Introductions

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Part 2

He'd been surprised at just how well he'd gotten on with his ‘new’ Grandmother. Hell, it almost felt like he'd known her forever. She was kind, generous, loving… sometimes a bit TOO much so, although he understood that he was her only link to his mother… her daughter who'd died.
Still, sometimes it was a daunting task.

Fortunately, it wasn't often that she became clingy. He'd come to love the woman, but sometimes… well, sometimes a bloke needed a bit of time to himself… or something like that.
Lily seemed to understand that mostly and had offered him an apartment in her building for his own. It was a lucky thing, Robert figured, that it was on a different floor. Otherwise the screams and begging might have informed her of things she didn't need to know about him… like his orientation.

On the other hand, she'd mentioned Will and Harris more than once, her tone making it obvious that she knew of their relationship, and… maybe if he just TOLD her he wouldn't still feel like there was something keeping them from really getting close.

It was an odd and unusual position for him, Robert admitted. He'd known of his own proclivities since he was twelve or thirteen. He'd simply never had the chance to inform his parents… ‘adoptive parents’ he reminded himself… or his equally adoptive grandfather. And even if he had, he admitted silently, he'd seem how Grandfather Quentin had treated Wesley Windham-Price when that young man had even been SUSPECTED of same-sex leanings. It wasn't likely that he'd have felt comfortable outing himself to Quentin, regardless of the blood he'd thought they'd shared.

And then there was Elliot… and Trevor.

He hadn't been able to do much of anything but think about the two men since they'd left England. He was entirely sure neither of them had given him a second thought since then, except…

‘I can't do this, Robert,” he remembered hearing, his hands tight and hard against the straining back. ‘I really can't. I… I'm sorry…’

It was a moment. Just that. A moment in time.

Robert sighed softly, one hand stroking over his hardening shaft beneath the boxers he wore. “Bloody hell…”

The knock on the door was sharp and somewhat annoying but Robert got up anyway. He looked through the peep hole and blinked before he opened the door.

“This is unexpected,” he said quickly, eyes moving up and down the taller man in front of him. “Not unwelcome, mind you, just unex…”

“Shut up,” the man demanded, stepping inside and slamming the door behind him. “Suck me. Then bend over and give me that pretty little ass of yours.”

And as Elliot and Trevor were both hours away in reality, although not in his mind, Robert did just that, his lips and tongue stroking over the thick shaft Paul presented to him, then dropping his boxers and positioning himself over the arm of the couch as the man slipped on a condom and drove in, barely spending any time preparing him.

And if Robert imagined the brunette as a different man entirely, and pictured an older blond than himself watching and waiting to get in on the action, well… he figured he was entitled to the fantasy.

* * * * *

He felt like a slut. Truly. He felt like the worst sort of slut there'd ever been.

Sure, there was nothing wrong with taking what was offered, but the way he'd just… gone for it with Paul the night before was… heinous.

Even worse, the man was still there and Robert had no idea of how to get him to leave.

Fortunately Paul solved that problem for him.

“So you really live here, huh? I mean I thought maybe it was a friend of yours who was lending you his place for the night the first times, but you really do… I don't know how you afford it.” Paul chattered as he made eggs and bacon, his naked body arched away from the stove. “I hear the woman who owns this place LIVES here! She used to be a hooker, then she got some dirt on some senators and governors and they bought her the building!”

The man grinned and chuckled, looking at his partner from the night before. So hot, so young… so willing to do whatever he asked.

“Amazing what a whore can achieve, huh?”

It was in that moment as he felt the righteous fury filling him that Robert knew for certain that he loved Lily just as much as he'd loved his parents and much more than his grandfather Quentin.

“Actually,” he said coldly-icily, in fact-“Lily Jamison was never ANY man's whore. She was, and IS, a sweet tempered, wonderful woman who simply had poor taste in the man she chose as husband.”

Robert's eyes hardened and he stood, abandoning the stool he'd been perched on and stalking towards Paul. “And as she is my GRANDMOTHER, I believe it would be best if you left. NOW!”

“Wha’… Robert, I…”

“No. Leave. Don't return. And if you should find a way in without calling up again, I WILL call the police and have you arrested for felony trespassing. GO!”

“You little bitch,” the man snarled, stalking from the kitchen to snatch his clothes up from where he'd left them the night before. “You're not even that good of a fuck!” he lied baldly as one hand darted out, slapping Robert's cheek. “Just as much of a little whore as they say that grandmother of yours was. I'm just glad you don't expect me to pay you for last night.”

* * * * *

Robert fell shuddering on the couch after the man left. His entire body shook and he just felt dirty. “Bloody fuck… what have I done?” he asked himself out loud.

“Filled your yearning for two good men with one bad one,” he answered himself a moment later.

Still, it seemed that Trevor and Elliot were an established couple and he was the last one to want to interfere. He'd had his first great love when he'd still been at Eton and it had ended when his known family had died, but he still hated the man Harry had taken up with. He still thought the underclassman had just been waiting to drive a wedge between them, never mind the fact that Robert would have been willing to accept the younger boy as their third.

That hadn't been what the boy had wanted, apparently. No, Mitchell had wanted Harry--Lord Jersey-to-be--as his own, and to hell with the other boy who loved him… meaning Robert.

It had almost destroyed him. He'd lost his parents and his grandfather in one day… and he'd lost his lover less than a month later.

He'd promised himself back then that HE'D never be a Mitchell. And he wouldn't. Not for anything.

* * * * *

Lily watched the boy-her grandson, she reminded herself with a thrill-as he jittered and twitched on the loveseat in her sitting room. Something was bothering him. It was obvious.

She wondered for a moment whether it had anything to do with the angry-looking young man who had almost knocked her over when she'd come back from taking Trixie walkies earlier, though she hoped not. She'd seen him a time or two in the last month, once getting on the elevator on Robert's floor. He'd seemed… petulant. Not at all the sort of man she'd approve of for her grandchild… not even for the ones she didn't particularly care for.

She truly didn't know just when she'd become fully aware of Robert's leanings but one thing she'd always prided herself on was accepting the things she couldn't change, and… perhaps Robert's love of other men had been part of what had shaped him into such a kind and worthwhile young man.

No, Lily told herself, while she might be slightly disappointed that the boy wouldn't continue her line, she was proud of him and the way he'd turned out. He was a good man. Now if he'd just tell her what was wrong, maybe she could help.

Or maybe he simply needed something to occupy his time now that he was on an indefinite leave of absence from his researching position in England.

Yes, she smiled… that was likely it. The child was used to working. He probably felt at loose ends with nothing particular to do all day other than visit with his old Gran.

Her mind turned over various possibilities and nodded slightly. She knew just how to deal with that, and… if Robert thought he was doing her a favor, he'd be less resistant. Besides, she felt a certain need to see how he would handle the responsibility of the Jamison ‘empire’ as her late husband had liked to call it.

“My dear,” Lilly said after refilling their cups with the strong, dark tea she liked so much, “I wonder if I might impose upon you for a short while. I know you've only been here for a few months, but… would you mind terribly if I asked you to look in on some of our properties? I… have a man who does that, but lately I've been wondering just how trustworthy he is. His invoices for repairs alone have gotten quite out of hand.”

Robert arched one pale, slender brow and cocked his head, seeing nothing but sincerity and a slight hint of concern in Lily's eyes. He was still uncomfortable at the notion that the elderly woman wanted to settle her fortune on him, but she refused to listen to any of his arguments on the subject and… he figured he might as well become familiar with what he was obviously going to be stuck with one day.

Besides, Lily was a sweet old girl. If one of her employees was stealing from her, which was what she seemed to be hinting at, then he would find out and put a stop to it. The process might even keep him from obsessing over what he'd never have.

“I'm honored, Lily,” he replied with a smile as he selected a small biscuit and nibbled at it. “It would please me greatly to be of assistance.”

Lily smiled in return and nodded. “Lovely, dear. I'll have an itinerary available for you in two days, along with travel arrangements. Or is that too soon?”

“No, no,” the young blond insisted, still smiling. “That will be perfect.” Maybe with some new sights and sounds he could… forget.

“Good,” the old woman said with another smile, this one for her small dog as the puff of fur trotted in from the next room and jumped up into Robert's lap. If she'd doubted her own instincts at all, Trixie’s adoration of her grandson would have alleviated any question. Her pet was a VERY good judge of character.

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(A/N: Thnks to ladyicondraco, TheShadowCat, Zephyr, nulinka & RedSharpie for the reviews on the first chapter. :) Much appreciated.

In this story... we finally find out what's going on with Trevor... and a few things happen, both good and bad. But as we know, Tis loves the angst but also loves the happy endings. *grins* Bear with me, guys, and... apologies in advance if this gets boring.)