Page 21 of Suffer No Fools
"We're not," he began, not even knowing how to explain what he, Tovey, and Hugo were doing together. "It's not ..."
"Be gentle with him," Vadim said. "He's an adult, and I'm glad you're treating him like one. He's also fragile. His conversation with Olivia proved that."
"I've asked for consent at every turn," Stan said. "And Tovey set him up with safe words."
"Fuck's sake, I did not need to know that." Efren covered his ears with his hands.
"Did you get consent from Tovey, too?" Vadim's voice was soft, and his touch on Stan's arm too light to be comforting.
"It was Tovey's idea."
"That doesn't answer my question." Vadim patted his shoulder, and then he opened the door and stepped out of the cabin. "Back to work."
"What the fuck?" Stan said to the closed door.
"This is a chance for you and Tovey to start over," Efren said. "Aye?"
"Aye."
"Honor your commitments and don't agree to every awful thing he says about you."
Stan didn't have to ask what Tovey said about him behind his back. He said it to his face often enough. He'd accused him of cheating in front of Hugo.
Efren stood and skirted the table to clasp Stan's same shoulder still tingling from Vadim's touch. "Prove to him that you are as good as he first thought."
"That's a hefty request. I'll never be the man he put on a pedestal."
"No, but you're the best man I know," Efren said. "If he can't live with that, he isn't worth the effort."
Aye, but he was. Stan had never stopped thinking Tovey was the best thing to happen to him.
"Don't let the emperor burn down my ship." Efren walked past him and opened the door onto the deck, where Niall was waiting for him.
"Aye, Captain. We won't."
We, because it would take more than Stan's earth weaves to prevent a fire. He and Tovey had always been stronger when paired together.
#
Tovey
Tovey was still fuming when he took his spot on deck. Stan could be so fucking perfect, and then he had to go and ruin it by ...
By reminding Tovey of his bout of unfaithfulness fifteen years ago. Gods, had it really been that long? It was only the once, one night in a pleasure house, and the manager had provided Tovey with receipts. Stan had paid for two pleasure workers, and he'd stayed until the sun came up the next morning.
Yes, Tovey was still mad. He'd been falling for Stan, harder than he'd ever fallen for anyone. Then, his hopes and dreams had crashed to the ground at his feet.
He still used Stan for his own comfort and his own pleasure, but every time, it felt worse. Stan was perfect for him, and yet, the bastard couldn't be trusted to stay faithful.
Worse, the asshole would never defend himself against Tovey's accusations, either. He gave as good as he got, pointing out Tovey's flaws and eccentricities until Tovey mentioned cheating. Then, Stan hung his head like a kicked puppy and wandered off to sulk alone. Just once, Tovey wished he would fight him on it and promise to never do it again.
Except he'd done that, too, and Tovey hadn't forgiven him.
It didn't help that Stan flirted with every man who could walk aboard their ship of their own volition. And then there was Hugo.
Tovey couldn't deny it. He wanted Hugo, too. He was smart, sexy, and too sweet and innocent for his own good. Tovey wanted to give him more than joy. Hugo deserved every pleasure imaginable. If that meant sharing him with Stan, so be it.
They hadn't been taking turns, either. They'd each had a part in making Hugo come, and then come again. Tovey had stared into Stan's eyes as they came together, jetting all over Tovey's hand and Stan's stomach. It was impossible to deny the plain naked love in Stan's gaze at that moment. Stan loved him. Tovey knew it.
