Page 54 of The Bright and Hungry Future of Hawks

“You are very brown.”

Ben’s eyes widened fractionally, his gaze penetrating. He had definitely not missed the significance of this apparently innocuous comment.

Aleksey realised then that Ben was weighing up the consequences of his reply.

In a rare flash of clarity, Aleksey saw a moment in his life as pivotalbeforethe shit started to fly. Saw that plunging through the world on permanent offence did not allow for such nuanced awareness of how delicately balanced each moment could be.

Eventually, when he’d apparently got what he wanted from the study of the amber eyes scrutinising him back just as intently, Ben lifted his glass and clinked it softly to Aleksey’s. “Not everywhere. Sir.”

Aleksey actually let a smile form on his face. It was there before he thought to stop it, to thinkNikolas doesn’t find Ben Rider funny.

But it was too late. Aleksey found him very amusing indeed and this delight showed briefly on his face.

Ben tilted his head a little, clearly pondering this uncharacteristic slip, but before he could comment on it, Aleksey, still highly delighted, murmured, “It is a warm night.”

No response.

He sighed silently. “Perhaps you would like to take a walk. With me.”

Ben got it and grinned. “Yes. Exercise is exactly what I was thinking. With you.”

Just as Aleksey stepped closer, preparing physically to corral him towards a small door at the back of the galleried hall, his urgency now obvious, risen hard and heavy on the brilliance of Ben’s smile, Ben paused and with an air of studied nonchalance, although actually watching him very closely to gauge his reaction, announced, “But I’m starving. Food first, I think. Sir.” He then turned and sauntered off to the dining room.

If Ben had punched him in front of the guests Aleksey could not have been more astonished. Not only had Ben understood his chastisement for the fight last time, he’d accepted it meekly, as he should.

But then he’d flipped the rebuke right back at him. And he’d won.

* * *

He leant against the dining room wall, watching Ben hoover the buffet.

Ben took his time, but didn’t, Aleksey noticed, bother with the puddings.

He walked casually over when he was done.

Aleksey pushed off the wall and went out of the French windows, which stood open to allow the cool evening air into the overheated room.

He continued to walk towards the shrubbery.

Some distance from the house there was a small pavilion by a pond.

He stopped there and waited.

After a few moments, Ben appeared. He had apparently stopped to filch a bottle of wine, which he now produced with two glasses. He poured one for Aleksey and gave it to him.

Aleksey took it.

Ben lifted his hand, and laid it on Aleksey’s cheek.

This gesture shocked him as much as the arrogant behaviour had earlier. He flinched away. Ben’s jaw clenched at the obvious rejection.

Very slowly and challengingly, he returned the hand. Aleksey narrowed his eyes and clenched his jaw, his warning palpable.

If Ben got the message for caution, he ignored it. He closed his fingers and raked his nails down the side of Aleksey’s face. He didn’t draw blood, but it was threatening in its own way.

Aleksey seized his wrist.

“Stop. Do not mark me so.”

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