The Young Lord felt even more flustered, sensing such an intense gaze upon him that there was nowhere to hide. He quickly stood and sat on the sofa beside Nathan, trying not to feel so exposed.
The Duke watched Alex with surprise as he sat somewhat tensely, staring elsewhere.
— "Young Lord, have I done something wrong?" he asked, but a smile remained on his face. He was on cloud nine.
— "Everything's fine. I mean… good," Alex said without turning to look at him.
Nathan chuckled softly and leaned closer, resting one hand on the sofa to get nearer to Alex's ear and whispered:
— "Just good?"
Heat rushed over Alex from head to toe.
No, not just good. It's so good that… my body isn't my own because of you!
The Young Lord turned, furrowing his brows, and stared seriously at Nathan.
— "You're teasing me again!"
Nathan smiled even more.
God.
— "I admit it, I really am. If this frustrates you, I apologize sincerely and will try not to do it again. One word from you. What would you like right now, Young Lord?"
Alex stared silently at Nathan.
— "Alex…"
— "What?"
— "I want you to call me… by my name…"
— "All right," Nathan replied with a sly smile. "What else can I do for you, Alex?"
The Young Lord's hand gripped the sofa fabric. It was so difficult to admit what he truly wanted. He wished the Duke would do to him what he had done that night at the ball. Or perhaps even more… Alex looked away.
— "I can't say."
— "Pardon?"
— "I can't say what I want."
The Duke looked at him, intrigued.
— "Then… perhaps I'll try to guess?"
— "T-try," Alex whispered.
Nathan turned his beloved's face toward him. Alex closed his eyes, bracing himself for what the Duke would do next.
Nathan smirked slightly, seeing Alex's reaction, then lightly licked his lips without kissing him. Then he kissed Alex on the cheek, moved slightly lower to the neck, gently licking it, before pressing harder.
That shameful exclamation again. Alex widened his eyes in surprise and tried to pull away, to prevent it from happening again, but the Duke held him firmly and continued trailing kisses down his neck, leaving a wet trace.
— "Wait…" Alex pleaded, and the Duke paused right at the neck.
— "You don't like it? Shall I try something else?"
— "No… I mean… I'm so embarrassed…"
The Duke looked into Alex's eyes.
— "Why?"
— "Because I… My voice…"
— "I love hearing you so much, it gives me indescribable pleasure…"
Alex stared at the Duke in shock at how easily he spoke such things to him. He could no longer bear the gaze and turned his head timidly to the right, stammering:
— "P-please continue."
The Duke returned to his neck. He wanted to do everything possible so that Alex couldn't hold back such indulgent sounds. He traced just below with his tongue, then moved upward. He exhaled warm air and gently bit the earlobe.
Another moan. Alex grabbed Nathan's jacket tightly, relaxed his body from the surprise, and shifted into a semi-reclined position, resting his head on the armrest.
He had never experienced anything like this. Literally. In his world, nothing like this had existed. Alex could never have imagined that being with a woman — or anyone — could provoke something so tormenting and endlessly pleasurable.
He couldn't restrain himself again. He tilted his head back slightly on the armrest and exhaled loudly at that moment, the Duke gently bit his neck.
Nathan pulled back slightly and looked at his beloved. Another moment, and he would again lose all control at the sight. He pressed his lips to Alex's and…
The boy's eyes went wide. The Duke pulled away from his lips.
Alex's stomach rumbled. The Young Lord was ready to sink through the floor.
Nathan couldn't help himself and leaned toward Alex's stomach so that he wouldn't see his widely smiling face.
Nathan decided to reassure the poor fawn.
— "It's all right, Alex. Honestly, I was being a bit dishonest and was hungry when you arrived. But I wanted to listen to you so much that I lied. I was starving too. I'll tell Sebastian to set the table."
Alex silently nodded to the Duke, covering his face entirely with his hands. Nathan rose, cast one last glance at the incredibly charming lord, and left the room. Alex began to breathe deeply, trying to recover from the embarrassment.
***
— "Perhaps you'd like something more? You needn't deny yourself anything."
— "No, I've eaten enough, thank you."
Alex hadn't once looked at the Duke during dinner. He felt embarrassed over the reason that had interrupted them… and a little hurt as well.
Nathan watched him with a gentle smile, careful not to disturb him unnecessarily. Alex placed his hands on his knees and sat staring at the table.
A heartbreaking sight. The Duke wished he could somehow ease the boy's discomfort. What had happened was so trivial that he didn't even know how to soothe someone seriously afterward.
Perhaps it was time to change the subject?
— "Alex, I wanted to speak with you…"
The boy lifted his head.
— "When I spoke of my feelings, I mentioned that Ophelia and I share only a warm friendship. And I would be glad, if you wish—I do not want to force you—I would be glad if the people dear to my heart got to know each other better."
Alex felt a familiar pang at the mere mention of Ophelia. Yet the fact that the Duke called him a person dear to his heart softened the blow considerably.
Rationally, he understood that the upcoming wedding was just a formality. Though he felt he knew too few details. Still, he saw no reason not to trust Nathan… And if the Duke marries, Ophelia would likely live here, and Alex… he'd be visiting here too? Perhaps he overthought it.
— "I understand. Alex, I don't want you to do this against your will."
— "No—no, I… Then at the ball I said many things I later regretted… I mean, I regretted how I expressed myself, not what happened afterward…"
— "No need to clarify, please, continue," Nathan said with a smile.
— "Yes, I… I said I hated each of them… I understand that was excessive. I want to start fresh and get to know Lady Ophelia properly. She is dear to you, as you said… It makes sense, considering you are marrying…"
Alex felt he was saying too much and fell silent.
Nathan noticed the Young Lord's discomfort but decided not to press further. He was glad his beloved was willing to give Ophelia a chance. If, after meeting her, Alex didn't wish to see her again, then so be it.
— "Perhaps at eleven the day after tomorrow?"
— "Yes, that's fine."
Silence settled. The Duke felt he had brought up the conversation too early and in the wrong context. He needed to think of something else.
Alex also felt uneasy. The aftertaste of his prejudices toward Lady Ophelia—whose reasons he hadn't yet understood at the time—lingered. Now he better understood the roots of that dislike.
Perhaps I was a bit… jealous. But I must not judge her so hastily.
After dinner, Nathan suggested they play cards or chess. He thought that a relaxed, friendly setting might restore the ease they had once shared. Alex agreed willingly. He also felt a desire to somehow rectify the awkwardness, which he believed lingered because of him. He remembered their previous card game and the wish he had bargained for afterward.
I need to think carefully about what wish to make…
They settled in the sitting room at a small table. The fireplace crackled nearby, and rain began to drizzle outside. Nathan spread out the deck.
— "Do you already have a wish in mind?"
He reads my thoughts.
— "Not yet… And you?" Alex felt a sudden unease but could not understand why.
— "I'm choosing among several options," Nathan answered with a smile. In truth, he was teasing Alex, having forgotten about it in the bustle of the past few weeks. Choosing the right wish had been torture. He needed to find a balance between desire and… mercy.
— "Will you be participating in the upcoming races?" Nathan asked further.
— "I believe so. Mother dissuaded Father from letting me because they thought I was ill. But I'm well! I haven't yet met Father to tell him myself."
— "Are you sure you're ready? A lot has happened these past days…"
— "I'm fine," Alex replied curtly, then felt awkward at how abrupt he had been. After a moment, he added, "When I was coming to see you, I told my mother I was visiting to congratulate you on your wedding."
Nathan lifted his eyes. It brought them back, once more, to the awkward conversation about Ophelia. Suddenly, the Duke realized much of their discomfort stemmed from not having spoken directly about what had happened at the ball.
— "My mother sends her sincere congratulations and invites you to visit soon, to congratulate you in person."
— "Very well, it is always an honor to visit the Carlston household… But first, allow me to say something."
Alex tensed slightly. The game was ongoing, and the Duke's expression had become somewhat concerned.