Page 102 of Enemies with an Earl
Not if he had Sam.
His body trembled violently, Sam’s arms squeezing him securely, binding, as the last vestiges of his orgasm crashed through him. Then his muscles went slack, and he slumped over Sam. Fingers coasted gently over Felix’s back while lips feathered lazy kisses over Felix’s shoulder. Felix nuzzled into Sam’s neck.
He didn’t need anything else.
Not if he had Sam.
49
Felix
FelixstrodewithSamdown the hall toward his study. The back of his hand brushed against Sam’s, and a small flutter stole through his stomach. A flutter that intensified when Sam pressed the back of his hand more firmly against Felix’s.
Felix stole a look at Sam from the corner of his eye, and his gaze clashed with a steely grey one. Hypnotizing. Impossible to look away from. Their fingers lightly tangled for a breath, and Felix’s heart lurched.
The muted sound of laughter and voices filtered through the hall, breaking the charged moment. He and Sam seemed to be having many of those lately. Ever since the orangery two days ago, everything that passed between them was more intense, more potent.
“Ryker, so help me, God.” Kozington’s exasperated voice came from Felix’s study.
Felix’s lips twitched. Today was the quarterly meeting for the members ofThe Harborage. A meeting Sam would be joining.
Sam had mentioned in passing how he felt he had no purpose here at Thornfield Hall. Felix had been so wrapped up in the man, he hadn’t realized the truth in that statement. Sam was…partially Felix’s valet, sure, but eventually Felix didn’t want him even doing that.
So, what was Sam to do with his days? The man was far from idle. Even as Devonford’s full-time valet, Sam had been actively involved on the estate, in the stables, and with the tenants. Not traditional, but Felix understood the inability to sit still. The need for purpose. He thought involving Sam inThe Harboragewould be perfect. A cause they were both passionate about.
Felix also thought it might be time. Time to be more open with his partners.
They approached the door, and Sam slowed, falling behind Felix, falling intovalet. Felix strode into the room, and the strangest thing happened—something that had never happened with this group before. The room fell completely silent.
Felix stiffly took his seat behind his desk and scanned the few members already here—Kozington and his twin brothers, and Ryker.
“Who the bloody hell isthat, Bentley?” A set of striking eyes—striking in that one was green and one was stark blue—met Felix’s. Those mismatched eyes were his trademark. Many viewed people like that with heavy superstition and wariness. It was associated with witchcraft, the devil. So, the man leaned into it and ran a notorious gaming hell in London,The Devil’s Eye.
Sam tensed at Felix’s side. Ryker was sure to be a shock. But not because of his unique eyes or his mussed jet-black hair and sharp features. No, it was purely his personality.
“This is my valet.” Felix tried to sound bored, said it like he was talking about the quill he’d just picked up, like having one’s valet join in on a very exclusive meeting was an everyday occurrence.
Ryker’s gaze raked over Sam, and Sam shifted like he was uncomfortable. Felix almost growled. Ryker’s gaze was hungry, like the man was undressing Sam.Felix’s Sam.
“Your valet…” the man murmured, his eerie gaze flicking back to Felix and winged a dark brow. “Or mistress of sorts?”
Heat slapped Felix’s cheeks, and his hands tightened on his thighs. Well, that was a dead giveaway. It was happening now, then. Everyone was going to know for sure now.Everyone here is safe, he reminded himself. Obviously, their mission was to protect men like Felix and Sam. Funny how quickly anxiety drowned out rational thought. Like a lion most likely wasn’t going to burst into the study and devour Felix and his partners. But Lord Simmonsdidhave a menagerie at his country estate, and it wasn’tthatfar away. Felix frowned. Did the man have a lion?
“Fuck me!”
Felix startled at Ryker’s exclamation, stare shooting to Ryker’s dancing eyes.
“Heisyour mistress!” Ryker turned back to Sam. “Now you’re a mistress I can get behind. Literally. Or actually, maybe I’d prefer you behind me. I’m not picky.”
Sam blinked rapidly, jaw slack. This time, Felix couldn’t prevent his growl from ripping through the room.
The biggest, shite-eating grin spread across Ryker’s face. “Oooh, Bentley. Possessive of our toy, are we?” He bit his lip, his gaze caressing Felix’s features. “Possessive looks very good on you.”
Felix turned to Sam, who stared straight ahead, jaw ticking. Felix frowned. He’d expected a similar reaction from Sam as his own. Something claiming. Something that made it clear Felix was his. But…something wasn’t right with Sam’s current stance. Too rigid. Too closed off.
A loudthwackpulled Felix’s attention to where Kozington had just cuffed Ryker on the back of the head with a book. Ryker cursed and rubbed the back of his head.
“Ryker, stop stirring shite,” Koz said with a roll of his eyes.
