And? There was that arched brow again. I ve told you before. Proxy votes travel quite nicely via the post, and they ve been doing so these past few months. Arsen took a step closer. So close Henry could feel the heat from his body. A tremble of longing shot through him. His senses deprived of even the most basic comforting touch, it felt like years and not the few days since he d been this close to Arsen. I have no intentions whatsoever of returning to London. All of my business affairs are in order, my solicitor and man of affairs travel to Durham whenever I have need of them, and all the properties are thriving. I could not care in the slightest that the Season is to start. I am beyond tired of that city. It s full of greed and pretense and it s damn lonely. His gaze searched Henry s face. It can t even begin to compete with you, he added in a low determined tone that begged Henry to believe him. Arsen reached up and cupped the back of his neck, pulling him down. Their lips met. Henry moaned, the sound lost in the kiss. His arms shot out, wrapped around Arsen. Like a starving man, he greedily soaked up the taste of Arsen s perfect mouth and feel of his hard body against his. Arsen dragged his mouth along Henry s jaw. Hot breaths fanned his ear. Please don t ever speak of leaving me again. Henry s heart clenched at the fragile vulnerability in the barely audible words. I won t, he whispered fiercely, holding Arsen close. He never wanted to be parted from this man. Ever. And don t ever avoid me again. Understood? Pleasures of Somerville Park 10 He nodded. Beyond foolish to have acted the part of a coward. He knew that now. Still, the very real possibility of losing the man he loved had turned him into someone he almost hadn t recognized. Arsen nipped at his ear, grabbed his arse. Good. Now fuck me. Lust shot to his groin so quickly his head went light. Still, he regained enough of his senses to glance about the room. Here? The grooms have retired for the night and the door is locked. His hands moved between their bodies. It s been days since I ve felt you inside me. I want you. Now. The demanding aristocrat was back, but Henry didn t mind in the slightest. He was more than happy to oblige the mighty Marquis of Somerville and bend him over the nearest saddle rack. He stole a quick kiss then swatted Arsen s hands from the placket of the man s trousers. One tug released the remaining buttons. He turned Arsen around and pushed him toward the nearby saddle rack. Bend over, he said, dropping to his haunches and pulling Arsen s trousers down to his ankles. He much preferred to bare every inch of Arsen s gorgeous body, but the location demanded baring only the essentials. A quick swipe tucked Arsen s shirttail beneath his black silk waistcoat. Hands splayed, he pulled those firm muscular cheeks apart, exposing Arsen s entrance. Arsen s moans of pleasure filled his ears as he plied the man with his mouth. Flicking and swirling his tongue over the puckered skin, thoroughly wetting the sensitive flesh. When the tight ring of muscle began to relax, he pushed two fingers inside. Arsen shuddered, pushed back. Give me your cock. Not yet. He carefully worked a third digit inside and slowly stroked. Damn you, I can take it. Definitely demanding. A smug smile curved his mouth. I know you can. His cock jumped, more than eager to feel the tight sleek heat gripping his fingers. For a man who once never even considered the notion of letting another man bugger him, Arsen had sure grown addicted to it. More often than not, he wanted Henry to fuck him. His 11 Ava March body had grown accustomed to taking him. Still, the lack of available oil necessitated more than the usual considerable care. Well aware of his own size, the last thing Henry wanted was to hurt his lover. He spit onto Arsen s hole. With his thumb, he worked the moisture inside then did it again. His cock pressed hard enough to hurt against the placket of his breeches, demanding to be set free. Yet he forced himself to proceed slowly. When he was assured Arsen s body was slick enough and more than ready, he got to his feet. A quick tug and his breeches were shoved down to his hips. Thick and heavy and aching with need, his cock sprung free. Bent over the wooden saddle rack, Arsen adjusted his stance, arching his back and spreading his legs as far as his trousers would allow. A fierce surge of possessiveness rose within. He was the only man to have ever taken Arsen, and no one would ever follow him. He felt it down to his bones. There would only be him and Arsen, no others, until the end of their days. After slicking his erection with spit, he grabbed Arsen s lean hip. With his other hand, he guided his prick to Arsen s entrance and pressed. When he heard the exhale swoosh from Arsen s lungs, he steadily increased the pressure. His lover s breath hitched as the head made the breach. Henry s hand flexed against Arsen s hip, the need to snap his hips forward, to bury his cock ballocks deep in that tight clinging heat almost overwhelming him. Yet he paused. His gaze was locked to the erotic sight of Arsen s entrance, glistening with moisture and stretched obscenely wide around his thick prick. A groan rumbled his throat. Need clawed at him. Built to impossible levels. His thighs shook under the strain of remaining still. Henry almost sighed in gratitude when Arsen shifted beneath him, signaling he was ready for more. Jaw set in an effort to ward off the climax already building within, he pushed forward. He couldn t help but watch as his length slowly disappeared inside Arsen. Damn, you ve got a big cock. Arsen rotated his hips, working that last inch of Henry s prick into his arse. A grumbling moan reverberated through his back. Feels so damn good. An understatement if ever there was one. Pleasures of Somerville Park 12 Henry pulled back, savoring the lush friction, and then gave in to that primal urge to snap his hips forward. The saddle rack creaked under the onslaught, mixing with the sounds of skin slapping against skin and their hoarse, gravelly grunts. Arsen reached back, tugged at his thigh. Thrusting hard, Henry leaned down over Arsen s back and wrapped an arm around his lover s hips. His hand closed over hot silken skin backed by iron. Yes, Arsen growled, bucking back. Stroke my cock. So& ah& close. He felt the thick vein beneath pulse an instant before hot seed shot from the tip, coating his fingers. Swift and fierce, the orgasm rushed through him. He set his mouth to Arsen s shoulder to stifle the shout as he poured deep within him. Panting, he pushed up, not wanting to crush Arsen with his weight. He tucked himself back into his breeches and did up the placket with fingers that didn t quite yet want to fully cooperate. Sprawled over the saddle rack, Arsen s back rose and fell as rapidly as his own. Trousers around his ankles and with a thin trickle of pearly white seed clinging to his well-fucked arse, the man looked positively debauched. Damn tempting to admire the view. Instead he tugged up his lover s trousers. Bracing one hand on the saddle rack, he wrapped an arm around Arsen s chest. I can very well stand on my own, Arsen grumbled. I m certain you can. Henry pulled him upright. In about five minutes, he added. He received a noncommittal grunt in response. His lips quirked, a chuckle tickling his throat. Body lax with pleasure and limbs not yet steady, Arsen turned in his arms. His mouth found Henry s, lips gliding over his in a slow wet kiss. Then he rested his forehead on Henry s shoulder. I love you, Henry Shaw. Henry s heart swelled. Brushing his nose against the soft strands of Arsen s hair, he took a deep full breath of him. To think less than an hour ago he believed Arsen would leave him& He should have known better. He should have trusted in Arsen s love. I love you, too, Lord Somerville. His arms tightened around Henry s waist then Arsen pulled his spine straight, speared him with a haughty stare. Now get your arse back in the house so I can fuck you. 13 Ava March An excellent notion, but& He shook his head. Your brother s there. Arsen rolled his eyes on a huff of annoyance. Cheeks flushed and trousers hanging on his lean hips, he still managed to embody every inch the top-lofty lord. He is in the guest wing and fast asleep by now. You could scream and he would not hear you. Henry shook his head again. We can t. I won t. We shouldn t take the risk& That what? He ll decide at midnight he needs to pay me a call in my bedchamber? Henry, you re being I am not being ridiculous. I am being prudent. He absolutely refused to put Arsen s reputation at risk. The remote estate coupled with Arsen s loyal staff afforded them the luxury of lowering their guard just the tiniest bit. But a guest took away every trace of that luxury. Arsen dragged a hand through his hair, disheveling the neat layers. His deep sigh echoed in the small room. If you insist, I won t bugger you and we won t share my bed. But& can we share yours? I m damned tired and haven t had a decent night s rest since Emmet s been here. You shouldn t have allowed him to work you so hard. Emmet seemed a nice enough fellow, yet Henry suddenly did not care for him much. While Arsen usually spent afternoons in the study tending to business, pushing him to work from dawn until past dusk was beyond inconsiderate. Arsen s gaze darted to the floor. It has nothing to do with work, he grumbled. And everything to do with an empty bed. The man had made a comment or two in the past about how well he slept since Henry started sharing his bed. He d always assumed Arsen had been referring to the sort of deep restful sleep that follows a mind-blowing orgasm. Suspicion began to tug at the back of his mind. He studied Arsen. His lover shifted his weight. The uncharacteristic and distinctly uncomfortable gesture wiped away his previous assumptions. Have you always had problems sleeping? Arsen rolled one shoulder. A heavy furrow marred his brow. He kept his attention fixed on the ground. Not when I m with you. The words spoken so low Henry had to strain to hear them. You should have said something. Pleasures of Somerville Park 14 Arsen gave his head a short, dismissive shake, as if revealing such a vulnerability had been unthinkable. Emmet had no cause whatsoever to ever enter Henry s bedchamber, he reasoned. The man was already abed and would be gone by dawn. Assured the risk had dropped close enough to zero for his comfort, he said, Of course you can share my bed. Thank you. On an exhale, the tension slid out of his frame. He lifted his chin, met Henry s gaze. You do realize my cock will be in your arse the moment Emmet s carriage departs from the front door? Henry couldn t help it. He chuckled. I would have it no other way. Grabbing Arsen by the back of the neck, he drew him in for a hot kiss. Now get in my bed. A few minutes later, Henry leaned over and blew out the candle on the bedside table, plunging the room into near darkness. He rolled over and snuggled up to Arsen s side. With a mumbled Good night Arsen slung his arm over Henry s back. Within moments, the very faint sounds of snores mixed with the soft pop and crackle of the fire in the hearth. He smiled against Arsen s chest as sleep began to tug heavily on his mind. There was no place else he would rather be, than right here with the man he loved. * * * * * About the Author Ava March is an author of smoking hot M/M historical erotic romance. She loves writing in the Regency time period, where proper decorum is of the utmost importance, but where anything can happen behind closed doors. Ava loves to hear from readers. See what she s been up to by visiting her on the Web at http://www.AvaMarch.com or at her blog at http://www.avamarch.blogspot.com 15 Ava March Also by Ava March Loose Id, LLC Amber Quill Press Bound by Deception Beyond Reckless Bound Forever Bound to Him Samhain Publishing Convincing Arthur From Afar Convincing Leopold Object of His Desire His Client