Justin had been awake for the past twenty-five minutes, watching Brian. Actually he spent the first ten minutes watching Brian and the last fifteen thinking of the very many different ways in which he could pull the bed sheets that were covering Brian, off of him - so that there would be more of Brian to watch. He was sitting up on his hip, his legs to one side, leaning on his arm. He was studying the fall of the material over the bronzed chest in front of him, imagining what the rest of his body would look like. Finally deciding that it was ridiculous and that he had every right to see the man uncovered, he bit his lip and curled his fingers over the sheet and gently, slowly began to slip them down. Brian did not stir as Justin exposed his nipples, or his abdomen. Justin paused; he was unsure whether he wanted to see more than that. Actually he was certain that he wanted to see it, see all of Brian, completely naked but he felt that exposing Brian’s sex would be a much more serious trespass than revealing his sleek, bronze chest had been. His fingers itched to continue dragging down the covers and he was considering inching them down just a tiny bit more when Brian’s breathing changed and he froze. Justin decided to settle for the view of toned muscle that he already had. Brian had been awake for the past half an hour. He had woken up when he had begun to feel Justin stirring. He was not accustomed to feeling somebody else’s movement in his bed and it was then that he remembered that he was not in his own bed… that and the fact that his blanket was particularly heavy. Having a hot and heavy boy half draped across your chest with his hand tangled in your hair and his face buried in your neck was not a mantle he was in the habit of sleeping under. But after figuring out the circumstances he relaxed enough to doze off again. Next time he awoke he felt the penetrating gaze of his lover, which seemed to be just as heavy as the mantle, which he had been covered with earlier. He remained still with eyes closed and fought his instinct to smile when he felt the sheets begin to creep down his chest. Amused and curious as to how far Justin would take this, he finally decided that Justin had had his dues worth of examination. He opened his eyes and grabbed his pale, slim wrist. Justin’s breath caught in surprised shock and his head jerked up. Their eyes met, dark sleepy hazel eyes with wide-eyed apprehensive blue ones. “Looking is all well and good but after a while one must move on to other things.” Justin’s heart was still beating rapidly and his voice was hesitant when he asked, “What other things?” “Touching could be a good beginning.” Justin’s eyes widened and he watched as Brian began to move his arm to place his hand flat on the chest that a short while ago Justin had been admiring. Their eyes never drifting from their contact, Justin began to stroke Brian’s beautiful body until a hard nipple under the curve of his palm distracted him and he shifted his body so as to be closer to his target and better able to appreciate this new form. Brian watched as artistic admiration began to overpower Justin’s senses. His curiosity and excitement seemed to overwhelm his natural wariness as Justin examined his new canvas. Lifting both his hands until they swept over the expanse of skin, up Brian’s chest and down his arms, fingers lightly sweeping over his collarbone. Justin licked his lips. Becoming bolder Justin tugged at a nipple and the gasp he triggered made him shiver and nearly withdraw but Brian grabbed both his palms and held them down flat to his skin. Justin could feel the pulse of Brian’s heart beating under his fingertips. Returning his gaze to study Brian’s face, Justin noticed his parted lips and eyes hooded and dark. He noted the flush that seemed to be creeping into Brian’s skin and he thought of how he would paint this. Brian slowly began to move both his palms down his body and it was this that brought Justin back into reality. His heart rate increased with the movement and when their hands got caught on the bed sheets, which were draped over Brian’s hips, Justin averted his eyes and tried to control his breathing, as they continued on their downward journey taking the sheets with them. Keeping very still Brian shivered as the bed sheets brushed over his hard cock. When the sheets were down near mid thigh Brian let go of his hold on Justin’s hands. Glancing up he noticed that Justin’s head was bowed and his gaze focused on his shoulder. Brian sat back and waited until Justin’s curiosity got the better of him. He knew he would not have to wait long. Justin could feel the heat from Brian’s body along his legs where they almost touched. He could hear his breathing and smell the musky scent of Brian and sleep. Finally he could not help but glance up at him and their gazes met. Brian was blank and seemed to be utterly willing to allow Justin the time to come to terms with all the emotions which overwhelmed him. It was this that gave Justin the courage to slowly sweep his gaze down the long toned body that was displayed before him. Unconsciously Justin’s fingers, which had not moved from the position where Brian had left them, began to stroke and massage up Brian’s thighs until they rested at his hips. Playing with the sharp bones that protruded from where Brian’s waist ended and his groin began, Justin hesitated. Closing his eyes he took a deep breath to collect himself. When he opened them he was met by such… differences. Justin tilted his head and his hands began to explore. His brow furrowed with interest as his fingers swept up the long, hard, length before him and played with the curls at its base. He combed his fingers through until he encountered the sac and weighed the two balls he found there, in his palm. Retracing his steps until he came to the head of the dark, rigid organ Justin traced his fingers around the head and then dipped his fingertips into the moisture, which seemed to be rising up and leaking out of the slit, in fascination. Brian hissed at the torture and gritted his teeth begging the Gods for the patience to allow the boy this exploration. Clenching his fists rhythmically hoping to match his breathing, he wouldn’t have been surprised if Justin bent down to lick soon – all in the name of science and research, of course. “Justin.” He murmured in warning but Justin seemed too absorbed to pay him much attention. Justin bent down to get a closer look and placed thumb and index on either side of the head and pulled down on the foreskin to force the slit to open wide. The smallest finger of his other hand dipped into the space left and he rubbed through it. Brian gasped and grabbed at both of Justin’s wrists again. Justin pulled back his eyes wide with trepidation and Brian let go and tried to control his breathing, settling once again on to his back. Justin began to understand that his touch caused a reaction and smiled. He moved his body until he was kneeling between Brian’s legs and began to touch and stroke, measuring and annotating each and every response. They were both hard and Justin felt the need to assess, to compare and so curled the fingers of his other hand around his own sex, making himself gasp. Brian watched Justin through lidded eyes heavy with barely suppressed desire. As Justin settled on to his knees and began to fondle his genitals, tugging and rubbing himself. Then when he had deduced that the motion of a particular action felt good, he replicated it on Brian. Justin was acutely aware of the soft moans and sighs that Brian was helpless to suppress and which heightened his own fervour. Justin was driving him crazy. Brian was already panting and was barely capable of keeping his eyes open; Brian thrust his hips up in encouragement but kept his mouth shut. He refused to beg. It went against his character and he was relying on Justin’s own inexperienced impatience to hurry this all up. It was difficult to allow Justin this slow exploration of mutual pleasure. It was not easy to restrain himself, stop himself from grabbing on to the boy, flipping him over and thrusting his cock up his ass. Difficult to control the desire to fuck him into the mattress, to show him to what heights real pleasure and need could truly escalate. Justin’s body was starting to ache. Watching Brian try to control himself from moaning made him want to smile and beg and for this all never to end. At the moment he was staring at the head of Brian’s cock, as liquid bubbled over and leaked down the sides of the shaft making his hand move easily and freely in a soft, steady movement. His mouth watered but he didn’t know why. He was close, close to completion, close to pleasure, close to Brian and their shared desire. His breathing was heavy, matched by Brian’s own panting. He continued to stroke them both steadily, increasing the pace and making himself gasp and moan. Suddenly a thought entered Justin’s head and before it had even registered Justin had bent down and licked over the head of Brian’s sex and swallowed the moisture that had gathered there. He was still savouring the taste, licking his lips when Brian exclaimed and his release erupted over his belly, triggering Justin’s own fulfilment. Brian had been absolutely stunned when he‘d seen, then felt Justin's sweet tongue lick over the head of his cock. He froze, blinking, and it was the sight of Justin sucking his juices from his lips, his dark eyes hooded and lashes fluttering against his pale cheeks as his hands pinned his hips down that had pushed Brian over the edge. The surprise of it, the burn and rush of pleasure that had filled him… and then Justin’s own pleasure shooting out to mix on his abdomen… Brian could not contain himself. Still breathing heavily he grabbed Justin’s upper arms and hauled him up to meet his lips. Flipping Justin on to his back he fed hungrily on the flavours of that mouth. Justin’s hand pulled through his hair, as Brian’s own hands pulled at his hips, grinding their pelvises together, their overly sensitised cocks making them gasp and finally pull away from each other. Justin revaluated his position and blushed. What had he done? It had all been so good and here he was as a result, his legs hitched around Brian’s waist panting heavily and unashamed. How could he be ashamed when such a beautiful man lay over him, pressed against him? He had never felt so close to someone before and it made his heart palpitate. Justin sighed and rubbed his fingers across Brian’s cheek. Watching thoughts flicker across Justin’s gaze Brian decided he needed a bit of space. Giving him one final kiss, which Justin tried to sustain and groaned beautifully when his appeal was ignored, Brian got up. Walking out of Justin’s chambers and into his own, towards the washstand so that he could wash off the evidence of their combined passion. When finally he was cleaned he turned and encountered a naked Justin standing under the doorway watching him, eyes wide and slightly nervous, the white fluid they had yielded still marking his torso. Brian was transfixed. His nostrils flared and he stalked towards him making Justin step back until he was against the wall. Raising an arm and placing the palm flat against the wall beside Justin’s head Brian leaned towards him. The fingers of his other hand traced patterns on Justin’s wet tummy. Brian brushed his nose along Justin’s neck encouraging him to tilt his head back until their lips aligned and Brian’s tongue licked at the pink, parted lips but did not enter. “Can you smell? It is we, our scent. Can you taste? This mixture produced between us. It whets my appetite for you.” Brian shut his eyes sighing. “We can not spend the day in bed. So wash and dress… unless you wish to wear me all day long.” he said grinning and running his fingers through the sticky mess that covered his boy. Justin sucked in his breath and whimpered, eyes fluttering as he imagined it. Brian pushed himself away from him and put some distance between them. “Go then. Do as I tell you. Care for my child and when you long for adult company again, come to me in my study.” Brian turned and shut the door behind him knowing that neither one of them would venture through the closed door for its simple connotation. Turning towards his perfectly made bed he walked over to it and plucked the sheets off, twisting and piling them up to make the bed look slept in. He sighed and went to dress. -------- It was some hours later that the door of his study slammed open and Brian looked up to see a flushed Alasdair storm in and fling himself into one of the winged chairs that sat in front of his desk. Brian put his pen down, sat back in his chair and crossed his arms, waiting. “Mother has decided that it is time that I found a wife and spawned a litter.” Brian fought a grin but remained silent, knowing that Alasdair would without a doubt continue talking. “It is ridiculous! My obnoxious brother gets himself a barren wife – although I'm fairly certain that it is he who’s impotent - disagreeable bugger – and I suddenly have to start having babies.” “She’s trying to ensure your noble lineage. As a nobleman’s wife she is fulfilling her duty.” “My father’s been dead twenty years. The old bat’s just used to being man of the house. She’s bored. All her daughters have already been auctioned off to the highest bidders with the prettiest titles and nothing to do this season. I'm her new pet project.” “You adore your mother.” Brian stated with a raised eyebrow. “I do? Remind me to remember that when I'm leg shackled to a stupid, simpering, breeder.” “Breeder?” “Well… breeding is all wives are good for.” Alasdair huffed like a spoilt child and sulked for a moment. Then he perked up. “Well, at least you shall be with me.” “I shall be with you where?” Brian asked distractedly “At the balls and parties, dinners and dances.” Brian stared at him blankly. “No I won’t. What in the world possessed you to even contemplate that notion?” Brian asked, amused. “I may have possibly mentioned it to my mother that you are a widower.” “You did what?” Brian hissed “You need not worry, she already knew.” Alasdair shrugged matter-of-factly. “That is a good reason for you not to worry because now I feel less inclined to run you through with my sword… but it does nothing for me.” “You are quite right.” Alasdair deliberated jovially “I am in mourning.” Brian pointed out carefully “So? It doesn’t mean that she or I won't expect you to be there at every single party. Now that I think about it… you’re probably going to be next years’ endeavour.” Brian shut his eyes and raised a hand to rub his temple. “You’re thinking of how many relatives you have that can die for the next ten years aren’t you? So that you can remain in a state of perpetual mourning.” Alasdair uttered knowingly “Not nearly enough to keep your mother at bay, Alasdair. Not nearly enough. Although it would be nice, after all, black is definitely my colour.” Alasdair snorted then straightened up in his seat. “There is actually a second reason for my visit.” He paused and frowned, “Actually more like third and forth. I'm yet to meet the new addition to your household.” He said pointedly. “Justin? How did you know…?” Brian trailed off, “You mean Gus don’t you? I’ll have him fetched in a moment. What’s the least important of the reasons that you’re here?” “I have a sighting or two.” Brian sat forward, listening “We can leave in an hour or two.” A knock sounded and the door opened suddenly and Justin walked in, his head still bowed over his latest piece of correspondence. “Brian I got a letter, my cousin Bernard is selling more land and…” Justin looked up and his eyes focused on Alasdair and then turned quickly to Brian, regret piercing through his gaze. “Forgive me. I was unaware that you had company. I shall come back later.” He turned to leave. “Justin.” Justin turned back hesitantly, “This is Lord Alasdair MacLachlan. Alasdair, Justin Taylor.” Justin bowed his head oblivious to Alasdair’s blatant perusal. Then they both turned to face Brian, Justin blank faced and prepared for anything and Alasdair with a wide amused, pointedly questioning look. Brian smiled tightly “Justin if you can go and fetch Gus so that he can be introduced. Then come and join us.” Justin opened his mouth to argue but then glanced at the guest and turned to follow directions. Brian hid the grin that threatened to make its way across his features too aware of Alasdair’s stare. “New servant?” Brian shrugged “It's complicated.” “I'm sure it's not as complicated as you would like to think.” “Alasdair.” Brian issued in warning, “Keep your mouth shut and our secrets close.” Justin re-entered the room with Gus on his hip and handed him to Brian who had stood up to meet him halfway. “Gus, meet your Uncle Alasdair. He's an idiot but I'm sure you’ll grow up wise enough to forgive him his many faults.” Alasdair got up and stole the infant from his arms then returned to his seat. Taking advantage of Alasdair’s distraction, Brian met Justin’s gaze and unconsciously lifted a hand to stroke through his hair. He then realised his error and pushed him towards the empty seat in front of his desk. Brian perched himself on the edge of his desk between them, legs outstretched and watched Alasdair play with his son. “I'm not sure why you think having children should be such a terrible thing. You seem to enjoy them.” Alasdair looked up and grimaced “Children yes. There is so much one can do with a child. I'm hardly more than a child myself…” he paused “At heart at least. But what does one do with a wife? I wouldn’t be able to hand her over to a nurse to amuse when I no longer have any use of her.” Brian heard Justin swallow a protest at this blatant rudeness and watched his eyes grow wide. Alasdair was oblivious to the fact that his host was not paying attention to him. “You have a beautiful child Talbot. You should be proud. You’ve done it all right, Talbot. An heir and a dead wife that won’t ever bother you again.” It was the narrow anger in Justin’s eyes that warned Brian to pay attention to the conversation. “Alasdair! You go too far. Don’t disrespect Elisabeth in such a way ever again. Not in my presence and not in my sons’.” Brian said calmly and coolly then stood up straight to make his point. Alasdair looked up, eyes wide and then sighed. “You are right, Talbot. Forgive me. You know I didn’t mean it, Brian. I adored Lizzie. But you must admit it’s dashed convenient.” “Alasdair, I really meant it.” Brian stated sharply. Then taking Gus out of his arms he went and sat behind his desk. “It would have hardly been inconvenient had she lived. Gus would have had a mother and I a wife and then your mother would have other things to concern herself with other than my new bachelor status.” Gus began to fuss as if sensing the tension between the adults. “True. A marriage of convenience, where did you find Lizzie? I want one too.” “Alasdair, you forget yourself. Do not do it again.” Brian warned and watched as Justin stood up and came towards him reaching his arms out to take the baby. They shared a look and Justin seemed to relax. Alasdair stood and walked towards the mantle, sighing. “I'm being terrible I know. I'm generally so very nice and easy going,” Brian snorted and earned a glare, “It's just that this marriage business has me out of sorts. Go and get ready so that I can drink my sorrows into oblivion, lose some money, pick a pretty whore to ease my mind and have you watching me throughout with horror and disdain vaguely evident across your features.” Brian interrupted quickly before Alasdair could continue to dig himself into Justin’s worst impressions. It seemed though, that Justin had forgiven him temporarily and was eyeing their guest with thinly veiled amusement. “All right.” Alasdair said with force “Go and dress yourself. Dress down and I shall take you to where… I will be meeting my contact. Oh and brush up on your counting skills. Where we are going you won't be able to cheat.” Brian stood up. “Watch what you’re saying. You’ll make Gus grow up thinking his Da’s dishonest.” Alasdair snorted and watched Justin closely as the blond crossed the room towards the door. “Wait thirty, no forty minutes. I'll be down shortly. Help yourself to a drink.” Brian’s last words before he followed Justin up stairs. Justin had handed Gus back over to Jane who had begun to act as a full-time nurse. Returning to his rooms he saw the door was opened and decided to enter. Without looking up from where he was changing Brian reassured him of his welcome and spoke. “Next time we venture out into the world, you will come with us. Do you play cards? I suppose we could go to the pleasure houses.” Brian looked up when he heard the sound of refusal emanating from Justin’s direction. Having finished dressing Brian sauntered towards him until they were but an inch apart from head to toe. “Forgive Alasdair. He is an idiot at times and knows not when to keep his mouth shut.” Brian curved his hands around his slight hips and pressed his fingers in sharply. “He is a friend?” Justin ventured trying to assimilate himself into this new arrangement. “Mmmmm…” Brian murmured half-heartedly, bowing his head and sucking Justin’s lower lip into his mouth. Suddenly, urgently Brian’s fingers began to undo the flap of Justin’s breeches. It was only with the loss of Brian’s lips as he knelt down before him that Justin noticed this new development. “Something new to keep you warm tonight while I am gone.” And licking the crown of Justin’s suddenly very attentive cock, Brian swallowed down its length. It was only Brian’s firm grip of his hips that kept Justin’s knees from buckling. Eyes rolling into the back of his head, fingers digging into Brian’s shoulders and Justin spiralled off into senseless pleasure. Time stopped still and disappeared, moving so quickly, too quickly. As Brian’s mouth and tongue and lips and throat worked and tortured him until he was incoherently, mindlessly, numb. Justin was close; Brian could feel his full, heavy balls as he cupped them in his palm. Justin’s scent overwhelmed him, his gasps and moans, sighs and whimpers making him hard. Hopefully this assault of his senses would keep Brian sane this evening - half hard and unable to forget what waited for him in his bed if he so willed it. At the very least it would distract him from all the women trying to seduce him if Alasdair actually followed through with his threat. Deciding that he had savoured this long enough, Brian began to work towards Justin’s completion. Humming, the vibrations in his throat driving Justin into a frenzy, Brian pulled back until only the head remained in his mouth. Sucking rhythmically, Brian swept his tongue over the underside of his cock repetitively. Lastly he pulled Justin’s balls away from his body making him cry out and then pressed his thumb hard over that spot just behind them. Justin emptied himself into Brian’s mouth and his knees gave way and he slid to the floor shuddering. His arms around Brian’s neck, he licked at his lips incessantly trying to see whether any feeling had returned and sighed, eyes closed. Brian rested his forehead against Justin’s, grinning at the sight of his fallen angel. Standing up, he pulled Justin to his feet. Pushing him towards his own bed and patting his rump. “You need to rest if you are to keep up with me, young one.” Justin glared but failed miserably to keep the satisfaction off his face. Brian shook his head in amusement and left to meet Alasdair in the carriage. ------ They had been trapped in the gloomy confines of his cheapest carriage mere moments before Alasdair opened his mouth to speak. Brian sighed, knowing that nothing would distract his friend from his inquisition. “Who was that boy? He has opinions and he respects you. The only reason he kept his mouth shut throughout my tirade was in deference to you. So I know he is not a servant.” “No, he is not a servant.” Brian acknowledged “It usually takes you a mere twenty minutes to change. You must think I am blind and a fool?” Alasdair continued “You would not be my second if I thought that of you. You know that.” “So?” “As I said, it is complicated.” “How is it complicated? A new plaything, this time instead of pistols and swords or mysterious gadgets and trinkets from abroad you’ve decided to play with a person.” Brian glanced up sharply, and then relaxed realising that Alasdair was baiting him in the hopes that it would force him to retaliate and therefore impart some piece of knowledge. “I'll have you know that it was that ‘toy’ who found and solved that cipher you were so fascinated by mere days ago.” Alasdair’s astonished silence amused him no end. “If I had known that this would have shocked you into silence so affectively, I would have introduced you to him earlier.” Alasdair blinked, “But he barely looks fifteen.” “Trust me when I say that it is complicated. You know me well, no? When have I ever overcomplicated matters? Really it's rather the opposite. I tend to simplify and go right to the root of things.” Alasdair nodded his agreement “That boy has been managing his and my own entire country estate since he was practically the age he actually looks and I am the richer for it. He kept my people from starving, cared for my ailing wife, practically raised Gus himself since Elisabeth was so sick, brought him to me once she was dead and…” Brian stopped himself short unprepared to even begin to attempt to unravel what had happened since. He continued, hoping to distract Alasdair from his obvious hesitance. “He is too well born to be an employee, too young to be a business partner, has too many interfering relatives so I cannot pass the boy off as a distant cousin. He is intelligent, entertaining and has grown into something of a confidant. I should do everything in my power to keep him around for mere business purposes – he is an asset. Add that to the fact that I can tolerate his company and…” Brian shrugged and looked out the carriage window. “Do you see a solution to this dilemma of yours?” Alasdair looked at him intently and Brian glanced back “For the moment… no. But luckily there is no hurry as of yet. Men can remain in each other’s company some months before explanations are required. There is time.” Brian relaxed, sure that the conversation had reached its conclusion. The carriage began to slow down and finally stopped. As Brian moved to open the door he felt a hand on his shoulder and glanced back. “Is he your lover?” their eyes met and held, Brian’s carefully blank. He raised an eyebrow and remained silent. Then he turned and exited the carriage leaving the question unanswered. The carriage had dropped them off some distance from their destination. Even though it was Lord Talbot’s oldest and poorest one, it was still sufficiently well conditioned to draw attention from those whose attention should not be sought. Letting all personal matters drop Alasdair led the way through weaving, dirty, narrow streets and Brian was extremely glad he was wearing his sword. To be truthful Brian always had several weapons on him at any given moment. When Napoleon had been strongest it had been a fashionable requirement to wear a sabre all the time. Brian cursed the day that the general populace began to feel safe from threat and stopped wearing them in favour of brandishing prettily decorated and highly useless walking sticks. But Brian wasn’t known as a person who followed the whims of others and so he wore his weapon proudly. Alasdair veered away and ducked into a gloomy doorway. Although in comparison to the rest of the street it was well maintained and almost acceptably passable. Brian took a deep breath and readjusted himself to the situation. He had the ability and the training to make himself appear… less… just less. Less imposing, less threatening, less handsome - actually if Alasdair’s opinion was anything to go by he succeeded rather nicely. The proof he had was… well he wasn’t dead yet. His eyes adjusting to the gloom he noticed the gloomy bar and the card tables. Seated around them were surprisingly well-groomed men mixed in with the expected rabble. Alasdair walked up to the bar and begged two drinks from the bartender. Brian lent down besides him and raised a questioning brow. The barman approached with their drinks and ducked his head down conspiratorially. “On de tirrd table, sat wit his back te de wall as if he were afeared of being knifed in de dark.” Alasdair nodded but did not turn to look. Brian who was already facing that direction examined their intended objective. “Thank you, Tommy.” Alasdair’s rich upper class accent was toned down to suit his surroundings and he slid his hand over the bar and a coin switched hands discreetly. Tommy nodded and went over to continue serving his customers. “How you find the places you find I will never know.” Brian murmured softly. “It is one of life’s pleasures. Getting dirty with the scum of the earth. As his heir, it is the only reason I wish my brother a long and prosperous life as the Marques of Lothian. Imagine having to be well mannered and proper all the time. T’would be exhausting.” The last words were uttered in a very pompous, genteel way and they shared a grin before turning their attention back to the potential French spy. Separating silently, they both went their own way with the same goal in mind. Brian bought into a game at the first table and Alasdair watched all the players for a moment before approaching a man who he thought would challenge him sufficiently. They spent the night in that manner hoping that one or both of them would finish playing against their target. Alasdair was a better card player but Brian was a better cheat. He knew every secret underhanded way to get the results he wanted, to win. In situations of this sort, to be caught meant certain death but Brian had never been caught and any attempt made at trying to kill him had the potential of livening up his evening rather than actually succeeding. Not only was Brian a master card cheat he had a habit of knowing things. By reading body signals and noticing how muscles tensed and relaxed he could read his opponents like an open book. He was the best. There was never any doubt. The game warmed his blood and thrilled his senses. There was nothing in this world better than a good, dirty game of cards with money on the table. Well, at least not in this particular room and the only thing that was better was most probably lying peacefully asleep keeping his bed warm for him – if one should be willing to accept the invitation – which one was. After some hours the game was won, and a round of consolatory drinks purchased for the losers. Tongues were conveniently loosened and secrets shared. Any memories that one may have had of the night were most probably a little vague. Alasdair and Brian wandered off with their newly acquired friend. They passed by the cheap disease-ridden whores who called out their wares. An easy exchange of money and a prettily painted face agreed to entertain their friend for the rest of the night. The sounds of rutting and the promise of a few well-paid hours occupied the rest of the drunken spy’s enduring recollection. Mister Jacques would wake in the morning with a heavy head and a sick stomach. His memories of the foul cloud of purple and red ripped and patched skirts thrown up and over a girl’s heads mixed in with grunts of pleasure and half-hearted words of encouragement, wet muscles surrounding his hard organ and the thrill of release. Brian and Alasdair walked off leaving their companion behind, assured of the fact that he would never be capable of recalling their faces. It was late and Brian was tired. He dropped Alasdair off at his town house and was relieved to arrive home to the hot bath that would hopefully rid him of the malodours of the grimy city. Although the door to Justin’s room was opened in invitation Brian didn’t have the will to wake Justin for a few hours of play. He didn’t have the energy to brood through the thought that just sleeping beside him without the incitement of pleasure could possibly be appealing either so he put himself to bed. Some hours later he wakened briefly to movement around his bed. His body tensed and his hand crept under his pillow to the butt of the pistol he kept under it. He relaxed and sighed as he felt the other side of the bed sink, the covers pull back and a warm naked body sneak in close beside him to steal some of the warmth that had been robbed during Justin’s journey from his own room. Justin tucked his body in to the curve of Brian. Lifting Brian’s arm and placing it over his own hip, his ass pressed back into Brian’s crotch. It took all of Brian’s self control not to press back and signal his wakeful state. Burrowing back into his body Justin sighed and fell swiftly to sleep. It took Brian much longer as he lost himself in thought. Finally he gave up and closed his eyes promptly following Justin’s example.