Page 72 of Enemies with an Earl
“I’m sorry fer before.”
Sam’s attention fell back on the inebriated man resting in bed. He opened his mouth to say it was nothing, but Felix kept going.
“You reminded me of him.”
Sam stilled.Of him?
“Yer notreaaaallylike him. Just big an’ all tall with big mushles and a big—”
Sam cleared his throat, eyes very wide now.
The man let out a hiccupping laugh. “Don’t worry. You’re a thousand times prettier than him. Cock included.”
“Urm. Thank you?” Clearly whatever was going on with Felix involved a man, some past lover. Which only made the other night and Felix’s behavior since all the more confusing. Perhaps he wasn’t over this man? It had been too soon. Sam bit down hard on his cheek to distract himself from the physical emptiness that thought created.
“Over ten yearsh ago. And I still cannot get past what that man did to me.”
Sam’s brows slammed together. He planted his hands on the mattress, leaning closer to Felix. “What happened, Bentley?”
A dopey smile curled the man’s lips, and he popped a shoulder in a shrug. “It’s just a trifling matter. I’mentirelyover it.”
Yes, and Samentirelybelieved that.
“I like trifles, I think,” Felix said.
Sam cocked his head, mouth opening dumbly. He was really having trouble following this conversation.
“Sam…?” Felix slurred.
“Yes, Bentley?” Sam really wasn’t sure what was going to come out of the man’s mouth next.
“Feeeelix,” he corrected.
“Yes,Feeeelix?”
Felix broke out into a fit of chuckles. “Feeee-lix. Fee lix. Fee licks! Fee would like to licks Sam.”
Oh dear. A light flicker of amusement bubbled in Sam’s chest. “You are foxed, Felix. You need to get some rest. I’ll fetch you a pitcher of water and then douse the candles. Do you think you’ll need a chamber pot by the bed?”
“Foxed Felix.” The man sniggered, abruptly cut short by a hiccup. “Don’t need water. Don’t need chumber pots.”
Sam’s lips twitched. “All right. I’ll leave you be then.” He wasn’t actually going to leave. He was going to plant his arse in a chair and keep an eye on the tap-hackled lord. At least until Felix had fallen asleep.
“No.” Felix shook his head violently, then his eyes stretched wide, and his face paled, his pallor taking on a greenish hue. He gripped the bed linens for dear life, like if he didn’t hold on, he’d be tossed out to sea. Then he blew out a slow breath, and his body slumped back against the headboard. “Don’t need those things.” His unfocused amber eyes tried to find Sam and then latched onto him once they did. Wide, beseeching. “Need you.”
Sam swallowed thickly. But it did absolutely nothing because when he spoke, his voice still came out like crushed gravel. “What do you need from me, Fee?”
Felix’s gaze sharpened for a heartbeat at the affectionate moniker that had fled unbidden from Sam’s lips. And then he swayed and nearly toppled over. Which was a feat, considering he was sitting. Leaning against a headboard.
Felix caught himself on one arm. “Remember Willerrr Grove?”
“Yes…” Sam said slowly.
“Can you do the thing with the arms,” he slurred.
Despite the odd ache in his chest, Sam’s lips tugged up. “The thing with the arms…?” He had a feeling he knew what the bosky man was getting at.
“Yes,” Felix said. “We did the holding thing.” He tucked in his chin, and his voice turned small. “Might you be meanable…to trynit again?”
