by Ruby Moone
“I was going to pay you for the clothes and things, I wasn’t just walking out with them,” Daniel said.
“Do you think for a second that I care about the clothes?”
“Well…”
“Daniel, did you mean what you said? I am in complete turmoil.”
“I meant it.”
Oliver sighed as Daniel refused to meet his gaze. His eyes fixed firmly on the floor. His heart was thumping in his chest and he could barely believe what was happening. He moved forward and put a hand on his shoulder, and when Daniel looked up he smiled and pulled him into his arms.
After a little while Daniel pulled away and looked up at him. “How many men have you been with?”
Oliver felt himself flush. “Not many.”
Daniel nodded. “Neither have I. Certainly never anyone I cared about this much.” He cleared his throat. “I can’t stay here on your charity indefinitely. I will forever be grateful for your care, but I need to find work, somewhere to live…” He clasped the back of his neck with one hand and began pacing.
“I understand that and I meant what I said; I will help you find a position that suits you where you can stay in London, but for the time being please just…stay, be my guest, whatever you want to call it. I am not ready to let you go. Not yet.” Not ever, but he felt he should keep that piece of information to himself for the time being. An idea was formulating in his mind, but he needed to think it through carefully before presenting it.
“Very well.”
Oliver let go of the breath he hadn’t even realised he was holding and joy and relief poured through widening his smile. He took the few steps to where Daniel stood and slid both hands around his jaw until he held his face between them. Daniel’s eyes glinted as he wet his lips. Oliver bent and let his lips hover over those glistening ones and Daniel let out a soft moan. Oliver let his head drop and allowed their mouths to touch. They kissed gently, tentatively exploring each other. Daniel ran his tongue over Oliver’s lips, making him shudder and open his mouth to allow Daniel’s tongue entrance and softly, gently they slid together, twined and danced together until the kiss became heated and Oliver pulled away.
“Tonight. I want you tonight,” he said in a whisper. Daniel nodded.
* * * *
When supper was finished Oliver passed Daniel a glass of port. They sipped in silence. Supper had been conducted mainly in silence. It felt that now they had confessed the truth of their natures and the attraction that they felt they had nothing to say. They used to talk incessantly, about everything and anything but here they were, silent, and Oliver couldn’t think of a single thing to say to break the silence, except the obvious.
“If you have changed your mind about tonight it’s fine. You don’t have to…”
“Changed my mind?” Daniel looked aghast. Eyes wide and shocked he stared at him. “I haven’t changed my mind. Have…have you?”
“Not in the slightest, but you are so quiet I wondered if perhaps you had.”
“Where are the servants?”
“They have left for the evening.”
Daniel stood and held out a hand. “Then why the hell are we sitting here drinking port?”
Oliver couldn’t help but grin at his imperious manner. He stood and took the hand that was offered. “My room,” he said.
They ran up the stairs as quickly as Daniel’s leg would allow, laughing like schoolboys, and then slammed the door behind them. Oliver locked it and stood with his back to the door. Daniel was standing in the middle of the room breathing heavily. His cheeks were flushed and his eyes shone.
“Clothes off,” Oliver said.
Daniel offered a salute. “Yes, sir,” and scrambled to undo his buttons and pull his shirt over his head. He trembled, naked in the candlelight, waiting for him.
Oliver stalked forward, still fully dressed, and stood before him. “On the bed.”
Daniel pulled back the coverlet and arranged himself on the sheets and lay there like a golden angel. Oliver was so hard it hurt. His chest heaved at the sight and as Daniel let his knees fall open Oliver could see everything. His granite hard cock, his balls, the soft skin beneath right to the opening of his hole. His eyes were riveted to that small spot.
Daniel ran his hands over his balls, squeezing and then allowed them to drift lower. “You are wearing far too many clothes,” he said.
Oliver peeled himself out of his coat and unwound his cravat. He dropped it to the floor. Next came his waistcoat, and he watched as Daniel’s eyes darkened. He pulled his shirt over his head and Daniel’s hand went to his cock and began stroking. Oliver’s heart stuttered at the sight. He kicked out of his shoes and stripped of his stockings and then let his hand drop to the buttons of his falls. Daniel had his bottom lip between his teeth as his hips undulated. He pushed his breeches and his small clothes off and then crawled onto the bed between Daniel’s splayed legs.
Daniel ran his hands down Oliver’s sides. “Do you have oil?”
Oliver glanced up at the table beside the bed where a bottle sat. The outcome of his foray into the more interesting shops available in the ton. “I do.”
“So resourceful,” Daniel murmured, moving his hands to Oliver’s arse and squeezing.
“I know.” Oliver reached up and grabbed the bottle, dropping it beside them on the bed and then dropping his weight onto Daniel, kissing him. Kissed him with all the pent up emotion, adoration, love that had been swirling inside, and Daniel kissed him back as though he were the last man on earth. It was messy, sloppy, but heartbreakingly wonderful. Oliver pulled away and started kissing his way down Daniel’s chest, pausing to lick his nipples, making the man jump. Oliver laughed and did it again and Daniel moaned softly. Oliver delved lower until he took the tip of Daniel’s cock into his mouth and sucked, gasping as Daniel put his hands through his hair and pulled. His scalp prickled but he carried on sucking and licking. After a moment he pulled away and opened the bottle of oil. It was delicately perfumed, and Oliver knew he would forever connect the scent of it with Daniel. He rubbed the oil on his fingers while Daniel watched, mouth open slightly. Oliver didn’t know a great deal about fucking men, but he had learned one trick along the way. He slid his fingers down Daniel’s crease and then pushed gently until his finger was inside. He watched Daniel all the time for any sign of pain or discomfort, but saw nothing but need. He pushed further and then crooked his finger finding the exact spot and rubbed harder, grinning when Daniel arched, pushed hard onto his hand and wailed loudly, his beautiful face contorted, eyes tight shut.
“Oh, Christ, Oliver, Oliver, please…please…”
Oliver couldn’t bear it a second longer. He knew that this would be a short affair, he had a horrible feeling that he would spend the second he got inside Daniel. With shaking hands, he coated his cock with oil and then pushed into Daniel slowly, slowly, all the while watching. When Daniel grimaced he stopped.
“Does it hurt?”
“A little, give me a moment.”
Oliver rocked gently and when Daniel nodded pushed further and then he was fully inside. To the hilt in that warm, snug heat that was his love. Daniel was moaning softly and rocking. He locked his legs around Oliver’s waist and Oliver had to move. He thrust gently at first and then harder and harder as he watched the man he loved come apart beneath him.
Daniel thrashed and moaned and rubbed against him. “Harder. Harder.”
Oliver let go. He pushed up on his hands and pounded into him hard and fast and as his crisis feathered along his spine, he buried his face in Daniel’s neck and thrust wildly, grabbing Daniel’s cock and pumping with his thrusts until Daniel cried out his own completion. Oliver thrust hard, ragged, desperate until his body contracted and his crisis tore through him hard enough to make his vision blur. He clutched Daniel to him as he emptied himself into him.
They lay, tangled in each other’s arms until Daniel moved and Oliver rolled off him, convinced he must be crushing the man.
�
�God,” muttered Daniel.
“Indeed.”
Daniel turned his head on the pillow and looked at him. Oliver turned his own head and smiled.
Chapter 6
They settled into a blissful routine as Daniel’s health continued to bloom. Eating, walking laughing, fucking. As they grew to know each other’s bodies it just got better and better. Oliver had never been so happy yet so utterly torn. Torn because he wanted to introduce Oliver to his family, his friends, wanted to be able to show affection rather than pretend he was no-one, and every day Daniel searched for work that would take him away. He would move out, move into his own accommodation that would doubtless be cold and uncomfortable. When he had mentioned this tentatively Daniel had accused him of melodrama. Perhaps it was true, but he couldn’t bear the thought of Daniel hungry and cold again. If he did that, how would they meet? How could they move in society together? At the moment, Daniel was simply Oliver’s houseguest and as such was accepted everywhere he went. They visited his club, ate together, played cards, walked. If he took a job as a clerk how could that go on? Eventually, Oliver came up with a solution. And in his mind it was a very, very good solution. One that would allow them to be together at least in his home if not in society. He decided he would broach it once he had fucked Daniel into oblivion when he might be at least a little amenable. The man had a prickly edge when it came to the disparity between them.
* * * *
Oliver had planned a dinner of Daniel’s favourite foods, followed by long hours in bed. He had a new oil placed by the bed which had clean linen. He had worked out just how he would broach the subject, phrase it, and he had all every possible argument ready for Daniel’s objections. His valet had gone home, and once the housekeeper served dinner she would too leave and they would be alone. Oliver checked his pocket watch. Daniel was a little later than he expected, but as he slid it back the door sounded. He was here. Oliver took a deep breath.
Daniel came into the room leaning heavily on his cane and looking weary. Oliver was at once concerned.
“Have you had a tiring day?”
Daniel looked up. “You might say that,” he said with a sigh. Oliver helped him to divest himself of his outer garments and snatched a kiss as he did so. Daniel smiled a little at that.
Once dinner was served, and the housekeeper gone, he reached out and took Daniel’s hand. “You are terribly quiet.”
Daniel pulled his hand away. “I have something to say.” His face was closed, and tension lined his usually happy mouth.
Oliver’s heart dropped to his stomach. “I see. Do you want to tell me what it is?” He didn’t want to know. Wanted to place his hands over his ears.
“I have found a position and lodgings.”
The words sat between them and Oliver could only stare. It wasn’t meant to be like this.
“Where?”
“It’s a good position,” he said, but his tone was defensive, and he wouldn’t meet Oliver’s eyes. “It is as a junior solicitor. In Cheltenham.”
“Cheltenham!” Oliver yelped. “Cheltenham is miles away, a dreadfully long drive. How on earth will I see you if you move to Cheltenham?”
“Well…”
“Are you trying to get away from me?” A dreadful suspicion settled in Oliver’s gut. “I thought you were happy here with me, I thought…”
“I have been happy, Oliver, but it cannot continue. We cannot live together indefinitely; we cannot be seen to have affection for each other. If anyone were to find out, we could hang. At best, I would hang and you would end up in the pillory, but men die in the pillory.”
“I know. I know what you are saying but I might have a solution. Would you hear me out?”
“I can’t see any solution. But please, be my guest.”
Oliver’s heart was racing, and his hands felt unsteady. He swallowed and tried to remember the words he had planned, but they had fled. “We rub along well together, we always have, but these last few weeks with you in my bed have been the most…exciting, most satisfying…” He cast about for words to describe how it had been but could find none. Daniel was very still. Oliver pinched the bridge of his nose. “Daniel, I owe you my life. I owe you so much please, please let me do this.”
“Do what?” His tone was dark. Ominous.
Oliver took a breath. “I have need of a secretary, a man of business. It is a genuine need I am not making this up, I really do need someone. If you were to take that…”
“What?” Daniel was on his feet. Every last vestige of colour gone. “What are you saying?”
“Listen to me.”
“I am listening and you are telling me that out of gratitude…” He spat the word. “Gratitude, and the fact that you want me in your bed, you offer me work?”
“It is not like that. You make it sound sordid.”
“Isn’t it? Are you going to buy me a house where you can visit me? Will you buy me trinkets to keep me happy until you move on? I will not be your mistress!” He was shouting.
Oliver’s attempts to find the right words flew out of the window as his own temper flared. “I am suggesting nothing of the sort. If you would just listen instead of jumping to conclusions you might see what I am saying and see that this would make eminent sense.”
“Sense? Sense? Me being your kept man? Have you no thought for my feelings, my dignity?”
“For God’s sake, Daniel, I am not suggesting that. We have to accept that we are different, I cannot alter the fact that I have money and you don’t, but what I can do is try to…”
“I will not take your charity, and you can take your gratitude and stuff it where the sun fails to shine.”
Charity, gratitude? Oliver’s head was ringing. “For Christ’s sake, man. I am not talking about charity or gratitude.” He pushed his hands into his hair and gripped tight. “I am not offering charity you bloody fool. I am offering you my heart. I love you. I love you so fucking much I don’t know what to do. This is the only way that I can think of that we can legitimately live in the same house, socialise together, travel together. I hate it as much as you do but it’s better than your solution of moving to bloody Cheltenham.”
The words fell into a pool of utter silence. Daniel just stared. Eyes wide, mouth open. Oliver’s chest heaved.
“You love me?” Daniel said, frowning as if trying to understand.
Oliver sucked in a breath and closed his eyes. “So fucking much.” It was such a relief to say it. He had wanted to but it always sounded wrong. The moment had never presented itself. Well, he knew now.
“I told you weeks ago that I loved you and you never said it back.”
Oliver opened his eyes and stared. “How could you think that I don’t?”
“Because you never said.”
“Does…does that make a difference?” Oliver asked hesitantly.
Daniel limped across the room and threw himself into Oliver’s arms and Oliver simply clutched him tight. He pressed his face into his shoulder, trying not to give in to the pressure behind his eyes. They stayed that way for some time until Daniel pulled away and scrubbed at his eyes with his hand.
“So tell me again what you suggest.” He looked up, face blotchy.
Oliver huffed out a short laugh. “I had it all planned. I was going to feed you, ply you with outrageously satisfying sexual congress, and then beg you to consider living with me. The only way I can think of to make this acceptable to the eyes of the world is if you were in my employ in a capacity that demands you remain by my side. That is what it will look like to the outside. Inside, you would be my equal partner in every way. I do need help with the business and I hope you might lend me some assistance, but it will not be as an employee. It will be as the man I love. The man that I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
“Forever?” Daniel’s blue eyes watered and his chin wobbled.
“Forever.”
“Then I accept.”
Oliver’s mouth opened, then closed, then opene
d again in a smile so wide he could scarce contain it. “You accept? You will live with me?” Daniel was grinning and laughing too and nodding his head. Oliver let out a shout and grabbed him by the waist, lifting him off his feet and swinging him around. When he put him down Oliver dropped onto one knee and grabbed Daniel’s hand.
“Will you do the honour of being my love, living with me, till death us do part?”
Daniel’s answering smile and words were all Oliver had ever wanted. “Till death us do part.”
THE END
The Heat of the Moment
Chapter 1
Sunshine. Bright, golden sunshine. Milo leaned back in his chair and craned his neck to look out of the bedroom window. It was the third day in a row that the sun was shining from a cloudless sky and again, Porter had left his chair pointing at the door. He grabbed the bell and rang it loudly. Nothing. He rang again and again, and eventually his valet came into the room, face impassive.
“You rang for me?”
Milo clenched his teeth. “I’ve been ringing for an age. Where have you been? Move my chair and put me by the window.”
Porter sighed. A muscle jumped in his jaw.
Milo tensed and grabbed at the blanket covering his useless legs when Porter dragged the chair, almost tipping it. “Watch out, you idiot,” he snapped.
Porter made a snarling sound in his throat that was the only warning Milo had of what was about to happen. Porter grabbed the handles of the chair, tipped it forward on its large wheels, and pushed hard until Milo was upended onto the floor.
“You are the most ungrateful, nasty tempered little bastard it has been my misfortune to encounter.” He dropped the chair back onto its wheels, leaving Milo stunned and helpless. “Move your own chair. I resign. Forthwith.”
Milo watched as he strode away, slamming the door behind him, and then curled into a ball as fury, frustration, and humiliation washed over him.
* * * *
