“I…I have arrived,” he said, swaying stiffly in the doorway.
“Yes, I can see,” Howard laughed. He reached for Clermont’s hand and drew him into the room, rather like a spider drawing its prey into its web. “You look quite beautiful this evening,” he complimented him as he closed the door behind them.
Clermont flinched subtly at the click of the door, then breathed out, like he was forcing himself to remain calm. “Thank you for your consideration in having supper with me here instead of at a restaurant,” he said.
“It is no trouble at all,” Howard said, leading him to the table he’d had brought up and decorated as festively as the dining room downstairs was made up. “I have taken the liberty of ordering a small feast for us as well,” he said, removing the dome coverings from atop their meals and setting them aside.
Clermont burst into a charming smile as he observed the sumptuous food before him. “You really had Cook make Yorkshire puddings?” he asked, cheeks flushing pink.
The sweet enthusiasm in the man’s eyes and the way he looked like a marzipan treat ready to be devoured had Howard wondering whether he would be able to make it through the meal before scooping Clermont up and taking him to bed.
“Are they your favorites?” he asked, sitting across the small table from Clermont.
“I must confess, they are,” Clermont said.
“Then eat as many of them as you’d like,” Howard said, taking up his knife and fork.
Under the table, he sought out Clermont’s leg with his foot, stroking it gently.
Clermont’s already pink face flushed a darker red. He jerked his leg away at first, then cautiously brought it back into contact with Howard’s foot. “I must be careful not to eat too much of this fine feast,” he said, looking adorably bashful.
“And why not?” Howard asked. “I’ve had it all prepared for you.”
Clermont lowered his head even more, then murmured, “You know.”
The man would be the death of him. He managed to be deliciously innocent and surprisingly worldly at the same time. “I take it you have prepared fordessert, then?” he asked, grinning in anticipation of the treat waiting for him.
Clermont merely nodded as he ate his first bite of roast.
It was the slowest and most painful supper of Howard’s life, even though he was reasonably certain the two of them were racing through it. He chatted away about his adventures on the Continent and his business with the railroad. Clermont listened attentively, which was an aphrodisiac in itself, and nodded where appropriate as he ate like a bird. Also like a bird, he seemed to be perched on his seat as though he would spring into flight at any moment.
“Would you care for a bit more wine?” Howard asked when he felt they would not get any farther with their food.
“Yes, please,” Clermont said, eyes eager and anxious.
Howard chuckled as he poured, then as Clermont snatched up the glass and downed half of it in one go. “There’s no need to be afraid, little bird,” he said, his heart beating fondly for the beautiful creature across from him.
“I….” Clermont seemed at a loss for words. He quickly drank the rest of his wine, then put the glass on the table. “It has been a long time for me,” he whispered, staring at the tablecloth instead of Howard.
It would have been disingenuous of Howard to pretend they had not reached the pivotal moment of the night or that he did not understand what Clermont meant.
“Do not worry yourself about a thing,” he said, standing and stepping around the table to hold out his hand to Clermont. “I will be exceedingly gentle.”
Clermont puffed out a breath and extended a shaking hand to Howard. As soon as Howard pulled him to his feet, he slid one arm around the young man, caressed the side of his face, then slanted his mouth over Clermont’s in a kiss.
It was supposed to be a gentle, introductory kiss, but it quickly turned into more. Clermont tasted of wine and promise. He closed his eyes and moaned as Howard kissed him deeper, swiping his tongue across the seam of his lips. As soon as Clermont opened for him, he rushed to explore him, pushing his tongue in to taste.
A simple kiss should not have been so powerful, but Howard found himself as tipsy with it as if he’d drunk the entire bottle of wine instead of Clermont. The way Clermont’s body felt in his arms, masculine and firm, but smaller and uncertain, had his own body heating with desire. The surprising eagerness with which Clermont kissed him back and the way he slipped his hands under the folds of his dressing gown to grip Howard’s sides was as much an invitation to take things farther as Howard needed.
“Come,” he murmured, stepping back enough to take Clermont’s hand and lead him into the bedroom.
He’d had the bedroom prepared as the front room. The sheets were clean and infused with the scent of lavender. The fire in his grate crackled merrily, making the room warm enough so that as they undressed, they were not chilled.
Howard undressed Clermont eagerly, like he was a Christmas gift that could not wait to be opened. Clermont seemed desperate to be out of his clothes and did not seem to care that Howard merely tossed them aside instead of folding them neatly.
Once Clermont was fully naked and deliciously erect, Howard took a moment just to study his alabaster-fine body. “You are exquisite,” he growled before pivoting with Clermont inhis arms so that the back of the man’s legs bumped up against the bed.
Howard pushed him over gently, catching Clermont when he lost his balance. As soon as Clermont’s back was on the bed, Howard bent over him, lifting the man’s legs up and to the sides. He leaned forward, kissing him as he shed his dressing gown and as Clermont frantically tugged his shirt from his trousers. He pulled back long enough to discard his shirt entirely, then dove into exploring Clermont’s body more.
