Page 17 of Bloom
Gautier nattered on about the price of ovi and how he was sure the Windswept Isles were charging Soleil more compared to other Kingdoms like West Bay, Cumbershire, and East Forest.
“Queen Kalani is rather close to King Oriel and his husbands,” said Lord Monet. “King Kalen and Rhys too. They went to war together, so they’re all pals. Of course, the poor crop won'tchange their prices, and they can have spicy chicken every day. I’m sure Cumbershire cut them a deal for something.”
“They shouldn’t be meddling with prices like that. It needs to be even depending on where it's transported. It's not the same as two pals making a private deal that doesn’t change what the citizens generally pay.” Gautier managed to bump Aleric with his elbow that time.
Besides shutting him up, Aleric wished he could stick his fork in Gautier’s throat and finish him right there. It would be satisfying to watch him gurgle on his blood, claw at the fork, die with his face planted in his lunch plate, and have to be carried out with bits of spinach and chicken stuck to his face.
Unfortunately, Aleric would be arrested for cold-blooded murder.
He’d run over many ways in his mind. The problem was that if he failed, how could he face Father and explain it when he hadn’t been believed before? Father would think he was a killer, and it would gut him.
Gautier might wait ages before trying again. He had time, and he was likely also hoping Aleric would flee. Without the eldest heir, Zacharie would be set to inherit the Earldom.
Gautier would propose. They’d get married. After a while, Lord Monet would be dealt with. Oops. What an unfortunate accident. Gautier would rise to the position of Earl with his young husband and have a few years ahead to enjoy what he’d lost before. If Zacharie had no part in anything, he’d be unwittingly lying with a murderer. He'd also be easily manipulated and swayed into decisions.
Aleric decided to skip dessert when it came even though he liked chouquettes. He needed to get away from Gautier, and he rose to tell Jaime to follow.
“You’re not staying?” Gautier tapped Aleric’s arm even though the question was no fucking reason to touch him.
“Have a couple.” Lord Monet reached for the platter of small, round pastries with pearl sugar. “I might have more than a couple.”
Aleric kept his composure and managed to not jerk his arm away. “No. Jaime, follow.”
“More for us,” Zacharie gloated.
It was a relief to be away from Gautier, although he couldn’t relax yet. The once-Earl likely wouldn’t be caught staring too openly in case Zacharie noticed and grew jealous. His attitude and devotion had to appear immaculate. Aleric still felt as if Gautier’s eyes were boring into his back as he left. The feeling only lessened in the entrance hall.
Jaime was silent until they were back in his rooms. A tray waited for him on the table in front of the couch, and Aleric was about to head to his bedroom when Jaime spoke.
“Can you not tell me to follow like I’m a doggie who needs to amble after his Master when told? Shall I wag my tail too?”
“If you feel like a doggie, that’s your problem. Not mine. Come into my bedroom after an hour.”
“Why?”
Aleric paused by his door. “Why do you think?” Did he have to constantly question? It was pretty obvious why Jaime would be invited to the bedroom, and it wasn’t for tea.
“Why an hour?”
“Because I don’t want you sucking my cock and throwing up in my lap because you just ate.”
“Oh.” Jaime squinted and let his eyes rove down Aleric’s body. “What if I don’t feel like sucking your cock?”
“Then don’t.”
Aleric slammed his bedroom door.
***
The problem with asserting dominance was that the other sometimes didn’t want to be dominated, and they weren’t the type to pretend for a bit. Not easily, anyway.
In other words, people like Jaime.
The other problem was that Aleric preferred men like Jaime and submitting to them, not dominating. He knew it was just the horny, not fully satisfied part of his brain that started thinking of what it would be like if he asked to get pinned down and railed. Jaime would probably jump on the chance, and Aleric could finally have what he’d been missing for years.
He didn’t feel confident when Jaime walked in after an hour since the bedroom door had been left unlocked. He’d rather suspected his aid would come because the prospect of sexual contact would interest him, and he was right.
The problem was whether or not Aleric could assert a little more control so Jaime didn’t do like last night and expect more later. Keeping it like business was one way. He paid, and Jaime would do the job. They wouldn’t get closer, become friends, or mess around in other ways. Just like he wouldn’t grow friendly with anyone at the whorehouse and allow extra liberties.
