They stood simultaneously, forcing them a little too close together, so close that he could feel Sully’s heat as if it was his own and he found himself wanting to close the gap yet still, found his eyes meeting Sully’s who seemed entranced as well before Reginald remembered himself and took a step back, “Please let me show you to your room?”
Sully nodded curtly and followed him out and up the stairs, “As you can imagine we have a rather large number of guest rooms,” Reginald said as they walked, “But as there are only the two of us I set you up in one of the family rooms, it is much nicer.”
“How very courteous of you,” he responded and there was something amused in the way he said it.
“We have more than Marise and I could fill, even if we tried.”
He walked past his own room, pointing it out in passing, if the other man even registered the information he made no show of it and they shortly arrived at Sully’s room, two doors down from his. “The girls rooms are obviously on another floor, but this is yours,” he said as he opened the door into the room. Within it there was a wardrobe, chest of draws, a fireplace with two arm chairs in front of, a dressing table and of course, a four poster bed. It was tastefully decorated in greens and Reginald had to admit it was perhaps his favorite bedroom aside from his own.
Sully’s eyes swept across the room before he looked down at Reginald, “I’ll leave you to get settled in,” the smaller man said, moving back and making the short journey back to his own room. He tried to get dressed as quickly as possible, hurrying his poor valet along perhaps cruelly, but he wanted to get back to Sully as quickly as soon as he could. He took a deep breath and opened the door and moments later he heard the sounds of the other man stepping out, he looked down at him and smiled.
The other man looked even better than before, his hair slicked back where it was loose before and the way his close hung against his body, Reginald felt his heart clench.
“All ready?” he asked as the other man walked towards him, “Shall we then?”
They slowly walked downstairs together before turning into the parlor for pre-dinner drinks and he found he wanted to know everything about the man before him, “Tell me about your estate?”
Sully smiled briefly as he sat next to him on the small sofa, “It is not as grand as yours but it has its perks. It is set across from a small lake I often swam in as a boy. There are trees surrounding most of the walls and I am rather partial to the gardens, when it is spring and everything is in full bloom it creates a beautiful picture, I remember when my mother and I used to just sit out in the evenings.” Reginald was beginning to get the impression the other man was very fond of them, the way he spoke with subtle longing but that could also be from his reminiscing but he soon stopped himself.
“It sounds lovely, I should love to visit sometime,” Reginald said to fill the air after the other man’s abrupt change.
“You are welcome any time.”
“I may take you up on that sooner rather than later, Marise has decided recently she wants us to throw a party and I can scarcely hide away if I am host. Hiding from her may prove useful.”
“I am sure a party thrown by you would be most enjoyable,” Sully said earnestly which did surprise considering how they both disliked them.
“Would you come then? If I were to hold one?”
“Of course.”
He found himself smiling even though he knew it was most likely more to do with what society dictates, “Thank you, my friend.”
***
The following morning Reginald was surprised to find Sully’s already at the table before him, they had parted not long after dinner but the smaller man had had a hard time drifting to sleep, thoughts of Sully’s body plaguing his mind. It wasn’t the first time he had found himself attracted to another male and he had gotten quite adept at ignoring his desires to maintain a friendship, unfortunately with this particular inclination he had been stuck unable to surpass it.
“Good morning,” Sully said from behind the paper.
“I really most apologise for being such a bad host,” Reginald responded sitting next to him, accidentally knocking knees as he did and feeling a pleasure at the touch.
Sully snorted and said nothing, continuing his reading of the world events. They had never much interested him and he had to rely on any big news from Marise, “Anything interesting?”
“Scandal, misery or politics, take your pick?”
Politics had always bored Reginald, he found both parties views biased and not to be representational, and it was far too early for misery, “Scandal, I suppose.”
“Do you know of a Miss Theodosia Templeton?”
“I believe I have heard the name before, yes,” Reginald mused, another rich family but they ran in a different circle to him.
“She has apparently run away and married the chauffer.” Sully sounded completely uninterested.
“I should have hoped that they have better things to report than that!” Reginald said, once more exasperated and societies need to gossip. “I do not believe who any person loves or marries should be subject to such condescension from society.”
Sully lowered his paper, “That is quite forward thinking on your behalf, Rowe, I commend you.”
“Reginald, please,” He said smiling before continuing, “I would not think to choose for or judge who Marise were to marry as it is her decision who she spends the rest of her lifetime with.”
“Quite rightly so,” the other man considered, “Have you travelled much, Reginald?”
He loved the way Sully wrapped his mouth around the word and had to quickly pull himself together to answer the question, “Not much,” he admitted, “With my parents dying when I had scarcely finished schooling, I never had the opportunity.”
“I am sorry,” the other said automatically.
“It’s quite alright,” It had been almost a decade now and he’d come to terms with the loss, “It was quite sudden, my father had a heart attack and died and my mother drowned he wallows away. It was barely two months before she passed as well. Marise didn’t take it too well, as you can imagine, but she’s back to herself now. I still miss them.”
“Of course you do,” Elias said placing a gentle hand on his arm.
“Thank you, my friend,” Reginald said smiling a little weakly.
He removed his hand and the smaller man ate another slice of toast before it was clear they were both finished, Felton clearing the table for them, “How about that walk?” Reginald asked as they stood to leave.
Elias nodded and they went straight outside. It was a nice day, a subtle chill and breeze in the air signaling the turn of the season but not enough so to require any extra layers. He took them down past the house and considering what the man had previously say regarding the garden opted to take him through his own.
“I do like the gardens, but I did always prefer playing in the trees,” Reginald said as they weaved their way amongst the shrubberies, “Marise and I used to get ourselves into such states,” he chuckled at the memory, “My mother used to look scandalized when we returned.”
“It must have been nice to have a sister to share all of this with,” the other man commented, occasionally glancing down to where Reginald stood by his side.
“It was, I cannot fathom how I would have survived should I have been subjected to all this on my own. I remember when I had to first deal with the estates, it was rather arduous and frustrating to not know what I was supposed to do, I had worked myself up a bit and looked myself away in stupor only for her to come and find me and comfort me later that day.”
“How old were you?” Sully asked his voice somewhat softer due to the nature of the conversation.
“Scarcely eighteen, and lucky I were for I fear what would have happened to my sister otherwise,” the other man nodded in agreement and Reginald realized he had been talking purely about himself, “But that is enough about me, have you any siblings?”
“No,” Sully ad
mitted, “I should have liked one, though. My mother and father were good to me and I never went without attention.”
Noticing the past tense, Reginald slowed the walk to look him in the eye, “Are they-?”
“Yes, five years past.”
“My apologies my friend, I may be comfortable talking about what has past but it was not my intention to dredge up any bad memories for you.”
Elias chuckled a little and looked at him with soft eyes, “Worry not, I am not as fragile as that.”
They continued to walk a little while further and where just leaving the shrubberies when a rogue branch tripped Reginald up sending him to the ground, Sully turned immediately, face full of worry, “Reginald!” He crouched down to where the smaller man had changed position to favor his ankle, “Are you okay?”
He felt himself blush profusely and nodded quickly, “Yes, yes.”
“Can you stand?”
“I believe so,” Reginald added but accepted the proffered hand regardless and let the older man pull him up. He tried to move forward on the leg and was relieved to find he could, even if it stung slightly.
Sully looked back at the house, which they had made some ground away from and sighed, “It is a decent distance back.”
“I can manage,” Reginald said but as he tried to walk forwards he winced, “If we stay slow.”
Sully looked caught between agreeing to what Reginald had said or trying to get some help but he was an able bodied man and certainly did not need to get carried into his house. “It is only a slight strain, I am sure,” Reginald reiterated and the other man nodded, keeping note to walk slowly by his side.
With Reginald focusing on his ankle he struggled to try and make conversation but Sully seemed to have no inclination to do so either, only occasionally inquiring after how he was fairing. About half way back the pain was growing and he signaled for them to divert to a tree nearby, “Can we rest there a short while?”
Sully obliged and helped him lower himself before taking a seat close by, thighs touching, “I think I ought fetch assistance.” Elias said looking down at Reginald’s ankle.
“No need,” the injured man insisted.
“Then please let me take a look, I insist.” He had no idea what help that would do, but the man seemed determined and so he assented and leant back as Sully shifted position and gently took hold of his leg, lifting it slightly. Reginald bit his lower lip to prevent himself from muttering out a curse as the other man removed his shoe, Sully looked up at him clearly about to say something before he stopped mouth hanging open before he hastily returned to what he was doing. He carefully peeled back his sock and rolled up the trouser.
He was biting down so hard he tasted blood as the other carefully touched the swollen skin. Reginald let out a low sigh of relief when his leg was once again lowered to the ground, “My apologies if that caused you any discomfort.”
“It’s quite alright, Sully,” Reginald said as the other slowly replaced his shoe and sock.
“Elias,” he corrected, “I do believe you are correct although it is quite swollen, it would be better if you stayed off of it for the rest of the day.”
Reginald looked at the remaining distance and let out a laugh, “Never have I been so willing to trade it all for a smaller garden.”
The man before him rolled his eyes but offered him a hand to stand, “I suggest you lean on me.”
“Thank you, Elias,” He said the other man pulled his arm around his neck and wrapped his own around Reginald’s waist and he felt alive at all the parts their bodies were touching, once again feeling a subtle blush cross his features.
It was slow going getting back to the house but as soon as he did, Felton was there, “What happened, sir?”
“I fell,” he said as Elias helped him shuffle into the room.
“Shall I call the doctor?”
“No, that’s really quite alright.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” he turned to the man holding him, “Elias, would you be so kind as to help me into the library?”
“Of course,” he said moving immediately but Felton was still hovering, worried look on his face.
“Is there anything I can do, sir? Perhaps contact Miss Marise?”
“God no!” Reginald exclaimed a tad too quickly and he felt the surprise emanating from Elias along with a hint of amusement, “I really am quite alright, I appreciate your concern.”
“But, sir.”
“He has a quite swollen leg, if you could perhaps get a damp cloth that might be helpful,” Elias interjected. Felton nodded quickly and disappeared, as soon as they were behind the doors of the library he let out a low chuckle, “Well, your servant certainly like you.”
He was lowered slightly into an arm chair before Elias darted off and fetched a stool to rest his foot against, all the while Reginald felt a perfect fool. A moment later Felton came in holding the damp cloth, which Elias stood to accept before dismissing him and as he came back, Reginald looked at it, “There really is no need.”
Elias was already removing his shoe and sock gently once more, “Perhaps not, but it will reduce the swelling and save the poor boy having a panic attack.”
He had to concede that and smile, “Thank you for taking such good care of me, my vigilant hero,” he said as Elias lowered the cool cloth down.
The other man shook his head but the amused smile was there. When he’d finished wrapping it around his ankle he sat up, pulling his chair slightly closer to Reginald and slumped into it, “A most invigorating walk, Reginald.”
“Ah yes,” Reginald smiled, “I like to think it was pleasant, injury notwithstanding.”
“Please do not mistake me and assume that I thought there was anything pleasant about your circumstance.”
He waved him off, “I know.”
Elias’ eyes briefly scanned the room before he noticed the chess set and Reginald quickly noted the line of site, “Do you play?” the taller man asked.
“Perhaps not as much as one would hope,” he smiled, “But I do indeed, and yourself?”
“My father taught me whilst I was young.”
“Would you care for a game?”
Elias answered by going and collecting the set and laying it down carefully between them, after moving the small table and rearranging his chair, “Black or white?”
“You are my guest, and considering I have been a rather bad host thus far, I would give you the choice.”
Elias smiled at him warmly, the more time he was spending in this man’s company the more he noted he was becoming more openly friendly, “Black.”
They settled quickly into the game, Reginald at first going easy, before Elias’ level of skill became obvious and by the end he was internally reprimanding himself for giving Elias a head start. When only a handful of players remained on the board, Elias using a castle and a bishop to corner him whilst Reginald used his queen to defend and it became obvious he was doomed as the other man positioned his knight against her and so he tipped his king over.
“Well played.”
“You were the one who gave the game away at the start.”
Reginald went to defend himself but quickly gave in, “You caught me. I’m afraid I am too accustomed to playing Marise.”
The other man chuckled, “How about a rematch then? Without holding back.”
The injured man beamed back, “It would be my pleasure.”
The games stretched on well into the evening, Felton bringing in sandwiches for them in the afternoon, as they continued to go backwards and forwards. Elias’ strategy unnerved Reginald; he never reacted the same way twice and he was overtly an aggressive player whereas the injured man prided himself on his ability to adapt to the situation and coveted his queen. The latter was something the other found quickly and Reginald had lost a handful of games as he exploited that issue.
The conversation flowed nicely, once again debating society, politics, religion, science and Reginald f
ound the other well informed on all topics. Their opinions often clashed but they would laugh off the differences with a clink of glass and a change in conversation. They were so engrossed in the game that once more the dinner gong sounded before either of them had noticed the time.
Reginald frowned, hand still hovering on a piece he was collecting as they had just started resetting for a new game. He contemplated the arduous task of getting dressed and believed Elias to be like minded in this matter from previous discussions, “I profess, I cannot bring myself to want to face the stairs in my current state, would you be offended if we chose not to dress for dinner?”
“I would gladly oblige,” the other man said, “Speaking of which, may I check your ankle?”
Reginald nodded and watched as the taller man shifted, taking away the cloth, “Would you mind?”
“Not at all,” Reginald responded lowering a hand for him to place the cloth in as he once more lightly traced the smaller man’s ankle with his fingertips. The touch was feather light but it sent a small chill up to his spine. He found himself watching the other man intently as he worked, Elias looked up and held his gaze whilst he leant out to collect the cloth, but he didn’t remove his hand straight away. He blinked and made to look down but the other man was already pulling away.
His heart felt as though it was about to explode in his chest, did he imagine the affection he saw in his eyes? Did the moment feel longer than it actually was?
“Reginald,” Elias asked and he realized he must have been staring intently at the floor and quickly turned to meet his eyes.
“Yes?”
“Do you remember when I asked you earlier if you’d travelled?”
Reginald thought back to this morning and remembered when the conversation had become derailed, “Of course, you know now I haven’t, I assume you have?”
The other man nodded, “Before my parents’ death, when I had first reached maturity, I took a few years travelling around Europe. I mention it in relation to our earlier conversation regarding what society deems acceptable.”
“Please, go on,” Reginald said using the discussion as an opportunity to watch the other’s face most avidly.
The Omega's Unexpected Baby: An MPREG Romance Page 17
