Synopsis

AreplicaofMarquisKieranVale,thesonoftheMarchionessofVale,whoshedeemedafailure.Thatwasallshewas.No,shewasnowreferredtoas“he.”AtleastuntilshemetClaudeDelIhar.ClaudestaredsilentlyatthesleepingCanillian.Hisgoldlashescreatedasoftshadowonawhiteface.Nomatterhowmuchhedespisedoutdooractivities,hewasstilltoowhiteandthin.Notraceofpubertywasevidentonhim,andaboveall,hisscentwasdifferentfromtheusualsmellofmen’ssweat.WasitthescentoflavenderbloomingallovertheMarquis’sworkorthescentofpoppiesbloomingintheriver?Canillian’ssoftcheeksbrushedthetipofhisnose,andinstinctively,hebowedhisheadasiftosavorthescentmore.Canillian’sshallowbreathstickledhistemple.Hispulsebegantorace.Claudeleanedfurtherwithoutthought.Hewantedtoenjoyitmore.No,hereallywantedtotasteit.Hewascuriousaboutwhathe’dtasteifhistongueweretograzehisskin.Imustbecrazy…orgoingcrazy,hethought.Claudesighed.HestaredatCanillianoncemore,andheatstartedtoinvadehisentirebody,captivatedbyCanillian’slipswhichlookedlikeitwasglazedwithhoney.Perhapsitwasthehotatmospherethatcausedsuchreactionfromhim,hereasonedout.Ifnot,bynomeans…hewouldn’thavethoughtofwantingtokissthisguy.