“I’ve never felt anything like it,” he whispered, repeating his own words.
A muscle in Conrad’s forehead worked as he seemed to recognize the line as familiar, before a wash of understanding coated his face.Sage’s stomach roiled at the thought of what would happen next.Would he pull away?Had he been too bold in making such a confession?Conrad’s eyes shifted back and forth rapidly as he seemed to search his thoughts, compiling this new information with what he’d already been told.
“Your magic makes my spells more powerful,” Conrad finally mused.He locked eyes with Sage again.“And mine?—”
“Inspires my magic to ruin my own clothes, apparently.”
Conrad laughed as he stood up, reaching to hold both sides of Sage’s face.Sage gripped Conrad’s forearms in an effort to steady himself, brows still pinched as he waited to see what other conclusions the man would arrive at.
“My magic has grown fond of your magic, just as I have grown fond of you!”And suddenly Conrad was kissing him.Sage was so surprised that he did not even have a chance to close his eyes before it was over.
“What?”he managed on a shaky exhale after they broke apart.
“I hope you do not mind my saying so.”Conrad kissed the corner of his lips.“It felt like an appropriate time to tell you.”
“I…” Sage’s jaw worked as he struggled to reply.“Yes.I mean no, I do not mind it.”He was fairly certain his hands would’ve been shaking if they were not still wrapped around Conrad’s forearms.He leaned in to rest their foreheads together.“I do not mind it,” he repeated, softer this time, relief flooding him just as the warmth of his magic had as they worked together in Roger’s study.
If this was to be a night for revelations, then Sage already knew what he needed to say next.Perhaps it was all too much at once, but if all the years he spent silently yearning for Wyndham had taught him one thing, it was that keeping his feelings a secret would only lead to more heartbreak in the end.
“You might have noticed that Emrys and the others were not so subtle in their hints at another sort of intimacy that often comes with magical compatibility,” he ventured.
Conrad snorted.“I suppose that better explains why this entire house reeks of copulation.”Sage couldn’t help but laugh at that.Conrad pulled away to look up at him.“Are you trying to tell me you are equally as afflicted?”
He was not prepared to admit that he had been in a nearly constant state of arousal for three days.The look on his face must’ve been admission enough.
“Whatever are we just standing around for, then?You should’ve told me sooner.Come along.”
Sage found himself being guided toward the bed.Conrad began removing his trousers as he did every other night, no fuss about it.Sage made quick work of pulling his stockings off and tossed them aside.By the time he had slipped his shirt off, Conrad was already under the blankets.Sage reached for the small jar of oil on his bedside table and crawled onto the bed on his knees.
Conrad gave a short gasp when he noticed the jar in his hand.
“Isthiswhat that is for?”
Sage shut his eyes.“Please do not mention it.”
Conrad’s answering laughter was excessively cheerful.“I had no idea,” he said.“That first night, I thought you were offering me some of what you’d used on your face and hands.”
“Iknow,” Sage said dryly, though he couldn’t hide his embarrassed grin.“It was rather humiliating.”
Conrad tutted and reached out for him.“It was nothing personal, you understand?”Sage shuffled closer, sitting back on his heels.
“Yes, I understand now.”They shared a soft kiss.“Though I confess I am nervous about doing something that will make you uncomfortable.”
“As I said before, I will let you know if that happens.”Conrad’s expression turned serious.“I am more concerned about you.I’ve no reservations about voicing what I like or dislike.Promise me that you will do the same?”
There was a weight to Conrad’s question that Sage was not ready to work through.He had not earned his reputation by being a demanding sort of shag.He did whatothermen liked.It was the only reason they wanted him, along with the care he took in maintaining his appearance.
“I do not know the answer,” he said, face warm.
Conrad kissed him again.“Then we shall find out together.”
After a somewhat shy acknowledgement that he wanted Conrad to have him—and not the other way around—the other man accepted Sage’s proffered oil in his waiting palm and pushed the covers away with his free hand.
“Will it bother you if I watch?”Sage asked.
“I won’t mind it,” Conrad told him.They shared a kiss before Sage collected some oil and tucked his upper body against Conrad, cheek on his shoulder so he could easily go between kissing his neck and watching him work the oil onto himself.The moment was so easy between them that Sage almost wished they could stay that way.Several slick fingers later, he was ready in no time at all.
Rather than worrying too much about what would come next, Sage decided to do what felt right in the moment.He pressed his lips against Conrad’s neck as he shifted one leg over to straddle his hips.Conrad’s hands moved to the tops of his thighs and remained there as Sage returned to kissing his mouth, unhurried and indulgent.
