The Snow Prince - Raleigh Ruebins Page 0,40

‘fuck you’ again,” I offered.

“Yeah. Try that.”

“Hey, Sebastian?” I said.

“Yes, Henry?”

“Fuck you,” I said. I stood up, taking a step closer to him. I let my eyes roam up and down his body, taking all of it in. For some reason, after the intensity of the chat we’d just had, I felt like I’d been unleashed, somehow.

What the hell did I have to lose at this point?

I ran a hand down the front of his soft shirt, feeling his heartbeat underneath. It was a small gesture, but it was the first time I’d touched him all night, and the anchor of feeling his body against my own… it was too good. Intoxicating.

He bit his lower lip, nodding slowly. “That’s better. Good, I think.”

“Yeah? You know how to act when I’m being combative?”

He swallowed. “I guess I do.”

I let my fingers trail up his chest again, then ran my hand through his silky soft hair slowly. It was almost vulgar how good it felt. I had fucked someone before and not had it feel this intimate.

“I’m going to get us something to drink,” he said, his lips slightly parted. “You good with scotch? I also have many varietals of white and red wines, if you’re—”

“Yes. Alcohol. Good,” I said, fumbling over the words. “Scotch is perfect.”

He flitted off toward the alcohol portion of his epic suite of rooms. My cock had slowly hardened to the point of being a problem when I was close to him. I palmed it through my pants, trying to be patient. As if I had any choice. I went back to the fireplace, poking at the wood with a long iron pick nearby. I was watching embers float into the air when Sebastian returned.

“Can I interest you in any fresh tangerines, sir?”

I whipped around to see Rudy again, holding out a tray of tangerine slices to me.

“You’re not Sebastian,” I said.

I hadn’t been expecting anyone to come back in at all. Rudy seemed unaffected, his face expressionless.

“Sure, I’ll take a few,” I said, grabbing one of the small plates from his tray and loading it up with a few tangerine pieces.

I felt so watched as I took the food, even though I was fairly certain that the castle staff were discreet, and probably wouldn’t go around blabbing about my presence.

“Thank you very much,” I said.

He nodded and disappeared down the hall as silently as he’d come in. I stared back at the fireplace, popping a tangerine slice in my mouth.

Sebastian was back a minute later. He handed me the Scotch in a heavy crystal glass.

“God, tangerines sound delicious right now,” he said, grabbing one off my plate.

“One of your staff members just came by and asked if I wanted some,” I said.

Sebastian nodded, as if I’d just told him the sky was blue. “They’re wonderful.”

As if on cue, the young woman came down the hallway just then, offering us an array of artisanal chocolates.

“Thank you, Marci,” Sebastian said, grabbing a few. “Would you like some, Henry?”

“I’m okay,” I said. “Thank you.”

She was gone a moment later. Sebastian smiled at me as I shook my head.

“Are they going to be coming by all night, without warning?” I asked.

“No,” he said. “That should be all.”

I took a sip of scotch, and Sebastian did the same.

“Been saving this one for my wedding day,” he said.

“I don’t even want to ask how much this bottle of scotch was worth, do I?” I asked.

Sebastian shook his head. “Probably not.”

He shrugged one shoulder and tossed back a swig, with no ceremony.

“Good?” I asked.

“Pretty fucking great, yes,” he said. “Strong.”

“That’s what I like,” I said, taking a sip. The alcohol was deeply flavored, but I didn’t know a damn thing about types of scotch.

It was liquor. It was what I needed right now.

“So, uh,” I said, “I’ve got to ask. What is the room with the… stuff in it?”

He lifted an eyebrow. “You’ll have to be a little more specific, Henry.”

“One of the rooms had weird drapes in it, I guess? Maybe silk?”

“Oh, right, right,” he said. “It’s therapy. For my muscle tension. Every week my doctor comes and guides me through various poses.”

“I’m still not getting it,” I said.

“I sit on the silk bands,” he clarified. “Or lie on them. And depending on how I position my body, or how he positions me, it’s a way to let gravity do work on my muscles. It’s incredible.”

“This is some next-level shit, Sebastian,” I said, taking a sip of scotch.

“I know it sounds crazy,