Life is changing for the better as progress in the Lower continues. However, nobles such as Sir Martin are still attempting to hinder Victor’s work. But Elis stumbles upon the opportunity to aid Victor after arresting Sir Martin’s son for voyeurism. Though, the situation turns out to be more complicated than first thought, involving a headstrong noblewoman, a smitten, weak willed young heir and a lord who wants to profit from their union.
While Victor is trying to improve the conditions in the streets of the Lower, Elis is doing his part to keep them safe, but he also wants the same for Victor. After witnessing the skills of the newly formed canine unit during the arrest, Elis gifts Victor a puppy, with hopes she will grow to protect Victor when Elis is unable to. Though fiercely independent despite his blindness, Victor appreciates Elis’s gift and takes him to bed and shows him how much fun training a naughty puppy can be.
They walked arm in arm to Victor’s -- no, their bedroom. Though Elis still owned his flat on Stapes Street, the Marrow was his unofficial address. They were careful, but as Victor’s residence also doubled as his place of work and Elis had been assigned as his liaison in the Leuks while the Lower was being transformed and deloused, no one had so far questioned how much time Elis spent here.
After almost a year living mostly together, they had developed a routine. Once the door was closed, they stripped off their clothes. Elis hung up his jacket beside Victor’s and folded the rest of his clothes in the bottom drawer Victor had designated for Elis’s use. Elis was strangely proud of claiming territory in Victor’s home. He had his own side table, his own small desk. He had his side of the bed, his pillow and he guarded them fiercely, each concession of Victor’s space proof Elis belonged here, at Victor’s side. Even in the small pantry, there were foods stored just for Elis, like a strong smoked cheese Elis loved, but which Victor detested, but ordered for Elis nonetheless.
Victor climbed into bed, stretching out his beautiful body for Elis’s eyes to devour. He could have been carved from marble, all pale flesh molded around honed muscles. But Elis knew how soft and warm his skin was, how flexible and pliant he could be in Elis’s arms. He’s mine, Elis reminded himself as he did almost every time it hit him how lucky he was, how close he’d come to losing this. And I’m his.
“You know,” Victor said as he waited for Elis to join him, hands folded behind his head, elongating his delicious chest and torso, “you surprise me Elis.”
“How so?”
“Giving up your position as guard dog so readily.”
“You wouldn’t let me near you if I acted as guard. You didn’t like it much before.”
“I don’t know,” Victor said in that husky tone Elis knew so well, “Perhaps you merely lacked the proper training.”
Elis froze in removing his underwear. “What?”
Victor’s stoic gaze didn’t change, but there was a definite drop in the tenor of his voice. “I think you heard me.” All trace of tiredness seemed to have deserted Victor; his unseeing eyes alight in the dim light of the bedside lamp. Elis was just as alert, the nerves in his body singing, the hair along his arms tingling and his breath hitching.
Elis swallowed, his dry throat sticking together. “What are you talking about?”
“You know how to follow orders. How about we take it a little further?”
Elis wet his lips. “How far?”
Latham smiled. “Come here.”
