Page 11 of The Mage’s Rake (Catkin Trilogy #2)

“Fine. I’ll be ready,” Alan said through gritted teeth.

“I look forward to it, Alan.” I breathed into his ear and then sauntered off whistling, ignoring the strangled sounds emerging from my new obsession.

My day was getting better and better.

Before the night was over, I was able to put my theories about Alan to the test. As promised, the slender mage was ready to attend Lady Saffron’s soirée when I stopped by his rooms before dinner.

Alan had chosen to wear his usual court robes—the black and deep purple fabric drowned him, but I knew better now what muscles and soft skin lay hidden beneath the dark folds.

I looked up from his boots to the top of his long white hair that was hung in a neat braid over his slender shoulder.

Alan glared at me from behind his silver-rimmed spectacles when my inspection was done.

I bit back laughter and just smiled instead, which seemed to infuriate him even more.

His white ears flattened, his lips pressed into a thin line, and his long tail swished back and forth sharply.

I didn’t feel sorry at all. I couldn’t help myself. He was simply too cute.

I watched in amusement as Alan brushed past me and stomped down the hall ahead of me.

“Are you coming, slowpoke?” Alan called back.

“I like the view from back here,” I said nonchalantly and snorted as Alan immediately froze mid-step.

This time, it was my turn to pass him, cheekily grinning as he fumed silently.

When Alan caught up to me, we walked out of the main gates down to the carriage I had ordered for the evening.

Within half an hour, we arrived at Lady Saffron’s palatial mansion, announced ourselves, bid our gracious hostess a good evening, and moved to the refreshment table for some food.

Alan proceeded to list off a variety of rules for the evening.

I made a mental note to break every single one of them.

In the middle of our conversation, I was dragged off by Lady Saffron for a dance.

Sending Alan a helpless look, I willingly followed the short molly onto the floor.

Lady Saffron was a force to be reckoned with and by the end of the dance, I was feeling rather breathless.

Not just because of the dance either. Lady Saffron had a few opinions to share with me, including a lightly veiled warning about breaking young hearts.

I sighed and nodded, while wondering who it was that set the good lady off.

Lady Saffron need not have warned me off either.

I was not certain whether I was more aware of Alan’s eyes on me tonight or whether my conversations with the Crone and Lady Saffron still rang in the back of my mind.

Either way, I found myself behaving more formally than usual, opting to sit with the toms and discuss affairs of the estate as though I were Gareth.

When I spoke with any molly and her mama, it was in plain sight.

There were no alluring assignations, no fond flirting, or erotic escapades.

Just incredibly dull chatter about nothing at all.

At some point, I broke down and slipped out into one of the nearby halls.

Lady Saffron’s main hall had no easy access to a balcony, and the windows had all been shut because of the cold.

After a moment’s thought, I recalled one of the side rooms as having a balcony.

I had enjoyed a quiet moment there once before with one of the court’s younger lords. It was a more private space.

I had not gone two steps when I realized that my self-appointed bodyguard was following me into the room.

At the sight of the dimly lit room, the empty desk, and the walls lined with old books, Alan raised an eyebrow in skeptical inquiry.

No doubt he was wondering why I might be seeking refuge in what appeared to be an abandoned office.

I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I had desecrated the desk many a time.

After all, a gentlecat does not kiss and tell.

“I hope you didn’t leave too soon after me,” I noted, keeping my tone light.

“Why is that?” asked Alan.

“They will think that we have slipped out together for a reason.”

“A reason?” Alan’s violet eyes widened. “Oh… oh.”

“But if you hurry back now, your reputation may not be tarnished.”

“It matters not,” Alan said dismissively.

“Very well,” I shrugged. “I warned you.”

As I contemplated opening the balcony doors, I could hear voices faintly in the hall. The voices drew nearer.

“Ser Hugh? Gods, where did that unruly tom go?”

I stared at Alan with rising alarm. It was the Dowager of Stafford, a queenie with a voracious appetite. If she discovered me… Alan would not be pleased with the ensuing display. And if I was honest with myself, I’d rather not find myself entertaining the molly tonight.

I glanced around. Finding the key and unlocking the balcony door was out of the question now. Besides, Alan would rather not go out.

Well , I mused, eying my friend. He said he didn’t care about his reputation if he were to be seen alone like this.

Before I could say anything, however, I followed the panicked jerking on my sleeve. Alan pulled me toward the deep blue curtain hanging over a hidden window seat. He pulled me into it with him, swiftly jerking the curtain closed.

“I thought you said—“ I mumbled.

“Shhh,” Alan whispered and raised a finger to his lips.

Which was rather unfortunate. It drew my gaze to his lips that were now so close to my own.

Slightly parted. Looking so moist and kissable.

As Alan realized the meaning behind the heat of my gaze, his lips parted even further as if silently inviting me in.

I wondered what I would taste if I were to lean down and claim him as my own.

Apple pastries? Wine? Or something else uniquely Alan?

I could do it, and unless Alan wished to betray his compromised position, he could do nothing about it.

Even now, I loomed over him. He had seated himself on the cushions and was leaning against the chilled thick window panes, while I knelt over him, knees on either side of his slender hips.

My hands rested on either side of his shoulders, bracketing him in, sheltering him.

If anyone were to draw back the curtain, there’d be no doubt in their mind as to what I was about to do to Alan.

I flashed a wicked grin at him and shifted as quietly as I could down so that I was seated more snugly on his lap while bracing the majority of my weight on my knees.

In response, Alan’s violet eyes widened further, and his mouth dropped open as the press of my groin rubbed gently against his.

He began to breathe heavily, tipping his head back and revealing the barest edge of his neck which was mostly covered with his high collared robe.

A wave of lust raced through me at the sight of Alan in my arms, laid out like a gift waiting to be unwrapped.

Whatever was happening in the room, I cared not.

Instead, my focus narrowed on the young tom beneath me.

His violet eyes, meeting mine, were at first guarded, and then, as if a veil were drawn back, heat flashed into his eyes in silent invitation.

Gently trace a path along the line of his hard jaw, my fingers drifted to his quivering lips that parted slightly as my thumb brushed across them.

My lips then followed where my fingers had touched, enjoying the soft brush of his skin against mine.

Even better, the feel of his fingers digging into my sides as he clutched me.

Alan’s hips arced up into my touch as I ground against him.

My lips crashed against his, battering down whatever wall remained between us.

I led the charge, and whatever protest Alan might have had faded.

His lips met mine with equal enthusiasm as our tongues discovered a dance we both instinctively knew.

As my kiss deepened, Alan responded with rising heat, and he moaned softly.

Somewhere, a door creaked open and shut.

I barely noticed. I simply hoped that anyone searching for me would not hear Alan’s needy whimpers, only because I wished to kiss him senselessly uninterrupted.

If I had my way, I would finally manage to test Alan’s limits, revisit the night of passion we had shared.

I could remember that night with sharp clarity—the desperate grip of his fingers clutching my arms and shoulders, the warmth of his body enclosing me, and the timbre of his voice as I drew passionate release from his body…

and I wanted to know if that was but one night’s fevered dream or something we could share forever.

I had to know. Gods willing, I would find out tonight.