Submitting to Their Laird by Marie Medina

Author:Marie Medina [Medina, Marie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Four

Benjamin stopped on the balcony that overlooked the courtyard, transfixed by what he saw below. Nicholas wore a mask, just as he always did in Benjamin’s dreams, but he now engaged in a very different activity. He rode a stick pony, its size indicating it was probably made for a child of about four, and chased after three little girls who were flanked by two boys also riding stick ponies.

“Stand and deliver!” Nicholas yelled with a great deal of conviction. He drew a blade that had been fashioned from a long, thin leaf and wielded it boldly.

The girls all shrieked in delighted terror and hid behind paper fans while the boys turned about to defend them.

“He loves children so much. I wish I could actually give him some. I’d gladly endure the pain,” Theodore said as he came up beside Benjamin.

“Would you? Might hurt quite a bit more than usual.”

Theodore laughed, but his expression remained partially serious. Wistful, perhaps? “Yes, I daresay it would.”

“You could adopt, of course.” Benjamin gazed down at Nicholas. “He looks so happy. I understand your wish.”

“Your position as laird is an inherited one. Do you desire women at all?”

“No. I never have. I’ll have to name an heir one day, have my earl recognize him formally.”

“You could adopt.”

Benjamin looked into Theodore’s face. “Yes, I’d like that. Tragedies such as mine happen too often. There’s no shortage of orphans.”

“I was talking with Mrs. Dion. She showed me the orphanage.” Theodore smiled. “You might as well adopt a few of them. They’re already quite spoiled.”

“They are not,” Benjamin said, though he knew it was true.

“You have a big heart,” Theodore said. After a long paused, he said, “I’m not simply being stubborn. I don’t wish to see it broken.”

“You’re not being stubborn. You’re being cautious, protecting yourself and your lover.” Benjamin turned his eyes back to Nicholas.

“I worried you might be disappointed neither of us came to your room last night.”

“We were all tired, and I thought nothing of it. I didn’t think you’d both come to my bed simply because you and I touched.”

“Nicholas was going to come, well, say good night, shall we say, but he’d had a little too much to drink,” Theodore said.

Benjamin eyed the man and said, “Don’t go telling me that. I’ll be distracted imagining what I missed.” After a moment, he said, “He did take to the wine. Does he not drink often?”

“He likes wine far too much, so he usually sticks to ale.”

“I’ll tell Mrs. Dion to have more ale passed ‘round. Can’t have him out of commission.”

“Indeed. A shame to deny any man such a pleasure.”

Benjamin straightened and said, “You’ve changed decidedly since we met. I think you’d just as soon have punched me three days ago.”

“And now?”

“And now you’re flirting and smiling and saying things to tease my cock.”

Theodore licked his lips and gazed down at his lover, who now had a prisoner and was dueling with a young lad for the captive, who was grinning and jumping up and down as she clapped her hands, doing a very poor job of pretending to be tied up.

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