"I’m not a bunny." Cass protested and Edgar’s eyes widened.
"You don’t like that pet name?" Edgar asked, before a slow, dangerous smile spread across his face. He leaned in closer until Cass gasped, the man crawling into his lap. Cass hadn’t expected it, his hands flying to Edgar’s thighs as the man settled himself down on Cass’ lap.
He was warm, heavy, but not unwelcome. Edgar grinned, his hands sliding from Cass’ shoulder and lip to rest lazily around his shoulders. Light, unassuming. Cass didn’t trust him for a second.
"I’m supposed to be writing a letter." Cass protested and Edgar smiled.
"You can still write your letter. Ignore me. I just want to spend time with my partner." He teased and Cass felt his heart jerk in his chest. He slid his gaze to Edgar, scanning him, his mouth opening and closing as his mind raced. Partner? Is that what this was? Is that what they were? Cass wanted to ask, but fear choked him.
Why was he afraid? Did he not actually want to know the answer?
The more that Cass remained silent, the more Edgar’s expression grew confident, cocky.
"Oh, my sweet bunny is panicking." Edgar whispered, pressing a soft kiss to the side of Cass’ throat. The soft, wispy sound that left Cass’ lips had both men freezing. Cass slapped a hand over his mouth, shocked before Edgar leaned back, laughing. "That’s too cute. Just a kiss, baby? A little peck? Gods, I want to ruin you." Edgar’s voice held such a deep affection that Cass took a moment to realise what he said.
When he did, his heart began pounding in his chest.
Edgar closed his eyes, inhaling sharply before he opened them, his eyes glowing when he looked at Cass again. He slid his hand over and down Cass’ shoulder, resting carefully over where Cass’ heart was.
"Hearing how much I affect you now that I’ve had a taste of you?" Edgar shivered, his body twitching on top of Cass. "That’s a kind of high I never expected." Edgar whispered. "It’s going to be an absolute nightmare that I won’t be able to go farther with you while Lucy is away, but I can think of some fun things we can do without him and without making him too mad." Edgar whispered.
Cass sat, stunned at this charming creature whispering seductively to him. He was entirely, completely taken in with the enchanting sight of Edgar in his lap, his pretty outfit not even rumpled, a hair not out of place but a pretty red haze across his cheeks, his blue gaze glowing and his lips glistening.
"This is a crime." Cass whispered quietly. "A crime that I can’t take a picture of this." Edgar paused, confusion twisting his pretty features.
"What?" He asked and Cass let out a shaky breath. His remaining hand on Edgar’s thigh twitched, gripping the flesh there through the fabric.
"I want a still of this moment. So I can see it over and over." Cass blurted before he could stop himself. Edgar’s expression shifted, his confusion fading into shock before he flushed more. It was a pleased kind of flushed, accompanied by a pleased, male smile. Edgar’s hands slid to the back of Cass’ neck, his fingers gripping Cass there with a possessiveness that had Cass shivering.
Dear lord, what had he gotten himself into? Byron was going to be back in any moment, and here Cass was, Edgar in his lap, letter not done, and he couldn’t move even if he wanted to.
"You’re so sweet, Cass." Edgar told him. "Good little fairies get good rewards." Edgar whispered, lowering his face until their lips touched. It was a soft touch at first, little fluttery pecks that made Cass shift under Edgar’s attention. Edgar chuckled, his eyes sparkling as he held on Cass’ throat, his thumbs rubbing circles in the skin there. "You’re so greedy. You want to see a still of me like that forever? In my embarrassing moments? If you want to see me like this again, all you have to do is ask." Edgar whispered against Cass’ lips.
The soft moan that left Cass’ lips was swallowed up by Edgar’s soft lips. When Edgar ran his tongue over Cass’, it was soft, tender, just two tongues playing against each other for the sake of touching. He wasn’t kissing him with intention, just enjoying the moment.
That made it even harder for Cass to resist him.
A knock sounded at the door and both Cass and Edgar turned their heads as the door opened. A moody dragon entered, followed by a rather confused-looking knight. A flush crossed his cheeks at the sight of Edgar in Cass’ lap.
"I knew it." Lucian growled. "I knew you were getting your grubby hands all over him the moment I took my eyes off of you two." Edgar blinked, all innocent as he turned towards the two men. He draped himself all over Cass, making it look even more incriminating.
"What? I would never do such a thing." He said, his voice soft and Cass felt his face warm. "After all, Cass was actually talking about you, Lucy." Edgar said, turning his head slightly to wink at Cass. He was basically telling him that he had this covered and Cass wasn’t sure how he did. It felt more like the other man was throwing Cass under the bus to save himself.
Lucian froze, his expression hardening slightly as he stared at Edgar before his gaze darted to Cass. Then he turned his gaze back to Gideon and finished staring at Edgar.
"How can I believe that when you are in his lap, Eddie?" Lucian growled and Edgar shifted, getting more comfortable on Cass’ lap. The chair creaked and Cass felt his face warm further. He was settling in, nice and comfy on Cass’ thighs.
"It makes perfect sense that I’m on Cass’ lap while we have this discussion. Where else would I be? There are too many people in this manor that have heightened hearing that I just had to climb into Cass’ lap to have a private conversation." Edgar was really good at selling it, even if it was fucking bullshit. Cass had to turn his head away so that his expression didn’t ruin all of Edgar’s hard work of lying to the others.
"Then what is with the kissing?" Lucian rumbled, the dragon huffing and puffing. He looked pissed, angry, and honestly? A little ridiculous. It was...kind of cute and as soon as Cass thought that, he felt his whole body warm.
Lucian? Cute? In what world?!
He was throwing a temper tantrum that Edgar was kissing Cass when he wasn’t looking. He was huffing and puffing, ready to blow the whole mansion down and Cass couldn’t help but find the giant man cute. With his frilly little white shirt, tight black pants, and his long hair all over the place. He looked like he should be outside in the soaking rain, ranting and raving.
Cass couldn’t help the little laugh that left his lips, turning his head to hide his shaking shoulders.
"Are you...laughing?" Lucian asked incredulously. Cass tried to control himself while Edgar watched Cass, his eyes wide.
"I think he is." Edgar said softly, surprised himself. Lucian rumbled loudly.
"First Edgar climbs into your lap when I have my back turned, and then you’re laughing at me? What is this? I am getting upset!" Lucian roared and Cass was sure the rest of the house heard him. Cass and Edgar winced but Cass couldn’t find himself getting frustrated with Lucian. He was a step away from stomping his feet on the floor. Cute.
"Lucy, come here." Cass said, turning his face back to smile at him. Edgar gasped lightly, Lucian’s own expression losing all anger in the face of Cass’ call. He moved without saying a word, coming closer to Cass and Edgar and even let Cass take his hand in his.
Cass, feeling a little strange given the revelations that he’d had, his own personal feelings and the light airiness in his chest at seeing the big man pouting, Cass gave his hand a squeeze before raising it to his lips. Edgar sucked in, Lucian watching him intently as Cass pressed his lips against the back of his hand.
"We were talking about you and got carried away. I apologise." Cass told him sincerely. "I wasn’t intentionally leaving you out." Cass waited, watching Lucian for his reaction. He was not expecting Lucian’s shoulders to drop, his free hand raising to his face and covering it. The sigh that left his lips had Cass on high alert. "Lucian?" Cass asked, concerned but he was met with silence for a moment.
Then, laughter came from Lucian.
"It is incredible how just a little touch from you makes me so happy." Lucian whispered and Cass felt his own breathing stutter. Cass’ hand gripped Lucian’s tighter, biting his lip as he stared up at Lucian for a long, long moment. He looked even cuter like this.
"D-Do you want to do something together tomorrow? Just the two of us?" Cass asked, and then felt his whole face go red. "I-I mean, I have to send Byron away to deliver a letter to Sir Forsythe, so it would make the most sense to have another dragon at my side while he’s gone." Cass was rambling and backtracking because he felt embarrassed that he’d even asked. "You don’t have to if you don’t want to. I mean, I wouldn’t want to force you to do something you don’t want to." Cass’ face felt so hot it was uncomfortable.
Edgar was sitting in his lap, shocked, but clearly pleased. He was glancing between Cass, the flush-faced precious man he wanted to devour, and Lucian. The dragon who still had his face covered but was peeking out from between his fingers, one giant orange reptilian eye watching Cass grow more and more flustered.
"You can’t take it back." Lucian growled, shutting Cass up. "You aren’t taking that back." He insisted, his hand sliding down his face as he stared at Cass. "That’s the first time you’ve invited me out. You aren’t taking that back." Cass felt like he was going to explode.
"Oh. Okay." Cass said softly, and Lucian turned his hand over, lacing his fingers through Cass’ before he raised their joined hand. Cass felt his body stiffen in anticipation of Lucian kissing the back of his hand but the man surprised him, throwing him for a loop.
Instead of kissing the back of his hand like Cass had done, Lucian began to nibble on Cass’ knuckles. His eyes never left Cass’ as Cass’ lips widened slightly, shaking.
"I’ll leave you two to ’play’ for now, while I go plan what I’m going to do with you tomorrow." Lucian murmured, his words sliding through Cass’ body and settling in his stomach. Oh. Oh no.
Cass was going to be alone with Lucian tomorrow.
"Um, I-I might need to do some work-"
"You said nothing about work when you invited me. Have Edgar do it. Gideon can stay by his side and they can use it as a lesson for his powers. Or a date. I don’t care. You got to spend lots of time with Edgar. Alone." Lucian growled. Cass flinched.
"W-We had magic training!" Cass countered, grasping desperately for anything, something to counter him. Lucian sniffed.
"And you had a fledgling stand watch so that I didn’t do anything. How is that a date?" Lucian asked. Edgar cleared his throat.
"Lots of...potential suitors go on dates with chaperons." Edgar interjected, causing both Cass and Lucian to look at him. "Not saying it’s the same, but...I thought I would point that out." Edgar gave a hesitant smile. Lucian huffed.
"After breakfast. We’re going on our date. Edgar can take over the hero duties. I won’t keep you out all night. I’m not some kind of uncivilized beast." Lucian’s eyes sparkled as he smirked at Cass. "You’ve made sure of that."