Chapter 6

In truth, Wulf did not intend merely talking to Billy. Not initially, at least. Instead, he had decided to take Stonyhurst’s advice and use action to convey his feelings for the younger man rather than continuously and silently yearning for a sign that Billy returned those feelings.

He felt less unsure in the success of that endeavor now that Billy had admitted to liking him.

Admittedly, it could just be the liking of friendship.

Even if that should be the case, making new friends really wasn’t something that Wulf did.

He kept the three close friends he had, partly because they had shared so much during the years of war against Napoleon. But he did not make new friends.

No doubt that was due in part to the coldness of his nature and the aloofness of his title as the wealthy and powerful Duke of Wulferston.

But Wulf had no doubt it was also because he was known as being a close associate of the Prince Regent. A friendship which some might find useful, but others would shy away from for fear of revealing too much to Wulf and in turn risking the possibility of Prinny learning of their misdemeanors.

Wulf’s post in government separated him from others in society even more. His role as magistrate did not endear him to either the wealthy or the poor.

Hearing Billy admit to liking him confirmed what Wulf had thought earlier: unlikely as it might seem, they were now friends.

Would it, as he feared, damage that friendship irrevocably if Wulf revealed that his feelings for Billy went much deeper than that?

Possibly.

Stonyhurst had advised him to take that risk.

Too many nights without sleep, because Wulf could not stop thinking of Billy, also made him realize that his continued inaction was no longer an option.

Besides, his cock was like to fall off from too many cockstands these past four months and not a single release, if he didn’t at least try to put an end to this miserable uncertainty.

He had many times thought of taking himself in hand and attaining that sexual release. But each time he did, it had it felt like a betrayal to what he felt for Billy to spill his essence without the younger man being present.

Wulf turned to face the younger man the moment he had closed and locked the study door behind them. The difference in their heights and build was starkly apparent now that they were standing close enough Wulf was able to look down and see the gold flecks in those beautiful long-lashed green eyes that looked so boldly back at him.

Still, he hesitated, knowing he would not be able to bear it if he revealed his feelings and he lost the friendship of this alluring young man forever.

“Wulf?” Billy prompted softly.

His eyes half closed, and he gave a low groan of pleasure at hearing his name spoken by those sweet and pouting lips.

His eyes seemed to burn when he opened them again. “Billy.”

The younger man eyed him quizzically. “Yes?”

“God, Billy,” he choked, completely overwhelmed with having so many emotions bombard him at once.

Intense desire.

Liking.

Possibly even love?

He lifted his hand until it ghosted near but did not quite touch the smoothness of the other man’s cheek, even as his hungry gaze noted every beautiful detail of that heart-shaped face.

Red-gold eyebrows above those heavy-lashed green eyes.

High cheekbones either side of a thin blade of a nose.

Those full and pillowy lips above the sharpness of the defined jawline.

The slender length of a long and creamy throat in which a rapid pulse could clearly be seen beating.

An indication Billy was as aroused as he was?

Wulf’s gaze moved back to that unflinching green gaze. “The reason I would be the one bringing you breakfast in bed is because I cannot think of anything I would ever deny you if you were to ask it of me. Including making and serving you breakfast.”

Billy moistened his lips with the tip of his tongue, that slender throat moving as he swallowed. “Anything?”

“Anything,” Wulf echoed instantly.

“Then I think you should kiss me before I expire from holdin’ me bloody breath for so long in anticipation!”

Wulf was surprised to feel the sting of happy tears against his lids even as he let out a shaky laugh at this typical response from the outspoken and irrepressible Billy Brown.

“You are an incredible young man,” he said in wonder.

“One that is about to expire,” Billy reminded with a pointed raise of his eyebrows.

“That is the last thing I want,” Wulf murmured, his gaze meeting that challenging green one as he slowly lowered his head to take possession of Billy’s lips.

* * *

Billy was sure he must have died and gone to heaven!

There could be no other explanation for his believing that Wulfram Edmund Fitzherbert, the Duke of Wulferston, was standing in front of him bending his head and capturing Billy’s lips with his own.

Or that Wulf’s strong arms were now about his waist, holding him close against the muscular length of his powerful body.

That the other man’s large hands were caressing restlessly down the length of Billy’s spine before one of them tightly gripped an arse cheek to pull him closer still.

Well…maybe he could believe that last one was real. The hard length of Wulf’s cock pressing into his abdomen certainly felt real enough.

But it couldn’t be real.

Could it?

All these months of yearning for the older man.

Aching for him.

Desperate for Wulf to return the desire Billy felt for him.

A longing so strong, he had refused to comply with his father’s ultimatum that he must leave the Apollo, or to return home after the club had burned to the ground.

Enough that Billy had been prepared to accept the derision of the other servants at Wulferston House.

All so that he could remain close to Wulf.

In hope.

In need.

Oh God, a hope and need that rose to fever pitch as Wulf’s lips parted against his and the hot and passionate plunge of the other man’s tongue entered and then thoroughly explored and took possession of Billy’s mouth.

Billy’s arms moved up and over the other man’s wide shoulders before his fingers became entangled in the silky dark hair at his nape. Pulling Wulf closer, and the plunging of that tongue deeper.

Billy was in ecstasy.

Only Wulf mattered to him in that moment. The firmness of his lips against his own. The caress of Wulf’s large hands holding Billy tight to him. The heady smell of the duke’s citrusy cologne. The heat of his large, firm body pressing so perfectly against Billy’s much slenderer one.

He wanted—dear God, Billy ached for them to throw off their clothes so they could explore and kiss and touch each other’s naked bodies. He only had to look at a clothed Wulf’s gloriously wide shoulders, narrow waist, and muscular hips and thighs, to know that the older man had a beautiful body beneath that clothing.

Billy wanted to caress and touch every inch of those defined muscles. Explore every part of Wulf until he knew the other man’s body as well as, if not better, than his own.

He had been deeply jealous of Valentin since moving into Wulferston House, knowing the Frenchman had the privilege of seeing the glory of Wulf’s naked and muscular body whenever the valet helped the duke to dress in the mornings or bathe last thing at night.

Billy wanted to be the only one who saw Wulf naked.

Just as he wanted to get down on his knees and worship and adore every inch of Wulf’s bared cock.

A need that now became so overwhelming, Billy pulled his mouth free of Wulf’s to hold the older man’s gaze, his hands resting on the duke’s hips as he slowly sank to his knees.

* * *

Wulf stared down at Billy. In truth, he was unable to look away, even for the time it might take him to blink, because he was far too enamored with seeing the beautiful Billy on his knees.

For him.

Only for him.

His breath caught in his throat as Billy unfastened the buttons on his pantaloons and pulled down the front of his drawers until the thick and engorged length of Wulf’s cock jutted free. The bulbous top was a deep and angry red and coated in viscous pre-cum.

Wulf released a shuddering breath, his hands moving to grip Billy’s shoulders, when the younger man had to use both hands to encircle that pulsing girth.

Billy looked up through thick lashes as he lowered his head, lips parted, and took just the mushroomed tip of Wulf’s cock between those slightly kiss-bruised lips.

The first hot rasp of Billy’s tongue as he lapped up the pre-cum was almost Wulf’s undoing.

It took every effort of his considerable willpower not to thrust deeper and faster between those strawberry-colored lips when he felt one of Billy’s slender hands cupping the heavy sac of Wulf’s balls.

He was rewarded for his control by the drawing suction of Billy’s mouth around his cock and the rasping of that marauding tongue as the younger man dipped it into the slit at the tip of Wulf’s cock and then lapped up the spurts of his pre-cum.

“Gods, Billy, you please me—” Wulf broke off what he had been about to say as a loud knock sounded on the door of the study, followed by the handle being turned.

Thank God he had thought to lock the door!

“Your Grace?” an unfamiliar voice called through the closed door. “Are you well, Your Grace?” That voice became urgent when Wulf didn’t answer the first time.

Billy’s face was stricken as he rose quickly to his feet. “What is it, Mr. Miller?” he asked, his face turned toward the door as Wulf adjusted and refastened his own clothing.

“There is a constable at the door, Billy,” the man Miller replied—Wulf’s new butler, he supposed? “He says he needs to speak with you urgently. Something about a dead body that’s been dragged out of the river,” he added less certainly.