Chapter 718 All carrots, no sticks

The fun and games had to come to an end, as Cass really did have some work he needed to get done. Lunch ended perfectly, Cass walking back holding Eddie’s hand so that he didn’t feel left out, and he bid Giddy goodbye with a kiss, that surprised Eddie, and Lucy got jealous. He growled, grabbing Cass by the shoulders and kissing him, bending him backwards and kissing him deeply.

Of course, this was in the foyer, near the stairs.

Cass had thought them fully fed, but it seems that they were getting greedy.

Lucy then left Cass and Eddie alone, saying that he needed to go check on the meat stores after Giddy had left. He went off in a different direction, leaving Cass and Eddie alone to walk back to Cass’-their rooms, hand in hand, with Eddie stealing glances at Cass as they moved through the hallway.

The guards at the front of their doors smiled at them and opened the door for them as they approached. Cass grinned, smiling as he led Eddie inside and towards his office.

"This is nice." Cass told him, smiling as he turned to Eddie. He was pulling off his hat, smiling at Cass as well.

"What is?" Eddie asked, half joking, and Cass rolled his eyes. He squeezed Eddie’s hand, holding it up as he did so before he raised it to his lips and pressed a kiss against the back of Eddie’s hand, watching as the other man blushed.

"Being able to be open and honest about everything." Cass said. Well, not everything, but pretty much everything. He had, after all, been confined to his rooms for the last several days so that he didn’t accidentally seduce all of his staff, just the ones he was okay sleeping with, and those who he had no interest in.

Eddie smiled at Cass, the look so sweet and loving that Cass felt his heart ache.

"I like it too." Eddie told him. "And I like that we’re working towards a better future, even amongst all of the issues with the demon king. I like how strong you are, Cass." Eddie said. "And how much conviction you have to keep pushing us forward." Eddie flushed, and slid Cass a look before looking away. "I also like you." He said. Cass froze.

He’d never said anything outwardly since his conversation with them about how he wasn’t certain he could feel emotions for them the same way that they felt emotions for him. Eddie had said he understood that, that he respected that, but-

"I’m not expecting you to answer!" Eddie said quickly, noticing how still Cass had gotten. "Really, I’m not. I just...I hope you won’t hold it against me that I tell you?" Eddie asked carefully. "After all, I can finally say it proudly, out loud, and not be terrified that others will overhear me." Eddie said. Cass, who had frozen, panicking as soon as the words had left Eddie’s lips, relaxed slightly. He could understand Eddie’s excitement, and Cass, for all that he was terrified to say the same back to Eddie, wouldn’t take that away from him.

"I’m sorry for reacting so stiffly." Cass told him. "I was just worried that you would expect a response from me." Cass admitted softly as they got to the office doors. Eddie reached for them, opening them easily as he motioned for Cass to enter first.

Ember and Sage were inside, organising and dusting, but when they caught sight of Cass and Eddie, both women straightened, while their faces relaxed.

"It’s okay, Cass. I should have expected that kind of reaction, but I was just so excited that I couldn’t stop myself." Eddie told him shyly. Cass, for his part, felt like shit for taking away Eddie’s excitement. Still holding Eddie’s hand, he pressed another kiss to the back of Eddie’s hand.

"I’m sorry for taking away the joy of it. I can understand why people say it, I just..." Cass trailed off with a soft sigh. "You’re allowed to say it, Eddie. I won’t react poorly, like just now. I might still be shocked, but I’ll be better behaved from now on." Cass promised, in front of the girls.

Sage looked shocked, while Ember, who had a bit more up close and personal experience with the two, smirked and kept her thoughts to herself.

Eddie flushed, his eyes darting to Cass’ lips before he pulled himself back.

"O-Okay. Thanks, Cass."

Cass did turn his attention to the girls, after he checked Eddie’s office to see if the furniture had arrived. He frowned, mildly annoyed to find that it hadn’t yet. He’d have to send a letter out to check and see where it was at.

"I’m looking for all of the letters that Eddie hasn’t finished. Getting those out is a priority since we’re now speeding up our Capital timeline now that I’m better." Cass told them. Sage and Ember nodded, Sage moving over to the piles of work that Eddie had been working on, knowing exactly how everything was laid out. Eddie looked a little flustered.

"Cass, you can leave that to me. I’m sure there are other things that you need to get done." He said, flushed, and Cass shrugged.

"Sure, there are other things that I could focus on getting done, but two doing the same task will get it done faster. You deserve some rest as well, Eddie, and you didn’t really get it while I was being fed." Sure, he’d ’rested’ but that was due to sheer exhaustion. Cass had remembered how the man had begged and pleaded for breaks a few times, and how Cass had given them. He wasn’t a monster in that regard.

This was how Cass showed his kindness.

Eddie looked horrified.

Cass gave him a small smile.

"You don’t want to think about what we need to pack for a relatively short Capital trip? Like new outfits or clothes or things of that nature? I was hoping to get the work done so that we could go on a date in town to finalize things, but if you want to focus on this on your own, that’s fine too." At the mention of the word date, Eddie froze.

His eyes flickered, glowing slightly, before he wordlessly turned back to his pile and shut up, not arguing with Cass as he moved towards his desk. Cass smirked, a little amazed that a simple word could have the man acting that way.

Thankfully, it did mean that Eddie didn’t protest his help and by the time that dinner rolled around, a little later in the evening, they were almost done. A short writing session after dinner would be able to finish off the task of writing the letters, a small blessing.

Cass leaned back in his chair, stretching. His back was a little sore from being hunched over, but it was a good feeling at the same time. His muscles were still a little tender, which told him that he truly had pushed himself far too hard during his last heat.

Cass’ face warmed as he remembered his heat, what he’d done, and what the others had done. Cass’ face burned as he recalled Giddy fucking him from behind and biting down on the tender tip of his tail.

It had been embarrassing how much he had cum, and damn Lucy hadn’t cared about anything that had happened. Even Giddy had been so-

A knock sounded at the door before Giddy pushed the door open, peeking inside.

"Are you two done for the evening?" He asked, curious and Cass gave a chuckle. Of course he would show up just as Cass was having naughty thoughts.

"Almost. We’ll have to come back to finish a few more letters, but we’re almost done. We can take a break for dinner though." Cass said, which seemed to surprise Eddie and Giddy.

"You’re okay doing that?" Eddie asked. "I would have thought-" Eddie cut off, looking a little embarrassed at his train of thought while Cass just chuckled. The promise of a date had well and truly tempted him.

"Eddie, we’ll be able to finish this in a few short hours after dinner. Besides, I just came back from being bound to the bedroom for a while. Eating a full meal won’t hurt and then we’ll be able to finish everything and go to bed early for once." Cass told him. Eddie shifted uncomfortably before he sighed, nodding. He couldn’t disagree with Cass, and Giddy watched on.

It was clear he could sense that there was something more to their interaction, and that he was curious, but he was the kind of man who wouldn’t push. If Lucy had been here instead of Giddy he would have already pressed them to feed his curiousity.

Eddie put down his pen, getting to his feet while Cass pushed the chair out from behind the desk and stretched again in earnest. He raised his hands above his head, linking them and stretching out the tense muscles.

Yawning, he walked around the desk, joining Giddy and Eddie in the doorway.

"Where’s Lucy?" Cass asked. Giddy gave an amused smile.

"Well, it’s your first meal downstairs in a while so he wanted to make sure everything was perfect. I suspect that things might be either too extravagant, or rather rustic. I’m not sure which one will win since I’ve been forbidden from sneaking a peak and satiating my curiousity." Giddy said, his eyes bright with amusement.

He’d clearly had a shower before he’d come to meet them, his hair damp and loosely styled on top of his head. He was wearing a more formal shirt instead of the loose-fit white fluttery thing that he’d been wearing before. His pants were rather loose as well, and overall, he looked well dressed and comfy.

"Did he give a timeline for when we could arrive?" Cass asked. Giddy blinked.

"He didn’t say anything to me, no." He replied and amused, Cass turned to Sage.

"Sage dear, can you go knock on the door to the dining room and see if Lucy wants us to arrive at a certain time?" He asked. Sage nodded, brushing past them to do as instructed. Cass waited, amused, and Sage was back in record time.

"Um, Lord Lucian said that if you gave him a few more minutes, he would appreciate it." She said shyly. Cass laughed.

"Well, let’s wait here then, and then go bother Lucy. I’m curious to see what he’s laid out for us."