Courtship

During the eighteenth century, large parties in their immense houses were all the rage among the French nobility, not so much for the people to enjoy themselves, but for the owners of the homes to show off their money. Or to woo those they would marry. In same cases, to woo the families of those they would have their offspring wed to. My cousin Raoul, a young baron after the death of my uncle a mere three weeks in the past, was no different from the majority of them. Since becoming the Baron Murée, he’d been wanting to throw a soiree of some sort, and after the time of preparation (and utter disregard for the natural mourning period, a custom which was being disdained more and more often) he finally felt his home was ready.

Much as I would have preferred to not be here, my parents had given me no option. I may have been twenty-three years of age, but it mattered not to them. In their eyes, as long as I lived in their house and they were paying for my food and schooling, I would do as they willed. I was currently on break from University and as such they were able to shoo me to my cousin’s home. It didn’t help when the young lady they’d been trying to marry me off to for the last six years would be here. I felt Raoul had told them intentionally, to force me to come and look at all of the riches he’d gained.

Standing back in my shadowed corner, avoiding the other partygoers as much as I possibly could for the sake of retaining my sanity, I watched the people actually enjoying themselves. I sighed, running my tongue along my teeth before taking a sip of the wine I held in my hand. Most of the women in the crowd of twirling dancers had jewels shimmering in various positions on their gowns and I winced as the light reflected into my eyes, stepping backwards into the corner as far as I could to escape the pain. Such imbeciles. Why couldn’t women learn to wear more simple clothing? I’d never seen the point of these over-the-top dresses. I especially saw no point to the corsets which crushed their lungs- my mother, even, had had trouble breathing for many years now. I wasn’t quite sure how she’d managed carrying me in her womb after wearing one for so long.

“Are you having a good time, monsieur?”

I eyed the lady before me, noting with some amount of relief that, at the very least, it wasn’t Maurelle Rogêt (my supposed destiny, according to my parents), but some woman I’d never seen. She was pretty enough, I suppose, though more likely than not one of my cousin’s ridiculous friends with little interest in anything I would have liked. Besides, I didn’t particularly like her sort anyhow- the kind who approached men who obviously didn’t wish to be bothered.

“As good a time as a man in utmost suffering possibly can, mademoiselle.” I replied smoothly, realising my wineglass had emptied. I would be forced to cross the dance floor in order to retrieve another. As she was giggling at my response, I excused myself carefully with a small fib. “If you don’t mind, miss, I need to speak with the host.”

The last thing I wanted was a talk with the host. Hitting him in the face may have been an attractive idea, if it wouldn’t cause trouble in the family. This was the last thing I would have needed. I crossed among the dancers, using my own skill in this activity to avoid bumping into any of them. Halfway to my destination a hand clapped onto my shoulder and I froze in place as a voice said, “Dane, where have you been hiding?”

“Raoul.” I restrained my voice, keeping it pleasant. As much so as I could, in any case. My cousin stood there, dressed in almost the same amount of glittering finery as many of the women. A broach stuck out on his chest, the insignia of his house engraved carefully in it. I wondered how long it had taken whomever they’d hired to get it done correctly. The design was so intricate only the most skilled in the world could handle it. “How are you?”

“I have been looking for you.” He paused, a smile adorning his face. Such a jubilant face it was, and no wonder. The boy was a year younger than I and already a baron. Besides, he’d probably already arranged a new conquest for himself in regards to women this evening. When the party ended, doubtless it would continue for he and a young lady in his bedroom. Personally, I didn’t see the appeal to a relationship in which one wouldn’t even remember the name of the one opposite himself. “To be more accurate, I suppose, Miss Rogêt has been looking for you. High and low, or so she tells me.”

“Then I’m rather glad she has failed in her task.” I told him curtly, not bothering to hide my frustration with the young lady. She hardly knew me, and when she knew I was around, she would search like a bloodhound. Once locating me, the silly woman would follow me around in the fashion of a lost little kitten. “If you please Raoul, I was on my way for another drink of this delightful alcohol you’ve been kind enough to provide.”

Without waiting for his answer, I strode away, nearly crashing into a couple in my haste to get away. At the wine table I allowed myself to relax a little as I lifted a new glass to my lips. The liquid was cool and sweetened in some way, the only good part about the night.

“May I invade your personal space to retrieve a drink, young man?”

Or not. I reflected as I turned. Now standing close to my side was a man who looked a few years older than myself. He was gorgeous. His hair and eyes glowed in a similar manner. I smiled at him easily, feeling a pull in his direction as though enchanted. When I blinked the pull faded, but… It would be stupid of me to walk away from this, would it not?

“You may indeed. Though if you don’t mind, I may steal a little of this space back for myself.” I brushed against him on my way from the table. His eyes burned into my back. Still smiling, I approached the large doors to the balcony. It was a lovely night and the stars were twinkling in the sky. I set my wineglass down on the stone ledge, leaning forward with both of my arms on it.

The next thing I knew, I felt a body touching my own, brushing against me for the briefest of moments before the feel went away. When I looked beside myself I saw him standing there a glass in his hand as well. Oh, how my parents would react if they only knew I’d never once felt an interest in a woman. …If my father knew, in any case. My mother had noticed once that I had more than friendly feelings for an old tutor (so to speak…he was quite young in terms of years) and proceeded to send him away. She seemed to believe if she pressed me closer to Maurelle Rogêt, even against my will, I would magically begin to crave them instead. I knew there wasn’t a chance it would work. The stranger was watching me, not even pretending he wasn’t staring.

“So,” I began politely, nimble fingers reaching for my glass and bringing it back to my mouth. “might I inquire as to who you are?”

“I am Lord Darrick Halloway.” He replied easily, nonchalantly turning a ring on his finger. “You look much like our host this evening. May I suppose the two of you are related?”

“He is my cousin. Both of us ended up with the looks of our mothers upon us. My name is Dane, if it interests you.” I thought for a moment, finishing my newest glass of wine (it was my third of the night so far) before looking at him again. “Halloway is certainly not a French name. Are you perhaps a visitor to the country?”

Darrick nodded, sliding his glass across the marble ledge towards me. “Would you like my glass? You seem to have polished yours off. I must hope you can hold your alcohol.” I couldn’t, but there was no need for him to know that. “You are correct, by the way. I’m visiting awhile from England. Surely you know of Armand Reagé, no?”

“But of course.” I murmured in reply. While the man was not known among peasants, he was quite the celebrity among nobility. No one was sure how - though all were positive it involved some dealing with the devil - but he had been alive for far longer than he should have. He had been heard of by grandparents for more than two hundred years. Somehow he remained among the most popular people to be around. It was also well-known that he preferred young men to young women. I’d never had the pleasure of meeting him myself. “Who does not?”

“It is his home I am staying in.”

As the realisation struck me that if he was staying with a man such as Armand Reagé I had just ended up with no chance at all, I took his glass in hand and downed it without a thought. As I moved to set it down, I unintentionally aimed for the same place my glass was placed, sweeping it off of the ledge. The sound of glass shattering touched my ears and I tried not to laugh. I’d need to tell Raoul someone needed to go out and sweep the garden beneath the west balcony. “Oops.”

The young lord smiled at me, touching my arm gently and whispering that he would fetch me another glass. I knew I probably shouldn’t let him, but I saw no reason to tell him this- if he was going to help me get drunk, I could appreciate him even if I couldn’t have him. I sighed, folding my arms and resting my head on them. Maybe I’d had more than I thought already? Darrick returned soon enough, as the balcony wasn’t particularly far from the wine table. I didn’t look up even as he placed my most recent drink next to me.

“Is there a problem with me already?” His voice was playful when he asked, and I turned my head on my arms in order to peer up at him. “Have I done something that will prevent me from kissing you?”

“That’s a little forward, is it not?” I couldn’t help the smirk of sorts on my lips.

“I see no point in not getting straight to the point. You are a most attractive young man, and I’m only in France for so long, after all. I do like to see your type in my bed.”

“Did you know,” I asked in a low voice, “that Raoul has many extra bedrooms in this home of his?”

“I didn’t. It would be delightful of you to lead the way.”

Despite feeling like one of the silly women who constantly shared Raoul’s bed, I nodded, and lifted my head from my arms. I lifted the wine he’d brought me and polished it off easily. More easily than the last one. For the first time in my life, I was going to sleep with a man. And a man this beautiful was someone I definitely wanted. I let him take my arm and guided him carefully through the room into a hallway. From here I led him to a staircase, up it, and into one of the needlessly elegant guestrooms. This one would hardly be used- it was too far back in the hall, almost in its own corner of sorts due to the design of the house.

Inside, with the door closed, I felt myself pressed against the wall. The lord’s mouth pressed to mine, and with ease (for I was putting up no fight at all) he pushed his tongue into my mouth. I moaned weakly, having not been kissed in such a long time. My tutor had been sent away several years ago and there had been no one since him. Even he, though, had never been in me the way I wanted some man to be one day. He’d never considered me old enough to do such things. I felt this man’s hands on the top button of my jacket and let him unclothe me. It seemed, from where I was standing (or where I was half-collapsed against him) that he was exerting no effort in either holding me up or working on my clothes.

Soon enough he had me on the bed and not long after he was preparing me with his hand. I heard myself scream when he thrust into me, but then his mouth was on mine again, muffling my cries until they turned into moans. Darrick had his eyes closed, as I could see very easily the few times I opened my own. His moans, though softer than mine, were music to my ears. Maybe because it was me he was inside- me he was moaning for? I’d never done this; I had no idea.

When it was over, he lay next to me as I fell asleep, but he was gone and I already clothed when I came to my senses the following morning, still in Raoul’s home.

The next time I saw the Lord Darrick Halloway was precisely one week later, at my very own dinner table. My parents had gone on and on (in my general direction, of course) about the fact that we were having company this evening. I had assumed without a single doubt that it would be, as it usually was, Miss Maurelle Rogêt and her family. Thanks to this, I didn’t particularly give a damn how I looked. I reconsidered around twenty minutes before dinner was due to start, upon realising that no matter who it was, my parents would be angry and I would never hear the end of it.

With a deep sigh, I had moved down the wide staircase into our front hall, turning into the dining room when I came to the door halfway down the hall. We had no door to this room, only a space in the wall to make the house more open. This was what my parents told me- I distinctly remembered, however, that there had been a door when I was smaller. Part of me wondered what had happened to it. Standing in the doorway, my entire body stopped moving save for my heart. This I could hear pounding in my ears.

Seated, looking comfortable, in the place directly beside my usual chair, was Darrick. He had obviously noticed me, for I’d seen the flick of his eyes, the slight widening of his smile, and the way his hair moved when he half-glanced at me. For the most part, he didn’t move and my parents never saw me where I was until I came into the room. I took my place where I belonged, not sure if I should say anything- had he told my parents we’d met?

“Oh, just the boy we’ve all been waiting for.” Darrick cocked his head slightly, eyeing me in the same way he had a week before. “We were talking about you, Dane.”

I let myself smile at him. How couldn’t I? Just because he’d left me in the morning… There couldn’t be anything better than what he’d made me feel at night. “I see.” Not that I saw a single thing in the situation. I had to carefully control, restrict my voice. My parents weren’t the most intelligent people on the earth, yet they were certainly not the largest idiots. They would notice the inflection my vocal chords naturally began to include. The tone that spoke blatantly of the way I wanted him. “It is good to see you again, Lord Halloway. I was… Quite unaware that you knew my parents.”

“Juliette mentioned him yesterday during our lunch.” My mother told me from across the table. It was only the four of us- her, my father, Darrick and myself. Oftentimes there were many at the table. Somehow it was almost lonely in the quiet. My racing heart and nerves didn’t help very much. “I listened to her and of course I told her I would be absolutely delighted to have him for dinner. She sent her maid to relay the message and I learned he’d be here today!”

I clenched my teeth in irritation. She couldn’t have warned me? Oh, but why would she? She was so used to my hating our guests, the twittering fools. She’d have assumed that if I knew who would be here- I swallowed hard to stop a gasp when I felt a hand on my knee beneath the table. The young lord didn’t look at me when I turned my face to his, yet I saw the smile still lurking there.

The remainder of the meal I spent giving one (sometimes two) word answers, exerting most of my effort to suppress shivers, particularly when his fingers trailed further up my thigh. I clenched my fist tightly around my fork when this happened, praying for dinner to end quickly. The instant it did, I excused myself courteously, bolting only when I was safely into the hallway. I passed through my quarters and into the adjoining garden, wishing to lose myself among the scenery there. I fell back, resting on the soft grass and staring up at the sky, still breathless simply from his presence in my home.

It wasn’t long before I heard a voice behind me saying, “You took your leave quickly, Dane.”

Without turning to look at him, I replied, “Rather like you did last week, you mean?”

“My apologies.” He murmured, and I heard him step forward, felt him sit by my side, and stayed still while he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to himself. “I had assumed you would prefer such an action on my part.” His tongue slid over my cheek and I shuddered in response. “Then I noticed midway through the week that I desired to see you again. Will you accept my words of apology?”

“No.” I mumbled. “Words aren’t good enough.”

“Oh, aren’t they?” He sounded surprised, though pleased. “Then allow me to show you my apology, my boy.”

Before I had opportunity to know exactly what was going on, the older man had my pants around my knees, and was nuzzling me there. He began to remove my pants the remainder of the way, his tongue flicking out every so often, and with a jolt I reached for his hair, yanking harshly. “Don’t.” I gasped. “I can’t do this in my own home… I’ll be disowned- my parents will notice…”

“The hell they will,” he murmured, answering me by attacking my mouth with his own. I couldn’t help whimpering as he lifted me from the ground, leaving my pants where they were and carrying me to my bed. I didn’t waste time being curious as to how he knew exactly where to find me. He finished his sentence only as he was moving atop me, fingers working the buttons of my shirt. “I’m not so ridiculously unprepared… I handed your parents tickets to an opera showing which begins in precisely twenty-five minutes… They departed immediately.”

This knowledge led me to give in to what I wanted. Still, I felt as one of my cousin’s whores, but this man was truly irresistible. I didn’t bother to hold anything against myself.

“Your clothes are on.” I pointed out in a choked voice. “I want them off.”

“As do I.” Darrick smiled down at me, fulfilling within moments what we had both declared we wished for. “Are we prepared now?”

I nodded vaguely, reaching out and bringing one of his hands to my lips. I studied the fingers, their delicacy and beauty, before bringing several of them into my mouth. I heard him make a sound of surprise, though it certainly wasn’t one of displeasure. This time I wasn’t drunk- this time I would pay complete attention to anything and everything he did to me. And I wanted him to do everything to me. I worked his fingers determinedly, releasing them from my lips only when I saw fit.

“Are you sure I’m the only one you were ever with?” He inquired and I could only bob my head a little. He chuckled, trailing the hand I’d licked down my body, brushing over one of my nipples as he went, and dragging a soft whimper from me when one of those fingers pressed inside of me. Before adding another, or even moving the first, the man bit down on the same nipple he’d already touched, hardening it further and swirling his tongue until it was as sensitive as I imagined it could be, only to repeat the action with the other.

Darrick removed his finger from within me and I glared up at him. His only answer was the use of both hands to spread my legs wide. “You’re beautiful, you know. And for the record…” He leaned down to murmur in my ear. “I noticed your reaction last week when I told you who I am staying with… I assure you, Dane, that I have never had any inclination to go to bed with Armand.”

Not allowing me time to say a damn thing, he stared for a moment longer before placing my legs on his shoulders and shoving three fingers into my at once. He stroked my insides and I couldn’t help the wanton moans, or my fascination with my own erect cock. I desperately dug my fingers into my sheets, feeling them tear a little more every time he pulled his fingers out, teasing the ring of flesh delicately and then stabbing back into me, using more force every time. I heard myself scream, and my screams only became louder when he pinched my nipples for the last time, his other hand then traveling to my cock.

“Fuck.” I hissed, somehow not crying out when he took his fingers from my body and for once didn’t return them. “Why in hell are you stopping?”

“I took this too fast last week.” Darrick informed me smoothly. “I’m not going to do it again.”

He waited several incredibly torturous minutes before finally reintroducing two of his fingers to my body, and I shifted my hips to match his rhythm. My sounds of pleasure and the entertained, addicted look in his eyes served to arouse me further. I felt as though I could take this forever, and my cry when I came for the first time surprised even me. I realised disappointedly I had come with only those first two fingers. The disappointment escaped me quickly, however, when he joined the third finger to the others and they went completely into me. My head fell back, onto the soft pillows behind me, and I eagerly thrust my body onto him.

“I need to be in you.” He muttered, leaning down and nibbling at my throat. “You’re too damn beautiful to resist for long.”

“I’ll accept that as a compliment.” I gasped, letting him push my thighs up against my chest so that he could brace himself against me as he pressed deep into me. At this point I was far too loose to feel any pain from his entrance, and I only moaned loudly. I clenched my muscles intentionally around his cock, drawing a wonderful sound from him. He pulled out much as he had with his fingers and shoved himself back in to draw out another of my screams.

I thought nothing could feel better than this, better than what he had already done to me, and I was proven wrong by this gorgeous man as he hit a spot inside me that had me reeling and seeing stars.

“Oh-” I whispered, “there. There, please do that again…”

He complied without a word, hitting the sensitive nerves every time he came back into my pliant body and this time when I came, he did it with me and his mouth was against mine, our tongues twisting together.

“Tomorrow,” he whispered when it was over and he was pressed close to me, one arm underneath me and the other stroking my cheek. “tomorrow you’ll be mine, won’t you?”

I shook my head with a refusal. “Not yet, no. I won’t be.”

Darrick groaned with annoyance, or disappointment, or maybe a combination of the two. “I understand, Dane, that I’ve known you a mere week and this is the second time we have met, but I would like to be able to claim you as my own. Tell me what I must do, won’t you?”

I grinned, nipping at his throat once and answering. “You have to court me, Darrick. My parents are not to know, but our relationship will be like any other, outside of that I allowed to you take me twice without so much as dinner. The food served to us here does not count, of course. So do you still want me if I’m going to make you work for it?”

Part of me feared his answer, but I found that there was no reason for this fear as he merely smirked at me. “That will not be a problem.”