Chapter 16
Afterwards, as Nick dozed in his arms, Jonathan felt complete. With Sebastian, he had been dazzled, swept along in the glorious sunbeam of his approval, but this felt different; warmer, grounded, and real. With that thought, he drifted off to sleep, wholly contented. 12
The next morning he awoke alone. He knew Nick was simply being careful of their good names, returning to his own overnight quarters before the household was up and about, but he felt bereft and cheated not to wake in his lover’s arms. As he went through the morning routine, washing, dressing, then making conversation over breakfast, all the while he was calculating how to continue the affair, if that was what Nick wanted.
He realised that not only had his body reawakened to pleasure but his heart had opened too. After all those long years alone, he did not want to lose this opportunity, if possible.