Chapter 005 Henry
I had not meant to invite Percy into my bed.
Not precisely.
When I retired after the Marstons and Thortons had gone, I had only wanted solitude.
To nurse the humiliation.
To let the pain in my thigh settle.
But then I remembered.
Warmth.
A body beside mine.
How long had it been?
In all my years of bedding women, I had rarely stayed until morning.
Reputation.
Compromise.
Marriage.
I had never met a woman worth the risk.
Never once.
Percy returned from the closet.
Nightclothes on.
He slid beneath the sheets.
Quiet.
Careful.
“You may extinguish the candle.”
I did not want him to see me.
The scars.
The empty sleeve.
The ruin.
“As you wish.”
The flame died.
Darkness.
Better.
“I left strict instructions. No disturbances in the morning. You will attend me. I will appear when ready.”
Martha’s sympathetic look still burned.
The staff had seen.
Everything.
“They will be discreet.”
Of course.
Their posts depended on it.
But gossip travels.
Among themselves.
“I can stop it.”
“How?”
“Fortescue. He will threaten dismissal. Your father was generous. William made no changes. They will not risk their places.”
“You are certain.”
“I am.”
Faith.
In them.
In him.
“My lord—”
“Henry.”
Alone.
In the dark.
“Henry. Honestly, Percy. Is it so difficult? The name my parents chose. After Henry the Fifth, if you require precision.”
Agincourt.
Victory.
Not my battles.
I survived.
That had to count.
Percy sighed.
“Henry.”
Better.
“Will I always be only your lord?”
Silence.
Then his hand found mine.
Unerring.
In the black.
“You will not dismiss this. I speak truth. You matter. To many. To me.”
Words failed.
He was right.
I should respect him.
Myself.
Perhaps.
“Now. Sleep? Or shall I read to you?”
His voice steady.
Strong.
“Will you…”
I swallowed.
“How may I assist, Henry?”
“What you did earlier.”
The bath.
His hand.
Relief.
After months.
“Oh.”
Pause.
Long.
“I am always pleased to assist.”
“You were.”
Reassurance.
Rushed.
“Could you…again?”
“No inducement needed.”
He rolled toward me.
I felt him.
Knew exactly where he was.
Regretted the darkness.
He was perfection.
I was not.
“Preference, Henry?”
“Preference?”
“Last time my hand. There are…others.”
My cock stirred.
Interested.
Finally.
“Options?”
“My mouth.”
On me.
Heat surged.
“That would be—”
Throat dry.
“—acceptable.”
He chuckled.
Low.
“Acceptable?”
“Preferable.”
I would take anything.
He pressed his lips to mine.
Bold.
Shocking.
His tongue thrust in.
I froze.
Then melted.
His fingers trailed.
Chest.
Abdomen.
Lower.
Nightshirt pushed up.
Cool air.
Then his hand.
Chilled.
I startled.
He pulled back.
Chuckled again.
“Responsive.”
Ready.
“Yes.”
Breathy.
Ridiculous.
“If you are certain.”
“I offered.”
He squeezed.
Arrogance suited him.
He slid down.
Under the covers.
I opened my legs.
He settled between.
No hesitation.
Tongue swirled.
Crown.
Then he took me in.
Hot.
Wet.
I gasped.
Like a bullet.
Straight through.
Years since such intimacy.
War offered little.
I had refused other options.
Now.
Percy.
Why him?
Why so violent the response?
His fingers grazed my balls.
“Yes.”
That.
I fought.
Wanted to last.
Minutes.
Hours.
Impossible.
Balls drew up.
“I’m coming, Percy.”
Please.
What?
He continued.
Sucked harder.
I spent.
Spectacularly.
Down his throat.
He hummed.
Approval.
Pleasure.
He crawled up.
Kissed me again.
My taste.
On his tongue.
Intimate.
Almost more than the act.
His cock hard against my hip.
Proof.
He wanted this.
Not duty.
I pulled back.
“Let me help.”
“Help?”
Breath ragged.
I grasped him.
Through fabric.
He exhaled.
Long.
“You do not—”
“I want.”
Mechanics known.
He held my hand still.
Rutted.
Few thrusts.
Wetness spread.
Staining.
“Oh, Henry.”
My name.
Not commanded.
Freely given.
Something twisted inside.
We untangled.
He eased into my arm.
Head on my shoulder.
Left arm.
No awkwardness.
Instinct.
“Thank you, Henry.”
“That simple?”
He laughed.
Soft.
“Yes.”
Rest.
Long day.
We would speak in the morning.
Except we did not.
He was dressed.
Ready.
I rose.
Washed.
Dressed.
With his assistance.
Always.
His assistance.