his head dipped lower. James felt the pressure building in his bollocks, and his hand clenched tighter as he felt Allen brace himself against James’s thighs and move his other hand lower to cup James’s sac.
Oh God, yes! was all the thought he could manage as he teetered onthe brink ofrelease.
He was only a moment away from surrendering to that joyous end when a sharp horn blast split the air and he was startled awake. As he watched another carriage pass by, James shook himself fully awake, looked blearily around him, and realized several very depressing things at once:he was alone on his side of the carriage, he was still fully clothed, Allen was asleep across fromhim, and he was painfullyerect and unsatisfied.
A dream. He scowled, then shifted uncomfortably in his seat, making sure the drape of his coat kept his condition hidden should Allen wake. And I have hours ahead of me before I’ll be able to find some privacy to take care of myself.
He gritted his teeth. Looks like a nap was not the best means of improving my temper. James sighed and straightened in his seat, trying to find a more comfortable position. It was going to be a long day.
When Allen awoke a short time later, James hoped no evidence of his dream remained on his face or his person. The last thing he wanted was for the young man to be afraid he’d escaped the clutches ofone scoundrelonly to fallinto those ofanother. James had knownbefore he evenproposed his planthat this was not goingto be easy on him. But he’d be damned if his inability to control himself would make things any more difficult for Allen. Weir had done enoughdamage to the lad.
At least I have the satisfaction of knowing I did something on that score , he thought, recalling how he’d spent the day before their departure.
WhileAllen and his nephew had gone to the tailor’s, James had taken the opportunity to pay a call on an old friend, Lord Robert Morton, sixth Earl of Harrow, a man of some influence and unimpeachable character who just happened to share some of the same interest in companions as he, though no one outside of a very small circle of friends knew of it. The earl’s own wife and four childrenwere no smallproofagainst that.
He and Harrow had shared a brief liaison many years ago, when James had come to London, only a few short months after receiving that goodbye letter from Jonathan. He had been vulnerable and lonely and had come to town seeking distraction. The older man had taught him a great deal about discretion, as well as many other things, before the end of their affair. They had remained friends, and James always knew he would receive good counsel fromthe man, as wellas help, ifhe needed it. So, unsure about what to do about Weir, James had sent a small note to his old friend and had been invited to call.
In short order, James had apprised his friend of the situation, though he’d left Allen’s name and whereabouts out of it. And though Harrow had seemed surprised, he had assured James that he would keep his eyes and ears open regarding Weir. He had even gone so far as to promise he would discreetly hire a few runners to quietly check into the man’s affairs.
When James had protested that that was going above and beyond, his friend had assured him that it was in all of their best interests that Weir be contained before he did or said anything that could not be hushed up. Weir had too many connections, skirting their own smallcircle a little too closely, to be allowed to be involved in a scandal of that magnitude. And, though their respective ranks would prevent any lasting harm from coming to either James or himself, they had other friends who might not be so fortunate. Harrow’s philosophy had always been that you could never be too careful, and James couldn’t fault his friend’s reasoning.
After expressinghis gratitude and spendingthe eveningcatching up over dinner, James had said his farewells and called for his hat and gloves.
“I will keep
Oh God, yes! was all the thought he could manage as he teetered onthe brink ofrelease.
He was only a moment away from surrendering to that joyous end when a sharp horn blast split the air and he was startled awake. As he watched another carriage pass by, James shook himself fully awake, looked blearily around him, and realized several very depressing things at once:he was alone on his side of the carriage, he was still fully clothed, Allen was asleep across fromhim, and he was painfullyerect and unsatisfied.
A dream. He scowled, then shifted uncomfortably in his seat, making sure the drape of his coat kept his condition hidden should Allen wake. And I have hours ahead of me before I’ll be able to find some privacy to take care of myself.
He gritted his teeth. Looks like a nap was not the best means of improving my temper. James sighed and straightened in his seat, trying to find a more comfortable position. It was going to be a long day.
When Allen awoke a short time later, James hoped no evidence of his dream remained on his face or his person. The last thing he wanted was for the young man to be afraid he’d escaped the clutches ofone scoundrelonly to fallinto those ofanother. James had knownbefore he evenproposed his planthat this was not goingto be easy on him. But he’d be damned if his inability to control himself would make things any more difficult for Allen. Weir had done enoughdamage to the lad.
At least I have the satisfaction of knowing I did something on that score , he thought, recalling how he’d spent the day before their departure.
WhileAllen and his nephew had gone to the tailor’s, James had taken the opportunity to pay a call on an old friend, Lord Robert Morton, sixth Earl of Harrow, a man of some influence and unimpeachable character who just happened to share some of the same interest in companions as he, though no one outside of a very small circle of friends knew of it. The earl’s own wife and four childrenwere no smallproofagainst that.
He and Harrow had shared a brief liaison many years ago, when James had come to London, only a few short months after receiving that goodbye letter from Jonathan. He had been vulnerable and lonely and had come to town seeking distraction. The older man had taught him a great deal about discretion, as well as many other things, before the end of their affair. They had remained friends, and James always knew he would receive good counsel fromthe man, as wellas help, ifhe needed it. So, unsure about what to do about Weir, James had sent a small note to his old friend and had been invited to call.
In short order, James had apprised his friend of the situation, though he’d left Allen’s name and whereabouts out of it. And though Harrow had seemed surprised, he had assured James that he would keep his eyes and ears open regarding Weir. He had even gone so far as to promise he would discreetly hire a few runners to quietly check into the man’s affairs.
When James had protested that that was going above and beyond, his friend had assured him that it was in all of their best interests that Weir be contained before he did or said anything that could not be hushed up. Weir had too many connections, skirting their own smallcircle a little too closely, to be allowed to be involved in a scandal of that magnitude. And, though their respective ranks would prevent any lasting harm from coming to either James or himself, they had other friends who might not be so fortunate. Harrow’s philosophy had always been that you could never be too careful, and James couldn’t fault his friend’s reasoning.
After expressinghis gratitude and spendingthe eveningcatching up over dinner, James had said his farewells and called for his hat and gloves.
“I will keep
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