Cass had to fight to be allowed to walk out of the room on his own. While he had forgotten to take the healing tonic yesterday, he knew he couldn’t avoid it today. Not if he wanted to be somewhat normal, so he had Byron grab it after he had escorted Sam to his rooms.
Sam was clearly torn about being left out, but there was nothing he could do. He had made this bed, he had to lie in it. Even if it hurt both of them.
Edgar was still pouting, still upset, but Lucian was in a good mood. Cass had no idea why he was in a good mood. Lord Ridgewood was remaining as part of the hero party. That was something that he hadn’t wanted. It also didn’t bode well for him that both Cass and Edgar weren’t exactly in the best of moods.
Cass now that he had a little less to focus on felt a little jittery. Jumpy. It was made obvious when he jumped at every little sound and movement from the others around him. When one of the maids that he rarely saw but definitely did hire came around the corner of the hallway, Cass nearly jumped out of his skin.
She looked rather concerned at his response, but Lucian? Who Cass had suddenly grabbed the arm of and shifted behind? He was grinning.
"Carry on." Lucian told her and with a bow to the three of them, she did just that. Lucian patted the hand on his arm. "It’s okay, Sweetness. No one is going to get you here." He said and Cass wasn’t exactly sure if he could agree. He didn’t want to argue with him at the moment, so he held his tongue.
They made it to the dining room and Lucian escorted Cass and Edgar to two seats side by side before rushing off. Edgar and Cass sat in silence for a moment before Cass heard Edgar inhale.
Cass glanced at him, curious what he would say, but found the man looking torn. Cass waited. He had time right now, after all.
"I...I don’t want you to get the wrong idea." Edgar started slowly and Cass blinked, surprised. Wrong idea? About what?
"What would I be getting the wrong idea about?" Cass asked and watched as Edgar’s face turned a strange shade of red. He really looked conflicted as Cass stared at him. He had a couple of guesses about where this conversation could go, but he was wondering where Edgar was going to take it.
Edgar took a few more seconds to struggle before he spoke.
"About Gideon. I don’t want you to think..." Edgar groaned. "I feel like this whole...relationship has started on the wrong foot. First I ranted and...cried about Fiona to you, and now you’re finding out I had feelings for Gideon. I wouldn’t trust me if I was in your shoes." Edgar muttered softly and Cass felt something tighten in his chest.
Trust? He thought that Cass trusted him? Oh no.
Cass shifted in his seat, turning his body to face Edgar. He didn’t know if while in the dining room was the best place to break the news to him, but he had a feeling he had to. He couldn’t let this miscommunication stand. Cass reached out a hand, placing it carefully on Edgar’s arm.
"Edgar...I made you sign a contract." Cass said carefully, watching as Edgar glanced up at him. "I asked Lucian to do the same. I...I can’t trust anyone." Cass told him and watched how Edgar’s expression didn’t shift. Cass worried that was because Edgar was in shock, but when the man spoke, it made everything clear.
"I know. I know, Cass, but that doesn’t mean I can’t clarify. You just found out something big was kept from you by your aide. There is no way you can easily trust others. I just...I don’t want you to think the rumours about me are true." Edgar said.
The rumours?
Cass felt his eyes widen as he remembered. Right! The rumours! The reason why Cass was so hesitant to do anything with him in the beginning and where half of the bitterness Cass felt at the beginning had formed from. Edgar’s rumour that he was a playboy who could get it up for anyone and was cheating on his wife.
Well, it couldn’t exactly be called cheating when your wife gave you two thumbs up, could it?
Cass had paid it a little bit of attention, but since he had read the novel he hadn’t really put too much stock in it. He just...mostly made it seem like he did. However, he could tell that this was a big issue to Edgar.
He was scanning Cass’ face with big, glistening blue eyes. Cass hadn’t been around too many people who had blue eyes in his previous life, so it was rather unnerving for him to look at him like that. Cass almost felt like he would give in if the man actually started crying.
"I never put much stock into the rumours, Edgar. While I knew you to disappear with people on occasion, I...already had an inkling that you weren’t quite normal for a while." Cass felt like telling one truth and one lie wasn’t a bad thing. It certainly made Edgar’s shoulders relax.
"Really? You didn’t think I was using my family’s second business? Or that I worked for them?" Cass was aghast. Edgar, working as a whore?
If that was the case, the man would be covered in wealth. No one would be able to turn down that pretty face.
The shock on Cass’ face must have been able to convey his own personal feelings on the matter because Edgar’s expression brightened further. He even laughed.
"You look horrified that I suggested that. Did you not know that people said that about me?" Edgar teased and Cass snorted rudely.
"Why would I listen to the same people who spread rumours about me without having actually met me?" Cass asked and Edgar’s smile shifted more to the devious side. He shrugged, smiling at Cass.
"Well, I just wanted to make sure. You know, in case you got any strange ideas like that I had more experience than the next son of a Duke." Edgar said with a wink. Cass blinked, before his jaw dropped.
"What?" Cass hissed. He glanced around, aware that he’d practically shouted, but he was in shock. He was not implying what he thought he was implying! Cass stood up, pushing the chair back as he stood over Edgar, his expression stark. "You are not saying what I think you are saying?" Cass asked and Edgar tilted his head back, smiling up at him.
"What do you think I am implying?" Edgar asked innocently, batting his blue eyes. Cass felt his face flush. Damn all these pretty men. Cass needed to grow a resistance to them but tragically the only way to do that was to be around them more.
"That you-you’re a virgin." Cass whispered and Edgar’s smile grew. It had such a dangerous edge to it that Cass wasn’t sure what to do. Especially as Edgar grabbed onto the edge of his seat, raising himself up slightly until Cass and Edgar’s faces were dangerously close to each other. Edgar was staring in Cass’ eyes the whole time.
Cass was frozen in place.
"Is that what you are, Cass?" Edgar asked, his gaze sliding slowly down Cass’ face, down his body and back up. Cass sealed his lips, wanting to respond but knew now was not the time to say anything. Edgar’s grin took on a naughty turn. "So what you did with Lucian and I? That was your first sexual encounter?" Edgar asked, before his eyes widened. "Wait. Did I steal your first kiss?" Edgar asked and Cass opened his mouth to dispute it, but found that the words escaped him.
"I-I-" Cass started before he found himself frozen as Edgar’s eyes began to glow.
"Babe, you should have said something. I didn’t realise I was seducing a virgin at the time. It does explain some of your reactions though." Edgar sounded interested, while Cass felt embarrassed.
"Why would I give you information that you could use against me?" Cass asked, his voice sharp, but Edgar didn’t seem to mind.
"Use against you? Babe, I would rather be pressed against you, not using that information against you." Cass’ face flamed at Edgar’s clear provocation. He was stunned.
This was not how he expected the day to go. Especially after Edgar had been in such a bad, pouty mood before.
"I-I don’t know what you mean." Cass stuttered, flustered, and Edgar grinned slowly.
"It’s actually quite fascinating to see the difference between you at night and now. I think I like it." Edgar said, darting his tongue out to lick his lips. Cass felt like a damn fool that he watched his tongue, practically entranced. Edgar chuckled. Cass flinched.
Edgar moved closer to Cass, standing up to his full height and Cass shuffled away. Like touching him might burn him. Edgar followed, pushing Cass’ chair out of the way as he caged Cass in against the table. Edgar had a gentle grip on the table on either side of Cass. Cass’ ass was against the edge of the table and Cass could feel his gaze darting between Edgar and the service door into the room. Edgar’s smile was dangerous, but sweet in a strange way Cass couldn’t put his finger on.
His words were not sweet. Cass nearly choked on them.
"If you wouldn’t freak out because others could see us, you would be on the table, Babe." Edgar whispered, smirking as Cass sucked in so quickly he nearly choked. Cass gave him a rather panicked look and Edgar grinned. Instead of doing what he said, he leaned in and pressed a kiss against his cheek.
Cass’ hand slapped against the spot as soon as Edgar had done it, blushing and Edgar narrowed his gaze in pleasure.
"Yes, I think I really do like the difference between you now and you of before. Your reactions are so cute. Innocent. Nothing like the man who was nose deep into my as-" Cass gasped, slamming his hands, both of them, against Edgar’s mouth.
"Edgar!" Cass hissed, embarrassed. Anyone could walk in right now! Edgar’s hands came down on Cass’ wrists, but it was the pleased look in his eyes that told Cass that he had gotten the reaction he wanted. That was made clear by the way his mouth opened on his bottom hand, his tongue coming out to lick his palm. Cass flinched.
Edgar’s grip on Cass’ wrist was firm. Strong. Cass wouldn’t be able to break it without using magic. Edgar’s eyes smiled at Cass as he continued his bad behaviour where others couldn’t see.
Cass wished that Lucian would hurry the fuck up. He wasn’t sure how much of this kind of teasing he could take.