This was the second time someone suggested the Academy to him? Ben couldn't think of who else would suggest it. Charon? Ichabod? Did Ichabod even know him? Maybe Saraekiel knew one of the students or teachers? Ben couldn't think who. He hadn't looked at the audience to see who was sitting beside who - other than to look at Kerr and Murphy.
Ben, who'd only invited Saraekiel to make a small speech on opening night and not to host any classes, didn't correct the dark angel's mistake. He smiled when told he was slicker, taking it as a compliment. Being a better communicator was a learned skill, after all. He gave a small and gracious nod when Saraekiel offered to think about it. If he decided he would take on some lessons, Ben would accept him, but he didn't think he would get the chance.
When Saraekiel's gaze gave him the once over, it was both thrilling and horrifying. A part of him welcomed the fact that Saraekiel was mutually attracted, it meant Ben didn't have to feel awkward about the one-sidedness of it. Another part of him quailed at the obvious nature of it. Kerr hadn't made any overt sexual moves since Lazarus, and he appreciated it while also at the same time hated that Lazarus was still the last man to have been inside him. He stopped himself from fidgeting or shifting his stance, and kept eye-contact, refusing to show his discomfort. Ben was very good at playing neutral.
"Thank you," he said again to Saraekiel's flattery, smiling and nodding when the dark angel suggested that they should speak more later. He opened his mouth to reply in the positive but then Saraekiel's wings appeared, and his comment as well as his previous calculations disappeared. All that was left was curiosity and wonder. When the wings shifted and trembled in a tightly drawn stretch, Ben wanted to reach out and touch them. It would be next-level inappropriate though, so he kept his hands to himself. His fingers twitched their desire so he lifted a hand to toy with the topmost button near his collar to keep it busy.
And then came the challenge: Or you could come to me
He was glad for Kerr's presence. He was intimidated by Saraekiel. A week ago, the other's overtly flirtatious manner and clear attraction to him was something Ben would've used when negotiating, but he'd taken a few steps back because of Lazarus' abuse. He had to admit to himself that there was something about him that attracted the cruel and devious, they were starting to pile up; Declan, Themba, Lazarus... even Jake, though he'd not attracted the 'Black Prince' in a sexual way, but he'd certainly caught his attention. He didn't know whether to put Charon on that list or not because Ben had sought him out - but he was certainly on the cusp of it.
The physical attraction, though. It was undeniable and made Ben feel even more out of his depth and somewhat guilty for feeling this way about someone he didn't know while his sire was right there. Ben had never felt that kind of drawing before. Sparks, sure. This was more like a sexual awareness. Definitely a new thing and unwelcome, because it was messing with his mind.
And the gutsy way Saraekiel had made his comment with Kerr standing at his side. Ben was fairly sure everyone in the city knew them to be lovers. It was obvious even in the way they were standing together now, but Saraekiel hadn't pulled his punch. Of course it was just more innuendo and could be brushed off as
Or you could
Come to me
innocent. Ha.
There was a strong instinct in him to be forthright, with a simple 'of course we could come to you, whatever's easiest', but he also had a feeling that Saraekiel's desire to talk to him would be severely muted. At the same time, the idea of being left alone with someone who looked like that, behaved like that and was breathtaking was not the best idea.
"Um... I look forward to it," he said.
And you'll be with me but he doesn't need to know that right now, he said to Kerr in case his sire felt the need to protect him.
