Felix walked out, and I could tell by the flush coloring his neck and cheeks that he’d heard our words of praise.
“Hi,” I said, suddenly unsure of what I wanted to tell him.
“Hey.”
Awkward.
“Can we… uh, can we talk?” My eyes lifted to his beautiful face. “Oh. You look really nice. Did you get a haircut?”
He patted his hair self-consciously. “Yes. Your lord and master frog-marched me down to the little town and forced some man named Milo to do intimate things to my personal style,” he muttered. “Your valet is a bossy little thing. At first I thought it was your sister’s doing, but now I’m not so sure.”
I laughed. “I think you’re right.” I shortened the distance between us and ran my fingers through his newly shorn hair. “I miss your waves,” I murmured.
Felix shuddered a little under my touch, and I realized how close we were standing. I turned back to see if Doc and Grandpa Wilde had noticed, but they were gone.
“Want to sit down in my room?” Felix asked.
We entered his room and closed the door behind us. I wanted to pull him into my arms once we were alone, but Felix’s body language was screaming at me to stay away. His arms were crossed in front of his chest, and the skin around his lips was tight.
“Are you okay? I’m sorry about Arthur dragging you around today,” I began.
“It’s fine. I just felt… I don’t know. Weird. Out of place. I’m not sure what I’m doing here since you and I can’t really be together. I don’t really understand how to support you, you know? What can I do to help you relax?”
Of course my stupid, lusty brain zinged in a million dirty directions, but I knew that wasn’t what he’d meant.
“I couldn’t sleep last night,” I admitted.
“I know. Grandpa told me. I’m sorry.”
The concern in his face made me feel warm inside. He cared about how I’d slept and how I was dealing with everything in my life right now.
I cleared my throat. “Is there… is there any chance you’d let me take a nap in here for a couple of hours? With you, I mean?”
His eyes widened.
“No,” I rushed to add. “Nothing like that. Actual sleep, Fee. I’m really tired, and tonight’s going to be a late night followed by an insane day tomorrow.”
Felix’s face softened, and he gestured toward the bed in the center of the room. It was made up with the most luxurious bedding the palace offered, and the idea of curling up in that bed with Felix’s body next to mine was irresistible. The palace around me could burn for all I cared, as long as I could nap in that fucking bed with this kind and beautiful man.
I kicked off my shoes and slipped off my tie and dress shirt before stripping down to my undershirt and boxer briefs. I carefully laid my clothes over a nearby chair so they wouldn’t wrinkle. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Felix do the same with his sweater and khaki pants.
By the time I slid between the cool crisp sheets, I was trembling with the need to touch him.
“C’mere,” I murmured. “Want to hold you.”
He eyed me suspiciously.
“Baby, please. I promise not to touch your dick, okay? Just let me wrap my arms around you for a little while.”
He crawled in close and rested his head on my chest, resting one arm on my front with his index finger near the divot between my collarbones. The pad of that finger toyed with my skin so lightly, I felt goose bumps prickle all over my body.
I had one arm wrapped around him under his back, and my other hand was sifting through his hair.
“Thank you,” I said softly. “Maybe now I can sleep.”
“What if I want you to touch my dick?” I could hear the teasing in his voice.
“Don’t start with me,” I grumbled. “I’m like a hair trigger for you right now. You don’t even know.”
I tried not to notice his breathing pick up, but I couldn’t ignore the thunder of his pulse against my rib cage.
“Stop thinking and go to sleep, Felix Wilde,” I said with a yawn. “No hanky-panky.”
I must have fallen asleep quickly because the next thing I knew, the weak winter sunlight had moved across the room and there was a warm wet mouth on the inside of my thigh, trailing slowly up toward my cock.
“Mppfh!” I practically jackknifed up in bed and stared down at his sleep-rumpled hair. The carefully styled look had been obliterated, and his thick dark hair stood up everywhere in product-stiffened spikes. When he looked up at me, his cheeks were flushed and his eyes were bright.
“Oh god, baby,” I moaned, staring at Felix’s wet, red lips. “Please don’t stop.”