The Stone Knight (gay)✔️

26. Hidden agenda

As if burned, Dylan let him go. "With what purpose?" he asked, downright aggressively.
Lucas straightened his back. This was not the time to show weakness. "To get to know me better," he said calmly. Carefully, he took a step back. When Dylan didn't stop him, he turned around and scooped the casserole into a nice serving dish.
Dylan hadn't moved from his place and watched Lucas put the food on the table and take a seat.
"I don't see the point of dating you. I've known you for goddamn twelve years!" Lucas nodded. "If you know me so well, why do you have so many questions?"

"Don't put this on me," Dylan angrily shouted. "You deliberately didn't inform me about things."
Sighing, Lucas shook his head. "You are the one who has very deliberately taken a step back. I now offer you the opportunity to change this." Despite his determined tone, he waited with beating heart for an answer.
"By dating you," Dylan snorted.
"Yes."
Dylan pursed his lips displeased. "I hope you realize I have a reputation to uphold. Appearing in public together raises questions I'd rather not answer."
Unfazed by Dylan's blunt remark, Lucas let his gaze slide over his table partner. "I very much appreciate your wish for discretion. It's not my intention to draw unwanted attention to this," he nodded. "I am confident that you will address the situation appropriately."
Gray eyes stared at him.
'An appropriate approach?' Dylan thought sourly. 'What would that look like in reality?'
Each occupied by their own thoughts they ate the delicious meal.

Dylan had just empty his plate when he heard a car approaching. "Here comes the wine," he smiled, wiping his mouth and leaving the table.
Lucas let him go. Anything that would improve his guest's mood was taken into account. The fresh supply of oxygen brought a fresh air. Lucas realized that he had mistakenly thought that the scent he had smelled on Dylan upon entering was forest air. Inhaling deeply, he enjoyed the invigorating cologne. Apparently he had breathed a little too conspicuously because as soon as Dylan put the box of wine on the counter, he turned to him smirking.

"Do you like the smell? It was a gift from Annika," he said defiantly.
Lucas stared at him for a second. 'How could he let such a comment go?' He got up smoothly, walked up to Dylan and stood right behind him. With his nose right behind Dylan's left ear, he inhaled deeply. "It is indeed a delicious scent, but it is by no means my favorite."
Lucas felt Dylan freeze under his fleeting touch.
"What's your favorite?" asked Dylan without looking.
Taken aback for a few seconds by the hoarse tone in which the question was asked, Lucas hesitated about his next step. Gently, he took a step closer and stroked his nose along the hairline before bringing his mouth to Dylan's right ear. Despite the intimate full body contact, neither man moved.
"Say yes!"
Unintentionally, his lips touched the tender skin of Dylan's neck. There was a noticeable shiver through the body in front of him, but he wasn't moving. Encouraged by this reaction, he deliberately let his lips slide over sensitive skin.
"Let me be very clear," it sounded icily. "The only reason I'm tolerating your outrageous behavior is because I need your help. Under different circumstances, I would have beaten you. And no, I wouldn't have apologized for that."
Lucas froze and immediately withdrew.
"It's nice to see that we understand each other," Dylan said without turning around.
He heard Lucas move away from him and walk to the living room to clear the table. Despite the palpable tension, he was not yet willing to end the evening.

Without making eye contact, Lucas rinsed off the plates and cutlery before putting it in the dishwasher. "If you stay for dessert, the Chardonnay would come in handy," he noted nonchalantly. Expectantly, he held his breath. Dylan's answer meant a lot to the potential development of their relationship.
Lucas had deliberately approached him and was not dissatisfied with the result. It offered, depending on Dylan's response, opportunities for the next phase. That hesitation in Dylan's response was a clear indication that he was aware of this. Long fingers closed around the Chardonnay bottle.
"Just because I'm staying doesn't mean I'm giving you permission to paw me," Dylan grumbled, warning.