The Duke sank to his knees and began undoing the Young Lord's trousers. Every sensation Alex had experienced today was so intense that he seemed almost in a daze, grasping reality only moments after it happened. So, when he saw Nathan kneeling before him, he looked up with a confused, hazy gaze. The Duke unfastened the trousers and let out a heavy sigh, taking in just how tight the Young Lord truly felt.
Alex raised his brows slightly, a flush of embarrassment creeping over him at the sight. He seemed about to ask what Nathan planned to do next, but didn't get the chance.
Nathan slowly traced his tongue from base to tip. Alex had been utterly unprepared and let out a loud moan, tilting his head back once more. The Duke repeated the action several times, savoring it and breathing heavily. Then, suddenly, he took the Young Lord as deeply as he possibly could.
Alex cried out from the sensations like never before, swept into a frenzy by Nathan's rhythmic, dragging movements. He gripped the back of the sofa with both hands and instinctively began to move his hips in rhythm with the motions. The Duke realized he was having exactly the effect he intended — not that he had ever doubted his own skill.
The Young Lord felt as though he were already at the edge of his endurance. He stretched a trembling hand toward Nathan and pleaded, "W-wait, I—" but did not manage to finish.
It seemed that the Duke had been waiting for nothing else.
Everything went dark before the Young Lord's eyes. He felt as if he were about to suffocate, so he tilted his head back and instinctively opened his eyes. He saw Nathan kneeling, wiping his mouth with his sleeve, his gaze brimming with pleasure and desire, locked directly on Alex.
Only now did the Young Lord realize what had just occurred. Nathan seemed to have anticipated Alex's sudden shift from satisfaction to shock. He did not hesitate, springing up to preempt Alex's reaction, and resumed the previous position, his knee between his beloved's legs. Then he kissed the Young Lord with fervent desire, sharing the pleasure of the taste and sensations he himself had just savored.
Alex was overwhelmed, yet his body continued to ride waves of pleasure even after the recent release. Nathan was far from ready to stop. He broke the kiss and returned to Alex's neck, his knee brushing against the heated groin. The Young Lord again forgot entirely what he had meant to say. The Duke maintained his balance, bracing his right hand against the sofa while threading his left into Alex's hair, ruffling it completely. Nathan forced himself to go slowly, giving Alex a moment to regain his composure. He did not move lower, instead lingering between the collarbones and the sensitive chest, savoring every reaction.
When Nathan sensed that Alex was ready again, he sank to his knees, took hold of his cock with one hand, and began teasing him with light flicks of his tongue along the tip. The Young Lord threw his head back once more, doing everything he could to endure the onslaught of new sensations, driving him near madness.
The Duke, so consumed by pleasure himself, decided to temper his ardor slightly. Once more taking him into his mouth, Nathan deliberately drew out the motions, letting the Young Lord fully savor each inch of pleasure.
Alex instinctively lifted his feet slightly, trying to press his legs together against the onslaught of unprecedented pleasure. He convulsed, swept by sensations that both ravaged him and set his insides aflame.
At last, the Duke quickened his pace, his right hand moving up and down in perfect synchrony. Alex moaned, bit down on his wrist, and tossed his head — sometimes throwing it back, sometimes returning it to its usual position. He dared not open his eyes, lest the sight of Nathan make him burn with shame on the spot.
As the peak approached again, the Young Lord gripped Nathan's hair, trying to push him away, refusing to let him taste him once more. He squeezed his eyes shut and arched his torso slightly forward under the force of sensation. When Alex finally opened his eyes, he found the Duke still kneeling, smiling radiantly at him, one eye closed in playful delight. Nathan delicately touched his own face, gathered the fluid, and licked his fingers clean.
Alex felt as if he could die from shame — die right there and never show his face to anyone again. He lunged to the floor toward his lover, horror written across his features, grabbed Nathan's shoulders, and stammered:
— "Nathan! Wait, I—" He fumbled desperately, searching for something to rectify the situation. Snatching the throw from the sofa, he tried to wipe his beloved's face.
The Duke laughed, leaning slightly to evade the clumsy attempts.
— "Alex, darling, it's all right. You don't have to."
Finally, Alex managed to erase the traces of his indiscretion. He tossed the throw aside onto the floor and babbled:
— "Nathan, God, what have I done… I am so sorry!"
The Duke cupped Young Lord's face in his hands and, still laughing, said:
— "Alex, darling, please… take a deep breath." He inhaled slowly himself, then exhaled. Alex followed, trying to quell the rising tide of fear, anxiety, and shame. They repeated this a few times. "Alex, my dear, there's nothing here to be ashamed of or afraid of. I did exactly what I wanted. Does my face not say it all? I hope you enjoyed it at least just a little," he added with a teasing smile.
The Young Lord covered his face with his hands and bent forward, pressing his forehead to the floor. Nathan couldn't hold back a quiet laugh as he stroked Alex's back.
— "Please, look at me."
But Alex didn't know when he could bring himself to do so again.
— "Shall we go? Do you want me to carry you to the bath?"
— "No! Absolutely not!" The Young Lord knew Nathan might take it upon himself, so he leapt to his feet, fastened his trousers, and hurried back to his room.
The Duke remained sitting on the floor, momentarily bewildered. Then he laughed again, brushing the tips of his fingers lightly over his lips.
Alex dashed upstairs, entered his room, and immediately headed for the bathroom, shedding his clothes as he went and tossing them onto the floor. His hand touched the water — it was still hot. But he barely noticed. Alex submerged himself. Even this water didn't seem nearly as heated as his own body.
Sebastian must have filled it only recently… Sebastian!
Alex clutched his head. He realized he had shouted so loudly, lost in the moment, that surely half of London now knew exactly what he had been up to. He wanted to scream in horror, but instead a low, frustrated growl escaped him.
I'll never leave this room again! Never! How am I supposed to explain this to my family? Should I tell Nathan to let them know I've disappeared?
As Alex tumbled through his own spiraling thoughts, nearly an hour slipped by. The water had cooled, yet he remained sprawled there, replaying escape plans, schemes of vanishing, and vivid memories of the previous encounter.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the bathroom door. His heart sank into his stomach — he had clearly gotten lost too deeply in his mad fantasies.
— "Come in?" Alex said, his tone more like a question than an invitation.
— "Alex, are you all right? I'm worried about you."
You're not worried at all—I'm completely certain of that!
— "I'll be there in a moment," The Young Lord said aloud.
He dried himself, realized he'd forgotten his clothes, grabbed a robe, and stepped out of the bathroom. Nathan was sitting on his bed, smiling as he looked at the trail of clothes scattered across the floor. Alex had completely forgotten how he had undressed, so he began awkwardly gathering his things. The Duke jumped up and tried to help.
— "No need!" Alex said.
— "Please, cast at least one last look at me," Nathan replied with a smile.
— "I'll pass!" The Young Lord shot back, holding the last item of clothing. He turned away and went to hang it in the wardrobe.
—"Perhaps I should give it to Sebastian to…"
— "Yes, exactly, thank you!" Alex answered like a little soldier.
He spun around abruptly and handed the bundle of clothes to Nathan.
— "I'll be right back," he said and left the room with a smile.
Alex quickly changed into fresh clothes and buried himself under the covers, hiding from the harsh world. When the Duke returned, he was startled to find Alex nowhere to be seen. Then he noticed him under the blanket and laughed again. He sat on the bed beside him and placed a hand over the covers.
— "Alex…"
No response.
— "Alex."
Still no reply.
Nathan sighed.
— "Please, forgive me. I don't know if you'll ever be able to look at me the same way again. I'm deeply sorry for losing control and acting against your will today. Please, don't be embarrassed by my foolish little chuckles — they're really just hiding my anxiety. Allow me at least to try to explain…"
Alex remained silent, motionless.
— "As I said… it's difficult for me to put into words something I've been refusing to admit to myself for days… You spoke about Emily with such enthusiasm. And I'm glad — I'm truly glad you were able to get along! But… I couldn't control my feelings, no matter how much I tried. I felt a sting when you proposed to her at our first meeting. It hurt me so much that I simply can't propose to you with the same ease you proposed to her. I would have loved…" Nathaniel paused, then continued, "And then all the plans, the way you spoke about her… My mind kept telling me that I was a burden to you, that I only complicated your life, that you could be happier If I just stepped aside… I would have been so happy just having the chance to walk with you freely, visit museums, travel — to be everywhere with you… So when you mentioned the gallery, I couldn't handle it. I wanted… It seemed I wanted not only to please you with my… actions, but also… to prove to myself that maybe, just maybe, I could be needed by you, at least in some way."
Needed by me?
Alex jumped up, tossing the blanket aside.
— "Nathan! How could you?!"
The Duke felt a jab in his solar plexus.
Finally, he felt disgusted towards me.
— "I understand your disgust…"
— "What?! What are you talking about?! How could you think that you're needed by me… for… for doing something like this to me! I pushed you into the rose bushes a week ago and told you I loved you! There's no question of Emily — I didn't hesitate for a second to propose to her, because I love you, and I want to be with you!"
Nathan stared at Alex, stunned. Then he buried his face in his hands, ashamed once more of his own thoughts, feelings, and prejudices. The Young Lord dropped the blanket to the floor and wrapped his arms around the Duke from behind.
Every time I cross a line, he still remains true to his feelings for me… I can see it clearly, I can hear it clearly — but why can't I still let it in and believe him completely? What is wrong with me?
They remained silent for a few moments before Alex timidly broke the quiet:
— "I didn't mean… What you did today… I mean, I don't need only that, but it's part of it as well… I just want to be with you. That's all."
Oh God.
Nathan straightened, turned, and pressed his lips to Alex's, laying him gently on the bed.
— "Did you really enjoy what we did today?" Nathan asked, smiling.
Alex turned his head away, embarrassed.
— "Something like that… it was not bad…"
— "What?" Nathan asked, grinning, astonished at the words. "Either you're a sinful little liar, or I really need to get better as soon as I can."
The Duke leaned closer to Alex's lips, soon making the Young Lord completely reconsider his verdict.