After so much hesitancy, it was surprising how quickly things moved. Richard was now pressed against Henry from chest to knees, every magnificent muscle and line taunting him through the layers of linen and silk. He moved his hands up and down Henry’s side as he explored his mouth. It took all the control he had not to rush forward when Henry finally started to explore with vigor.
It was so unlike what Richard was accustomed to, and so precisely what he needed. Julian rarely tolerated a handful of kisses or chaste caresses before he would mechanically disrobe, always eager to move on to the final event. Richard wanted so much more, not just physically. In every way, he had always wanted so much more.
And you won’t get it tonight. You don’t even know this man.
He silenced the voice in his mind and came back to the here and now.
“Everything,” Henry gasped suddenly.
Richard pulled back enough to look at him curiously.
“You asked me what I wanted,” Henry said between quick breaths. “I want everything.”
Carnal heat infused Richard’s skin. It sent a shiver down his spine. “Everything, then.” He gazed into cornflower-blue eyes as he unfastened the buttons of Henry’s waistcoat.
FINALLY. DEAR GOD, finally!
Henry clenched his jaw and did everything he could to keep his hands still. He wanted desperately to sink his fingers into the cloth of Richard’s coat and pull it from his shoulders, and that was just the beginning. He was sure that if he moved his hands with any more speed, he would lose all control and begin stripping him like a heathen. It was such a tired cliché, but he felt like a starving man seeing food for the first time in days. No, that wasn’t quite accurate. Henry saw the objects of his desire all the time, everywhere he went. Rather, he was like a starved prisoner finally let loose of his chain.
He had told Richard he wanted everything.
Everything
. And it was true. Tonight would have to last him the rest of his life, and he did not want to miss anything. He did not want to allow his inexperience or fear to hold him back.
Richard unfastened the last button on Henry’s waistcoat and spread his hands flat over his torso, caressing up and down against the thin linen of his shirt. Brown eyes stared down into his, so dark they glistened like volcanic glass.
Henry’s breath caught in his throat.
Dear God, Richard was stunning! He was an inch or two taller than Henry, with dark mahogany hair and round features that were rugged yet gentle at the same time. His shoulders were broad and imposing, only topping a body that exhibited undeniable strength. Were it not for his fine clothes and obviously cultured manner, Henry could almost have taken him for a laboring man.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to play valet this evening,” Richard said with a wink.
“What?” Henry shook his head, for he had been practically lost in the feel of hands against his chest.
“My coat,” Richard said. “Damn this fashion for coats that fit like a second skin. I’ll never get out of it on my own. Your assistance?”
Henry was almost undone by the playful glint in Richard’s eyes. He was so thankful for that. He could not have known what type of man he might meet that night—a fact that only added to the recklessness of the whole scheme—and he had feared that he might find himself in the company of someone who was brusque or impatient, or worse. But Richard was neither. He was personable and relaxing. Henry wondered how much of Richard’s persona was common to the man and how much of it was being specifically applied to make Henry more comfortable. Henry sat up and helped Richard remove his coat with a smooth pull over his shoulders and down his arms. The garment was indeed so well fitted that it was a wonder he had ever gotten into it. For just a brief moment, Henry felt a twinge of discomfort over his own clothes. He was well dressed, but it wasn’t exactly the height of London fashion.
Henry was surprised when Richard suddenly wrapped his arm around his waist and pulled him close. Before he could even gasp, his lips were covered once more. Once more, he opened his mouth and reveled in the intrusion. He reached for Richard’s waistcoat and had the buttons unfastened with remarkable speed. He stripped it from his shoulders, letting it fall onto the sofa cushions behind him after he was able to push Richard’s arms down long enough. He couldn’t stop now or even slow down. He grabbed Richard’s shirt and pulled it from the waistband of his trousers. He scooped his hands underneath and felt his stomach lurch wonderfully as he groped over warm skin and a path of light, tickling hair.
Richard chuckled and broke their kiss. “You know, that will be a lot easier to do if you remove my cravat first. Unless it is your plan to strangle me.”
Henry reached to untie Richard’s cravat, but it only took a few seconds for him to realize that it was tied in a bizarrely complex knot. What on earth…? He lowered his hands and felt his cheeks turning uncomfortably hot, and no doubt red. Dash it all!
“This,” Richard said, lifting his hands and gracefully untying the cravat with a tug to an unseen fold, “is how my valet thinks he earns his salary. Either that or he’s trying to kill me. Now…
come here
.”
Henry groaned as he was very suddenly pushed back onto the sofa cushions. Richard hovered over him and set to unfastening the buttons on the fall of his trousers. It was the work of mere seconds to loosen the string on his drawers, and then he was shocked into stillness. Richard’s hand was large and curiously rough as he took hold of Henry’s erection. Richard was stroking him with slow, long pulls, his thumb and index finger just cresting over the sensitive ridge each time. Henry shuddered blissfully and clenched his eyes even tighter.
“I know this is likely, but I still must ask,” Richard said. His voice was much softer now. “Is this the first time you have been touched like this?”
Henry nodded several times, his eyes still closed. He wanted to open them, he wanted to
see
, but he was so goddamned nervous he felt paralyzed.
Richard’s movement slowed, then stopped. “Do you want me stop, Henry? We can talk a little longer if that will put you at your ease.”
“No!” he belted. He forced his eyes open and sat up. “No, I don’t want to be at
my ease
. I…” He trailed off again.
Again
. He resisted the urge to cover his face with his hands. What a childish coward he must seem!
“Good.” The word came as a growl as Henry felt hands press against his chest and push him down on the sofa once more. He opened his eyes just in time to see Richard take him into his mouth.
“Huh! Ah!” Henry strained, digging his fingers into the sofa. It was beyond anything he had ever imagined
or
felt. Richard moved slowly, taking him in until Henry was certain he felt the back of Richard’s throat, so wet and deliciously hot. He forced his eyes open. They locked with Richard’s, who held his gaze when he pulled back, his cheeks drawing in slightly as he sucked. It was mesmerizing. Just as Henry had been unable to open his eyes before, he was incapable of closing them now. The sight of Richard’s full lips stretched around him, the feel of his tongue laving unseen behind those lips, was enough to leave Henry delirious.
Richard slid his hand up and down the hard length as he moved his tongue, both of which pulled uncontrolled groans of pleasure from Henry. He let his head fall back and his eyes close, moving his hands down. He felt Richard’s forearms and then his hard shoulders. Glorious minutes passed, until he could feel his moment building, faster now; it was impossible to remain still. Had he been able to see how he writhed and groaned under Richard’s attention, he would have been painfully embarrassed, but he could neither acknowledge it nor care. He was almost beyond reason.
Almost.
“Stop,” he gasped, pushing gently at Richard’s shoulder.
Richard squeezed him and swirled his tongue around the sensitive ridge.
“Ah!” Henry groaned. “Please. I…I’m close. You have to st— Huh!”
The tasteful brothel room shattered into a thousand pieces around him. He cried out as he spilled his seed in three shuddering spasms, each more glorious than the one before it. Richard made two deep swallows, furthering the delicious shock that racked Henry’s body. He did not remember bringing his hands to Richard’s head, but he now gripped his hair between his fingers and held him as he wrung every last ounce of pleasure from his climax.
And then the haze lifted, he was very still, and cold reality fell back into place. Henry released his hold on Richard’s hair. “I’m sorry.” He cringed.
“Don’t be. I’m not.” Richard moved up and lowered himself until his lips were just next to Henry’s ear. He whispered, “Some men appreciate a warning, thank you. But I don’t need it. That was wonderful.”
Henry gasped a laugh. “For me, perhaps. No. No,
definitely
, for me. I…I am sorry. I didn’t want it to be over so soon.”
Now it was Richard’s turn to chuckle. Henry frowned and prepared himself to endure some kind of taunt. Instead, Richard lifted back onto his knees, which now straddled one of Henry’s legs, and shook his head slowly.
“I hope you don’t think that’s the only time you’re going to do that tonight.” Richard’s smile widened. It would have looked downright devilish had he not also bitten his lower lip and transformed it into an excited, boyish grin. “I think you should join me on the bed.”
Renewed lust slammed into Henry like a fist. Richard rose to his feet and began to slowly unfasten the fall of his trousers. Henry scrambled to remove his boots, which had remained on his feet entirely unnoticed.
WITH HENRY’S EYES momentarily turned, Richard rubbed his hands over his face and tried to cool his blood. He felt shaky. Dear God! How long had it been since he had wanted someone so badly? Had someone asked him a mere few days ago how healthy his appetites were, he would have assured them that they were more than vigorous, but now he was not so sure. He felt as if he had spent months, perhaps years, enjoying nothing more than empty releases. Julian did not make him feel this way. He doubted if he ever had.
Henry stumbled as he stepped out of his drawers and stood fully naked. He laughed nervously at his lack of grace, which made something in Richard’s chest twist. Richard stepped toward him and hesitated. He almost considering putting on a pose that was more cavalier, more devilish, but that warm something in his chest wouldn’t allow the facade. He put his hands on either side of Henry’s neck and pulled him into a heated kiss. Their tongues twisted slowly around each other, exploring.
By the time they broke apart, they were already at the bed’s edge. Richard was so painfully eager already that he longed to push Henry over the edge of the bed and take him immediately, but he closed his eyes and stamped down the urge. No. Damn it all, but there was no way he was going to ruin this night for this man he had just met. He knew what it was like to have one’s first time marred by painful memories.
Henry scooted back onto the bed until he was sitting at its center, his knees bent up and his fists digging into the coverlet.
“Here. Let’s pull this back.” Richard took the top of the coverlet and pulled it down to reveal the crisp clean sheets beneath. Henry scooted over and pushed the blankets the rest of the way to the foot of the bed. Richard joined him before he could have a chance to feel self-conscious on the bed alone, something that Richard remembered vaguely from his novice days.
He was about to take Henry in that deep kiss again but was shocked speechless by the sudden grip of Henry’s hand around his swollen length. He groaned and gripped Henry’s shoulders.
“Oh, God!”
“Is that a good ‘oh, God’?” Henry said, grinning. His cheeks were flushed like a boy who had just gone through with a challenging dare.
“A little too good,” Richard said. “This is going to be over a lot sooner than I would like if you don’t stop.”
“Oh.” Henry released him, but he was still grinning. The grin faltered, though, after a few moments. Henry glanced at the bed around them, the pillows behind, and cleared his throat. “I…I’m not sure what I should…” He swallowed hard. “Should I turn around or, eh…bend over?”
Henry looked as if his last words had come within an inch of killing him. His face turned so red that Richard thought he might pass out.
“We can do it that way if you want, but…” Richard hesitated, unsure if he should suggest what he really wanted. Most of the men he knew did not take sentiment or any kind of allusion to softer feelings very well, and he would expect that to be especially true of someone who barely knew him. But he had already kissed Henry, caressed him, touched him in slow and thoughtful ways that would have had Julian laughing at him and other men sneering. Henry had done neither, so he decided it was worth it. He continued. “But I would rather be able to see you.”
Henry closed his eyes and smiled. “Yes. All right.”
Richard wasted no time. He guided Henry down onto the pillows and came to lie beside him. Henry was not passive, as he had feared he might be, but set to running his hands up and down Richard’s chest as they kissed. It was intoxicating. No. That was such an inadequate word, but how else could he describe it? He should be feeling self-conscious, preoccupied, all the things that would make sense with a stranger, but he felt none of them. He realized soon enough that it was the very fact that this man was a stranger that was making him feel so light, so free. That, and the very obvious fact that Henry was enjoying Richard’s attentions just as much as Richard was enjoying his.
Richard moved his hand past Henry’s navel and slid his fingers down the sensitive underside of his erection, which had already sprung back to life. “That didn’t take long.” Richard chuckled.
“I had a very hearty lunch,” Henry said flatly.
Ah, and a sense of humor
. Richard laughed anew before he drew away and crawled to the edge of the bed. He opened the drawer on the small nightstand and was glad to see that this room was as efficiently outfitted as the others. He removed the small bottle of oil and came back to Henry’s side. Henry looked at the bottle and worked his lower lip between his teeth.