Page 10 of Enemies with an Earl
And Felix didn’t even need to pretend he disliked the man standing in front of him. The servant was rude, impudent, and purposefully snide. The first time he’d met the man, he’d been completely taken aback. He’d never met a servant so brazenly defiant—and a Duke’s manservant to boot. He had no idea how the man held a position with that behavior.
Thorne started working on Felix’s cravat, his knuckles brushing against the skin of Felix’s throat. Felix clenched his fists at his sides.
“Thorne,” the valet repeated tightly, louder this time, his eyes catching Felix’s. Daring Felix to say another mistakenname. The man wassobold. Felix hated the small thrill that shot through him every time those grey eyes met his own.
Felix let out a boredhmm. “Yes, that’s what I said, is it not?”
And now Felix might be in danger of being strangled by the man in front of him. But what other choice did he have? Servants were notorious for gossiping, and a sodomite lord was exactly the kind of scandal that would set tongues wagging.
Felix was fortunate that his parents had secured a loyal group of servants in their employ. When he had been just a lad, he had hinted to his mother that he might be…different. That had been a terrifying day, the first time he’d tested the waters, if the love his family held for him could withstand…anything. And it could. Thank the bloody gods, it could. Ever the lioness, his mother had begun laying the groundwork to ensure he would always be safe in his own home. Everyone who went in and out of his country and London estates was unwavering in their loyalty.
But anyone outside of that? No one could be trusted with that information, not even those who appeared to share the same preferences. Felix had learned that lesson a long, long time ago. Not even his partners inThe Harborageknew of Felix’s preferences and that was saying something, considering the organization’s sole purpose was the protection of men like Felix.
Felix held perfectly still, doing his best not to react to each brush of the soft kid leather of the man’s gloves. But he couldn’t ignore the man’s scent. Clean and crisp, a mixture of soap and leather, with something sweet wafting over him with every breath the man took. He couldn’t ignore the rough-hewn features, a jawline that could have been chiseled from granite. In another time, this man would have led warriors into battle, sword in hand. And Felix would have gladly capitulated, been the man’s willing captive. He’d be the first to volunteer to be plundered bythatman.
Before.
His body still yelledyes please, sirto the idea. But his mind stomped that out with anabsolutely not.
He needed space. He needed the man to hurry the bloody hell up. “Is there a problem? Are you not able to untie a simple knot?” he snapped. His entire body vibrated with the effort to suppress the barrage of emotions rising inside him. Desire, fear, shame, fury.
“The last thing I would call this is a knot. Whoever tied this had no idea what they were doing. Perhaps you should consider looking for a new manservant.” Thorne’s tongue darted out to the corner of his mouth as he plucked at the fabric, deep in concentration.
Felix forgot to breathe, the turmoil inside him stalling as his eyes locked on that small slip of pink. Felix responded with something but wasn’t entirely certain what it was. This week was going to be bloody torture. He’d been too long without a shag.
God, he hoped Benedict would be back soon. He was the only man Felix felt comfortable being intimate with. The only one Felix could trust. Which meant Felix was…in a constant state of frustration. It’d been an overly stressful year—with no way to release that stress. Which was probably why this man was having the effect he was on Felix. Torture. Did he say this week was going to be bloody torture? The slip of pink disappeared, and he blinked dazedly.
Thorne’s gaze flew to his, eyes widening. Shite.Felix, you said something.What had he said?
“Youtied this?”
Fuck.Had he just admitted that aloud? To say he was out of sorts was a drastic understatement. Felix cleared his throat. “My valet has fallen ill. I may have tied it more securely than necessary,” he said gruffly.
The man’s lips twitched. “More securely than necessary? This thing is done up tight enough you could use it for the rigging of a ship.” His dark eyes glimmered with amusement, and he hacked away at the neckcloth. Felix’s embarrassment evaporated. Becausethose eyes. It was like staring at a midnight sky, impossible not to get lost in. And those lips? Softly curved in mirth—not a snarl, not disgust. Felix’s heart did an odd flipping thing.
“There it is,” Thorne said, looking exceptionally pleased with himself.
Felix hated how attractive that looked on him. Felix needed the contempt back. This teasing and amusement were doing horrible things for the wholebury the attractionplan. The fabric loosened around Felix’s neck and so did the band around his lungs. After two more quick tugs, the cravat fell limp over Felix’s shoulders.
He took a much-needed step backward and released a heavy breath. Thank Christ. “Prepare a few attire options for me for dinner. While I’m dining, I will need the rest of my things unpacked. And I’ve left my boots by the door. I need them ready first thing tomorrow for my morning ride.”
Thorne nodded and made his way to Felix’s trunk.
Felix’s gaze tracked him, down his broad shoulders, the seams of his coat stretching as he reached for the trunk. Thorne bent over. And it wasn’t Felix’s fault. Truly. There was nowhere else for his gaze to go. It locked on the man’s arse. His eyes fell shut, and he barely contained his whimper. Because he could bloody cry.
This man was everything Felix had ever craved. Well, besides his personality. Thank Christ for the man’s odious disposition. It made it easier to ignore the view. Gleaming dark eyes and harsh features. Thick muscles and a towering height that made Felix feel small—and Felix was over six feet. There was a wildness to him, in the way he carried himself, in the way he prowled when he walked. Something raw and untamed and utterly virile.
You are doing a superb job of ignoring the view.
But it was a fantasy Felix never allowed himself to have. Felix had only ever been with one man who’d fulfilled those desires.
Never again.
Not after the first time so many years ago. He couldn’t allow himself to be vulnerable like that again. So, since that night, it had only ever been Benedict when his theatre troupe was performing nearby. But watching Thorne’s thighs and arse flex while he gathered items out of Felix’s trunk? Lord, Felix just wanted to know what it’d be like. To have his fantasy come true. One more time.
And that was a very dangerous thought.
It had almost killed him once.
