Austin shook his head and cursed at him before grinning. “I’m glad you’re okay. As I have time off, do you want to get drunk?”
Felix opened his mouth to say no, but then stopped himself. “Actually, yes, I do.” Then he remembered the possibility of going to the club. “Damn it,” he muttered. “No, I can’t. Maybe next time?”
He wanted to be completely sober for if Brett wanted to partake, though he doubted he would if he was on duty.
****
Chapter 25
Brett
The event progressed without issues, for which Brett was eternally grateful. He wanted to get back to Felix; however, his charges wanted to go to the club, so he messaged Felix to let him know that was where they were going and received a thumbs up in return. He wasn’t sure if that meant Felix would meet them there or if it was just confirmation that he’d seen the message, but the longing in his heart hoped it was the former.
As he stood to one side in the ‘conversation room’ at Club Royal, watching the Sutcliffes with their partners and husbands, his chest ached. Finally, he admitted how much Felix meant to him, but there were still many barriers between them and a potential happy ever after. Could Brett continue to watch Felix put his life in danger every time they were with the royals? Could Felix do the same with Brett? There had always been cons to working with someone close, as Foster and Carl found out, but could it truly work? Did he want to find out? He wasn’t sure if he could stand to watch his relationship with Felix suffer if they hit problems. But there was one thing he could do. Something he had been considering for a while but not wanting to decide upon because he loved his job. But he would do it for Felix.
The doors to the room opened, and his gaze flicked to them, ensuring that whoever entered wouldn’t be a threat to the royal family. His heart skipped when Felix stepped through, his gaze going straight to where Brett stood. Felix ate the distancebetween them until he stood beside him but leaned his shoulder against the wall rather than his back as he would’ve done if he’d been officially working. His scent hit Brett, a clean, fresh aroma that always seemed to follow him and invaded every molecule of Brett’s body. Brett forced his gaze back to the men he was protecting.
“Hey,” Felix said.
“Hi. Did you see your mum?” He had been worried about his visit. Not because his parents would be horrible to him, but because he didn’t want Felix to feel bad.
“Yeah,” Felix sighed. “We actually talked a lot and cleared the air. My dad had a similar experience with Uncle Frank, which I wasn’t expecting. It gives us something in common, which we didn’t have before.” He stared across the room, though Brett didn’t think he saw anything. “He apologised for not seeing it and helping,” he murmured.
Brett kept his surprise to himself. He hadn’t thought Stephen Jamison was capable of being sorry for anything, but people surprised him occasionally.
“I told them about you and me,” Felix whispered into the quiet. “Mum was over the moon. Dad was more reserved and wanted you to visit soon. I told them it could wait until after we’ve figured out what the hell is going on.”
Brett’s stomach churned. Facing someone to tell them their son was missing was a whole other scenario than telling them they were dating. It changed the dynamic. But if that was what Felix wanted, then Brett would walk through fire to ensure he had it—and he probably would have to.
“I haven’t heard anything more from Nick, Owen or Sam because we went out this evening instead. I’ll catch up with them tomorrow. I’m hoping they’re all getting some much-needed rest after I ran them ragged these past few days.” He couldn’t thank them enough for what they’d done for him while Felixwas missing, but he would think of something. He doubted they would have been where they were with information if it wasn’t for them.
“We can combine everything tomorrow and figure out what’s going on. There must be something we’re missing, but I don’t want to think about this now.”
Brett shivered at the tone in his voice. He chanced a side glance and found Felix already looking at him. “What do you want?”
“You.”
No hesitation. Just one simple word that didn’t feel so simple emotionally.
Brett paused. Could he do this? He pressed his earpiece, meeting Felix’s gaze. “Dominic, are you all set up with guards if I step down tonight?”
Felix’s eyes heated.
“Absolutely. Go do your man.” The laughter in his voice had Brett fighting a blush, but he nodded across the room in Dominic’s direction.
“Clocking off,” he replied and turned off his earpiece. “Give me a second,” he said to Felix and strode towards Prince Christian. “Your Highness, I am finishing for the evening. If you need anything, please speak with Dominic; however, I will always answer your call should you need me.”
Christian’s mouth curved. “I will ensure I don’t need you, but thank you all the same.” He glanced behind him. “Maybe you can use one of the rooms here. I believe the room with the St Andrew’s Cross is available this evening.”
Brett tried for a second time to stop his blush from becoming visible, but he wasn’t sure he succeeded. “Thank you. Enjoy your evening.”
“You, too.”
He returned to Felix, taking his hand and leading him to the door to the club itself while sending a text message to Clarice, the club’s receptionist and all-time gem, to request the use of the room. He received immediate confirmation, including the code for the door, and his heart pounded at what he was about to do. Although he was interested in bondage and control, and he had the training for it—thanks to one of Christian’s friends who had trained him at Christian’s request several years ago—it was his first time in a while, and his first time with Felix, which made it terrifying.
The noise rose exponentially as they entered, skirting the edges of the room until he led him to the room Christian mentioned. He input the code for the door and entered, dragging Felix in behind him. He let go of his hand, but before he could do anything, Felix pushed him against the door and kissed him. There was no slow exploration, only need and, at least on Brett’s part, love. He cupped Felix’s nape, pulling him infinitesimally closer, and ravaged his mouth. Raw sounds left Felix’s mouth each time they needed to breathe, sending more and more heat flowing through Brett’s body.
He flipped them around, slamming Felix against the door, and pressed a hand to his chest to stop him from attacking his mouth again. When Felix subsided, Brett slid his hand lower until he reached the hem of his T-shirt. Pulling it from his waistband, he glided his fingertips across Felix’s warm skin, lifting the fabric higher. Brett raised an eyebrow, and Felix audibly gulped before raising his arms.