Page 103 of Enemies with an Earl
That was part of Ryker’s…charm. He knew exactly what to say to make you want to plant him a facer. Over. And over. And over. Perhaps that was the reason for Sam’s sudden agitation.
“Stallion,” someone blurted out. Felix’s gaze landed on the blond man the voice belonged to: Timothy, one of Kozington’s younger twin brothers.
Everyone turned to Timothy at his odd outburst.
“Stallion?” This came from Xavier, Timothy’s identical twin. And as was typical, Xavier stared at his brother like he’d grown another head. Timothy did have a penchant for blurting out things that only made sense in his head.
“The ladies call ‘em Stallions,” Timothy clarified. “You know… Their kept men.”
Oh. Felix glanced up at Sam, sweeping his gaze once over Sam’s built, muscled physique.Stallion.He bit his lip. “Is it bad that I kind of like that?” Felix murmured for Sam’s ears alone. His blood heated.
Something unreadable flickered in the grey irises that stared back at him, and all heat disappeared. There was no sinful curl to Sam’s lips. There was no hint of a shared desire. If anything, Felix was getting the inkling that Sam really didn’t want to be here in this room. What on earth?
A low whistle broke the charged moment, their gazes whipping to the source. Bloody hell. Felix needed to get a better hold of himself.
“Well, bugger me,” Ryker said. “What I wouldn’t give to watch the two of you go at it. That look right there?” His eyes fluttered shut, and he groaned. “Yes, I’m picturing it right now. Let’s do that. All in favor of watching Bentley shag his valet.”
Kozington thumped the book on Ryker’s head again. “Bloody hell, Ryker. Shut your fucking gob. Otherwise, Bentley’s valet is going to choke you to death. Do you see the way he’s dismembering you with his eyes right now?”
Felix couldn’t agree more. Sam looked like he wanted to hit something. And it was seeming like that target would be Ryker’s face. Kozington shared a glance with Felix, and Felix’s lips twitched at the pained frustration in Koz’s hazel eyes. Ryker and Kozington were close, and Felix sometimes thought his neighbor felt responsible for keeping Ryker in line. He wasn’t so sure that was possible, though.
Felix gently grazed Sam’s leg concealed behind the desk, attempting some comfort. “You’ll get used to him. He’s an…acquired taste,” he said.
Ryker snorted. “I’ll have you know men and women love the way I taste.”
“Heaven, help me,” Lord Kozington muttered as he approached Felix’s free side.
He held out a hand to Felix, and Felix quickly stood and took it. They clasped wrists and then Koz was hauling Felix into a quick hug. His whisper was nearly inaudible. “I’m happy for you, Bentley. Proud of you. Honored that you shared your truth with us.”
“Thanks,” he murmured.
They stepped apart, and Felix shot his friend a smile, a lightness filling him, pushing out some of the weight he always carried around. It was one thing for people to have assumptions, baseless ones, as Felix had never done anything anyone could point to as proof. Not since all those years ago. But it felt really bloody amazing to admit it aloud. To have others know—others who could be trusted with that knowledge—but still to not be alone with the secret any longer.
“Wait…” Tim said slowly. “The becoming valet is Bentley’s stallion? But then that means…” His brow furrowed, and he glanced around the room.
His brothers both rolled their eyes.
But Sam flinched. Felix’s gaze shot to Sam’s hard profile.
“Oh, poor Timothy,” Ryker said. “You sweet, sweet child.”
“Don’t,” Lord Kozington said sharply.
Ryker’s hands flew up in Felix’s periphery. “I didn’t touch anything!”
Sam cleared his throat. “Gentlemen,” he said tightly. “I must beg your pardon. I just remembered I have something to see to.”
What?
Sam didn’t wait for a response. He didn’t look in Felix’s direction. He simply strode for the door, pausing briefly to allow Felix’s mother to enter and deliver a short, polite bow. Then he disappeared.
Felix’s jaw dropped.
Felix’s mother’s gaze quickly found his, a question in her light blue eyes. He shook his head subtly. He had absolutely no idea what had just happened.
Thankfully, his mother, ever the hostess, distracted the room from the awkwardness that had just settled over it. “I had Cook make a fresh batch of biscuits, which should be right up for you boys.” She smiled warmly at each of the men in turn but approached Kozington for the obligatory buss on the cheek. She had a soft spot for Koz after he’d stayed with them for the brief stint when he’d been going through a troubled time with his father.
“What? No kiss for me?” Ryker pouted. “I even remembered my manners and stood like a good boy.”
