a late night rendezvous...

[billehboyd]

The crowd had been fair for a Friday night, and Billy was grateful that most of the rooms were occupied. It was now past the time when La Jarretière was serving dinner or drinks, and although Henri would see to it that all patrons made their way out the front door once their "business" was finished for the evening, Billy was not ready to retire.

The moon was full tonight, and it made Billy feel restless. Perhaps the blood of his forefathers ran through his veins on nights like this; wild kilted men with a taste for adventure and troublemaking. It certainly wasn't a night to stay indoors.

Billy shed his tuxedo and changed into his riding clothes; worn pants and a faded chambray shirt, and of course his old scuffed Wellington boots. Billy eyed his kilt folded neatly on a shelf and considered putting it on instead, but this was Paris, not Glasgow, and let the kilt stay where it was. He decided he would only wear it again when he and Elijah returned to Scotland.

Down in the stable, Billy saddled Rìghinn quickly and slipped onto her back with a wide smile. The world looked different from such a vantage point, and as Billy made his way through the back streets, he could look past the filth and decay that tainted the corners of this city and look up instead into its beauty. It was invigorating.

Billy lost track of the time as he rode; he let both his mare and his mind wander. He followed the moon's light and his own intuition until he arrived at Elijah's flat. He wasn't surprised to find himself there.

Even when I am not thinking of him, he is in my every thought.

Slipping two fingers between his lips, Billy blew, whistling sharply up to Elijah's window, hoping that his petit artiste was still awake.


Elijah: *having been sketching by the light of several candles, setting the sketchbook aside and looking out, wondering if the whistle is for me or another tenant, opening the window and peering out, surprised to see you down on the street on your magnificent horse, smiling a little* It's a little late to come calling, don't you think, Mr. Boyd?

Billy: *tightening the reigns a bit in my hand and looking up at you with a wide smile, Rìghinn walking in a circle before I get her to stop fidgeting* Not too late if you are still awake. Come down and take a ride with me. It's a beautiful night.

Elijah: *pouting a little* You know how I feel about horses... *hesitating a moment* I'll be right down. *closing the window and pulling on my painting robe, exiting my flat and locking the door after me, making my way down the stairs and to the front door of the building*

Billy: *walking the mare over to you, laughing softly when she insists on snuffling at you hair* She remembers you, cheri. *turning Rìghinn a bit and offering my hand to you, my smile sensual and inviting* Will you join me up here? I promise I won't let you fall...

Elijah: *giving you a tight smile* Damn your charm, Billy. You're far too good at getting your way. *climbing awkwardly onto the horse in front of you, forcing you to release the reigns to steady me for a moment, giving a miserable cry when the horse lurches forward until you grab back the reigns and steady her*

Billy: *trying desperately not to laugh, my face pressed warmly into the crook of your neck under your silly hat, shushing you and kissing you there even as my belly shakes with suppressed mirth, taking the reigns in one hand and holding you around the waist with the other* You're all right, amour. It's all right.

Elijah: *grumpily* Both of your animals dislike me. *smiling inwardly when you grasp my waist, leaning back against you a little*

Billy: *letting my laughter come out softly against your hair, flicking the reigns and kicking Rìghinn into a slow trot, leading us down the street to the park* Nonsense. My lady here is as sweet and as docile as a baby. And little Seòid loves everyone. *chuckling more* Especially Pierre. Oh, you should see them. Seòid follows Pierre around like a wee shadow.

Elijah: *smirking a little* Poor Pierre. *getting slightly nervous as the horse's pace increases*

Billy: No, no. He seems quite taken with the pup. Pierre mothers her; makes sure she's keeping up, checks on her when she is in Javier's room. I've even caught them napping together. It's the most amazing thing I think I've ever seen.

Elijah: *leaning back further against you nervously, clutching your hand at my waist* Well, I'm glad they're happy together.

Billy: *nuzzling your ear with my nose, sneaking my tongue out to flick over the lobe, then kissing it softly, murmuring* Relax, amour... think about our ride in Scotland... how you touched me under my kilt... *rubbing my hips against you teasingly*

Elijah: *getting a sudden flash of desire at your attentions* Everything about Scotland was good.

Billy: Only because you were with me. You made everything perfect, just by being there. *my hand sliding slightly lower, rubbing intimately under your bellybutton, my chest pressing closer to your back*

Elijah: *shivering a little at your touch, wriggling back against you, my fear of the horse momentarily forgotten*

Billy: *smiling when I feel you relaxing, continuing the slow rubbing of my hand, leading us up the cobblestone path, the park not far away* And I will take you with me to Scotland again, mon amour. Or anywhere you want to go.

Elijah: *smiling widely and snuggling comfortably back against you, now completely at ease, murmuring contentedly* I love you. You're very sweet.

Billy: I'm glad you think so. I'd hate to think my popularity was waning. *trying to make light, but knowing my words fall somewhat flat, hoping perhaps you won't notice* Ah, here we are. Now, shall we go for a ride around the park, or would you like to get down and walk for a bit?

Elijah: *furrowing my brow a little, having heard your tone, squirming a little* I think we should get down now.

Billy: *leading my horse over to the nearest tree and slipping from her back, flipping her reigns over a low branch before coming back to you, my arms raised to help you down*

Elijah: *hopping down as gracefully as I can manage, offering you a sheepish smile, then murmuring* Do you think me fickle, Billy?

Billy: *furrowing my brows in confusion at your question* Fickle? I can't say I've ever though it about you. Why do you ask?

Elijah: *softly* I don't know... Sometimes you just don't seem to think that I mean what I say, or perhaps that is merely my faulty perception...

Billy: *looking even more confused, my arms still snug around your waist, asking softly* Where did this come from? Have I said something to hurt you?

Elijah: *chewing my lip* Do you think you're going to lose my love at some point, Billy? *softly* Forgive me if you jested, but I must tell you that winning my heart and keeping it is no sort of popularity contest.

Billy: *offering you a soft smile and cupping your face with my hands* I know that, Elijah. I do not worry about your love, but the love of others. *resting my forehead against yours, whispering* I feel so very alone sometimes...

Elijah: *giving you a worried look* Ah, Billy... I never want you to feel alone... *leaning in and kissing you softly, murmuring* Perhaps I should quit one of my jobs; I've not been spending enough time with you.

Billy: *returning your kiss softly, my hands wrapping around your waist again* No, cheri. You do not need to do that. And it's not that I don't want to spend time with you, but it's just that... *lowering my eyes* well, I miss Mira. And David and Hugo, and- *cutting myself off before I add Dominic's name to that list* ...other friends. It feels as if everyone has left.

Elijah: *pulling you tighter to me* Everything will turn out for the best, amour. I'm sure of it. It might take a little while, and a lot of patience... but things will turn out. *kissing your cheek* And you know that I'll not leave you.

Billy: *murmuring against your neck* I know, and I love you so much. *my arms tightening around your waist, then pulling back a moment later, giving you an apologetic smile* I'm sorry, cheri. I did not bring you here to cry on your shoulder.

Elijah: *offering you a tender smile, nuzzling your face affectionately* Non? And what did you bring me here for, then, Monsieur Boyd?

Billy: To walk with you in the moonlight and woo you with sweet words and stolen kisses. *laughing softly and looking down at myself, dressed in my old Wellingtons and heavy riding pants and a soft chambray shirt* Although I am not quite dressed for it.

Elijah: *arching an eyebrow at you* And you believe that I care how you are dressed? *giving you another kiss--longer, sweeter, deeper--then pulling back with an inviting smile* And you need not woo me, for I have already been wooed.

Billy: *not letting you pull back when you try, kissing you again, and once more before I answer you, my voice slightly rough with want* I will woo you until the day I die, leam mhàin. Every day... *smoothing my hands up your back under your robe and claiming your mouth in a deep kiss, letting you taste my desire*

Elijah: *pulling back with a coy smile, stepping back and offering my hand to you* Let's walk a little; it's a nice night, and we have the park to ourselves.

Billy: *chuckling at your smile, being able to see the color in your cheeks even in the moonlight, taking your hand and following you up the path, slipping my arm around your waist after a little bit, walking in step with you*

Elijah: *smiling wider, my eyes lowering to the path for a moment* We should do this more often... We've both been far too busy for my liking lately... *flushing a little* All I think about is you when I'm at work... *chuckling softly, lowering my voice* A few days ago, when I was moving some books, I got to thinking about you so much that I had to take a break just to find a hidden place to touch myself... *giving you another flirtatious smile* You should come to visit me more often.

Billy: *laughing naughtily and leaning in to nuzzle and kiss at your ear while we walk, whispering* I would have liked to have seen that. Perhaps I should visit you at work. We certainly know our way around a library, as I recall... *kissing your cheek , resting my nose there for a moment, my tone tender* I think about you too, my lover. So much.

Elijah: *stopping and turning to you, sliding my hands up over your jaw, leaning in and giving you a smoldering, wet kiss, our lips making a soft smacking noise when they part, arching an eyebrow at you* I think that's enough walking for now, don't you?

Billy: *curling my fingers around the collar of your coat and pulling you with me to the nearest tree, leaning back against it and pulling you to me flush, our noses just touching* Yes, I certainly think so... *rubbing my hips against your teasingly, watching you with a rakish smile*

Elijah: *rubbing my hips back against yours, chuckling softly as I kiss you, my kisses gradually turning harder and more demanding, my body pressing against you tightly, quickly becoming breathless*

Billy: *returning your kisses eagerly, parting my mouth and coaxing you closer with my tongue and my soft sounds of need, my fingers digging into your thick hair and curling, tugging softly, not noticing when your hat tumbles off your head, my trousers becoming tight as we grind together*

Elijah: *moaning into your mouth, pulling back a little and nipping at your bottom lip, then pulling back further, giving you a purposeful look, letting myself sink down to my knees, my fingers deftly undoing the buttons of your trousers, pausing for a moment to let a hand rub firmly over the bulge there, licking my lips a little as I look up to you, silently asking permission*

Billy: *nodding with a soft moan, the sight of you on your knees making my own weak with desire, arching into your touch and bracing my back against the tree, my hands still buried in your hair*

Elijah: *giving you a tender and eager smile before easing your undone trousers down your hips, lifting your shirt up and poking my head under it, feeling a rush of ecstatic desire as your heated flesh slides against my lips, and then into my mouth, taking you as deep as I possibly can right away, reaching and gripping your behind and tugging a little as I begin to rhythmically suck, sliding my mouth up and down your cock in long, wet movements*

Billy: Ohh... oh Elijah... *one hand falling from your hair to grip at the tree behind me, feeling as if I will fall from the rhythmic pleasure of your mouth around me, my head tipping back against the rough bark, trying not to cry out but unable to help myself, a rough groan pushing through my clenched teeth*

Elijah: *breathing hard through my nose and closing my eyes tight when you groan, sliding my hands around to rub almost soothingly at your hips, concentrating fully on giving you pleasure*

Billy: *my hips pressing forward slowly, wanting so much to thrust but letting you take the lead, my eyes fluttering with every rub of your tongue against the underside of my cock, my fingers tightening on your hair unconsciously, rasping* Soon... oh god, soon...

Elijah: *tasting you deeply, burning it into my memory as I have every time I have tasted you like this, making a quiet, muffled noise, my brow furrowing with my overwhelming need to pleasure you, sucking harder and moving my mouth faster up and down your length, gripping at your behind again*

Billy: *shuddering and spilling into your mouth when I feel your soft sound vibrate over me, my thighs shaking hard as I force my hips to hold still, my fingernails scraping across the bark of the tree behind me in an effort to keep from falling*

Elijah: *reaching out blindly-- instinctively-- and grabbing your hand when it scrabbles against the bark, pulling back slightly to taste your release more fully in my mouth before swallowing it, swallowing slowly once then once more, then pulling back further and nuzzling your spent cock, put into a hot haze by the heavy scent of you for a long moment, my thumb sliding over the knuckles of the hand I hold, giving the head of your cock one last parting lick before tenderly refastening the buttons of your trousers and tucking in your shirt, standing slowly and kissing the knuckles of the hand I still hold, kissing your ring finger, making a soft, sympathetic noise* You could have torn your nails clean off doing that, silly...

Billy: *my head still resting against the trunk of the tree, opening my eyes and watching you with a hazy smile, my heart fluttering a little when you kiss at my ring finger, not quite understanding why, tugging you closer and wrapping my free arm around your waist, nuzzling your cheek tenderly* I couldn't think of anything but your sweet mouth, my lover.

Elijah: *smiling at you, almost shyly, remembering the first time I loved you with my mouth, closing my eyes and returning your embrace, feeling somewhat content for a moment then pulling back with a look of quelled desperation, murmuring softly* Take me home with you tonight. *biting my lip, confused when sadness leaps up into me again* I need to be with you tonight. All night.

Billy: *searching your eyes for a long moment, worried at your sad appearance, nodding* Of course, Elijah. Of course... *kneeling down to retrieve your hat and handing it to you, then wrapping my arm securely around your waist and walking back up the path to my mare, holding you close to me the whole time*

Elijah: *smiling at you uncertainly when you help me onto the horse a second time, letting myself cry silently as we ride back toward La Jarretière Verte, surprised and dismayed with my weakness but not being able to help it, angry at myself for not being able to pinpoint the exact source of the sadness that has been plaguing me recently, hoping you won't notice my tears as we ride-- the uneven ride will perhaps hide my slight shivering, and wind against my face will surely dry the tears quickly from my face*

Billy: *holding you close in my arms all the way back to La Jarretière, my face pressed snug into the crook of your neck, knowing you are crying and feeling my heart ache as you do so, but not knowing what to do to ease your sadness, putting Rìghinn back in her stable quickly and taking you straight up to my room, holding you in my arms once we're inside and in front of the fire, rubbing slowly at your back*

Elijah: *closing my eyes and leaning heavily against you, pressing my forehead to yours, smiling wistfully, whispering* I'm sorry.

Billy: *reaching up to brush your thick locks back from the sides of your face, kissing your top lip* What for, lover? What's wrong?

Elijah: *murmuring shakily, my eyes still closed* I don't know why, but I've become obsessed with purpose... with my purpose. I don't know if I have one. I don't know what I should work toward anymore... I don't know what I have to look forward to. I love my life as it is now, but it makes me so frightened to think that this may be as good as it ever gets... and then that just makes me feel guilty and selfish... *frustratedly, fighting fresh tears* And I shouldn't be thinking about things like this! I shouldn't be worried of forming an absolute purpose, putting so much stability in my life. I'm only twenty-two; how can I need it so much already?

Billy: *pulling you with me to sit on the loveseat, cuddling you in my arms as you talk, soothing my hands over your back and the nape of your neck, listening closely to you* Oh, cheri. I wish I knew what to tell you. *tipping your chin up with one hand, looking into your eyes* You are the only one who can decide what your purpose is in this life. Not me... and certainly not your father. Only you. But there's no rush.

Elijah: *smiling weakly* I just haven't been sleeping enough lately... I'm sorry. Now I've ruined our romantic evening. *my eyes downcast* And it will probably be the only one for a little while if our schedules continue as they are.

Billy: No, you haven't ruined anything. *leaning in and capturing your mouth in a sweet, hot kiss, pressing you back against the arm of the loveseat with a playful smile, murmuring between kisses* I'm not done wooing you yet...

Elijah: *smiling a little more genuinely, complete love and adoration in my expression as I return your kisses, whispering* I love you... I love you... A thousand times, Billy, and a thousand times more forever... *a note of desperation entering my tone again* Please don't forget... *clutching at you tightly* I love you... I love you... You are my sweetest, dearest, truest love.

Billy: *softly shushing you as i press tender kisses all over your face; your cheeks, your eyelids, down the bridge of your nose; my hands soothing over your chest and undressing you gently* I know, and I'll never forget... You're my only, the only one for me. I love you so much... *slipping your robe and your shirt from you, running my fingers across the flawless skin of your chest appreciatively* So beautiful... you're always so beautiful.

Elijah: *flushing with reassured happiness* Make love to me, Billy. *wrapping my arms around your neck, leaning in and kissing you deeply, smiling against your lips*

Billy: *parting my mouth over yours and undressing you completely as we kiss, then struggling out of my own clothes, laughing softly against your mouth as I have to fight to take off my tall riding boots, determined to continue kissing you, tossing them aside with a triumphant flourish when I have them off, chuckling and kissing my way down your throat to your chest, my hands smoothing over your thighs*

Elijah: *groaning and arching, reaching down and spreading my thighs as wide as I can for you, giving you a smoldering look and rolling my hips in anticipation, murmuring heatedly* I love when you take me; I can slide my fingers through your hair and hook my chin over your shoulder and feel you so deep in me... a part of me inside... And every time you make a noise I feel like I could come so hard because I can feel it... feel it inside of me...

Billy: *swallowing and pressing my mouth to the center of your chest, moaning roughly against your skin, feeling myself swell at your words, quickly kissing and licking my way lower, wanting to feel you in my mouth, even just for a moment before we make love, parting my lips eagerly and suckling wetly on your head, then taking all of you in one swallow, my hands grasping at your hips at the pleasure of feeling your insistent weight in my mouth*

Elijah: *giving a raw cry and shivering, arching and gasping your name out, my chest rising and falling sharply as I arch it rhythmically instead of thrusting my hips, so inflamed with my desire for you that I can barely think straight*

Billy: *the sound of your voice raised in desire makes me moan over you, long and low, slipping my hands under your behind and lifting, encouraging you to thrust, knowing i can make you come this way and then again when I take you, my eyes squeezed in concentration as I suckle and swallow, rubbing my tongue all along the underside of your cock*

Elijah: *letting my whole body go limp except for my hips, pushing them again and again against your mouth, plucking my nipples absently with a breathy sigh, then sliding my hands down my body and to your face, caressing your jaw as I make love to your mouth*

Billy: *kneading the firm muscles of your behind as you lift and lower your hips, letting my throat relax and kneeling closer to you, the shift allowing you to thrust deeper, ignoring my own need in favor of letting you pleasure yourself this way, listening to every little sound you make*

Elijah: *my cries raising in pitch as well as volume, knowing I'm going to come so hard, feeling the tension in me about to shatter, writhing under you, my thighs beginning to tremble with the strain*

Billy: *unable to control my own moans and passionate sounds as I work my mouth over you more eagerly, each time you cry out my body shivering and aching, feeling as if I may come just from listening to you, one foot slipping to the floor to brace myself, rubbing my crotch against the loveseat, then pressing my hips tightly, trying to restrain myself*

Elijah: Oh, lover! *yelling without restraint, my hips shuddering completely now as I lose myself in your mouth, my hips pushing weakly as I tug at your hair in the throes of my orgasm*

Billy: *only waiting long enough to be sure you are finished, lapping you clean with a satisfied moan, then stretching over you and holding your thighs under your knees, my eyes gazing down at you intensely as I begin to fill you, sliding into you with a single, slow thrust, having to hold still once I'm in you completely, my breathing coming shallow and fast*

Elijah: *still flushed with lust for you, squirming and moving my hips immediately despite your stillness* God, Billy... I can't get enough of you... *practically whimpering* You make me so crazy for you...

Billy: *laughing breathlessly around a moan, my hands holding you tighter as I let myself slip almost all of the way out of you, then back in, growling through my teeth at your tight heat* You're absolutely perfect... I'll never have enough of you...

Elijah: *wrapping my thighs around you, my ankles crossing at the small of your back, cradling you with my body, my arms around your neck, hands caressing up and down your back and neck into your hair*

Billy: Ah, yes... just like that... *leaning in and claiming your mouth in a deep, eager kiss, thrusting and rocking with you slowly, pacing myself so you will become hard again, relishing your closeness with a quiet moan*

Elijah: *cradling the back of your head with one hand and returning your kiss, sliding my tongue against yours, caressing your back absently with my other hand, my hips slipping into the rhythm you've made for us-- our rhythm-- and I feel in every bit of my body that this is so, so right*

Billy: *one hand slipping around your waist, pressing you closer to me as we move, the other smoothing down your neck and chest, softly fingering your nipple and rubbing at it with my palm, wanting to arouse each inch of you, my mouth slipping from yours so I can kiss at your cheek and along your jaw*

Elijah: *sighing and crooning your name quietly for a few long moments as you caress my nipple to hardness, biting my lip and arching against you, nuzzling furtively at your ear*

Billy: *whispering lost endearments against your skin as I kiss lower, replacing my fingers with my mouth over your nipple, suckling on it slowly as I slide my hand over your belly, rubbing there for a long moment before sliding lower still, rubbing at your cock in time to my hips rocking against you, my breath hitching when I feel you start to harden again*

Elijah: *my voice breathless, pleading, pushing at your shoulders a little* Stop... stop for a moment...

Billy: *stifling a groan against your chest, but doing what you ask, raising my eyes to yours, looking to you with both need and concern* Are you all right?

Elijah: *pushing you back insistently until I've pushed you off me completely and you're lying on your back, head resting against the opposite end of the loveseat, clambering onto your body, aching every moment that you're not inside, desperately lowering myself onto your cock again with a sharp, high cry, swelling to complete hardness as I begin to ride you hard, taking one of your hands in mine and leading it to my groin, hungering for your touch as well as your thick heat inside of me*

Billy: Ah! *crying out when you stretch yourself over me, my hand wrapping around you and stroking you in time to your hips pumping over me, trying vainly to keep my eyes open, the pleasure too intense, feeling consumed by your sudden show of lust and letting you ride me, my feet bracing against the opposite end of the loveseat and moving with you*

Elijah: *moaning rawly and sliding my hands over my chest, plucking almost viciously at my own nipples as my hips work fervently over you, feeling heavy and hot with the need for release, wild with want, gasping for breath*

Billy: Elijah... *my voice rasping in desperation* Elijah, I can't... oh god... *stretching my head back against the arm of the loveseat and coming with a tremendous cry, still stroking you as quickly as I can, my hips jerking and thrusting under you*

Elijah: *hiccupping startled cries as your hips lift and jerk beneath me, toppling forward a little, bracing my hands against your belly, gasping sharply as I come, my hips shuddering and bucking over you*

Billy: *wrapping trembling hands around your forearms and rubbing soothingly as you ride out your release, trying to catch my own breath as well, fluttering my eyes open and watching you with fascination, whispering roughly* ... love you so much...

Elijah: *smiling down at you in sated bliss, rubbing your sides gently as I pant for breath*

Billy: *leaning up to place a poorly aimed kiss at your mouth, only managing to reach your chin, laughing softly at my feeble attempt and falling back to the loveseat again* You've worn me out...

Elijah: *chuckling with you, raising myself from your body with a quiet groan as I feel you slip from me, padding across the floor to the bathing room, returning shortly with a warm, damp cloth, straddling you again and cleaning your belly silently*

Billy: *watching you with a tender smile, my hands petting and touching at you wherever they can reach, asking you softly* And how are you now, my sweet one?

Elijah: *squirming under your wonderful attentions, flushing a little with another slight smile, setting the cloth aside, not feeling motivated enough to bring it back to the bathing room, murmuring* Close to you.

Billy: *sitting up and slipping my arms around your waist, rubbing my nose against yours, speaking softly* I do too. I think this is my favorite time; right after we've loved each so well and we're both sleepy and sated... *adding teasingly* and terribly romantic. All I want is to hold you close and tell you I love you, again and again.

Elijah: *nudging your face* Let's go to bed... *kissing a corner of your mouth* I'll have to leave early.

Billy: *patting at your behind with an impish smile* Then get off of my lap and let me carry you.

Elijah: *blushing hotly, squirming off of your lap* I certainly don't need to be carried.

Billy: *following you closely, bending down and scooping you up over my shoulder, one hand firmly holding onto your behind, sauntering across my suite to my bed*

Elijah: *laughing out loud as you drop me onto the bed unceremoniously, holding my arms out to you as a small child wishing to be picked up and held would*

Billy: *laughing with you and jumping up onto the bed with a playful growl, landing next to you with a big bounce, grabbing you close and delivering a loud, smacking kiss to your cheek, grinning at you* Got you.

Elijah: *snuggling close to you, smiling indulgently* Silly... You've been taking lessons from that silly puppy of yours, haven't you? Soon you'll be sitting on your haunches begging for your meals.

Billy: *chuckling and leaning in to snuffle at your neck, my hands pawing your chest as I wriggle closer to you, nipping softly at your ear* The only thing I would ever beg for is you, mon amour.

Elijah: *my smile slowly fading from my face at the thought of leaving you in just a few hours and perhaps not being able to see you for days, holding you tighter*

Billy: *feeling your shift in mood and pulling back so I can see your face, frowning a little* What's this now?

Elijah: *quietly* I'm not used to being without you so much of the time... *chewing my lip and not meeting your gaze*

Billy: *nodding and rubbing my hand across your back softly, my other hand coming up to gently pull your lip from your teeth* Then what should we do about it? Because I'm not use to it either.

Elijah: *kissing your thumb as it pries my bottom lip from the grip of my teeth, angling my eyes down, murmuring* I need to be nearer to you. The library job can stop. I'll keep the cafe job and work on painting more... That way I can sell the paintings at the same time I wait on tables. And I'll sell the place I'm in now and buy something close by. And it won't matter that I won't be close to the theater anymore, because the performances will be over very soon anyway.

Billy: *smiling tenderly at you and tipping your chin up with my fingers, softly kissing the corners of your mouth* It will be wonderful to have you closer, amour. But you must let me help you move. Besides... *teasing* you will not be able to move that braw bed all by yourself. *asking softly* Will you let me help you?

Elijah: *sheepishly* I really don't have many things to move, and I was going to get my friends from the theater to help with the bed. You and I can't rightly move it all by ourselves either.

Billy: Well... I want to help anyway. *lifting one arm up and flexing my arm, showing off my small bicep, grinning at you* See? I'm just as strong as your wily thespian friends.

Elijah: *teasingly* Well, just as strong-willed, at least... *poking your bicep with my pinky finger*

Billy: *rubbing at my arm playfully, mock-pouting* Oh, such a brut. Be careful there, you'll bruise me.

Elijah: *chuckling softly, giving your cheek a nudge and a kiss in good-natured apology* I'd love your help, Billy.

Billy: Good. *snuggling my arms around you and nudging you back with my nose, then nuzzling softly at your face* I never want you to be sad, my lover. You know I will do anything for you, anything I could.

Elijah: *quietly* I'm not sad... I just... *shrugging a little* I don't know what's been wrong with me lately, Billy. You know how it can be with me. I think I'm mostly frazzled and lonely for your company.

Billy: *nodding, my nose rubbing against your cheek as I do so* I miss you very much when you are not here. Even when I am busy, you slip into my thoughts and it only makes me miss you more. *chuckling a little, my voice tender, not cynical* What a couple of besotted fools we are.

Elijah: Mm... But I'm glad. *giving you a slight smile* I'd rather be lonely and in love than lonely and alone.

Billy: *nodding and resting my head close to yours on the pillow, studying your face for a long moment, then letting my eyes slip closed, resting quietly beside you, my hands rubbing softly over your back*

Elijah: *giving you a soft kiss, then closing my eyes in turn, lulled shortly into sleep by your rubbing--you know how to relax me completely*

Billy: *feeling your body grow heavy with sleep, smiling softly to myself and whispering* I love you... *letting myself drift off as well, the both of us sound asleep on top of the sheets, curled around one another and holding each other close all night*