Once the meal was over, Arthur and Jesse retired to the study. Again. But this time, Arthur brought a mostly full bottle of brandy, too.
Arthur yanked out the barely secured cork as he and Jesse took a seat on the sofa. After tossing it onto the end table, he took a sip straight from the bottle. Jesse laughed.
“Don’t you want to find wineglasses or snifters or something?” he asked.
Arthur flicked his wrist dismissively. “It’s more fun this way.”
“You can be so uncivil sometimes.”
“You love it,” Arthur teased. He took a second swig of brandy before placing the bottle by his feet. He then rested a hand on Jesse’s thigh and began inching it higher. “Don’t pretend otherwise.”
Jesse let out a low hum as Arthur’s hand neared his crotch. Arthur smiled impishly.
“You’re insufferable,” Jesse said.
“And you, Jesse O’Connor, areirresistible.”
Arthur cupped Jesse’s crotch. He felt Jesse’s cock starting to stiffen. Jesse let out a sigh mixed with a whine and spread his legs a little more, providing Arthur with easier access.
“You haven’t even had much of the brandy yet,” Jesse said.
Arthur began to stroke Jesse through his pants.
“Youareplentyintoxicating to me,” Arthur crooned into Jesse’s ear.
“You and your false flattery,” Jesse said, his cheeks becoming pink. “I know you had wine earlier. But now I know, too, that you must have had more than the one glass that everyone else was served.”
“Guilty. I had two.” Arthur nuzzled Jesse’s cheek. He continued to move his hand over Jesse’s length. “But my flattery is never false.”
He nibbled on Jesse’s ear.
“Fuck, Arthur,” Jesse breathed, “I wish I could stay.”
“Then stay,” Arthur whispered. “Spend the night with me, Mr. O’Connor.”
Abruptly, Jesse sat up. His eyes flew wide with hope, but his forehead creased with concern. Arthur took his hand away fromJesse’s crotch and reached up to smooth Jesse’s brow with his thumb, as though he could somehow erase those wrinkled worry lines with his touch.
“Are you sure?” Jesse asked.
Arthur’s stomach fluttered, icy nervousness momentarily flooding his veins, but neither sensation was strong enough to snuff out the fire ofwantin his belly and make him reconsider.
Arthur lowered his hand to cup Jesse’s chin.
“I’m sure.” He planted a brief kiss on Jesse’s soft lips. “Will you come with me to my bedroom?”
Jesse searched Arthur’s eyes for a few seconds, possibly for trepidation. But Arthur knew that Jesse wouldn’t find any. All Arthur felt in that moment (partially thanks to the wine, perhaps) waswant.
Jesse wet his lips and nodded. “I will.”
Together, they stood and started toward the door, leaving the opened bottle of brandy on the floor by the sofa, and as they stepped out into the hall, Arthur took Jesse’s hand in his. Once they reached the bedroom, they walked over to the bed and removed their clothes. Arthur couldn’t take his eyes off of Jesse the entire time, his heart pitter-pattering with excitement as each layer of Jesse’s clothing fell to the floor, his cock steadily stiffening as he worked to remove his own clothes.
Naked, both men climbed into bed and immediately began to kiss. After only seconds of enjoying Jesse’s beautiful lips, Arthur found himself seeking friction, rubbing his cock against Jesse’s thigh. Jesse let out a long, low moan, bucking his hips and seeking friction himself, too.
“Arthur?” Jesse whispered. Arthur pulled back to look in his eyes. “I want you.”
Arthur smiled at him. “You have me.”
Jesse’s face reddened. “I meant . . . something else.”
