Roth could see the first signs of panic. That was always how it started. That sudden realisation that one's trust was about to be horrifically violated. "Stand up, Anthony," he said quietly. He was going to see how far fear would buy compliance. There was no scenario in which Anthony could get away, and he would surely realise that, but would his irrational drive to try whatever he could cause him to risk it?
It was an interesting question. "Stephen came to see me. He's possibly the most repressed young man I've ever encountered. Did you know? His kiss with Michael was his very first. His wedding night was the only time he's ever had sex, and it was only the one time. And then his friends all turned your backs on him, when he was obviously being forced to obey his homophobic father. Tut tut. He was ripe for the picking by the time he came to me."