Page 2 of Enemies with an Earl
William’s nose grazed against Felix’s and then he dusted a kiss over Felix’s lips. Felix’s body melted further into the bed. He'd been slightly afraid he’d built William up too much in his mind. That the reality would fall short of his fantasies. But he’d had nothing to be nervous over.
William went to roll off, and Felix quickly pulled him back. “Not yet,” Felix murmured, and William smiled against his lips.
“You like me on you, do you?” William pushed up slightly and grinned down at Felix before settling heavier on top of him. “Like my weight pressing you down.” He flicked up a brow and then thrust his hips gently. It was a tease without any true intent behind it. It was clear William wasn’treadyfor another round. But his eyes stretched wide when he felt the very obvious evidence that Felix very much was. “Already?” William’s lips parted, and he glanced between their bodies.
Felix rocked his hips and grinned. “Trust me when I say I’m full of surprises.”
William’s lids lowered, and the heat in his gaze was scalding. “That you are, Perce.”
Felix fought a wince. He never used his real name—no one could find out who he truly was. Only Benedict knew because he trusted Benedict implicitly. Benedict even visited his family’s country home in Kent on occasion. Once Felix's mother had learned he had anew friend,she'd insisted on meeting him. There were no secrets in the Jennings family. It was safer for everyone that way.
“If we’re going to go again, I need sustenance. I’ll get us refreshments.” William’s deep voice rumbled over Felix’s ear, sending a shiver through his frame.
William chuckled. He rolled off Felix, pressed a firm kiss against his lips, and hopped out of bed.
Felix watched boldly as William pulled on a pair of breeches.Urgh. The man was glorious. Felix didn’t know what the man did for work, but it had to be something active. Because the legs on that man? He barely held back his groan.
William opened the door and turned back to Felix. “I’ll be right back.” And with a last smile, he disappeared from view.
As soon as the door clicked shut, a grin swallowed Felix’s face. His stomach was a fluttery mess, and his heart wouldn't calm down. Hereallyliked that man. And the way William kissed him, the way he’d touched Felix. Even when he’d been rough, dominating, there had been a tenderness to the way his hands had roamed Felix. It had Felix feeling all kinds of hopeful that perhaps this was going to be more than just a casual tryst. That it could bemore.
They’d only known each other a week, but William had given every indication he was interested in Felix for more than just physical dalliances. Christ, Felix wanted to tell the man his real name. He didn't feel right withholding it after what they'd shared.
He picked up his pocket watch for the umpteenth time. And frowned. It’d been close to thirty minutes since William left. How long did it take to get refreshments?
A muffled bang shook through the room. He fisted the coverlet as the bed shook slightly.
Then yelling and screaming started.
And didn’t stop.
Felix shot off the bed and scrambled for his breeches. Thuds and pounding mixed with the shouts. Glass breaking echoed, and the thud of stomping boots grew louder.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Felix hurried for the door and barely jumped out of the way when it crashed open. The men were on him before he had a chance to react. His arms were pinned behind his back, but Felix wasn’t a small man. He shook and twisted, driving him and the men on him into the wall. Their grips loosened just enough he was able to snake free and dart out of the room.
But he only made it a few paces before more men were on him, shoving him into wall, surrounding him with the stench of sweat and foul breath. The hall was a cacophony of shouting, grunts, and the occasional scream of pain. Others like Felix were being thrust against walls and apprehended by constables and men with truncheons.
Bow Street Runners.
Cold metal pressed against Felix’s wrists, followed by a sharp click. Escape was becoming less and less likely. But if he could escape, even handcuffed, he could try to get to his townhouse. Oh God. Benedict. He needed to find his friend.
He was abruptly thrust forward, and he stumbled, just catching himself before he fell. When he righted himself, his gaze clashed with a man escorting a fellow reveler down the hall, the man's truncheon pressed tight against the poor cove’s neck.
Felix’s gut dropped. The blood in his veins froze. The gaze was steely hard, glinting with something sadistic that had bile creeping up Felix’s throat. And with a slowness at odds with the chaos surrounding them, those lips—lips that had so gently dusted over Felix’s earlier—slid into a sneer.
All fight fled Felix. An odd vacant buzzing stole over him, everything growing distant, hazy, as he was herded toward the exit at the end of the hall. He was trapped in William’s stare. All the softness that had been there earlier was gone, replaced by a thick, ugly contempt.
Felix couldn’t take it any longer and finally looked away. He barely saw where he was being shepherded, barely heard the ruckus surrounding him. Like he’d been submerged in the Thames.
It’d all been a lie.
A scheme to entrap him.
Father had warned Felix that some men would pretend to be like him in their quest to eradicate sodomites. But there was a far greater threat. Internalized shame. That was a volatile, dangerous thing. There were men who might share Felix’s desires, but because society had taught them to loathe themselves, they were compelled to punish others like them—the real deviants. A sick form of atonement. Never in Felix’s darkest imaginings did he ever believe any reformer would go as far as William had.
Felix’s eyes slid shut, realization flooding his lungs, stealing his breath. He was the one who had told William about this alehouse.
