REGRETS PART 2 - RECONCILIATION
Title: Regrets Part 2 - Reconciliation
Author: True River
Book: The Charioteer
Pairing: Ralph/Laurie
Rating: Adult
Disclaimer: I don’t own these characters and make no profit from them.
Notes: Not wanting to leave Laurie in agony any longer, here is Part 2 of Regrets
REGRETS PART 2 - RECONCILIATION
Laurie opened the door. Alec stood there, framed in the fading light of the late winter afternoon.
“Ralph’s not here, but you know that.”
“Yes, it was you I came to see, actually.”
Alec’s brief smile disappeared and he had a pinched look. Laurie was aware his own expression was one of blank hostility.
“Why?”
“You’re not making this easy, Laurie.”
“Sorry,” Laurie said grudgingly and stood back to let Alec in. It was cold outside and perhaps Alec had finished work and was tired. “Come in, I was just making a pot of tea.”
Laurie led Alec through the darkening hallway and into the kitchen. He made himself busy with the tea, realising then how starved of company he had been lately, and how cheerless the house had become.
Alec scraped back the kitchen chair and made himself comfortable, as he had a knack of doing anywhere. He smiled charmingly.
“How are you, Laurie?”
He tapped his cigarette on the table, then lit up, watching Laurie pour the boiling water into the pot.
“How do you think?”
“There’s no need to be so defensive,” Alec responded, adding lightly, “Ralph rang last night and asked me to look in on you.”
“Last night?” Tea overflowed into the saucer and Laurie hurriedly set the pot down, burning himself slightly. He had had no word from Ralph since his departure.
“Yes, he, er, said things were rather disorganised when he left. He doesn’t talk, you know that. Anyway, thanks.” Alec accepted his tea and their eyes met briefly.
“As it happens it’s a little more than that… this time.” Laurie breathed out in the relief of having told somebody at last, albeit unwillingly.
“Oh come, Laurie. Why don’t you put it all aside? To use a rather well-worn phrase, there is a war on, you know.”
“Oh you!” Laurie was exasperated, and then suddenly angry, his voice shrill. “It all blew up because of you and that stupid party. Inviting that RAF officer when you knew he and Ralph…”
Alec looked at him sharply.
“Robert? Robert!” A smile creased the corners of his mouth.
Why did Alec make him feel that he and Ralph belonged to a private club? Hurt pride burned, but it was too late for all that now, and after all, he had said it. Alec sat back and frankly appraised Laurie.
“My dear Laurie. Forgive me for saying so, but you really can be most incredibly dull-witted at times. You thought Ralph was off honeymooning while he was away, I suppose.”
It was a statement. Laurie demanded sullenly, bracing himself.
“Well?”
“How is it that you don’t know, you silly boy? It’s obvious from the moment you both walk into a room. Nobody could ever love anyone more than Ralph loves you.”
***
Laurie thought about Alec’s words as he pulled back the covers and climbed into bed some hours later. He placed a hand on Ralph’s pillow and smoothed it down. How comforting it was, and more than that, to have Ralph beside him, and how very cold and empty to be without him now.
All these past nights he had been forcing down arousal, the memory of Ralph’s touch, his lean, warm body, from the breathless anticipation to the sated and panting aftermath. How good it was to roll over into Ralph’s arm, deep in the night, and hear the steady rhythm of his breathing. Ralph was always accepting and loving, however tired, however difficult and undeserving he himself had been.
He began stroking himself, almost unaware, yet quickly gaining in small ragged gasps, then squeezing his eyes shut, letting out groans which seemed to alleviate his pent-up yearning. The memory, still fresh, of Ralph’s sure, strong thrusts, brought him quickly to release, and he slept.
***
The telephone was ringing, breaking into Laurie’s dream. It continued to ring as he stumbled out of bed, and down the stairs. It stopped ringing just as he reached it. It had to be Ralph, Laurie was absolutely sure, and he had to ring again.
He did.
“Ralph.”
The voice at the other end was brisk. “Sorry to ring so early, Spud. First time I’ve been uninterrupted. Had the devil of a job… anyway, I rang Alec in the end. What did he tell you?”
Laurie gave an unsteady laugh, “What an idiot I am, among other things.”
“Oh, don’t listen to him. Tell me you miss me, Spud.”
Relief flooded Laurie then, and he answered with feeling,
“More than that. You do know, don’t you, Ralph?”
There was a brief pause.
“Of course.” The voice became brisk again, from which Laurie presumed he was no longer alone, “Anyway, I’ll be back tomorrow, late. Don’t wait up. God bless.”
The receiver clicked at the other end.
Laurie realised there would be no apology. Acknowledgement perhaps. It may be, after all, that Ralph had not spent all his nights alone when they were not together. He closed his eyes, not quite able to take in what his head told him about this. It didn’t matter, Laurie shook himself firmly, that could all be thought about later. Ralph loved him. Why had it been so easy to forget all they were to one another, so that Alec had to remind him of something he should have known beyond doubt, from the very beginning?
Ralph was coming home, that was all. And he would be waiting.
***
It was some time in the early hours when Laurie heard the click of Ralph’s key in the lock. Instantly wide-awake, he made his way unsteadily downstairs in the dark, shivering without his dressing gown.
“Ralph...”
Whatever he thought to say next was lost in the cold wash of air that came through when the door opened.
Laurie wasn’t sure afterwards what they did say to one another. He remembered pulling Ralph roughly forwards before he had even taken off his cap, pressing his lips to Ralph’s in a long, breathless kiss.
Ralph’s coat was stiff with a cold frost, his face chilled, but the kiss was warm and real and familiar. Laurie twisted away, unexpected tears stinging his eyes. Shakily, he began to laugh in reaction, falling back against the coats, steadied by Ralph, who was laughing gently himself.
“That was quite a welcome, Spud. Now, how about the rest?”
There was no need, after all, to say anything more. Ralph’s cap lay forgotten on the floor as they made their way upstairs. Laurie tumbled down onto the bed, shivering with cold as much as anticipation, as Ralph swiftly undressed in the moonlight.
“God, Ralph, I’m glad you’re back,” Laurie’s voice cracked slightly, and it was a few seconds before Ralph answered,
“Are you, Spud?”
Then Ralph’s mouth was hot against his ear as he ran his hands expertly across Laurie’s chest. His voice was low and intimate. He whispered,
“Mine.”
Laurie’s moaned, his whole body tingling to Ralph’s touch as he worked his way down. Unable to bear it, he pulled Ralph against him with a groan, feeling Ralph’s erection hard against his own.
Ralph continued murmuring, reassuring and exciting, as Laurie moved eagerly, instinctively, into position, feverish now with desire that could not be restrained.
There was a brief fumbling in the drawer of the bedside table, and Ralph smoothing the cool liquid, and then everything lost in the tight and frantic heat of lovemaking.
***
Later, as Laurie flowed gently into sleep, he felt free and clear, sure that he would always remember, whatever happened while Ralph was away, where his place was, before anyone else's.