Page 12 of The Mage’s Rake (Catkin Trilogy #2)

Alan

W as anyone about to enter? Who cared. All I could think about was Hugh.

Hugh had, yet again, won me over with a single look.

He eclipsed my world, drowning everything out.

One moment, I was ready to toss him to the metaphorical wolves, hating how easily he shared his smiles with others. The next, I was protecting him.

As soon as I pulled him into the window seat, I knew I had made a grave error.

When I tried to shush him, I realized with shock that he was staring at me so intensely.

It was as though I were his prey, and he had caught sight of what he would hunt.

His golden brown eyes darkened with such desire that had me frozen in place.

Breathless with excitement, I battled the desire that arose within myself.

Yet, all too soon, I melted beneath his gentle touch.

Even as his gaze undressed me, his fingers promised more delights to come.

All I had to do was give in… and before I knew it, I was following my instincts.

After all, I wanted this too. That was the other shock—as he ground himself against me, my entire body shivered with delight although there were at least three layers of clothing between us.

Then his lips touched me, and I became his.

The warmth of his mouth against mine, the dominating roughness of the kiss, the tongue that battled mine—all of these weakened me in the knees and drove all sense of time and place out of my mind.

All I felt was hard length grinding against my own arousal, the taste of wine that chased after the touch of his tongue, and the brief caress of his broad fingers stroking me behind my ears.

For those brief moments, I was his, and he was mine.

After the amazing day we had together, this felt like the perfect capstone.

The memories of our adventure, our laughter, and our partnership swelled up in my heart.

Hugh had shown restraint, kindness, and protectiveness.

He was the perfect knight of my dreams today.

I wanted to ride at his side forever. I wanted the moment to last forever.

I clung to him, and when he finally eased back, I refused to let go.

Since the day that Hugh had come to escort me to Rimefrost, I had felt as though I had met a knight of old.

In many ways, his charisma left its mark on me as much as it had many a young molly and tom.

But Hugh was not mine. He was not my Ser Knight after all.

He belonged to so many others, his favors spread generously throughout the king’s court.

There was also that name he’d spoken. His heart surely was taken by another.

That truth was as bitter as some of my potions.

But he is here now , I reminded myself, and perhaps he will find something worthwhile fighting for between us. What kind of future could we forge together?

He shifted, gathering me into his strong arms. I could feel the tight muscles of his biceps press against my shoulders, and I tried to stretch up and kiss him—and froze as the door to the room creaked open again.

Any hope I had for continuing our kissing dissipated as I realized that Hugh had eased back. Voices were once again close by.

“Very well, let us discuss this matter. In private… and keep your voice low. Gods know where Hugh is prowling.”

I didn’t recognize the voice offhand. For the first time ever, I cursed my lack of time spent in the court and my failure to meet and get to know everyone who frequented high society parties.

Did Hugh recognize them? Judging by the curious tilt of his head and his flickering ears, Hugh was figuring it out.

When the door eased open further, the voices grew louder.

“I promise. It shan’t take long.”

“Better not,” grunted the first voice. “Here. I know this room is rarely frequented. In here.”

There was the sound of movement as the two voices—two toms by the sounds of it— continued to speak in lower tones.

If you were standing outside the wooden door that was now shut, you wouldn’t be able to make out their words, but Hugh and I, separated from them by a single thick velvet curtain, could hear everything.

And if we made a sound, they’d hear us all too easily as well.

Hugh twisted slightly, making certain the curtain was closed properly. It was, thank the gods. Raising a finger to his lips, Hugh slowly shook his head, eyes wide. I smirked up at him, and he gazed down at me with hilarious alarm.

I ran my hand down the rumpled fabric of his fine white cotton shirt.

Tugging gently at his shirt cravat, I began to work on the buttons.

Hugh’s broad warm fingers instantly covered my own and he mouthed at me, “Stop it” and something else I could not make out.

I simply raised my eyes and blinked at him, hoping that my spectacles would not diminish the limpid sultry look I was aiming to achieve. It only made him glare at me even more.

The feel of his erection pressed up against me showed me all too clearly how interested Hugh was in my touches.

It filled me with courage. I bit my lip and began to run my hands down to his waist and below, gently grinding my palm against the hard outline of his desire.

Hugh’s arms stiffened and he allowed his head to fall forward, cheek pressed against my temple.

With the breathiest of voices, Hugh whispered, “Stop it, minx.”

He pulled back and shot me a solemn look.

I stopped and frowned, looking up at him.

Gone was the flirty Hugh I knew so well, the professional, dangerous knight I also knew existed now sat above me, craning to hear the catkin’s words.

The conversation seemed to last forever, starting with the second voice.

Second Voice, a rough rumble, sounded like an older tom.

First Voice was younger and a bit more hesitant. A youthful lord was my guess.

Second Voice was posing a situation before the First Voice—a reminder of what Sumarene had just emerged from, a bloody war. What if it were to happen again? It would be a shame, wouldn’t it?

First Voice agreed, mildly, pointing out that good King Landis seemed focused on making peace with Sumarene’s neighbors.

Even though the wedding with Princess Estrellia had fallen through, the treaty was going forward.

Everyone was feeling happy. Wintermas was just around the corner, and it would be spent peacefully.

Not that last year wasn’t peaceful, but last year King Landis had just ascended the throne, and fears about Sumarene’s potential enemies had hung in the air. That had all changed.

“And you believe that the king, young as he is, will find the path to a prosperous future for Sumarene?” asked the Second Voice.

“Prosperous?” First Voice hesitated. “It will take time, but I choose peace over prosperity anytime. Prosperity will come in time.”

“I see.”

Second Voice didn’t sound pleased with how First Voice was responding.

“Why?” asked First Voice. “Do you feel differently?”

There was a silence. Second Voice must have answered with some kind of gesture.

“If you have concerns,” First Voice said a little stiffly, “I recommend approaching the King or his advisors.”

“I have concerns about the treaty. If it were to fall through, Sumarene would be placed in an awkward position. It would need a strong leader.”

“Well, then let us hope—and work toward—a peaceful treaty with the North,” said the First Voice mildly. “I’m sure you will alert His Grace, Duke Gareth, or one of the king’s other council members if you hear of anything.”

“You would support a throne undermined by the Munni?” asked the Second Voice sardonically. “You would trust a young impressionable king—“

“We’ll always disagree on the matter of the king and his Munni guards—“

“His lover is—“

“None. Of. Our. Business,” said the First Voice now coldly, all pretense of friendliness gone.

The ensuing silence fell heavily between the two toms. First Voice then urged his friend to reconsider, to share his concerns.

No doubt First Voice was thinking the same thing that Hugh and I were thinking—someone was about to target the upcoming treaty with Esteria.

There were only a few options as to who that might be.

I stared up at Hugh then, noticing the tense muscle that rose out of his collared shirt.

His jaw was taut with tension and the muscles of his arms around me tensed.

Every nerve of him screamed alarm and fury.

It was taking everything within the knight to not betray our position.

However, Hugh didn’t need my silent clutching fingers to stay him.

He remained seated in the shadows with me, listening to the insidious whispers of catkin who wished to harm the king.

Eventually, the two toms left, and we were able to ease back for a moment. After exhaling a gusty sigh, I glanced at Hugh and offered a crooked smile.

“I suppose we ought to be thankful about your proclivities, Hugh.”

I slowly eased out from between the curtains and looked around cautiously just in case.

No one else was hiding in the room alongside us, but I was still on edge.

I wasn’t used to sneaking about and eavesdropping on people’s conversations.

My voice remained low-pitched, just in case. Hugh followed behind me more slowly.

Running his hands through his wild hair, Hugh stared at me, clearly disturbed about what he’d heard.

He rubbed his face slowly and turned about the room once.

After a moment, he made up his mind. Casting a quick look at me, from head to foot, Hugh pursued his lips.

Ruffling my hair and messing at some buttons on my collar, he leaned back and looked at me critically.

“Alright, that will have to do.”

“Are you attempting to make us look like we have been making love?” I asked curiously.