“Percy had only even enrolled at Illinois Industrial because he had been caught with a boy once. I think it was sort of a... punishment for him to attend a school that had people likemethere. How embarrassing it must have been for him to have had to enroll in a school where the tuition was free because his parents no longer wanted to pay for Princeton. Meanwhile, for me, it was a blessing to have found such a place.” Envy flared to life in his chest, and he reflexively clenched his teeth, curling his lip in tandem. But then Arthur stroked Jesse’s cheek with his thumb, and that flash of hatred faded. He took a breath before continuing. “Percy was trying to regain his family’s trust, I believe, by making it through school without another, uhm, incident. But, well, he met me and...”
Jesse trailed off and shrugged, previously treasured memories of his time with Percy floating to the surface of his mind where they unearthed his barely buried heartbreak.
“Anyway, Percy eventually realized how much he could lose by being with me. Our relationship wouldn’t have been able to continue once we were both back in the city full-time. Because we weren’t from the same world. He was Percy Verne, and I was... no one. I wasn’t enough for him. Just like I wasn’t enough for my parents.” Tears began to fall from Jesse’s eyes. “So, uhm... if you think I’m not...” Jesse paused to hold in an embarrassing sob that was threatening to burst forth. “If you think I’m not worth the risk—”
“What?” Arthur interrupted. “What are you talking about?”
“I mean, Percy seemed to have eventually come to that conclusion, so—”
“I’m not Percy.”
“No, you’re not. You’re Arthur Hughes.” More terrible, humiliating tears began to fall. Arthur wiped them away with his thumb. “And I think Ifinallyknow what that means. Jesus, it took me long enough, but now I can finally see it. I can see how careful we have to be and how much you could lose because of our relationship. Good God, Arthur, it’s not even only about your investments or your businesses, either. Or your parents’ money. You have afamily.”
Arthur continued to rub Jesse’s cheek with his thumb. “Yes, that’s true. I have Emma to think of. And Charlotte and Gertrude and Patrick, as well. But, Jesse, I care about you. I’m never not thinking about you, too. About when we’ll next be able to spend time together or how lucky we are to have a refuge here in your beautiful little home far from people who have enough leisure time to evenconsiderbothering us. I’m never not thinking about how wonderful you are or how badly I want to keep you.”
Jesse’s mouth twitched, his lips curling to form a tiny smile.
“Keep me?” he asked.
Arthur’s face lit up.
“Yes, of course I want to keep you. Jesse, Iloveyou. I couldneverleave you over something like the possibility that thingsmightbecome harder for me in terms of either my inheritance or my reputation or even Emma’s future marriage prospects. Goodness, the two of us are careful enough that nothing more horrible than those things should happen evenifrumors were to circulate, especially since I have the means to help us start over someplace new posthaste. And I know those potential consequences might sound horrible, but I would face them if need be. I’d risk everything for you, my Jesse. I’d risk it in a heartbeat.”
Jesse let out a small sob, and his face began to burn. Arthur resumed petting Jesse’s hair, running his fingers through it as a tear slipped from his eye, too.
“Oh, my sweet Jesse, I can’t believe you’ve been worrying about me leaving you.”
Jesse let out a shuddered breath. “Not as much lately. But then, when we saw Percy... Christ, Arthur, I still can’t help but feel like I’m not enough for you.”
“You’re enough for me Jesse. You’remore thanenough.”
Arthur caught Jesse’s mouth in a kiss. When they parted, Jesse tipped forward, touching his forehead to Arthur’s.
“Do you promise?”
“I promise.”
“Do you really love me?”
“I really love you.”
Jesse let out a little sob-laugh. “Good. Because I love you, too.”
Their lips crashed together.
Over the next few minutes, they worked to remove each other’s clothes, their eyes still wet from tears, and once they were both naked, Jesse buried his face in Arthur’s neck and nuzzled his nose to Arthur’s skin, breathing in the wonderful scents of lavender and oak.
Arthur continued to hug him close, and then they began to kiss again. Gently, Arthur pressed on Jesse’s shoulders, coaxing him onto his back. Jesse pushed a hand through Arthur’s hair as Arthur began to kiss his neck. Shutting his eyes, Jesse focused on the feel of Arthur’s featherlight kisses traveling southward, starting at his collarbone and then moving to his stomach. Blood rushed to his cock, and by the time Arthur reached Jesse’s crotch, his member was completely engorged and throbbing with need. Arthur swept his tongue over the tip, lapping up some of Jesse’s pre-ejaculate, and Jesse hitched a breath.
“Fuck,” he cursed under his breath, clutching Arthur’s hair.
Arthur hummed. He licked the head of Jesse’s cock once more. Jesse opened his eyes to see Arthur’s lips stretching over the head. He let out a little whimper-whine as Arthur took him into his mouth, the warmth sending a shiver up his spine.
“I love you,” Jesse repeated in a whisper. “God, fuck, I really love you, Arthur.”
Arthur smiled a little, letting out a hum laugh, but continued to work Jesse’s cock, bobbing his head as his hand pumped the base. Jesse moaned when Arthur’s tongue circled around the tip.
Arthur continued to pleasure him, taking Jesse closer and closer to release. But Jesse lingered on the precipice, teetering there as Arthur’s mouth traveled the length of his shaft. Arthur sat up on his knees a little, and Jesse could see that Arthur was stroking himself, too, his fist moving fast over his own length. Jesse’s eyes stayed fixed on the sight, though he wished he had a better view. Even more fervently, though, Jesse wished for Arthur’s praise. He wanted to hear Arthur’s low, lovely voice telling him wonderful, beautiful things that he loved about him. On so many other occasions like this one, Jesse would have kept this to himself. He’d have been too ashamed to ask Arthur to change the way in which he was pleasuring him. But now Jesse was feeling bolder, the truths thathe had finally confessed empowering him to be honest about this, too.
