Page 62

Felix

Felix strode with Sam down the hall toward his study. The back of his hand brushed against Sam’s, and a small flutter stole through his stomach. A flutter that intensified when Sam pressed the back of his hand more firmly against Felix’s.

Felix stole a look at Sam from the corner of his eye, and his gaze clashed with a steely grey one. Hypnotizing. Impossible to look away from. Their fingers lightly tangled for a breath, and Felix’s heart lurched.

The muted sound of laughter and voices filtered through the hall, breaking the charged moment. He and Sam seemed to be having many of those lately. Ever since the orangery two days ago, everything that passed between them was more intense, more potent.

“Ryker, so help me, God.” Kozington’s exasperated voice came from Felix’s study.

Felix’s lips twitched. Today was the quarterly meeting for the members of The Harborage . A meeting Sam would be joining.

Sam had mentioned in passing how he felt he had no purpose here at Thornfield Hall. Felix had been so wrapped up in the man, he hadn’t realized the truth in that statement. Sam was…partially Felix’s valet, sure, but eventually Felix didn’t want him even doing that.

So, what was Sam to do with his days? The man was far from idle.

Even as Devonford’s full-time valet, Sam had been actively involved on the estate, in the stables, and with the tenants.

Not traditional, but Felix understood the inability to sit still.

The need for purpose. He thought involving Sam in The Harborage would be perfect.

A cause they were both passionate about.

Felix also thought it might be time. Time to be more open with his partners.

They approached the door, and Sam slowed, falling behind Felix, falling into valet . Felix strode into the room, and the strangest thing happened—something that had never happened with this group before. The room fell completely silent.

Felix stiffly took his seat behind his desk and scanned the few members already here—Kozington and his twin brothers, and Ryker.

“Who the bloody hell is that , Bentley?” A set of striking eyes—striking in that one was green and one was stark blue—met Felix’s.

Those mismatched eyes were his trademark.

Many viewed people like that with heavy superstition and wariness.

It was associated with witchcraft, the devil.

So, the man leaned into it and ran a notorious gaming hell in London, The Devil’s Eye.

Sam tensed at Felix’s side. Ryker was sure to be a shock. But not because of his unique eyes or his mussed jet-black hair and sharp features. No, it was purely his personality.

“This is my valet.” Felix tried to sound bored, said it like he was talking about the quill he’d just picked up, like having one’s valet join in on a very exclusive meeting was an everyday occurrence.

Ryker’s gaze raked over Sam, and Sam shifted like he was uncomfortable. Felix almost growled. Ryker’s gaze was hungry, like the man was undressing Sam. Felix’s Sam.

“Your valet…” the man murmured, his eerie gaze flicking back to Felix and winged a dark brow. “Or mistress of sorts?”

Heat slapped Felix’s cheeks, and his hands tightened on his thighs.

Well, that was a dead giveaway. It was happening now, then.

Everyone was going to know for sure now.

Everyone here is safe , he reminded himself.

Obviously, their mission was to protect men like Felix and Sam.

Funny how quickly anxiety drowned out rational thought.

Like a lion most likely wasn’t going to burst into the study and devour Felix and his partners.

But Lord Simmons did have a menagerie at his country estate, and it wasn’t that far away. Felix frowned. Did the man have a lion?

“Fuck me!”

Felix startled at Ryker’s exclamation, stare shooting to Ryker’s dancing eyes.

“He is your mistress!” Ryker turned back to Sam. “Now you’re a mistress I can get behind. Literally. Or actually, maybe I’d prefer you behind me. I’m not picky.”

Sam blinked rapidly, jaw slack. This time, Felix couldn’t prevent his growl from ripping through the room.

The biggest, shite-eating grin spread across Ryker’s face. “Oooh, Bentley. Possessive of our toy, are we?” He bit his lip, his gaze caressing Felix’s features. “Possessive looks very good on you.”

Felix turned to Sam, who stared straight ahead, jaw ticking. Felix frowned. He’d expected a similar reaction from Sam as his own. Something claiming. Something that made it clear Felix was his. But…something wasn’t right with Sam’s current stance. Too rigid. Too closed off.

A loud thwack pulled Felix’s attention to where Kozington had just cuffed Ryker on the back of the head with a book. Ryker cursed and rubbed the back of his head.

“Ryker, stop stirring shite,” Koz said with a roll of his eyes.

That was part of Ryker’s…charm. He knew exactly what to say to make you want to plant him a facer. Over. And over. And over. Perhaps that was the reason for Sam’s sudden agitation.

“Stallion,” someone blurted out. Felix’s gaze landed on the blond man the voice belonged to: Timothy, one of Kozington’s younger twin brothers.

Everyone turned to Timothy at his odd outburst.

“Stallion?” This came from Xavier, Timothy’s identical twin. And as was typical, Xavier stared at his brother like he’d grown another head. Timothy did have a penchant for blurting out things that only made sense in his head.

“The ladies call ‘em Stallions,” Timothy clarified. “You know… Their kept men.”

Oh. Felix glanced up at Sam, sweeping his gaze once over Sam’s built, muscled physique. Stallion. He bit his lip. “Is it bad that I kind of like that?” Felix murmured for Sam’s ears alone. His blood heated.

Something unreadable flickered in the grey irises that stared back at him, and all heat disappeared. There was no sinful curl to Sam’s lips. There was no hint of a shared desire. If anything, Felix was getting the inkling that Sam really didn’t want to be here in this room. What on earth?

A low whistle broke the charged moment, their gazes whipping to the source. Bloody hell. Felix needed to get a better hold of himself.

“Well, bugger me,” Ryker said. “What I wouldn’t give to watch the two of you go at it. That look right there?” His eyes fluttered shut, and he groaned. “Yes, I’m picturing it right now. Let’s do that. All in favor of watching Bentley shag his valet.”

Kozington thumped the book on Ryker’s head again. “Bloody hell, Ryker. Shut your fucking gob. Otherwise, Bentley’s valet is going to choke you to death. Do you see the way he’s dismembering you with his eyes right now?”

Felix couldn’t agree more. Sam looked like he wanted to hit something.

And it was seeming like that target would be Ryker’s face.

Kozington shared a glance with Felix, and Felix’s lips twitched at the pained frustration in Koz’s hazel eyes.

Ryker and Kozington were close, and Felix sometimes thought his neighbor felt responsible for keeping Ryker in line.

He wasn’t so sure that was possible, though.

Felix gently grazed Sam’s leg concealed behind the desk, attempting some comfort. “You’ll get used to him. He’s an…acquired taste,” he said.

Ryker snorted. “I’ll have you know men and women love the way I taste.”

“Heaven, help me,” Lord Kozington muttered as he approached Felix’s free side.

He held out a hand to Felix, and Felix quickly stood and took it. They clasped wrists and then Koz was hauling Felix into a quick hug. His whisper was nearly inaudible. “I’m happy for you, Bentley. Proud of you. Honored that you shared your truth with us.”

“Thanks,” he murmured.

They stepped apart, and Felix shot his friend a smile, a lightness filling him, pushing out some of the weight he always carried around.

It was one thing for people to have assumptions, baseless ones, as Felix had never done anything anyone could point to as proof.

Not since all those years ago. But it felt really bloody amazing to admit it aloud.

To have others know—others who could be trusted with that knowledge—but still to not be alone with the secret any longer.

“Wait…” Tim said slowly. “The becoming valet is Bentley’s stallion? But then that means…” His brow furrowed, and he glanced around the room.

His brothers both rolled their eyes.

But Sam flinched. Felix’s gaze shot to Sam’s hard profile.

“Oh, poor Timothy,” Ryker said. “You sweet, sweet child.”

“Don’t,” Lord Kozington said sharply.

Ryker’s hands flew up in Felix’s periphery. “I didn’t touch anything!”

Sam cleared his throat. “Gentlemen,” he said tightly. “I must beg your pardon. I just remembered I have something to see to.”

What?

Sam didn’t wait for a response. He didn’t look in Felix’s direction. He simply strode for the door, pausing briefly to allow Felix’s mother to enter and deliver a short, polite bow. Then he disappeared.

Felix’s jaw dropped.

Felix’s mother’s gaze quickly found his, a question in her light blue eyes. He shook his head subtly. He had absolutely no idea what had just happened.

Thankfully, his mother, ever the hostess, distracted the room from the awkwardness that had just settled over it.

“I had Cook make a fresh batch of biscuits, which should be right up for you boys.” She smiled warmly at each of the men in turn but approached Kozington for the obligatory buss on the cheek.

She had a soft spot for Koz after he’d stayed with them for the brief stint when he’d been going through a troubled time with his father.

“What? No kiss for me?” Ryker pouted. “I even remembered my manners and stood like a good boy.”

She smiled up at Ryker like he was a mischievous child—which Felix supposed was probably the best description for the man.

“You are too much, Mr. Drake. Alas, this is a quick visit. I just wanted to say my greetings and ensure you boys had everything you needed. If you need anything other than biscuits, the kitchen staff are ready.”

With a last meaningful look sent Felix’s way, she swept from the room.

Ryker deflated in his chair. “Your mother, Bentley. What I wouldn’t give for her to pat me on the head and call me a good boy.”

Felix gnawed on his lip. Normally, he’d chastise his partner, but his mind was too busy turning over Sam’s reaction and abrupt departure.

“What is wrong with you, Ryker?” Xavier said. “You shamelessly flirt with both Bentley and his mother? Do you have no shame?”

Felix tried to think back to everything that had been said here in this room. He’d thought it’d been Ryker that had spurred the reaction. He wasn’t so sure now…

Koz snorted. “No, Ryker has no shame. He’ll sleep with anyone. Including his best friend and his best friend’s little brother.”

Ryker groaned. “I’ve apologized a thousand times. I didn’t realize there was anything wrong with doing that.”

Felix blinked. Wait. Pardon? His gaze shot to Kozington.

“My point exactly,” Kozington said with a heavy sigh as he shook his head at Ryker. “You have no boundaries.”

Apparently so. Felix hadn’t any idea that Ryker had slept with both Kozington and his younger brother.

“Or morals,” someone else threw out.

“Decency.”

“Restraint.”

Felix had thought Sam would love his partners’ antics. Thought he’d feel at home with this group and maybe start to find that purpose he’d been searching for.

“Ah, I love this.” Ryker’s pleased exclamation floated in, brushing the edge of Felix’s awareness.

“And what’s that…?” Lord Kozington asked.

“Being the center of attention. Keep talking about me,” Ryker said with a lazy wave, eyes fluttering shut with a satisfied hum.

Kozington stealthily crept over and then flicked Ryker hard across the nose.

“Bugger!” Ryker jolted upright. “Ouch! Ry, that fucking hurt!”

It was exactly the kind of ridiculousness Felix would usually smile at.

The comforting chaos of his friends—ones he’d been so excited to share with Sam.

But not now. Not when all he could see was Sam’s back disappearing out his study door.

Something was wrong, and he wouldn’t be able to breathe easily until he knew what it was. And ensured he made it right.