Heath wouldn’t read any more into the statement than what it was, just a friendly inquiry. If only Kane truly cared. Heath lay his head back and sighed. The champagne must have gone to his head to have such thoughts about a man he had known less than a week.
“Did it go that well?” Kane sat next to him, thinking Heath’s exasperated gesture was in response to his question about the party.
“It could have been worse. My damned leg is sore from standing so long.” Heath leaned down to rub his calf where the bullet had penetrated his leg.
“Here, let me help.” Kane brought Heath’s leg up, so it rested in his lap. With slow, deliberate strokes, Kane massaged the area Heath had just rubbed. “How does that feel?”
Words wouldn’t form. Heath’s brain was in ecstatic shock from Kane touching him in such a familiar fashion. Even though his trousers separated him from Kane’s direct touch, it took all of Heath’s willpower to not let his cock stand ramrod straight.
“It feels better, thank you.” The words barely passed his lips.
“May I ask how you came to have your injury?”
“We were in battle in New Zealand. I pushed one of my comrades out of the way of a cannon shot, but in the process of saving him, I got a bullet in my leg.”
“Did the surgeons remove the bullet?”
“Yes, but I will have this limp and must use the cane. It can hurt fiercely when the weather changes. Sometimes I feel like an old man, but I’m only twenty-five.”
Kane kept up the hypnotic touch on his calf. “You are still young. You’ve just seen more than most men your age. I don’t think I could be a soldier.”
“I didn’t do it out of some patriotic sense of Queen and country. I did it because it paid better than farming and my family needed the money.”
During Heath’s service, he’d seen places he never would have dreamed of. Even though the life of a soldier was not glamorous, he had experiences and friendships he would remember forever, including his comrades from the hospital. Hopefully, the rest of his friends had gone home. They were all good men who deserved happy lives.
“Did you meet anyone interesting at the party?” Kane had stopped rubbing his leg, but Heath did nothing to move it off Kane’s lap.
“I was introduced to several men of business, so that is good. Then I met a rather forward young lady, Miss Josephine Wilcott.”
Kane smirked. “You don’t sound pleased.”
Heath rolled his eyes. He couldn’t help it. “She was pleasant enough. Thankfully, I was not under any obligation to ask her to dance, but she invited me to a picnic in two days' time. I asked if you could attend, and she said yes.” He glanced at Kane. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“I would be happy to attend.”
“I also mentioned that you are my estate manager.” Heath hated the charade, but the truth was still too humiliating to admit.
“Sir, I will do whatever is needed.” He put his hand on Heath’s leg once more. “I may be your tutor, but I hope I can also be your friend.”
A delicious wave of heat traveled up Heath’s leg from where Kane’s hand rested and shot straight to his cock. Christ, those words could be construed in so many ways, none of which were proper at the moment.
“I could use a friend right now.”
“Then you have one in me. I will get you in tiptop shape so you can move comfortably among the gentry and perhaps grab yourself a bride at the same time.” Kane winked.
“One thing at a time. I’m not looking for a wife anytime soon...or ever.”
He stole a glance at Kane. Their stares collided. Kane’s sapphire orbs were mesmerizing. Heath couldn’t look away. Not that he wanted to. For an instant, Heath saw a change in Kane’s expression. The blue of his eyes darkened, like a storm at sea, threatening, but exhilarating at the same time. A lusty feeling of warmth swept over Heath. He was treading on dangerous ground, but in that instant he’d give anything to have Kane touch something other than his leg.
“You should rest. It’s been a long day.” Kane turned away. As he did, Heath noticed him shift in his spot. Good lord, was Kane aroused?
CHAPTER4
He should move away, put some distance between him and Sir Heath, but Kane never listened to good sense, especially when it was coming from himself. When Heath had mentioned the soreness in his leg, Kane’s initial response had been purely to offer comfort, but the moment he had put his hands on the man, something had stirred inside Kane. It had lurked beneath the surface since their first meeting. Kane had never felt such an instant attraction to someone. On top of everything, Heath was genuinely sweet and in need of guidance. The teacher in Kane wanted to show Heath that he was capable of so much more than he gave himself credit for.
Now, after Heath’s last statement about not wanting a wife, Kane wondered if Heath was inadvertently trying to tell him something. He had to be careful and not be overly forward until he was certain. Society frowned upon men with Kane’s peculiar tastes. To love another man was considered taboo.
There would be plenty of time to explore that issue later. If he remained at Stokesby Manor to assist in getting the brewery up and running, besides their studies, Kane would have all the time he wanted with the gentleman.