“I’m sorry, William,” Adathan said as he took two steps back. “It wasn’t my intention to startle you. I promise to be more careful in the future.”
“It’s all right,” William said, giving him what he hoped was a reassuring smile.
Adathan beamed. “I would love to watch TV with you!”
William willed his heart to calm down as he rolled the trolley inside and closed the door. He needed to relax—and fast. Otherwise, he was going to lose it. “Can you bring our drinks to the coffee table?” he said, realizing too late he’d just given Adathan an order.
“It will be my pleasure, William!” Adathan said eagerly. He turned and walked back to the dining table with a spring in his step.
William let out a breath as he watched him pick up the two bottles they’d been drinking from. He had mixed feelings about Adathan’s enthusiasm, but he’d be lying if he said it wasn’t a relief to see him like this.
He rolled the trolley toward the living room area, following Adathan’s lead. Adathan carefully placed the bottles on the coffee table, as if he were afraid they could shatter with the barest impact. He gave William a smile before heading back to the kitchenette.
William already felt calmer just standing there. The kitchenette and bathroom were nice—all sleek and modern—but it was this part of the room that had caught his eye when he’d first walked in. It reminded him of those ultra-luxurious cottages he’d seen on social media. Warm, cozy, and expensive.
He’d been looking forward to lounging here after the tournament. He supposed he still could, if by some kind of miracle he managed to relax tonight.
William removed the metal lid from one of the eight plates, focusing on staying calm. Underneath were four tiny bites surrounded by a swirl of orange sauce and sprinkled with fresh herbs. He should have known the portions would be ridiculously small. At least he wasn’t paying for their meal.
Adathan returned and set the remaining three bottles on the coffee table. “Do you want me to take care of the rest, William?”
“No, I’m good,” William said, placing plate after plate of highly fragrant miniature meals on the coffee table. The mouthwatering aroma of warm butter, toasted nuts, and unfamiliar spices wafted through the air, making his stomach growl.
William pushed the trolley out of the way and sat down on the sofa, a moan nearly slipping past his lips. It was like floating on a cloud while being cradled in the tender embrace of happiness itself. It would be a perfect improvised bed for Adathan tonight.
William looked at Adathan with a slight frown. He was standing with his hands joined, silently holding his gaze, as if...
William nearly face-palmed. Of course Adathan was awaiting his permission to sit down. He was a fuckingslave.
William patted the seat, and Adathan readily joined him, sitting much closer to William than he’d anticipated. William did his best not to let his discomfort show. He’d already rejected Adathan to his face once. He couldn’t let it happen again.
It was probably William’s fault, anyway. He’d patted the seat right next to his thigh, forgetting that Adathan had been trained to execute his master’s orders to a T.
Adathan smelled awfully good, William noticed despite himself. It reminded him of a mixture of cherry and lilac—sweet and comforting. He grabbed his beer and took a big gulp to distract himself from the way his body reacted to Adathan’s scent. “I ordered a bit of everything, since I didn’t know what you liked.”
Adathan’s face lit up. “Just for me? Thank you, William! You’re very kind.”
William reached for the remote. “Go ahead, eat whatever you want.” He gave Adathan a wicked smile as he turned on the TV. “It’s all paid for by the poker company, so we don’t have to hold back.”
Adathan pressed his fingers to his lips and giggled.
William averted his eyes, uncomfortable with the way his heart fluttered. He looked at the TV, his gaze landing on a close-up of his own face. The channel was replaying key moments from the competition.
Bitterness burned William’s mouth as he watched himself play. His brand-new cashmere sweater had made a big dent in his budget, and to what end? He might as well have shown up wearing one of his twenty-dollar shirts. It wouldn’t have changed a thing.
He wasn’t part of this world, and even if he aspired to be, people like Richard would swiftly remind him of his true place—at the very bottom of the social ladder.
“I watched the competition,” Adathan said as he reached for a mini quiche. “I was hoping you would win.”
William looked at him in surprise. “Really? Why?”
“Because I knew you would be kind to me.”
William gazed back at the TV. Many things came to mind as he studied his poker persona, butkindwasn’t one of them.
“So you already knew I’d won when we walked into the lodge,” he muttered, his heart sinking at the realization. “I’m sorry. For the way I reacted when—” He winced. “That must have sucked.”
Adathan shook his head and placed his hand on top of William’s. “It’s okay, William. You had a long day.”
