CHAPTER 264: WHAT’S A LITTLE STABBING BETWEEN FRIENDS?

"I-I can change mostly on my own. Can you just...help with the buttons?" Cass asked, surprised by how gruff his voice sounded to his own ears. Lucian’s gentle chuckle filled him with a shiver, his body shifting on the bed.

Lucian’s grip tightening on the back of his neck had nothing to do with the reaction happening inside of Cass’ body. Not at all.

"Of course I can do that. I’m great with buttons." Lucian’s soft purr filled the air and with just that breath, the tension changed. The air became charged, heated, and Cass felt his heartbeat begin to race in his chest. The damn lizard.

He knew exactly what he was doing to Cass, and that only made this even more awkward. Awkward might not be the right word, but Cass certainly was feeling some kind of way about this. Especially now that Lucian was so close.

But...he was so close, the tension between them a tight cord that Cass could practically see, but Lucian wasn’t moving. He wasn’t doing...anything. He was staying exactly where he was, his hand on the back of his neck, his forehead pressed against Cass’ as the man gently nuzzled him, his lips so damn close but...far away at the same time.

Normally, Lucian would have pushed forward at this moment. Taken the lead, taken control. Cass had expected this time to be no different. While he was a little upset that the man was just having his way with him, there was a bigger part of him that was okay with the man’s lips on his own. He didn’t hate kissing now that he’d tried it a few times.

But as the time ticked on, and nothing continued to happen, Cass’ stomach dipped further as his face warmed. What was wrong with him? Why had he thought that the other man was just going to kiss him?

Why was he a little disappointed that the other man hadn’t?

A gentle knock on the door, Lucian’s nostrils flared, before his lips curled up at the corner. Cass felt his body stiffen as Lucian called them in. Cass wasn’t sure who he expected on the other side, Sir Forsythe, maybe Fiona like he had warned, but certainly not Edgar.

He wasn’t wearing his hat, but he was wearing the same clothes as the night prior. They looked a little rumpled, but still usable. He was mid push of the door, his eyes rising up from the ground to catch the scene on the bed and Cass felt his lungs scream as he halted breathing.

This was the actual last thing he’d ever wanted to happen. Being caught in a compromising situation with Lucian. Hell, with anyone, and with someone who had kissed Cass before? Awful.

A true nightmare.

Cass felt his face drain of all colour while Edgar’s blue eyes widened and he stepped into the room quickly, closing the door behind him. Cass swore he heard a lock slide into place.

"What in the world are you two up to at this time of day? I came to check up on Cass and I found Lucy with his hands all over you? Cass, are you alright? My goodness, your eyes look so swollen. Does it hurt?" How the man could see how swollen Cass’ eyes were from so far away...Cass tried not to think about that.

"He can push me away. I kept his hands free. Do you hate this, Cass?" Lucian asked, turning his face towards Cass again. He’d turned it slightly to look at Edgar but now...Cass swallowed.

"Uh, I, I-I don’t know." Cass stuttered, feeling every step that Edgar took into the room. He watched him as Edgar came on the other side of the bed and felt his body tense as the bed dipped, Edgar crawling onto the bed to get closer. He was on his hands and knees, moving closer to Cass.

Cass watched him, his face mostly healed from whatever nightmare he’d experienced yesterday, so now he was too damn pretty for Cass to take his eyes off of. Especially when he was looking at him with such genuine concern in his eyes.

"You don’t know? That’s not good. You should know, Cass. I know we’ve really taken this in the wrong direction before now, but if you don’t like Lucian touching you like that, you should let him know. He’s sturdy enough that even if you stabbed him you can’t kill him." Edgar’s tone was sweet, filled with concern. It hid the intention behind his words.

Cass stuttered.

"I-I have no plans to stab anyone!" Cass protested and Lucian chuckled, his grip tightening on the back of his neck, giving it a comforting squeeze. Cass shivered.

"I appreciate that." Lucian said. Cass glanced at Edgar, and was surprised to find his brows drawn together.

"Do you mean that? That’s upsetting. You don’t want to stab...anyone?" Edgar asked and Cass blinked. There was something to his tone but...Cass wasn’t sure what it meant. Yes, Cass read romance novels but this...this wasn’t a situation he’d read about before. Two men, with another man in between?

He’d been a one kind of pairing kind of guy. He had very little experience in this category.

"I-Is there another meaning to that word that I’m not getting?" Cass asked, glancing between the two men nervously. "Because if there isn’t, then no. I have no desire to stab someone. Maybe throw them against a wall?" Cass suggested and both Edgar and Lucian chuckled.

"There is another meaning to Edgar’s words, but that’s okay, sweetness. Just...stay this way for a little longer, hmm?" Lucian’s voice was sweet, alluring, and Cass felt his face heat more. He’d missed it. Whatever Edgar had said, he’d missed the hidden meaning. He didn’t like that, and from the way that both Edgar and Lucian were looking at him...

It only spelled trouble for him.

"No, I don’t want to stay this way. What did you mean, Edgar?" Cass asked, gently moving his head away from Lucian’s, much to Lucian’s dismay.

"Look at this. You made one joke, and you ruined our moment. Cass never lets me hold him like this normally." Lucian muttered, upset and Edgar leaned him, pressing his forehead against Cass. What was up with them and pressing against him like this?

It was fucking embarrassing.

Edgar’s hand reached out, digging his fingers into Cass’ hair since Lucian’s hand was still on the back of his neck and he nuzzled against him, chuckling. He seemed pleased as punch that he’d disrupted their moment.

"Awe. Our sweet Cass is just worried I made a joke at his expense. Don’t worry, it wasn’t. I’m sure you’ll understand it. I honestly made it because after that book you gave me, I thought you would get it." Cass felt his eyes widen as Edgar pulled back. The grin that greeted him had Cass’ lungs seizing from lack of oxygen again.

It was so playful, so dirty that Cass felt his body freeze.

"W-What?" Cass muttered, shocked. He’d made that joke because of the book he lent him? That meant...fuck, he should have known it was a dirty joke. It was Edgar he was talking about. He’d been on his best behaviour the last little bit, but now...

Edgar leaned back, pressing his hand carefully against Cass’ chest and Cass gulped. He’d never been touched by anyone like this. It was so careful, so deliberate. Edgar’s eyes curled up as he smiled at Cass, his blue eyes glowing slightly.

"It was such a dirty book, Cass." He chastised. "It made me think about what you were doing while reading it." Edgar’s breath as he leaned in was soft against Cass’ ear.

"Hmm. Was it the same book you were reading in the dungeon? I was surprised as well. I never knew you liked to read those kinds of books. Especially being who you are." Cass thought his heart was going to jump out of his throat.

He knew he was being cornered. But it was the slowest cornering of his life and he still couldn’t get away.

He didn’t really know how.

"Being who I am?" Cass asked, feeling his brows draw down as he tried to understand the meaning behind those words. Lucian chuckled.

"You’re attractive, Cassian. Why would you resort to reading when you could experience it yourself?" Lucian’s voice was like a damn spell washing over him. Cass felt his whole body shiver at the implication in his tone.

"Me? Attractive?" Cass squeaked out and both men paused. They stared at Cass, before Edgar started laughing.

"Are you so unaware of how pretty you are, Cass? Oh, that’s so endearing. Come here." Edgar reached out, pulling Cass slightly out of Lucian’s hold, tilting his face more towards Edgar as he pressed a chaste kiss against his lips.

Cass gasped like he’d done something even more scandalous.

Edgar was all smiles as he pulled back.

"Look at how pretty you are, all shocked expressions and flushed cheeks. You make me feel like I’m doing something even more naughty." Edgar was all smiles as Cass blinked several times. He only had a few seconds to recover before Lucian grumbled and turned Cass towards him.

"I wanna see." He protested before Cass found Lucian’s lips on his own. It wasn’t a longer kiss than what Edgar had given him, but it was different. Edgar had softer, fuller lips, while Lucian just had bigger lips. They were more firm, forceful, and Cass felt his head spin from the fact that he knew that. "Look at that. So damn cute." Lucian murmured, staring at Cass’ expression.

Cass felt his chest rise and fall as he tried to catch his breath as both men came into view. They stared at Cass, before they shared a look with each other. Something passed between them that had Cass’ toes curling under the sheets.

"W-What are you two thinking?" Cass whispered, worried, and they both reached out with a free hand, stroking some part of Cass fondly.

"How sweet you taste." Lucian told him carefully, while Edgar nodded.

"Mmhmm. How much we want to savor you." Cass sucked in. That did not make his heart slow down.