Cupids, Wine and Little White Lies "There lads, look at them!" Matthews pointed up towards the bridge and the two men standing there, deeply engrossed in quiet conversation. "If ye ask me, I don't know what they're waiting for." Styles shook his head, playing with the rope in his hands. Captain Pellew had recently taken up his watch and word had already gone around the ship of how he had killed Simpson, saving Mr. Hornblower's life in the process. Styles, Matthews, Finch and Oldroyd had made sure there was not a single man on board who was not aware of Hornblower's latest feat. Now the young officer was back from sickbay, his injury bandaged up and - aside from looking a little paler - he seemed none the worse for wear as he joined his captain up on deck. "Saved 'is life, he did." Finch grinned a toothy grin, nodding towards the captain. "And you know, Simpson deserved it, too." Styles looked pleased. "Besides..." His grin widened. "What?" Oldroyd asked, baffled. "It's romantic, that is." Matthews, Styles and Finch chuckled. Oldroyd looked utterly confused. "What are you talking about, lads?" he queried, earning yet more laughter. "The captain and Mr. Hornblower, ye fool." Styles smiled. "What about 'em?" "Oh, for heaven's sake, Oldroyd!" Matthews sucked in a deep breath. "Hey lads, look!" Four pairs of eyes fixed on the captain and his young protégé as Pellew stepped closer and, with a slight and very rare smile around his lips, talked to Mr. Hornblower in quite an intimate fashion. "Wonder what he's sayin'?" Matthews asked. Styles grinned broadly. "From the look on Mr. Hornblower's face, he's praising 'im again." "He bloody well deserves it." Matthews nodded to emphasize his statement. "Aye, he does. I expect the Captain will be making him Acting Lieutenant now." Styles looked thoughful about something. Matthews had the very same thought. "It would bring 'em a bit closer in rank." Finch grinned. "I reckon that ought to not matter, as it is." Styles nodded. "Course not. But the captain probably won't feel right doing something about it with Mr. Hornblower being a midshipman an' all." "Doin' something about what?" Oldroyd asked. "What are you all on about?" "He wants 'im," Styles simplified. "The Captain wants Mr. Hornblower. And I'd be bloody surprised if Mr. Hornblower didn't want 'im back!" "Oh, go on!" Oldroyd exclaimed. Then he thought about it, scratching his head absently. "Oh, he wants 'im back alright." Matthews sighed. "Every time the captain isn't lookin', he watches 'im, eyes big as saucers." "He's a very handsome man, Mr. Hornblower is." Finch smiled. "No he ain't," Styles corrected. "He's a beauty the likes I never seen before." "Aye, that he is," Matthews agreed. Oldroyd nodded silently. At least that bit he could follow. Styles looked up at their superior officer adoringly. "If I was the captain..." "But you ain't, Styles. Captain Pellew don't leer at 'im the way you do. He's sub... sub..." Matthews struggled for the word. "Subtle." Finch nodded, proud that he knew the word. "Yes, that he is." Styles frowned. "Too subtle. They won't never get anywhere like that." "That's true enough." Matthews glanced up to the helm where the captain and Mr. Hornblower stood very close now, their eyes locked. The captain was still smiling. "Someone ought to help 'em along then." Styles grinned. "What d'ya mean?" Finch was curious. "You mean like... tell 'em?" "Nah. We got to be like the captain. Subtle." Styles and Matthews grinned at each other, satisfied with their conclusion. Oldroyd scratched his head. "But if the captain is soot... sut..." "Subtle." Finch helped. "Yeah, subtle. And we're gonna be subtle, then what's the difference?" Styles shoved Oldroyd hard against the side of the canon. "That's 'cause we're not gonna be that subtle. And they won't be suspecting anything neither." Finch giggled. "What do we do?" They were interrupted in their plotting by Mr. Hornblower calling out instructions to them. When they looked up at him, they saw Captain Pellew's eyes still on his young officer, and he looked more than simply proud. Grinning broadly, Styles called out, "Aye, Sir." He saluted Hornblower and got to work on the ropes as instructed. Matthews nodded, looking like he had been caught stealing, and Finch and Oldroyd made themselves look busy also. When their duties were done, the four crewmen peered up at Hornblower and the captain, standing side by side next to the helm in identical poses. "Down to the mess, lads. We have work to do." Matthews motioned for the others to follow him, and they retreated discreetly below decks. ~ ~ ~ Horatio sank down on his bunk with a sigh. His head was spinning from the events of the day. The duel. Simpson - finally dead and no longer able to hurt anyone. And the captain saving his life... He smiled. And then he had been made Acting Lieutenant and invited to dinner with the other officers in the captain's quarters. He closed his eyes, calling up the look in his captain's eyes again when he had told him he saw something in him. And his voice had been so... intimate. Oh if only he had not been talking about the officer Hornblower. He was certainly grateful for the promotion, but if the captain could only see the man Hornblower for once. He feared the captain saw no more in him than a boy, albeit a brave one. Sighing, he attempted to fall into slumber - something he always found supremely difficult once thoughts of his captain had entered his mind. The kind eyes... that slight, proud smile... oh, Edward... A soft rapping on the door startled him and he sat up ramrod straight. "Yes?" he called out, but there was no response. Horatio rose and went to open his cabin door, certain he heard quick footsteps retreating towards the stairs to the main deck. He opened the door quickly, hoping to catch a glimpse of the culprit, only to very nearly step on the red rose someone had placed in front of his cabin. He picked up the delicate gift and inhaled its scent. Moments later, Captain Pellew tore open his cabin door. If there was one thing he despised, it was childish games. God help the man playing tricks on him like this! Not unexpectedly, there was no one at the door. Who would have the audacity to knock on the captain's quarters and then not enter when asked to? He looked down the hall towards the other officer's quarters, noting Hornblower's door closing just then. Frowning, he moved back inside, wondering whether he should question his newest Acting Lieutenant. That was when his eyes fell on the single white rose on the ground. Raising his right eyebrow, he picked it up gently. Then his jaw dropped, his cheeks flushed, and his heart doubled its beat. "Hornblower?" he asked of no one in particular. ~ ~ ~ They shared the dogwatch. Captain Pellew arranged it that way as frequently as he could without making it overly obvious. Tonight, however, things were rather awkward. It appeared that Hornblower's mind was miles away. "Mister Hornblower!" he finally barked after several unsuccessful attempts to draw the young man's attention. "Aye, captain. Sorry, sir." Hornblower cleared his throat and straightened himself up, looking at Pellew guiltily. "At your ease, sir. By god, where are you tonight?" Already, his voice softened. It became more and more difficult these days for him to be stern with the boy. Horatio wondered how many times the captain had attempted to get his attention and stuttered, "I do apologize... Sir... I... that is, I have... I mean..." Pellew suppressed the smirk with great difficulty. "Alright, Mr. Hornblower. No matter. It is a quiet night." He nodded for emphasis. "Please, go back to where you were. It must have been a rather interesting place." "Oh no, sir!" Horatio protested, feeling very awkward that his captain should think he would rather be someplace else. It could not be further from the truth, after all. "I am right here, sir," he stated sheepishly. "Physically, at least." Pellew smiled just a little then, looking Horatio up and down. Why did this young man have to be so unashamedly beautiful? Once again coming to the conclusion that Hornblower had to be a ploy by the bloody Frogs to drive him to distraction, Pellew sighed. "I am sorry, sir," Hornblower said meekly. "Do not distress yourself, Mr. Hornblower." The captain decided to pay very close attention to Hornblower's actions. It simply would not do to ask him too directly about the rose. There was after all no proof that the young man had left it at his door. In fact, the entire matter might have simply been a prank by one of the crew. No, he would have to be subtle. Just below the stairs to the bridge, a couple of crewmen crouched with toothy grins on their faces before disappearing below to set the next step of their plan into action. ~ ~ ~ When the watch changed, the captain gave a brief report to Mr. Bracegirdle before excusing himself to retreat to his quarters. Hornblower politely waited for his captain to lead the way down the stairs before descending into the bowels of the ship himself. "Mind you don't fall, Mr. Hornblower," the captain warned, frowning in the darkness. It was too late in the night for the oil lamps to be burning and too early in the day for the sun to illuminate the musty stairs down into the ship. "No, sir, thank you," Hornblower replied, only to get his foot caught on something at that very same moment, reeling forwards and down the stairs with nothing to stop his fall. Nothing except his captain. Pellew reacted quickly when he heard the catch in Hornblower's voice and saw the long limbs flailing helplessly in the near dark. He reached out and found himself with a delicious armful of Horatio, filling his nose with a mix of musk, salt and sea. He closed his eyes against the assault on his senses, unable to deal with the vision of those soft dark curls against his face as well as the feel of them sliding over his weather-roughened cheek. Hornblower clutched onto him. Oh, he could feel the floor beneath but, truth be told, he really would rather not let go. It felt too good to be in his captain's arms like this - supremely safe and warm. Only a moment longer... He inhaled deeply of his captain, pressing against him while his arms were around his neck. Oh god! Pellew damn near panicked. What if someone caught them like this? He had to put a stop to this. He was the captain after all. Maybe only a moment more... That strong young body in his embrace felt too good to be true. And if this was to be the only time he would be holding Horatio in his arms, he would make it worthwhile. Squeezing him tight very briefly, he sighed regretfully, knowing he would have to release him now. Hornblower withdrew, running his right hand through his thick curls in embarrassment. "I am most terribly sorry, captain. Please forgive my clumsiness!" He sounded indeed regretful, but there was a slight tremor in his voice. "There is nothing to forgive, Mr. Hornblower. I trust you are uninjured?" Pellew was rather impressed with the control he held over his own voice. "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." "Well then..." The captain hesitated. "I bid you good night, Mr. Hornblower." "Good night, sir." Horatio nodded. Then, he all but fled towards his cabin. Captain Pellew watched him leave, his eyes on the narrow back and on the full dark curls bobbing as Hornblower retreated through the door, ducking due to his height. With a sigh, he made his way to his own berth. As soon as both officers' doors had closed, a giggling came from underneath the stairs. "Shut up, Oldroyd!" Styles chided. But he couldn't suppress his own grin. "If ye ask me, lads, none of them two wanted to let go." Matthews and Finch nodded, smiling. Then they removed the rope they had tightened across one of the stairs just before Horatio had descended it. ~ ~ ~ "We know it's all right then?" Matthews asked his crewmates two evenings later. "No one will miss 'em?" "No." Styles grinned broadly. "Bracegirdle and Bowles are on watch tonight, Cleveland's on shore leave, and the cook's agreed to help us out getting our spirit rations to the midshipmen." "We better hope them Frenchies don't get it into their heads to attack us tonight," Matthews cautioned. "Not a chance," Styles explained. "They're as stuck as we are without any wind in their sails." That was true enough. For the past two days, the Indy had been becalmed along with the other three ships anchored at Gibraltar. No one was going to be coming into port or leaving it. "Which one of us is going to tell 'em then?" Oldroyd asked. "Not me." Matthews frowned. "They'll know we lied." "Someone has to." The four crewmen looked at each other. "We could send notes," Finch suggested, only to be given a filthy look by Styles. "And which one of us is going to write them notes? I see no one here who can write in them fancy words the captain and Mr. Hornblower use. " "That's true enough." All four of the men sighed. Finally, Finch and Matthews volunteered. Shortly after, Matthews knocked on Horatio's cabin door. "What is it, Matthews?" Hornblower inquired, the fingers of his right hand curled around the door. His watch had finished a couple of hours ago and he had been engrossed in Clark's Complete Handbook of Seamanship. Tiredly rubbing his eyes, he asked, "Well?" "Sorry to disturb you, sir, but I walked past the captain's private wine store and... well, I think there's someone in there." Matthews felt rather badly about the lie, but it was the best he could come up with. "Maybe the captain's steward?" Horatio frowned. Matthews hadn't expected that. He quickly reconsidered. "No, sir. I just saw 'im with the cook." With a sigh, Horatio weighed up whether or not to point out that the watchman should be taking care of this. However, the fact that any man in his division automatically came to him with troubles flattered him immensely. "All right, Matthews. Thank you. I will have to get back into my uniform." "Aye, sir, if you think you must." Matthews retreated, glad that Hornblower would not be able to see his grin while he walked away with his back turned. He hid around the corner and waited for Hornblower to come out. When he did, Matthews was pleased to find he had foregone wearing his hat and had decided to merely carry his dress coat. It wouldn't do to be too formal. Grinning, Matthews went to talk to Finch, who was waiting around the corner. As soon as Horatio was out of sight, Finch shakily knocked on Captain Pellew's cabin door. "Come!" came the stern command from inside. Finch opened the door with tremulous fingers, aware that it was entirely inappropriate for a common crewman to enter the captain's cabin unless requested to. "What is it?" the captain bellowed when he was faced with the scruffy, entirely uninvited little man. "Beggin' your pardon, Captain Pellew, sir," Finch muttered. "But it's Mr. Hornblower." Sensing that the name alone would shift the captain's attention away from his own digression, he instantly saw Pellew's face change. "What is wrong with him, crewman?" Pellew stood, his pulse quickening. He reached for his coat, awaiting the news. Finch was more nervous than he ever remembered being. Lying to the captain was, at the very least, a flogging offence, likely worse. He hoped very much that it would never come to that. "Nothing, captain. He sent me to fetch you, sir." "Fetch me?" Pellew was outraged. By God, would Hornblower have the audacity? "Aye, captain. Mr. Hornblower said to tell you someone's stealing from your private wine stores. Sorry, sir." Finch didn't wait to be dismissed, instead retreating in a near panic. Pellew was dumbfounded if relieved. Why on Earth didn't Hornblower deal with this? Why did he send one of the crew to him? Sliding on his uniform coat, Pellew left his quarters and made his way to his private wine stores. ~ ~ ~ "Mr. Hornblower?" the captain called into the dark chamber. "Here, Sir." Horatio took the oil lamp off the wall, waving it about a bit to make himself visible. "You heard then, sir?" Entering the room and walking towards his young officer, the captain said, "Well yes, Mr. Hornblower, but what I can not understand is why you--" With a loud clank, the store room door fell shut behind Pellew. His first instinct was to swear loudly and rather ungentlemanly; he fought the impulse due to his company. His second was to confirm that the door could indeed not be opened from the inside. "Blast!" Pellew exclaimed, frowning at Horatio in the dim light. "Can we not get out, sir?" Hornblower went to the door and tried to open it also. "No, Mr. Hornblower. I fear this door can only be opened from the outside." Pellew proved his point with an ineffectual rattling of the door knob. "A precaution meant to keep intruders in." The corners of his mouth drooped. "What irony." "I see." Hornblower felt as if the small room was becoming smaller still. "What should we do, sir?" Pellew looked about, hoping the walls might hold the answer. "To be perfectly honest, I have no idea. We could debase ourselves by pounding our fists against the door, but I fear even that would yield no result." Horatio nodded. "Captain, I do apologize." "Whatever for, Mr. Hornblower?" Pellew queried. "If I am not mistaken, I am the one responsible for our being trapped." "He got away, sir. Must have left well before I even got here." Horatio sighed. The Captain looked at him, surprised. "You did not see the thief?" "No, sir." "Why did you send for me, Hornblower?" Captain Pellew took stock of their supplies, such as they were - one oil lamp currently in Hornblower's hand, a half-burnt candle, matches, a corkscrew... and all the expensive Burgundy and Port they could want. He smiled. At least they would not die of thirst. "I did not, sir," Horatio denied. He had made his own assessment of their situation and had come to the conclusion that there was no chair in the tiny room. In fact, there was no furniture at all, merely racks on the two opposing walls - well stocked with wine, and a few old rags in one corner. And, oddly enough - a single crystal goblet set beside one of the racks. The Captain frowned. "Then who sent the crewman? One of your division, I believe." Horatio shrugged, ducking his head. "I am at a loss, captain. I sent no one." "This entire situation is beginning to look more and more mysterious, Mr. Hornblower." "Aye, sir. How long do you suppose before we will be missed?" Horatio grew increasingly uncomfortable. "I wish I had a more agreeable answer for you, but I fear that as neither one of us is expected on watch tonight, we may well have to wait until morning." Even while he still spoke, the entire weight of those words descended on the captain. Alone. In this confined space. With Hornblower. He sighed deeply. Horatio heard the sigh and misunderstood. "Sir, won't you make yourself comfortable." He placed his coat on the floor and motioned for the captain to take a seat. Considering their options, Pellew nodded. "All right, Mr. Hornblower. But join me. And bring one of those bottles from that rack next to you; we might as well." "Aye, sir." Unable to suppress the smile, and glad he had his back turned to the Captain for an instant, Horatio picked up a bottle of the finest vintage Burgundy as instructed. "Will this do, sir?" he asked, holding the bottle out for Pellew's appraisal. "Certainly. Now, sit yourself down, Hornblower." The Captain removed his own coat and placed it on the dusty floor next to Horatio's. "No, sir, I could not." "Consider it an order, Mr. Hornblower." Smiling, Pellew patted the fine material. "Please, take a seat." Feeling decidedly uncomfortable about so defacing the captain's coat, Horatio offered, "I could sit on those rags, sir." "Absolutely not. Our coats will most certainly be dusty and filthy by the time we are released. And I for one prefer to begin the night with a semblance of cleanliness." Smirking, Horatio ducked his head coyly and settled in next to Pellew, very aware of how close they were forced to sit in the confined space. Their arms - now in shirt sleeves - touched, and Horatio quickly made himself busy opening the bottle. Pellew reached up for the single goblet, frowning at just what it was doing here; he seemed to remember it belonging to the officer's mess. "A toast, Hornblower?" The captain smiled a little, filling the goblet with the fine red liquid. Hornblower frowned. "To the captain of His Majesty's frigate Indefatigable and his grace in the face of adversity." He suppressed a giggle. "Hmm... " Pellew cleared his throat. "To Indefatigable's newest and most promising officer - Acting Lieutenant Horatio Hornblower." "Sir?" Horatio waited for the rest, but nothing more was forthcoming. He blushed deeply, grateful it was nearly completely dark. Captain Pellew passed him the goblet with a smile. "Here, Mr. Hornblower. This is the finest I have to offer you." Horatio swallowed to stop himself from saying something he would most certainly regret. "Thank you, sir." He took the goblet from the captain's grasp and took a drink. It was even better wine than that served at dinner earlier. They shared their drink in silence. Not quite an uncomfortable silence, but it was certainly beginning to dawn on them that, as it was not yet midnight, the night would be very long indeed. "Hornblower..." the captain began, just as Horatio was about to speak. "Yes, sir?" Pellew took a deep breath. "You had the evening watch, if I am not mistaken?" "That is correct, sir." Horatio nodded. "Then you must be tired." A problem. There was no room for either of them to find even a semblance of comfort, let alone to be able to lie down. "A little, sir. But I will be fine." Horatio suppressed the unbidden and untimely yawn which would have proven him a liar. "You need to sleep, Hornblower. Let me see..." Pellew looked around and came to the same conclusion Horatio had come to a moment earlier. There was no room. What to do? Horatio shifted a little, now determined not to let his tiredness gain the upper hand. Pellew came to a decision. "Considering our situation, Mr. Hornblower, I believe it would be acceptable if you were to... ahem... use me for your pillow, so to speak." He knew he was blushing furiously, but the dim oil lamp was a most formidable ally in his predicament. "Sir?" The Captain's voice shook a little. "I believe that if you lay with your head on my shoulder, you may find that you are afforded some degree of comfort." Horatio felt all his blood rush to his cheeks. "Captain Pellew, sir, I could not do that," he said with all the indignation he could muster. "Why not?" Pellew simply asked, suddenly feeling bold in the face of the young man's hesitation. "It would be..." Horatio struggled to find the words. Neither 'heavenly' nor 'pure bliss' would do, so he decided on, "Unseemly." "Your sense of decorum is admirable, Mr. Hornblower," Pellew said, suppressing his amusement. "But considering the circumstances, would you not agree that we might as well allow ourselves whatever comfort we can give each other?" His heart sank as he said the words, for they conjured up images which would most definitely fit Mr. Hornblower's description of 'unseemly'. He swallowed hard. Horatio struggled with himself. There was no other sensible argument, and he could not very well inform the captain of the true reason behind his hesitation. "If you are certain, captain," he said meekly, unable to believe that the suggested position would allow him even an inkling of sleep. "I am." The captain set down the empty goblet, straightened against the wall behind, and raised his knees. Then he smilingly waited for Horatio to coordinate his long limbs. "Come now, sir," he offered, his arm around Horatio's shoulder as he pulled the young man against himself so his head came to rest in the crook of his neck. For a moment, neither of them dared to breathe. Horatio forced himself to relax. "Captain, you must please tell me if this becomes uncomfortable for you," he pleaded. Pellew wondered if the heat rushing to his groin at the reality of the young man lying in his arms qualified as discomfort, but he decided against frightening his dear Horatio. "If I should experience discomfort, sir, I will be sure to tell you. Now please, relax and try to sleep." "Aye, sir." Horatio heard how ridiculous that sounded in his position and smiled. He looked up to find Pellew returning his smile. "Thank you, captain," he said instead, closing his eyes quickly, lest they gave him away. And so they both drifted into their own private purgatories - Horatio, listening to his captain's heartbeat; Pellew, inhaling the fresh, salty scent of the mass of curls against his face. ~ ~ ~ A couple of hours later, the captain woke with the distinct feeling that he was not in his cabin. As uncomfortable as the narrow berth got at times, he did not remember it as hard as what he felt against his back now, nor had he ever been forced to sleep in it sitting upright. There was also an insistent weight on his shoulder. When he opened his eyes and still found himself surrounded by darkness, save a tiny flicker of a dying lamp, he was decidedly confused. A soft moan came out of the dark, and Pellew waited for his eyes to adjust to the light, or lack thereof, to establish who else was here with him. Then he remembered. The small movement against him confirmed it - Hornblower was asleep in his arms. And instantly, Pellew was aware of the beginning stir of his arousal. He closed his eyes, hoping to be able to simply wish it away. He chided himself silently for not having more control, told himself that, at his age, his body should no longer react like that of a young man Hornblower's age, and with that thought, he knew all his attempts to suppress it were doomed to failure. Now he became even more aware of the warm body lying against his own, of the soft cheek pressed against his chest and the luxurious curls fanning out from the relaxed face. How could someone looking so innocent in sleep awaken such dark desires? Pellew sighed softly, unwilling to disturb the young man. Who knew when and if he would ever be able to watch him so openly again. He moved the oil lamp aside and, with some effort, managed to strike a match and light the single candle with one hand. The other was numbly resting around Horatio's shoulder. The captain shifted the candle until it illuminated Hornblower's smooth forehead and his lush dark hair, the elegant brows curved just right and the big, trusting eyes now closed in sleep, their lashes fanning out over the high cheeks like a dark angel resting its wings against a cloud. The even flaring of Horatio's nostrils told him that the boy was in deep sleep. Maybe it would be safe to touch his cheek, for an instant? Maybe even to play with a chestnut lock of hair, to make certain that it felt as soft and silky as it looked? Pellew was shocked to even be considering this. What if Hornblower woke right then? Bad enough if he should find his captain staring at him, if he saw the desire which must surely be filling his eyes. What if he was to find that, while he rested trustingly against his captain, he was being touched illicitly? He would surely feel tainted, taken advantage of. And even while all this reasoning was taking place inside Pellew's mind, his hand, which had formerly hovered above Horatio's brow, had slowly descended down upon the soft skin. Inhaling sharply, Pellew found that all his noble intentions were no match for Hornblower's sweet and vulnerable enchantment. He moved his hand as softly as a feather, allowing his fingers to become entangled in tempting curls, considering - for one delicious forbidden moment - what it would be like to hold that beautiful face close, with his fingers in Horatio's hair and his lips pressed against that heavenly mouth. His breath caught and his gaze travelled to tender pink lips, parted slightly in sleep. What he would not give to steal one single kiss... no, not to steal. To be given - freely and tenderly. The words of the poet John Dryden came to him... How could I dwell for ever on these lips! Oh! I could kiss 'em pale with eagerness! So soft, by heaven! And such a juicy sweet, that ripened peaches have not half their flavour... By god, this young man was turning him into a sentimental fool! Horatio shifted, as if he had felt the subconscious rebuke, and his head fell back over the curve of Pellew's shoulder, exposing the long, slim neck to his admirer's eyes. Certain that Hornblower walked this Earth to lead him straight to hell, Pellew touched the warm skin, allowing a single finger to linger against the pulse for a moment before moving up the pale column, then back down to dip into the shadowed valley at its base and roving on, drawn towards the beating heart. No, the wildly beating heart, for now Horatio slowly drifted from sleep into waking, as if pulled into consciousness by the trembling touch of that single finger against his skin. Oh god - finally! Finally. He gathered all the youthful courage within his body, which still gave the impression of sleep, so when his captain's questing finger moved to explore his chest - exposed by the shirt folds fallen open - he reached for that hand, quickly, not allowing the time needed to pull away and pretend. Captain Pellew's heart raced, and he was overcome with nausea. Alas, he had been discovered. Any moment now, those dazzling eyes would look up at him and, instead of the respect and affection he was used to seeing there, he would only see hatred and accusation. What a damn fool he had been to lose control like this! He was utterly unprepared when Horatio's fingers curled around his own, holding them firmly against a trembling chest. And when his eyes finally dared to meet those of his beautiful young officer, he swallowed hard, for in their depths were love and desire, and not a trace of rejection. "Would you kiss me, sir?" Horatio asked, his voice trembling with the importance of his words. Pellew was still in shock. Surely he had himself fallen asleep and this was simply another taunting, vicious dream which would leave him suddenly to wake - sweating and hard and... alone. "Please?" Another soft plea from Horatio's lips. Seeing the fear in his captain's eyes - something he never would have expected to see there - Horatio raised himself up slowly, his eyes lingering on Pellew's lips while his own parted invitingly. He rested his hand against his captain's chest, moving ever closer to his face. "This is no dream," Pellew uttered finally, making it sound like a question and causing a sweet smile to curve Horatio's lips. "If it is, sir, it is to be my favourite of them all, for it feels to me as though you are truly here." Pellew reached for him then, his arms moving around Horatio's middle, pulling him close, while his mouth descended hungrily on what had been offered to him. When Horatio's lips parted, allowing his captain to finally taste that sweetness he had longed for, he sighed softly, reaching up to cup the back of his head and pull him closer still, until he felt the warmth of his captain's body against his partially bared chest, the soft rasp of the starched shirt against his own sensitive skin. "Horatio..." Pellew whispered, eagerly resuming the kiss. He would never be sated, would never have enough of these lips. He would not care if they were in this tiny room for all eternity - he had all he needed to sustain him. Finally, pulling back for fear of suffocating his beloved, he looked down into the dark, wide eyes. "Mr. Hornblower," he rasped. "What are you doing to me?" Playing along, Horatio smiled. "What would you wish me to do to you, captain?" Blushing, Pellew offered, "You could begin by calling me Edward." "Gladly. And then what would you have me do... Edward?" Horatio said it softly, temptingly. The captain marvelled at the unashamed lust in Horatio's voice and the wanton look in those eyes he had always considered so innocent. "Anything you want, my dear Horatio. Anything at all." His voice was thick with need. He touched Horatio's cheek tenderly, moving to kiss him again. Horatio leant into the kiss, sitting up so he could wrap his arms around his captain's neck. Oh yes, it was just as he had imagined, dreamed... so warm and safe. "How long, Edward?" he whispered, pressing little kisses on his lips in between syllables. It was an easy question to answer. "Since the day you came on board, my love. When you stood in my cabin, resenting my assumptions and not being afraid to tell me so, I fell in love with you." Pellew smiled. Horatio ran one hand over his captain's shoulder, looking thoughtfully into his eyes. "You were like the sun's brightest ray to me after Justinian. You encouraged me, gave me responsibility." When he saw the happiness his words caused, he added, "You made me feel wanted." Unable to resist, Pellew said huskily, "Oh, you were wanted from the beginning, my dear Horatio. In every way." His eyes roamed over the young, perfect vision in his arms. "You are so sweet and beautiful." "And you, Edward, are a kind, desirable, wonderful man." Chuckling deep in his throat, Pellew drew Horatio to his breast, rubbing his hands over the narrow back. He was suffused by a happiness unlike anything he had ever known. "Love me, Edward," Horatio pleaded softly. His heart full, Pellew replied, "I will be happy to oblige, sir, to the best of my abilities in the confines of this room." He smiled. But finding himself faced with Horatio's longing gaze, he gave in and demanded, "Come here!" turning Horatio to sit on his lap. His hands made quick work of Horatio's shirt, baring his smooth chest to his admiring eyes, before he undid the front of his breeches, rolling down the flap. Frustrated by the cramped space, Pellew sighed. He looked pleadingly into his love's eyes. "God, I want to taste you, Horatio. I simply need to." The words translated to a rush of heat to Horatio's groin. "What if I were to stand?" he queried huskily. "Yes." Pellew nodded. "Yes, please do." He helped Horatio from his lap, sighing a little at the momentary loss of contact. Not losing time, Pellew knelt in front of him, allowing Horatio to support himself with his hands on his shoulders. Horatio allowed his captain to slide his breeches over his narrow hips and pull them off entirely along with his stockings and shoes. Then he found himself exposed to his scrutiny and, from the audible quickening of Edward's breath to the trembling of the hands holding his hips, Horatio gathered the captain was pleased with his prize. "How beautiful you are!" Pellew exclaimed, nuzzling against one strong, lean thigh. He kissed the soft skin there, delighting in Horatio's little gasp, and then he took him into his mouth. Horatio bucked, overwhelmed at the unaccustomed sensation. "My god..." he gasped. Edward's hands held him tight, and his mouth was filled with him, slowly suckling on his hard, pulsing shaft. Horatio had to close his eyes, for the pleasure was so intense, it threatened to bring tears to his eyes. When he felt the rough rasp of a tongue travel up and down his length, he fought down the urge to scream out his pleasure for fear that someone may yet find them before morning. "Edward..." he moaned, over and over and over, causing the licks to come faster, the lips to close tighter, and the fingers on his hips to bury themselves ever deeper within his flesh. Pellew felt certain he was going mad with desire. Every shudder of his beloved's body, every sweet sound he made and every insistent, involuntary twitch of Horatio's manhood deep inside his mouth sent pure flame through his own pulsing arousal. If he did not pace himself, he would not even last until after he could bring Horatio to completion. However, his lover was so young and inexperienced that it was not long before he was overcome with a feeling not unlike falling... falling for a long time down into a warm pool of water. And Horatio groaned out loud, shocking himself with the unashamed sound ripping from his throat. He felt a rush of heat shoot through him and into Edward's mouth. His eyes widened in shock and he tried to withdraw, but instead, he found himself drawn closer, and when he knew what Edward had done, he felt the wonderful sensation all over again, tearing his soul to pieces. Edward withdrew, licking his lips. He looked up into Horatio's face, whose eyes were even wider than before, his mouth open in surprise and his cheeks flushed. He smiled. "My sweet, sweet Horatio!" Reaching around his young lover's waist, he pulled him down so he came to sit over him, his knees on either side of his thighs. He drew him close, feeling the tremors which still shook that young body so unaccustomed to passion. He cupped the back of Horatio's head and pulled it against the crook of his neck, stroking the damp curls lightly. "I love you so, Edward." Horatio's voice was soft and weak, but very sincere. He nuzzled close, burrowing his face against Edward's neck, his lips touching the tender, salty tasting skin. "And I love you." Pellew felt a lump in his throat, overwhelmed. "I do not deserve you, my darling, but I will do whatever I can to be worthy of your love." Horatio looked up then, his eyes moist with unshed tears. "You must tell me what you want me to do for you. I know nothing, I fear." Even while he spoke, he had begun to unbutton his captain's shirt, his fingertips a delicious teasing touch against the heated flesh. "Oh Horatio, whatever you do, it will be simply wonderful, for it will be your touch." Edward kissed him, surprised that Horatio did not pause in what he was doing but had in fact begun to undo his breeches. Soon, hesitant fingers found their way through the soft material and touched the hot, hard flesh inside. Pellew gasped, finding his breath taken away entirely by Horatio's full lips closing over his own hungrily while the slim fingers curled around him, squeezing him deliciously. He pulled back, his eyes widening. "You know nothing you say?" he teased breathlessly. "Sir, I fear you may know more than I am able to bear already." "I learn fast, captain, and you are an excellent tutor in all things," Horatio teased back. "If you wish me to stop, sir, you need only ask." Warming at the soft glimmer in his lover's eyes, he added, "But you must make it an order, for if it was a request, I may deny it." "I order you, sir..." Pellew began, only to buck hard upwards into Horatio's once again tightening grasp, "Not to stop until I beg you to." Horatio's mouth curved into one of his most enticing smiles. "Edward..." he said softly, his touch now tender and less demanding. "Yes, Horatio?" Pellew smoothed his hands over his lover's back through the damp, clinging shirt. "Would you... make me yours, Edward?" Horatio pleaded, blushing. "You mean..." Pellew started, squeezing his eyes shut against the overwhelming vision of his beautiful Horatio writhing with passion while he was buried deep inside him, loving him. "Take me, Edward. Please." Not allowing his captain time to think, Horatio moved to kiss him, sliding forward on his lap until his own damp, once again erect manhood insistently pushed against Edward's belly. "Oh god!" Pellew exclaimed, withdrawing to catch his breath. "Horatio... my sweet... there is nothing I wish more, you must believe me, but..." Seeing the hurt in his young lover's eyes, he quickly explained, "There will be pain, and you are so inexperienced. I could not bear to hurt you." He stroked back a stray curl from Horatio's sweaty forehead. "We should wait until another time, when we can... use something to ease the way." Raising his chin defiantly, Horatio said, "I am not afraid, Edward. I know there will be pain. Ar..." He paused, unwilling to break confidence. "Others have told me so. But you are tender, gentle. You love me and you would not hurt me more than necessary." Edward was too touched to speak at first, Horatio's trust shining from his big, lovely eyes. "I know you are not afraid, but no matter how careful I may be, it will hurt very much." He pulled him closer, kissing him softly. "For now, there are other things we can do, my beloved." Smiling, he reached around Horatio's hips and pulled him hard against his groin, watching with delight as the soft lips parted in a soundless gasp. Horatio felt what Edward had in mind, and he began to move against him, rocking gently at first, getting used to the sensation, until the heat from the steady rubbing became more prominent, and he began to move faster, soon feeling almost raw and too vulnerable to continue. But continue he did, and Edward held him tight, moving up against him, shifting his legs once in a while to change the angle at which they met, to add the rubbing of fabric to the firm, damp glide of skin against skin. Horatio's head fell back, his lips parted and his eyes closed, none of which helped him to breathe or keep in control of his body. And when Edward moved forwards to press his lips against Horatio's throat, kissing and licking and biting alternately while continuing to steadily rock against him, Horatio cried out softly, happily relinquishing his very soul to his lover's touch. "Horatio!" Edward pleaded, passion driving him to clasp his beloved so hard he feared to break him. "You need not hold back," he rasped, his fingers digging deep into the soft flesh of Horatio's buttocks. He was so close, so very close. But he needed Horatio there with him. The fingers of his right hand strayed and moved further, sliding into the cleft between the firm globes, reaching to touch the tight little opening to his lover's body with his middle finger. Horatio jerked suddenly, pushing himself back against the would-be intruder and forcing it inside his body. He cried out helplessly, moving forwards hard against Edward's groin, spilling what seemed to him to be a torrent of his essence over Edward's belly, his chest and even up to his chin. Groaning, Edward finally allowed his own release, his warm seed pumping against Horatio's scrotum and between his cheeks. He pulled him close, embracing him and allowing the tremors shaking their bodies to subside in the blissful afterglow of their passion. When he lifted his gaze, he found himself quite stunned by the sheer happiness he saw in the beautiful face. "You are all I hoped and more, my darling Edward," Horatio kissed him softly. When he withdrew, he looked at his captain's chin and giggled. "I apologize, sir, but it appears I have soiled you." Holding Pellew's face in his hands, his tongue flicked out to lick his own seed from his lover's chin. Pellew felt certain he had never been this aroused so shortly after his release. Not even when he had been Horatio's age. "Good god, Mr. Hornblower, I swear if we are not careful, you will inadvertently kill me." "I shall practice restraint then, sir," Horatio teased, looking deep into Edward's eyes. The Captain was about to protest when the room suddenly went dark. The candle had finally burned down. "Oh dear!" he exclaimed, realizing that it had to be morning by now. Laughing and joking, they quickly scrambled up from the floor, pulling on their discarded items of clothing while hoping desperately there were no remainders of their passion plain to see for whoever may find them. "I do hope you have not ruined my uniform, Mr. Hornblower," the Captain chided playfully, reaching for Horatio in the dark until their lips met. "Sir," Horatio returned breathlessly. "If you have ruined mine, I shall require compensation, for I suspect you have lured me here under false pretenses to begin with." "Hmmm." Edward Pellew considered this. "You know, Horatio, I am beginning to think that the circumstances of our being here are not entirely incidental." "You said one of my men came to you?" Horatio asked. "Yes. Finch, I believe his name is." The Captain decided to remain standing as he was certain that to sit down would mean he would never be able to rise again. He pulled Horatio into his arms. "And Matthews came to me." Horatio leaned against his lover, a thought taking shape in his mind and a slow smile curving his generous lips. "There is something I would like to do, with your permission, Edward." ~ ~ ~ When Bracegirdle finally found them less than an hour later, it was because Hornblower's men had told him their superior officer had not been seen since late last night. There had been some incident involving an intruder in the captain's private stores. On releasing the captain and Mr. Hornblower from their involuntary confinement, he noted the state of their respective uniforms to be far worse than would be expected, even after a night spent on the floor of a dusty store room, but he was too discreet to comment. Privately, he hoped his suspicions were correct and could not help but smile when he noted that Mr. Hornblower did not immediately depart from the Captain's cabin after the hot bath and breakfast had been delivered there. Matthews, Finch, Styles and Oldroyd spent the day on tenterhooks, unknowing what to make of Mr. Hornblower's demeanour. He seemed stern with them, yet he did not utter a single reprimand, ask a question or punish any one of them in any way. Finally, at the end of their shifts, when he felt he had tortured them enough for having lied to himself and his captain, he dismissed them with a generous smile. Like an afterthought, he called out after them, "By the way, men, you may ask the cook for your rations early. You are on shore leave for 2 days from tonight." He winked at them. Styles grinned broadly. "Aye aye, sir." He saluted. "Yes sir, thank you, sir." Matthews beamed, tugging at Finch's and Oldroyd's sleeves. They followed him, and all four of them departed rapidly, as if afraid their officer may otherwise change his mind. Horatio went below decks, smiling, satisfied that between the shore leave and the double rations awaiting his men, they would know their plot had been successful. THE END.

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