GEORGE
When George woke the next morning, he was alone.
Sitting bolt upright, he scanned the empty room, then, foolishly, looked down at the empty space on the straw pallet as though he might find Theo there.
Where was he?
George rubbed his face with both hands as the events of the previous night came back to him in a jumble of sense memories, all of them shockingly erotic. The beautiful lines of Theo’s body in the darkness leaning over him, the soft press of his lips travelling down George’s body, the thick heft of his cock in George’s mouth…
Had Theo been disgusted by his desperation? It hadn’t seemed so at the time, but now, with Theo gone and the dull, grey light of a new day seeping into the attic, he wondered if he had been embarrassingly, wantonly desperate. Needy and craven and unmanly. All things that Theo was not. All things that he probably despised.
Fighting a wave of panic, George rose from the pallet and padded across to where his clothes were hung over the ceiling beams, noting that Theo’s clothes were already gone. He dressed quickly in his still-damp things, then tidied his hair as best he could without the aid of a looking glass, hoping he didn't look too disreputable. Finally, he slung his saddlebags and greatcoat over his arm and headed downstairs.
The inn was bustling with guests, maidservants rushing back and forth with trays of food, the courtyard teeming with ostlers and horses. When George reached the busy dining room, he paused in the doorway, gazing around. There was no sign of Theo.
“Good morning, sir.”
George turned to find the genial innkeeper who had welcomed them last night smiling at him. “If you’re looking for your companion, he’s already breakfasted and is speaking with the ostlers about your mounts for the day. If you'd like to take a seat, I’ll have one of the maids bring you some breakfast.”
George thanked him and made his way to a small, empty table in the far corner. Shortly after he sat down, a maidservant brought him a pot of coffee and a dish of kippers with bread and butter. Conscious that Theo was probably waiting for him, he ate quickly. As soon as he was finished, he went in search of the innkeeper to settle their bill.
Then, finally, all that was left to do was find Theo.
As soon as he stepped out into the courtyard, George saw him, standing with an ostler and two fresh bays, one of which was already strapped up with Theo’s saddlebags. He didn’t notice George approaching.
“—not too bad, I’d say,” the ostler was saying as George drew closer. “You’ve passed the worst stretch of this road, and I wager the rain’ll hold off for a while now.” He squinted up at the sky, as though checking his intuition.
“Good morning,” George said, his calm voice belying the anxiety twisting his gut.
Theo startled at his voice, then gave a laugh that sounded almost nervous. “Good morning,” he replied. "Didn’t see you there.”
George wasn’t sure what to say to that, so he hefted his saddlebags and turned towards the horses. “I’ll just get these strapped on and we can get going.”
“I can do that for you, sir,” the ostler said, stepping forward to lift the saddlebags out of his hands. “I’ll have them in place in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.”
“Um, thank you,” George said.
Beside him, Theo cleared his throat. “So, everything all right with you this morning?”
George glanced at him, trying to interpret the slightly tense expression on his face. At last he said, “So far as I’m concerned, everything’s fine. Is there anything… amiss with you?”
Theo’s smile was immediate and bright, an expression of relief in his eyes. “Not a thing,” he said happily, meeting George’s gaze squarely now. A moment later, he clapped George on the shoulder, saying, “Wait here, will you? I’ll be back in a moment,” and bounded away.
George watched his departing figure, his anxiety dissolving as he comprehended that Theo was, in fact, perfectly fine.
It was then he remembered what Theo had promised him the night before.
“We’ll leave our secrets in this room.”
Was that why he’d made himself scarce this morning? To avoid the inevitable awkwardness of waking up together when he’d agreed not speak of the previous night’s events?
Somehow, George knew without having to ask that, yes, that was exactly what had happened.
“That’s you all set, sir.”
Startled, George turned towards the voice. It was the ostler who had been strapping George’s saddlebags in place.
“Ah, thank you,” George said. He extracted a coin from his pocket and handed it over.
