The Naughty Ward (historical romantica)

(APPOLOGIES, I HAD MADE A MISTAKE AND FAILED TO POST CHAPTER 3 BEFORE I PUT UP 4. YOU MAY HAVE MISSED IT, BUT IT'S UP NOW)

(Characters are Joss', not mine)

(Lovely lovely book cover manip for this story by Ladyflame_uk - here: http://virtualpersonal.livejournal.com/81908.html?mode=reply It is work safe)


Days passed. Long, boring days. No longer would William go riding with him, talk to him about the best horse flesh, or take him on hunts. Alexander would rise, only to find that William had left the house before the crack of dawn... very unusual for the Duke, unless there was a duel involved.

Nights passed. Painful nights. Alex would watch as William, dressed to the nines, would leave to find nightly entertainment. Sometimes it was the opera... and he knew what happened afterwards with the actresses and the Duke. Other times it was the Hell Fire Clubs... carnal entertainment to be sure.

And when they did exchange words, William’s gaze grew guarded, as if he expected Alexander to profess his love... Truth to be told, the Duke was right. There wasn’t a thing in this world that Alexander wouldn’t give up, just to have William hold him again... to hear William whisper his name in passion, just once, to the light of love shining from those bright, blue eyes.

One evening he grew bold. He had William’s valet deliver a poem he’d penned. Then he wore a path into the floor, pacing as he waited for William to emerge from his suites. And when he did, Alexander’s heart turned over. God, that man was striking... even the starkness of his attire couldn’t hide his beauty.

His mouth suddenly dry, he croaked, “Well?”

“Well what?” William made a gesture with an elegant flick of his wrist. “Ah... the love poem.”

“Yes. I wrote it.”

“Not at all bad. Who is the lucky chit? Do I know her?” Blue eyes, cold as steel…voice as cool as the winter snow.

Alex shook inside. “There is no her.”

“She must be quite a beauty to have you in such a state.” William started to walk away.

Alex followed. “There is no her.”

“Tell me, is she blonde? Does she have curly hair? You know, I’m quite partial to curly hair.”

“William... I said there is no ‘her’, William!” He shouted, running after the Duke.

“You’ll have to introduce us some time.”

“There is NO HER. There is no her. There is no her. There is NO her!” he continued to shout, long after the front door had slammed shut behind William. His eyes sparkling with tears, he rushed to the study and began pouring himself generous portions of his Grace’s brandy. As he drank one after another, the burning of his throat was nothing to the burn he felt in his heart.

Hours later, Alexander flipped through some of the ledgers on William’s desk. He wouldn’t have dared if it weren’t for the courage loaned to him by the drink... or maybe he would have. He was at the absolute end of his tether, and did not fear William’s wrath ... it was William’s utter disregard that he could not abide.

Then he saw it... the name of an actress. Oh yes, her name had been coupled with William’s of late. But there were so many names coupled with his, it was difficult to know rumor from truth. The fact that the ledgers indicated payments for housing and jewelry, and God knew what else, told him this was William’s light skirt. Damn her, and damn him!

* * *

William was dressing by the light of the fire when he heard the shouts from outside the house. He cocked his head and listened. It was Alexander, the bloody fool, shouting at the top of his lungs. Calling him out... telling him to leave his whore behind.

The petite blonde lifted her head from the pillow. “What is it... what is going on?”

“Never mind.” He sat on the bed. “Some fool... drunk. Like all the other men out there, he is besotted over you.”

“Mmm...” she gave a husky laugh. “Come back to bed, William, there’s no need to rush off... especially with madmen out in the street.”

“Just what I’m thinking.” He closed his eyes and listened to the anguish in his ward’s cries. It was most difficult... especially for one who’d cleaned the boy’s scraped knees, hushed him when he’d cried, and helped him with his studies. He put his thoughts aside… that was long ago, and now it was time for the boy to grow into a man and accept life the way it was.

“William?”

He shook his head no.


* * *

Alexander tossed and turned in his bed. His throat was raw from shouting. Now that the effects of the brandy were wearing off, he worried about what he might have called out. Then again, the neighborhood he’d been in was inhabited by theatre folk, or the demimonde. Chances were that what happened would go no further... and not into polite society.

Polite. He snorted. He didn’t want to be polite. He wanted William... body and soul, he wanted the man. Was he dreaming an impossible dream? Perhaps. But William could give him something more than his back... something more than the coldness.

He wanted to forget about William... he’d tried. There were men who liked boys, and boys who liked boys, and he’d widened his realm of experience a bit... but it was never the same. They didn’t hold him like William had… didn’t know him like William did. Their kisses didn’t master him, like William’s had.

Closing his eyes, he remembered how William’s hands had touched him, stroked him... how they’d branded him for all time. How William held him, like he’d owned him... like he could break him, but chose instead to make his body sing with pleasure. How controlled William could be, and how wild and untamed he could grow. How that cruel mouth could soften, could order and beg at the same time, how intensely his gaze could burn. Heat washed over Alexander as those thoughts flooded his mind. He touched himself, as he had so many times... pretending it was William... but, damn it, it was not.

In sheer frustration, he tossed the bed clothes off and got up. Maybe he should go to William’s chambers... wait for him there. What had he to lose? The Duke would be angry anyway. He’d been with his whore... Alexander had seen his carriage there.

Pulling on only a robe to hide his nakedness, and much reminded of how William had reacted to the gaping robe he’d ordered him to wear that night, Alex rushed down the long hall to William’s suites. When he pushed the door of his bed chamber open, he was surprised to see the Duke’s form visible on the bed. He’d come home!

Taking a deep breath, Alexander climbed onto the large bed, careful not to shake it too much. When a sound of protest broke from the Duke’s lips, Alex’s heart slammed against his chest. William was a light sleeper.

He crawled over the Duke, and looked down into his face. It was too dark to see him clearly, yet he knew by heart how William looked. “William... William... please talk—“ Unexpected pleasure shot through Alex when strong arms locked around the small of his back and dragged him up hard against Will.

“William...” he started to talk again, but firm lips suddenly pressed against his… demanded that he open. His heart soared as William took complete control of the kiss, invading his mouth with his tongue, sliding it in and out with a rhythm that made Alexander’s cock grow hard and pulsate with desire.

He pressed his hips forward, and was rewarded with the feel of William’s thickness rubbing against his own. He groaned, felt his robe being shoved off his shoulders, and the next thing he knew, he was lying face down on the bed, and William was mounting him.

It hurt... there was no getting around it, but once the pain was over and William was fucking him, breathing in his ear, all Alex knew was that this was heaven.

“William...”

“Alex....”

“William...”

“Alex...”

“Oh God, William....”

William fucked him harder and harder, responding to his every call. By the time he realized this was no dream, it was too late... too late to stop. He ground his hips into Alex’s ass, arching his back as he found his release, just as Alexander called out his name again and came.

William rolled off, brushing away Alexander’s searching hands. “You had no right.”

“No right to do what, William. I came... I wanted to talk, by God, that is what...”

“This is not talking. Get out of my bed.”

“Wha... wait, William... wait... we need to talk...”

William saw red. “Get out of my bed, boy, before I take a switch to you.” Instead of waiting, he hauled Alex off the bed, “Put your clothes on and get out.

When Alex swung at him, William was not expecting it. But years of boxing had him dodging the blow. Within seconds, he twisted the equally angry boy’s arms behind his back and marched him across the room to the door. He shoved him into the hall. “Breakfast on the ninth hour. I expect to see you then.” He pulled the door shut with a loud slam and stormed to his now-wrecked bed.

“Damn him... damn him...” Alexander had done it again, made him lose control... made him do something he did not wish to do in any setting other than a dream. “Damn him.”


* * *

Alexander was somber as he waited for William. He wasn’t sorry, but he was slightly apprehensive. At least he’d gotten William’s attention. And a bloody good fuck, his lips quirked at the wrong moment... just when William entered the breakfast room and waved the staff away.

“You think this situation is funny?” William’s voice held a warning, as he poured himself some tea and sat down across from Alexander. “Because it is far from funny.”

Alex swallowed. “No, it’s not funny. It’s tragic.”

William’s eyebrow went up.

“You pretend you don’t care. You make me want you... think of you until I believe I might go mad, and then you...”

“Enough.” William raised his hand. “Stop playing the heroine in this little tragedy you’ve dreamed up. I care about you... as my ward... it goes no further...”

“Liar.” Alexander searched those cool eyes. He knew there were feelings behind them, even if William was stingy with them.

William slammed his hand on the table, making the porcelain and silverware clatter. “You will listen to me and stop this nonsense. The Hell Fire Clubs are places where you play games, you imagine, you pretend... but when you leave, it is over. I am a man... I don’t love men. For God’s sake, I am not sure I have the capacity to love a single woman...”

“You fuck men. You fucked me… I wasn’t your first... you make love to...”

“I fuck men, sometimes,” William bit out. “I love beef and game, but once in a while, I venture out and try some fish. This is the natural order of things. What you need is some fish.”

“If that’s true... I am not like you. William, I don’t like women... I mean I—“

“Quiet.”

“Why? It’s true...”

“No. You’re a man, you like women... you haven’t tried.”

Alexander gave a bitter laugh. “Why is it better to be a man who likes women and has men on the side... than to be like me?”

“There is no like you... you are... you need a woman.” A muscle pulsed in William’s jaw.

“I wouldn’t know what to do with one.”

“You didn’t know what to do with a man either... you need to experience a woman. Then you’ll drop this foolishness.”

“William... it’s not just about... William, I truly do lo—“

“Are you bathed?”

“What? Yes.... why?” Alexander started to smile, “Have you changed your mind?”

“Follow me.” The Duke got up and walked out of the room.

Alex could barely contain his excitement as he bounced after the Duke, but it was only after they passed the staircase and headed for the door, that he started to worry. “Where are we going, William?”

* * *

The carriage swayed as the horses trotted through the city streets. William stared at Alexander, his mouth tightening at the boy’s sudden pallor.

“I can’t do this, William... not even for you.”

There went the muscle in his jaw again. “It’s not for me, it’s for you.”

Alex’s throat convulsed. “I don’t want to do this... please don’t make me.”

“It’s for your own good. You’ll see. You’ll thank me for this.” Then why did his heart feel so leaden? When the carriage stopped, William pushed the door open before the driver got to it.

As he walked toward the townhouse, he slowed several times to allow Alexander to catch up. He knew Alex was dragging his heels, but said naught.

Inside, the house was warm and welcoming. Candles were lit, sensuous scents perfumed the air, and the décor was feminine to a fault.

A woman with painted cheeks and eyes greeted William. “It’s a bit early for this, isn’t it? It must be an emergency.” Her gaze slid down toward William’s crotch.

“Not quite,” he drawled, “we’re here because the boy needs to gain... experience.”

“Oh?” She looked at Alex. “Well, that’s something we can do. I think Angelique or Lillian—“

“Lillian,” William chose with his usual decisive flair.

“So be it.”

He met Alexander’s gaze... saw the absolute fear in them... the plea. It took everything William had to prevent himself from crumbling. “Go on. She’ll take care of you.”

William paced as an hour grew to two hours, then three. Thoughts jumbled his mind, and how he hated that. Worry. Fear. Perhaps a bit of jealousy. None of these were emotions he fancied or had room for. Bloody hell, how long was the boy going to take?

And then the door opened. He whipped around to see Lilly shaking her head no. She gave a sad smile and walked out, her robe swishing about her ankles.

First, William merely heard some sounds. He walked into the room, and saw Alex half naked, sitting on the side of the bed with his face in his hands... sobbing.

“Oh God, Alex...” He crossed the room and sat next to the boy, his heart breaking every time Alex drew a breath and cried some more. “Alexander...” He pulled the boy into his arms… refused to allow him to pull away. Finally, Alex leaned his cheek on William’s shoulder and cried.

“Shshshsh...”

“I couldn’t do it...”

“I know, it’s all right...” William tightened his grip around the shaking boy, cursing himself for his idea.

“I couldn’t... I tried William... and it was so embarrassing... she tried...”

“I know, it’s all right... I know...” Alexander was shaking so hard, William was almost afraid for him.

“It didn’t work. I’m not like you, William... I’m not like you...”

“I know.” William pulled him down onto the bed.

“I can’t like women and men on the side... I can’t...”

“I know, I see that...” Wet tears, Alexander’s, slipped down the side of William’s neck. “Don’t cry... it’s all right...”

“It’s not all right! You said it’s unnatural... you said...”

“Shshsh... Alex...” Why did it make you a better man if you liked women but had limited relations with men? At this moment, with Alexander falling apart over something he’d said, over what he’d tried to accomplish, William couldn’t think of a single reason. “I was wrong.”

“You said—“

“I was wrong... Alex, I was wrong.” William covered the boy’s mouth with his, kissing away the pain, kissing away the tears... stemming them, holding Alexander close, giving him a piece of himself. “I was wrong... you’re all right, my boy, you’re all right.”


(Please comment, scream, shout, pet me ::grins::)