I cut in, “What’s that got to do with any?—”
“It’s got everything to do with it,” Miles interrupts. “Power attracts the weak.”
“She’s not?—”
“And I know you, Fritz. We’ve been friends since I was the new kid with the funny accent in grade seven. People fall in love with you without even trying. It’s who you are.”
I sigh. He’s right. But when it comes to Aurelia, I can’t stop. I can’t stay away from her even when I try. “Can’t I just enjoy the company of a beautiful, intelligent, funny woman for a little while?” I floponto the couch where she had been in my arms less than an hour ago.
“It’s a terrible idea. Someone will get hurt here.”
“No one is getting hurt, Miles. We both know there’s a defined end. This is purely physical.” My glass is empty again and Miles is quick to refill.
My friend lets out a long breath and comes to sit next to me. “Then tell me what you need from me.”
His hand is strong and warm on my shoulder, and his familiar touch is soothing to my heightened nerves. “First, I have a pressing physical need.”
He barks a laugh. “That much is obvious. Sorry, but I can’t be of help there.”
The unspoken modifier hangs in the air between us. Thank fuck my beard hides my blush, but I go for an eyeroll, hoping to distract from the heat climbing my cheeks. “More than that, though, I want to take her out, like on proper dates and such. But she wants to stay under the paparazzi radar as much as possible, and I’d really appreciate not starting a media storm either. Moreso than there already will be with all this mess of finding some aristocratic breeding mare.”
“Ew.” Miles shudders. “And also, how?”
“We’ll go out with you and Trixie. That draws far less attention than me going out alone.”
“And you just assumed Trix and I would go along with this scheme of yours?”
“I thought I could always count on my best friend and my favorite cousin.”
Miles stares at the amber liquid in his glass as he twirls it in his hands. “I still don’t like it, Fritz. But you’re right, I’ve always got your back.”
We clink our tumblers together to seal the agreement.
Miles gestures to the bulge still prominent in my robe. “Now, about the more immediate issue.”
I drop my head against the back of the couch and groan. “Yeah, it’s a real fucking problem.”
He grabs my wrist and brings my right hand in front of my face. “Here, have you two met?”
I scowl at him. “Ha. Ha. And yeah, already did that and fat lot of good it did.”
My friend laughs, and I could punch him. I’m beyond the point of ribbing, and the longer my erection goes on, the more irritable it makes me.
“Are we reaching medical emergency levels here, Fritz?”
“I will murder you and make it look like an accident.”
He controls himself again and pulls out his phone. “Here, I have an idea on how to help.” He scrolls for a minute, then begins typing.
I put a hand on his arm before he hits send. “You’re not texting Cyril again, right?”
Miles snorts. “I doubt even his standards are that low after you already brushed him off. No, I was thinking Brassard. You like the silver fox, daddy typesright?”
I shake my head. “Not Brassard. Last time he was too touchy, and I think he’s getting the wrong idea.” Any such partner I let into my bed has to know that it’s purely carnal. They’re not in some special place of honor because I let them use my body. Most get it. Some start to get too comfortable after a while.
My friend laughs again. “I mean, youhavelet him in more than a handful of times.”
“He already has an NDA,” I mutter, failing to keep the defensiveness from my tone. “It’s easier to get to the fucking without having to go through all the legal bullshit.” Him fucking me, that is, because while I don’t fuck,beingfucked is different.Right?
Here’s the thing: the beauty in being queer in the aristocracy is that we all have something to lose. Loose lips mean mutually assured destruction, and thus secrecy is a nonissue. But I don’t have those assurances with women—I learnedthatthe hard way—so while I’ll let women who work at the club—who also have ironclad nondisclosure agreements—get me off with the occasional blowjob, I haven’t taken a woman to bed in a very,verylong time. I’m putting myself out on a huge limb for this thing with Aurelia, but my dick has definitely overridden my better senses when it comes to her, and for some reason, I trust her. Plus, we won’t be fucking so if anyone on the outside finds out, the media won’t give two shits about handjobs and oral sex.
Miles sighs, pouring each of us another glass ofwhiskey when it’s clear we’re going to be here a while. “Shall we just get you so drunk your willy quits working instead?”
“Still haven’t found that limit yet,” I chuckle.
“Me neither,” Miles agrees, raising his glass for a cheers.
