Gideon, in his typical behaviour, looked like he was scandalised by everything he touched. Whenever the water moved, the man jerked, whenever Edgar shifted, he jerked, whenever Cass let out a soft, content sigh, the man jerked.

He just could not rest while in the bath with the other men. It made Cass wonder if he had ever relaxed in his life.

If he even knew how?

"Gideon, seriously, just relax. We aren’t going to jump you or anything." Cass muttered, his head back, eyes closed as he rested against the edge of the tub. He’d gotten good at taking advantage of the little moments that he had, thanks to how much Cassian worked himself to the bone. The first month had been a brutal learning curve since he had so much he had to learn about the country, the world, and what Cassian was doing, that he began to take solace in baths.

Cass didn’t think that Gideon did the same.

"I-I apologise. I’m just unfamiliar with the practise of bathing together." He said. Cass wanted to open his eyes just to roll them at his behaviour.

"It’s not anything crazy, Gideon. It’s just, spending time with people that you care about while in the nude, bonding, and cleaning." Edgar told him, shifting on the bench around the edge of the tub. "It’s really not that complicated. It isn’t like we’re going into a dungeon or anything." Edgar teased. Cass chuckled.

"It’s really not. We don’t even have to touch each other because the tub is so big." Cass told him. Edgar sighed.

"Though I would be upset if you moved away from me if I moved closer to you, so don’t do that." Edgar warned. "I promise to keep my hands to places that are respectable. I know how uncomfortable you are with having my hands on you." Edgar told him seriously. Cass couldn’t see Gideon’s expression, but he heard the man sigh.

"I’m not...uncomfortable. I think that’s something that you two are mistaking. I’m trying to show restraint. I don’t want to come across as some beast as soon as anyone touches me. Father taught me that all men fall to their base natures eventually, and I’ve been working hard to make sure I don’t do that. Either by withdrawing from situations that could make my determination crumble, or averting my gaze, or any other means that would keep me from turning into a beast." Cass’ eyes slowly opened upon hearing Gideon’s confession.

Well, it was less of a confession on Gideon’s part. He was just explaining himself. That didn’t mean that Cass and Edgar were taking it as such.

When Cass sat up, raising his head up and off the edge of the tub, he made direct eye contact with Edgar. The man’s blue gaze was wide, surprised, but there was a level of excitement there that had Cass’ skin prickling.

Gideon had been holding himself back? No wonder the man had looked so...well, constipated was the only way Cass could think to word it. He had been holding himself in such a strange way for so long that Cass hadn’t thought anything of it. Until he put the pieces together that he had always been like that because he was trying to control himself. He was putting a wall between him, and the people who could cause him to sin.

Now he was in a tub with them, naked, and he was explaining himself. Cass let out a soft laugh.

"You do realise that we both want to tease you about that now that you’ve said it, right?" Cass turned to Gideon, staring at him, and watched as he swallowed visibly. He looked a little shaken, but not constipated. It was a serious improvement since it made his handsome face remain as such. His wet, red hair fell into his eyes and he reached up, pushing it back.

He probably had no idea the move made both Edgar and Cass watch him like a hawk, each man following the movement of his fingers through his hair, the way his muscles flexed at the simple, easy movement.

"I didn’t consider it as I said it, but now I am aware." He muttered, his cheeks flushing. Fuck, Cass just wanted to eat him up.

"You aren’t exactly making this fair. I just promised I wouldn’t do anything to you, and now I want to make you squirm. A beast, Gideon? You? I just can’t imagine it." Edgar said, his eyes narrowing. He was calculating, trying to see if Gideon would rise to the bait.

Unfortunately for Gideon, and a wonderful turn of events for Cass and Edgar, Gideon was a knight. He loved challenges, even if he was unaware of the game he was playing.

Gideon’s green gaze sharpened, his shoulders stiffening slightly.

"Of course I can be a beast. I’m a man, after all." Gideon said with a huff. Cass gave a soft, almost pitying laugh.

"Oh, I had no doubts you were a man, but you’ve avoided us like we’re a plague until now, Gideon. You couldn’t even handle being in the same room as us. In fact, it was only yesterday that we shared a kiss. You’ve barely lived, barely seen this world. I just can’t imagine you truly being a beast. You’re like a little baby in the world of intimate experiences." Cass was going full balls to the wall in riling him up. Gideon’s jaw hardened, his hands clenching under the water.

"I don’t think it’s right to poke fun at the fact that I am so serious in my devotion. I had no way to know that what I was doing was going down the wrong path, and besides that, I am trying to learn. I am a fast learner." Gideon argued and Edgar gave a soft, wistful sigh.

When Cass glanced over at him, he had a hand delicately placed on his chest, drawing attention to his nipples. Cass watched as Gideon’s gaze focused on the pink nubs, his throat working as he worked on controlling himself. Cass could practically see him drooling. He had to stop himself from smiling. It would have the opposite effect of what he was aiming for.

"I don’t know if that’s true. You haven’t tried anything at all today, and I don’t think you even kissed Edgar yesterday. How is he to know that you’ve gotten better? How are we to know that you are a beast? I just can’t see it, Gideon." Cass told him pitifully and he could see the rage building in him. Gideon’s eyes were hard, even as he was unable to tear his gaze away from Edgar’s chest.

"I can show him." Gideon declared and both Cass and Gideon watched as Edgar’s chest rose and fell dramatically.

"You can show me? How?" Edgar asked, all fluttery eyelashes and big, blue eyes. Gideon’s body was tense, the veins popping along his throat, arms and abs. Cass was sure he wasn’t alone in the thought that he wanted to trace them. Edgar’s body was also held taut, ready to snap.

Gideon’s arm snapped out, offering his hand. He splashed water everywhere, but no one seemed to care.

"Come here." Gideon ordered, his voice low, angry. Edgar slid his gaze towards Cass, his face partially hidden from Gideon’s, and gave Cass a wink with the one eye. Cass trembled, trying so hard not to break out into laughter.

He did not think that it would be this easy. He really didn’t.

Edgar, not wasting a second in case Gideon changed his mind, demurely slid across the water, sliding into Gideon’s lap. He straddled the other man, resting his hands daintily on his shoulders. Each movement from the vampire had Gideon’s body tensing, as if he was suddenly realising what he had agreed to and everything that entailed. He didn’t back down though, which was a testament to the kind of man Gideon was.

Once he gave his word, good or bad, he would stick to it until the end.

Edgar settled himself into Gideon’s lap, comfy, the warm water lapping at their skin, and Gideon’s eyes were wide, green saucers as he realised exactly what he had signed up for. Edgar grinned at him, sitting slightly higher thanks to the thickness of Gideon’s thighs.

"So? Are you going to prove to me that you’re a fast learner, Gideon? Giddy? Leon? Sweetheart?" Edgar was teasing him, and Gideon swallowed thickly. Not to be outdone, Cass slid closer as well, coming to rest near them as Gideon jerked his head towards him. He hadn’t forgotten that Cass was there, but Edgar and Cass had been making sure that Edgar’s temptation was the only thing that the man was thinking about intentionally.

Cass raised his arm up, placing it on the edge of the tub and resting his head against his hand there. He smiled warmly at the two of them.

"I think I like Giddy. It’s short, and to the point. Goes well with Lucy and Eddie." Cass remarked. Edgar chuckled.

"But we can’t really shorten your name, Cass. It’s already short enough." Edgar commented. Cass gave a shrug.

"I don’t really care." Cass replied and watched as Edgar’s eyes curled at the corners.

"I guess I just get to call you Bunny from now on, since it fits the pattern, hmm?" Cass felt his face warm.

"You don’t have to-" 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"I like bunny." Gideon muttered. "It suits him. He looks like a little white rabbit. All cute and pretty." Gideon’s words came from the heart, which only made it worse. Edgar draped himself across Gideon, his body tensing with every inch that Edgar touched.

"See? Even Giddy agrees. Our sweet little Bunny, Cass." Cass’ face flamed.

"I am not some tiny, fluffy animal." Cass argued and Edgar reached out, stroking his hand down Cass’ jaw. It was such a surprising touch that Cass didn’t even have words to reply. Edgar’s eyes narrowed as he gave a sultry grin.

"No, you certainly aren’t." Edgar commented, his gaze sliding down Cass’ body in a line that went directly to Cass’ cock. "You also have more stamina than bunnies, too." Edgar licked his lips. "Our little bunny could go all night long, even outside of his heat." Cass felt his whole body warm.

"T-That’s-"

"Is that true?" Gideon asked, his cheeks flushed, and Edgar smiled.

"Did you want to find out?" He asked, and the pause was pregnant for a long, tense moment. Gideon looked stunned, his eyes going from Cass to Edgar as he realised that he’d been caught in a trap by the two of them. Cass could see it in his eyes as he came to the realisation that they had planned this to some degree.

Cass also watched as the man gave in. Instead of responding, he slid his hand up Edgar’s back, sliding into his blonde, wet locks at the base of his neck and pulled him close.

Edgar let out a small gasp as their lips met, and then it was over.

Cass and Edgar had successfully lured Gideon over to the dark side.