Allowed inside, he didn't dare to ask to leave. Sovele left him adrift, though, and Basren didn't know if he was meant to occupy himself or be attentive in his waiting. He strained himself, looking for clues. Sovele was at his desk, writing, and was focused on it entirely. There was nothing in his posture to suggest his mood, nothing at all about his thoughts on Basren's actions, the gala, Alaras himself.<br/><br/>Sovele finished his letter, dusted sand over the ink and then blew it away. He went for the wax and seal. Basren watched, reading it all. Sovele's movements were smooth, easy. He didn't seem angry at all.<br/><br/>The didn't stop Basren from feeling all the muscles in his back tense--the only place that wouldn't outwardly show when he did tense--as Sovele came toward him. Basren went very still. He did not flinch when Sovele put a gentle hand on his arm, or when he was led over to the bed. He stayed obediently by the bedside as Sovele undressed him, and his hands were still gentle, his expression unhurried and without anger.<br/><br/>Basren didn't totally relax until Sovele had reached between them and stroked his cock. The rest of him unfurled at that, and he gave in to the build that Sovele had worked so tenderly in him. He let himself touch, and Sovele didn't jerk his hands away to pin them to the mattress as he usually did when Basren tried something like that. When he came, it seemed to last forever, his hands clutching the back of Sovele's shoulders and his moan swallowed up in a kiss.<br/><br/>After, Sovele had cleaned his stomach and then let him lie against him. His tone was fond, and Basren didn't keep his expression in check. The little smile couldn't be contained anyway. Sovele was stroking his stomach, talking about a child, and Basren was making silent promises already that he would be worthy, that he'd try his best even if it took his magic a million tries to get the spells right.<br/><br/>Noise broke through his dreaming. Before he could move, the door had flown open, and there was Anis, her arms outflung where she'd burst through.<br/><br/>Basren froze. His mind blanked white, and a heavy mortification curled all through him. He was naked, cuddled up against Sovele, and it was obvious what they'd just done.<br/><br/>Anis stalked the room, took up a glass of wine, and the fury he could read in her was cold and calm.<br/><br/><i>Oh, no. Don't dismount my husband on my behalf.</i><br/><br/>Basren stopped where he was, trying to slink off the other side of the bed. He could feel the slide of oil and come down the inside of his thigh. He glanced at Sovele, hoping to take some cue from him, but he still hadn't moved.<br/><br/>They were caught. He sat back, pulled up the blankets to at least cover his lower half, his heart still pounding wildly. He wondered if he'd be beaten for this, later, for daring to come to Sovele so soon and ask to come in, knowing where it might have led. For not vaulting out of bed at the first sign of trouble. For not leaving now.<br/><br/>But the Queen wanted both of them to hear what he had to say. That she wanted Basren for her brother, Duke Evren, and not Alaras. Basren's breath caught. He didn't know Evren, except that he had a reputation for losing wives and had no children. Would he even want them? And how could he cast over Alaras now? True they weren't engaged yet, but.... Alaras liked gardening, like he did, and he was undemanding, mostly. He wasn't terrible. Evren he had no idea about. He could be terrible.<br/><br/>Sovele didn't sound excited about it, either, and Basren felt himself relax a little. If Sovele didn't approve, it wouldn't happen. Basren had never been sure of anything as he was sure of that.<br/><br/>Sovele amended that.<i>Let him contend with Basren's other suitors.</i><br/><br/>Basren didn't want other suitors. He wanted this whole ordeal to be over with, to be married, to have a child growing inside him, to get started on a home. Contending would drag things out. And if Evren was terrible, how long was he going to be expected to entertain the man? How far could he go in snubbing him until the man withdrew his interest? What if Alaras was discouraged?<br/><br/>Should he say something? He was almost sure Anis didn't care about his opinion. He could still feel her displeasure, the cut of her glare.<br/><br/>"When," he said, and the single word seemed so loud. His voice lowered as he continued, drawing out carefully, "When does Duke Evren arrive? It's only... I've made plans with Alaras already. For weeks ahead." He glanced at Sovele, hoping for backup, a quick flicker. "People may wonder, if I cancel on them suddenly. Alaras will wonder..."