#zenana

...and after the wine drinking date Morse is tipsy enough for his guards to go down a bit and they go outside, where Ludo's compliments from describing Morse's mental capabilities start to describe his physical attractiveness in Ludo's typical innuendos Morse doesn't have enough info yet to understand fully.

Like, 'Are you single? Women must like that youthful charm you exude. Sink their perfectly manicured claws into the tender meat.' and, after a very suggestive look, 'You should arrest me for what I just thought of doing to you.' But Morse is a praise-hungry thing and he's not going to arrest a man for talking 'nonsense', especially when he finds that nonsense pleasant, to his own surprise. Still, he rejects Ludo's advances at first, but when he comes over to Morse's house he kisses Morse, who isn't as scandalized as he should be, just a moment before Strange appears.

Then he learns Violetta is Ludo's wife, so every time Ludo comes over or invites him somewhere he's trying not to slip up, so he's sweet and compliant, and in result ends up in a weird situation in which he keeps his romance with Violetta going, but gives in to Ludo as well.

Morse finds excuses why he does it, is conflicted, confused, a bit scared, but not because he isn't attracted to them, but because of all the taboos he's breaking. Ludo, on the other hand, abuses Morse's feelings for him by being a rather demanding, borderline selfish lover. One time they talk in bed and Morse briefly mentions Jakes as the one that got away to show it isn't a sudden change in Morse, but it gets addressed for the first time.

Eventually Morse starts to think he understands why Violetta seems afraid of her husband, but doesn't tell her they are having an affair. In the scene in the restaurant when Morse confesses he loves Violetta he also suggests that the three of them could work it out, but Ludo is a possessive piece of sh*t and still a villain after all, so he says he knew from the start and that he seduced Morse as a revenge on them both, to dominate him and shame him, a man who tried to take away *his* wife got taken and made *his*. 'Did you tell her you were gasping my name into the same pillow she was lying her head on?' Violetta still picks Ludo and they leave.

When Morse, twice heartbroken, and shocked, realizes they are responsible for the series of murder accidents and goes to Venice when he talks with Ludo in the cemetery, Ludo, upon describing Morse as just his toy, would reference what he said at their first dinner date that he found all of Morse's weaknesses and he had fun exploiting each of them and that he wishes he could keep him as his pet, but alas. 'I didn't want to hurt you, but I never promised I wouldn't and that I won't enjoy it.'