“Sir?”
“Was I trying to take advantage of you just now, as your brother claims?”
The second Nuri realized what it was Silver was after his expression darkened. If they’d been alone, there was little to no mistake that he would have thrown some choice words Silver’sway, but as it were…There was nothing he could do but play along, especially since it meant calming his brother down in the process.
Just in case, however, Silver pushed things further.
“All anyone has to do is glimpse at the bulge between your thighs to know the truth. Though,” his voice darkened, “if they do, I really might consider blinding on the table.”
Nuri seemed to realize he was still hard, momentarily distracted by that fact. He stared down at himself, a mixture of confusion and fear flashing across his face.
“Focus,” Silver ordered. It wouldn’t do either of them any good for him to realize right this minute what really took place between them earlier. “Was I taking advantage of you before we were interrupted?”
“No, sir,” Nuri said tightly, seemingly taking the command in stride and turning his attentions back on what currently mattered most. “You were not.”
“But I—” Nate’s sentence ended in a hiss when Nuri’s hand tightened and he dug his nails in for good measure.
“What you saw,” Silver took a calculating step forward, watching as Nuri stiffened, “was two lovers doing what lovers do. Isn’t that right, Nuri? Tell them so we can clear this up and be done with it. It’s not like this is the first time we’ve slept together.”
If looks could kill, the one Nuri sent his way surely would have sliced him in half. But this was too good to pass up. Now Falc and the guards would all hear straight from Narek’s lips that the two of them were a thing. Word would spread throughout the mansion like wildfire and branch outward. Then everyone would know who Nuri belonged to.
Including Nuri himself.
“Yes,” Nuri forced out, “that’s right. It was a misunderstanding. My brother didn’t know any better.”
“He was just concerned for you,” Silver hummed in agreement. “I should definitely forgive him. For that.”
Nuri gave no reaction to that last part, cluing Silver into the fact he’d fully caught on now and knew Silver had something planned.
“Falc, take Nate Narek to the room down the hall. He’ll spend the rest of the night there.” Silver needed him out of the way and unable to barge in on them a second time.
“Wait.” Nuri protectively folded himself over his brother’s curved back.
“No harm will come to him,” Silver reassured him. “But I still look like this, which means he can’t be here. Unless you want to risk him taking another peek and making whatever punishment I decide on worse for him?”
He opened his mouth but immediately closed it again. With a defeated look, his shoulders slumped. Carefully, he lifted Nate back into an upright position, keeping his face turned so he couldn’t accidentally look up at Silver. “Go with them.”
“But—”
“Don’t cause any more problems,” Nuri demanded, “just behave and go. I’ll come see you in the morning.”
“But you’re hurt and I—”
“He’s being well cared for,” Silver interrupted, smirking when Nate instinctively tried to turn his head toward him at the sound of his voice, only stopped by Nuri at the last second.
“I’m fine,” Nuri dared to glare at Silver before returning his attention to his brother. “See? You’ve seen me and I’m all right. Follow Falc, he’ll escort you.”
“Of course, Master Narek,” Falc replied even though it hadn’t been directed his way. “If you would, Mr. Narek,” that last part he delivered to Nate who hesitated a moment longer before finally giving in and rising to his feet solemnly.
“He must have taken a ship and rushed directly here from the airport,” Nuri said. “Please get him something to eat, Falc.”
Falc glanced at Silver for confirmation before nodding at Nuri. “Will do, Master Narek. Don’t worry, I’ll look after him.”
He’d ensure Nate wasn’t able to go wandering about on his own again he meant.
Silver waited until the two of them were alone once more and the door had clicked shut behind the last of the guards before he turned back to Nuri who was still on the floor.
He was propped up against the side of the bed, his hands in his lap and his head low submissively, as if he thought that might work in his favor toward bargaining for his brother’s release.
