Page 122 of In at the Deep End

“I was spoiled,” Felix said with a grin. “I started with him.”

Gray laughed. “We’ve never complained.”

Adam nodded. “It makes scheduling much easier.”

Matt frowned. “I suppose I’d assumed⁠—”

“That everyone works with everyone else?” Adam finished.

Matt’s face warmed suddenly. “Yeah.”

Adam shook his head. “Some people do.”

“Some don’t,” Gray added.

“Everybody decides their own boundaries.” Adam shrugged. “Nobody gets talked into anything.”

Felix gazed up at Sebastian with a smile that lit up his face. “I found what I wanted on day one.”

Sebastian squeezed his shoulder. “So did I.” He met Matt’s gaze. “What I do for Adam and Gray? That’s work.” He glanced at Felix. “He’s the person I come home with.”

Matt couldn’t help smiling at that.

As the afternoon wore on and more guests arrived, Matt realised he was being given a tour through Owen’s world. Lots of men, different couples, differing ages, dynamics, relationships. Some wore leather, a vest here, a harness there. The biggest surprise was seeing a few guys in skimpy leather jocks—and dog masks that covered their heads, black with a flash of colour, ears alert.

Then he recalled Owen’s words.

Aha. So those are puppies.

Yeah, this party was definitely educational.

Matt’s favourite occupation was watching Owen moving among his guests, hugging them, accepting kisses to his cheek, some guys flirting with him, and Owen flirting right back, confident and self-assured.

Then it occurred to him that Owen had changed since his university days. Cyn had described him as hating being the centre of attention, being happiest watching people.

This Owen was the complete opposite.

He also kept checking on Matt every time he walked past.

“You okay?”

“Do you need another drink?”

“Have you met everyone?”

Owen didn’t abandon him once, but didn’t smother him either.

The late afternoon heat had a lot of guests removing clothing, not all of it, but enough that what was left barely covered their assets. Matt spied Felix getting out of the pool, and he caught a glimpse of the faint scars across his chest.

There was something he’d been wondering ever since Felix had mentioned he only filmed with Sebastian. Maybe those scars were the answer.

Felix wandered over to him. “How come you haven’t joined the guys cannonballing into the pool?”

Matt chuckled. “Perhaps later.” He hesitated for a moment. “Can I ask you something?”

Felix smiled. “Sure.”

Matt rubbed the back of his neck. “If it’s too personal, you can always tell me to mind my own business.”