Warning: This chapter contains scenes of a sexual nature. Reader discretion is advised.

I reverted to not drinking wine again after Richard's birthday. Not that I blamed the wine particularly, I just knew that it did not do my already waning willpower any favours. Richard still offered, but no longer tried to persuade me to drink with him when I refused. Neither of us mentioned the events that took place on the evening of his birthday, and aside from the odd flirtatious comment when we were alone, Richard managed to keep his emotions in check.

On the outside, I aimed to look unaffected by his presence, but there was still significant effort involved in hiding the goosebumps that appeared in his presence. Underneath the surface, I was starting to crack under the prolonged exposure, and I was terrified I may not have the strength of character to resist whatever his next stunt might be.

The second week of August brought another heatwave. As before, Aaron, Paul and I did the bare minimum we needed to get through it and keep hydrated. The shade of the stables helped, and as always, we tried to make the best of it.

The second day of the scorching weather was a Friday. I finished my working day sweating from every conceivable pore, needed to wash and change before I could face Richard. It was around half past six, and while I was mid-wash, that I heard a knock on my door.

Still dripping, I wrapped a towel around my middle to cover my modesty and opened the door a little. Richard was leaning against the wall outside my room and smiled when he saw me.

"Sebastian," he greeted me warmly. "It is too hot for games tonight, so I have decided on a trip to Gadwall Lake to cool down."

"I understand," I replied, trying not to show my disappointment. "It is particularly hot this evening. Thank you for letting me know."

I forced a smile and started to close the door, but Richard's foot prevented me from completing the action.

"Of course, you are welcome to join me," he added. "But if you do, it will be on the condition that your reticence remains here." He dropped his voice to a whisper before continuing. "If I cannot touch, I at least want to look."

His eyes lowered to the parts of me I was unable to cover with the towel and back up again.

My heart flipped over, and my body reacted in ways I wished I could prevent.

Richard moved his foot back out of my doorway.

"I will see you in the stables in ten minutes," I breathed, and closed the door.

I stood with my back against the door, pulse racing as I tried to work out what just happened. What did I say that for? My brain had certainly not been involved in my agreement to go with him, yet I heard my mouth say the words.

I concluded that my heart was starting to win the ongoing war with my head, and the cracks in my resolve were deepening.

I thought about what I had just agreed to. Getting undressed in front of him seemed like a small price to pay to see his muscular body again. There was no harm in either of us looking at each other when alone, surely?

I chastised myself as I headed back towards the sink. I would not have told myself that a few weeks ago.

I was soon clothed and heading towards the stables. Richards had already mostly saddled the horses. I helped complete the task and we mounted the steeds.

"I am looking forward to cooling down," Richard smirked as we started trotting north east in the oppressive heat.

"Yes," I replied. "And the perks that accompany it, no doubt," I added, rolling my eyes.

"Definitely," he laughed, speeding up to a gallop.

His laughter was infectious, and I found myself chuckling as I followed his lead.

There was a light summer breeze as we arrived at the lake, but in all other respects it was as serene as I remembered. We dismounted and tied the horses in the same spot as we had before.

Not one for procrastination, Richard started stripping almost as soon as his feet hit the ground. There was no point in denying this was one of the reasons I was here, so I leaned against the nearest tree and made a point of watching him this time.

Richard's glorious body was so much more defined up close. Viewing him from a distance paled in comparison to the detail I could see now. The last item to be removed was his underwear, and I flushed and shivered at the sight, as he faced me with a raised eyebrow.

"You seem to be enjoying the perks more on this occasion?" he remarked, making no attempt to cover any part of himself. I made a conscious effort to bring my gaze above his neck level. I shrugged and hoped it looked casual.

"I left my manners at home," I replied nonchalantly, before deliberately letting my eyes wander everywhere to prove it.

"Good," he smirked. "I hope to also enjoy the advantages of this arrangement," he added pointedly. He slipped backwards into the water as I started removing items of clothing, and I was surprised at how natural it felt for me to strip under his gaze now. I loved the way he was looking at me; it was making me feel slightly giddy.

As I removed my underwear and stood up, Richard's eyes widened, turning his head and looking away slightly to one side instead. Given the extent to which he had tried to persuade me to do this, it surprised me that his reaction was to avert his gaze in this manner.

"Do I repulse you so?" I smirked as I remembered Richard asking me this question on our visit here at the start of the summer.

"If only it were so, it would be less embarrassing than the truth." As he spoke, Richard gesticulated towards the front of his body beneath the water and then looked back towards me, eyes full of lust.

When I realised what Richard was eluding to, my mind inadvertently pictured what was happening beneath the surface. I tried to shut down the image of his arousal, but it was too late. Blood flowed south and I hardened as he watched.

"It seems we're both to be embarrassed by the truth," I replied, slipping into the cool water to try to hide any physical evidence of my craving for the prince, but knowing it was too late.

Without hesitation, Richard waded through the water to meet me. Just as stunning as the day I first saw him from Sir Tristan's stable, he stole my breath in the fading sunlight. The only thought that existed for me was that this beautiful creature was naked, aroused, and focused on me. My opposition to liberating our passion was being defeated with every step he took until he was next to me. His arms slipped round my waist, and this time I offered no resistance and finally surrendered to him. I encircled my arms around his neck to demonstrate my disposition. He pulled me in close to him, so we were flush, skin on skin. Light-headed from the embrace, every part of my body became alive in that moment. Pulse racing, I was hyper-aware that my erection was touching his, and, despite trying not to react, my body became tense and my breathing became shallow at such intimate contact.

"Sebastian," he whispered seductively, just before his lips met mine and his hands moved downward to my lower back and then beyond. The sensual way his hands descended, the husky tone of his voice, the skin to skin contact, the soft kiss; all sparked a chain reaction that I couldn't stop. Everything I'd been suppressing for so long, surfaced like an erupting volcano. This was happening, and to hell with the consequences.

He coaxed my lips open, although his tongue was quickly inside my mouth with very little required in the way of persuasion. My arms wrapped tighter round his neck, and my legs wrapped themselves round his waist. He cupped my rear and carried us both to the edge of the lake, where he pressed me against the inclined bank. A low throaty noise escaped him as he rubbed his groin against mine, and I thought I may climax just from that, I was so close.

So, when Richard slid his hand between my legs, wrapped it around what he found there and tugged, fireworks ignited in every part of my body. I made noises I did not even think myself capable of. My back arched as my head tipped back as he pulled my very soul from me, not stopping until my legs turned to jelly.

He pulled his head back from mine slightly but kept his hard warmth firmly against my thigh.

"Already?" he questioned mischievously, with a raised eyebrow.

"I have never..." I started, face heating up and eyes turning away from his, but wasn't sure how to finish. "That has never happened that quickly before. Trust me, I was as surprised as you."

I was convinced my whole body must be glowing with embarrassment and was grateful for the oncoming darkness.

Richard grinned, and rubbed himself slowly against my leg as he spoke. "I have taken it as compliment, whether you view it to be so or not. Quite possibly the most intoxicating things I have ever seen." He pulled back from my thigh, silently offering himself to my hand while leaning in to kiss my neck.

Still somewhat embarrassed, I accepted his offer by wrapping my hand around his base and pulling all the way to the tip, and he sighed in response. He was wonderfully thick and hard, and I enjoyed obliging him more than I ever could have anticipated. My free hand tangled in his hair as I did so, guiding him back towards my mouth and enabling my kiss to swallow the groan he let out at my touch. I toyed with him, pulling, playing and meeting the rhythm of the movement of his hips. It was not long before I felt his passion peaking, so I moved my mouth to the base of his neck and sucked. Richard's entire body tensed, and over the edge he tumbled, with some indecent language along the way.

Breathing heavily, he tilted his head to face me in the evening light.

"You are remarkably good at that," he smiled, planting a kiss on my forehead. "And remarkably attractive," he continued, with another kiss to my cheek, and then one on my lips.

We slipped back into the refreshing water with his arms round my waist and mine round his neck. I probably should have been more concerned about the potential for being caught in such a compromising situation, but this was magical. The connection we had was stronger than anything logical; his pull stronger than anything physical.

"I would like to ask you, Sebastian, why tonight you have given in to temptation?" asked Richard as we held each other. "Despite admitting your fondness for me, until now you have been quite determined to keep a certain distance between us."

"Apparently your romantic notions are contagious," I replied, rolling my eyes.

"You make passion sound like a disease," he scoffed.

"I suppose disease is an accurate enough description. The dizziness, the hot flushes, the additional time spent in bed. It seems there is no cure and, more importantly, it could prove fatal."

"You certainly know how to destroy the mood, Sebastian."

"I am convinced that everyone has a special talent," I replied. "Apparently, we have discovered mine." Somewhat reluctantly, I pulled myself out of his embrace and backed myself into the raised bank. "Regardless, tonight is games night. We should play," I added, taking a deep breath and disappearing under the surface.