Thief of Hearts Read online

  The door opened and in came Jeremy. He shut the door, leaned on it, and a huge wickedly heated grin split his face. He strode across the room and grabbed David’s unresisting hand and towed him to the bed. They stood before each other, breathing hard, and then they were a tumble of arms and legs getting out of the clothing until they fell onto the bed, naked. David went to lie over him, but Jeremy surprised him by pushing him back and leaning over. He kissed his neck, his chest and laved at his nipples, much in the way David had done to him, and David groaned at the sensations. He lingered there a moment, then kissed his way down to his stomach but then took David’s cock in his hand, held it up and slid it into his mouth engulfing it in the moist warmth, sucking gently. The noise that came from David’s throat was…not one he recognised. Jeremy sucked with more enthusiasm than skill, but that made it all the more wonderful. He pulled off and grinned.

  David growled, pushed him on his back and then they were writhing against each other. Clutching, absorbing until they shouted their release.

  They lay panting.

  “We really must slow down,” David said, face buried in Jeremy’s hair. He nuzzled his way to his neck and licked his skin, tasting the salt of his sweat and the essence of him.

  Jeremy huffed a laugh beneath him and reached down and squeezed his backside. “I’d like a whole night with you in a bed. This is astonishing. Think of what else we could get up to.”

  The fact that David agreed frankly terrified him. He rolled off and lay on his back with one arm under his head. He didn’t want to spend time with him. Didn’t want to get to know him. He never got to know lovers. That was the entire point in having lovers. They were forgettable.

  Jeremy propped himself up and trailed his fingers down David’s chest. “It’s dancing and entertainment tonight. I doubt I’ll actually get to bed. He dropped a kiss onto his armpit and made him jump.

  “What, no sleep at all?”

  “Doubt it. Hard life being a footman.” He snuggled closer and kissed David’s chest.

  “You need to get back. You can’t be late.”

  Jeremy pouted. He propped his chin on David’s chest and looked up at him.

  David tangled his fingers in Jeremy’s hair. “If you do get to bed, the door will be open.”

  The smile Jeremy gave him lit the entire room.

  * * * *

  David summoned his valet. Spencer was considerably more than his valet, but for the weekend, that was his role and he played it well. Small, fastidious, and with an air of faint superiority, he fit the bill well.

  “Whatever have you been doing? You look like a veritable shag rag.” He pulled out David’s evening clothes and laid them on the bed. “I hope you don’t expect me to actually dress you?”

  “I might need help with the jacket. It’s damned tight.”

  “As it should be. Can’t have you looking like something the cat dragged in even if he is damned gorgeous.”

  David rolled his eyes. “Enough,” he muttered. Spencer was far too observant.

  “Those eyes…” Spencer waggled his eyebrows.

  David gave him a push. “What have you found?”

  Spencer’s lips quirked into an approximation of a smile. “Half the house is under Holland covers and look to have been for some time.” He shot a glance at David. “Lot of dust.” He hesitated dramatically. “And a lot of interesting things which might not be missed for some time. If ever.”

  David nodded. Satisfied. “Guests?”

  Spencer shook his head. “Not seen a great deal. Too many staff. Too busy.”

  “I’m not too worried about that. Might visit Framling, though.”

  Spencer looked thoughtful. “Charnley is here.”

  “I know.”

  “Standish too.”

  David groaned. “I know. It’s almost as if my attendance were engineered.”

  “Well, in that case it might be better to leave with nothing. If attention is already on you, this could be risky.”

  The thought had occurred to David. Usually, house parties were impersonal, easy pickings, and very easy to be away unsuspected. There was far too much awareness of his presence between Charnley and Standish. He rubbed the back of his neck.

  He squeezed himself into the incredibly well-fitting evening clothes and attended to his cravat and hair. He fixed the jade pin and surveyed himself in the mirror. Elegant, restrained, yet hopefully, forgettable. Stealing from the aristocracy was pathetically easy in most cases. They had absolutely no damned idea just how much they owned. He needed to have a care and focus completely on the plan without being distracted by a pair of violet eyes.

  * * * *

  The dancing and entertainment was every bit as dreadful as he had anticipated. Too many people in too small a space with everyone vying for attention. He suffered a couple of dances and retreated to the margins. He’d done a good job of avoiding Charnley. The man was beginning to look annoyed, but he didn’t care. He smiled to himself and took a glass of champagne from a passing footman. It was not Jeremy. He was trying not to engage with him at all during the evening as the lad was far too transparent. He sipped the cool drink, savouring the bubbles on his tongue, and wondered what it would be like to sip champagne from Jeremy’s body. A shiver passed over him at the thought.

  “There you are. Anyone would think you are avoiding me.”

  David’s heart sank. Standish.

  He turned and offered a smile. “Good to see you Standish. Have you been well?”

  “Better for seeing you, dear heart.”

  “You flatter me,” David said, attempting a jovial tone. Standish was ridiculously handsome. Tall, fair haired with piercing blue eyes, but with a fatal tendency to cling. There had been a brief, but intense interlude at a house party a few months back, and Standish had made it very clear he would enjoy a repeat performance, but Standish was not a man he would break his rules for.

  He moved closer. “I was hoping to find you here,” he murmured, and allowed a finger to touch David’s hand.

  “Have a care,” David said, keeping his eyes on the room.

  “I find that where you are concerned, I cannot.”

  “Well, let’s not make a spectacle.”

  Standish smiled, but it was an intimate smile and it made David uncomfortable, particularly as at the precise moment he looked across the room he spotted Jeremy watching them closely.

  “Of course. Perhaps we should continue this somewhere more private?”

  The music reached a crescendo and the movement on the dance floor stopped amid a flurry of colour interspersed with stark black. He spotted the dowager countess being guided back from the floor. He caught her eye, and to his relief, she headed towards them.

  “My dear Mr. Lambert. What a positively glorious evening, wouldn’t you agree?” she said, fanning herself. She looked up at Standish with interest. “I don’t think I’ve been introduced to your friend?” She looked at him to rectify the matter. David made the introductions and allowed her to take over the conversation. Standish was as charming and witty as he was handsome, so he remained quiet and at an opportune moment, excused himself.

  He spent the rest of the evening circulating and avoiding Standish, but in doing so, damned well bumped into Charnley.

  “We need to speak,” Charnley said as he stood beside him, watching the dancing. David gritted his teeth. It was time he retired. Being hunted was not a feeling he enjoyed.

  “This is hardly the time or the place,” David said with a pleasant smile.

  “Well, meet me somewhere. Anywhere.”

  David didn’t like the edge in Charnley’s voice. “When we get back to London.”

  “Lambert, this is serious. I need to speak to you.”

  “I’m sure it is. It always is. London.”

  Charnley made an annoyed sound and stalked away.

  When he saw Standish scanning the crowd he decided enough was enough and slipped from the room unnoticed, deciding that he might as
well use his time productively.

  Chapter 5

  It was four o’clock in the morning by the time the last of the guests drifted off to bed. Jeremy was exhausted. Once the room was clear, all the staff trooped in and began the mammoth task of cleaning. He was dead on his feet. His back hurt, his feet ached, and if he didn’t get out of his damned uniform soon he was going to scream. The room smelled of stale wine, cigar smoke, sweat, and overheated bodies masked by perfumes. It was awful. They got the worst of the rubbish away, and then went around with brushes, mops, and polish. By five o’clock it was clean.

  They trudged out of the room. Then it was time to start getting ready for the day. The butler sent half the staff to bed for a couple of hours and set the other half to readying the breakfast room, filling the coal scuttles, lighting the guests’ fires, and warming water. Jeremy groaned to himself when it was clear he was not in the group that would be allowed to go to bed. Spencer was looking at him with something like satisfaction in his eyes, so he dragged himself out and followed instructions. He ferried the filled coal scuttles back and forth, and when the last was deposited, flopped onto a window ledge for a moment. If he didn’t sit, he was going to fall.

  * * * *

  The staff were moving about getting the fires ready in rooms, so David headed back to his chamber. As he walked along the dimly lit corridor, he spotted a foot poking out from beneath a curtain. A familiar looking foot. He pulled back the fabric and found Jeremy sat on the wide window ledge, head propped on the embrasure, fast asleep. His wig was askew, mouth open, and hands covered in what looked like coal dust.

  David nudged one foot with his. “Jeremy.”

  “Huh?” he started and then, blinking, jumped up. “Sorry. Sorry. I just sat for a moment. I…”

  “Hush.” David took hold of his shoulder. “Shh.”

  “Heading back to my room.” He smiled sleepily at David. “I don’t suppose…”

  David’s heart thumped, and his mouth went dry. No return visits.

  “Suppose what?”

  Jeremy’s smile became a little lopsided. “Don’t worry. I don’t have designs on your body.”

  David frowned. “Well, what, then?”

  “Your sheets.”

  “Beg pardon?” David stared at him.

  “I want to lie in your sheets.”

  For a second, David wondered if this was some kind of predilection he hadn’t encountered, but he recalled how Jeremy had squirmed deliciously against the linen and realised his own bed would be small, cramped, cold, and rough.

  “Come on.” He pushed him in front of him, checked that there was no-one about, and they headed for his chamber.

  When they arrived, Spencer was in there sorting through a bag of items and getting his clothes ready for the day. He hurriedly closed the bag.

  “Would you?” David said. Spencer nodded and left quietly.

  Jeremy groaned and put his face in his hands. “I am so, so sorry.”

  “Why?” David steered him to the bed.

  “I’ve embarrassed you in front of your valet.”

  “It would take more than you to embarrass him. Undress.”

  Jeremy looked too tired to argue so he pulled off his clothes and threw the wig across the room, making David smile. “Here. Wash.”

  He handed Jeremy a cloth and hovered whilst he ran it over his shivering body. Once the coal dust was removed and he was dry, David offered him a nightshirt, but Jeremy just gave a sleepy grin and dived in naked. He shuffled under the covers, pulled them to his chin, and squirmed around moaning. David was instantly hard and wanted to throw off his clothes and make him moan in earnest, but just as the thought took hold, Jeremy went still and in seconds his mouth was open as he breathed softly. He was fast asleep. David watched him a moment, then shook his head. He undressed and climbed into the bed beside Jeremy. He stirred, so David rolled him onto his side and curved himself around his body, settling Jeremy’s backside into his groin and wondered what the hell he was doing.

  * * * *

  Jeremy roused to find himself cocooned in warmth and softness with David Lambert’s hands all over him. He squirmed and peeled his eyes open. David was stroking him and kissing his way down his body.

  “Nice,” he murmured and groaned when David cupped his jewels, and then took hold of his cock, overwhelming him and cradling him in warmth. In that moment, he realised he wanted to keep this. Keep this feeling of being wanted, cared for; pleasured. Clean linen, warm, spacious rooms and sleeping in a soft bed with soft sheets. The thought of returning to sleeping in the narrow cot he called a bed with scratchy blankets in a tiny, cramped space he had to share was disheartening in the extreme.

  “What is it?” David said, noting Jeremy’s distraction and pausing in his exploration.

  Jeremy sighed. “I was admiring the softness of your bed.”

  David peered down at him with an arched eyebrow. “Are you finding my technique lacking?”

  Jeremy wasn’t sure if he was joking or not but decided he must be as his technique was the best he had ever come across. “Not for a moment. It’s just…It’s just that…” He sighed. “It’s lovely being in here in the warm with soft sheets and pillows. My whole life is scratchy uniforms, hard beds and scratchy blankets, cold, draughty rooms. I share a bed chamber but it’s…lonely.” He hadn’t realised that part until he said it. “And here you are. Handsome and kind, and I get to share your world for a little bit. Take off my clothes and feel the softness of your life.”

  He stopped. He needed to stop before he gave too much away.

  David frowned, so Jeremy ran his hands down David’s chest and lower, smiling when his eyes closed, and his lips parted on a sigh. David rolled them over in a swift movement, took both their cocks in one hand, and pumped them together. Jeremy just gave himself up to the sheer bliss of being taken care of. His release crashed over him in wave after wave of bright light, and he felt David tense, emit a muffled shout, and knew they were together. They lay wrapped up in each other for a long time, until Jeremy looked at the clock and knew it wasn’t long before he needed to get back.

  Jeremy stroked the strong lines of David’s back, making David bury his face in Jeremy’s neck and tighten his arms. They were quiet for a moment, and then David surged up. “Let’s get clean.” He went to the washstand and tended to himself, and then cleaned Jeremy. Once they apparently passed muster, David went to a large chest of drawers and pulled out a garment of some sort. It was brightly coloured in shades of violets, blues, pinks, and turquoise.

  “Here.” He held it out for Jeremy. He took it, a little puzzled.

  “It’s for you. Try it on.”

  Jeremy froze for a moment. The material was like silk. It shimmered through his fingers and was as light as anything. He got off the bed and shook it out. It was a long robe made of the softest silk with great swirls of colour a man could get lost in. David came to him and took it out of his hands and held it up, so he could slide his arms through the huge, draped sleeves. It settled over his skin like a cloud. So soft it was barely there. It swirled around his feet. He tied the belt and twirled around, holding his hands out to the side feeling the slip and slide along his skin. It was stunning. He glanced over at David, who was standing by the bed, watching him with an odd expression, and he wondered, just for a second, whether or not David might actually understand. Actually, really understand. It made the need in him burn brighter than ever before.

  It was a moment before he could speak. “It’s beautiful.” His voice was a whisper as he resisted giving into the tears that prickled his eyes.

  “Keep it. Consider it a parting gift.”

  At that, his chin quirked. He blinked rapidly to stop the tears from falling. David sighed and gathered him into his arms. Jeremy held onto his composure and squeezed his eyes tightly shut. Tomorrow, tomorrow he had his afternoon off. Tomorrow he would…he held David tightly.

  * * * *

  Sunday, his last day at the Fallo
ws estate, proved to be dry, bright, and crisp. Not too cold, and with bright blue winter sunshine. David waited in the hallway of the house with the other guests. Dressed in walking clothes, he settled his sleeves and tried to stop thinking about Jeremy and his tactile delight in squirming against the sheets, in the robe he had given him. It was a favourite of his, the soft fabric and the vibrant hue pleased him, although he rarely wore it. Now he knew why. It belonged to Jeremy Naylor. His face had been a picture when he slid into it, and the violets, blues and pinks made his skin glow and made the violet of his eyes darker. But it was the sheer pleasure and happiness that lit him from within which had touched David. It was rare to see someone so unashamedly happy, so moved they wept, but Jeremy had. There was such a sense of innocence about him, yet a fierce unabashed passion vibrated within him that was utterly intoxicating.

  He patted the pocket of his walking jacket and the vial of oil which sat there. He had half a plan forming for his last encounter with Mr. Violet Eyes. A final farewell if he were amenable to it. A final signing off. Drawing a line under a very pleasurable encounter. A last goodbye. He nodded, feeling resolute, pushing aside all thoughts of Jeremy in cold, cramped servant’s quarters.

  The crowd set off into the morning sun, bundled up against the cold, buzzing with the promise of visiting a ruined abbey which apparently sat on the edge of the Fallows estate. It was a good walk. The weather in February was at best unpredictable, but today it was kind. Cold, but bright blue skies. As the walk got underway, an army of servants set off in the background carrying huge hampers of food. He didn’t spot Jeremy, but he was probably there somewhere. He wondered if he might be able to separate him from the throng later when he had finished the business he had planned. A little fun in the outdoors might be just the ticket if it stayed warm enough not to freeze his jewels off.