Never a Road Without a Turning (14 page)

Pip’s head shot up in surprise, and the major grinned back at him as he began stroking Pip’s cock in his fist. He leaned forward and kissed Pip’s crown. “This is magnificent. T’would be a shame to see it go to waste.”

Pip’s knees trembled and his cock twitched in the major’s grip even as he frowned in confusion. “Is the master sayin’ he’d like to be buggered?”

The major’s grin grew. “As I said, it
has
been a long time. But I think it might be something we would both enjoy.”

“Ye’d like it?” Pip asked, disbelieving.

“Oh yes.”

When Pip only stared at him, the major put his hands on Pip’s hips, turned him around, and gave him a light shove toward the far side of the room. “In the trunk there, you’ll find a case with several glass vials. Bring me the one marked ‘Elysium.’”

Still confused but willing to follow the major’s lead, Pip padded across the room. The floorboards were cold beyond the carpet, so he moved quickly. He opened the lid of the small wooden trunk and peered into the shadows inside. He could just make out the shapes of books and loose papers, a rolled leather case with some sort of metal instruments peeking out the end, some small pots and jars, and a latched wooden case. He opened the case and lifted the vials into the lamplight until he found the one he was sent for.

“Elysium?” Pip asked as he hurried back to the bed.

The major’s answering smile was a little sad. “Another time.”

As soon as Pip was close enough, the major wrapped a hand around his wrist and drew him gently back. He took the vial from Pip’s grasp, unstoppered it, and poured a small amount of oil into Pip’s palm. “Your fingers. First one, then two… three if you’re feeling generous. And then your cock.”

Pip stared at the oil in his hand and then at the major as the man lay back on the bed and propped the foot of his good leg on the edge of the mattress, opening himself up to Pip’s gaze. Pip’s hand shook a little as he dipped his fingers in the oil and knelt beside the bed. The major began to stroke his cock, watching Pip between his thighs, and some of Pip’s nerves abated. The major appeared to want this—his desire plain in the hardness of his cock and the heat in his gaze.

Pip leaned forward and teased a finger around his back entrance, familiarizing himself with the texture. He’d never buggered anyone before. None of the women he ever bedded had asked him to. The opening twitched, and the major drew in a shaky breath as Pip continued to touch it. Emboldened, Pip pressed inside, up to the first knuckle. The channel was warm and smooth, soft as silk, and it squeezed his finger so tightly Pip’s cock throbbed in response. Pip pumped in and out a few times, and when the major moaned and spread his thighs wider, Pip added a second finger.

The major groaned. “That’s it. Stretch me, make me ready for you.”

Pip shivered as he felt a bead of moisture form on the crown of his cock. The major’s channel was quivering around his fingers, begging him to do more, and Pip wasn’t sure how much longer he could stand to be out in the cold when such heat awaited him. He added a third finger and flexed and twisted them until the major gasped and pressed down hard upon them. “That’s enough, Phillip. Now you.”

Pip stroked his own cock with the oil remaining in his palm and stood up. His stomach fluttered nervously as he lifted the major’s injured thigh over his arm and guided his cock to the entrance with his other hand. He pressed against the opening for a few agonizing seconds before it relaxed and allowed him inside. The major gasped, and Pip froze in place until the strain eased on the man’s face and Pip was able to push in further.

When Pip was fully seated, the major cried, “Wait!” and Pip stilled again, panting with the effort of holding back. The need to thrust into that heaven was nearly overwhelming.

“All right,” the major panted. “Move.”

Pip lifted the major’s other leg as well, wrapping his arms around the major’s thighs for leverage as he began to thrust, carefully at first, watching his face closely. The major arched beneath him, moaning and bracing his arms on the bed, meeting Pip’s thrusts with equal force, and Pip succumbed to his baser nature as pleasure exploded across his senses. He was lost in it for a time, thrusting his hips and riding a wave of bliss… until something evil crept in alongside it. A sudden surge of anger took him so completely by surprise that he had no defense against it. One moment he was in the throes of a pleasure so intense he knew he’d never experienced anything like it before, and the next, rage filled him as memories of pain and fear long buried struggled to the surface.

Pip closed his eyes, fighting against it as he pounded the body beneath him, but his hands convulsed, digging into the flesh he held, and his pace only increased. He no longer remembered who was beneath him, only that he was the one in control now. He wasn’t a child anymore. He wasn’t defenseless. He felt dizzy and sick even as the pressure built at the base of his spine. The body beneath him grunted and thrashed, but Pip held on, pounding into it until his vision went white and his release consumed his entire being.

In the aftermath, Pip’s anger fled as quickly as it had come, leaving him suddenly hollow and utterly horrified. He released his hold on the major’s thighs and stumbled backward, grabbing the foot of the bed for support before he collapsed.

As Pip watched in shock, the major groaned and rolled onto his side exposing to the lamplight the livid marks Pip had left on his flesh. Pip wanted to weep, but no tears came to his eyes. They both stayed as they were, panting into the sudden stillness. Eventually the major seemed to recover himself. He dragged his body to the top of the bed and collapsed onto the pillows, grimacing in pain as he rubbed the thigh of his damaged leg.

Pip swallowed twice before his throat eased enough for him to speak.

“I’m so sorry. Did I hurt you? Are you in pain?”

The major closed his eyes and chuckled as he collapsed onto his back with a sigh. “Always. But not from anything you did. Don’t worry.”

Pip remained where he was, shaking and disgusted with himself, and the major finally seemed to realize something was amiss.

He sat up again and stared at Pip. “Phillip? It’s all right. You didn’t do anything wrong.” The major’s lips quirked. “You were a little rougher than I expected, but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.”

Pip could only stare at him in confusion.

How could the man jest about such a thing?

“I don’t know what came over me,” Pip whispered. His voice shook, sounding small and lost even to his ears.

The major’s eyebrows drew down. “It really is all right, Phillip. You didn’t do me any harm.” The major reached out to him, and Pip fell into his arms, shivering. “Bloody hell, but you’re freezing,” the major complained as he drew the blankets over them. He held Pip gingerly, as if he didn’t know quite what to do with him.

Pip let his head fall to the major’s breast and closed his eyes. “Forgive me.”

The major’s chest rose and fell beneath his cheek, and he patted Pip’s back somewhat awkwardly. “There’s truly nothing to forgive. I don’t understand why you believe there is.”

Pip could only shake his head. He wanted to believe what the major was saying, but too many emotions were grappling in his breast, guilt chief among them.

“If you won’t tell me what’s wrong, I cannot help you,” the major said, a hint of irritation in his voice.

Pip drew away from him, swung his legs over the side of the bed, and sat up. “You were in pain… after. I thought….” Pip couldn’t finish.

“I told you. I’m fine. I may have let you bugger me, Phillip, but I’m not a maid. I don’t need your concern, nor do I want it.” The major’s irritation was much plainer now. He blew out a loud breath before continuing. “Look. My leg was badly broken, nearly crushed. They took the lower half, but I refused to allow them to take it all. What is left pains me along with my hip and my back because of that damned contraption I have to use in order to walk. That is all. I enjoyed what just happened between us, and I’d enjoy it more if you stop being so bloody foolish about the whole thing.”

Pip turned to face him in surprise. The major’s cheeks were flushed, his eyes blazing in temper, and his mouth set in a hard line. Some of the tightness in Pip’s chest eased, and he felt his lips turn up in a wry smile. The major was almost as handsome when he was in a temper as he was in the throes of passion. Pip felt his skin heat despite the chill of the room.

“Yes, sir,” Pip said only partly in jest.

The major frowned and his eyes narrowed for a moment, as if he were trying to determine if Pip were making fun of him, before he nodded and his lips eased into a hesitant smile of his own. “Good. Then we’re done with that. And for God’s sake, don’t call me ‘sir’ when we’re alone like this. It feels wrong somehow after you’ve only just finished rogering me.”

Pip coughed and flushed for a moment before he fell back on old habits and gave the man his cocksure grin and winked. “What should I call ye, then?”

“My Christian name is Astley. You may call me that when it’s only the two of us.”

Feeling a little more like himself, Pip pursed his lips, frowning in his best imitation of the major the first time he’d spoken to him in the library. “I don’t know.” Pip tapped his chin with a finger. “I suppose I prefer it to master or sir, and McNalty would be
simply ridiculous
.”

The major’s eyebrows drew down again until he seemed to realize Pip was mocking him with his own words, and he chuckled. “Call me what you like, then. Anything but Major or McNalty.”

Pip leaned over and kissed him gently. “Astley doesn’t suit you, I think.”

The major rolled his eyes. “I have other names, a whole string of them between the first and the last. Shall I rattle them off to see if any of them suit me better?”

Pip pursed his lips again, showing every appearance of giving the matter great thought before he shook his head. “No. I think I shall call you Ash, like your hair.” Pip combed his fingers through the sweat-dampened waves as he said it, and Ash closed his eyes.

After allowing Pip to pet him for only a short time, Ash grabbed his wrist to stop him. The warmth and playfulness that had been there only a moment before was gone as he said, “I think you should find your bed now, Phillip.”

Pip hid his disappointment at being dismissed so coldly with a careless shrug and climbed to his feet. He had a lot to think on anyway, and he hadn’t truly expected Ash to ask him to spend the night.

He quickly pulled on his clothes, feeling Ash’s eyes on him as he dressed. Pip turned and faced the man while he slowly buttoned his waistcoat hoping he might be tempted to change his mind, but Ash only looked away.

“Good night, Phillip.”

Pip’s sigh was purely internal. “Good night, Ash.”

Pip crept out of the room and down the stairs. He briefly went to the library to bank the coals and put out the other lamp after lighting a candle to take with him. He paused in front of the looking glass in the hall and took some time to set his clothes to rights before making his way back to the kitchen.

Mr. and Mrs. Applethwaite were still sitting by the kitchen fire and seemed surprised to see him. Pip shrugged a little uncomfortably under their questioning stares and said, “The master was feeling tired so ’e went to bed early. I put out the lamps and took care of the fires.”

The housekeeper nodded and went back to her mending. Her husband shrugged and took another drink from his bottle, both seeming satisfied with his excuse. “I’m feeling a bit tired m’self, so I think I’ll turn in as well,” Pip added.

Mrs. Applethwaite looked up at that and frowned. “You’re not feeling ill again, are you?”

“No, Missus. A bit tired is all.”

“Then you should most certainly go to bed. Good night.”

“Good night.”

Pip turned and walked the short distance to his room. As he was shutting his door, he heard the woman call out, “And don’t waste that candle sitting up with one of the master’s books all night.”

Pip rolled his eyes and closed the door. He had no thoughts of reading. He was much too unsettled to concentrate on the words.

He stripped down to his shirt and drawers, gave his nether parts a quick wash, and crawled beneath his blankets. He blew out the candle and closed his eyes, but visions of the evening played through his head over and over, making it nearly impossible to sleep. He was exhausted, but the guilt of losing control, the irritation over being dismissed so easily, and the bone-deep satisfaction of the best fuck of his life were waging war inside him.

Eventually, he decided he didn’t care who the victor was as long as they would leave him the bloody hell alone. He had work to do in the morning and perhaps another chance to bugger his master come the evening. What did the rest of it matter?

A
LL
THE
next day, Pip went about his duties studiously ignoring the niggling doubts and insecurities at the back of his mind. It would have been nice if he could have seen Ash at least once during the day to set his mind at rest on a couple of scores. But no matter how many times he searched for Ash through the windows of the cottage, the man never appeared. And by dusk, Pip was fretting like a mother hen over one chick.