The rest of the lunch felt like damn torture. Cass knew that Mr. Collins and Christopher were watching them like they were a strange experiment, but what else could Cass do? He needed to eat, Lucian needed to eat, and while it was embarrassing, it was better for Lucian to be like this in private then in public.
Cass wasn’t sure his face was going to recover. He was blushing so deeply that he wanted to take off his jacket but decided against it. It was a layer of protection at this point. Something against Lucian’s wandering hands.
Mr. Collins and Cass spoke to each other, mostly about work after the air had been cleared, and Cass was glad for the distraction. Cass had needed to check up on some of his properties to see if they were safe for other fairies to live at, and this was the perfect time to do some investigation.
Mr. Collins, surprised, pulled out a little notepad from his jacket pocket and took note of the little things that Cass needed as requirements for the properties. Cass also made it clear that if he didn’t have properties like this, he’d like to purchase them. He had some...relatives coming up and he wanted them to feel comfortable.
When he said that, Mr. Collins stopped writing, staring at Cass with wide eyes before he gasped, nodded, and turned back to his work. Cass wouldn’t tell the man why, it wasn’t his place, and while he trusted Mr. Collins, he couldn’t trust anything else.
The fact that Ser Hune was with child and was going to be raising it in the capital had to be top secret. It was enough that Cass said that relatives were coming to the capital. Anyone listening in could take that anyway that they wanted.
Why was Cass certain that someone was listening in? Because if he owned a restaurant like this, he certainly would be. There was also Lucian’s behaviour. He would twitch, shift, his nostrils flaring, a low warning grumble from his throat. It was clear that he was still paying attention to Cass since he wouldn’t let the man go, but his attention was elsewhere.
That was the only conclusion that Cass could come to, even if he couldn’t sense anything.
They ordered lunch, the server left again, and Cass finally felt bad as he realised that he’d probably interrupted their date. Shit. That wasn’t very cool of him, and he was Mr. Collins’ boss, too. Even if he thought it was convenient to meet with Mr. Collins, that didn’t mean that he did.
"I apologise for crashing your date." Cass said after they had received their lunch and Lucian was busy cutting up Cass’ meal. He’d waited until Cass said that every aspect was okay to eat, another frown from Lucian but he was just glad that Cass could eat everything.
Mr. Collins stopped what he was doing, Lucian paused, and Christopher raised his gaze to glance at Cass. Mr. Collins looked shocked, truly, that Cass would apologise for anything.
"M-My Lord, there is no need to apologise. C-Christopher and I-" Mr. Collins tried to speak but Christopher interrupted him, his tone soft, forgiving.
"It’s alright, my Lord. Truly. Evan and I see each other quite often, but from your conversation I could tell that you are quite busy and don’t often get to speak. It was also a pleasure to get to meet you outside of the rumours, so please, don’t feel guilty for interrupting us. I’ll think of this moment fondly. Of how our dates combined for a brief moment of a double date that was rather confusing, but appreciated." Christopher said with a smile, his hand sliding to Mr. Collins’ thigh to give it a squeeze.
Mr. Collins’ expression softened considerably at Christopher’s explanation, and Cass wasn’t certain, but he was pretty sure that even Lucian had relaxed slightly. Christopher had smoothed everything over, and Cass felt his lips twitch.
"I appreciate that you’re going to view this interaction positively. Most wouldn’t." Cass said with a slight chuckle. "After all, most don’t have a positive outlook on me in the slightest." Cass joked. He watched as Mr. Collins’ jaw tightened, his expression darkening. Christopher stared at his partner’s face, his expression soft, before he turned to look at Cass. His hazel eyes were calm, warm.
"I would never think that the man that Evan spoke of so fondly would be a bad man. I honestly can’t see Evan working for a man that he didn’t respect, or who didn’t treat him well. He’s a good judge of character, and even I thought that the rumours about you were a bit out of hand. I doubt that you eat babies, my Lord." Christopher said with a snort and Cass felt his lips curl.
Lucian’s chuckle filled the air as he finished cutting up Cass’ meal.
"He certainly doesn’t eat babies the way that the reporters wrote down." Lucian said with a smirk. Cass gasped, Mr. Collins gasped, and Christopher fought a smile. The sound of Cass’ hand slapping against his clothing filled the air and Lucian laughed. He turned bright eyes towards Cass, soft, warm and too damn sweet for the mood that Cass was feeling right now. "Mmm. Hit harder." He murmured and there was no saving it.
Cass felt like his face was going to explode.
"Y-You!" Cass hissed, embarrassed beyond belief while Mr. Collins grappled with the reality that Cass was truly involved with Lucian.
"Lord Lucian, you really should limit yourself when it comes to bothering the Lord. He’s a noble." Christopher sounded like he was attempting to scold Lucian and Lucian stiffened.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Lucian asked. Cass half expected him to be upset, but instead he seemed to be asking him seriously. It was a strange moment for Cass, even as he felt embarrassment course through his damn veins.
"It has to do with a lot of things, Lord Lucian. They are quite reserved, most nobles, and the kind of language you’re using would embarrass all of them completely. I’ve had the pleasure to be invited to a few parties hosted by nobles due to my own personal connections and if you had said that in front of them? Some of them would have fainted." Christopher said with a chuckle. Lucian let out a low grumble, something so quiet that Christopher didn’t hear it, but Cass did.
"They’re that sensitive?" He asked, glancing towards Cass. Cass’ face flamed further. How was this the time that he finally realised this? His behaviour was insane!
"Most are, yes. I would say that the Lord especially is since he was raised in a more...secluded family? The Blackburn’s have always kept to themselves." Christopher pointed out. Lucian let out another quiet rumble.
"Hmm. That would explain things." Lucian seemed to agree with Christopher’s words and Cass frowned, deeply.
"How is this now the only time you considered this?" Cass snapped, and Lucian turned his big, orange gaze towards him. He looked thoughtful, contemplative.
"Well, I think I did consider it, but I didn’t really care as much back then as I do now. I was trying to get a rise out of you back then, and now...I care more about your desires." Lucian admitted.
"Like a damn child." Cass muttered, annoyed and embarrassed. Lucian let out a heavy sigh.
"I admit that it was childish, but it worked, didn’t it? You noticed me." Lucian said, giving him a cocky smile. Cass sucked in, freezing. This damn dragon!
"For all the wrong reasons! We were practically enemies!" Cass knew his voice was getting loud, but he was getting flustered and embarrassed. Lucian grabbed his hand, taking it into his own and placing a warm kiss against the palm of his hand again. His eyes danced, his lips curled up against Cass’ skin.
"Mm. What’s wrong with going from enemies to lovers?" Lucian asked with a wink and Cass made a soft noise in the back of his throat. God, he was so damn warm, so embarrassed. He was trying to keep the rest of the meal cordial, and here Lucian was, giving everyone a damn show!
"I want to hurt you." Cass told him darkly and Lucian laughed.
"Awe. That’s so cute." Lucian said, sliding Cass’ hand until he was nibbling on Cass’ index finger. "Do your worst." He said, joy radiating from his whole body, his eyes narrowed with delight. Cass let out a shaking breath.
"I’m not doing that because you’d like it too much. I’m not going to reward this kind of behaviour." Cass told him firmly. Lucian chuckled.
"Not going to reward it, huh? Are you going to try to ignore me? Good luck with that. I’m not going to let you. It’s our date." Lucian warned and Cass shifted. This moment was only made worse by the fact that he was still in the asshole’s lap and he knew that if he tried to leave he would throw a huge stink.
He felt like his face was never going to go back to normal. He’d be fucking red in the face for the rest of his life.
"Focus on fucking eating, you damn lizard." Cass muttered, trying not to fight with him right now. Lucian’s teeth bit down a little deeper, a slight sting against Cass’ finger. Cass did his best to not show his physical reaction to the nibble.
God, his pants felt tight.
"I am focused on eating." He murmured and Cass just frowned deeply and forged ahead. Christopher was doing his best not to shake with laughter. Especially after he had just warned Lucian to be more gentle with Cass, the man had gone completely off the deep end. He’d just liked that he’d gotten an explanation for his behaviour sometimes. Fucker.
Cass worked with one hand to eat his food, and for the first time in a while he was grateful that Lucian had cut it all up so that Cass could eat it properly with one hand. He wondered, briefly, if the man had thought that far ahead. That he knew he was going to harass Cass like this so he made sure the food was bite-sized.
Cass hated that even in this moment he could feel the love and care that Lucian had for him, because he didn’t want to call it that. Didn’t want to acknowledge that the stupid lizard was just showing off in front of others, making sure that they knew Cass wasn’t available.
Cass knew that he was doing it, but that didn’t mean he didn’t react even if he knew that. For fucks sake, Cass had sucked him off in an alleyway! Who else was Cass going to do that to around here?
Cass stabbed a piece of meat and shoved it into his mouth, very unnoble-like and ignored Lucian when he laughed at him. He knew he was. Fucker.