Chapter 334 - Teasing him

Chapter 334: Chapter 334 - Teasing him

By the time Eric and Ryan arrived at the imperial pavilion, nearly everyone else had already taken their seats.

Long tables had been arranged beneath the enormous canopy, with the Emperor seated at the highest position and the Crown Prince nearby. Generals, princes, ministers and prominent nobles filled the remaining seats according to rank. The wives who had spent the afternoon beneath the viewing canopy were mostly absent, leaving the banquet considerably louder and more relaxed than Eric had expected.

He and Ryan were seated together in a prominent position not far from the imperial table.

Eric had barely settled down before the food began arriving.

The animals hunted that afternoon had already been cleaned and prepared, and the finest portions were brought directly to the banquet. Roasted venison glazed with honey and spices appeared first, followed by wild boar, pheasant and several dishes Eric couldn’t immediately identify. The presentation was elaborate enough that he briefly wondered whether the chefs had spent more time decorating the animals than cooking them.

The Emperor lifted his cup first.

Conversation immediately died.

Everyone followed his example, raising their cups and drinking only after he had taken the first sip. Eric obediently copied them. He had survived enough imperial dinners to understand that eating before the Emperor was generally considered a poor career decision.

Once permission was given, the banquet relaxed.

Eric immediately reached for the venison.

It was considerably better than the bland recovery food he’d been forced to eat for days, and after the first bite, his mood improved dramatically. Ryan occasionally placed something onto his plate without asking, apparently having already learned which dishes Eric liked based entirely on how quickly they disappeared.

After everyone had eaten for a while, musicians entered the pavilion and took their places near the open center.

The entertainment began soon afterward.

Eric leaned back comfortably as music filled the pavilion. Several singers performed first, followed by musicians playing instruments he didn’t recognize. Then a group of dancers entered.

Eric immediately sat straighter.

They were beautiful.

Their colorful silk dresses flowed around them as they moved, long sleeves trailing through the air while golden ornaments shimmered in their hair. Their movements were delicate and perfectly synchronized, almost doll-like beneath the lantern light.

Eric watched with open fascination.

One dancer spun through the center, her sleeves opening around her like flower petals.

Damn.

Ancient people certainly knew how to entertain themselves.

Eric was so focused on the performance that he nearly jumped when something warm closed around his hand beneath the table.

He looked down.

Ryan had taken his hand.

Eric slowly turned his head.

Ryan wasn’t looking at him.

The man sat perfectly straight beside him, calmly drinking from his cup while watching the dancers as though absolutely nothing unusual was happening. Beneath the table, however, his fingers remained firmly intertwined with Eric’s.

Eric’s eyebrows rose.

Interesting.

He glanced back toward the dancers, then down at their joined hands.

Was someone jealous?

A smile tugged at his lips.

Ryan had made the first move, which meant Eric could hardly be blamed for what happened next.

He slowly rubbed his thumb across the inside of Ryan’s palm.

Ryan coughed.

The wine nearly went down the wrong way.

Eric pressed his lips together to keep from laughing as Ryan lowered his cup and cleared his throat, still refusing to look at him.

He’s so easy to tease.

Eric repeated the movement, deliberately slower this time.

Ryan’s fingers tightened around his.

Eric casually picked up his own cup with his free hand, hiding his smile behind the rim.

He was becoming increasingly convinced that Ryan had very little experience with this sort of thing. The man had spent most of his adult life on battlefields, rejected every marriage proposal presented to him and apparently never showed interest in anyone before Eric appeared.

Is he actually a virgin?

The thought made Eric want to laugh.

A general who could slaughter his way through a battlefield without blinking could apparently be defeated by someone rubbing his palm.

Eric glanced sideways.

Ryan remained frustratingly composed.

Should I tease him more?

That sounded like an excellent idea.

What could possibly go wrong?

Still watching the performance, Eric shifted slightly in his seat and unfolded his legs beneath the table. Hidden by the long tablecloth, he quietly slipped one shoe from his foot.

Ryan didn’t seem to notice.

Perfect.

Eric extended his leg until his bare foot found Ryan’s ankle.

Ryan froze.

Eric nearly smiled.

He slowly moved his foot upward, brushing along the silk covering Ryan’s lower leg.

Ryan’s hand tightened around his.

Eric continued watching the dancers as though he had nothing whatsoever to do with the sudden tension in the man beside him. His foot moved higher along Ryan’s calf, and even through the fabric he could feel the solid muscle beneath.

His amusement faltered slightly.

Damn.

Ryan really was built like a soldier.

Eric pressed his foot lightly against the muscle and felt it tense beneath his touch.

His throat suddenly felt dry.

He had obviously known Ryan was muscular. The man spent his life training, riding horses, fighting wars and apparently wrestling enormous bears for romantic gifts. But feeling that strength beneath the thin silk was something else entirely.

Eric’s imagination immediately betrayed him.

I really want to see what he looks like without all those clothes.

He swallowed and reached for his wine.

This teasing game was beginning to have unintended consequences.

He was considering withdrawing his foot when Ryan suddenly caught it.

Eric nearly jolted.

A warm hand wrapped firmly around his ankle beneath the table.

His eyes widened.

Ryan remained perfectly calm.

He even took another sip of wine.

Eric stared at him.

Excuse me?

Ryan’s hand slid down from his ankle and enclosed his foot before Eric could pull away. His thumb pressed slowly into the sole.

Eric flinched.

The sensation tickled enough that his toes curled instinctively.

Ryan’s mouth twitched against the edge of his cup.

Eric stared at him in disbelief.

This bastard.

He tried to pull his foot back.

Ryan didn’t release him.

Instead, his thumb moved again, rubbing deliberately across the sensitive underside.

Eric almost kicked him.

He covered the movement by quickly lifting his cup, but his face had already begun heating.

Ryan finally looked at him.

His expression was infuriatingly innocent.

Eric narrowed his eyes.

Ryan raised an eyebrow.

You started it.

Eric’s mouth fell open slightly.

The audacity.