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“Are you sure you’re ready?” Azriel asked Galen once he’d slipped into his own clothes.
Galen was taken aback by the question. “If you recall, I’m not a novice.”
“That’s not what I meant.” Azriel arched an eyebrow, his gaze skimming the front of him. He was referring to the very reason that brought him to their doorstep. Galen hadn’t thought about his injuries in days because he felt better in ways he never had before, which was probably due to having a warm place to sleep and food in his belly.
Galen nodded. “You are obviously a miracle worker.”
Azriel blushed, and Galen was amused that discussing his work made him more flustered than having someone watch him come through a slot in a door. It was endearing really and quite a juxtaposition. One he could not wrap his brain around.
“It was the salve, of course,” Azriel replied.
“But you helped make it.”
“I did.” Their eyes connected and held. “I’m glad it helped.”
Once the flowers were placed behind their ears, Madam Langley gave them her blessing, and they were off to meet the gentlemen in the sitting room. Mr. Walters and Mr. Blackburn had returned, but the other gentlemen were unfamiliar to Galen, and he to them, so more introductions were made.
Galen helped serve the gentlemen tea and cakes while they conversed about different topics, sometimes drawing Galen into the conversation and asking his opinion on one thing or another. He realized it was in an effort to get a closer view of him—and Galen did not squander the opportunity either, despite his nerves.
He knew his lean form was being scrutinized as well, if the furtive glances at his backside and groin were any indication. That was why they were here, after all, so why not look before purchasing services?
But he found himself self-conscious on more than one occasion, especially when a handsome gentleman, who was graying at the temples, asked for a second helping of fruit cake in order to gaze openly and tell him how lovely he was.
As Galen moved about the room, everyone’s personalities were on display, and he found some entertaining and others rather strange. Mr. Walters, for example, seemed a bit empty-headed and boring. In contrast, Mr. Blackburn was quite smart and interesting, even as that deep sapphire aura pressed in on him like the darkening sky.
Would they recognize each other about town once he left this place? Galen would know about their proclivities and they his, and that commonality, along with their discretion, was the one thing that connected them all despite their stations in life.
As composed as Galen was around the gentlemen when he served them, he couldn’t help his trembling stomach whenever Azriel was near and he felt his cautious gaze on him. The establishment was packed with attractive guests, but Galen’s eyes still sought out the most unobtrusive man in the room. And he half expected Azriel to check whether his buttocks were still sore in the middle of serving moon-flower tea. He hadn’t realized he was smiling at that absurd thought until he lifted his gaze and saw Azriel smiling hesitantly back from across the way, his eyes amused and questioning.
“Is there a joke I’m missing?” Wren whispered as he passed by with a tray, and Galen shook his head, embarrassed at being so obvious.
“It is curious that Mr. Blackburn has returned this evening,” Wren said, glancing over his shoulder at the man.
“Why is that?”
“He never attends two nights in a row, so perhaps you are on his radar.” Wren grinned coyly. “On several, clearly.”
Galen’s skin prickled at the idea of several gentlemen vying for his time and attention. Now his nerves were getting the best of him, and he wished this part of the evening would speed along more swiftly.
He apparently got his wish, because before Galen knew it, they were all lining up in the vestibule and the men were entering the room. When the twins were immediately chosen by Mr. Walters, Galen’s thoughts drifted to watching them last night. Their tender kisses, their fine features and lean forms. He was nervous Mr. Walters’s cock might split Sparrow in two. Or perhaps they preferred it that way.
His skin heated, and his cock plumped up.
He couldn’t deny he enjoyed being a voyeur.
The gentleman who’d been eyeing him in the sitting room waited patiently for Madam Langley to finish her negotiations with the others, but continued to glance his way. Would he be approaching Galen for his flower? The tension in his stomach escalated, and it was nearly impossible to stop fidgeting.
Mr. Blackburn took Azriel’s flower again, and Galen watched as the gentleman negotiated arrangements. Madam Langley glanced at Galen several times, and his pulse throbbed against his throat, wondering what they could possibly be discussing.
After another moment, she motioned both Galen and Azriel over. He willed his feet to move as he followed Azriel to join their conversation.
