Chapter 82 - Heightened Passions
It was a dark and stormy night...
Back to Chapter 81
You're lookin' good, just like a snake in the grass,
One of these days you're gonna break your glass.
Don't bring me down, no no no no no no no no,
I'll tell you once more before I get off the floor
Don't bring me down.
'Don't Bring Me Down' ELO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFZGXvGGcfw&fmt=18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXoLTvjrrss
It was early in the day for a client, but Craig was used to Major Heinz's schedule. He often stopped by Freeman's at an earlier hour than many of the customers because he had an hour or two free between military exercises and/or social obligations. When he spoke with Craig about some of the things he attended, like tonight's party, it was clear his bachelor status and army ranking put him in high standing to be invited to all sorts of soirees and functions, but he did not relish them.
Spending time with Craig (or more rarely, another Freeman's boy) seemed to relax him before such events, and Craig knew better than to speak of them by now. What became clear to him after the many times they had been together was that Karl was not interested in women in the least, and found them difficult to be around. This was not to say he was a misogynist, but he certainly had issues. Craig himself was equally at ease with men and women, and spent enough time in bed with each-or more correctly, with both together; one particular pair on a regular basis-to know women were not as scary as Karl believed, but he understood the fear well enough and didn't seek to convince him otherwise.
"Come in," Craig invited as he opened the door to the Amber room. "How much time do you have this afternoon, and are you going straight to Captain Lee's party from here? Should I help you in the shower after we're done?"
"Questions, questions," Karl grumbled good-naturedly, setting down the saddle bag that contained his dress uniform. "You might as well help me in the shower, because I'll damn-well need help with the collar afterwards." After shaking out and hanging the suit on a hook, Karl swiped his hand over the blue wool, smoothing out a wrinkle.
It had started to rain while Karl had ridden from the Presidio. "Order up some food, if you haven't already," he asked, shaking droplets from his hair.
"And have Wang-Zu arrange for a hack for half-seven if you would? Rain doesn't look like it will let up anytime soon and I'll have to leave my horse here overnight... and possibly stay over too..."
In the process of taking down his braces, Karl glanced up from under his lashes at Craig, a lusty smirk bringing out a dimple.
Craig couldn't help smirking back at Karl as he tugged the bell-pull. A thrill went through him at the thought of spending the night with Karl. No doubt he'd be happy enough to have someone warm the bed for him later, and that someone may as well be Craig. Liv might pout, but doubtless she'd find someone else to snuggle with, even if Marton chose another pair for his bed.
"Let me help you with that," he said, moving back over to Karl and slowly beginning to unbutton the man's shirt. "What would you like to eat? Finger food do you, or perhaps some fruit?" The smile spread as he remembered their last encounter involving food. He licked his lips lasciviously as he reached the last button.
The knock on the door came before he could touch the inviting flesh, and he winked at Karl as he went to answer it. Xiu-li looked a little flushed when Karl turned towards them, and the boy lowered his eyes discretely. It amused Craig that this boy seemed so shy when he'd seen so much already, but he knew from observation that Xiu-li was probably more interested in what he'd seen than his family would like, and wondered how long it would be before he disappeared and another cousin took his place.
"Can you ask Wang-zu to ensure there's a carriage waiting for Major Heinz at 7.30 tonight, please, Xiu-li, and can you bring up some finger foods and..." he gazed thoughtfully at Major Heinz, who had moved to sit in the heavy armchair and begun to remove his boots, "some fruit too please," he decided.
Xiu-li nodded and moved away as Craig shut the door, discretely peeking at the major's broad chest as he left.
"That boy has a thing for you," Craig smirked, kneeling at Karl's feet and gazing up from under his lashes. "If his relatives don't take him away soon, he'll end up on this side of the door one of these days."
The intensity of Craig's blue eyes hitting him straight in the groin, Karl snorted as he sat back in the chair. "Surely it's you he was watching," he scoffed with his customary bashfulness.
If the boy's inclinations leaned that way, it wouldn't be at Freeman's that he'd be working. Despite the full implication of the parlour house's name, Marton didn't have enough clout or city officials in his pocket to be able have Orientals in his stable. Discrimination was still too high, plus Marton wouldn't disrespect Wang-zu by luring a family member into prostitution.
"You don't have to stop there," Karl purred, pushing away his musings when Craig set aside his boots and gave him another lusty look.
Craig huffed, amused that Karl didn't see his own attractiveness, but he didn't contradict him.
"No?" Craig asked, eyes sparkling.
He reached for Karl's fly and delicately unbuttoned him, and then indicated Karl should lift up so he could slide his trousers off. Underneath he was naked and already aroused, obviously prepared for his session by not wearing his underwear. Craig slipped the pants down Karl's legs and off, folding them swiftly and placing them on a nearby table with the other clothing Karl had already removed. His eyes never left Karl's and his smile stayed inviting.
Shifting nearer, he let his hands run up and down Karl's thighs, and licked his lips lightly before asking, "What would you like first? I could pleasure you here on my knees before the food arrives, or I could take my clothes off and we could move to the bed...?"
The thought of Craig's plump lips wrapped around his cock sent more blood throbbing in the organ in question, as well as two spots of color blooming on Karl's cheeks. It was one thing to be safely ensconced beneath the bedding when a servant entered; having the two of them naked and aroused was another. Despite the freedom to safely indulge in his desires here, Karl's innate reserve and his years in the military repressing those same desires didn't make it easy to handle being walked in on during intimate moments with the aplomb others could.
"You can strip for me later," Karl answered in a husky purr, and then slid a fist around the base of his cock, "Feeding you this while we wait sounds like a pleasurable activity, yes?" There was a cloth nearby he could use to cover himself. Plus, as talented Craig was with his mouth, the small break would be most welcome.
Smiling cheekily, Craig nodded and then parted his lips, breathing lightly on the heated cock-head. Karl's hand held the length steady as Craig delicately extended his tongue and circled the glans, continuing to look upward from under his lashes.
Karl was a sight to behold when he was this aroused, his face pinking delightedly in embarrassment at the no-doubt wicked thoughts going through his mind and his eyes glowing with a fire few men possessed quite so strongly. Craig was sure it was the hazel shade of them, which sometimes made them green and sometimes brown, and wondered briefly if Ian felt the same way about Dr. Jack's similar-colored ones when heated in passion, before letting the thought go and concentrating back on the man he was pleasuring.
Karl gasped as the tongue-tip slid into his slit, tickling softly, before it circled the smooth head once again. He was quivering in delight, and Craig entertained the evil thought of continuing the tease for long enough that Xiu-li would return with the food and catch them. He wondered who would be more embarrassed should he go that far, but immediately decided against it, knowing neither of the two would trust him far again if he did such a thing.
Knowing Karl was already well-ready for this and that the servant would not be much longer, he stepped up his attentions. Besides, they could get in so much more in their allotted time if he allowed Karl this quick orgasm without too much fuss.
He shifted to gently encircle the whole of the cock-head and suckled and rocked as if he was enjoying a lollipop, eyes never leaving Karl's face, and hands firm against the major's hips.
The blue of Craig's eyes ensnared Karl until his entire focus was narrowed to their intensity and to the red lips doing such wicked things to his cock. He wanted to sink his fingers in Craig's glossy dark hair and make him pause, to hold off the orgasm he could feel growing ever-closer. He wanted the action to never stop until Craig drained him completely. Karl's breath came out in short pants, his muscles quivering with the need to thrust.
"Please..." Karl breathed at long last, not sure what he was pleading for.
Craig smiled around his mouthful, knowing exactly where he held Karl. Calculating swiftly that Xiu-li couldn't be far away with the food by now, he gave in to the breathy plea and shifted further over the hot cock, taking it as deeply down his throat as he could manage. He might not be Boone, but he knew he wasn't bad at this and he doubted Karl would know enough about the other whore's technique to complain.
Swallowing harshly, he pulled back sharply as Karl gasped and shuddered, too far gone to stop. Simultaneously, a knock sounded at the door. Craig didn't let up, and he continued to hold Karl's eyes as the man's come filled his mouth and he slowly swallowed it down. His tongue traced circles around sensitive flesh as he slowly drew off and smiled.
"Come in," he said without blinking, a grin spreading across his face as he flicked the nearby cloth across Karl's diminishing erection and rose gracefully to his feet. Xiu-li was wheeling in a trolley as he turned, concentrating more on the job he was doing than on semi-naked Major Heinz and the obvious task Craig had just performed.
Fucking hell... Karl melted into the chair after his explosive release. Eyelids closing and his hand still wrapped around his spent cock, he strove to recapture his breath. The blood still pounding in his ears, he dampened dry lips.
"Damn Craig, think you've slain me. Now how'm I s'posed to fuck you through...?" Expecting only to find Craig's smirking face (which he did, and Craig was), Karl blinked owlishly (or as owlishly as his sated body could manage) at the servant and the trolley of covered dishes.
Craig raised his eyebrows in amusement, glancing from Karl to the pretty and flushed face of Xiu-li. The Chinese servant was keeping his eyes on the trolley, but clearly from his manner, he'd seen enough to understand what had just happened, and Karl's words hadn't exactly denied it.
"Thank you Xiu-li," Craig said, putting a hand under the boy's chin and raising it to look into his dark eyes. What was swirling inside them was hard to read properly, but desire flickered for a moment and Craig felt a little guilty for his actions. "Tell Miss Marg that I said you deserve extra tonight. A half-dollar from my earnings will be added to your wages this week. I won't ask such things in future."
He let the boy go and watched him leave the room smiling, despite his obvious discomfit in witnessing such overt sexual relations between men. Fifty cents was very generous for a servant in these times; Craig would have to watch himself or he'd end up giving away all his earnings in no time flat.
Rounding the trolley so he was facing Karl, he couldn't help grinning again. "He's only fifteen from what I understand, and I doubt his family would be impressed if they knew how much he sees; though I've no doubt this isn't his first time of being so close to the action. Most of the male servants here have seen more erections than a building site, but the rest of them are rather inured to it by now, I suspect. I doubt Xiu-li would even be here yet if his mother hadn't died young. Wang-zu watches over him, but I don't know if he's realized the boy's inclinations.
"I shouldn't tease either of you so, should I? And you don't need to know so much about Xiu-li. Perhaps I should just shut up and feed you, hmm?"
He lifted the lid of one of the plates and offered Karl a lusty look as he picked up a canapé and sauntered back to sit on the arm of Karl's chair. Holding the tidbit inches from Karl's mouth, he let his other hand rest on the major's broad shoulder. It was odd to remain dressed while the client wore nothing but a rag, but Craig was enjoying the power of the moment, even though it wouldn't last. The prospect didn't particularly worry him. His cock pulsed at the thought of how Karl would get his revenge once the man recovered sufficiently.
"Perhaps you should," Karl took the offering gently enough, then grabbed Craig's wrist to suckle each finger in turn. Tongue swirling lazily in search of every last crumb, Karl's eyes met Craig's to gauge his reactions.
"But I also feel at a disadvantage here. Perhaps you should strip for me now... and see what develops?" Eyes heavy-lidded over the lust and devilishness lingering there, Karl licked across Craig's palm before releasing his wrist. If Craig wanted to play naughty power games, Karl was up for it. Or would be soon, he smirked in remembrance of his orgasm.
The sucking just made Craig's cock dance all the more-or as much as possible inside his confining pants-and he was as eager as Karl to get his clothes off in the end. The last lick made his knees buckle, but somehow Craig managed to rise to his feet. It didn't take much to shuck off the light shirt and soft trousers, and of course he wore nothing underneath them, so his lean but well-shaped body was very soon exposed to his client.
Stepping backwards lightly, he kept up the cheeky grin and sprawled back against the pile of pillows on the bed. The rich yellow and gold tones of the Amber room made it seem warmer than it actually was, or perhaps that was the heat emanating from Karl's smoldering eyes?
Unashamedly, Craig wrapped the damp hand that Karl had licked around his own cock and began stroking it slowly. "Did you want to eat?" he asked without his breath even hitching. "Help yourself." He knew Karl liked his food, but he'd be just as tempted by the feast of flesh, if Craig was any judge. Besides, they could always eat the food afterwards.
Eyes reflecting his lust, Karl surged from the chair and was across the room before Craig could take another stroke.
"Don't mind if I do," he purred, covering Craig's body with his own. Rocking his hips into Craig's, Karl leaned in for a deep kiss.
Craig's hand was pushed away as Karl landed on top of him, but it didn't matter when he was kissed like that. It was wet and deep and bone-melting, and tasted vaguely of the canapé they'd just shared. Craig returned it eagerly, his hands naturally curving around the man's neck as he held him near.
When Karl finally drew back, both of them were panting, and Craig was fairly sure there wasn't going to be any problem with him getting fucked through the mattress tonight. Karl rarely disappointed, and the need in Craig rose at the thought. He shifted under Karl and murmured, "Food can wait, eh?"
"Mm hmm," Karl purred with a wicked gleam in his eyes, "A feast of a different kind might satisfy my hunger... for now." His head dipped back down to suckle briefly on the soft skin of Craig's neck. Leisurely, he explored Craig's collar bones, throat, shoulders, letting Craig's moans egg him on. He'd been seeing Craig long enough to know the reactions weren't feigned. Pleasuring Craig was nearly as good as the wicked things Craig did to him. Over the years they'd reached a level of comfort with each other without messy emotional ties to muck things up, like the memories that kept trying to surface during the illicit session with Eric and sweet Orli.
Pausing after bringing one of Craig's nipples up to a taut peak, Karl grinned up at glazed blue eyes. "That was tasty, but maybe I should stop and eat some real food?" The dimples in Karl's cheeks flashed alternately as he tried to keep from smirking.
Craig couldn't help the whine that escaped, but he clamped his mouth shut and took a breath, smiling. "Whatever you want," he managed, voice low and vibrating with need.
His cock was pulsing, he was so turned on. Karl had been one of Craig's regulars for some time now, and Craig could read him pretty well. The man enjoyed giving as much as receiving, and since he'd already come once, he'd probably be happy to give Craig his turn before they went for the food.
Craig stroked the soft, dark hair, still smiling. He was determined not to be the one to give in and demand more, though he knew Karl would never complain to Marton if he did. Some men were most insistent on their own pleasure all the way, and once or twice he'd had to answer for being too cheeky. He doubted Karl would actually stop now, but it was a possibility, and no matter what, in this business the customer was always right, as those times had reminded him.
Craig was very fond of Karl, but he wasn't so stupid as to suppose the major felt much more for him than a vague 'like' because of their easy familiarity and long-standing 'business' dealings. The sex was always good though, and that more than made up for the other crappy clients Craig sometimes had to put up with.
Besides, he wasn't about to fall into the same foolishness that most of the other boys were bound up in: Greg was in love with Officer Stokes, Ian was hooked on Dr. Jack, Naveen couldn't get enough of Sawyer, and Orli was obviously totally smitten with Sean. Only Warrick seemed to be keeping his head in amongst all the craziness, no matter how much most of the others tried to deny what was obvious!
The bitten off whine enough of a concession, Karl took pity on Craig. Of course, that didn't mean he was done with teasing.
"Okay," Karl levered upwards and shuffled back from Craig's upper body. "Can I get you anything? Or, just help myself to... this?" His head dipped now that he was hovering over Craig's full and throbbing cock to lick up from root to tip.
"Fuck! You bastard!" Craig gasped, at first stunned and then stimulated by Karl's actions. He hadn't even been able to think enough to hold back the insult which under normal circumstances he'd never even consider calling a client.
"Uh, please, please..." he muttered, blushing at his indelicate words, and lifting his hips towards Karl's retreating mouth. "If you don't follow through right now, I swear..." he trailed off, desperate for the damp touch to return.
Laughing, Karl raised and spread Craig's knees so he could settle between. "That's better; don't hold back Sweetcheeks," he chuckled, waggling his eyebrows at Craig. "Tell me what you really think while I sample my fill here. Then we'll see how ready I am to fill you here." His fist circling the base of Craig's cock, Karl rubbed the pad of his thumb over the tight pucker further down.
"Oh, Jesus..." Craig breathed at the touch, trembling all over. "Please suck my cock. Please!"
There wasn't any more holding out to be done. He needed Karl now, and if that meant begging, he'd do it. He sent up a silent prayer as the sexy man between his legs moved closer. Thank God for clients like Karl!
Yes, having fun with sex was definitely better than sexual encounters fraught with emotional baggage no man was equipped to handle. Determined to get even more reactions, Karl blew across Craig's damp cock, much like Craig had done to him. The heated glare from brilliant blue eyes was a very sexy sight, so Karl licked another stripe and blew again. He relented at long last, not wanting to torture Craig too much.
There was a sweetness to Craig's taste that Karl always enjoyed. It was more than always being scrupulously clean; it was something unique to Craig himself. Mouthing just the tip, Karl met Craig's eyes before he slid his lips further down, suckling the entire length, finally giving Craig what he'd pleaded for.
Christ! The teasing was almost too much, and Craig was breathing shallowly when Karl finally engulfed his whole shaft, causing him to gasp and just about choke.
"Fuck..." he groaned when he could finally get something out. "Oh, mother of Christ on a donkey."
The action was as good as Karl always made it, and Craig watched him move, his pleasure building incredibly fast as full red lips surrounded him and lust-blown hazel eyes watched him.
"Shh...oh God, Karl, I'm gonna..."
With Craig so close and delightfully vocal about it, Karl's only acknowledgement was to hum around his mouthful. He plied his tongue in a way that usually proved quite effective, while tracing his thumbnail over Craig's tight pucker.
And the thumb at his rear entrance was the final straw. "Jesus..." Craig continued his blasphemy as his orgasm finally hit, his hips jerking upward, deeper into Karl's incredible mouth.
Craig's fists caught at Karl's hair as he shuddered through the last of his aftershocks. "Oh... my God, Karl, that was wicked," he gasped, finally pushing the man away from his rapidly dwindling cock. "You have no idea how much money you'd make if you charged for that."
Relaxing back onto the bed behind him, Craig flung an arm over his eyes and took several deep breaths as he tried to come back to earth.
Chuckling, Karl moved to sit back on his haunches. Like a cat with the last of the cream he licked a drop of Craig's come from his lips. "You think?" he asked, a leer firmly in place, "Might be nice to pad my army pay, instead of 'donating' a chunk of my wages to Freeman's," he joked, and then rolled gracefully from the bed to pour a drink of water.
"Seeing you laid out in all your sated glory and knowing I was the cause is quite pleasing... and hunger inducing," Karl couldn't resist adding at the end. He pushed the trolley toward the bed and nudged Craig's hip. "Shove over and we can have ourselves a little reviving snack, yeah?"
Craig removed the arm over his face and grinned, then shifted to sit upright next to the major. "Mmm, food sounds like a good idea; then we can aim for round two, eh?"
This had to be one of the odder days, Warrick thought, stepping from the shower. Vin apparently drugged by Eric and the new client Sawyer sponsored so those two could slip off by themselves.
Something was up with Orli as well. Nothing as severe as also being drugged, just... secretive and sexy, was the best way Warrick could explain it. He'd squirm on his seat during breakfast then pause with the most peculiar expression: surprise mixed with something downright naughty. All Warrick could get out of him was giggles and whispers that he might find out later.
Then Warrick had been called to Miss Marg's sitting room. Somehow, without really knowing how, she'd talked him into assisting with one of her clients since Vin was (supposedly) sleeping off the laudanum. Warrick shook his head as he wrapped a towel loosely around his hips. One minute he was sipping tea from a delicate cup, the next, seemingly, he was in the Diamond room, oiled head to foot and clad in a pair of chaps only, with his cock buried deep in the client's throat while Miss Marg fucked the man with some phallic device strapped to her loins. 'C'mon, you'll love it. It will be one of the most intense orgasms in your life.' Warrick could still hear the fiery redhead purr.
Women in general did not stir his desire, but, Mon Dieu, the woman was a force to reckon with. More than the mind-blowing suckling, it was the amused and lusty gleam in her eyes as she whispered demeaning and derogatory things into the client's ear while never looking away from Warrick's face. The form-fitted leather outfit she wore left little to the imagination, the bodice barely containing her full breasts until Warrick was itching to pull the material away and fill his hands-and mouth-with the creamy globes.
Once he was dressed in another hand-me-down of silk trousers topped by an embroidered moss green tunic from Marton, Warrick wandered downstairs. The kitchen was a madhouse, servants and loitering whores chattering about the still missing Eric, and now Vin was gone too. The way Cook was waving around her ladle in emphasis of her points that the ex-New Yorker was good for nothing, Warrick thought better of sticking around for a bowl of soup. Grabbing an apple, he beat a hasty retreat to the parlours. Marton and Naveen were having a quiet conversation in the second parlour and Warrick felt his cheeks heat in memory of the time spent with the pair. He scurried past with eyes lowered, although he doubted either man noticed his presence.
The front parlour was empty; neither Billy nor Dom at their stations. Sitting on the piano stool, Warrick thought he heard noises of some sort from behind the bar when he crunched into his apple. Perhaps it was Billy hunkered down stocking his shelves. Warrick shrugged, not particularly concerned as he spun to the piano to play a few notes one-handedly.
Sawyer was of two minds about heading to Freeman's after what he'd done the night before, but it was raining something fierce and Freeman's was a lot closer to his boarding house than any of his other haunts. Besides, he couldn't stay in his room with his mind circling as it was. And, he thought grimly, it would be interesting to see Naveen's reactions to him after he disappeared with Kate at the end of last night's card-playing.
She'd cheered him up more than a woman could usually manage, and he'd felt a kind of triumph as he ascended the staircase with her knowing that Naveen had observed his indiscretion, along with several other staff members who had looked almost agog at the sight of him heading towards a room with a woman. He'd felt Naveen's simmering anger all the way across the parlours, and been pleased, but highly disturbed as well. Although he wasn't sure he was up to dealing with Naveen up close just yet, he could still play cards tonight, and perhaps feel out his Dom's disapproval from across the (hopefully) crowded room.
Turning up the collar of his overcoat against the rain, Sawyer jammed his hat on hard and climbed the last hill to the Gentlemen's Club, his heart fluttering in anticipation of Naveen's cool stare.
Within minutes he was at the door and Wang-zu was politely helping him off with the coat and hanging it and his hat somewhere safe to dry. Smiling broadly at the Chinaman, he nodded his thanks and stepped into the parlours.
True, it was a little early for some, but Sawyer hadn't expected the place to be so empty. The rain must have put some clients off, which was a pity; there might not even be a decent game tonight. Letting his eyes roam the rooms as he fished a cheroot from his pocket, his heart stuttered a little harder when he caught sight of Naveen conversing quietly with Marton in a dim corner. Neither paid him the least attention, but he was sure Naveen had seen him.
Swallowing harshly, he turned to the bar, but Billy wasn't in sight and there were no other servants close by to ask for a drink. He hesitated for a moment to light up his smoke, and puffed lightly as a tinkle of something rang lightly in the air. Sawyer was sure it had come from the direction of the bar, but more similar-although deeper-sounds drew his attention towards the piano.
Warrick was tinkering with the keys with one hand as if bored, an apple held loosely in the other. While Sawyer watched, he took a bite from the crisp apple and Sawyer felt a rush of desire hit his loins. Warrick hadn't noticed him yet either and he went back to the one-handed piano-playing as he chewed his mouthful, a vaguely familiar tune assaulting Sawyer's eardrums and sending a wash of memory over him. The reminder of a scene from long ago overlaid his desire and for a moment he could swear it was Matt he saw there, rather than the dusky mulatto he had helped save from Pence's bath-house.
Almost without thought, his feet steered him towards the piano, and Sawyer only came to the realization of what he was doing and who was playing as he stopped next to Warrick. Blinking several times, he raised a hand to his mouth and cleared his throat quietly, his heart thudding painfully inside his chest and his cock already half-hard in his breeches.
"You play?" he asked foolishly, knowing full well the man had to or the tune would not have been so familiar. It was not at it's full worth since Warrick only played part of it, but as Sawyer was aware exactly how difficult a piece it was even two-handed, he knew the man had more than a little skill. Besides, Warrick had admitted his musical ability the night of the party when they'd met in the hallway and gone upstairs to 'dance'.
Fingers stilling on the keys, Warrick looked up when Sawyer spoke. "A little, when given the opportunity," he answered self-deprecatingly. "Have a seat," he offered with a smile, sliding over to make room. The conman-easy smiles and carefree attitude were missing in Sawyer as he stood almost nervously above Warrick. It was as if his suave and debonair mantle had slipped off a little.
"C'mon, you can help me, while I have this to contend with," Warrick's smile softened as he indicated the apple.
Sawyer blinked uncomfortably when offered a seat and shook his head slightly. "I don't play. Besides, I have this." He waved his cheroot as his heart bounced uncomfortably inside his chest, and risked a glance in Naveen's direction. The man was still deeply engrossed in his conversation with Marton, and Sawyer shifted where he stood, running a hand through his hair and smiling at Warrick again.
"I'll just sit over here," he decided, picking up a spare chair from the nearest seating area and placing it halfway between the piano stool and the table it came from. Much as he liked Warrick, he had closed in on the piano without thought, and the reality of being in his Dom's sight while so distracted didn't incline him towards intimacy with someone as confusing as Warrick.
Trying not to think on why he found the man so alluring in more than just his usual 'admiring a good-looking man' style, he smoked some more before offering, "I'll just wait till your hands are free. I... Perhaps you could play something else? Something that needs less... concentration while you only have one hand available?"
He smiled at Warrick again, but once more his eyes couldn't help the flicker towards where Naveen sat, the guilt eating at Sawyer's heart. Naveen looked cool and unconcerned, but the impact of Sawyer leaving with Kate last night must surely have disturbed him? Sawyer wasn't even sure why he'd done it now, and suddenly he regretted it, wishing he'd simply stormed out the door after losing at the game, rather than risk the wrath of Naveen... or his indifference; whichever it was. If only he wasn't so hard to read...
"No, that's alright," Warrick said affably, turning around on the stool. He didn't miss the glance into the other parlour where Marton and Naveen still sat with heads together. Although he'd not seen the two men together around the house to understand their dynamic-or how they interacted with each other-Warrick had heard enough rumors about Naveen's and Sawyer's contentious relationship to realize his roommate was the cause of Sawyer's current odd behavior.
"I'll join you over there and we can catch up a little, oui?" Warrick stood after taking and chewing another bite, then nodded his head toward the bar, "Can I get you something to drink? Something to warm you from the inside," Warrick took in the damp ends of Sawyer's hair from the rain.
Sawyer nodded uncomfortably as Warrick stood, and shifted the chair back from whence it came, sitting down at the table so he could still see Naveen without being too obvious. "A drink would be good. The weather's kinda bone-chilling. Whiskey, please." A drink might also take the edge off Sawyer's nerves.
While he waited for Warrick to oblige with the liquor, he studiously tried not to look in Naveen's direction; a very difficult proposition. The easiest solution was to watch Warrick's attractive ass as he strode purposefully towards the bar. The silk pants he wore emphasized the deliciousness of its shape and Sawyer found his cock twitching again, despite how easily it had drooped before while thinking about Naveen's mood. Perhaps he should just take the man upstairs and let Warrick fuck him blind. It might serve to take his mind off the confusion he had no need of; at least for a while.
As he cooled his heels, smoked and admired Warrick's movements, his eye was drawn by someone descending the stairs. Kate and Claire, arm in arm and whispering, trod lightly as they came down, dressed to the nines in the kind of finery that Sawyer could little appreciate aside from sartorially. Kate flicked a smile in his direction and then whispered something in Claire's ear. Claire laughed and allowed her eyes to rest on him for a moment too before turning to answer her friend.
Sawyer scowled as the two girls continued downwards, and then made their way to a booth out of his sight. Damn the bitch! No doubt she was filling the other girl's head with tales of Sawyer's bedroom abilities with women. He'd given her the 'twirl' he'd promised; what more did she want? She had to know after last night--if she hadn't realized it before--that Sawyer had no real interest in her. He'd made it clear enough, despite what he'd done. It was bad enough that half the house gossiped about him and Naveen without her spreading tales of his shortcomings.
When Warrick reached the bar, Billy popped up from behind it. He had a few glasses in hand, and was trying his best to look as if he had merely been working back there. But his flushed cheeks, mussed hair, and disheveled clothes told a completely other story.
As did Dom, who was doing his best to crawl, unnoticed, back to his table.
"Get you your usual, then?" A glance was sent in Sawyer's direction, and Billy made a little 'hmm' noise. "And something for your friend, as well?"
Without waiting for an answer, Billy reached for Sawyer's preferred brand. As he began to fill one of the glasses, he looked up through his lashes to Warrick. "So tell me, what's the latest word? One bouncer missing, one drugged, the owners acting very serious... People are beginning to talk. If we don't hear something definite soon, who knows what conclusions the masses will jump to?"
Warrick's eyes widened when Billy popped out of nowhere. Then, he took in the barman's heighten color, wisps of hair standing on end, the miss-buttoned shirt with collar askew. Eyes now dancing with merriment, he flicked a glance toward Sawyer to check if he'd seen, and also to hide his losing efforts to keep from grinning.
While turning his head, Warrick caught Dom slink out from the other end of the bar. If anything, the dealer was in worse shape. Dom's spiky hair was a mass of tangles, his prominent ears redder than his cheeks, and a bit of his shirttail was poking through his trouser fly.
"Yes, thank you," Warrick answered at long last, covering a guffaw with a cough. "I'm sure Mr. Eric will show up for work soon, and Mr. Vin too," he replied as formally as possible so he wouldn't laugh.
Sawyer, attention drawn back to the bar at the sound of voices, narrowed his eyes when Warrick turned to grin at him, wondering how Billy was suddenly there again. Then he caught sight of Dom the dealer trying to disappear from behind the bar without being seen. He was a mess, and one glance back to Billy's ruffled appearance explained both that and Warrick's amusement.
Glad of the distraction, Sawyer didn't even bother to hide his laugh as his sparkling green eyes met Warrick's briefly before the man turned back to Billy. There was always something going on here, and the fooling around that the two staff members were trying to hide from their boss over in the other parlour could well be useful at shutting them up from gossiping more about Sawyer, he decided.
As Warrick approached with drinks in hand, Sawyer let his smile grow appreciative around his smoke as he felt relaxed for the first time tonight. Warrick slipped gracefully into a seat opposite him and slid the glass across the table to him.
"Cheers," Sawyer toasted, holding his glass up to clink lightly against Warrick's. "What do those two think they're doing? They ain't fooling anyone. And what's that about Vin and Eric I heard you saying?" Sawyer hadn't really caught the words properly, but he'd heard the names mentioned across the distance and wondered what trouble they were in. The gossip was a useful way to avoid his own problems for now.
"Saluté." Smiling over the top of his glass, Warrick took a sip. He could kiss Billy and Dom for providing just the right comedic distraction. The relaxed smile wreathing Sawyer's face was so much better than the fidgety nervousness. Warrick stretched his legs out and let his eyes travel over Sawyer's frame. There still was some tension-the cause most likely in the other parlour-but Sawyer's eyes had their familiar devilish-lusty gleam.
"Apparently the bouncers had some after-hours shenanigans," Warrick shrugged lightly. "Mr. Eric hasn't shown up yet, and now, possibly, Vin has gone after him. Must not want to work the night alone," he added with a teasing wink.
Sawyer didn't know what to make of that; neither man seemed exactly like the type to run off, especially not after each other, as from what he'd seen, they weren't even that fond of each other. He huffed out more smoky air, supposing the common theory was probably that they liked each other more than they showed, which seemed pretty dumb to him.
"So where they think he's gone? Someone must have theories?"
Normally Sawyer wouldn't be bothered about Eric much - the man seemed okay, but strangely, Sawyer didn't find him as compelling as his 'carrot' had done the night of the party. He was fond of Vin in a way though; besides, anything that kept his mind off Naveen right now was a good subject.
Reminding himself again that the man Eric supposedly was off with was sponsored by Sawyer, Warrick hedged, "You do know the household, oui?" He eyes twinkled teasingly as he glanced at Sawyer. "Rumor has it they entertained a friend, then Mr. Eric escorted the friend home-and stayed over-after they... uh... wore out Mr. Vin."
As he spoke, from the corner of his eye, Warrick noticed Viggo enter the other parlour to speak briefly with Marton. It was good to see Viggo out and braving the public rooms, even if he was more disheveled than normal. Rather agitated too, Warrick thought with a small sigh as Viggo raked his damp hair off his brow and then went up the main stairs two at a time.
Oh boy did Sawyer know the house, and the rumor mill that ran through it. He grinned at the words, and then couldn't resist asking, "Who were they entertaining? Anyone I'd know?"
He quirked an eyebrow, wondering, as he was distracted by Viggo briefly stopping at the table with Naveen and Marton. Chewing idly on his lip as he half-paid attention to Warrick, he wondered what the racer was so wound up about, but let it go to look back at Warrick. Viggo wasn't one of Naveen's clients, so at least Sawyer didn't need to be concerned that it involved his Dom.
No, Warrick shook his head internally; he was not going to give in to the suave smile Sawyer turned his way. "Is unimportant," he answered coolly enough.
"Dom has been shuffling his cards for a while, and is wearing quite the pout that he has no players." Warrick nodded to the card table. "Care to wager on a hand or two?" he offered as a distraction, sipping again at his drink.
Sawyer wrinkled his brows, downing a little whiskey as Warrick replied, but said nothing. There were few people who frequented Freeman's that Sawyer didn't know, at least by sight if nothing else. But it wasn't his business if Warrick felt the need to keep the bouncers' secrets.
Nodding as he lowered the glass and stubbed out the remainder of his cheroot, Sawyer said, "A wager or two sounds like a mighty fine idea. You'll stay with me for now?"
Looking around, Sawyer couldn't see anyone else who'd be willing to play. It was still quiet, although out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Jack and the boy-bitch descending the stairs arm-in-arm. Frowning at the sight, he stood up, determined not to let his old flame bother him tonight. He had enough in mind worrying about Naveen without Jack's increased interest in Boone of late making him angry.
Taking a deep breath, he smiled once more at Warrick and held out a hand to indicate the mulatto should precede him to the dealer's table. Even if Warrick wasn't going to actually play, his company would help keep Sawyer's mood light.
Leaving Sawyer the seat the gambler normally took, Warrick took an adjacent chair at the gaming table. Winking at Sawyer when Dom blushed, Warrick then called for Billy to refill their glasses.
"It's such a quiet and rainy night, why don't you pour yourself and Dom something and join us?" Warrick proposed magnanimously, thinking this distraction from the norm would be good, since nothing was happening.
Billy's eyes widened slightly at Warrick's invitation as he refilled the glasses. From what he'd seen of the mulatto, he was plenty friendly, but it hadn't extended his way so far. The barman looked up from under his lashes at Dom, gauging his reaction, which was a pleading look sent in Billy's direction.
The barman sighed, and nodded. "Aye, alright; just let me see to the doctor first." He hadn't missed Boone descend the stairs with Doc Jack on his arm. It was no real secret that the doctor had been spending his nights at Freeman's, but he hadn't been there the night before. It was less than an hour before when he'd stumbled in, looking tired and if it was possible, worse for the wear. In the fifteen minutes before Boone had come to collect him, he'd drunk more than Billy had ever seen the man consume at once.
They'd only been upstairs for twenty minutes, but as they came down, Jack's face was sweaty and flushed, and Boone's dress looked rumpled (and why Boone had recently taken to wearing full dresses all the time, Billy wasn't sure). Jack looked as rumpled as he always did. If Billy had to guess, he'd say that it was likely that either they hadn't gone all the way, or that clothing hadn't been removed.
But now the Doc would be expecting more whiskey, and until Billy provided it he couldn't sit down. A quick detour to the bar had Billy grabbing another bottle of whiskey and four glasses. Without saying a word, he dropped off the bottle and two of the glasses at the table Doctor Jack and Boone had sat themselves at.
Back at Dom's table, Billy quickly filled the remaining glasses, and pushed one across the green felt. As he lowered himself to his seat, he grinned conspiratorially at Warrick and Sawyer. "You both do know I have the dealer on my side, yeah?"
The look shared between Billy and Dom had both men giggling madly.
Sawyer smiled indulgently, his dimples on full. "If the dealer don't play fair, he knows what'll happen." He glanced from Billy to Dom, and back again, one hand on Warrick's thigh under the table. "His best entertainment won't stick around for long. His best card-playing entertainment, that is."
Winking at Dom, he squeezed Warrick's thigh once before letting it go and reaching inside his jacket for another cheroot. Lighting up and puffing on the smoke, his smile never faltered. This was promising to be a better night than he'd expected.
A small purr was Warrick's initial reaction to the warm hand on his thigh. He laughed with the others and let his knee bump Sawyer's. Cheeky bugger, as Orli would say. Sawyer's sneaky tactics weren't going to distract him from the game. He'd never profess to be as good as the sexy professional gambler flashing his dimples to the table at large, but Warrick had been known to play many a game of chance in his younger days.
Waiting until Sawyer took a drink, Warrick tossed two cards on the table and dropped his hand down and squeezed Sawyer's thigh.... much higher up and with nothing more than the most innocent look on his face as he motioned to Dom for two new cards.
When Viggo came down the stairs, Wind in the Grass was right behind him. His face was hard, and his eyes serious. When they got to the bottom of the stairs, Viggo turned to face his companion and spoke quietly but firmly in Lakhota. Wind responded in kind, with a short nod.
Crossing the room quickly, Viggo stopped at the table Marton and Naveen still sat at. The day had started out so simply. He had gone to the stables, hoping to get in a ride before his dinner with White Wing. But when he had arrived, the unrest of the horses (not to mention the disarray) had awoken his skills as a tracker. He had found where a man had fallen (and not in a fun way), and where he had been moved. Outside there had been signs of a cart, carrying something heavy.
After informing the owner of what he'd seen, he'd gone up to get Wind in the Grass. It wasn't that Viggo doubted what he saw, but he knew that if what he saw was true, he was going to need all the help (and back-up) he could get. Though, as soon as he had explained things, Wind had confirmed his worst fears.
"Wind in the Grass told me that this morning he saw a man in black put a body into a coffin. He saw this just outside of the stables."
Viggo wasn't an idiot, no matter how scatter-brained he could be. He had heard that the missing parties were Eric and Hugh. And, well, whether Eric was dead or alive... if Hugh had left in the small hours of the morning, there was a chance that the man was already on a boat back to his native Australia. Fuck. If so, they might never find them.
"A body?" Marton surged to his feet. This was so much more than a simple case of shenanigans getting slightly out of hand that the household gossips had been having a field day over.
"Are you implying Jackman put Eric in a coffin?" Marton leaned menacingly toward Wind in the Grass who didn't flinch, meeting Marton's shock stoically.
"Does he even know what a coffin is?" Marton rounded on Viggo; only the calming hand Naveen placed on his forearm kept him from getting in Viggo's face. "He cannot mean Eric is dead!" Marton hissed.
A loud growl turned their attention to the entry where Vin filled the doorway to the front parlour.
Coatless and suit soaked through to the skin, Vin stared wild-eyed at Marton and the others before turning toward the card table in the parlour before him.
"You! You fucking bastard! You brought this down on us!" Guilt and pain for his own part in Hugh's treachery roughened Vin's voice to a deep rumble as he rushed at Sawyer.
"Fuck!" Sawyer let out, dropping his half-smoked cheroot in a nearby ashtray and standing up as Vin headed directly towards him. His chair fell over behind him, forgotten, as he sidestepped to get away from the table, a deep scowl on his face. He held up a hand. "What on earth's got your dander up, soldier? I didn't do anything!"
A new wave of guilt and terror for Eric washed over Vin as the words from the landlord at Hugh's boarding house resonated (as they had the entire trip back from North Beach) in his head and fed the anger heating his blood.
"Did you know anything about him other than he was a great lay? Or based on the size of his 'carrot' alone did you invite him into our midst?" Flinging his arm out to encompass the household, Vin ignored his complicity by thinking with his cock where Hugh was concerned.
"What the fuck?" Sawyer's scowl deepened as he tried to puzzle out what in hell Vin was talking about. He hadn't heard the exchanges going on in the other parlour, where he could see Marton, Naveen, Viggo and some Indian-Sawyer did a double-take for a moment; not having seen the Indian before, he couldn't quite grasp why he was there-then his attention snapped back to the snarling mass of muscle in front of him.
Carrot?
He could only mean Hugh. What the fuck had happened? His eyes strayed to Naveen again momentarily, but that didn't give him any clues. None of this made any sense.
Shaking his head and focusing back on Vin, Sawyer said, "You wanna tell me what the fuck is going on?"
Viggo took a step towards Vin, not wanting to get too close until he could get a better judge on how to handle the situation. He'd seen how Vin reacted to someone close being hurt before... but this for some reason seemed worse. "Vin, love... leave Sawyer. We have to get going; no matter what Wind saw, Eric might not be dead!"
Also standing when Vin had charged forward, Warrick stared wide-eyed at the enraged man. He, like Sawyer, had no idea what had the large bouncer so wound up other than it had something to do with Mr. Jackman. Sawyer was holding his own, for now, so all Warrick did was subtly shift his body between the two men and Billy and Dom who sat in stunned silence at the table.
Unaware of anything beyond the bastard before him, Vin stepped in closer to Sawyer. "Thinking with the head between your legs and only about your own gratification, or the fucking head games you play, that's what you've done. You brought that bastard here and now he has cleared out; gone back home after whatever the fuck he's done with Eric!"
"Mark Vincent! That is enough!" Marton called from the other room, he and the others with him taking a couple steps forward. "Let Viggo and Wind in the Grass investigate before we go off half-cocked."
The order was ignored and before anyone could react, as soon as Sawyer's sneer turned into a glare and a growl emitted from the gambler's throat, Vin's fist connected with Sawyer's jutting chin with a loud crack that reverberated through both parlours.
The fist had been the last thing Sawyer expected, though Vin was clearly tensing for a fight of some kind.
It was also the last thing he saw as consciousness left him and he floated into darkness.
The noises in the hallway were getting louder as Craig's pounding heart was slowly getting quieter.
The second bout of fucking had gone exactly how he'd wanted it, with Karl's large cock firmly up his ass as he rode the major's lap like a fine stallion. Karl had just the right touch, and his heated breath against Craig's neck and that last bite as he hit his peak... Oh yes!
They'd both collapsed face down on the bed afterward, Karl half on top of him, as they panted and gasped for breath.
There was definitely something odd happening outside though; something unusual even for this place. Anguished voices yelling obscenities and insults, and then the loud sounds of people clomping on the stairs...
"What on earth?" Craig puzzled, lifting his head, and reaching a hand back to stroke Karl's hip to get his attention. "Something's up. Maybe I should..." he mused, biting at his lip as he waited for Karl to move off him. Even though he was worried about what he was hearing, he wouldn't be rude to a paying customer.
"Unless it is a surprise raid, is not our concern," Karl mumbled sleepily.
He arched into Craig's touch and nuzzled under the damp hair at his nape. "An' we both know Stokes wouldn't risk his Greg and the rest of you," Karl licked over the mark he'd made on Craig's neck, "by allowing a raid without fair warning."
One voice penetrated Karl's pleasurable haze of satiation: Vin's. "Fucking hell...?" Karl lifted his upper body to listen more closely. Vin did not scream and yell like that, unless... "Shit, shit, shit... Where are my clothes?" Levering off the bed, he looked around wildly.
"Something's wrong; very wrong," Karl kept muttering, hastily stepping into his trousers.
"Get dressed," he ordered absently. Vin had gone off like a raging bull only once before and it had taken half the troop to pull him off the soldier abusing a young Indian girl. Raking the tousled hair off his brow, Karl charged out the door, not waiting to see if Craig followed.
Word Count: ~9275
Next week, we find out how much is known about Eric's disappearance, and the household rallies to deal with the situation
Back to Chapter 81
You're lookin' good, just like a snake in the grass,
One of these days you're gonna break your glass.
Don't bring me down, no no no no no no no no,
I'll tell you once more before I get off the floor
Don't bring me down.
'Don't Bring Me Down' ELO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFZGXvGGcfw&fmt=18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXoLTvjrrss
It was early in the day for a client, but Craig was used to Major Heinz's schedule. He often stopped by Freeman's at an earlier hour than many of the customers because he had an hour or two free between military exercises and/or social obligations. When he spoke with Craig about some of the things he attended, like tonight's party, it was clear his bachelor status and army ranking put him in high standing to be invited to all sorts of soirees and functions, but he did not relish them.
Spending time with Craig (or more rarely, another Freeman's boy) seemed to relax him before such events, and Craig knew better than to speak of them by now. What became clear to him after the many times they had been together was that Karl was not interested in women in the least, and found them difficult to be around. This was not to say he was a misogynist, but he certainly had issues. Craig himself was equally at ease with men and women, and spent enough time in bed with each-or more correctly, with both together; one particular pair on a regular basis-to know women were not as scary as Karl believed, but he understood the fear well enough and didn't seek to convince him otherwise.
"Come in," Craig invited as he opened the door to the Amber room. "How much time do you have this afternoon, and are you going straight to Captain Lee's party from here? Should I help you in the shower after we're done?"
"Questions, questions," Karl grumbled good-naturedly, setting down the saddle bag that contained his dress uniform. "You might as well help me in the shower, because I'll damn-well need help with the collar afterwards." After shaking out and hanging the suit on a hook, Karl swiped his hand over the blue wool, smoothing out a wrinkle.
It had started to rain while Karl had ridden from the Presidio. "Order up some food, if you haven't already," he asked, shaking droplets from his hair.
"And have Wang-Zu arrange for a hack for half-seven if you would? Rain doesn't look like it will let up anytime soon and I'll have to leave my horse here overnight... and possibly stay over too..."
In the process of taking down his braces, Karl glanced up from under his lashes at Craig, a lusty smirk bringing out a dimple.
Craig couldn't help smirking back at Karl as he tugged the bell-pull. A thrill went through him at the thought of spending the night with Karl. No doubt he'd be happy enough to have someone warm the bed for him later, and that someone may as well be Craig. Liv might pout, but doubtless she'd find someone else to snuggle with, even if Marton chose another pair for his bed.
"Let me help you with that," he said, moving back over to Karl and slowly beginning to unbutton the man's shirt. "What would you like to eat? Finger food do you, or perhaps some fruit?" The smile spread as he remembered their last encounter involving food. He licked his lips lasciviously as he reached the last button.
The knock on the door came before he could touch the inviting flesh, and he winked at Karl as he went to answer it. Xiu-li looked a little flushed when Karl turned towards them, and the boy lowered his eyes discretely. It amused Craig that this boy seemed so shy when he'd seen so much already, but he knew from observation that Xiu-li was probably more interested in what he'd seen than his family would like, and wondered how long it would be before he disappeared and another cousin took his place.
"Can you ask Wang-zu to ensure there's a carriage waiting for Major Heinz at 7.30 tonight, please, Xiu-li, and can you bring up some finger foods and..." he gazed thoughtfully at Major Heinz, who had moved to sit in the heavy armchair and begun to remove his boots, "some fruit too please," he decided.
Xiu-li nodded and moved away as Craig shut the door, discretely peeking at the major's broad chest as he left.
"That boy has a thing for you," Craig smirked, kneeling at Karl's feet and gazing up from under his lashes. "If his relatives don't take him away soon, he'll end up on this side of the door one of these days."
The intensity of Craig's blue eyes hitting him straight in the groin, Karl snorted as he sat back in the chair. "Surely it's you he was watching," he scoffed with his customary bashfulness.
If the boy's inclinations leaned that way, it wouldn't be at Freeman's that he'd be working. Despite the full implication of the parlour house's name, Marton didn't have enough clout or city officials in his pocket to be able have Orientals in his stable. Discrimination was still too high, plus Marton wouldn't disrespect Wang-zu by luring a family member into prostitution.
"You don't have to stop there," Karl purred, pushing away his musings when Craig set aside his boots and gave him another lusty look.
Craig huffed, amused that Karl didn't see his own attractiveness, but he didn't contradict him.
"No?" Craig asked, eyes sparkling.
He reached for Karl's fly and delicately unbuttoned him, and then indicated Karl should lift up so he could slide his trousers off. Underneath he was naked and already aroused, obviously prepared for his session by not wearing his underwear. Craig slipped the pants down Karl's legs and off, folding them swiftly and placing them on a nearby table with the other clothing Karl had already removed. His eyes never left Karl's and his smile stayed inviting.
Shifting nearer, he let his hands run up and down Karl's thighs, and licked his lips lightly before asking, "What would you like first? I could pleasure you here on my knees before the food arrives, or I could take my clothes off and we could move to the bed...?"
The thought of Craig's plump lips wrapped around his cock sent more blood throbbing in the organ in question, as well as two spots of color blooming on Karl's cheeks. It was one thing to be safely ensconced beneath the bedding when a servant entered; having the two of them naked and aroused was another. Despite the freedom to safely indulge in his desires here, Karl's innate reserve and his years in the military repressing those same desires didn't make it easy to handle being walked in on during intimate moments with the aplomb others could.
"You can strip for me later," Karl answered in a husky purr, and then slid a fist around the base of his cock, "Feeding you this while we wait sounds like a pleasurable activity, yes?" There was a cloth nearby he could use to cover himself. Plus, as talented Craig was with his mouth, the small break would be most welcome.
Smiling cheekily, Craig nodded and then parted his lips, breathing lightly on the heated cock-head. Karl's hand held the length steady as Craig delicately extended his tongue and circled the glans, continuing to look upward from under his lashes.
Karl was a sight to behold when he was this aroused, his face pinking delightedly in embarrassment at the no-doubt wicked thoughts going through his mind and his eyes glowing with a fire few men possessed quite so strongly. Craig was sure it was the hazel shade of them, which sometimes made them green and sometimes brown, and wondered briefly if Ian felt the same way about Dr. Jack's similar-colored ones when heated in passion, before letting the thought go and concentrating back on the man he was pleasuring.
Karl gasped as the tongue-tip slid into his slit, tickling softly, before it circled the smooth head once again. He was quivering in delight, and Craig entertained the evil thought of continuing the tease for long enough that Xiu-li would return with the food and catch them. He wondered who would be more embarrassed should he go that far, but immediately decided against it, knowing neither of the two would trust him far again if he did such a thing.
Knowing Karl was already well-ready for this and that the servant would not be much longer, he stepped up his attentions. Besides, they could get in so much more in their allotted time if he allowed Karl this quick orgasm without too much fuss.
He shifted to gently encircle the whole of the cock-head and suckled and rocked as if he was enjoying a lollipop, eyes never leaving Karl's face, and hands firm against the major's hips.
The blue of Craig's eyes ensnared Karl until his entire focus was narrowed to their intensity and to the red lips doing such wicked things to his cock. He wanted to sink his fingers in Craig's glossy dark hair and make him pause, to hold off the orgasm he could feel growing ever-closer. He wanted the action to never stop until Craig drained him completely. Karl's breath came out in short pants, his muscles quivering with the need to thrust.
"Please..." Karl breathed at long last, not sure what he was pleading for.
Craig smiled around his mouthful, knowing exactly where he held Karl. Calculating swiftly that Xiu-li couldn't be far away with the food by now, he gave in to the breathy plea and shifted further over the hot cock, taking it as deeply down his throat as he could manage. He might not be Boone, but he knew he wasn't bad at this and he doubted Karl would know enough about the other whore's technique to complain.
Swallowing harshly, he pulled back sharply as Karl gasped and shuddered, too far gone to stop. Simultaneously, a knock sounded at the door. Craig didn't let up, and he continued to hold Karl's eyes as the man's come filled his mouth and he slowly swallowed it down. His tongue traced circles around sensitive flesh as he slowly drew off and smiled.
"Come in," he said without blinking, a grin spreading across his face as he flicked the nearby cloth across Karl's diminishing erection and rose gracefully to his feet. Xiu-li was wheeling in a trolley as he turned, concentrating more on the job he was doing than on semi-naked Major Heinz and the obvious task Craig had just performed.
Fucking hell... Karl melted into the chair after his explosive release. Eyelids closing and his hand still wrapped around his spent cock, he strove to recapture his breath. The blood still pounding in his ears, he dampened dry lips.
"Damn Craig, think you've slain me. Now how'm I s'posed to fuck you through...?" Expecting only to find Craig's smirking face (which he did, and Craig was), Karl blinked owlishly (or as owlishly as his sated body could manage) at the servant and the trolley of covered dishes.
Craig raised his eyebrows in amusement, glancing from Karl to the pretty and flushed face of Xiu-li. The Chinese servant was keeping his eyes on the trolley, but clearly from his manner, he'd seen enough to understand what had just happened, and Karl's words hadn't exactly denied it.
"Thank you Xiu-li," Craig said, putting a hand under the boy's chin and raising it to look into his dark eyes. What was swirling inside them was hard to read properly, but desire flickered for a moment and Craig felt a little guilty for his actions. "Tell Miss Marg that I said you deserve extra tonight. A half-dollar from my earnings will be added to your wages this week. I won't ask such things in future."
He let the boy go and watched him leave the room smiling, despite his obvious discomfit in witnessing such overt sexual relations between men. Fifty cents was very generous for a servant in these times; Craig would have to watch himself or he'd end up giving away all his earnings in no time flat.
Rounding the trolley so he was facing Karl, he couldn't help grinning again. "He's only fifteen from what I understand, and I doubt his family would be impressed if they knew how much he sees; though I've no doubt this isn't his first time of being so close to the action. Most of the male servants here have seen more erections than a building site, but the rest of them are rather inured to it by now, I suspect. I doubt Xiu-li would even be here yet if his mother hadn't died young. Wang-zu watches over him, but I don't know if he's realized the boy's inclinations.
"I shouldn't tease either of you so, should I? And you don't need to know so much about Xiu-li. Perhaps I should just shut up and feed you, hmm?"
He lifted the lid of one of the plates and offered Karl a lusty look as he picked up a canapé and sauntered back to sit on the arm of Karl's chair. Holding the tidbit inches from Karl's mouth, he let his other hand rest on the major's broad shoulder. It was odd to remain dressed while the client wore nothing but a rag, but Craig was enjoying the power of the moment, even though it wouldn't last. The prospect didn't particularly worry him. His cock pulsed at the thought of how Karl would get his revenge once the man recovered sufficiently.
"Perhaps you should," Karl took the offering gently enough, then grabbed Craig's wrist to suckle each finger in turn. Tongue swirling lazily in search of every last crumb, Karl's eyes met Craig's to gauge his reactions.
"But I also feel at a disadvantage here. Perhaps you should strip for me now... and see what develops?" Eyes heavy-lidded over the lust and devilishness lingering there, Karl licked across Craig's palm before releasing his wrist. If Craig wanted to play naughty power games, Karl was up for it. Or would be soon, he smirked in remembrance of his orgasm.
The sucking just made Craig's cock dance all the more-or as much as possible inside his confining pants-and he was as eager as Karl to get his clothes off in the end. The last lick made his knees buckle, but somehow Craig managed to rise to his feet. It didn't take much to shuck off the light shirt and soft trousers, and of course he wore nothing underneath them, so his lean but well-shaped body was very soon exposed to his client.
Stepping backwards lightly, he kept up the cheeky grin and sprawled back against the pile of pillows on the bed. The rich yellow and gold tones of the Amber room made it seem warmer than it actually was, or perhaps that was the heat emanating from Karl's smoldering eyes?
Unashamedly, Craig wrapped the damp hand that Karl had licked around his own cock and began stroking it slowly. "Did you want to eat?" he asked without his breath even hitching. "Help yourself." He knew Karl liked his food, but he'd be just as tempted by the feast of flesh, if Craig was any judge. Besides, they could always eat the food afterwards.
Eyes reflecting his lust, Karl surged from the chair and was across the room before Craig could take another stroke.
"Don't mind if I do," he purred, covering Craig's body with his own. Rocking his hips into Craig's, Karl leaned in for a deep kiss.
Craig's hand was pushed away as Karl landed on top of him, but it didn't matter when he was kissed like that. It was wet and deep and bone-melting, and tasted vaguely of the canapé they'd just shared. Craig returned it eagerly, his hands naturally curving around the man's neck as he held him near.
When Karl finally drew back, both of them were panting, and Craig was fairly sure there wasn't going to be any problem with him getting fucked through the mattress tonight. Karl rarely disappointed, and the need in Craig rose at the thought. He shifted under Karl and murmured, "Food can wait, eh?"
"Mm hmm," Karl purred with a wicked gleam in his eyes, "A feast of a different kind might satisfy my hunger... for now." His head dipped back down to suckle briefly on the soft skin of Craig's neck. Leisurely, he explored Craig's collar bones, throat, shoulders, letting Craig's moans egg him on. He'd been seeing Craig long enough to know the reactions weren't feigned. Pleasuring Craig was nearly as good as the wicked things Craig did to him. Over the years they'd reached a level of comfort with each other without messy emotional ties to muck things up, like the memories that kept trying to surface during the illicit session with Eric and sweet Orli.
Pausing after bringing one of Craig's nipples up to a taut peak, Karl grinned up at glazed blue eyes. "That was tasty, but maybe I should stop and eat some real food?" The dimples in Karl's cheeks flashed alternately as he tried to keep from smirking.
Craig couldn't help the whine that escaped, but he clamped his mouth shut and took a breath, smiling. "Whatever you want," he managed, voice low and vibrating with need.
His cock was pulsing, he was so turned on. Karl had been one of Craig's regulars for some time now, and Craig could read him pretty well. The man enjoyed giving as much as receiving, and since he'd already come once, he'd probably be happy to give Craig his turn before they went for the food.
Craig stroked the soft, dark hair, still smiling. He was determined not to be the one to give in and demand more, though he knew Karl would never complain to Marton if he did. Some men were most insistent on their own pleasure all the way, and once or twice he'd had to answer for being too cheeky. He doubted Karl would actually stop now, but it was a possibility, and no matter what, in this business the customer was always right, as those times had reminded him.
Craig was very fond of Karl, but he wasn't so stupid as to suppose the major felt much more for him than a vague 'like' because of their easy familiarity and long-standing 'business' dealings. The sex was always good though, and that more than made up for the other crappy clients Craig sometimes had to put up with.
Besides, he wasn't about to fall into the same foolishness that most of the other boys were bound up in: Greg was in love with Officer Stokes, Ian was hooked on Dr. Jack, Naveen couldn't get enough of Sawyer, and Orli was obviously totally smitten with Sean. Only Warrick seemed to be keeping his head in amongst all the craziness, no matter how much most of the others tried to deny what was obvious!
The bitten off whine enough of a concession, Karl took pity on Craig. Of course, that didn't mean he was done with teasing.
"Okay," Karl levered upwards and shuffled back from Craig's upper body. "Can I get you anything? Or, just help myself to... this?" His head dipped now that he was hovering over Craig's full and throbbing cock to lick up from root to tip.
"Fuck! You bastard!" Craig gasped, at first stunned and then stimulated by Karl's actions. He hadn't even been able to think enough to hold back the insult which under normal circumstances he'd never even consider calling a client.
"Uh, please, please..." he muttered, blushing at his indelicate words, and lifting his hips towards Karl's retreating mouth. "If you don't follow through right now, I swear..." he trailed off, desperate for the damp touch to return.
Laughing, Karl raised and spread Craig's knees so he could settle between. "That's better; don't hold back Sweetcheeks," he chuckled, waggling his eyebrows at Craig. "Tell me what you really think while I sample my fill here. Then we'll see how ready I am to fill you here." His fist circling the base of Craig's cock, Karl rubbed the pad of his thumb over the tight pucker further down.
"Oh, Jesus..." Craig breathed at the touch, trembling all over. "Please suck my cock. Please!"
There wasn't any more holding out to be done. He needed Karl now, and if that meant begging, he'd do it. He sent up a silent prayer as the sexy man between his legs moved closer. Thank God for clients like Karl!
Yes, having fun with sex was definitely better than sexual encounters fraught with emotional baggage no man was equipped to handle. Determined to get even more reactions, Karl blew across Craig's damp cock, much like Craig had done to him. The heated glare from brilliant blue eyes was a very sexy sight, so Karl licked another stripe and blew again. He relented at long last, not wanting to torture Craig too much.
There was a sweetness to Craig's taste that Karl always enjoyed. It was more than always being scrupulously clean; it was something unique to Craig himself. Mouthing just the tip, Karl met Craig's eyes before he slid his lips further down, suckling the entire length, finally giving Craig what he'd pleaded for.
Christ! The teasing was almost too much, and Craig was breathing shallowly when Karl finally engulfed his whole shaft, causing him to gasp and just about choke.
"Fuck..." he groaned when he could finally get something out. "Oh, mother of Christ on a donkey."
The action was as good as Karl always made it, and Craig watched him move, his pleasure building incredibly fast as full red lips surrounded him and lust-blown hazel eyes watched him.
"Shh...oh God, Karl, I'm gonna..."
With Craig so close and delightfully vocal about it, Karl's only acknowledgement was to hum around his mouthful. He plied his tongue in a way that usually proved quite effective, while tracing his thumbnail over Craig's tight pucker.
And the thumb at his rear entrance was the final straw. "Jesus..." Craig continued his blasphemy as his orgasm finally hit, his hips jerking upward, deeper into Karl's incredible mouth.
Craig's fists caught at Karl's hair as he shuddered through the last of his aftershocks. "Oh... my God, Karl, that was wicked," he gasped, finally pushing the man away from his rapidly dwindling cock. "You have no idea how much money you'd make if you charged for that."
Relaxing back onto the bed behind him, Craig flung an arm over his eyes and took several deep breaths as he tried to come back to earth.
Chuckling, Karl moved to sit back on his haunches. Like a cat with the last of the cream he licked a drop of Craig's come from his lips. "You think?" he asked, a leer firmly in place, "Might be nice to pad my army pay, instead of 'donating' a chunk of my wages to Freeman's," he joked, and then rolled gracefully from the bed to pour a drink of water.
"Seeing you laid out in all your sated glory and knowing I was the cause is quite pleasing... and hunger inducing," Karl couldn't resist adding at the end. He pushed the trolley toward the bed and nudged Craig's hip. "Shove over and we can have ourselves a little reviving snack, yeah?"
Craig removed the arm over his face and grinned, then shifted to sit upright next to the major. "Mmm, food sounds like a good idea; then we can aim for round two, eh?"
This had to be one of the odder days, Warrick thought, stepping from the shower. Vin apparently drugged by Eric and the new client Sawyer sponsored so those two could slip off by themselves.
Something was up with Orli as well. Nothing as severe as also being drugged, just... secretive and sexy, was the best way Warrick could explain it. He'd squirm on his seat during breakfast then pause with the most peculiar expression: surprise mixed with something downright naughty. All Warrick could get out of him was giggles and whispers that he might find out later.
Then Warrick had been called to Miss Marg's sitting room. Somehow, without really knowing how, she'd talked him into assisting with one of her clients since Vin was (supposedly) sleeping off the laudanum. Warrick shook his head as he wrapped a towel loosely around his hips. One minute he was sipping tea from a delicate cup, the next, seemingly, he was in the Diamond room, oiled head to foot and clad in a pair of chaps only, with his cock buried deep in the client's throat while Miss Marg fucked the man with some phallic device strapped to her loins. 'C'mon, you'll love it. It will be one of the most intense orgasms in your life.' Warrick could still hear the fiery redhead purr.
Women in general did not stir his desire, but, Mon Dieu, the woman was a force to reckon with. More than the mind-blowing suckling, it was the amused and lusty gleam in her eyes as she whispered demeaning and derogatory things into the client's ear while never looking away from Warrick's face. The form-fitted leather outfit she wore left little to the imagination, the bodice barely containing her full breasts until Warrick was itching to pull the material away and fill his hands-and mouth-with the creamy globes.
Once he was dressed in another hand-me-down of silk trousers topped by an embroidered moss green tunic from Marton, Warrick wandered downstairs. The kitchen was a madhouse, servants and loitering whores chattering about the still missing Eric, and now Vin was gone too. The way Cook was waving around her ladle in emphasis of her points that the ex-New Yorker was good for nothing, Warrick thought better of sticking around for a bowl of soup. Grabbing an apple, he beat a hasty retreat to the parlours. Marton and Naveen were having a quiet conversation in the second parlour and Warrick felt his cheeks heat in memory of the time spent with the pair. He scurried past with eyes lowered, although he doubted either man noticed his presence.
The front parlour was empty; neither Billy nor Dom at their stations. Sitting on the piano stool, Warrick thought he heard noises of some sort from behind the bar when he crunched into his apple. Perhaps it was Billy hunkered down stocking his shelves. Warrick shrugged, not particularly concerned as he spun to the piano to play a few notes one-handedly.
Sawyer was of two minds about heading to Freeman's after what he'd done the night before, but it was raining something fierce and Freeman's was a lot closer to his boarding house than any of his other haunts. Besides, he couldn't stay in his room with his mind circling as it was. And, he thought grimly, it would be interesting to see Naveen's reactions to him after he disappeared with Kate at the end of last night's card-playing.
She'd cheered him up more than a woman could usually manage, and he'd felt a kind of triumph as he ascended the staircase with her knowing that Naveen had observed his indiscretion, along with several other staff members who had looked almost agog at the sight of him heading towards a room with a woman. He'd felt Naveen's simmering anger all the way across the parlours, and been pleased, but highly disturbed as well. Although he wasn't sure he was up to dealing with Naveen up close just yet, he could still play cards tonight, and perhaps feel out his Dom's disapproval from across the (hopefully) crowded room.
Turning up the collar of his overcoat against the rain, Sawyer jammed his hat on hard and climbed the last hill to the Gentlemen's Club, his heart fluttering in anticipation of Naveen's cool stare.
Within minutes he was at the door and Wang-zu was politely helping him off with the coat and hanging it and his hat somewhere safe to dry. Smiling broadly at the Chinaman, he nodded his thanks and stepped into the parlours.
True, it was a little early for some, but Sawyer hadn't expected the place to be so empty. The rain must have put some clients off, which was a pity; there might not even be a decent game tonight. Letting his eyes roam the rooms as he fished a cheroot from his pocket, his heart stuttered a little harder when he caught sight of Naveen conversing quietly with Marton in a dim corner. Neither paid him the least attention, but he was sure Naveen had seen him.
Swallowing harshly, he turned to the bar, but Billy wasn't in sight and there were no other servants close by to ask for a drink. He hesitated for a moment to light up his smoke, and puffed lightly as a tinkle of something rang lightly in the air. Sawyer was sure it had come from the direction of the bar, but more similar-although deeper-sounds drew his attention towards the piano.
Warrick was tinkering with the keys with one hand as if bored, an apple held loosely in the other. While Sawyer watched, he took a bite from the crisp apple and Sawyer felt a rush of desire hit his loins. Warrick hadn't noticed him yet either and he went back to the one-handed piano-playing as he chewed his mouthful, a vaguely familiar tune assaulting Sawyer's eardrums and sending a wash of memory over him. The reminder of a scene from long ago overlaid his desire and for a moment he could swear it was Matt he saw there, rather than the dusky mulatto he had helped save from Pence's bath-house.
Almost without thought, his feet steered him towards the piano, and Sawyer only came to the realization of what he was doing and who was playing as he stopped next to Warrick. Blinking several times, he raised a hand to his mouth and cleared his throat quietly, his heart thudding painfully inside his chest and his cock already half-hard in his breeches.
"You play?" he asked foolishly, knowing full well the man had to or the tune would not have been so familiar. It was not at it's full worth since Warrick only played part of it, but as Sawyer was aware exactly how difficult a piece it was even two-handed, he knew the man had more than a little skill. Besides, Warrick had admitted his musical ability the night of the party when they'd met in the hallway and gone upstairs to 'dance'.
Fingers stilling on the keys, Warrick looked up when Sawyer spoke. "A little, when given the opportunity," he answered self-deprecatingly. "Have a seat," he offered with a smile, sliding over to make room. The conman-easy smiles and carefree attitude were missing in Sawyer as he stood almost nervously above Warrick. It was as if his suave and debonair mantle had slipped off a little.
"C'mon, you can help me, while I have this to contend with," Warrick's smile softened as he indicated the apple.
Sawyer blinked uncomfortably when offered a seat and shook his head slightly. "I don't play. Besides, I have this." He waved his cheroot as his heart bounced uncomfortably inside his chest, and risked a glance in Naveen's direction. The man was still deeply engrossed in his conversation with Marton, and Sawyer shifted where he stood, running a hand through his hair and smiling at Warrick again.
"I'll just sit over here," he decided, picking up a spare chair from the nearest seating area and placing it halfway between the piano stool and the table it came from. Much as he liked Warrick, he had closed in on the piano without thought, and the reality of being in his Dom's sight while so distracted didn't incline him towards intimacy with someone as confusing as Warrick.
Trying not to think on why he found the man so alluring in more than just his usual 'admiring a good-looking man' style, he smoked some more before offering, "I'll just wait till your hands are free. I... Perhaps you could play something else? Something that needs less... concentration while you only have one hand available?"
He smiled at Warrick again, but once more his eyes couldn't help the flicker towards where Naveen sat, the guilt eating at Sawyer's heart. Naveen looked cool and unconcerned, but the impact of Sawyer leaving with Kate last night must surely have disturbed him? Sawyer wasn't even sure why he'd done it now, and suddenly he regretted it, wishing he'd simply stormed out the door after losing at the game, rather than risk the wrath of Naveen... or his indifference; whichever it was. If only he wasn't so hard to read...
"No, that's alright," Warrick said affably, turning around on the stool. He didn't miss the glance into the other parlour where Marton and Naveen still sat with heads together. Although he'd not seen the two men together around the house to understand their dynamic-or how they interacted with each other-Warrick had heard enough rumors about Naveen's and Sawyer's contentious relationship to realize his roommate was the cause of Sawyer's current odd behavior.
"I'll join you over there and we can catch up a little, oui?" Warrick stood after taking and chewing another bite, then nodded his head toward the bar, "Can I get you something to drink? Something to warm you from the inside," Warrick took in the damp ends of Sawyer's hair from the rain.
Sawyer nodded uncomfortably as Warrick stood, and shifted the chair back from whence it came, sitting down at the table so he could still see Naveen without being too obvious. "A drink would be good. The weather's kinda bone-chilling. Whiskey, please." A drink might also take the edge off Sawyer's nerves.
While he waited for Warrick to oblige with the liquor, he studiously tried not to look in Naveen's direction; a very difficult proposition. The easiest solution was to watch Warrick's attractive ass as he strode purposefully towards the bar. The silk pants he wore emphasized the deliciousness of its shape and Sawyer found his cock twitching again, despite how easily it had drooped before while thinking about Naveen's mood. Perhaps he should just take the man upstairs and let Warrick fuck him blind. It might serve to take his mind off the confusion he had no need of; at least for a while.
As he cooled his heels, smoked and admired Warrick's movements, his eye was drawn by someone descending the stairs. Kate and Claire, arm in arm and whispering, trod lightly as they came down, dressed to the nines in the kind of finery that Sawyer could little appreciate aside from sartorially. Kate flicked a smile in his direction and then whispered something in Claire's ear. Claire laughed and allowed her eyes to rest on him for a moment too before turning to answer her friend.
Sawyer scowled as the two girls continued downwards, and then made their way to a booth out of his sight. Damn the bitch! No doubt she was filling the other girl's head with tales of Sawyer's bedroom abilities with women. He'd given her the 'twirl' he'd promised; what more did she want? She had to know after last night--if she hadn't realized it before--that Sawyer had no real interest in her. He'd made it clear enough, despite what he'd done. It was bad enough that half the house gossiped about him and Naveen without her spreading tales of his shortcomings.
When Warrick reached the bar, Billy popped up from behind it. He had a few glasses in hand, and was trying his best to look as if he had merely been working back there. But his flushed cheeks, mussed hair, and disheveled clothes told a completely other story.
As did Dom, who was doing his best to crawl, unnoticed, back to his table.
"Get you your usual, then?" A glance was sent in Sawyer's direction, and Billy made a little 'hmm' noise. "And something for your friend, as well?"
Without waiting for an answer, Billy reached for Sawyer's preferred brand. As he began to fill one of the glasses, he looked up through his lashes to Warrick. "So tell me, what's the latest word? One bouncer missing, one drugged, the owners acting very serious... People are beginning to talk. If we don't hear something definite soon, who knows what conclusions the masses will jump to?"
Warrick's eyes widened when Billy popped out of nowhere. Then, he took in the barman's heighten color, wisps of hair standing on end, the miss-buttoned shirt with collar askew. Eyes now dancing with merriment, he flicked a glance toward Sawyer to check if he'd seen, and also to hide his losing efforts to keep from grinning.
While turning his head, Warrick caught Dom slink out from the other end of the bar. If anything, the dealer was in worse shape. Dom's spiky hair was a mass of tangles, his prominent ears redder than his cheeks, and a bit of his shirttail was poking through his trouser fly.
"Yes, thank you," Warrick answered at long last, covering a guffaw with a cough. "I'm sure Mr. Eric will show up for work soon, and Mr. Vin too," he replied as formally as possible so he wouldn't laugh.
Sawyer, attention drawn back to the bar at the sound of voices, narrowed his eyes when Warrick turned to grin at him, wondering how Billy was suddenly there again. Then he caught sight of Dom the dealer trying to disappear from behind the bar without being seen. He was a mess, and one glance back to Billy's ruffled appearance explained both that and Warrick's amusement.
Glad of the distraction, Sawyer didn't even bother to hide his laugh as his sparkling green eyes met Warrick's briefly before the man turned back to Billy. There was always something going on here, and the fooling around that the two staff members were trying to hide from their boss over in the other parlour could well be useful at shutting them up from gossiping more about Sawyer, he decided.
As Warrick approached with drinks in hand, Sawyer let his smile grow appreciative around his smoke as he felt relaxed for the first time tonight. Warrick slipped gracefully into a seat opposite him and slid the glass across the table to him.
"Cheers," Sawyer toasted, holding his glass up to clink lightly against Warrick's. "What do those two think they're doing? They ain't fooling anyone. And what's that about Vin and Eric I heard you saying?" Sawyer hadn't really caught the words properly, but he'd heard the names mentioned across the distance and wondered what trouble they were in. The gossip was a useful way to avoid his own problems for now.
"Saluté." Smiling over the top of his glass, Warrick took a sip. He could kiss Billy and Dom for providing just the right comedic distraction. The relaxed smile wreathing Sawyer's face was so much better than the fidgety nervousness. Warrick stretched his legs out and let his eyes travel over Sawyer's frame. There still was some tension-the cause most likely in the other parlour-but Sawyer's eyes had their familiar devilish-lusty gleam.
"Apparently the bouncers had some after-hours shenanigans," Warrick shrugged lightly. "Mr. Eric hasn't shown up yet, and now, possibly, Vin has gone after him. Must not want to work the night alone," he added with a teasing wink.
Sawyer didn't know what to make of that; neither man seemed exactly like the type to run off, especially not after each other, as from what he'd seen, they weren't even that fond of each other. He huffed out more smoky air, supposing the common theory was probably that they liked each other more than they showed, which seemed pretty dumb to him.
"So where they think he's gone? Someone must have theories?"
Normally Sawyer wouldn't be bothered about Eric much - the man seemed okay, but strangely, Sawyer didn't find him as compelling as his 'carrot' had done the night of the party. He was fond of Vin in a way though; besides, anything that kept his mind off Naveen right now was a good subject.
Reminding himself again that the man Eric supposedly was off with was sponsored by Sawyer, Warrick hedged, "You do know the household, oui?" He eyes twinkled teasingly as he glanced at Sawyer. "Rumor has it they entertained a friend, then Mr. Eric escorted the friend home-and stayed over-after they... uh... wore out Mr. Vin."
As he spoke, from the corner of his eye, Warrick noticed Viggo enter the other parlour to speak briefly with Marton. It was good to see Viggo out and braving the public rooms, even if he was more disheveled than normal. Rather agitated too, Warrick thought with a small sigh as Viggo raked his damp hair off his brow and then went up the main stairs two at a time.
Oh boy did Sawyer know the house, and the rumor mill that ran through it. He grinned at the words, and then couldn't resist asking, "Who were they entertaining? Anyone I'd know?"
He quirked an eyebrow, wondering, as he was distracted by Viggo briefly stopping at the table with Naveen and Marton. Chewing idly on his lip as he half-paid attention to Warrick, he wondered what the racer was so wound up about, but let it go to look back at Warrick. Viggo wasn't one of Naveen's clients, so at least Sawyer didn't need to be concerned that it involved his Dom.
No, Warrick shook his head internally; he was not going to give in to the suave smile Sawyer turned his way. "Is unimportant," he answered coolly enough.
"Dom has been shuffling his cards for a while, and is wearing quite the pout that he has no players." Warrick nodded to the card table. "Care to wager on a hand or two?" he offered as a distraction, sipping again at his drink.
Sawyer wrinkled his brows, downing a little whiskey as Warrick replied, but said nothing. There were few people who frequented Freeman's that Sawyer didn't know, at least by sight if nothing else. But it wasn't his business if Warrick felt the need to keep the bouncers' secrets.
Nodding as he lowered the glass and stubbed out the remainder of his cheroot, Sawyer said, "A wager or two sounds like a mighty fine idea. You'll stay with me for now?"
Looking around, Sawyer couldn't see anyone else who'd be willing to play. It was still quiet, although out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Jack and the boy-bitch descending the stairs arm-in-arm. Frowning at the sight, he stood up, determined not to let his old flame bother him tonight. He had enough in mind worrying about Naveen without Jack's increased interest in Boone of late making him angry.
Taking a deep breath, he smiled once more at Warrick and held out a hand to indicate the mulatto should precede him to the dealer's table. Even if Warrick wasn't going to actually play, his company would help keep Sawyer's mood light.
Leaving Sawyer the seat the gambler normally took, Warrick took an adjacent chair at the gaming table. Winking at Sawyer when Dom blushed, Warrick then called for Billy to refill their glasses.
"It's such a quiet and rainy night, why don't you pour yourself and Dom something and join us?" Warrick proposed magnanimously, thinking this distraction from the norm would be good, since nothing was happening.
Billy's eyes widened slightly at Warrick's invitation as he refilled the glasses. From what he'd seen of the mulatto, he was plenty friendly, but it hadn't extended his way so far. The barman looked up from under his lashes at Dom, gauging his reaction, which was a pleading look sent in Billy's direction.
The barman sighed, and nodded. "Aye, alright; just let me see to the doctor first." He hadn't missed Boone descend the stairs with Doc Jack on his arm. It was no real secret that the doctor had been spending his nights at Freeman's, but he hadn't been there the night before. It was less than an hour before when he'd stumbled in, looking tired and if it was possible, worse for the wear. In the fifteen minutes before Boone had come to collect him, he'd drunk more than Billy had ever seen the man consume at once.
They'd only been upstairs for twenty minutes, but as they came down, Jack's face was sweaty and flushed, and Boone's dress looked rumpled (and why Boone had recently taken to wearing full dresses all the time, Billy wasn't sure). Jack looked as rumpled as he always did. If Billy had to guess, he'd say that it was likely that either they hadn't gone all the way, or that clothing hadn't been removed.
But now the Doc would be expecting more whiskey, and until Billy provided it he couldn't sit down. A quick detour to the bar had Billy grabbing another bottle of whiskey and four glasses. Without saying a word, he dropped off the bottle and two of the glasses at the table Doctor Jack and Boone had sat themselves at.
Back at Dom's table, Billy quickly filled the remaining glasses, and pushed one across the green felt. As he lowered himself to his seat, he grinned conspiratorially at Warrick and Sawyer. "You both do know I have the dealer on my side, yeah?"
The look shared between Billy and Dom had both men giggling madly.
Sawyer smiled indulgently, his dimples on full. "If the dealer don't play fair, he knows what'll happen." He glanced from Billy to Dom, and back again, one hand on Warrick's thigh under the table. "His best entertainment won't stick around for long. His best card-playing entertainment, that is."
Winking at Dom, he squeezed Warrick's thigh once before letting it go and reaching inside his jacket for another cheroot. Lighting up and puffing on the smoke, his smile never faltered. This was promising to be a better night than he'd expected.
A small purr was Warrick's initial reaction to the warm hand on his thigh. He laughed with the others and let his knee bump Sawyer's. Cheeky bugger, as Orli would say. Sawyer's sneaky tactics weren't going to distract him from the game. He'd never profess to be as good as the sexy professional gambler flashing his dimples to the table at large, but Warrick had been known to play many a game of chance in his younger days.
Waiting until Sawyer took a drink, Warrick tossed two cards on the table and dropped his hand down and squeezed Sawyer's thigh.... much higher up and with nothing more than the most innocent look on his face as he motioned to Dom for two new cards.
When Viggo came down the stairs, Wind in the Grass was right behind him. His face was hard, and his eyes serious. When they got to the bottom of the stairs, Viggo turned to face his companion and spoke quietly but firmly in Lakhota. Wind responded in kind, with a short nod.
Crossing the room quickly, Viggo stopped at the table Marton and Naveen still sat at. The day had started out so simply. He had gone to the stables, hoping to get in a ride before his dinner with White Wing. But when he had arrived, the unrest of the horses (not to mention the disarray) had awoken his skills as a tracker. He had found where a man had fallen (and not in a fun way), and where he had been moved. Outside there had been signs of a cart, carrying something heavy.
After informing the owner of what he'd seen, he'd gone up to get Wind in the Grass. It wasn't that Viggo doubted what he saw, but he knew that if what he saw was true, he was going to need all the help (and back-up) he could get. Though, as soon as he had explained things, Wind had confirmed his worst fears.
"Wind in the Grass told me that this morning he saw a man in black put a body into a coffin. He saw this just outside of the stables."
Viggo wasn't an idiot, no matter how scatter-brained he could be. He had heard that the missing parties were Eric and Hugh. And, well, whether Eric was dead or alive... if Hugh had left in the small hours of the morning, there was a chance that the man was already on a boat back to his native Australia. Fuck. If so, they might never find them.
"A body?" Marton surged to his feet. This was so much more than a simple case of shenanigans getting slightly out of hand that the household gossips had been having a field day over.
"Are you implying Jackman put Eric in a coffin?" Marton leaned menacingly toward Wind in the Grass who didn't flinch, meeting Marton's shock stoically.
"Does he even know what a coffin is?" Marton rounded on Viggo; only the calming hand Naveen placed on his forearm kept him from getting in Viggo's face. "He cannot mean Eric is dead!" Marton hissed.
A loud growl turned their attention to the entry where Vin filled the doorway to the front parlour.
Coatless and suit soaked through to the skin, Vin stared wild-eyed at Marton and the others before turning toward the card table in the parlour before him.
"You! You fucking bastard! You brought this down on us!" Guilt and pain for his own part in Hugh's treachery roughened Vin's voice to a deep rumble as he rushed at Sawyer.
"Fuck!" Sawyer let out, dropping his half-smoked cheroot in a nearby ashtray and standing up as Vin headed directly towards him. His chair fell over behind him, forgotten, as he sidestepped to get away from the table, a deep scowl on his face. He held up a hand. "What on earth's got your dander up, soldier? I didn't do anything!"
A new wave of guilt and terror for Eric washed over Vin as the words from the landlord at Hugh's boarding house resonated (as they had the entire trip back from North Beach) in his head and fed the anger heating his blood.
"Did you know anything about him other than he was a great lay? Or based on the size of his 'carrot' alone did you invite him into our midst?" Flinging his arm out to encompass the household, Vin ignored his complicity by thinking with his cock where Hugh was concerned.
"What the fuck?" Sawyer's scowl deepened as he tried to puzzle out what in hell Vin was talking about. He hadn't heard the exchanges going on in the other parlour, where he could see Marton, Naveen, Viggo and some Indian-Sawyer did a double-take for a moment; not having seen the Indian before, he couldn't quite grasp why he was there-then his attention snapped back to the snarling mass of muscle in front of him.
Carrot?
He could only mean Hugh. What the fuck had happened? His eyes strayed to Naveen again momentarily, but that didn't give him any clues. None of this made any sense.
Shaking his head and focusing back on Vin, Sawyer said, "You wanna tell me what the fuck is going on?"
Viggo took a step towards Vin, not wanting to get too close until he could get a better judge on how to handle the situation. He'd seen how Vin reacted to someone close being hurt before... but this for some reason seemed worse. "Vin, love... leave Sawyer. We have to get going; no matter what Wind saw, Eric might not be dead!"
Also standing when Vin had charged forward, Warrick stared wide-eyed at the enraged man. He, like Sawyer, had no idea what had the large bouncer so wound up other than it had something to do with Mr. Jackman. Sawyer was holding his own, for now, so all Warrick did was subtly shift his body between the two men and Billy and Dom who sat in stunned silence at the table.
Unaware of anything beyond the bastard before him, Vin stepped in closer to Sawyer. "Thinking with the head between your legs and only about your own gratification, or the fucking head games you play, that's what you've done. You brought that bastard here and now he has cleared out; gone back home after whatever the fuck he's done with Eric!"
"Mark Vincent! That is enough!" Marton called from the other room, he and the others with him taking a couple steps forward. "Let Viggo and Wind in the Grass investigate before we go off half-cocked."
The order was ignored and before anyone could react, as soon as Sawyer's sneer turned into a glare and a growl emitted from the gambler's throat, Vin's fist connected with Sawyer's jutting chin with a loud crack that reverberated through both parlours.
The fist had been the last thing Sawyer expected, though Vin was clearly tensing for a fight of some kind.
It was also the last thing he saw as consciousness left him and he floated into darkness.
The noises in the hallway were getting louder as Craig's pounding heart was slowly getting quieter.
The second bout of fucking had gone exactly how he'd wanted it, with Karl's large cock firmly up his ass as he rode the major's lap like a fine stallion. Karl had just the right touch, and his heated breath against Craig's neck and that last bite as he hit his peak... Oh yes!
They'd both collapsed face down on the bed afterward, Karl half on top of him, as they panted and gasped for breath.
There was definitely something odd happening outside though; something unusual even for this place. Anguished voices yelling obscenities and insults, and then the loud sounds of people clomping on the stairs...
"What on earth?" Craig puzzled, lifting his head, and reaching a hand back to stroke Karl's hip to get his attention. "Something's up. Maybe I should..." he mused, biting at his lip as he waited for Karl to move off him. Even though he was worried about what he was hearing, he wouldn't be rude to a paying customer.
"Unless it is a surprise raid, is not our concern," Karl mumbled sleepily.
He arched into Craig's touch and nuzzled under the damp hair at his nape. "An' we both know Stokes wouldn't risk his Greg and the rest of you," Karl licked over the mark he'd made on Craig's neck, "by allowing a raid without fair warning."
One voice penetrated Karl's pleasurable haze of satiation: Vin's. "Fucking hell...?" Karl lifted his upper body to listen more closely. Vin did not scream and yell like that, unless... "Shit, shit, shit... Where are my clothes?" Levering off the bed, he looked around wildly.
"Something's wrong; very wrong," Karl kept muttering, hastily stepping into his trousers.
"Get dressed," he ordered absently. Vin had gone off like a raging bull only once before and it had taken half the troop to pull him off the soldier abusing a young Indian girl. Raking the tousled hair off his brow, Karl charged out the door, not waiting to see if Craig followed.
Word Count: ~9275
Next week, we find out how much is known about Eric's disappearance, and the household rallies to deal with the situation