This chapter was gonna be really long but my beta BigJ (who I thank for all her hard work) recommended that I cut it so it seems u'l have one more chapter and probably sooner since i cut almost 3000 words off the end of this one.. but there's this one scene thats gonna give me utter hell so Im not sure if it'l be out as soon as id hoped.. Anyway enjoy, tell me what u think ~*~*~*~*~*~ Justin gained consciousness in the early hours of the dawn gasping. His body thrusting back on to the two fingers that were inside of him. Brian’s hand was round his hip trying to keep him still but failing miserably. Brian chuckled softly while he knelt behind him and between his legs. He slapped his thigh gently and told him to stay still. Justin ignored him and pushed up on to his knees and buried his head in the pillow in front of him. “I see you are awake and eager. Now stop it, I'm just checking you. This is not for pleasure.” Brian’s voice was chiding but still amused and Justin was again oblivious to any of his commands. He managed to get his vocal chords to form words instead of moans and decided to get the begging out of the way. “Well seeing as you’re already… there why not kill two birds with one stone, so to say and stroke this yen I find I have for you.” Brian shook his head smiling and brushed his fingers over the small bump that was the root of all of Justin’s need. “This yen, here?” he asked seriously. “Yes!” Justin gasped and pushed back on to the light pressure, wanting more. “But I've a hankering for something a mite bigger.” Brian stroked down over his hip and up his side as if to try and calm him down, “No.” Brian soothed, oblivious to Justin’s whole body tensing and to the sudden gap between moans. “Brian?” “Hmmmm?” Justin pulled away from Brian’s clutches and turned around to face him a serious expression on his face, which made Brian want to grin. Justin must have detected some of his amusement for his eyes flashed dark with a mood and his words were sharp, “Don’t begin to think you can tell me what I can and cannot do. I am not stupid and if I was ever to think that I was in any danger of being hurt than I have a tongue with which to tell you so. Now either give me what I want or I've a mind to do it myself. You think that in your absence I went without?” Brian’s mind went blank with nausea and dread and… other emotions he was unable or unwilling to identify and he sat back on his heels, still and watchful, biting the inside of his lip to keep himself from reacting to this new piece of knowledge. “Am I whole, Brian?” Brian nodded slowly, still silent “Then I want you inside of me as soon as you are able. Trust me to know what’s good for me. Trust me to know that you are good for me.” Justin placed the flat of his hand over the left side of Brian’s chest and felt his heart beating underneath. Then he stroked up and over until he’d circled round Brian’s neck and he pulled him down and towards his mouth. Eyes remained open and searching on both sides until Brian let himself go and allowed Justin to pull him all the way. Their lips met tentatively, as if after such a long time they had forgotten the contours of each other’s mouths and were trying to re-learn them. Justin led, his tongue first to lick over Brian’s lips as if begging to be allowed entrance. Brian refused for a moment and Justin hummed in displeasure, his eyes pleading softly until Brian’s lips parted. Closing his eyes, Justin immersed himself in Brian’s flavour and heady scent, which sent his senses reeling. Brian watched him, studied his face as if hidden there he would be able to find traces of the men who might have replaced him while he was away. Justin keened low in his throat, a sound of both pleasure and pain, aching emptiness that begged to be filled. He wrapped his legs round Brian’s waist and pulled him down till their sexes rubbed against one another. His fingers curved round Brian’s ass and pulled him closer, his teeth insisted urgently and his back arched in invitation. Brian wrapped his hands round soft hips to tilt his pelvis up for easier access and closed his eyes to drown himself in the boy he had wrapped around him. Nothing else mattered but being here, not now, being here was everything. Justin spread his legs further in admittance. “Now, Brian. Now!” Brian pulled back and made as if to get off of him, “You need…” Justin tightened his grip and pulled him down, tilting his pelvis up and trying to guide Brian with his hands, “No I don’t, it's enough, I am wet enough. In me, now! I beg you.” he felt the wet tip of Brian’s hard length press against him and his mind begin to slip out of his control. “Please! Please!” Brian pulled back, grabbed hold of Justin’s hips and pushed in strong, slow and steady. Watching as Justin’s eyes fluttered and his neck arched back. He felt his fingers scratch over his back desperately as if they were trying to grab hold of something to keep him anchored to this world. Brian moved slowly, softly letting Justin feel him as he slipped inside. The stretch as he moved in deeper inch by inch, his tight channel expanding as Justin let Brian move inside of him. Once he was in and Justin was clenching and panting to take him, moaning low in his throat as he took him, shaking his head from side to side in desperation and trying to move his hips down to get Brian to move… God, just move. And Brian did. Slowly moving in and out making sure that Justin felt every inch of him in a slow rhythm which made Justin want to crawl up a wall and scream with frustration. Brian had his hips pinned to the bed in a tight grip that allowed him no movement and he was helpless, unable to get what he wanted. So he begged and he pleaded, his hands petted Brian’s chest then clutched at his biceps, thrusting his hips up pointlessly, promised an eternity of everything if only Brian would take him faster, harder, deeper. Brian smiled and pulled out almost all the way. He hovered a moment, feeling Justin’s asshole clench and pulse around the tip of his cock. Watched Justin writhe helplessly, so beautifully like the wanton God he was. His cries and moans were enough to make any man desperate, mad with wanting. Any man. Brian’s eyes narrowed and his gaze tunnelled, focused solely on Justin, only him and this room, this bed. Brian entered him rapidly, hitting his prostate and making Justin gasp and cry out, reach for him and settle his ankles higher round Brian’s back. Hard and deep thrusts, slow and steady but getting quicker and more frantic. He stroked Justin from the inside out, falling forward and wrapping one arm under Justin’s hips pulling him up and closer to his pelvis. His other hand curled round the back of Justin’s golden head, his thumb lying under his jaw. “Look at me! Justin, look at me!” he voice was slightly desperate but Justin was too oblivious to notice so lost in the intensity of their joining. His eyes did flutter open for a brief moment, just as Brian began to press insistently against his prostate. Over and over so that Justin began to feel his cock swell painfully as if it would explode and his balls tighten so near release he could feel this place inside him constrict and pulse so that his whole body convulsed in the same rhythm. Brian froze, stopped moving, stopped thrusting and watched Justin experience his almost orgasm, shuddering and babbling, fingers clutching the bed sheets and pulling at them desperately. When he realised that everything had stopped, Justin held Brian closer, took the opportunity to breathe deeply and then opened his eyes tiredly and tried to focus them onto Brian’s hazy shape above him. Brian smiled, satisfied that Justin was possessed by him, consumed by nothing else but him. He wanted to reclaim what should have always been his and he was half-way there. He pulled his hips back slowly, inch by inch and held Justin’s hips firm and unmoving in his hands. Justin watched him, his breathing quick, stuttered and shallow as if he was on the verge of hyperventilating. He angled up and plunged his cock into Justin’s tight hot passage. Nailing his prostate with a force that made Justin scream, his eyes roll into the back of his head and his fingers scramble desperately at his biceps, leaving red furrows were his nails had dug into his flesh. He hammered him raw using all his strength and power. When he felt them both drawing near their zenith he raised a hand to cover Justin’s mouth and wrapped the fingers of his second hand around Justin’s balls. He squeezed, milking him almost painfully of every last drop of Justin’s seed, he wanted it all to be for him. When Justin came his muffled scream echoed in Brian’s heart. His body went taut, his back rigid as it arched and his cock jerked and shot jet after jet of hot cum on to their chests until he fell back limp and spent, half catatonic. Brian held back so that he didn’t miss a second of the sight of Justin in the throes of his climax. When he came, his muscles went slack and he stopped breathing as his head fell back in a silent groan and his body shuddered and vibrated through his pleasure. He fell on top of Justin’s body and hitched his hips up, totally unwilling to leave even the smallest of spaces between their bodies. He wanted to plug Justin’s hole until his anal passage had no choice but to absorb Brian’s seed, the sticky wet mess he had left behind. Justin had tempted and forced it out of his body, muscles clenching over him so he’d have to keep it, soak it into his very blood stream. Brian made a move to pull out, get off and roll over when he felt Justin’s hand press against the small of his back, fingers digging into his ass cheek. “Stay… stay inside me.” Brian lifted his head, surprised. He had thought that Justin would have been out for a few minutes longer. He turned to look at him and was faced with closed eyes and lips bruised red, slightly parted as his life’s breath escaped in small shaky breaths, as if his lungs were made of holes. “Why?” Brian knelt up on his elbows and pressed his hips harder into the soft swell of Justin’s ass. He gave his fingers free rein to trace the velvet flush of Justin’s cheeks. His lips were swollen and red from his earlier abuse and with satiated pleasure. Over the delicate skin, which protected his eyes where he could see the fine blue veins that hid just below the surface. He ran his finger along his nose, which curved up perfectly and wrinkled whenever Justin was amused and slightly horrified at the same time. Then along his hairline, blond hair, which made him look so innocent even now when his skin radiated warmth, glowing fulfilment and hummed in the aftermath of their loving. “You fill me, full to brimming. I have you so deep inside of me my heart is in my throat. If you were much deeper in me, you’d be able to hold it in your hands. I'd let you keep it, I'd give it to you. Yours to do with what you will.” His voice had a dreamy quality as if he was on the brink of sleep and not really quite awake, a place where fantasy and reality merged and which you wouldn’t really remember when you woke up. Brian stilled and forgot to breathe for a brief moment. He closed his eyes and words tripped carelessly, breathless off his tongue, “That’s a lovely image. Justin you should wake up.” “Hmmm,” Instead he burrowed deeper into his surroundings, “It's what I feel. Sometimes I feel so hollow inside, it makes me wonder whether, if I looked at you I'd see that you’re already holding it in the palm of your hands, still bleeding and pulsing with my life.” “Justin?” Brian spoke faintly with urgency that could barely pass through the lump in his throat. Justin moved his fingers lightly up the length of Brian’s spine as if to alleviate his fears. “Don’t fret so. It's a good feeling. The pain and fear of it only an afterthought, a mere spark, an ache that sneaks in and twists my heart whenever I am away from you.” He drifted into silence and his breathing deepened. Brian didn’t sleep. The hour and a few minutes which Justin spent recovering, he spent in a numb panic interspersed with elation and fear and dread and a number of other feelings, which were wholly alien to his system. He wanted to pull away, get off the bed and go and fetch Alasdair so that he could win himself into a better mood. Instead for a reason totally foreign to him he spent the better part of the hour shifting his hips so that he wouldn’t slip out of Justin’s body. ----- Brian was shaving when Justin’s eyes blinked open and he stretched, his whole body tightening, each muscle flexing to rid itself of the ache of sex and sleep. Brian turned around to watch him, shaving blade in his hand, which glimmered in the morning light. “How do you feel?” Justin slumped back on to the bed and rolled his eyes. “I don’t know. How do you feel?” Justin threw the question back at him, smiling brightly. Brian on the other hand was confused. “How do I feel? Why should I feel anything at all?” “Every morning you always ask me how I feel, whether I am alright. I don’t need you to do that. I'm always fine, good really. If I am to feel some great change inside of me after…” he gestured in a round about sort of way, “Then shouldn’t you?” “It's different for me.” Brian stated Justin rolled his eyes, “Of course it is. All natural laws change for the likes of you.” “Have your other lovers not worried so about your well being the morning after?” “My other lovers?” There was a moment’s silence as if Justin were examining those words and trying to see whether they could be anything other than what they were. “What Lovers?” “The men who filled this aching void of yours while I was gone.” “But there were no men.” Justin replied utterly bewildered and not quite sure what he had done to provoke this line of questioning. “Men such as… Piers Benedict the Earl of Craven he showed an interest in you at the Waldgraven’s ball, did he not?” Brian pointed out a little sharply annoyed at Justin’s dismissal. Justin rolled over onto his back and his head hung down over the edge of the mattress. Seeing the world at this angle was rather amusing, now if only he could convince Brian to come over his soft cock would fall unerringly into his mouth. Though it wouldn’t be soft for long and then he’d have to turn onto his tummy again so as to be able to give it the proper attention. “Still does.” He mentioned absentmindedly while planning his seduction. “What?” “He still does,” Justin shrugged simply, “… show an interest in me.” He clarified, “Your absence was noted by more than just myself, My Lord Talbot.” Brian tensed and turned around to face him, “Justin, stay away from him!” Justin sat up and looked over his shoulder, “You’re doing it again.” “What again?” “Passing decrees and expecting me to accept them, obey you blindly in childish ignorance.” “I do not mean…” Brian hesitated “I know you don’t. I don’t even think you realise that you demand such blind faith from me. It’s what you’re used to. You say - ‘Do this and do that!’ – and it is done. But if you want me to recognise the degree of danger I am in so that I can be sufficiently wary, then you have to tell me. Otherwise how am I supposed to take you seriously?” “You think I tell you not to do whatever it is, not meet whomever it is, for the sake of my health?” Justin smiled. “Actually… yes! You’d worry otherwise.” “I'd do no such thing. These pronouncements you seem to have so much trouble with are not edicts, they are… merely suggestions.” “Tell me why Brian and I’ll be happy to obey you if I can understand your reasoning… or we’ll discuss it until we can come to a satisfactory compromise for us both.” “Is it such an appalling notion, to be deprived of Piers Benedict’s company that you must put up such a fuss?” Justin interrupted Brian’s muttering, “The fuss I am making has little to do with the subject and everything to do with your manner of commanding me as if you were Gods own child.” “Jesus was never as pretty as I am, there’s no way that we are related.” Justin returned a crooked smile then raised an eyebrow indicating that his particular reply had not been enough to satisfy him. Brian sighed and continued, “The reason I don’t want you near Piers Benedict is that he has a weakness for young, pretty boys. The more innocent and ignorant the better.” He pointed out bluntly “I am neither innocent, nor ignorant.” Justin shrugged. Brian took a step forward, “But you look it Justin, God you look… and in the end, unwilling amounts to the same thing. You’d still be tight with fear and you’d put up a fight to avoid your fate. He likes it when they fight, when they beg and plead for mercy. He likes knowing he’s broken something that might never be fixed. Sometimes he breaks it permanently too, he doesn’t seem to mind that either.” Justin looked shocked and… “This… how can people let that happen?” “What and admit that the sin of sodomy is an act practiced even by the rich and educated? Tsk, we should know better. No… it is much healthier to ignore it and pretend that those who are superior have no faults. It is the way of things here. You turn and look the other way.” “I can not believe… that is what you meant when you said that men would be raped, forced…” Brian shuddered at the mere thought and interrupted, leading the conversation to a much more interesting line of questions. There was a silence until Brian decided to readdress the subject, which had brought about this conversation, “So who were the men?” Justin looked up distracted and surprised before remembering what they had been talking about and frowning. “There were and are no men!” Justin insisted. Brian felt tension taking root in his body as if it meant to stay there forever, never leave him. “Man then, what’s the difference.” Brian rolled his eyes, then shut them painfully and tried to turn his mind towards getting himself dressed. “But there was no man.” Justin exclaimed, slightly puzzled that Brian was sure that he had been sharing himself with anyone else and rather indignant. “You said you found other means of finding release.” Brian pointed out. Justin blushed and grinned wickedly, wrinkling his nose and raising his hand to wave it about. Shrugging easily he cocked his head and said, “There are many ways to pleasure ones self and I explored them whilst alone at night in my large and lonely bed with no one to keep me company. You shouldn’t worry on my behalf, my heart remains foolishly constant.” Your heart? were the first words to jump onto Brian’s tongue but luckily he held it and settled for - “I wasn’t worried! I don’t worry!” “Ah, well then… replay this conversation over to yourself and see what you come up with. Suspicion, disdain, mistrust, personally I'd much rather go with worry and a little jealousy, it sits better with me than say... assuming that I would be so tempted to jump into another man’s bed just because you disappeared on me and taught my heart how easily it can be bruised.” Making his point Justin turned around and headed towards his room to dress. If they continued on this way, clashing over everything, discordant and so easy to jump to the worst of conclusions Justin foresaw a very long, exhausting type of day in their immediate future. -------- Dressed and in the study, Brian worked through all of the papers and schemes that Justin had had so much time to prepare whilst he was away. Brian paused for a moment while Justin was in the middle of extolling the merits of planting this crop versus another and studied Justin’s bowed head as he made notes of some of the changes they were planning on implementing, “Do you have plans for today or tonight?” “I usually… um, before lunch… I'm teaching Jane to read. I would have asked you your permission… but you weren’t here and at the time I couldn’t care less if you approved or not… actually I might have preferred it if you hadn’t approve… but you are here now and if you want me to I'll sto… no I won't,” he changed his mind before finishing the last word and straighten his shoulders as if to prepare for a discussion, “Even if you did want me to stop I… well I wouldn’t.” he stated assertively. Brian rolled his eyes and “Anything else?” Justin smiled brightly and continued. “Ummm… I am hoping that I won’t be spending as much time in the fencing courts… now that you’re back.” Justin mentioned hopefully. “What does that have to do with what you will be doing today?” “I should fetch some of my things and give my thanks to the master who took me in and I have an evening match which I should be present to cancel. Why?” “I was wondering whether you would allow me to keep that promise I made to you the first time you met Alasdair and… take you out somewhere.” “To play with whores and play at cards?” Justin looked very sceptical. Brian snorted, “Well you are welcome to the women if you have the desire. Myself, I don’t dabble in such things.” “Is it strange that I find that somewhat reassuring?” Brian laughed and shook his head in amusement. Justin wrinkled his nose in conjecture and stood up, walking round until he stood behind Brian’s chair and threading his fingers through his thick, dark hair. “I… what’s the point of going out in public if I can't even touch you. I think I'd rather stay at home with you. We can play with Gus, then at cards and if you’re good I'll even let you play with me.” he smiled brightly with a glint of wickedness in his eye. Brian reached behind him and grabbed on to Justin’s wrist pulling him forwards until he stood in front of him. “I'll get to play with you regardless of what we do before I lock the bedroom door.” Brian stated, amused that his innocent had turned into such a nefarious character. Justin raised an eyebrow and tilted his chin, “But I could make it difficult for you.” “Hmmm, all the better in my opinion.” Brian grabbed onto his waist and tugged him forwards ducking his head to nuzzle under his ear and breathe in Justin’s scent. “There are places where we could go… but the men are different and though you’d be able to touch me all you want…” he grinned then reconsidered his words, “actually men would probably pay to watch you touch me.” Justin’s eyes widened in animation, “Can we go? Just for a drink so that I can see?” Brian frowned, “It's not a place I like going to.” “I'll be good.” Justin made himself look wide-eyed and innocent. Brian didn’t believe it for a moment but tugged him forward and kissed him anyway, whispering in his ear seductively, “But what if I want you to be bad?” Justin shivered and replied, “I'm sure that could be arranged.” ----- Justin found Jane in the nursery waiting for him nervously. He grinned at her and settled down beside when she sighed with relief and relaxed. He had asked what the matter was and tried to reassure her that just because the master was in residence it did not mean he would abandon her. They spent a good hour together, Gus playing quietly at their feet before lunch. After that Brian and Justin reconvened in the study and schemed until it was time to go. They made it to the club in the early evening just in time for Justin to make his apologies had his opponent not received the note he had sent him earlier in the day. They were walking through the courts, the sounds of battling pairs, clashing of blades, grunts of effort, the smell of sweat and dirty men. “Justin!” beside him Brian felt Justin freeze and his whole body tense. Brian turned his head towards the voice that had called out for Justin while beside him Justin didn’t move an inch. An older man, in his fifties with a sour face and washed out, faded ash blond hair was approaching them. “I thought it was you. Justin what are you doing here? You never told me you were going to be in town. When did you get here and where are you staying?” Each question was fired out without giving Justin the time to reply. Justin turned slowly to face the man who had so quickly made his way towards them. Brian was less interested in the man and more so on Justin’s reaction to him. He studied Justin’s face and didn’t particularly like what he saw there. He seemed defeated already but his words still held some of his usual fire. It made Brian frown, “Errands! I thought you’d have better things to do than care! More than three months ago and with a friend.” He replied, in order, to each of his father’s demands. “You’ve been here three months and you haven't bothered to call on me? You are my son. I'd have thought I'd deserve a little more respect.” Oh! His father, Brian’s eyebrows rose and he examined the man more closely than he would have usually with any other person. “Well, we can't always be right.” Justin stated with a sigh then his shoulders straightened and he tilted his chin up and Brian relaxed. He had never known Justin to give up without a fight and the Justin that had greeted his father in such a down-trodden tone had worried him. This Justin on the other hand, excited. “I am your son,” Justin stated strongly, “I am so glad you remembered and since you so rarely bother to call on your real family anymore… I decided why spoil such a good thing. It's been… what eighteen months since I last saw you? You missed my birthday… and Molly’s, your wedding anniversary and the harvest and the planting… twice and…” The senior Taylor tensed and made to grab hold of Justin’s bicep before he glanced up at Brian, whom it was obvious Justin was accompanying, and reconsidered. Brian met his eyes coolly, daring him to touch what was his. He didn’t even know whether to be grateful when the elder Taylor hesitated and let his hand drop. Justin might not appreciate him making his old man bleed. “That’s enough, not in public.” Was the warning that the man settled on. Justin crossed his arms over his chest and smiled with faux cheer, “Ah, well goodbye then. If we are not to speak in public than I am so very sorry that our meeting has been cut short. Till next time then. Now that I've ruined that surprise visit of yours when should I next expect you? A few months or a few years?” Mr Taylor turned to face Brian with a forced grimace, which Brian supposed was meant to be considered a smile. “Is this your friend?” he asked of his son in an attempt to distract from his son’s biting sarcasm. Justin’s gaze narrowed. Then with all the artificial formality he could muster, “Mr Taylor, the Baron Talbot of Malahide. My Lord, Mr Craig Taylor.” Justin gestured in mock seriousness. Mr Taylor bowed low and Justin rolled his eyes sullenly while Brian watched all this with hidden amusement. “I am honoured that such a distinguished man has taken such an interest in my son. I know how unmanageable he can be and I marvel at your dedication.” Brian saw pain glint in blue eyes before Justin lowered an obviously practiced shield. Brian’s eyebrows rose and he held back a sneer, replacing it with a blank smile. “Well, he has made me a lot of money and I find him the best of company. He has been quite a hit in the highest circles of society. The women love him.” he added as an after-thought. Justin turned to face him with a look of wide-eyed horror, “Brian, don’t give him any ideas. He’ll have sold me to the highest bidder before the week’s out.” His father frowned, furious that his son was making a mockery of him in front of such a rich, important man, “Justin!” he barked. “Call me a liar.” Justin dared with a sweet smile on his face and daggers in his eyes. Craig smiled tightly and dismissed Justin’s insinuations with a wave of his hand. “Young men, they are so full of fanciful, foolish notions, don’t you find your Lordship?” he asked, hoping to bond with this man over the youth’s shortcoming. Brian met Justin’s gaze then turned back to the old man with a cold smirk, “I suppose that either makes me fanciful and foolish and in conjecture rather stupid… or you are calling me old, sir. I must say that I don’t care much for either of my options.” The man raised a hand to his heart and denied the offence firmly, “Oh no. You have mistaken my meaning…” Brian interrupted, “Well your son is one of the brightest minds I have had the privilege of meeting in the longest time so maybe it is actually a compliment to be so misjudged by you.” the insult was given with such delicate accuracy that it took Craig a moment to reply. “Your Lordship I must assure you, I meant no offence…” Mr Taylor fluttered worriedly then turned quickly towards his son in an attempt to distract from his own blunder. “I hear that you have been showing off your pathetic, florid skills at swordsmanship. People were speaking of it at my club. Asking whether you and I might be related. I denied it firmly, telling them that my son was not in London. Now, you have made a liar out of me. You are embarrassing me. I would prefer it if you took yourself back to the country where you belong.” It was not a suggestion but a command, weakly disguised as one. Brian felt the tendons in his hand twitch, “But I would not, Sir! If you have nothing intelligent or worthwhile to say then I'd advise you to keep your mouth shut before you convince me to efficiently lock every door so that you may never again enter polite society again.” Brian voice was chill and calm. The senior Taylor’s mouth gaped open in a rather comical fashion. “Who are you to tell me how I should treat my own son?” “To you? No one! To your son, a great deal!” Craig was taken aback and Justin smiled and felt his heart skip a beat. “Not only do we have several business dealings in common, but I own a great deal of land alongside the one your son will be inheriting in the near future.” Brian stated, conveniently omitting Craig’s current ownership, “He is my own son’s Godfather, cared for my wife while she was ailing and he is my… friend, a brilliant swordsman who can actually hold his own with me on the field and anyone will tell you I am the best blade in England. The real question is not who am I… but who are you?” “I am his father and I am not dead yet.” Taylor replied quickly in what Brian assumed was to be pride… at his own swift wit. “That can be arranged.” Brian’s voice was soft but sharp as a knife and the threat could not be misunderstood. Craig’s eyes widened in shock and he stepped away “You should leave Sir. My Lord Talbot has a terrible temper.” Justin said carefully and with all the respect he could muster for a man who was technically his father. Mr Taylor considered judiciously before deciding it would be wise to take his sons warning, “I… I shall take my leave.” “I can't say that I'm not supremely grateful… Sir.” Brian added after a long pause as if he had hesitated to assign the man the respectful title, which his station recommended. The man bowed stiffly and stalked off, hoping that no one had noticed the painful slight and consequent dismissal. They both watched his retreating back before Brian turned to Justin, “So that was your father?” Justin nodded regretfully then shook his head as if to rid himself of the image of the encounter. He turned to face Brian with a grateful look in his eye and Brian tensed. “I… I thank you.” Justin looked up at him shyly and Brian had to acknowledge that it had never cost him so much self-restraint to stop himself from touching him. “I’ll go get my things. I won't be a minute.” Brian was glad that Justin had not made a big issue of what had happened. Justin was searching for his practice blade and a stray guard when he felt a hand stroke down the length of his back and he shivered and the hairs at the back of his neck stood to attention, wary. It wasn’t a good sort of shiver. He turned around and was faced with none other than Piers Benedict. “Your master will be coming home soon. Instead of continuing to taunt me in such an indecent manner as you do, give me what I want… before I decide to take it.” The threat was clear. Justin found it difficult to keep himself from reacting violently to the mans’ words. “Your Lordship catches me at a very bad time!” Justin stated, barely managing to conceal the disgust from his voice. The sickly smile that answered him made his fists clench. “There is no bad time for me, only for you and I care little for what is good for you.” The man’s voice dripped with sickly, sweet malevolence. “I mean… my temper is riled.” He answered back casually, his spine stiffening and his fingers wrapping round the hilt of the spare blade he kept in the locker behind him. “What makes you think I have any interest in your disposition? I have had my eye on you and now I shall take you. It is as simple as that.” Justin smiled coldly. “Has no one ever said ‘no’ to you, your Lordship?” The answering sneer and look of confidence on the pasty face made Justin tremble with contained rage. “Ah, of course they have. You like it when they say no don’t you? Has no one ever fought back or do you only prey on the weak who cannot defend themselves… Your Lordship?” he added as a disdainful afterthought. Fury tighten the man’s facial features, “How dare you speak like that to me? you are nothing but a…” Justin interrupted “Well, you have made a very slight miscalculation, your Lordship.” Justin used his name in biting sarcasm and suddenly Piers Benedict found himself pinned to the wall with a blade at his throat, “The first is that I actually require my ‘master’ to be present to defend my own honour and the second, I am not weak and if you listened to anything other than the sound of your own voice and the screams of the boys you abuse, you would know that.” Piers tried not to fidget, as he felt the sharp edge nick the skin at his neck and a thin trickle of blood begin to snake its’ way down his throat, “I could call you out for the insults you have thrown at me today.” he threatened. A chill voice rang out from behind them. “You do that.” Pier’s eyes widened and he glanced over Justin’s shoulder before his lips thinned further in a line of fury, almost disappearing entirely. Justin didn’t even flinch, his gaze never wavering from his target. Brian’s voice echoed through the empty room, calm and collected. “I can assure you that Justin here is much handier with a blade than you profess to be and I shall be thrilled to watch him kill you. I'll be his second, of course, what with me being the man you seem to think ‘masters’ him. I suppose you don’t find it necessary for me to clarify how perfectly capable I am of stabbing a man in the back.” Brian asked rhetorically, “especially after I made it clear you weren’t to touch what’s mine.” Justin fought the need to feel surprised, elated or annoyed quite easily. Brian had followed Justin to check whether Justin was alri… see what was taking the boy so long and had managed to catch most of the conversation. He was not happy and decided that his Lordship, the Earl of Craven had had enough time to indulge himself in his sadistic past-times and that he would finally be paying for the consequences. Piers Benedict glared at him furiously but had the intelligence to keep his mouth pursed tightly shut. “I have had enough of you, Benedict. I think it would be best if you disappeared far, far away. And I am not speaking of one of your many country estates because it would be too easy for me to find you if that is the limit of how far you run.” Craven made a move to speak, angry at the implication that he would deign to obey the orders of a mere Baron but he reconsidered when Justin smiled, stepped forward and made a move to give him the extra strength that would be required to force a blade through someone’s neck at such close quarters. “France is said to be quite welcoming to Englishmen running from their own country, especially rich ones. Although they have no use for the poor ones so I'd keep your losses at the gambling tables in the London’s stews a secret if I were you.” Piers’ eyes flashed up in surprise that Brian knew one of his secrets. He had a terrible poker face, no wonder he lost so heavily at the gambling and card tables. “Are we agreed?” Brian’s voice was low and menacing, his stare penetrating. When he saw Craven’s stiff nod his expression didn’t change. Justin on the other hand relaxed and stepped away, relaxing his stance but sword arm still raised. Brian saw the idea of striking out flash across Craven’s eyes but than the man glanced back at Brian, whose gaze never wavered from their intense stare. He dared the man to move an inch towards his boy, his throwing knife was ready and waiting in the palm of his hand and he would like nothing better than an excuse to end this now. The changing room door flew open, “Taylor, I heard… oh?” the young man whom Justin had so thoroughly trounced the day before came to a sudden stop as his eyes darted around taking in the situation. “Is there a problem?” he asked hesitantly. “Not at all!” Brian smiled easily, deceptively, his eyes never leaving his target, “Justin was just turning down a… proposition.” Justin tilted his chin up daring Craven to refute that statement and when the Earl remained silent he dropped his blade and stepped away from him and towards Brian. “We’ve managed to come to an accord though, Sebastian so there’s no need to worry.” Justin replied, recognising the voice without turning away from his prey. “I can just imagine.” Sebastian replied sardonically, “Shall I lend you my handkerchief, Your Lordship? There is a blood stain on your cravat.” Piers straightened and began to pat down his clothing, “I shall take my leave.” “Do that.” Brian replied contemptibly. The man hurried out, glancing back once before disappearing. There was a moments silence before Sebastian finally spoke. “I suppose it's the curse of being rather… pretty.” Justin turned to face him and hit his chest with the back of his hand. Sebastian clutched at his heart in exaggerated pain and grinned mischievously, before suddenly grimacing, “I’ve heard things about the Earl of Craven.” He hinted at vaguely, “I’ll tell you one thing, it's a good thing you have such abnormally fast reflexes.” “They’re not abnormally fast, you’re just sluggish.” Justin teased gently and Brian tensed and suddenly glanced up and studied Sebastian carefully. “Hmmm,” Sebastian evaded inexpertly, “Well, I came in here to demand a rematch but… I have a feeling I'd lose since your blood is probably already roiling and I don’t need any more people to be witness to you trouncing me again.” “I don’t need high spirits to trounce you, Bastian, just skill and of that I have plenty at any given time.” Justin tilted his chin daring Sebastian to refute him. Rolling his eyes Sebastian jerked his head to the small pile of things that Justin had been gathering to take back home. “Are you leaving?” “I… leaving?” Justin asked confused “London?” Justin smiled easily and shook his head “No! Just probably not going to be spending as much time here as I have these past few weeks.” “I see.” Sebastian’s eyes widened playfully and he threw Brian a quick pointed glance, which made Justin’s cheeks flush and shake his head sharply. “Hmmm.” Justin acknowledged non-committedly. Brian watched all this with a blank, distant expression on his face but kept silent. “Do you require any help, Sir?” Sebastian gave him an embellished bow and held his hand out. Justin shook his head in mock annoyance and handed him his mask and blade. They both walked out conversing easily. They had walked home after handing the things that they had come to fetch into the carriage and bidding Sebastian goodbye. They had decided that the cool evening breeze would clear their heads. Brian’s mind remained focused on certain matters that were not to be articulated and it took him quite a while to notice that the further they walked the tenser Justin looked. He muscles were tight, stiff and unyielding, his usual gracefulness seemed to have turned into rough evasion, his arms were crossed over his chest and his lips pursed tightly as if the action would keep words from spilling over his lips. Brian gave him sideways and wary attention until they got home.