‘Oh.’ He’d meant sail or motor, and was a little floored now how to respond.
‘Glaswyn Mor.’
‘I’m sorry?’
‘Her name: Glaswyn Mor.’ Harry spelt it for him slowly.
‘Okay. Thank you.’ He had not anticipated getting this level of observation from his new caretaker. His new officer of the watch appeared to be taking his duty extremely seriously. ‘How are you managing in the shed?’
‘Splendidly. We’ll be pleased to show you when you arrive.’
‘I’m going to get the electricity turned on this time. There appeared to be sockets in there and in the glass house as well, I assume for some kind of heating for the plants.’
‘Well, that will be a lovely treat when the winter comes. Shall I arrange that for you today?’
‘You could do that?’
‘Well, it’s been a while since I ran the British Royal Navy, son, but I’m sure I could put my mind to the task.’
Aleksey had a sneaking suspicion he was being out-sarcasm’d, which was actually quite impressive. ‘If you can, that would be excellent. You have a key for Guillemot House. If you do get it turned on, could you go in and make sure it doesn’t surge and fry all the old wiring. I would hate to arrive and find my house nothing more than a cinder.’
‘I’m sure Michael would not enjoy that either, sir, as he has told amusing accounts of the minor bruises he received at your last house fire. I shall attempt entry on your behalf. I am finding things easier every day. I am, as we speak, inside a small café on Benhar, where they provide a cup of tea to rival the nectar of the gods—as well as a phone. All is well.’
By the time they’d finished talking it was midday and Aleksey felt the pressure of the day and all his responsibilities weigh on him enough to make him think about getting up.
Fortunately, Ben appeared (presumably working out that he was now awake) with some tea. Aleksey took the cup and saucer, placed it on the night stand and then snagged Ben onto the bed next to him. ‘Where have you been?’
‘I went for a run, then took the kids to school, and then went for a flight.’
Aleksey wrinkled his nose and considered a better question. ‘Why are you still dressed?’
Ben laughed and straddled him, unbuttoning his shirt. ‘All well on Light Island, m’lord?’
‘Well, yes, thank you for asking, Lieutenant Rider-Mikkelsen.’
Ben flung his shirt off onto the floor and popped the top button on his jeans. Aleksey helped him out and popped all the others.
Ben caught his hands and pinned them to the bed above his head, smiling down at him. ‘You think you’re just going to lie in bed all day and be serviced when it suits you?’
Aleksey thought about this for a moment and replied, ‘Yes.’
Ben laughed at the audacity. ‘Even serfs of the lord got paid.’
Aleksey snorted. ‘Your view of history is oddly endearing. And I don’t see any services being rendered except you sitting on me.’
Ben shifted position and raised an eyebrow.
It was exquisite: the weight, the slight grind, the anticipation. ‘Take them off.’
‘You do it.’
‘Huh. Someone used the expression sailing close to the wind with me the other day. Have you ever heard that?’
Ben, grinning, leaned down and began to kiss along his scar, and murmured as his lips brushed the smooth, white track, ‘Someone I love showed me how to sail down the wind only recently. It was like flying. Like falling…’
Aleksey rolled them, plunging his hand into the open fly, massaging around, kissing, biting, and then Ben’s jeans were down and he could not say whether he had torn them off or Ben had, but the result was the same, and they were naked, and in the tumble and urgency of their desire they both came from friction alone, their cocks jerking and spilling and their hearts pounding. It didn’t happen all that often to them, but rather than find such lack of control embarrassing they only gave each other a wry smirk and rolled away onto their backs to wait and see if there would be useful recovery. Aleksey put his hand on Ben’s belly, playing idly with the spills and wondered if he’d get away with a cigarette. Either Ben was challenging his inner Timothy Watson recently, or he was genuinely thinking abouthishealth, but smoking had been banned in the bedroom. Life was hard, even if they weren’t.
‘I was talking to some of the mothers this morning at the drop off.’
