Chapter 291: I have the upper hand?
Cass was all grins as he sat in the carriage across from a rather awkward-looking Edgar.
Cass couldn’t get the grin off of his face either. It just felt so damn satisfying to see the man so awkward. Edgar hadn’t expected this at all, and Lucian had helped with it too. Lucian, who had immediately sniffed out the change in attitude in Cass had demanded to know what he was plotting.
So, Cass told him what he was thinking. When he told Lucian what he was planning, he actually worried at first that the dragon was going to throw a fit that Cass wasn’t immediately inviting him as well. Instead, Lucian was rather mature about it.
He grew thoughtful, helping Cass out of bed before he nodded.
"That might be a wonderful idea for the both of you. It also means that I can send Sir Sanders with you two, I’ll know you will have two guards with you essentially, and I can do the task that the maids asked of me. I can also scout for Byron and Sam, and come back and let you know how much longer they will be. If they are close enough, I might just scoop them up. Byron is probably not flying, given how long it’s taking them." Lucian had been practical, thoughtful.
Cass was almost impressed, and then a little angry that something that little, that simple could impress him. The man was a dragon who had been alive a lot longer than Cass could even consider. This shouldn’t impress him.
Even with the talk to himself, he couldn’t help but continue to be impressed as the two planned to surprise Edgar with their plans. Lucian looked thrilled to be doing something ’sneaky’, and he pulled it off really well.
After lunch, Lucian stood up suddenly from the table, and left. Cass wasn’t concerned, but Fiona and Lady Ava were, as they had joined them for lunch. Sir Sanders and Ser Hune had been briefed on what was going to happen, and Ser Hune was smiling to herself.
When Lucian came back, he had Edgar’s hat in hand, a thicker jacket for Cass, and then he ushered the two up and out of the house.
Edgar was stunned, and now they were in the carriage as it made its way down the narrow path out of the estate. Sir Sanders opted to stay with the driver, and Cass completely understood. It was what Sir Forsythe would do, so he didn’t blame him.
Sir Forsythe. Thinking about how the man had come to say a quick goodbye before heading back to the manor gave Cass some conflicted feelings. At the same time, he was glad that he wasn’t with Cass again when he went out with Edgar.
Things were...considerably different compared to the last time they had gone out.
Speaking of, Edgar finally spoke up after being silent for a long time.
"What about...your work?" Edgar asked, sounding cautious, worried. Cass let out a bark of laughter.
"What work, Edgar? We sent out the letters this morning and they’ve done incredible work. Plus, I think word of my meetings yesterday also did the rounds and everyone is terrified I am going to treat them the same way." Cass’ eyes sparkled as he leaned back in his seat. He was glad that the carriage was fluffier.
He couldn’t exactly argue with Lucian that he didn’t like softer seats, he just hated that Lucian considered his own lap soft. Cass hated it more that he couldn’t argue with that.
"So...what exactly is happening? What did you...plan? Because as much as Lucian helped with this, I can’t believe he planned this on his own." Edgar’s voice was suspicious, cautious, and only made Cass’ grin feel even more infectious. Cass raised his hand to rest under his chin as he leaned against the side of the carriage.
Edgar was watching his every move, his arms crossed, his normal blue gaze fixated on the other man.
"Why do you think that Lucian couldn’t plan this?" Cass asked and Edgar gave a soft snort.
"Well, you’re too calm, for one, and he has been recently running his plans by me first. So if he didn’t run this by me, he must have run this by you." Edgar’s logic was sound, but then made Cass suspicious.
"Wait, does that mean you knew about the bathtub adjustments?" Cass asked and watched as Edgar turned his gaze away, and Cass narrowed his gaze. These two hooligans.
"I have no idea what you’re talking about, and if I did, why would I agree to a dragon themed tub?" Edgar protested, and Cass could tell that was something he didn’t discuss with Edgar. Cass sighed, rolling his eyes.
"Alright, fine. I told Lucian that I wanted to take you shopping since he didn’t like my plan. This was our compromise." Edgar’s eyes widened before he uncrossed his arms and began to wave them in front of his face.
"Cass, I already said-"
"-I don’t care what you said, I don’t like it, so I’m fixing it. End of discussion." Cass told him, cutting the other man off. Edgar sat there, stunned, as Cass glared at him. "Are you going to argue about gifts that I want to give you? Or are you going to take it, and shut the fuck up?" Cass knew his attitude about this wasn’t great. He would be the first to admit it. The second person?
Lord Blackburn, horrified inside of him. Just simply disgusted, and Cass wondered if it was because he wanted to give Edgar gifts, or if it was the way he was speaking to him. He had a feeling it was both.
Edgar was silent, his mouth slightly ajar as he stared at Cass. The moment dragged on, and Cass could feel his temper rising as the carriage continued to rock. Eventually, Edgar picked his jaw up, and covered his mouth, looking thoughtful.
"I just...I don’t know what to say. This is just so shocking to me. Shut up and take it, huh? There are a few other things I think I could just shut up and take." Edgar’s eyes were sparkling as he turned his gaze back to Cass, and it took Cass a minute to realise what he was implying.
Cass felt his mouth drop open as he gasped, shocked that Edgar would say that. Edgar smirked at Cass’ response, his eyes curling up at the corners, making his already handsome face even more so. He lowered his hands, patting his lap.
"Why don’t you come on over, Baby? You sat in my lap the last time we went shopping. We can do a repeat." Cass felt his face flush red at the man’s words and the look in his eyes. Cass sputtered, flustered and shifted further into the corner of the carriage. That made Edgar laugh.
He tossed his head back, laughing heartily, his hat hitting the back of the carriage and forcing it to fall over his face. Cass hated that even with that simple act, he still looked handsome. He didn’t look like a fool, when Cass was sure if their roles were reversed, he would look like a damn idiot.
Fuck that man.
Cass flushed as he remembered exactly what he had just said. He wanted Cass to fuck him. Cass felt his heart race, and he jerked his gaze away from the man. At least, he was pretty sure that was what he was saying. Was that what he was saying? He had reading experience, but nothing else.
Honestly, he was a little surprised. He didn’t expect that of Edgar. He didn’t strike him as the kind of man who would...like that? Cass immediately felt guilty thinking that. Why wouldn’t he be the kind of man that would like that? It was a pleasure point. People should like it.
Cass did.
Cass felt his face warm. He really shouldn’t be thinking these things, especially not around Edgar, and certainly not around Lucian. He was lucky that there was a delay in his feelings the further he got away from Lucian.
"I am not sitting in your lap again." Cass muttered, and more laughter poured out of Edgar.
"Oh? You want to switch it up? I’m okay with that." Cass jerked his gaze towards him, his mouth opening up to complain but it was too late. The man was already making his way towards Cass. He easily slid himself onto Cass’ lap, sliding his hands around the back of his neck with a grin.
Cass’ heart felt like it was in his throat as the man sat, his thighs spread, on Cass’ lap. That little smirk on his lips as he stared down at Cass, his face far too close for Cass’ comfort. Cass didn’t know what to do with his hands, and Edgar knew that. He smirked, sliding a hand down Cass’ arm, taking his hand in his.
"You can touch me, Baby." Edgar whispered and Cass gulped as the other man placed his hand on his thigh. Cass felt like his eyes had to be swimming. This was so much for him to deal with right now, and Edgar chuckled.
He bent, his hat hitting the carriage wall behind Cass’ head, his whole body shaking as he laughed.
"You look like a spooked deer." Edgar said between his laughter and Cass felt his mouth firm into a thin line.
"Stop laughing at me." Cass protested, and that only made Edgar laugh more.
"What did you expect to happen, hmm? This is what normally happens when a man asks someone out on a date." Cass felt his face flush. A date? This wasn’t a date! This was just them going shopping together!
"T-This isn’t a date! I’m just buying you clothes!" Cass protested and Edgar’s laughter died. Cass could hear the deep, slow breaths he was taking before he pulled his head back up, his smile softer, his eyes still curled at the corners but something else lingered in his eyes.
"Cassian Blackburn, I know you don’t have much experience in this area, but are you serious? Did you never go on a date in your...dream?" Edgar asked and Cass swallowed. He glanced at the other man, did a quick scan of his body, his hand flexing on the fabric under his hand. The fabric on Edgar’s thigh. He shook his head.
"No. I didn’t. I was too busy...working." Cass admitted. There were several other reasons, but that was the main one. Edgar’s face grew contemplative, before he sighed. He leaned in, the brim of his hat touching Cass’ head as Edgar’s lips brushed against his ear.
"Well, in this era men typically buy clothes for their partners to take it off, Cass. So, how else was I supposed to take this, hmm? Especially when both you and Lucian planned this?" Cass didn’t know what to say to that. What could he say to that?
He wanted to deny it outright. He wanted to be cruel, to be mean. To tell him that wasn’t what he meant. He had no intention of anything like that, but the words caught in his throat. His hand clenched on Edgar’s thigh and he swallowed thickly.
"I-It wasn’t like that." Cass whispered quietly. "I just wanted to do something nice for you." Cass told him. Edgar let out a soft hum, a soft sigh, and surprised Cass when he pressed a kiss against his cheek.
"And that is how I know Lucian didn’t plan this in the slightest. It’s too...innocent." Edgar pulled back with a grin. "If I had planned this event we wouldn’t have had lunch with everyone else first. I would have taken you out for lunch alone, and then we would have gone shopping after." Edgar was teasing him. He’d been teasing him this whole fucking time.
Cass’ cheeks burned as he slid his free hand up to cover where Edgar had just kissed. Edgar grinned, his eyes shimmering slightly. The effect made Cass’ heart pound more, and Edgar’s smile grew slightly predatory.
"I can hear that, Baby." Edgar said warmly, before leaning in, their noses brushing. "Do you want to kiss a little bit before we get to a clothing store?" He asked. Cass let out a shaky breath.
This was not how he had planned things to go!