Before I could speak, though, he did. “Oh, but... Ignore it. I apologize. Just wash my hair. If that would be all right. Yet another thing I cannot do for myself.”
“Certainly, my lord.” I reached for the soap but, at the last moment, hesitated. “Unless, my lord…? Would you like me to—”
“What?” He blinked.
“Well, I could…” I gestured to his engorged member that had not, through our discussion, lessened even a bit. “You know…”
“I'm sorry, I do not understand what you mean.” He blinked. “Oh. Right. Well…”
On impulse, I stuck my hand into the water. Unerringly, I grasped his cock.
He shuddered. “Oh fuck. Oh yes.” His hissed out the last word as his eyes rolled back.
I held on tight and did for him what I had done for most of the men who had come before. There had not been too many of them over the years, but I was conversant in how to make a man feel good. Had done it to myself many times as well.
He sighed.
I rubbed my thumb over his slit.
He moaned.
I continued to hold him in my hand. Jerking him to a rhythm known only to the two of us.
His hips moved restlessly, and his left hand gripped the side of the bathtub.
Some water sloshed over the side.
Still, I continued to work him.I need you to come for me. I need to bring you pleasure.I did not give voice to the words. This was about him, not myself. How I could bring him to completion. How I could make him feel.
“Percy… I…” He stuttered as his body went rigid. He pulsed in my hand before emptying his seed into the lukewarm water. “Oh God.”
Inwardly, I grinned.Nothing like it when a man thanks God for something I’ve done. Inordinately pleased, I continued to hold him until he finally went limp. Slowly, I let him go.
And the loss hit me keenly. I had wanted to do this for twenty years. Since that night in the stables, all those years ago. When we had been mere boys. Young men creeping into the realm of adults. Still naïve. Still so young. Still so inexperienced. I had not understood entirely then what became clear to me in later years—that I was a sodomite. That I preferred the intimate company of men to women. That most men, and the Church, would condemn me if my preference were to become known. That I might hang in the public square or be shipped to the colonies if my proclivities were discovered.
For fifteen years I had been judiciously careful with whom I chose to associate. I never took chances.
Bringing Henry to climax was a huge risk. One whose ramifications I could only begin to contemplate.
Henry’s eyes slowly opened. “You are very proficient.”
Does he mean…?“Your lordship was satisfied?”
He cleared his throat. “Uh. Yes. I would say that was an enjoyable…endeavor.”
Endeavor?“You have, that is…men in the army…”
“Yes. Of course men in the army. Uh…” He squinted one eye. “Perhaps we might wash my hair. The water grows cold—”
“I will fix that.”
Henry submerged himself, and rivulets of water went from the top of his head, along his cheek, down his neck, and combined with the water of the bath.
I longed to trace that path with my tongue.
Folly.
He gazed at me.
