“I… I should tell you, I cannot court you. I cannot offer you everything a man should offer you. I can flirt and play… if you like… but…”
“Oh, Leo,” I breathed relieved. “I’m so glad you said it. I don’t want anything serious. All I wanted was some fun with you, your passion and warmth. I know it can’t really last. You’re a noble, and I’m not.”
“Oh.” He blinked, then a grin slowly spread on his face. “Ohhhh.”
“Exactly.” We had both wanted the same thing yet not been certain the other wanted it.
“And what about our lessons?” he asked. “You’re my instructor.”
“And now I’m your lover. I’m talented, I can be both.”
He smiled at that. “Yes. Yes, you can… can’t you?” He laughed a bit. “You can do anything.”
I wasn’t sure exactly what that meant, but I liked the sound of it.
“I—” Words fled me as I happened to glance over Leo’s shoulder and see… Daz. He was some distance down the lane, but he’d seen… everything. “Fuck!”
“What?” Leo blinked, startled.
“Sorry, Leo I… have to go.” I pressed a finger to his lips to stop any argument. I locked eyes with him again. “Leo, that was amazing and I definitely want to do that again, as well as continue our lessons, but I… just remembered something I need to do. We should talk… about all of this, but can we do that… later?”
He seemed a bit taken aback by my sudden bluntness but then smiled and nodded. “Anything for you, Tisi, anything.”
Gods, he was amazing. He gave so freely, understood everything, followed my instructions, and asked so little in return. I didn’t deserve a man like him. I wasn’t sure how I’dgotten him, but right now… he wasn’t the man I really needed to talk to.
“What about our lesson today?” he asked quickly.
“We both just learned something very valuable. Can we leave it at that? We’ll continue our regular lessons tomorrow, if that’s acceptable?”
“Yes.”
So accepting and unquestioning. I kissed Leo again then smiled.
“Thanks, you’re amazing, I have to run!” And I did, hiking my skirts to run down the lane to the house.
I honestly didn’t know what I was going to say to Daz.
…I just hoped, I hadn’t lost him… forever.
CHAPTER 25
Tisera
“Daz?”I called as I burst through the door of the cottage.
The main room was quiet, unoccupied. The door to his room was closed. I ran over and opened it. He hadn’t locked it. He sat on the side of his bed, head in his hands.
“Daz—” but what could I say?That wasn’t what it looked like?It had been exactly what it looked like, and I had enjoyed it and very much wanted to do it again. So, what then?
Then… as had happened with Leo, words spilled out before I’d fully thought about them. “I love you!”
What?
Fuck! Really?
Did I?
Well, yes, definitely in one sense, but in the wayhewanted…?
