helpless and wonderful noises Lysander made when he made love to him.