Edgar’s chest was heaving as he pulled away from Gideon, taking a step back like the man had burned him. His face flushed, he raised his hand up to his mouth, covering it with the back of his hand like a damn romance novel main character.
Cass felt a shiver run down his spine as he turned his gaze towards Gideon.
Gideon, the damn man, looked good in his outfit. He was wearing his more relaxed soldier clothes. A tough shirt, clean, with a pair of loose pants that allowed for easier movement. The leather belt around his waist held his new sword, in a rather lame sheath since Gideon was more modest than others around them.
He looked good with the shocked expression on his face. Made even better with the way his hands clenched, like he was holding himself back from attacking the man who had stepped away from him. His face was flushed, his green eyes dilated as he stared at the huffing handsome man across from him.
This was one of the few times that Cass thought the gods were good. He was thankful to be able to witness such a scene with his own eyes.
Thank you gods.
Edgar’s breathing was ragged and for the second time Cass felt his gaze slip to the two bystanders in the room. Mr. Collins had caught on, and like Sam was silently working. However, his face was red and Cass knew he was going to have to have a conversation with him before he left for the day.
If anything, just to make sure that he was okay, and to remind him to keep his mouth shut. Though, he had a feeling that he didn’t have to warn him that much about that part.
"What...Did you mean by that?" Gideon asked softly and Edgar snorted. Cass tightened his arms around Lucian, having to fight his own response to the idiot man. What did he mean by that? Edgar had practically confessed to the man before he’d kissed him. He should be able to understand what was going on!
"Are you an idiot?" Edgar snapped, uncovering his mouth to show off a rather pained-looking smile. "How many times am I going to have to tell you before it gets through your thick fucking skull?" Edgar asked, pain radiating off of him so hard that Cass didn’t need to be bonded to him to tell.
Gideon took a few careful, measured steps towards him, careful as he reached for Edgar and took his hand in his own. Edgar shrugged off the first touch before Gideon took his hand again. And again and again. He kept doing it even as Edgar kept shrugging off his touch.
"Just once more." Gideon said softly, squeezing Edgar’s hand in his own. Cass sucked in, watching as Edgar sucked in a breath of his own, his body trembling slightly. Edgar’s blue gaze was locked onto Gideon, his cheeks a little flushed in a way that he wasn’t with Cass, and Cass wasn’t sure how he felt about that.
Lucian’s grip on Cass tightened and Cass felt the man shift, pressing his face against Cass’ throat, his scruff rubbing there, tickling him slightly. Cass wanted to bat his face away, but he also didn’t want to ruin this moment for Edgar and Gideon.
However, Lucian’s shifting caught Edgar’s attention and Edgar’s gaze went huge, his face going the colour of a damn tomato and he yanked on Gideon’s hand, tugging him out of the room.
"I can’t believe we were having this conversation in front of everyone." Edgar muttered as he left, his embarrassment evident while Cass felt a grin crease his cheeks.
"You could have continued!" Cass called after them, getting a rather annoyed and embarrassed look from Edgar as a reward and Gideon’s rather flushed and confused face in response. Then, Gideon gave Cass a small smile and a nod as the door closed behind him and Cass wasn’t sure what to do with that information.
"Huh." Cass muttered when the door closed. Cass took a moment to process what he just witnessed before Lucian gave him a squeeze.
"Are you going to pay attention to me now?" Lucian asked and Cass chuckled.
"I’m holding you, aren’t I?" Cass told the other man and Lucian was quiet for a moment.
"You aren’t upset that Edgar and Gideon are alone doing who knows what right now?" Lucian asked carefully and surprisingly, Cass didn’t expect that Lucian would ask him that.
However, he wasn’t like Edgar. He was not going to forget where he was.
"Sam? Can you help Mr. Collins grab some refreshments for everyone? I’m sure they’ll need some once they come back." Cass said and Sam nodded. Mr. Collins looked relieved to be given a reason to leave the room. Cass managed to convince Lucian to let him go, just enough that he could tug Lucian over to his desk, pushing the man into his chair so that he could be more eye to eye with them while they spoke as the two bystanders escaped.
Lucian sat, refusing to let go of Cass’ hand while he scanned Cass’ expression. Cass meanwhile was trying to gather his emotions. What did he feel about Edgar and Gideon slipping away to do gods know what? Was he upset? Jealous? That was a new feeling to him, one he still didn’t really like, but...Cass wasn’t an idiot.
These men had been dealing with their feelings of jealousy and possessiveness when it came to Fiona, even if it had been performative for a few of them, openly. Cass had been distant from them and thus, from the situation. That wasn’t exactly the case anymore.
He was well and truly involved, and if this continued, he was going to have to talk about his feelings. Cass swallowed thickly, meeting Lucian’s serious gaze for a long moment before he let out a soft sigh.
"I don’t think I’m upset. There’s a rather large part of me that’s upset that I’m not able to witness the moment." Cass told him and Lucian’s lips twitched, but he didn’t smile. "I’m also happy that Edgar and Gideon are finally talking this out and that Gideon is actually listening to Edgar instead of pushing him away. I’m also fucking terribly embarrassed that he heard us." Cass felt the words leave his lips as his face heated as he remembered, fuck, the man had actually overheard him cum.
"He should feel honoured." Lucian told Cass seriously, and Cass wanted to think the man was pulling his leg but he knew that wasn’t the case. Cass closed his eyes for a moment, his heart racing and his face warm.
"Anyways," Cass continued, "I don’t think I feel...upset or unpleasant. With that being said...I don’t feel all that great either." Cass admitted begrudgingly and Lucian’s eyes narrowed. He squeezed Cass’ hand, tugging the man closer to him carefully, gently until Cass’ knee came down on Lucian’s leg.
Cass flinched, worried that would hurt him and instead Lucian grabbed him with his other hand, pulling him in closer until Cass found himself straddling the man in his chair. Cass felt unstable, the chair creaking under their combined weight and Cass opened his mouth to protest.
"The chair-"
"-Can hold us, Sweetness. Please, let me comfort you." Lucian’s voice was soft, warm, and there was no way that the newly realised Cass was able to resist him. Cass felt a small noise escape the back of his throat, but Lucian didn’t pounce on him. Instead, he stared at Cass, pleased as punch as Cass didn’t move away from him.
He raised their joined left hands, peppering Cass’ hand with kisses as Cass felt his face flame.
"Thank you for being honest." Lucian said, lowering their hands from his mouth, but not by much. He pressed them against his chest, holding them there so that Cass had to stare at their joined hands, his body feeling warm. Cass glanced away from Lucian’s hot gaze, embarrassment making his face warm all over again.
"It’s not like I’m never honest." Cass argued. He tried to be as honest as he could be. Lucian chuckled.
"That’s true, but...you admitted to me that you’re new to this kind of stuff. I should reward you for when you tell me things that would come easier for others. After all, you wouldn’t tell me something like that without expecting some kind of reward." Cass immediately tensed, but then Lucian laughed. "Or, that might be my own delusion." He admitted softly. Cass grumbled.
"I didn’t tell you that I was expecting to get rewarded. I never expect to be rewarded." Cass said sharply and Lucian tossed his head back, laughing quietly before he raised their left hands again, pressing his lips against Cass’ hand in a way that made Cass’ body tense and his pulse feel thick and heavy under his skin.
"Then that means that I have to reward you extra. My lovely Cassy Baby is so good he deserves all the rewards. Look at him, not even cussing out Fiona for leaving our sides. You didn’t even hesitate, you took up the mantle and told the rest of the Dukes to suck your pretty dick. It makes both of my hearts race for you all over again." Lucian told him, his lips rubbing against the back of Cass’ hand.
It shouldn’t have felt erotic, but it did. Cass gulped.
"It’s just what I have to do. The people didn’t do anything wrong." Cass muttered and Lucian grinned.
"The Gods made the right call when they selected you. Helps that you’re adorable." Lucian told him seriously and Cass had no comeback to that. He wasn’t even sure if he wanted to have one. "Plus, I’m thankful that you are receptive to this conversation on top of everything else. I lost my shit the first time that I realised that Edgar had feelings for you, and I also lost my shit when I realised that Gideon could find you attractive. Shit, I’m still mad that others could get close to you with ulterior motives." Lucian growled. Cass felt a shiver run down his spine.
"I think...you’re a little delusional about that." Cass told him carefully and Lucian’s gaze narrowed.
"You aren’t about to say some nonsense again about how you are unattractive, are you?" Lucian muttered and Cass flinched.
"Leaving that argument aside," Cass said, feeling the other man let out a warning sound, "people are normally terrified of me. I think you three are less so because you’ve been around me long enough. I’m still the heir to a Dukedom. People are scared of me, and there are plenty of nasty rumours about me that are probably only getting worse thanks to the Dukes." Cass said carefully. Lucian huffed.
"Forget those wastes of human skin. I only care about who you bring into your bed, and that I make sure I am one of them. I just also don’t want your heart to hurt about them being close to each other. I might get huffy and puffy about it, but in the end, I just want my mate to be happy." Cass felt his face warm.
His...mate. Cass didn’t really have a response back to that.
"It might hurt sometimes, but...it’ll be okay. It’s been a long time coming for them, and I don’t want to ruin it by being selfish." Cass admitted quietly, his gaze lowered to Lucian’s chest and Lucian sighed.
"I’m sure they would understand if you asked to watch." Lucian muttered and Cass felt his face flame.
"I’m not some pervert." Cass protested, and Lucian raised an eyebrow. He wasn’t!