The Naughty Ward (historical romantica)

(characters are not mine, they're Joss')

William stood in the small room and took care of his accounting while waiting for his virgin to be brought to him. He heard the sounds of footsteps, but deliberately didn’t turn around as he signed the debt slip. He would have let much more time go by had he not heard heavy breathing and wheezing.

When he did turn, it was to see that Alexander had been brought into the room, and Milo Rathborn was there, running his hands over Alex’s chest and hips, pressing the wet white cloth of his garments against the boy’s body so that everything underneath was that much more visible. His gaze turned chilly. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Admiring the goods, me boy... admiring the goods. You are a lucky man.”

“Luck had nothing to do with it. I outbid you.”

“That you did.” Milo moved closer so that he could reach around and feel the contours of Alexander’s ass. “He’s delectable.”

At first, Alexander was grateful for the attention. Anything that might get a reaction out of William, especially a jealous reaction, was welcome. But when bony, withered fingers bit into him, and he got a good look at every sweating pore at Milo’s temple, he changed his mind and cringed away.

William’s gaze flicked to Milo’s hands on his property, sending his temper flaring. But before he put the older man in his place, he noticed Alex shrink slightly. Good, the boy needed a lesson in the dangers of jumping into things he knew nothing about. Forcing himself to school his features and rein in his disgust, William nodded in agreement.

When Milo’s hands strayed to his thighs, Alex turned to William, expecting him to do something. Instead, he found an impassive look on William’s face while the two men discussed him as if he weren’t there. Their conversation started to worry him, he had to admit.

“He’s the best one of the lot. Cost you a pretty penny too.”

William gave another nod. “He did cost me.”

“I was thinking there might be a way to get more than your money’s worth.” The spittle gathered at the corner of Milo’s mouth. “We could share his cost... share him.” His eyes glazed slightly as his hand brushed over the boy’s member.

No! That wasn’t at all what Alex wanted. Yes, maybe he’d postured and flirted with Milo, but he was the last man he’d ever want to be with. He tried to move away from Milo, but ended up bumping into William’s unmoving body.

“Interesting offer. It’s still quite a sum for you to come up with.” William held Alex by the arms, his body slightly pressed against the boy. Oh yes, the boy wanted to get away from Milo, that was good.

“You don’t know what I can afford..” Milo touched his own mask, though they both knew the other’s identity full well. “I’ll buy a quarter of the remainder of the evening. You can take him first... I know you won’t stay the night anyway.”

“What do you propose to do with him with all that time?” William’s gaze flicked over Milo. “He needs to be broken in— I’m not quite sure you’re up for that task.”

“Bastard.” Milo bristled. “Age will catch up with you too. Then you’ll have to find ways to cope. I have a fine collection of ... paraphernalia that will satisfy him without tiring.”

“So I’ve heard.” William looked pointedly at the pictures on the wall.

Alex followed his gaze and saw erotic pictures of men putting things into women, false penises... large. Suddenly he found himself pressing very hard against William, almost panicked, and considering fleeing.

“I would hazard that would be much more pleasurable for you than for him.” He tightened his grip on the boy, satisfied with his reaction, with the way he was struggling to break free.

“I would take him the old-fashioned way first... and then again, after the games... I’d...”

Releasing Alexander, William suddenly gripped Milo’s wrist as the man’s hand approached Alex’s crotch again. “I haven’t agreed to your deal. In fact, I am rejecting it. But thank you for the ideas you’ve given me.”

“Boy. Come with me,” he said in a soft whisper edged with steel, expecting and receiving Alexander’s immediate obedience.

Walking behind William, Alexander almost sagged with relief. However, it didn’t take long for him to forget his fears as he walked up a set of narrow stairs and ogled the explicit paintings on the velvet-covered walls. Most depicted men with women, but there were more than enough orgy scenes and scenes of males fornicating.

Without slowing his steps, William snapped, “This way.”

Swallowing hard, Alexander rushed down the hallway, this time gaping through some of the open doors. Most were closed, but those that were open had men standing around and watching the sexual activities within.

It was then he realized the musky smell that hung in the air—mixing with perfume or incense—was the smell of sex. His stomach muscles contracted. Did William have this in mind for him? An open door? Surely not.

Despite the thick rugs from the orient, the floor squeaked as William walked and then suddenly stopped to open a door. “Inside.”

Alexander was forced to squeeze past William. His heart raced with a mixture of fear and anticipation. If only the man would smile, then maybe Alex wouldn’t feel so much as if he were going to the slaughter and be able to enjoy himself.

The door shut, then a privacy bolt locked into place. William gave Alexander a moment to get used to his surroundings... a large room dominated by a large bed. Red velvet curtains draped across false windows, and from the bedposts. A fire roared in the fireplace at the corner of the room, and right in front of it was a mahogany table, two plush chairs, and a variety of food and drink. Fruits, cheeses, wines…

Alexander’s gaze ate up the room. There were more paintings here. And statues and carvings... everything geared to having the type of fun that was frowned upon by polite society. Men like William could afford to have the best of both worlds. He knew William lived on the fringes of polite society, but his title, and the charm he could turn on whenever he wished, gave him quite a bit of protection. Who else would have been able to avoid permanent ostracism from polite society after being found in a married woman’s bed, and killing the woman’s husband in a duel? There were also rumors and speculation about his exploits in the bedroom going beyond the ordinary, but those were quelled by counter-whispers that the rumors were started by scorned women of the demimonde, once he was through with them.

William sat on the bed against the plush pillows, one leg hanging over the side, as he started to loosen his cravat. “Turn around. Stand in front of the fire,” he commanded.

“Wha... oh.” Alex did as he was told, extremely aware that the light from behind him would make his clothing that much more transparent. He faced his guardian, felt the heat of the man’s gaze traveling up and down his body. It was what he’d wanted, but at the same time, he hadn’t thought it would be this cold. “Will—“

“No names!” William frowned. “If you have recognized me, then you are to act as if you haven’t, and you will forget everything that happened here. Did they not explain the rules to you? Using names is grounds for immediate expulsion.”

It occurred to Alexander only for the first time that William didn’t recognize him—that he’d just picked him out of the lot up for auction. He would have taken the mask off, he would have told William who he was, but the fear of expulsion kept him silent, as he knew full well how serious William had been to date about protecting his innocence.

“Turn again. Drop the shirt to the ground.” William’s breath hitched as the boy did as he asked. The vast expanse of the boy’s back came into view and rippled with his every movement. Lower, he could see through the white pants... the silhouette of perfectly formed legs, and hanging between them... a dark shadow that had William clutching the covers.

Imagining bright blue eyes watching him, Alex shivered. As he wondered what William was thinking, what William was doing, every inch of his body became more aware of the man. Without touch or words he felt his cock tightening. He swallowed…tried to stay still.

Each fidget from the boy brought William that much closer to ordering Alexander to the bed. But no, he would be patient. Things like this were about art and form and seduction, not that it ever left his mind that it had to be impressed upon the boy that doing what he had... offering himself in an auction such as this ... was a dangerous thing.

The sound of rustling had every muscle in Alexander’s body tightening. What was William doing?

The sight of Alexander’s buttocks rippling... tightening under the wet material caused William to shoot off the bed. Taking a calming breath, he licked his lips. “Turn to me. Take your clothes off and put on that robe,” he said, pointing to the silky red material hanging over a chair. Even as he spoke, he loosened his own shirt…left it hanging open in the front.

Alexander felt the heat riding up to his cheeks as he loosened his trousers and let them slide to the ground. The intensity of William’s gaze trained on him made him feel all sorts of things inside. Things William could not see. But the response of his body was another thing. Quickly, he snatched up the robe to cover his now aroused state. Unfortunately, the material of the robe didn’t close the entire way. When he looked back up at William, he swore the man was smirking.

“Pour us some wine. The red.” As Alex started to turn away, William stopped him. “Wait.”

The single word cracked like a whip through the air and stopped Alex. Before he could ask what he’d done wrong, strong arms were pulling him into an embrace and William’s mouth was over his, moving, prodding him, urging his lips to part. New, dizzying sensations swept over him. He could scarcely think as he felt William’s tongue inside his mouth…William’s hands running down his back, squeezing his ass, dragging him hard against his body. As William ground his hips against him, Alex involuntarily cried out at the shock of his erection rubbing against William’s.

His cry drew a reaction. Suddenly William wasn’t at all gentle. Frustrated by the interference of the masks, he pushed Alex’s up to the bridge of his nose and deepened the kiss—giving free rein to the passion that had been building over time... not just this evening, but years. He owed Alexander for that torture, he really did. And he was experienced enough to know the boy was burning for him right now.

William broke the kiss and noticed the bemused look on Alex’s face as he pulled the boy’s mask back down. He stopped the boy from clutching his shoulders and moving close for another kiss. “I wanted to know if you’re a real virgin. You are, aren’t you?”

“Huh... I... yes,” Alex’s head started to clear, but he didn’t want it to. “Do that again,” he said, swaying close, but once again rebuffed.

“You’re here for my entertainment—I paid for you, not the reverse. Now pour that wine,” William said, moving out of reach, despite the raging wants of his body. He’d learned to master his needs. If he hadn’t, his ward would have been in his bed long ago.

As he watched Alexander’s stiff motions in getting the wine, he had no doubt the boy was cursing him. This was how it had been these last few years…sometimes the boy would taunt him with his body and manners, and other times he’d start a raging fight. William didn’t know which was worse.

He recalled the day, three years ago or so, when Alex had announced over the dinner table that he was homosexual. Though William had silenced him with cutting words and threats of a whipping, all he had accomplished was Alexander’s obedience to the letter, not spirit, of his order. Until the boy reached his majority last month, he’d refrained from mentioning his orientation. However his actions had been suggestive and would have seduced a lesser man.

The boy would brush up against him at every opportunity, hug him for every half-plausible reason, help him onto a bloody horse as if William had aged and was unable to mount on his own, and meal times could be torture. No one sucked on cherries like Alexander.

In the alternative, he’d deliberately rile William. Their shouting matches were legendary. A few times, Alex had turned it into a physical fight... but once William realized that the physical contact was calculated to get William interested in more than fighting, he’d put a stop to that as well.

When Alexander turned around and passed him the glass, his eyes were filled with rebellion. William could tell he was angry even just by looking at his mouth, lips pulled straight, hiding their sensuous outlines. Leaning forward, William kissed that mouth lightly, teasing with his tongue, and pulling back when he felt Alex start to respond. “There will be more when I say. Drink.”

Alexander did as he was told, but he was furious. That kiss had been a test. William was a cold bastard. He made him feel all these things... these uncontrollable things, want things, and then he broke it off and acted as if it meant nothing, as if he felt nothing. Spoke as if they were talking about horseflesh or the latest fashions. The heady liquid warmed his stomach. No doubt it was meant to soothe the fears of all the virgins. He lifted the glass to his mouth again.

“That man who wanted to buy you had some interesting ideas.”

Sputtering, Alex pulled the glass away from his mouth and stared at William.

“You know, it’s said he enjoys spanking boys. Something about warm, rosy cheeks having a desired effect on him,” he drawled, letting his gaze drop to Alexander’s ass.

“You... you...” The question wouldn’t leave Alex’s suddenly parched throat.

“Me?” William raised an eyebrow. “No, I haven’t. Not before.”

The glass went to Alexander’s mouth, and he started drinking it down. His guardian had whipped him when he was younger, but not like this... certainly not with his clothes off. It wasn’t something he really wanted to experience.

For a full ten minutes, William kept up his end of the conversation, one-sidedly discussing everything from the weather, to agriculture, to the thrills offered by the theatre. The way Alexander was worrying that lower lip of his told him the boy wasn’t listening to a word— that the fear of being spanked had gotten to him.

As he watched that lower lip slip from between Alex’s teeth, then get sucked back in between them, William was the one to drain his glass. “Have a fruit now.”

“I don’t want...”

“Have it. Believe me, you’ll be glad you did.”

Alex didn’t understand. Was it supposed to help him withstand a bloody spanking? The thought of William touching his ass did make his heart constrict, even if it had to be in that context. Choosing a plum, he bit into it.

William moved back to the bed and sat on the edge, never taking his eyes off the boy. Juices from the ripe fruit drizzled down the side of his mouth, immediately wiped away. His pink tongue darted out on occasion, between bites. Was he intentionally drawing the process out? Will’s gaze narrowed, but he held his peace. By the time the boy started sucking on the seed, William’s patience was at an end.

“Come here.”

Reluctantly, Alexander slowly walked over. Every step closer made him wonder what was next. He’d been disabused of the notion they’d simply make love, that the one man he’d dreamed of for so long would show him the delights of adulthood, while whispering words about all the time they’d wasted.

“Closer.” When Alex stood between his legs, William touched him. Slowly running his palms over his flat stomach, pushing the robe aside as he explored the boy’s chest, felt his heart pounding.

When William blew a warm breath across his stomach, then kissed him with wetted lips, Alex felt his legs begin to shake. Just stopping himself from calling William’s name, he bit his lip and touched William’s hair. Wanting something... needing it.

Will brushed his cheek over Alex’s cock, now standing at attention, and then got up. “Get down. On your knees.” He worked to undo his breeches and pushed them down his legs, trying to maintain control at the sight of the boy on his knees, looking up. He folded the boy’s mask up to the bridge of his nose. “Go on.”

Alexander merely stared at him. He ached, he wanted, but this... what William had in mind wouldn’t take care of his ache.

“Touch me.” In case he hadn’t been clear to the virgin, William put his hands behind the boy’s head and pulled him forward. As mouth met cock, he stifled a groan.

From being the one who’d been standing and yearning for William’s mouth, Alex knew what William wanted. But he’d said touch and that was all he’d get. First with one finger, then two, then with his whole hand—he touched William’s cock, tracing it’s outline, rubbing his thumb lightly over it’s head, along the ridge underneath, feeling himself grow harder as William’s arousal grew, stretching his skin taut.

Patience was not one of William’s virtues. He jerked in Alex’s hand, stared at him, willing him to put his mouth where his hands were. But it became a contest of wills. “With your mouth,” he snarled, pulling the boy’s hands away.

If he expected to be sucked, he had another thing coming. Disrespectful eyes stared up at him as Alex moved his closed mouth over William’s cock. Heat flooded through William’s system, heat and frustration. “More.”

All he got in response to his order was a firmer touch... and even that was by a barely measurable amount. He found himself jerking his hips forward... so much for self-control. “Lick me,” he growled, running his hands through Alex’s hair, dragging him close. “Now.”

Alexander felt William’s control breaking. Smiling against his cock, he went to work, licking him softly, ever so gently, exactly the way his guardian would not want. In and out, his tongue flicked over his guardian’s erection—under it, stabbing at his balls, feeling them tighten, feeling William’s hands tug his hair, and his hips come forward into his face…yet refusing to take him into his mouth.

William moved against Alex’s disobedient mouth—fighting—trying to find the relief he sought. It was starting to irk him that it was hard to tell who was master of the game. “Suck me,” he bit out. This time the boy could not pretend to misunderstand.

Or could he?


(A/N: If you enjoyed this, please comment. I'm wondering if historical romance is not popular here at this site. Christine & Goth - thanks for your comments :) )