Page 27 of A Duke's Wager
“I had to.”
Sebastian growled, prickles stinging the backs of his eyes and anger flooding his veins.“Explain.”
“I was so goddamned proud of you, my love.I wanted to kiss you there in the birdcage, in front of everyone.If I didn’t dismiss you, I would’ve fallen on my knees for you with the whole world watching.With Prinny watching.”
Sebastian gasped as he stared into Maurice’s brown eyes, seeing the truth reflecting in his harsh features.“You were proud of me?”
“Did you hear what Prinny said?Never let it be said that I don’t pay my gaming debts.”Maurice mocked royalty—something Sebastian would never have the courage to do out loud—and smiled.Fuck, his smiles always made Sebastian’s knees soft.They were so rare and beautiful.“You won the bet.You earned your horse and stole my heart.”
Sebastian didn’t have any words for that, so he kissed Maurice, pouring all his worries about class and desire for Maurice into it.Eventually, Maurice’s words sunk in.
“My horse?”
“Yes.I remember you said that every horse on the farm is yours emotionally, but they’ll never truly be yours.I want to gift you Smolensk.He’ll be yours on paper, my lawyer will write up the deed of ownership.I will pay you for every service to him.”
“Why?”
“You earned him.”
Sebastian swallowed, suddenly overcome with more emotion than his body could contain.“But I’m just a stable master?”
“No.You aren’t ‘just’ anything.You own the most prized stallion in all of England.You are an owner.My equal in every way.”
It wasn’t quite true.He’d never be a Duke, but Sebastian definitely appreciated the gesture for what it was.Until now, he’d never owned any property, nothing except the clothes on his back, and now he owned a Derby winner.It was more than the horse, though, it was an attempt to show that he understood the inequalities between them and how it might impact them in the future.The income from Smolensk would give Sebastian independence.
“After one season, I could walk away without needing a new employer.”
Maurice shuddered, blinking hard.“Yes.I want to know that you are staying because you want me, not because of my horses or the job.I want you to have the money and the freedom to leave, so that when you stay, it’s deliberate.”
Sebastian breathed out slowly, his whole body warm and relaxed.“Thank you.”
“I won’t be easy to live with.”Maurice was stiff, a contrast to how Sebastian felt, and so he wrapped his arms around his waist and pulled him closer.
“Who wants easy?I wouldn’t risk the rope for just anyone.”
“I will try my best to be worthy.”
Sebastian pressed his forehead against Maurice’s.“Just love me.That’s all we can do.”
“I do.More than I ever imagined would be possible to love anything or anyone.You hold my heart in your hands, Sebastian.If you ever walk away, I’ll be ruined, crushed, lost.”
Sebastian, an orphan whose loyal friends had helped him understood how special it was to be loved, appreciated this gift of love from Maurice for what it was.“Let’s hope we never have to discover how that feels.I want to love you every day.I want you to choose me and I want to choose you.”
“Every day.”Maurice pressed a gentle kiss to his mouth.“I need to have you inside me.Now.”
“I’m not rutting you in the stable block at the races, Maurice.Take me to Horden’s estate and we can take our time with each other.”
Maurice kissed him once more, then stepped away.“Yes.Now, while everyone is distracted at the races?”
“Your Grace...”Sebastian bit the inside of his cheek to stop a smile.
“Yes?”Maurice had one hand on the door—keen to leave—and so he looked over his shoulder, back at Sebastian.
“Remember that you are the Duke and I love it when you come apart for me.”
“Sebastian.”Maurice’s voice rumbled through the air with a promise for the future.He half-stepped towards Sebastian again, then shook his head, and opened the door.One of the other trainers walked in, ignoring them both to grab a saddle bag from the floor.
“When you are done here, we need to discuss delivery of Prinny’s prize.Come to Horden’s.I’ll be waiting for you.”
“Your Grace.”Sebastian waited until everyone had left before he let out a smile so wide that his cheeks hurt.If this was love, he understood why Earnest chased after it so much.Six weeks ago, he’d imagined his crush on Maurice was foolish, but now there was nothing foolish at all about being in love with someone who completely rearranged his life to make sure that Sebastian would be safe to be with him.From being dumped at an orphanage to falling in love with a Duke, who gave him security, safety, love, and his own Derby winner.Sebastian’s heart was full.
***
