A Promise of Tomorrow (28 page)

James couldn’t help but walk over to his nephew and clap him on the shoulder. “I think that is an excellent idea, nephew. Your sister is right. You have quite the head for schemes and strategy… when you choose to use it,” he said, then he chuckled at Andrew’s slightly affronted frown.

“Thank you, Uncle… I think,”Andrew replied.

“Well, if we are done with your revelations for today, I believe I am ready to go to bed. It’s been a long day,” he said as Andrew nodded his agreement.

They headed up the stairs together, but when they reached Kyle’s door, Andrew left him, calling, “Good night, Uncle” over his shoulder.

He was just about to knock when he saw Ellis coming down the hall.
“Willyoube needinganythingelse tonight, mylord?”Ellis said.
“No, thank you, Ellis. I believe I have all that I require,” he replied.
“Very good, my lord. I have taken the liberty of informing the staff not to disturb you or your guests tomorrow morning unless rung for. I hope that meets with your approval?” Ellis said, then he smiled innocentlyat James’s raised brow.
“And, if I may be so bold,” he continued, “I would like to say how very good it is to see your good spirits returned, my lord. I have beenveryconcerned for you.”
“Ellis, I…” James started, then stopped as he realized Ellis had nodded toward Kyle’s door whenhe’d said “good spirits.”
As James continued to stare at his butler and friend, trying to discern if there were deeper meanings to his words, Ellis raised his ownbrows, but his face otherwise remained blank.
“Ifthat is all, mylord?”Ellis prompted.

“Yes, thank you, Ellis, that will be all,” he replied, and he watched as the older man headed toward the stairs with a strange smile onhis face.

Before his butler made it halfway down the stairs, James called after him, “And Ellis? I amglad mygood spirits have returned as well, thank youfor your concern.”

Ellis’s smile widened, and he bowed before turning back to the stairs to finishhis duties for the night.
James turned back to Kyle’s door with a bemused smile but barelyraised his hand to knock before the door opened.
“Is he gone?” a somewhat rumpled Kyle asked, blinking in the light ofthe lamp he carried.

“Yes. How are you feeling, Kyle? We missed you at dinner,” James replied quietly, steppinginto the room.

“I
am
sorry. I seem to have slept the day away. I felt as if I hadn’t slept in months, but I am feeling much recovered now,” Kyle said.

He looked so adorable in his rumpled shirt with his black curls scattered at odd angles about his head that James couldn’t help but set his lamp down and pullhis lover against himfor a deep, slow, and sensualkiss.

Kyle melted against him almost immediately and opened his mouth to suck James’s tongue inside. He stayed there a while, exploring Kyle’s mouth languidly, running his tongue over every inch before pulling back to suck on that plump lower lip. When he pulled away completely, Kyle whimpered in protest, and James had to chuckle.

“Patience. We shouldn’t go much further here. I fear the walls are a little too thin and my niece and nephew are too close,” he said, willing his pulse to slow long enough for him to plan a few practical precautions. “My rooms are further away, and the bedchamber is muchbetter insulated. Come.”

He opened the door, checking the hall for servants, then grabbed the lamp with one hand and Kyle with the other. He led his lover down the hall, taking a moment to lock Kyle’s door with the skeleton key only he and Ellis had copies of. That way, should any servant happen to have missed Ellis’s instructions, it would simply appear as ifKyle had locked himselfwithinhis chamber.

They entered his rooms, and James turned to lock his own door behind him. When he turned around, he found that Kyle had already removed his nightshirt and was walking backward toward the bedchamber with a teasing smile on his face. All thoughts of taking a moment to discuss Andrew’s plan flew from his head at the sight of Kyle naked and taunting him. With a devilish grin of his own, he stalked his lover to the bed, planted his hand in the center of Kyle’s chest, and gave hima good shove.

With a rather endearing squeak, Kyle fell back onto the bed, and after removing his own jacket and cravat, James crawled on top of him, pinning his lover’s arms above his head. He crouched down, his knees straddling Kyle’s hips, and leaned in for another deep kiss. He could feel Kyle’s arousal pressing against his belly as he claimed his lover’s lips and took a moment to rub the smooth wool of his trousers alongKyle’s naked flesh.

Kyle moaned in his mouth and arched against him, seeking more contact, but James decided to be a tease and arch away from him. Now that he finally had his love back in his bed, he wanted to draw out the sweet torment as longas possible.

While their tongues waltzed, sliding warmand wet against each other, James pushed Kyle’s wrists together and held them pinned to the bed withhis left hand alone. He slid the knuckles ofhis right down Kyle’s naked chest, grazing his nipples and exploring the contours of his muscles before flattening his palmagainst Kyle’s belly beneath his erection. Using both hands to keep Kyle pinned to the mattress, he drew his mouth down his lover’s neck, nipping and sucking as he went. Kyle’s bodyquivered beneathhis lips, and witheverynip ofhis teeth, he could feel the smooth silk of Kyle’s shaft move over his knuckles as it jerked above his belly.

He feasted on his lover’s neck for long moments, simply enjoying the sensual delight that was Kyle’s body. Before Kyle, he never would have considered himself to be such a hedonist, but it seemed his love was making him discover more and more facets of himselfthat he’d never knownexisted.

“Please!” Kyle’s strained whisper and writhing body sent a pulse of heat through him, making his own cock jerk within his trousers. The minx knew too well already how to manipulate him. It was time to get some ofhis ownback.

“Not this time, sweet,” he admonished as he moved away and stood next to the foot of the bed, leaning against the poster. “Move up to the head of the bed and lie back on the pillows,” he commanded.

Kyle’s pout at his abandonment heated to something far sultrier at James’s command, and he quickly moved up the bed. When Kyle was settled and James was sure he had his lover’s attention, he began unbuttoning his waistcoat, slowly sliding his fingers down frombutton to button. He slid it from his shoulders just as slowly and folded it neatlybefore drapingit over the chair near his windows.

Keeping his gaze locked on those gorgeous emerald eyes, he removed his braces and unbuttoned his trousers. He couldn’t help a flattered smirk at the intensity with which Kyle’s gaze followed his hands and decided to put a little extra effort inhis show. He pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it over the chair, then slid his hands inside his trousers and drew out his cock, displaying it in front of him and giving it a few good strokes. He grabbed it at the base and drew his bollocks into his other hand, rolling themin his palm, making sure Kyle could see everyinchofhimondisplay.

WhenKyle’s eyes widened and he licked his lips, James had to bite back a groan. He decided to change tactics there and then and removed the rest of his clothing much more quickly, climbing back onto the bed. When Kyle rose to meet him, he shook his head and pushed himback into the pillows, holding himthere with hands on his shoulders.

“Staythere,”he commanded, and thenhe straddled Kyle’s hips again.

Rising up on his knees, he grabbed the bedframe above Kyle’s head with one hand and positioned his cock in front of his lover’s face with the other, gripping it and running the head lightly over those gorgeous lips, smearing them with the pearly fluid already leaking from the tip. Kyle’s eager mouth opened at once and descended on him as his hand wrapped around the base of James’s shaft. James couldn’t hold back the groan this time, and within moments, he was rockinginto that wet haven.

He watched avidly as Kyle’s pale cheeks hollowed as he sucked, and he felt Kyle’s other hand reach round and squeeze his buttock, the move tugging at his hole with every thrust of his hips into Kyle’s mouth. It took every ounce of control he had not to thrust himself to completion between those lips, but he wanted this to last, and he wanted to be buried deep in Kyle’s sweet arse when he spent.

After a few more moments of glorious bliss, he gritted his teeth and tugged on his lover’s hair to get his attention, then pulled himself out of Kyle’s mouth and hands. Before Kyle could protest, James slid down his body and kissed him deeply, tasting some of himself mingled with the flavor that was uniquely Kyle’s. He savored the flavor, sweeping his lover’s mouth for long moments before pulling awayand growling, “Stayhere.”

He climbed off the bed and went to rummage through his toilet, hoping to find something he could use in place of the oil he had disposed of after Kyle left. He was relieved to discover a jar of knitbone unguent hiding amongst the numerous bottles and tins of creams, tinctures, and powders his sister and niece insisted on gifting himwith every Christmas. With no other options visible, it seemed he would make do withthat. Happily, he grabbed the jar and returned to the bed, settingit onthe mattress close to his lover’s body.

Kyle’s hungry eyes followed his every move, and he couldn’t help but smirk as he slid back onto the bed. It did wonderfulthings to a man’s pride to have someone so bright and beautiful look at you as ifyouwere allhe needed inthe world.

“Roll over. On your hands and knees,” he commanded. Kyle bit his lip as he obeyed the gruff words and looked back at James over his shoulder. James moved next to him, sliding his hands between Kyle’s shoulder blades and pressing down. “Elbows on the bed,”he ordered.

Kyle’s eyes widened a little, and he flushed but he did what he was told. The positionforced his arse higher inthe air and exposed all to James’s ravenous eyes. Moving behind his lover, James nudged Kyle’s thighs apart, exposing him even further. He heard Kyle whimper and suddenlythought perhaps he’d pushed too far too soon.

“Are youallright withthis, Kyle?”he asked, concerned.

“Yes, oh yes, don’t stop,” Kyle panted, and James realized with relief that the sound he’d made and the quivering of his body were fromdesire, not fear.

“Good, sweet boy. You have only to tell me if I do something you don’t want. I willstop whenever you need. You have only to say the word. Do you understand?” he asked as he slid his palms over Kyle’s back.

“Yes,” Kyle groaned as James’s tongue followed his hands downthe lengthofhis spine.
He kissed the dip just above his lover’s arse before spreading him wide and trailing his tongue down that valley. When he reached Kyle’s entrance, he trailed his tongue in lazy circles about it, wetting it liberallybefore pressingthe tip home.
“Oh
God
!” Kyle moaned, gasping, forcing James to use his grip onthe man’s arse to keep himstillas his bodybucked.
He pulled back only long enough to wet his thumb, then went back to tormenting his lover, swirling his hole with it and his tongue, then pushing both inside. When Kyle bucked against him again, James used his other hand to give the boy a stinging smack on the arse, elicitinga startled yelp.
“I said before that I might have to use a firmer hand with you. Now be still,” he growled, then he chuckled to soften the rebuke. He smoothed his hand gently over the red mark he’d left, soothing the sting, before sliding it down to fondle Kyle’s bollocks and resuming his torment ofhis entrance.
He continued to lick and suck at that divine opening in between tonguing his bollocks and the sensitive expanse between. James couldn’t help but smile at the fact that, though Kyle was mewling and shakingwithneed, he remained stillas he was commanded.
“
Please!
”Kyle begged again, and James decided it was time to end the torment for both of them. The ache in his body had become nearlyoverwhelming.
He fumbled for the jar of unguent with shaking hands and coated his fingers in it. The crisp scents of beeswax and herbs filled his nostrils as he smoothed it lovingly over his lover’s entrance before sliding his middle finger inside. Kyle’s body was so open and welcoming that he slid another finger inside almost immediately thereafter. Curling both fingers forward, he rubbed gently across Kyle’s sweet spot and heard him choke out a muffled curse into the mattress.
He couldn’t help but chuckle. He loved it when he broke Kyle down enough for him to use profanity. Proper decorum was a necessity in society, but behind closed doors, he found it incredibly arousing to have that sweet mouth become coarse and vulgar. One day he would have to explore it further, see how obscene he could make his lover become, but not tonight. Tonight his need was too great.
Taking another dollop of the cream, he spread it quickly over his throbbing erection and grabbed it firmly at the base, pinching enough to keep himself from spending the moment he entered his love. He placed the blunt head at Kyle’s opening and took a moment to breathe and simply enjoy the feel of his lover’s heat just barely kissingthe tip ofhis cock.
“Oh God, please, please, please!” Kyle begged as his entrance quivered against James’s crown, begginghimto enter.
He couldn’t have refused that invitation even if he’d wanted to, and he slid his shaft inside in one long, fluid stroke, burying himself to the hilt. Kyle let out a long, low moan and fisted the bed linens, pushingback against himas his channelgripped himtightly.

He couldn’t stop a moan of his own as he leaned over Kyle’s back and whispered against his neck, “You are heaven on Earth for me, sweet. Your bodyis analtar I could worship at for the rest ofmy days.”

He surprised himself with his eloquence at a time like that. He didn’t think he had any words like that in him, but it appeared Kyle would never cease to surprise him, evenwithhimself.

But all such serious thoughts flew from his head the moment Kyle began to wriggle against him. The profound and the profane would have to wait until he had satisfied the needs of his flesh and claimed what was his.

He lifted up and grabbed his lover’s hips, setting a slow, steady rhythm, pumping into Kyle and pulling his hips against himwith every thrust. He wanted it to last this time, to draw it out as long as he possibly could, but Kyle was having none of it. Arching up and grabbingthe head ofthe bed, he slammed his arse onto James’s cock withever-increasingferocity, and James was lost.