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Clementina’s breath caught as the viscount came unbearably closer so that she could see for herself that his eyes were not pure green, but flecked with gold that seemed to shimmer—
Theo abruptly threw down his pen, balled up the sheet of paper and threw it over his shoulder.
„Writing not going well?“ Martin asked from the door. Theo hadn’t heard Martin approaching and turned to look at him, hissing when a muscle in his neck twinged painfully.
„Not at all,“ he said, rubbing his neck. „Everything I write sounds like drivel.“
„My offer still stands,“ Martin said. He couldn’t quite hide the hope in his voice and Theo smiled at him. „You just want to read the newest Dorothea Swann before anyone else,“ he said.
„I only wish to support you in your artistic endeavours.“ Martin had first offered a few months ago to serve as Theo’s sounding board but Theo hadn’t accepted it then as not necessary. Since then Martin hadn’t mentioned it again, although Theo had caught him looking longingly at Theo’s manuscripts.
If he had been in Martin’s place, he’d read the manuscript as soon as Theo was out of the house, but Theo had fallen in love with a hopelessly decent man. Martin had put a second desk into his study and given it to Theo to use whenever he was at Martin’s, complete with a key to lock up any confidential papers. „My own back hurts to see you writing hunched over on the settle,“ Martin had said. „You should have a proper place to write.“
This had been in the early days when Theo had scurried back to his own rooms more often than not, still scared he’d overstay his welcome and Martin would grow tired of him.
Nowadays basically all of Theo’s belongings were scattered all over Martin’s house. Even the cat had moved with Theo and was now catching mice in Peggy’s pantry.
Ostentatiously Theo was renting his own room for the look of things, but Peggy never bothered putting any things of Theo’s into that room and simply started making space for Theo’s things in Martin’s dressers.
The first time it had happened, Theo had been worried but Martin had simply sighed and shaken his head. „Take up as much space as you’d like,“ he’d said. „The house is big enough.“
But still, the desk had come as a surprise. Theo hadn’t expected such a gesture and had indeed not known how to react except by gamahuching Martin against the pristine piece of furniture.
It had been so long since Theo had had anyone to give him gifts and he himself hadn’t been able to spend any money on anything not absolutely necessary for survival.
Martin seemed to delight in making sure that everyone around him was set up with everything they desired, whether it meant new pots for Peggy or proper ink and nice quills for Theo.
It was amazing, almost perfect. Theo now had a perfect place to write and as much time to finish a book as he wished, but unfortunately he seemed to have mislaid his ability to write.
Theo sighed loudly and groaned when Martin put his hands on his shoulders, his thumbs digging into the tight knots in Theo’s neck.
Martin chuckled. „You need a break,“ he said. „You have been holed up here all afternoon. Let’s have tea.“
„Did Peggy make scones?“ Theo asked hopefully. However bad Peggy had been in the kitchen when she was barely more than a child, by now she was a great cook.
Martin kissed the top of Theo’s head. „Yes, there are scones with cream and raspberry jam.“
Peggy had also decided a few months ago that Theo needed feeding up. She’d interrogated Theo on his preferences and subsequently started making Theo’s favourite dishes. Theo suspected that Martin was encouraging her.
The scones were still warm and Theo happily ate two as well as some sandwiches. Peggy had intimated that Martin had often skipped meals in favour of work, but when Theo ate, Martin also ate. Theo privately thought that everyone should have Peggy run their lives, she was superb at it.
Sipping his tea, Theo’s thoughts turned back to Clementina and the Viscount of Alverley who stubbornly refused to fall in love with each other and be done with it.
„I almost think writing was easier when I was unhappy,“ he said, unthinkingly.
Martin stilled. „How so?“
Theo shrugged, staring into his cup. „I longed for so many things myself. It was easier to recall that feeling.“
„So you are happy now?“ There was an odd tone to Martin’s voice and Theo looked up, startled.
„Yes, of course, I am.“ Theo realised that he hadn’t ever outright told Martin. He looked over, watching Martin hide a smile behind his cup, and realised that he truly, really was.
Theo had become much better at writing heroes and their passionate declarations of love. He’d never thought he’d ever give one of his own, but he thought if there ever was a time, it was now. He carefully put down his saucer and cup, got up and kneeled next to Martin.
Martin looked down at him in surprise. „Theo?“
„Martin St. Vincent, you make me happy,“ Theo said earnestly looking into Martin’s eyes (definitely topaz, he thought). „I didn’t realise how lonely I was until I met you and you dragged me on a wild goose hunt all over the country.“
Martin curled his hand around Theo’s jaw, his eyes soft. „Theodore Swann, you make me happy, too.“
Theo’s breath caught. This is what Clementina felt, he thought inanely. He couldn’t come up with some fast quip in response, so he said, „I can’t believe you feel this way. I’d never thought I’d have someone like you in my life.“
Martin looked startled—either by the sincerity in Theo’s voice or by the words, but it didn’t matter. Theo reached up to pull down Martin’s face to kiss him first softly, then increasingly passionately. Somehow Theo ended up in Martin’s lap, his chair pushed back, Martin’s hands firmly on Theo’s arse.
„I had a whole speech,“ Theo murmured against Martin’s lips.
„I believe you.“ Martin’s hands were rhythmically squeezing Theo’s arse and it was becoming difficult to think.
„It was very romantic,“ Theo assured Martin and groaned when Martin mouthed along Theo’s jaws and lightly bit down on Theo’s earlobe.
„I don’t doubt it,“ Martin murmured. „Save it for later.“
Theo was about to say something in mock-outrage when he realised—he could save it for later, for the viscount’s speech, slightly modified, but—
Martin started laughing. Theo realised that he had stopped in the middle of proceedings.
„Do you want to write down your speech?“ Martin sounded much too amused. „Before you lose the inspiration?“
„I’m a fountain-well of inspiration,“ Theo said. He reached down to unbutton Martin’s breeches. „Let me show you what happens in the part I’m not going to write.“
Martin leaned back in his chair and Theo whispered into his ear how Clementina found her satisfaction with the viscount, his hand tightly wrapped around Martin’s cock, until Martin gasped and spent all over Theo’s hand.
Without much fanfare, Theo shoved his hand inside his own breeches. It only took a handful of strokes until he followed suit, with Martin sucking on his neck.
With a sigh, Theo sacked against Martin. He cleaned his hand on Martin’s napkin and hummed, content. „I think I know now how to continue my story,“ he said and kissed Martin deeply. „Thank you.“
Martin blinked slowly. „You’re welcome, but what are you thanking me for?“
„For everything,“ Theo said. He briefly thought about his debt, forgiven, but the years of labour and worry not so easily forgotten, before immediately moving on to a thousand little things: books he mentioned turning up on Martin’s shelves, Peggy making steak and kidney pie especially for Theo, Martin taking Theo to the music hall in a private box. Theo didn’t know how to put it into words—feeling at home and being welcomed.
Martin tugged Theo close and held him firmly, somehow understanding anyway. Theo let himself relax.
„Thank you for letting me peek into your story,“ Martin said. „I’m looking forward to reading the parts around it whenever you let me.“
Theo could have stayed here forever, but now that he had overcome the big stumbling block in his story, he felt almost feverish to continue. „Then I better start writing it,“ he said with a final kiss.
He pocketed a scone and on his way out of the parlour called over his shoulder, „Maybe I’ll tell you more tonight.“
„I’ll look forward to it,“ Martin said, laughing, and the sound accompanied Theo up the stairs.
This time when he sat down to write, the words came readily. Theo would make sure that Clementina found her happiness. After all, he had found his.