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Ingenuity (Bahorel): April, 1832

Jehan has a most vexing habit of sitting half on my lap for most of an evening, leaning on my shoulder, nuzzling my ear, whispering sweet and wicked nothings, and then dancing off to torment some other poor soul, leaving me shivering in his wake, unable to so much as stand up for a long while afterward without risking embarrassment. On one evening when he decided to practice this cruelty on me, he then skipped away and murmured in Aimery's ear, and they went off together. I wanted little more than to chase after them in that moment and watch them kiss each other into a frenzy, but I could not immediately stand, having already risen, as it were. By the time I had composed myself, they were long gone and I would have had to guess which place they had chosen. I abandoned the thought of following them.

I was not the only one present who was sorry to see them go. Daniel was sitting alone and sketching something, looking quite morose. I went to join him, and he gave me his shy smile. There was a streak of orange paint above his left temple from painting who knows what, giving his otherwise blond hair a wilder tinge that did not quite fit with his quiet demeanor. He liked being reserved, private, separate from the common tumult.

When I tried to see what it was he was drawing, he blushed and covered it with one hand. "Why not?" I said, grinning. "You'll hardly shock me."

"Oh, all right -- but keep your voice down, would you?" He glanced around, then pushed his paper towards me. His ears were still pink.

He had drawn a careful portrait of Aimery in his normal carefree slouch, lounging on one of the rickety chairs of the Musain, naked. Daniel had put himself between Aimery's legs, his cheek on one spread thigh.

"Lovely," I said, in the quiet voice he'd requested.

"I was going to show him, but --" Daniel shrugged.

"But then he ran off. Well, it will be just as -- inspiring -- tomorrow."

He bit his lip. "Or later tonight. I suppose he went to Jehan's, knowing that otherwise, well --"

I considered this as he trailed off, and offered, "Just in case, you could come with me. If you wanted."

He frowned, and I could see him measuring me -- all the stories Aimery must have told him or neglected on purpose, everything he'd ever guessed or assumed, and our own brief shared history as more than friends. "All right," he said eventually, and tucked his drawing into a book, then stood. "Shall we?"

Some shred of conscience pinched me and I nearly said, "Are you sure?" but I managed to suppress the urge. Instead, I said, "Certainly," and we left.

It was not until we reached my building that I patted my pockets and realized that I did not have my keys. I swore and looked up in aggravation at my third-floor flat, out of reach. There was lamplight shining out of the window. Daniel was watching me, perplexed, so I put my hand on his shoulder and whispered in his ear, "Either there's some complete idiot of a thief rummaging around my apartment, or Jehan took my keys."

"Oh." Daniel looked up at the window. "I hope it's the latter."

"I'm sure it is. But they'll be expecting me to be surprised." I kissed his cheek. "Be nonchalant with me?"

He smiled, though it wavered. "I can try."

"It'll be fine. Just kiss me and don't let them startle you, whatever they're doing."

His eyebrows rose. "All right."

He followed me up the stairs. When I reached my unlocked door, I knew it had to be an uninvited but welcome guest, for any hostile intruder with a grain of sense would have locked the door to delay me. I stopped trying to moderate the amount of noise the floorboards made. We went inside; the light was in the bedroom, but the door was open far enough to show enough light to see in the main room. "Here, let me take your coat," I said to Daniel, and hung up his hat for him. He gave me a small, wry smile, then let me embrace him.

His lips were soft and tentative against mine, though after a few moments he gained confidence and put his hand on my shoulder, then tangled it in my hair. He pressed against me with a gasp. We are of a height, but he is so slim and self-conscious that I remember him as shorter unless evidence presents itself that reminds me otherwise. I untied his cravat for him and unbuttoned his waistcoat, then paused to nibble on his ear and listen for noises from the other room. If they had been doing something -- and I didn't doubt they had -- they were waiting for my next move.

Daniel's nonchalance was inspiring; he had already unbuttoned my pants and waistcoat and made a good start on my shirt, though he was shivering and aroused. I looked at him, wondering how best to complete the picture. His hair was wild, his clothing askew, his eyes slightly frightened and glazed. I unfastened his collar and nipped at his neck where it would show. He sighed and tightened his hands on my shoulders. When I looked at him again, there was a satisfactory bloom of pink on his neck, his lips were swollen from kisses, and his pants were open. "Ah, chéri, come to bed."

He nodded and I kept my arm around his waist. He leaned on me for support as we started for the bedroom and kissed my cheek. I pushed the door open and Jehan laughed from within. "We were wondering how long it would take you to get here."

He and Aimery had been tangled together in my sheets. When the light hit us, Aimery stood, splendidly nude, and said, "Daniel," brightly, tugging him onto the bed. Daniel clung to him and Aimery murmured in his ear. I could not make out the words thanks to Jehan, who leapt into my arms and kissed me soundly.

"Cher," said Jehan, "I'm terribly disappointed in you."

"Oh?"

"I didn't think you'd bring someone else with you." He nibbled on my ear. "I wanted --"

I tugged him closer. "What, petit?"

"I wanted you to be vexed with me." He sighed and leaned against me. "Aren't you vexed?"

"Terribly." I kissed his cheek. "Stealing my keys and seducing Aimery in my bed -- vexed isn't the half of it. I'll make you pay for it, wicked brother, tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Jehan sighed. "Why?"

"You're a wretch, and I don't want to frighten Daniel." I gave Jehan a swat and kissed him lightly. "I don't think he needs to know how terrible you can be."

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind," Jehan said. "But -- tomorrow. Promise me?"

"I promise." I nipped his ear and he squirmed. "Did you imagine I'd forgive you so easily for stealing my keys?"

He grinned at me. "I hoped you wouldn't."

"Not at all. But not tonight. Come now, we're being rude. You invited Aimery, and I invited Daniel, and we've left our guests to entertain each other."

"I suppose so." Jehan glanced at them. "But they're doing so well at it, it's a shame to interrupt them."

Aimery had stolen Daniel's pants and compensated with his own body heat by pressing against him. They lay in each other's arms, leisurely kissing and whispering.

I let Jehan go. "It's my duty as host, and yours as -- well -- conspirator. Now, don't sulk," for he was on the verge of it. "Tomorrow, I promise."

"All right, all right."

I walked over to the bed and ran my hand up Daniel's side, then bent and kissed his thigh. "You're lovely."

He startled and reached for my shoulder. "Please -- don't."

Aimery let him go, frowning. "What's wrong, cher?"

Daniel blushed from collarbone to hairline. "I -- I suppose I need a bath."

Jehan chuckled. "Easily accomplished."

"Thus speaks the man whose clothing is scattered all over my room." I buttoned my pants and collar. "I'll be back shortly, then."

"You don't need to," Daniel said, trying to push Aimery away.

"It'll be much more fun." I tousled his hair.

"I can leave. It's all right, really." Daniel bit his lip.

"Don't." It was a choral response, and only Aimery appended, "Please."

"Keep him here," I said, winking at them. "I don't want to haul water for nothing." Jehan was at the foot of the bed before I left the room.

When I returned with a decent bucketful of water, Jehan was sitting on Daniel's lap while Aimery pinned his wrists to the pillow. He had stopped protesting, as anyone might with those two taking turns kissing him into breathlessness. I set down the bucket and leaned against the wall, admiring them until Jehan looked up and laughed. "Monsieur, your bath water has arrived."

"What?" Daniel's voice had gone hoarse. "Oh," he said after a moment. "Oh, you shouldn't have bothered."

"Don't worry," Aimery assured him with a light kiss to his forehead. "He'll make sure it's worth his while." He let Daniel's hands go and stood, stretching, as Jehan got up.

"Certainly." I gave Daniel a hand out of bed. He seemed dizzy, so I embraced him and rubbed his shoulders. "It's not entirely for your benefit, after all."

"No -- I know." He leaned on me with a sigh. "God."

I considered the situation briefly. "Jehan, would you get the pitcher from the other room, and the soap?"

"Of course." He went to get them.

Aimery came up behind Daniel and put his arms around both of us. "Is everything all right?"

"Yes," Daniel said, smiling faintly.

"Good." Aimery nuzzled his neck. "I'd hate to have to toss Christophe out of his own apartment."

"That shouldn't be necessary." I ran my fingers through Daniel's hair. "If you just wanted to go to sleep -- that's really all right."

He closed his eyes briefly. "I don't particularly want to sleep yet, thank you."

"That's just as well, because you do need a bath." Jehan pressed a wet washcloth into his hand, where it dripped down my back.

"Damn!" I pulled away, leaving Daniel leaning on Aimery, and put an arm around Jehan. "You want me to be furious with you, don't you?"

He grinned at me. "Why? Aren't you yet?"

I scowled back. "Tomorrow, I said."

"Oh, come on, Christophe. Daniel's going to wash anyway." Jehan pressed against me, wriggling. "And I know you're angry."

"I'm not angry. Just -- vexed." I squeezed him and gave Aimery an apologetic look. "Remember? Guests?"

Jehan took my hand and kissed it. "They're busy."

I rolled my eyes and gave him a push toward the bed. "Incorrigible brat."

"Who, me?" he said, all innocence. "I didn't do anything."

"You stole my keys." I sat down on the edge of the bed and caught one of his hands. "And you're making me neglect my guests. And now my back is cold. You're being terrible, petit, and I'm not going to ignore it anymore. Now come here."

He bit his lip, his fine-boned face going red with what I knew full well was anticipation. "Christophe, you wouldn't." There was a sparkle in his eyes, a twist to the corner of his mouth. He was suppressing his glee; he had, after all, fought hard to convince me to play.

"You've earned this." I tugged him over and gave him my fiercest glare. It was difficult not to smile at him, but that would have ruined the mood. "You're impossible and I won't put up with it for another minute."

He beamed at me for a second before starting to struggle. "Stop it. That's not fair. Christophe --"

I tangled my fingers in his hair and pulled him close enough so that I could whisper in his ear. "For God's sake reassure Daniel that you're not actually being tortured, would you? I don't want him to faint in the bath or start trying to protect you."

"Oh." He blushed in earnest then and shivered. "I -- must I?""

"Yes, or I won't so much as touch you." I let him go to underscore this point.

"Christophe," he protested piteously. I only frowned at him. "Oh, all right." He turned around, his eyes on the floor. "Um. Daniel, I -- well -- you must know I -- provoked Christophe into this, and I -- well -- um. Don't mind."

Daniel was, if it was possible, even brighter red than Jehan. "Oh. All right."

"'Don't mind' is putting it mildly," Aimery said, giving Daniel's shoulder a squeeze. "Don't worry, love. And if you do -- watch Jehan's face."

"Oh." Daniel nodded dubiously, looking extremely worried. "If you say so."

Aimery kissed Daniel's cheek. "Let's get you clean, either way."

I put my hand on Jehan's hip and pulled him onto my lap. He could have fought then, might have pushed my hand away. Instead, he spread his legs and leaned against me. "You're a horrible boy."

"Christophe --" He did his best to struggle without actually going anywhere. "Let me go."

"You don't want me to." I stroked him none too gently and he sighed, pressing into my hand. "You've been begging me for this since I got home."

"I haven't." He shivered. "Please, stop."

"You haven't given me a moment's peace." I nipped at his earlobe. "First you stole my keys --"

"I borrowed them. I'm sorry."

I ignored his protests; forgiving him would be beside the point. "-- and then you dragged Aimery into my bed --"

"I didn't think you'd mind!"

"And now you're lying and denying everything." I moved my hand to his chest to steady him and play with his nipples. "You're a wicked little boy. Turn over."

"Don't make me, Christophe." Jehan turned and hugged me, hiding his face in my shoulder. He was shivering again. "Please don't make me."

"Admit you've been awful or go home." I looked at the ceiling, trying to pretend that his wide eyes did not move me. They certainly did not inspire pity.

"Please." Jehan whimpered and put his hands on my shoulders to shake me. "Don't do this."

I took hold of his wrists and pulled them together over his head. "Do you want to go home?"

His pretty face was blotched with emotion, half feigned and half felt. I wanted to kiss him, to reassure him, to break from the game and hold him, but it pleased him to pretend to be afraid of me. He hesitated over my question, the last dignified escape. "No," he admitted, closing his eyes in shame. Whether it was real or imagined, or whether there was a difference, I couldn't have said. "I don't want to go home."

"Then do as I say."

He hesitated a moment longer before he got up and lay over my lap, settling with his weight on his elbows and his knees and his ass raised up. His erection rested on my thigh. I ran my hand over the soft curve of his buttocks, appreciating the fine texture and the pale color. "You've earned this." I gave him a gentle swat, getting him used to the feeling. "Every second of it." And another. A light red began to rise in his skin.

Jehan sighed. "I'm sorry."

"No, you're not." After each sentence, I spanked him again, keeping him off balance from the irregular rhythm. "You decided to take my keys. You wanted me to find you naked, didn't you?" He whimpered. "I know you did. You wanted me to surprise you while you writhed for Aimery, while you pretended it was for him."

"That's not true." Jehan shivered and struggled, half-pretending he wanted me to let him go.

That earned him a harder strike. "Liar. You wanted to put on a show for me. And now you're doing it, aren't you? But not just for me. Everyone's watching you, petit. They can see how bright your ass is getting, and how much you want this."

"Please stop."

I laughed at his predicament, putting as much scorn into the sound as I could manage. "Why?"

"Please."

"Why should I, Jehan? You want this."

"No. No. Please."

I might have believed him if he hadn't thrust against me with every word. Instead, I matched each of his thrusts with a slap and kept up the rhythm. "What if I'd brought home ten people? You'd let them all see you like this, whomever it was, wouldn't you? And more than that. I know you, Jehan. I know just how much this drives you mad and how much you want me to stop and fuck you. You want it, don't you?"

"Yes. Please --" His voice was growing hoarse. "Please, Christophe."

"Shameless boy. I could tie you to the bed right now and you'd beg us all for it."

"Yes. Oh, God." He tightened his hands in the bedspread and thrust harder, getting close to orgasm.

"Wouldn't you be pretty with your bright red ass in the air and your legs open wide, getting fucked hard and begging for it until we can't stand the sound and someone takes your mouth. I should have brought ten more for you, boy, so we could keep you on your knees all night long."

"Jesus, Christophe --" Jehan shuddered and came with a wail, lying on me heavily until the aftershocks faded. "Oh, my God." I helped him up and he leaned on my shoulder. His face was beet red and he was grinning. "You're a terror."

"So are you. And now we need a bath, too." I stood up and stretched.

"Are you really all right, Jehan?" Daniel asked. He and Aimery were sitting with their backs to the wall, arms around each other. I had expected something less passive of them than snuggling, but they seemed comfortable.

"Never better." Jehan washed himself off, wrinkling his nose at the mess. "God, Christophe, what a wreck you've made of me."

I grinned at him. "And you protested every bit of it, didn't you."

Aimery laughed. "You're utter reprobates, both of you."

"I'm sure you can recognize your own kind at a glance." I found Jehan a towel and traded it to him for the washcloth.

"It's a useful talent." Aimery stretched a little and dropped a kiss to Daniel's hair. "Poor Chris, are you all worn out now?"

"Only my hand." I shook it gently, exaggerating the exertion. "Why?"

Aimery chuckled. "I thought I'd inquire."

"As long as you don't want a spanking, I still have energy." I grinned at him.

"I --" Daniel hugged Aimery more tightly.

"I'd like to see you try it." Aimery bared his teeth in a mock snarl and embraced Daniel. "You all right?"

"Don't tempt me, Aimé." It was a joke, and we both knew it.

"I'm fine," Daniel mumbled.

"You're freezing," Aimery said, patting his shoulder, "and there's a perfectly good, completely empty bed over there. Let's get you warmed up, shall we?" He disentangled himself and stood, then offered Daniel a hand up.

Daniel stood. I could certainly see why he would be cold; he was quite thin. He followed Aimery to the bed and I put an arm around Jehan to kiss him and give them a minute to themselves. "Chéri. You're comfortable?"

He smiled. "I will be by tomorrow if I don't sit down too much."

"Is it that bad?"

"No, not at all. It's fine. It was splendid. Thank you." He kissed me tenderly. "But I am rather chilled, and -- you do have guests. Perhaps I ought to go."

"If you like, petit. There's always tomorrow."

He grinned. "Yes, and you did promise me."

"So I did, wretch. Go on, then. Get dressed." I let him go and he started to separate out his scattered clothes from the general pile.

Aimery was half entwined with Daniel among the rumpled bedclothes, laughing softly. "There, chéri."

"It's nice to be warm. You were right."

"That happens occasionally," Aimery said cheerfully.

Daniel chuckled. "Quite often."

They murmured something else too softly for me to hear. Then Daniel put on a deliberately calm face and said, "Cher, I came home with him, and I didn't have the first idea you'd be here. As long as he doesn't want to smack me, I don't mind."

Aimery laughed at that. "All right, that's fair."

"I already said I'm too tired for that." I went over to tousle Aimery's hair.

"Then I don't mind." Daniel shrugged.

"Eavesdropper," Aimery accused me, grinning.

"They're my eaves." I kissed Daniel's forehead. "Move over a bit?" I got into bed with them and put an arm around Daniel, who shivered.

"It's not much warmer yet," he said, and tucked his hands behind his head.

Aimery settled against his side, kissing his neck. "Better?"

"Some, yes."

I reached over and ran my hands down Aimery's back. "So."

"So. What exercises do you suggest to get the blood moving?"

I laughed. "That depends on how much -- exercise -- you did before I got home." Daniel buried his face in the pillow, blushing. Perhaps the frankness of the conversation bothered him.

"There was hardly time," Aimery retorted. He wound an arm around Daniel's waist, tugging him closer.

"Come now, cher, I've met you." I groped him lightly and kissed Daniel's shoulder. "You had all of five minutes."

"Hmph." Aimery was a trifle breathless. "Until I was interrupted. I prefer to do things properly."

"Well, now we've all the time in the world. What would you like to do properly?"

"I think Daniel thinks you're wholly depraved." Aimery reached across Daniel to tug me nearer. "Shall we convince him otherwise?"

Daniel snorted. "I know you're all depraved."

I smiled. "Then I don't know how we'd go about doing that."

"Or at least that we're well-intentioned." Aimery pressed a kiss to Daniel's throat. "Still cold, love?"

"I'm all right."

"Shall we let you sleep, then?" he asked, amused.

Daniel frowned. "Not in the middle of the bed, no. At least let me get out of your way."

I touched his shoulder. "Daniel. You're welcome here."

"If there's no one else around, I suppose I am." He pushed the covers back and sat up. "As things stand, I may as well go home."

Aimery caught at him, the laughter gone out of his face. "Don't, love. Stay."

"I don't want to be in the way." Daniel pushed Aimery's hands away.

I wrapped him in an embrace. "You're not in the way. Stay. Let us keep you warm if nothing else."

"Never," Aimery echoed. "Never that." He buried a kiss in Daniel's hair, hands resting on his shoulders. "Please, chéri."

"I'll go home, and you can keep on with your -- orgy. Or whatever it is."

"Daniel." Aimery looked stricken.

I let him go. "I won't try to keep you here if you don't want to stay."

"I didn't know it was going to be this strange." Daniel crossed his arms. "That's all."

Aimery embraced him again. "Everything's fine. Don't be angry, cheri, everything's all right. Look, if you want to go home, we will. All right? Kiss me, love."

Daniel sighed. "I should have gone home in the first place."

"Do you want to?" Aimery asked softly.

"God, you make everything so difficult." Daniel glared at the wall. " I can't think anymore. I don't know what I want."

"Then stay. Let me love you. Let us keep you warm." Aimery kissed him with all the meticulous attention of which he is capable on occasion.

Daniel embraced him and returned the kiss, though he did not entirely relax.

"I think I'll be going," Jehan said lightly. He had found all of his clothing and managed to dress nearly respectably, though he was a bit rumpled.

"It doesn't matter," Daniel said after a few moments. "I should go."

Jehan chuckled. "Don't worry, brother. It's not as if my evening was wasted." He kissed Daniel lightly, Aimery more lingeringly, and embraced me to murmur, "Tomorrow," before he kissed me with enough fervor to make me wish for the day to fly past in an instant. "Good night, mes frères. Enjoy yourselves."

"Good night, cher," Aimery said with a wistful smile.

"Until tomorrow, petit."

Jehan tipped his hat to me and left.

"I should go," Daniel said, sitting up part way. "I'll send him back here and apologize."

"Look, you." Aimery tackled him backward, half onto the pillows, half onto my lap. "If you go, I will go with you, and when we get home I will only take your clothes off again and not give them back, so you may as well save yourself a long walk in the cold."

Daniel blushed. "At least I wouldn't be wasting everyone's time."

I tousled his hair. "You're not. You won't."

"There." Aimery kissed him again. "You are outvoted. Stop worrying, my love."

Daniel hugged him. "I'll try."

"We can help." I rubbed his nipples lightly. "Just stop worrying, brother."

"All's well." Aimery settled down again, one arm slipping under Daniel's shoulders.

"All right," Daniel said on a sigh, relaxing. "I'll just -- stay, then."

Aimery caressed him. "A splendid idea."

"You're handsome when you're not scowling," I told Daniel, and I kissed him lightly. He shivered and reached up to run a hand through my hair.

He smiled at me. "So are you."

I snorted. "Not in the least. Particularly not beside the two of you."

Aimery shook his head. "Flatterer."

"You fit together nicely." I shrugged. "And you're used to each other."

Daniel looked at Aimery in bemusement. "Well, of course we are."

I laughed. "Monogamist."

"How do you mean?" Daniel asked.

"Well -- you certainly spend a great deal more time together than I spend with any one other person, and you've long since learned each other's habits." I kissed Daniel's forehead. "And exactly what to do to drive each other to madness, I'm sure."

"Generally speaking, yes," Aimery shook his head. "What do you want, Chris?"

"To see the ways you -- please each other. And help, where it seems opportune."

Daniel blushed. "God."

I touched his cheek. "Don't think so hard, brother."

"It's all right, Daniel," Aimery said easily. "It's only me, after all."

"It's not only you." Daniel sat up. "That's what makes it harder."

I shook my head. "Stop worrying. Aimé, won't you help him with that?"

Aimery licked his nipple. "Cher, it's all right."

Daniel bit his lip. "I -- I can try."

"Perhaps --" I considered them. "I don't think we ought to give him a chance to think."

"Certainly not." Aimery took Daniel's wrists in his hands and lay back, his head on the pillow. "Just relax, love." He nibbled on Daniel's thumb until his eyes closed.

"God, Aimery," he said hoarsely.

"Let me?"

Daniel chuckled ruefully. "As if I could ever resist you."

Aimery grinned. "Splendid. Turn around, then?"

"-- what?"

"Let me suck you, love."

Daniel blinked. "I --"

I sat up, having caught the meaning of Aimery's request. If that oblique phrasing was what Daniel was used to, then I felt constrained not to elaborate, but I embraced him and helped him turn to face me, toward the end of the bed. "Like this."

"Oh." He blushed again.

I kissed him and stroked him, anything to distract him from his self-consciousness. "It's all right. Just put your knee there -- yes, like that -- and shift sideways -- there."

"This is so awkward," Daniel protested.

Aimery reached up and pulled his hips down. "And so delightful."

Daniel shivered. "God, Aimery." He leaned forward, lying on Aimery's chest and bracing himself up on one elbow, and began to kiss Aimery's cock lightly.

I rubbed Daniel's lower back in small circles, admiring the deftness of his touches; with one hand, he teased the base of Aimery's erection, while he nuzzled and licked the upper half. From time to time, this was interrupted with a curse or a moan that drew my attention to Aimery, who was taking full advantage of his position to alternately lick the length of Daniel's cock and suck it into his mouth. I could not bear to watch for long before I retrieved a bottle of oil from the bedside and wet my fingers enough that they shone, but lightly enough that they would not drip. I stroked the cleft of Daniel's buttocks gently and eased a finger inside him bit by bit. He swore again and pressed into my hand. I kissed his lower back and tasted the sweat that began to to shine there, then wet another finger and added it. I began to move my fingers slowly in and out of him, listening to the changes in his breathing and the little wet noises of suction. When he thrust back against my hand in earnest, I slowed down. He speeded up and groaned, so I added a third finger and watched him shudder in indecision, unsure whether Aimery's mouth or my hand was more pleasurable from instant to instant.

"God, Christophe, I can't." he protested, kneeling up. "I'm sorry, Aimery --" Daniel shook his head. "I must be choking you."

Aimery touched his cheek. "It's fine."

"Should I stop?" I asked.

"No -- please don't." Daniel blushed. "I just -- not both at once."

"Not like that, no." I slicked myself with the oil and set it aside. "Kneel over here, though, would you?" I let him go and he shuddered, then moved to the place I suggested.

"What do you mean?"

"Here -- face away from me, and spread your legs again." His face went bright red, but he complied. "Are you comfortable?"

"Yes. What are you --"

"Aimery." I gave him a hand to steady himself as he sat up. "If you'd like -- this might be easier to take."

He laughed and moved sideways so that he was lying on his side facing Daniel, his head lifted by one bent arm. "God, you're lovely, chéri," he said with a grin, speaking entirely to Daniel.

"I'm sorry," Daniel said, shivering, He reached down to touch Aimery's hair.

"I'm not sorry in the least." Aimery kissed his cock and began to nuzzle him again.

I nipped Daniel's ear to get his attention. "Are you all right?"

"I -- yes."

I put an arm around his waist for balance and knelt behind him. "Comfortable?"

"Yes."

"Good." I kissed the bruised spot on his neck I had begun earlier and started to push into him.

"Christophe --" he reached back and wrapped his fingers around my side. "You'll -- you'll kill me."

I froze. "Does it hurt?"

"No." He rocked back onto me. "Don't stop."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Yes, damn it." He rocked again, harder, and I took him at his word. The soft sounds of Aimery's mouth disappeared under Daniel's cries. He tightened his grasp on my side until it was painful; I answered him by biting at his neck, darkening the mark there.

"Deep breaths," I counseled him, though I was half-gone myself and with far less reason.

"Oh, God, I can't." Daniel tangled one hand in Aimery's hair and leaned against me for balance, his breathing growing harsher with every thrust. "I can't --"

I shifted the arm around him until I could pinch one of his nipples in time to his desperate movements. He whimpered at that, driven past words by Aimery's mouth and the pressure of me inside him. I couldn't reassure him, for his desperate sounds and eager movements pushed me into the same incoherence. I could taste the salt of his sweat and feel the tight heat of him as he forced himself onto me. He shuddered and moaned and brought himself to a greater frenzy, almost enough to knock me backward. At the height of it, he came with a strangled shout that startled me into opening my eyes. A glimpse of Aimery with his lips pressed against the base of Daniel's cock, watching every movement with adoring attention, spurred me after. I clung to Daniel, sure for a mad moment that I could feel Aimery's tongue.

When I could see again -- a long interval, made longer by Daniel's still-labored breathing -- I kissed his shoulder softly. "Are you all right?"

"More than."

I let him go just enough to pull away from him and embraced him again. "Good."

"Yes, it was." Daniel yawned and kissed my cheek.

"Don't fall asleep yet." I tousled his hair. It had gone darker near the roots from sweat. "We've neglected Aimery."

"Take your time." Aimery was lounging on his side again, watching us with an entirely implausible air of laziness.

"We can't. Daniel will fall asleep. Lie down, Aimé?"

He grinned at me. "I am."

I rolled my eyes. "Properly. Head on the pillow, on your back."

"Oh," he said, and sat up. "Like this?"

"That's better." I kissed Daniel's cheek. "I think we owe him, don't you?"

"Yes." And he blushed again, unaccountably. After all we had just done, what was embarrassing about a mild question?

"Perhaps you ought to pick up where you left off, Daniel," I suggested.

He frowned, then smiled a little as he understood. "All right." He knelt between Aimery's legs and began to suck him again with the smoothness of long practice.

"Chéri," Aimery protested breathlessly.

"Don't worry." I patted his shoulder. "It won't be that easy. Hold on, Daniel -- give me a turn?"

He looked up, his lips wet, and sat back reluctantly. "If I must."

I kissed him, chasing the taste of Aimery deep into his mouth until he embraced me for balance. "Share with me, then."

He smiled. "Gladly."

Together, we settled onto our knees and licked wet stripes up the length of Aimery's cock. He laughed at first, but his amusement quickly changed to murmurs of pleasure. While Daniel hollowed his cheeks to tease a louder moan from Aimery, I licked my fingers and played with his nipples. Daniel waited until I had my mouth quite full to ask, "Where's the oil?" and I could only point. He worked a finger into Aimery and sucked him hungrily, leaving me little choice but to confound his work and draw him into another kiss.

It stretched on until Aimery cleared his throat and said, "What about me?"

"Oh," Daniel said absentmindedly, and pressed another finger into him before kissing me again.

Aimery gasped and began to laugh. "Wretched."

"Perhaps we ought to let him come," I said to Daniel.

Daniel gave him a critical look. "He'd probably like that."

"Probably!" said Aimery incredulously. "Very much."

"Well, then." I let Daniel go and we resumed, making sure that Aimery could not think for a second. With four hands on him, teasing his nipples, scratching pale red lines down his chest, pressing inside him teasingly and then insistently, he writhed; with two mouths on him, nipping and sucking, teasing and licking, he could hardly lie still. Near the end, Daniel and I kissed each other again around the head of his cock, taunting one another and delaying Aimery a few precarious moments before he came at last, arching off the bed into Daniel's mouth.

Daniel kissed me again while Aimery recovered. I was nearly inspired enough to push him down and pull Aimery into a similar game, but we were interrupted by a voluminous yawn. "That was lovely," Aimery said contentedly. "Come and kiss me."

When I lay beside him, I realized how tired I was, and how late it must have been. "Perhaps we ought to go to sleep."

Daniel yawned. "Perhaps."

"Unless you've another idea?"

He laughed. "No, not tonight."

Aimery kissed me lightly and embraced Daniel. "Good night, then, loves."

I put an arm around him and squeezed Daniel's shoulder. "Good night."

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