“Not at all,” the duke said. “Off you go. I’ve a few more volumes I want to look out.” He glanced over at Theo, adding with a twinkle, “I’ll bore you to tears about them tomorrow.”
“I look forward to it, your grace,” Theo replied, setting down the book he’d been perusing and rising to his feet.
“And as I told you,” the duke said, turning back to the bookshelf, “No more your gracing me. Now, go on with you both. I’ll see you at breakfast.”
“What did Freddy say?” Theo asked, once they’d left the library, closing the door behind them.
“He’s going to stay here. He wants to do it. I did, however, have to reassure him that I won’t feel usurped by him.”
“And you truly won’t?” Theo asked, his expression a little worried.
George turned to smile at him. “Do I have to reassure you too?”
“Perhaps a little. You’re giving up so much.”
“It doesn’t feel like that,” George said honestly. “It feels like I’m gaining everything. Everything I ever wanted but never thought I could have.”
They had reached George’s bedchamber now. George opened the door and stepped inside, crossing the floor to set the chamber stick down.
When he turned around, Theo was there, wrapping his strong arms about George’s shoulders and pressing their mouths together in a brief, fierce kiss. When they broke apart, George gave a gasping laugh, giddy with joy.
“For someone who never used to kiss anyone, you seem rather fond of it now,” he observed teasingly.
“I’m extremely fond of kissing you,” Theo replied, nibbling along the line of George’s jaw.
“You weren’t always,” George pointed out, squirming pleasurably. “Do you remember what you said the first time I kissed you? In Redford’s.”
Theo groaned, dropping his head to hide his face in George’s neck. “Don’t remind me,” he pleaded.
George ignored him. “You said I don’t do that sort of thing.”
Theo lifted his head, meeting George’s gaze. “I was a fool,” he said feelingly.
George chuckled. “I seem to recall there was also something about how you could never feel romantic about another man…”
Theo gave another embarrassed groan. “Did I? Well, I’ve proved myself well and truly wrong now, haven’t I? Coming all this way to throw myself at your feet and beg you to be mine.”
“You didn’t need to beg me,” George murmured.
Theo’s gaze searched his face. “Are you sure you want Blackfriars to be your home? If you want to live anywhere else, I’ll?—”
“I’m sure,” George interrupted. “I’ll be happy wherever you are.” Then he laughed, giddy with how easy that decision was. After all the long years of feeling his duties weighing him down, it felt astonishingly liberating to simply make this choice. His own choice.
The choice to go with Theo. To make a life with Theo.
To love Theo.
Leaning forward, he kissed Theo again, whispering against his lips, “Shall we go to bed?”
Theo’s gaze went soft, his lips curving under George’s. “God, yes,’ he murmured. “I’ve missed having you in my bed at night. I’ve slept horribly since you left.”
“Me too,” George said softly.
Theo drew back then, meeting his gaze. “Let’s never sleep apart again.”
He looked so serious and sincere. So very unlike the guarded, careful man George had seen in Redford’s that first night.
Theo was open now, free in a way he’d never been before.
