Building an Empire [M/M]

Chapter Seven

Here is the next chappie! So without further ado, enjoy.

Alexander’s POV

I watched as Siobhan squirmed uncomfortably on his seat as I moved my bishop. He kept throwing glances at me and had even more difficulty with keeping focus on the chess game than usual. A smug grin spread on my lips before I could stop it. Nothing like discovering someone’s kink. And that was definitely what I had discovered, I was sure of it. Siobhan glanced at me through the thick veil of his dark hair. Normally he had it tied up in a loose ponytail, but today it hung freely. My fingers itched with the urge to grab it again. But not yet. He needed to squirm a bit more. He would be thinking about me all day; had I noticed his reaction? What would I do next? Why was he even feeling like this?

A knock interrupted us - I was beginning to think my room was a highway with all the traffic coming through - and Siobhan stood, his body tense and ready for anything.

On the other side of the door stood one of Siobhan’s annoying men. I remembered this one being particularly so. What was his name again? Something starting with an R? Ray? I decided that I didn’t care what the guy was called and instead focused on what he could possibly deem important enough to disturb Siobhan and I.

Siobhan sighed and his body relaxed some. “What do you want?”

“You haven’t trained in almost a month now, so I thought I’d drag you down there,” R-something said with a big grin and an abundance of energy that irked me. Say no and get your cute arse back here. Siobhan sighed again. “Has it really been a month?” he asked instead.

“Almost,” R-something repeated. “Guess there’s no way around it then, I’ll be down on the training-grounds in a moment.” Siobhan closed the door in the guy’s face and turned back to me. “Sorry I won’t be able to finish the game at present, I have to go train.” I raised a sceptic eyebrow at him, and he continued explaining. “All soldiers and squadron leaders must spend at least 3 hours every month on the training-grounds if they are not stationed elsewhere.” Like hell I’m spending one more goddamn day alone in this life-draining room. I was going to go insane if I spent more time cooped up here.

I got up gracefully - it had already become a habit for me to make my movements as graceful and ladylike as possible - and pulled out a heavy red velvet coat that was usually draped over a hatstand-looking-thingy. Siobhan’s eyebrows had furrowed as he watched me and the furrow deepened even more when I held out the coat to him and turned around. Siobhan, quick on the uptake, lifted the coat and helped me get it on. His fingers lingering a little longer than they should, but I was pretty sure he did it unconsciously.

“You want to come along?” he finally asked. Of course I didn’t answer him, but simply went to the door and looked at him expectantly. “As you wish,” he said, a small smile on his lips.

The training-grounds were located behind the castle and surrounding them were what seemed to be hundreds of barracks. Everywhere the sound of metal against metal, wood against wood, and flesh against flesh could be heard. Sweaty men were running around or fighting each other. Some were practicing battle formations in full gear, while others trained one-on-one combat with a variety of weapons.