Like a Lover (12 page)

“What are
they like?”

“They’re
lovely, but I haven’t seen them in a long time. Not since I left London. I used
to go over to their place for dinner sometimes when I was a student. Bill was a
father figure for me after I lost my dad.”

Rupert was
quiet for a moment, but he was drumming his fingers on the wheel and Josh could
see the tension in his shoulders and a muscle working in his jaw.

“What’s
up?” Josh asked.

Rupert let
his breath out in a huff and his gaze flicked sideways for a moment before
settling back on the road. “There’s something I didn’t mention before that I
should probably warn you about….”

“Yes?”

“My
mother’s expecting me to turn up with a woman.” The words came out in a rush.
“She knows I’m gay, but she also knows I’m single, so she suggested I brought a
‘nice girl’ as my plus-one. I was going to take Georgina, but she couldn’t make
it.”

Josh
snorted. “Seriously? They’re expecting a nice girl, and you’re bringing me? I
think a gay escort is about as far removed from a nice girl as you can get.”

Rupert
chuckled, and Josh couldn’t hold his amusement in anymore. They both laughed
until tears were streaming.

“Oh God.
Don’t!” Rupert wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, still laughing weakly
as he tried to stay focused on driving. “I know. I probably should have warned
her, but I couldn’t face the aggro.”

“So you
thought you’d just turn up with me on your arm and deal with the fallout?”

“Basically,
yes. My mother’s all about keeping up appearances, so she won’t cause a scene
in front of the other guests. I reckon we can get away with it. And honestly? I
think it serves her right for putting pressure on me to take a woman as a
plus-one in the first place. I’m sure she only said it to try and keep Charles
happy, and frankly they can both fuck off. I’m not going back in the closet for
them.”

“Good for
you,” Josh said. “You shouldn’t have to.”

“Thanks.”
Rupert gave Josh a quick smile, then added in a soft voice as he looked ahead
again, “I’m really glad you agreed to this.”

Josh looked
at Rupert’s profile, the straight nose, and the dark red hair curling on his
collar. “I reckon it might be fun.”

They made
good time, pulling into the large circular drive of the hotel at about quarter
to four.

“Oh my God,
this is amazing.” Josh stared at the huge stone building. Climbing roses
rambled up trellises, and a beautiful plant with purple flowers grew up the
wall of the building itself. Set in a couple of acres of well-tended garden, it
was a far cry from the functional but barren hotels he was used to.

“No expense
spared,” Rupert said.

They must have serious money
, Josh thought. He knew Rupert was
well off, obviously. It was clear from his flat and his car, not to mention his
ability to pay for Josh on a regular basis. But this hotel was an example of
wealth on a scale that Josh had never seen first-hand before.

The
entrance hall was tiled in black and white, like squares on a giant chessboard,
and their footsteps echoed off the high ceiling as they walked across it to the
reception desk.

Rupert gave
his name to the immaculate woman who greeted them and started taking some
details. Josh stood beside him, looking around in wonder, distracted by the
beauty of the interior. It reminded him of the inside of a stately home he’d
visited once on a school trip when he was a kid.

“And your
companion?”

“Uh… Josh.”

Josh
snapped his attention back and realised she needed his name. Of course, Rupert
didn’t know his surname. “Josh Morley. Sorry, I was miles away. This is such a
beautiful hotel.”

The woman
smiled. “Thank you. It is lovely. I hope you’ll enjoy your stay here, Mr
Morley.”

“Has the
bride checked in yet? Mrs Blanchard?” Rupert asked.

“Not yet.”

“And can
you tell me the arrangements for the evening? She emailed me, but I forgot to
print it off.”

“Drinks are
being served in the parlour from seven thirty, and dinner for the wedding party
is booked for eight in the conservatory.”

“Okay,
thanks.”

“Let me get
someone to help you with your luggage and show you to your room. If you need
anything else, don’t hesitate to ask.” She caught the eye of a young man in a
dark blue suit with silver buttons. “Greg, take these gentlemen up to Room
Sixteen please.”

Greg
nodded. “Can I take your cases, sir?” He addressed Rupert at first, but then he
glanced at Josh. His gaze lingered, dropping to Josh’s lip ring for a moment,
and when he looked back into Josh’s eyes, Josh caught a flicker of interest.
Josh smiled, and Greg smiled back until Rupert cleared his throat.

Greg looked
away quickly and picked up their cases. He led the way to the lift and stood
with his back to them until the lift arrived.

They stood
in uncomfortable silence as the lift rose to the floor above. Josh caught
Rupert’s eye in the mirrored wall and grinned innocently. Rupert didn’t look
amused. There was a telltale crease between his eyebrows that Josh recognised
as annoyance. Josh nudged him gently, then reached down to take his hand.
Rupert let him lace their fingers together and his frown lifted a little.

The
corridor upstairs had a thick crimson carpet and pale gold wallpaper. It was
sumptuous and elegant, and Josh felt utterly out of place. Greg stopped outside
the door at the far end on the left and stood aside so that Rupert could unlock
the door. It was a proper old-fashioned lock with a key on a numbered ring.

Inside,
Greg put their cases by the foot of the huge four-poster bed. “Is there
anything else you need?” he asked.

“No, that’s
everything, thanks.” Rupert handed him a tip.

“Thank you,
sir. I hope you enjoy your stay.” He acknowledged Josh again then with a small
smile.

There was
still a glint in Greg’s eye that Josh recognised. “I’m sure we will. The bed
looks very comfortable…. Sturdy too,” he added with a suggestive grin.

Greg’s
cheeks turned bright pink, and he licked his lips and glanced back at Rupert.
“Yes. Well, then… if that will be all, I’d better be on my way.”

He scurried
out of the room. Josh managed to wait until the door had closed behind him
before he started laughing. “Poor bloke. I couldn’t resist.”

Rupert was
less amused. “I hope you’re not going to spend all weekend flirting with the
staff. You’re supposed to be my boyfriend, remember?”

“Oh, baby.
Are you jealous?” Josh turned to Rupert and moved in close, grabbing him by the
belt loops and reeling him in so he could kiss his neck and whisper in his ear.
“You don’t need to worry. I’m all yours.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

Rupert’s
irritation eased as Josh grazed his lips over Rupert’s stubbled jaw and found
his mouth. Rupert hadn’t like the frisson between Josh and Greg, and
possessiveness surged through him along with arousal as they kissed, deep and
open-mouthed.

When Rupert
pulled away to breathe, Josh’s eyes were dark. He kept his grip firm on
Rupert’s hips.

“So,
boyfriend. We’ve got a few hours before dinner. Do you want to find out just
how sturdy this bed is?”

The
unpacking could wait. “Fuck, yes.” Rupert kissed him again.

They
undressed each other, leaving a trail of clothes as they stumbled and tripped
their way to the bed between kisses. Rupert sat on the edge of the bed and
pulled Josh between his spread thighs. He kissed the crest of Josh’s hipbone and
the smooth skin of his belly. Josh made an impatient sound and bucked his hips
forward. Rupert slid his hands into the back of Josh’s snug briefs and pushed
them down, gripping his arse and squeezing, deliberately letting his fingers
nudge into the crack as he nuzzled Josh’s erection where it was still trapped
in the stretchy fabric. He rubbed his lips up and down the shaft until Josh
gripped Rupert’s hair and thrust against him.

Rupert
grinned up at him and hooked his thumbs into the elastic waistband, finally
freeing Josh’s cock as he pushed his underwear down. His erection bobbed free,
hard, flushed, and gorgeous, so Rupert sucked it into his mouth and went to
town. He took Josh deep at first, slicking him up and getting him wet with
spit, and then backed off a little to suck on the head. The muscles in Josh’s
buttocks clenched tight under Rupert’s hands—he could feel the tension in
them as he worked Josh over. He let his fingers slip deeper into Josh’s
arsecrack and rubbed over his hole as he sucked.

Josh
groaned. “Fuck… Rupert.”

Rupert
carried on with what he was doing. His own cock was still in his underwear,
trapped, and he didn’t have hand free for it. But he could tell Josh wasn’t
going to last long, and Rupert wanted to make him come like this. The ring of
muscle under his fingers was softening now but was too dry for him to get
inside easily. So he let Josh’s cock slide from between his lips and brought
his fingers to his mouth instead. He sucked on them, tasting sweat and musk
from Josh’s body, then reach back around as he took Josh’s dick in his mouth
again.

Josh
gasped, fingers tightening in Rupert’s hair as Rupert pushed two fingers into
him up to the first knuckle. Rupert paused for a moment, letting Josh adjust,
but Josh muttered “More,” working himself back on Rupert’s fingers until they
were buried as deep as they’d go. The flavour of precome exploded across
Rupert’s tongue on the next suck, and his mouth watered in response.

“Jesus.”
Josh let out a desperate chuckle as his legs wobbled. “I’m so close.”

Rupert
sucked harder, fucking his fingers into the tight clench of muscle as he took
Josh right back into his throat with each pass. Josh started to move his hips,
finding a rhythm as he thrust his cock into Rupert’s willing mouth. He made
desperate sounds, moans and muttered curses, and Rupert loved it. Loved that he
could make Josh feel this good.

Josh came
with one final thrust, gasping out Rupert’s name as he spilled into his throat,
legs trembling and internal muscles pulsing around Rupert’s fingers. Rupert
swallowed around him, the flex of his throat eliciting another groan from Josh.
Rupert started to move again, sucking gently now, making sure he’d got every
last drop of Josh’s release before letting Josh’s softening cock slip free. He
looked up at Josh’s face, flushed and sweaty and split by a dazed-but-sweet
smile.

“Wow,” Josh
said. “I need to lie down. My legs are about to give out.”

Rupert
chuckled. He eased his fingers out of Josh’s arse and patted his hip. “Come on,
then.” He guided Josh to lie on the middle of the huge bed. Then he finished
removing Josh’s underwear, still caught around his legs. Rupert took off his
own boxers before lying beside Josh and pulling him into his arms for a lazy,
sated—in Josh’s case, at least—kiss.

Their knees
slotted together, and Josh pushed his thigh between Rupert’s. Rupert’s erection
rubbed against Josh’s hip, but it was too bony there to feel good, so he
brought a hand down to stroke himself. That distracted Josh, who broke away
from the kiss.

“Are you…?
Oh. Mmm.” He hummed in what Rupert assumed was approval.

So Rupert
rolled onto his back and stroked himself more blatantly. Josh’s gaze fixed on Rupert’s
cock, and he licked his lips.

“You like
watching?” Rupert asked.

“Yeah.”
Josh sounded a little breathless again already. When Rupert glanced down at
Josh’s dick, he saw it had never fully softened and was plumping up again now.

“Want me to
carry on?” Rupert slid his hand slowly down his length, rolling his foreskin
back to show the dark pink head. He paused and gripped tight, showing off his
cock to Josh, who was entranced.

“Uh-huh.”
Josh reached down to grip himself and stroke slowly, not as though he had any
real intent to try and come again, but like he couldn’t help but touch.

Rupert drew
his hand up and then down again, his breath hitching as his foreskin slid over
the sensitive glans. Precome welled at the tip, and he used a finger from his
other hand to smear it around. Then he took that finger down, reaching behind
his balls to find his hole and press the tip of his finger inside.

“Fuck,”
Josh whispered. He sat up and shuffled down the bed, moving between Rupert’s
spread legs so he could see better. “That is
so
hot.”

“Yeah?”
Rupert watched Josh’s rapt face as he added another finger and pushed in a
little deeper, gasping at the stretch and burn, the edge of pain only turning
him on more. He was close, but the expression on Josh’s face made him want to
string it out, to make it last. Putting on a show for Josh like this was
intense, and he was desperate to please him.

Josh was
stroking himself again in earnest, his cock was fully hard, and Rupert wanted
it inside him so badly.

“Could you
fuck me?” Rupert asked. “Even though you just came?”

Josh gave
him a delightfully dirty grin. “You want this?” He held his cock at the root,
pointing it at Rupert.

“Yes.”
Rupert’s voice came out a little hoarse. God, he wanted it so badly.

“Okay. I
might not come again, though… but I can definitely fuck you. Let me find lube
and condoms.”

Rupert
stroked himself lightly as Josh quickly got supplies and then came back to
kneel between Rupert’s legs. He put the condom on and slicked himself up, then
passed the bottle to Rupert. “Here you go. Get yourself ready for me.”

“I’m ready
now.” Rupert pulled his fingers out. “Just fuck me.” He wanted the burn and
stretch. He wanted to be able to feel Josh all evening, a reminder of this
while he was sitting and making polite conversation with his mother and
Charles.

Josh
hesitated. “You sure?”

“Yes.”
Rupert reached for him, pulling him down for a kiss and bringing his knees up
around Josh’s hips. “Now, Josh. Please.”

Rupert’s
breath caught as Josh pushed inside, slow but steady until he was balls-deep.
Josh paused, biting his lip as he waited for Rupert to adjust to the pressure
and ache of being filled so suddenly. For a moment, it was almost too much. But
then Rupert remembered to breathe out, and gradually the pain gave way to a
deep, swelling wave of pleasure as Josh rocked carefully into him with a small
roll of his hips.

“Okay?”
Josh asked.

“More than
okay.” Rupert put his hands on Josh’s arse and encouraged him to keep moving
with his slow, teasing thrusts that felt amazing but weren’t quite enough.
“Faster,” he begged.

Josh
complied, kissing Rupert again, but he couldn’t quite manage the pace Rupert
wanted in that position. “Hang on.” He pulled out and Rupert groaned in
protest. Josh pulled on Rupert’s legs, guiding him until he lay on the edge of
the high bed, his legs on Josh’s shoulders while Josh stood on the floor. “Like
this.”

Josh thrust
into him again, not gentle or careful this time, and Rupert cried out as the
sensation lit him up.

“Oh fuck!”

“Good?”

“Yeah,
don’t stop.” Rupert put his hand back on his cock. He was leaking so much
precome his hand slid easily over the skin, making slick sounds that were
audible over their harsh breathing and the creak of the bed.

Josh
snapped his hips hard and fast. Rupert had never been fucked like this before,
with such raw power and energy. The need and tension built and took over his
senses until his whole world narrowed to the dual sensations of his hand on his
dick and Josh’s cock in his arse. He tried to find the words to tell Josh he
was going to come, but all he could do was groan helplessly as his whole body
locked tight, cock throbbing in his fist as he shot all over his stomach.

“Oh yeah.
Fuck, that’s hot,” Josh gasped, fucking him through it until Rupert went limp,
limbs suddenly like lead in the aftermath.

Josh slowed
his movements, gradually bringing Rupert down but staying inside him until
Rupert said. “You didn’t come, did you?”

Josh shook
his head, panting, cheeks red with exertion. “Not yet.”

“Think you
can? What do you need?”

“It won’t
take much now.” Josh withdrew, guiding Rupert’s legs down carefully. “Shuffle
back a bit. There.” He straddled Rupert’s thighs and pulled the condom off, and
then started to stroke himself.

Still high
from orgasm and greedy for Josh, Rupert reached to bat Josh’s hand away. “Let
me.” He cupped Josh’s balls and tugged gently. “Fuck my mouth.”

Josh
grinned. “Okay.” They shuffled up the bed, and Rupert adjusted a pillow under
his head to help with the angle. Josh gripped the headboard with one hand and
guided his cock into Rupert’s waiting mouth with the other. He pushed in
slowly, but Rupert still choked, his gag reflex triggered as he tried to
adjust. Josh tried to draw back, but Rupert gripped his hips with both hands
and pulled him in. He forced his throat to open and breathed through his nose,
ignoring the way his eyes watered because he wanted this. He wanted to please
Josh, to have Josh use him to get off.

Josh got
the message and started to do just that. He was still cautious at first, but
his thrusts were slow and sure as he fucked in and out of Rupert’s throat.
Rupert just held on and let it happen. His fingers tightened on Josh’s hips,
but urging him on, not trying to slow him down. He groaned his encouragement,
the sound muffled by the fullness in his throat. Saliva pooled but he managed
to swallow, making Josh groan as the movement squeezed the head of his cock.

“Gonna
come,” Josh gasped. “Fuck, Rupert, look at you.
Fuck
.”

With one
last hard thrust, he stilled and his cock jerked and pulsed, spilling into the
back of Rupert’s throat as Rupert swallowed it down.

Afterwards,
Josh tried to pull out straight away, but Rupert stopped him, keeping him there
as he sucked gently on the head and dipped his tongue into the slit to catch
every last drop of come. Josh was softening now, and he shuddered and gasped,
oversensitive as Rupert finally let his cock slip free.

Josh
collapsed on the bed beside Rupert, his head on Rupert’s chest as he curled
into his embrace.

Rupert’s
come was cooling on his belly, but he couldn’t be bothered to do anything about
it. Rupert slid his fingers into Josh’s hair, felt sweat, and chuckled. “We’re
a mess.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Josh’s arm
was heavy across Rupert’s chest; his breathing was already slow and deep.
Getting clean could wait. Lulled by the heat of the summer afternoon and the
distant sounds of the birds outside, Rupert let his eyes drift closed, and
sleep claimed him.

The next
thing Rupert knew was the sound of his phone ringing from somewhere on the
floor where he’d discarded his trousers earlier.

“Huh?” he
mumbled, his brain thick with the treacle of sleep and the soporific warmth of
the room. He peeled Josh’s arm off his chest and rolled out of the bed to
scrabble around and find the source of the noise, but it stopped before he
reached it. “God, what time is it?”

His voice
was a little hoarse and his throat ached. A flood of heat rushed through him as
he remembered why.

He looked
at the screen:
7:40
. And that the
missed call was from his mother.

“Oh shit!
We’re going to be late for dinner. Josh, wake up. We need to get showered and
dressed right-the-fuck
now
.”

Josh
groaned loudly, stretching before sitting up. “How long did we sleep?”

“Too bloody
long. Get in the shower. I’ll text my mother, and then I’ll join you.”