“Back to Wiltshire, I suppose,” George said, shrugging, “though God knows I could do with a change. I’ve just spent the last seven months there. I must have walked and ridden every inch of the estate a hundred times over.”
“A change usually does a man good.”
George gave a rueful smile that Theo found far too appealing. “Any suggestions?”
Theo didn’t decide to say it. He just blurted the words out the instant they entered his mind. “Why don’t you come to Wales with me? You could give me your considered opinion on how Blackfriars is being run. In fact, we could take a quick diversion and climb Snowdon on the way there if you fancy. What do you say?”
He wasn’t sure where the idea had come from, but suddenly it seemed like the best one he'd ever had.
George’s gaze snapped to his, his expression surprised. “Wales? It’s quite a distance.”
“Oh, come on!” Theo urged him. “It’ll be an adventure. You said yourself you wanted to visit Snowdonia, and I’ve been before so I can guide you. I was planning to ride rather than taking the coach. Would you like that? You used to love riding.” Oh hell, was he babbling?
“I still do,” George agreed, “though I’ve never done such a long journey purely on horseback. How long would it take?”
“A week to ride to Blackfriars,” Theo said with an airy wave of his hand. “An extra day or two to for a quick diversion to Snowdon. You’ll get plenty of rest on the other side—you can stay at Blackfriars as long as you wish.”
George bit his lip. “Are you serious?”
“I am,” Theo assured him, his confidence growing now. "You’ll have to make your mind up quickly, though. I’m leaving tomorrow morning.”
George stared at him with wide eyes, gnawing lightly on his bottom lip. “Are you—” he began, only to break off, his cheeks flushing. “That is, does this invitation have anything to do with last night?”
“Last night?” Theo echoed. “You mean… what happened at Redford’s?”
“Yes,” George whispered. “Is that—is that why you’re asking me? Because you want to—” Again he broke off, his flush deepening further. “You’re probably not thinking any such thing…” He trailed off uncertainly.
Theo barked out a laugh. “Are you asking me if I have designs on your virtue?” George glanced around in horror, checking to see if anyone was near enough to overhear them, though Theo would never have said such a thing unless he was already sure no one was.
“No, no, I realise you wouldn’t want that!” George protested, his expression agonised. “That is, you couldn’t possibly want?—”
“Couldn’t I?” Theo interrupted, lifting his brow. “George, I would be more than happy to repeat last night, if you wanted to. I enjoyed our encounter immensely, but I would never press you to agree to something you didn’t want.”
George stared at him for what felt like several long, agonising moments, his face very pink. “I enjoyed it too,” he said faintly, “but I’m not sure we should repeat it. You see what we did as something purely physical, an appetite to be satisfied. I don’t think that’s how I’m made.”
Theo couldn’t deny the truth of what George had said about him. He only wanted passing pleasure from his lovers. If George was looking for sentimental feelings, he was right to have reservations—that was not something Theo could give him.
Yet he couldn’t quite let go of the possibility of… something.
Setting his hand at the side of George's neck, he allowed himself the brief indulgence of stroking his thumb along George’s jaw, enjoying the rasp of faint whiskers there, and the way George shivered at his touch.
“Come as my friend,” he said at last. “But know that if you decide to join me in my bed, you will be welcome any time.” Reluctantly, he dropped his hand back to his side. “I will be very glad to have your company either way, as a friend, or as a lover.”
George stared at him, wide-eyed. Then he gave an astonished, almost giddy laugh. “Well, then.” He bit his lip, considering, and Theo was surprised to realise how nervous he felt, waiting for George’s answer.
“All right,” George said at length. “I’ll come. I’ve nowhere else I need to be after all, and a change of scenery is very appealing just now.”
Theo grinned, relief and pleasure drenching him. “Excellent! Now, are you sure you can manage the whole journey on horseback without your carriage? Will you miss the velvet upholstery and hot bricks for your feet?”
George laughed. “I’ll have you know I’m a very proficient rider. I don't need velvet and hot bricks.”
George was a damned sight more than merely proficient. He may not have been particularly keen on team sports at school, but he had always excelled at riding. Theo vividly remembered seeing him jump a fence at Dinsford Park that was so high, Theo himself would never have attempted it—and Theo was a bruising rider. But George had sailed over that fence with room to spare and hadn’t even seemed to think it was a particularly impressive feat.
And why that memory should make his cock swell, he didn’t know.
“I admit you’re an excellent horseman,” he replied, shifting a little in an attempt to hide his cockstand. “I remember that very well. Can you climb mountains as well as you ride?”
George laughed. “Probably not, but I’ll do my best.”
