Page 8 of Mr Winterbourne's Christmas

Lysander’s eyes gleamed then, and he muscled in closer, his lips tickling Adam’s ear as he whispered, “Ah, you must be desperate after this morning. You were just about to fuck me when Jonny interrupted us, weren’t you?”

He stroked Adam’s cock more firmly, shaping the length with his fingers and Adam moaned.

“I want you to fuck me now,” Lysander murmured, sending shivers down Adam’s neck and shoulder. “I want you to fuck me hard and deep and—”

With a deep groan, Adam turned his head and captured Lysander’s mouth with his own in a lusty kiss.

And after that, there was no more talking for a long, long while.

Chapter 4 – Lysander

Winterbourne Abbey, Derbyshire

23rdDecember 1823

The first glimpse Lysander had of Winterbourne Abbey, as he and Adam rode towards it, was of the pointed nave roof and its surrounding pinnacles, stark against the wintry grey sky.

His heart squeezed at the familiar sight.

And then, as he and Adam got closer, he caught sight of the square towers of the east and west wings and noted, with dismay, that the crenelated ramparts of the west one were still looking distinctly crumbly. Just as they had done a whole year ago when he’d last been here, for Simon and Althea’s wedding.

The restoration works to the roof had not been done then. Not yet.

Despite Adam having already paid for them.

Lysander cringed inwardly.

It wasn’t only the west turret roof. As they’d ridden through the village a few minutes earlier, Lysander had seen that the workers’ cottages that should have been repaired were quite as dilapidated as they had been on his last visit, and the new ones that were supposed to be built were nowhere to be seen.

Shame drenched Lysander. This was his father’s doing, he knew it.

Adam had never trusted Lysander’s father. In fact, he’d insisted, when they’d come to terms over Simon and Althea’s marriage, that he would not hand any funds over to the earl to fritter away. Instead he would clear the earl’s existing debts and give him a fresh start; a chance to begin to live within his means. He’d agreed, however, to make over an additional sum for certain necessary estate works. To protect the funds, they’d been passed to the earl’s steward, Mr. Holmes, to manage directly. Furthermore, they’d been advanced as a loan, albeit one that Adam meant to forgive in due course, explaining to Lysander that he wanted the formality of an obligation to hold over the earl’s head, should any difficulties arise.

It seemed from what Lysander was seeing that either his father had taken control of the funds, or that Mr. Holmes had failed to act promptly in instituting the works. Whilst he hoped it was the latter, his instinct told him that was unlikely—Mr. Holmes was an excellent steward. It was difficult to believe he’d have taken no steps to progress matters in all this time.

Adam said nothing as they rode, but of course he noticed. By the time they reached the Abbey, his brow was furrowed and his lips were pressed together with displeasure. Lysander could hardly bear to look at him, he felt so mortified.