“I’m not sure this is a good idea,” he says in a slightly panicked voice that I enjoy far too much. “I don’t sleep well, Mags, and I’ll disturb you.”

“Not at all.” I switch on the lamps on the bedside tables, and the room fills with a warm glow against the dark night outside. “Come on,” I say. I strip off my T-shirt and look down at my shorts. “I usually sleep naked,” I say.

He shakes his head. “I’ve seen the goods, Mags. I’m not afraid to sleep next to your uncovered penis.”

I smile happily and immediately shed my clothes. “I detest wearing anything in bed.” I climb between the sheets and rest against the pillows with a contented sigh. “Come on,” I say as he hesitates.

Endof has no such hesitation and jumps onto the end of the bed. I gesture to the second basket I’d bought at the shop and positioned on the floor at the end of the bed. “Get on your bed,” I command.

He eyes me dubiously, and Laurie smiles. “Poor baby. He just wants to be close to you.”

“Something that you are taking your time about,” I say. “Get undressed. I wish to discuss things with you.”

“You are aware that you’re not a member of the royal family, aren’t you?”

“I lack the prominent ears.” I point at Endof and then the basket. “Get in there,” I say using my courtroom voice, and eventually he slinks off with an aggravated sigh and lies on his bed, staring at me with yearning eyes.

I turn as Laurie slides into bed next to me, getting a glimpse of his long, slender body and the soft length of his cock. My dick twitches, but I will it down. Tonight is about him getting some sleep, so I draw him into conversation, keeping my voice even. I insist on reading the book’s offending passages to him, keeping my voice even and soft, and his eyes start to droop. Within minutes, he’s fast asleep, his long lashes lying on his thin cheeks.

I eye him happily and switch off the lights. I turn on my side, facing him. Beyond him, London spreads out in multicoloured twinkling lights, but I ignore them in favour of sliding closer to him, inhaling his soapy scent and feeling the warmth of his skin. I exhale slowly, and my eyes slide closed. A few seconds later, the bed depresses, and Endof surreptitiously joins us.

“Just tonight,” I whisper. As he curls into the curve of my knees, I slide my arm over Laurie’s waist and slip into sleep.

Chapter Thirteen

Two Weeks Later

Mags

I lean back against the hotel lift wall with a weary sigh. We seem to have been in Nottingham for two years rather than two weeks.

“It’s going well, sir.”

I squint at my pupil. “You think so, Sean?”