The Villain Duke's Butler Served Him Too Well novel · Chapter 5 of 24

Chapter 5: After Midnight

By one in the morning the last carriage had rolled out of the courtyard.

Dorian had taken Hadrian away between two palace guards, and Tobias had carried the sealed glass out in both hands.

Corwin snuffed the candles down the long hall one at a time, because it gave his hands something to do.

He was on the last one when Leander's voice came from the doorway.

"Corwin."

"My lord."

"My room.

"Now."

Leander didn't wait for him.

Corwin followed him up the east stair and down the corridor, and Leander held the bedroom door open until Corwin had gone through.

Then Leander shut it, and turned the key.

He stood there with his back against the wood.

He was shaking.

It started in his hands and ran up his arms until his whole slender body trembled in his black coat.

"It's after midnight," Leander said.

"Yes, my lord."

"I'm alive."

"Yes."

"Say it again."

"You're alive, my lord."

Leander crossed the room in three strides and took Corwin's face in both hands.

He kissed him.

It was not a good kiss.

It was all teeth, hard and clumsy.

He bit Corwin's lower lip until it stung, then licked the sting in an apology he would never have admitted to.

Corwin made a sound into his mouth and had his arms around Leander's waist before he knew he'd moved.

Leander tasted of red wine and salt.

He kissed like a man drinking after a drought.

Corwin kissed him back and slowed it, one long careful pull of his mouth on Leander's, until Leander stopped biting and started to melt.

When Leander broke away, they were both breathing hard.

"Undress," Leander said.

"Everything.

"I want to see you."

Corwin undressed.

He folded his clothes onto the chair the way he had done a thousand mornings.

Then he stood naked in the bedroom with the firelight on his chest while the duke looked at all of him.

Leander's eyes went down and came back up.

"Now me," Leander said, and then, sharply, "No.

"I'll do it."

His fingers were useless on the silver buttons.

He swore and tore the last two off.

Corwin reached out and took his wrists, gently.

"Let me, my lord."

"I said I'd do it."

"Yes, my lord," Corwin said.

He undid them anyway, one by one, until the coat and the shirt were gone.

Leander stood in front of him pale and perfect, flushed from throat to navel, hard and trembling and furious about both.

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