Chapter 24*

Later that night, Jedrick laid in bed while Randell went to wash up. The atmosphere between the two of them was off and Jedrick knew his lover was bothered even if he wasn't trying to express it.

Staring at the ceiling, there was an intricate pattern that was supposed to soothe the beholder. It was inspired by a painting Randell once drew when they were young kids. In those days, the two of them were still aggreivedly sorting out their feelings for the other while torturing themselves by spending as much time as possible together. Their secret dance was confusing and left Jedrick with many sleepless nights.

Avery Randell.

That was the name that was etched on his heart and couldn't be removed even if it was taken out and crushed to pieces. Back then, seeing the dark circles forming under hiss eyes, the young Avery thought of the elemental seals the Temple sold to soothe the soul. The seals went for hundreds of copper to thousands of silver depending on the effectiveness and who made it.

Avery was the son of a fallen subordinate of Jedrick's father. Just like today, there were many orphan children back then and the first branch of the Marquis mansion rarely hesitated in taking those who had no where else to go.

Food, clothing, shelter. And most of all, a sense of purpose. That was what the mansion gave children like Avery.

What it didn't give them, however, was money.

Unless the child grew up or was getting married, none of the orphans were given a salary. Those days were harsh, even the young master Jedrick had to wear the previous year's fashions in accordance to the house rules.

So, the broke little Avery had to make do with the pitiful change in his pocket to shell out for some quality parchment. And using the old ink stone and brush from his late father, he painted a seal using guesswork and imagination.

For a child, the seal actually turned out extremely good. In a way, it was the first time the young Avery was able to show off his artistic and literary talents.

On a day when the weather was good and birds sang Avery and Jedrick had gone for a trek up the hilly knoll behind their home. And courageously, the young servant handed the handmade gift to his master. "I know the young master hasn't been sleeping well... So, I tried to make a soothing seal... Of course, there's no need to use it.. I just..."

Jedrick would never forget how his friend's ears turned a beautiful shade of pink as he shyly gave him the gift. In the confines of his mind, he could never deny how beautiful, inside and out, the boy was. More than anyone else in the world, he didn't think he could ever resist him.

Before he knew it, his hands took the hand holding the seal and pulled him forward.

On that day, the two shared their first kiss.

***

The General sighed as he sat up. He had to admit that the raven haired boy was right.

Not even slipping into a robe, he foregone his outer clothes and quietly walked to the bathroom where Randell was soaking in the tub.

Long hair flowed down the lithe back and floated into the water. The skin was flawless and unmarked, unlike his own which widely consisted of small and big scars that crossed and wove like badly made tapestries. Jedrick didn't know when he started to love this man, but all he knew was that he was never going to stop.

Fatigued from the day, Randell had soaked in the tub much longer than he intended to. His own reaction to Cieran's observation was horrifying. He thought that he and Jedrick were facing the world with confidence. But as soon as the fig leaf was uncovered, Randell's head lowered leaving Jedrick to speak for the both of them.

He was ashamed of himself and didn't know how to face the man he loved.

After that, his thoughts were a little unnerved. The boy didn't even seem to care about their relationship, so what was bothering him so much?

As Randell was absentmindedly reflecting on himself, a pair of strong and familiar arms wrapped around him.

Startled out of his daze, water splashed out of the tub in rippling waves. "It's time to come to bed... The water is cold."

Hot breath sprayed on his neck and even after so many years, Randell's body shivered in response. "I'll be there in a moment. I just need to dry off."

But instead of letting him go, the arms snaked around him further. "Let me help you." Dipping into the water, the General swept under his lover's smooth legs. As a man whose mother was from the south and father was from the north, Randell inherited the best features of both. Long, lean, and beautiful beyond compare; completely unlike him who was full of fur and muscles so thick he could probably crush a melon with just his thighs.

"Ah!"

The General didn't heave a breath lifting a big man like him up. Even if he wasn't as brawny as Jedrick, Randell still kept up with training, making him heavier than he seemed when clothed.

Remembering to take a few towels with him, Jedrick carried his lover to the vanity in their room. The fire was lit, warming the two enough to not be afraid of the chill of the autumn night.

"What are you doing? I can do it myself."

When Jedrick was about to dry Randell's damp skin, Randell went to snatch the towel from his hands. Unfortunately, Jedrick was, as always, faster. "Let me... I want to do this."

So, as gently as his calloused hands could, the General began to wipe his lover's body from head to toe.

The moist beads were soaked up by the soft cloth and as it went lower and lower, the lower part of Randell's body began to rise higher and higher. Not wearing and inch of clothing, Randell went to cover his body with his hands. It wasn't the time to get excited.

As if he didn't notice the ardent erection, the General's hands circled round the sensitive flesh and continued their duty.

To his relief, the poor thing sadly begin to deflate, though, there was still a part of Randell that also felt a bit disappointed.

Little did he know that on the stone faced man were a pair of blazing eyes that could probably burn the sun. The General had plans that went beyond a short hand-job tonight.

When the rest of his body was dry, Jedrick began to twist the long brown hair into a loose braid. Then, when he finished, he picked up his lover once again.

Randell wanted to say that he still needed to do a few more things before bed, but he was immediately shut up when he was deposited onto their mattress. The dark eyes of his lover were glowing gold at the moment - an indication of high emotions.

Turning around, the General went back to the vanity to grab the body oil and face cream Randell had been using to 'combat' aging. He didn't care if the man had crows feet or not, but the routine made him happy so Jedrick didn't ever care to say anything.

As he saw him doing for thousands of nights before, the General warmed the oil in his hands and began to massage the already perfect skin. And as an extra service, he made sure to knead the tense areas such as the neck and shoulders.

In response, his lover let out some pleased moans. Randell hadn't even noticed how erotic the noises he was making were. Each sound went into the General's hot ears and flowed straight to his stiff manhood. It took a lot of self control not to pinch the pink nipples staring at him. Even if he wasn't attracted to the female sex, he couldn't deny he was a breast man through and through.

Sweat beaded above the thick brows and trickled down toward his trimmed beard. Flipping the man over, Jedrick then began to work over that smooth back that had the most perfect little moles dotted into a triangle. Randell didn't know that each time he saw these moles the General's mind would automatically think dirty, filthy thoughts.

This was the General's own little secret.

His thumbs passed a few times over the moles, circling them erotically as if they were an erogenous zone.

Randell immediately jolted. "Ah! Stop! You know that place tickles!"

"Sorry," Jedrick murmured. The hoarseness in his voice was another indicator of his stimulation.

Moving on, he quickly went over the lower back and refocused his efforts on the round, firm ass. His own legs were straddling over Randell's, giving a chance for his engorged cock to lightly brush over the cheeks.

Unlike Randell, Jedrick was still wearing loose underwear. The cloth was a grayish color and right in the middle was a large damp spot that had quietly formed since the moment he first entered the bath.

It seemed that the wholesome and chaste act of servitude couldn't go on any longer. Both men began to quicken in breath and the light brushing was no longer enough. With no reason to hold back, the General fell on top of his love and started to rub his leaking cock onto the firm flesh.

And not wanting to play coy, Randell's hips pushed backward wishing the thick appendage would just pierce him already...

Grabbing a hold of that braid like a tail, he tilted his lover's head toward his. And the two's lips met with a fervent kiss. It didn't take long until their tongues intertwined, lewdly wrestling until the General's won and Randell's submitted.

Saliva was exchanged and lasciviously flowed down their chins. All the while, the General skillfully removed his briefs to expose the most eager part of himself.

Pulling away, Randell turned around to lay on his back. With hooded eyes, he watched as the General reached for the oil on the night stand and poured some on his hands.

His man was a god... A barreled torso filled with a constellation of scars, each of them peeked out from manly chest hair. Engorged arms, sinewy and corded with muscles that were a result from a life of disciplined training. Tree trunk thighs that were pelted with thick hair...

And in between those thighs was an untamed forest with an angry snake staring straight at him. The calloused palms rubbed the thick cock with oil, lubricating the hardened flesh generously. Randell's throat swallowed in hunger while opening his legs in a fervent welcome.

Just like this, another drop of precum spurt out of the cock's eye. No matter how many times he had seen such a lewd display, the General could never not react excitedly. When he was fully coated, he again reached for the bottle to pour onto the puckered hole.

The oil was warm, but Randell still shivered in agitation. 

Adding one digit at a time, Jedrick began to finger his ass with slow strokes, barely scraping the sensitive gland inside. With each passing, the red apendage of the thinner man bobbed upward as if it wasn't his prostate being teased, but his cock.

Randell's eyes began to redden in annoyance. Just because he was on the receiving end, it didn't mean he was completely submissive to the General's ministrations. Gritting his teeth, he hissed, "Hurry up."

Beneath the thick beard, the General's lips lifted into a flirtatious smile. "Hurry up and what?" His movements slowed even further while awaiting instructions.

Randell's smooth brows were furrowed as he bitingly whimpered, "Hurry up... put it in."

"Put what in? Aren't I in you right now?"

As soon as those words were said, the smooth legs wrapped around his waist. And pulled him downward. "Hurry up and give me your fucking cock before I shove mine down your throat!"

The General wanted to tease the man further, but his own dick was throbbing an angry purple.

Removing his fingers, he positioned himself right where he was meant to be.

And just as how they both liked it, the General thrust forward mercilessly