Arthur nodded a couple of times, seemingly thinking this over.
Then, he said, “I’ve only been with women. One woman. Her name was Ella.” Arthur took a pause and inhaled a tremblingbreath. “She’s my wife.Wasmy wife. But she... passed. During childbirth.”
Jesse’s eyes widened, and he reflexively covered his mouth with his hand.
“Tragic, I know,” Arthur said. “I probably shouldn’t have brought it up right now. But, well, I couldn’t let us continue things without you knowing this very important matter, horrible though it may be.”
Arthur’s truth settled in Jesse’s chest. His heart ached. Dammit, he hadn’t known that Arthur had experienced something so truly horrific in his life. In truth, he’d selfishly let himself think that people like Arthur might have been immune to tragedy.
“Jesse,” Arthur said, taking Jesse’s hand and removing it from his mouth. “I know how shocking that must be to hear. For a multitude of reasons. I mean, to learn that I had been with a woman, and yet now I’m here with you, a man. And then to learn that I once had a wife and that she passed in such a tragic way. Oh, it must be a lot. But I’m fine now. Really. Ella died a little over sixteen years ago. I’ve had plenty of time to mourn. And then some.”
“I’m so sorry, Arthur.”
Arthur smiled half-heartedly. “Thank you.”
But Jesse couldn’t yet bring himself to smile back. Guilt twisted itself around his hurting heart, and he looked away.
“I feel horrible for bringing you here.”
“Don’t,” Arthur pleaded. “Iwantto be here, Jesse. I’m so happy that I met you. I’m so happy tobe herewith you.”
But Jesse had trouble believing it. After all, everything was happening so fast. And Jesse... he was only a compositor. Why would Arthur choose to be with him, even only for right now, even only temporarily? Out of all of the men and women in Chicago—
Arthur cupped Jesse’s chin and lifted it, interrupting Jesse’s spiraling thoughts.
“I like you, Mr. O’Connor. And I want to be intimate with you. I promise.” Arthur pressed a soft-but-insistent kiss to Jesse’s lips. “I only mentioned Ella because everything I know of sexual intimacy, I only know because of her. And not only was Ella a woman, but our intimacy, it had... consequences. Ella and I were married in haste only a couple of months after we first went to bed together. Our intimacy brought shame on our families. Yes, they tried to pretend that our early marriage was planned, but everyone in our circle knew the truth, especially once we had Emma. And then Ella passed, and as a result, her parents moved away, too, leaving me to raise our child essentially by myself, though of course I had my staff and a wet nurse to help. Anyway, being with someone like this—intimately—it will be... a lot for me. And I needed you to know that before we continued. Because I need you to knowme.” He paused, worry lines creasing his forehead. “And I hope that you still want me now that you do.”
Jesse shook his head in bewilderment. Arthur was worried that he wouldn’t want him?! How absurd it seemed.
Jesse reached up to caress Arthur’s cheek. “Of course I still want you, Arthur.”
Arthur smiled. “Alright, then, shall we continue? But, ehm, more slowly?”
Smiling back, Jesse nodded. Arthur immediately began kissing him again. Slowly. Sensually. But still so wrought with urgency. With each second of their kiss, Jesse could feel how hungry Arthur was for this. Forhim. It was... oh, it was so incredibly unreal.
Then, not so slowly, the two removed each other’s shirts. Jesse’s cock swelled with want—withneed—as some of their last layers of clothing—symbols of their relative stations in life—were stripped away, and soon, Jesse could no longer bring himself to be worried about a single thing except how he might help Arthur find pleasure.
Arthur climbed on top of him, his hard member pressing against Jesse’s thigh. Arthur rocked his hips twice, and Jesse let out a moan, breaking their kiss and pressing his head back into the pillow. Stradling him, Arthur sat up and raked his hands over Jesse’s bare torso. Tentatively, Jesse reached his hands out and mimicked Arthur, running his fingers through Arthur’s chest hair. His hands trailed lower over Arthur’s stomach—mostly flat, but with a perfect bit of pudge near his hips. Jesus Christ, Arthur’s physique was nothing short of exquisite.
“Oh, Jesse, you are so lovely,” Arthur said. His eyes flitted to the hem of Jesse’s pants and then back up to Jesse’s face. “I want to see the rest of you. May I?”
Jesse nodded. Arthur swiftly unbuttoned Jesse’s pants, followed by his drawers. Once he was finished with the buttons, he climbed off, and Jesse lifted his hips so Arthur could remove both. Jesse’s cock sprang free—long and hard and leaking. Arthur stared wordlessly.
“You can touch me,” Jesse blurted out as he shimmied out of his clothes. “If you’d like.”
Arthur touched his fingertips to Jesse’s shaft.
“Beautiful,” he said, wonderment in his tone.
Jesse bit his lip as the warmth of Arthur’s fingers made him shudder. Arthur wrapped his hand around Jesse’s length, and Jesse bucked his hips in response.
“Do you touch yourself?” Arthur asked, slowly moving his hand up Jesse’s length.
Jesse snorted. How innocent Arthur was.
“Doesn’t everyone?” he asked.
Arthur huffed an embarrassed-sounding laugh. “Probably.”
