Chapter Twenty Seven - The Other Man

Author's note; let there be smut!

Despite, his languid lazy attitude to life in general, Matthew had gained the habit of being an early riser since his awakening. His mind would simply slip from its dreams to full awareness, even though there was much reluctance to stir emanating from his shell. And unable to rest his mind any longer, he would rise and head for the kitchen to make breakfast. However, since his lover had moved into his bed, he usually woke to acknowledge tangled limbs and the scent of warmth of his lover's body. With such contentment, he was loathe to disturb Cornelius from slumber and would linger until forced to rise.

That morning he woke to find the warmth beside him fading. Stretching his limbs in the manner of satisfied feline, he buried his face into the sheets to take in his lover's scent. Cornelius had been waiting for him the night prior, boldly lying upon the bed without a strip of undergarments, his blushing face the only hint of his usual shyness. Matthew's sex had immediately hardened to a painful point and he had near tore at his own clothes to free his body of their burden. His beautiful lover had slowly risen from the bed, to help him remove his garments that they might stand before each other in all their vulnerable glory.

Matthew had then lowered his head a tad, while cradling his lover's face between his palms and claiming his lips. Cornelius had welcomed him, inviting him to entry with a gesture from his tongue. Matthew had willingly explored Cornelius's mouth, tasting the depths, until silver flowed from both their lips and their breath became halting. On parting, Matthew then trailed a string of kisses over Cornelius's neck, tracing his collarbones and the gem of his throat with his tongue as his lover's hands had slid about his shoulder blades and moan in delight.

Before Matthew could guide them to the comfort of the bed, Cornelius had suddenly knelt before him. His head had jarred backwards and spine arched as the man's wet mouth enveloped his sex. Teased by his tongue and massaged by his lips, it was more than enough to send Matthew teetering to his edge, but then the man before him reached to cup him and roll his jewels between thumb and fingers. He had grasped Cornelius tight by his hair and thrust deep into his mouth, blasting his seed into his throat with a growl.

Cornelius had glanced up at him as he released his sex, swallowed the remnants and ran his tongue over his lips. It was enough to stir Matthew to immediate action and he had grasped his lover's shoulders to drag him to his feet before near throwing him back upon the bed. He had crawled over him, his mouth drawn as if magnetised to his lover's lips, where he had tasted that warmth once more as well as his own extract. His hands had trailed over Cornelius chest, tracing his rib cage before drawing closer to the hardness pressing against him. His fingers then circled the other man's passion, but did not grasp it, causing a frustrated moan to slip from Cornelius. Instead, they had retraced their lines before stroking his lover's jawline and replacing his tongue within the wet opening. Cornelius had willingly suckled on his fingers, coating them with his saliva, lapping over them with his tongue.

Thoroughly wetted, Cornelius then shifted his body slightly to allow Matthew access, but his lover made no move to withdraw his fingers as his teeth nipped and tugged at the small blush peaks upon his lover's pale chest. Cornelius had yelped and squirmed, but Matthew's strong frame had pressed him firmly down as his attention was drawn from one nipple to the other. Cornelius's sex had throbbed painfully against his lover's stomach as he had writhed and bucked in an attempt to find his release. Finally, the silvered fingers slid from one opening to another, pressing into that dark, forbidden place that secretly sought his pleasure. Both then had pushed inward, causing Cornelius to whimper, but it was more in anticipation than pain and they began to tease the opening into enlarging that it might be filled with something thicker.

"Matthew..!" Cornelius had cried out in need. Matthew had growled under his breath, before lining his sex with Cornelius's dark place and plundering into it's shelter in one long thrust. A hiss of pleasure had escaped Matthew as Cornelius had instinctively tightened about him. Cornelius then raised his hips and entwined his limbs about Matthew's back and neck, deepening their connection as best he was able. And then Matthew had began to move within him. They had long discovered the heart hidden in the dark depths and Matthew swiftly had aimed to brush over it slowly drawing Cornelius to the utter heights of pleasure. "Matthew!" He had gasped out his name again and again as he clung onto the man devouring him.

Sensing his own nearing climax, Matthew had flicked his fingers over Cornelius's small peaks and plundered his mouth, teasing and tormenting until Cornelius could take no more and had painted them both with his colours. His already tight channel then convulsed about Matthew, who spilled immediately into the depths. And as often followed their sated passions, a small bubble of laughter had spilled from Cornelius filling Matthew with warmth.

****

Matthew returned from his reminiscing to seek his lover within the man's workshop, where he often retreated when not in Matthew's bed nor eating Matthew's food. But the man was not to be seen. He was also not in the kitchen, nor in his old bedroom.

"Have you seen Cornelius?" Matthew asked his apprentice, which was currently practicing his letters in the study. The young lad, who was no more than seventeen, shook his head in denial. The boy had taken the change of relationship between his masters with ease, in fact he was more surprised that they were not already indulging in such pastimes. Coming from the streets, he was more than a little aware of homosexual relationships between men, he knew several lads who had even sold their own bodies to men for food. He, himself, had almost succumbed to the temptation, even though he knew it would hurt and be degrading, but it was either that or die of an empty stomach. Fortunately, Matthew had found him first (though he originally thought it would be for that reason) and on a whim it seemed made the boy an apprentice.

A rising panic, the unhappy consequence of interrupt love of their previous life, swelled within Matthew.  But before his mind could act upon it, his pocket watch began to chime loudly.  Scooping it from his waistcoat and tempted to throw it, he flicked open it's casing and was further torn.

Mission; Return to the Lancaster Estate and prevent the family being lost to a fire.

Tearing his fingers through his hair, he begged inwardly for this matter to not be occurring now! Surely Cornelius was his priority!  Even though his lover was most likely safe and sound, perhaps simply taking a walk, he couldn't help but feel bad omen that Cornelius had left him alone without word that morning.  The watch chimed once more;

Mission; Return to the Lancaster Estate and prevent the family and Cornelius being lost to a fire.

With the added incentive, he quickly rushed from the townhouse, with barely a few words to his apprentice beyond that he would be gone several days.  The apprentice frowned, but said nothing in reply.  He already knew that his masters were both odd.

It took the greater part of the day to journey by taxi and horseback to the Lancaster estate and the light had given way to a moonless, hazy night, that even the stars shied from.  Only a candle or two flickered in an upper bedroom window, far removed from the main entrance.  Only now did he wonder why the mission included his lover, too panicked had he been to think of this clearly, but rather than head to the main entrance and thump on the door to awaken its slumbering occupants, instinct told him to veer to the rear of the estate.  There he discovered a lone slender figure, tackling the lock upon the servant entrance door.

Quietly and taking advantage of the shadowed night, he approached the man and grabbed his arms.  Startled, the sneak thief dropped his tools, only to find the bruising fingers suddenly ease and arms envelope him.

"Cornelius," pained words came from his lover's throat, "What are you doing?"

"I.. I can't tell you," came the whispered reply.  "B-but please, understand, I have to do this, I have no choice."  He dare not turn, he dare not look in his lover's eyes, he couldn't bare to see the disgust they must be filled with.  He sighed.  "I know this will make no sense to you Matthew, but please don't hate Cornelius for this."

Matthew stilled, but refused to release him.  "What do you mean?"

"Cornelius loves you and won't be able to live being hated by you," he said, gently caressing the others arms, before he attempted to wriggle free. "Once I have finished what I came to do, he won't remember any of this."

Still confused, he tightened his hold trying to process his words before responding; "I can't let you do that."

"Please, I must!" He begged, softly.

"No!" He insisted, before deciding to use 'Cornelius's' words against him.  "How will Cornelius feel should he come to know what he has done?"

"But he hasn't before..." the man said under his breath.  He paused and came to a sudden realisation.  "It was you!  Everything that was supposed to happen was prevented by you!  Why?"  There came no response.  "It doesn't matter," he sighed settling in Matthews arms as if he had come to a decision. "Can I ask you for one more thing?  Stop me again!  I can't loathe myself more than this!  Please!"

His watch chimed.  Seeing as this Cornelius had quietened in his arms, he retrieved the time piece from his pocket.

Mission; Place the pocket watch into Cornelius's hands.

Matthew followed the instruction, gently manipulating his lover's fingers until his empty palm could receive the watch.  Once it touched his skin, it gave an odd glow, which suddenly brightened to a blinding fury.  Cornelius collapsed within his embrace.  Matthew held him tightly to his body, before taking the watch from his loose hold.

Mission complete; Return to the Lancaster Estate and prevent the family and Cornelius being lost to a fire.

Mission complete; Place the pocket watch into Cornelius's hands.

Congratulations on completing these missions.

Mission; Before returning home, invite the Lancaster's to visit you in the city with the children and the nanny.

Matthew sighed, before carrying the unconscious man he held to his horse.  Then he quietly retreated to the inn south of the nearby town to await Cornelius returning to him.  As the other Cornelius had claimed, his lover had no memory of what had happened.  Matthew had to lie about the man being thrown from his horse and receiving a knock to his head to explain why this was so and why they were so far from home.  The other Cornelius did not reappear after that night leaving Matthew to only theorise the meanings behind his words and wonder.