A Lesson in Seamanship by Clonesgirl
Part IV: A Gentleman's AgreementHornblower smiled, anticipating the delights of undressing his Captain. Without hesitation he proceeded to remove his senior officer's garments until the man stood gloriously naked and very much erect before his admiring eyes.
"Oh, sir!"
"Does what you see please you, Mr Hornblower?" Edward Pellew inquired softly, a small smile gracing his features.
Hornblower found that his throat was dry and he had to swallow hard before answering.
"V-very much, sir."
He observed his Captain take a deep breath, his eyes closing for a moment as though in relief. Why relief? he thought in puzzlement. He is attractive, lean and fit. Most handsome. His shaft is singularly erect, and large! he observed. A beautiful bare mast indeed! Happiness welled up in him at the thought that his Captain found him desirable. He needs me! he thought. I shall be the one to bring him satisfaction! He gazed once more at the hard manhood jutting out before him. How lovely!
As he enfolded his Captain in loving arms, the press of bare skin to bare skin was utterly delightful and Horatio Hornblower sighed with joy. A wicked thought occurred to him.
"Sir? If I may make a request?"
"What is your request, Mr Hornblower?"
"Would you close your eyes for me, sir?"
"If it will please you, sir."
Hornblower was pleased to see that his Captain immediately complied. The element of surprise was vital, he decided, leaning forward to ravish the man's tender mouth, delighting in the kiss and loving every precious moment of the contact. His Captain, lured into believing that Hornblower wished only to kiss him, was relaxed and unprepared when Hornblower's arms snaked around him to lift him with alacrity to the table and the precious and beautiful quilt that still lay on it. Even as he laid him gently down on it, he felt the man stiffen in his arms. However, he continued to kiss him, thirsting on his lips and tongue, drinking in the man's taste whilst at the same time bestowing caresses to his face and neck until he once more felt the sturdy body relax.
He left the delicious mouth to press kisses to the cheeks and brow, leaving soft and gentle ones on the closed eyelids and causing a smile to flutter on the swollen lips.
"That... tactic was completely uncalled for, sir," his Captain finally protested, though most quietly. There followed a long sigh of pleasure.
Hornblower knew that he had pleased his Captain immensely. "I play to win, sir," he responded, nibbling on the lobe of an ear, "and I surmised that, if I asked, you would refuse."
"Your surmise was correct, sir. I no longer have youth on my side..."
"Oh, but you are most handsome, sir," Hornblower dared to interrupt as his Captain smiled and shook his head.
However, at that moment his eyes alighted on the long, jagged scar running diagonally down the left side of the ribcage. As he gazed at it his fingers traced it, realising how painful it must have been and how it must have bled. Now he sought further evidence of past injuries and beheld another scar on the right thigh some five inches long. He found himself kissing the evidence of these past injuries, tracing his lips along them as though to heal them with his love.
"Old injuries," his Captain murmured.
"None the less I cannot help but wish I had been there to protect you, sir."
"Shh. They were long ago. Another lifetime."
Hornblower acquiesced to the older man's wisdom, but turned the tables by covering the man's face in kisses, causing gentle chuckles and wide smiles.
"I do love your smile, sir."
"My smile, Hornblower?"
"Aye, sir. It is... most becoming." To prove his point he leant over to kiss that very same smile. "Most becoming indeed!" Upon reaching a small tempting nipple nestled in a thin halo of soft brown hair, he rubbed his chin over it before watching, fascinated, as it crinkled at his touch. As he bent over to suck on it, his hands moved far lower, stroking the light covering of down on the hard thighs. Higher still to slip between them and explore further delights. As he trailed his tongue down the flatness of the belly and lower his fingers encountered a lovely swelling there. Running a single finger over the slippery tip, he examined it in the lamplight. Observing the wetness there, he took it to his lips to taste, only to have his senior officer groan softly at the sight.
"You torture me, sir," was the husky response.
"Oh, no, sir!" Hornblower protested, repeating his previous action but this time bringing it to his Captain's lips and watching his tongue dart out to lick it clean.
"You are truly wicked, sir!" Edward Pellew again protested.
"Am I, sir?" He held his senior officer's manhood in his hand and proceeded to stroke his tongue across the soft and spongy tip, then all around the ridge. "If I am, then surely it is because my desire for you has made me so!" Wanting to taste more, he attempted to insert his tongue into the tiny hole and proceeded to lick at it. "After all, sir, a Captain must always be an inspiration to his men, and you have inspired me as no other." So saying, he took the length of the shaft into his mouth, gagged slightly but tried again, this time succeeding, as his own desires rose once more to match the occasion.
"My Lord!" his Captain groaned. "Oh-h-h!" he whispered. "I should warn you..." he hissed through clenched teeth.
Hornblower let the length of the shaft slip from his mouth. "No, sir. No warnings. Only allow me to give to you the pleasure you gave me." Without waiting for an answer, he took the long length deep into his throat once more only to feel the body in his arms shudder, the hands on his shoulders grip hard and the delightful flesh in his mouth jerk in uncontrollable spasms.
Oh, yes! Hornblower thought. Yes, he loves me! He needs me! I can give him this! he exulted, swallowing as the salty flood of his Captain's essence filled his mouth in heavy spurts as easily as joy filled his heart.
Slowly, Edward Pellew's hands released their death grip on his young officer, his body feeling as limp as a rag doll's. As his eyes opened, he beheld the dark curls of his lover bobbing a little as Hornblower proceeded to lick his manhood clean. After depositing a kiss on it, his delightful lover was now leaving a trail of wet kisses up his body, petting with gentle touches of his fingers, until he reached the area of the heart where he proceeded to lay his soft head on the small patch of light fur there, listening to the heartbeat within.
Captain Edward Pellew smiled, allowing his fingers to roam freely through his lover's thick curls for a time until Hornblower raised his head and stood back to observe him.
"Oh, sir, I fear I shall never be able to see this table again without remembering what we have shared this night! My dearest Captain..." Abruptly, he realised what he had just called his senior officer. "Oh, sir, I hope you... don't mind...?"
"My dear Mr Hornblower, when we are off duty and alone, I intend to deny you nothing. I... would wish to call you by your Christian name now, however, there is the danger that in a crisis I might falter and say your name. I have therefore decided that when we are on leave..."
"Oh, sir! You would wish to share your leave with me?" Hornblower interjected.
"Of course, if it is also your wish, sir."
"Oh, yes, sir! I... I wish that we were on leave right now so that I could spend all day and all night loving you." As he spoke, his hands lovingly traced the contours of the body beneath him.
"Then it is settled. When we next have leave you may address me as 'Edward'." He reached up to stroke Hornblower's face, tracing his wide grin.
"And you may address me as 'Horatio', sir!"
Captain Pellew sat up, his young officer giving him a hand and embracing him in the process.
"My dearest and most delightful Captain, may I say that you are indeed most splendid, and most dearly loved."
Edward Pellew's eyes widened as he gently pushed his lover back, jumped off the table and strode naked to the stern windows to stand gazing with unseeing eyes at the blackness of the night.
Hornblower, fearing he had overstepped the mark and offended his Captain, stood frozen, watching him.
The Captain's thoughts were in turmoil. What do I tell him? What on earth do I say? Dare I tell him the depths of my feelings for him?
To Hornblower's immense relief his Captain turned to him and held out his arms, and then he was in them. His dearest Captain was embracing him and the man's lips were on his cheeks, then his mouth, sharing such lovely kisses. Finally, his lover pulled back only to take his hand and bring it to the place over his heart, holding it there. Hornblower relished the feel of the strong, steady beat of the man's heart beneath his hand.
"My dearest Mr Hornblower, believe me when I say that I do love you, very much. You must also believe me when I tell you in all sincerity that, much as I would dearly love to keep you here with me on 'Indefatigable', I will do nothing to hinder your career, and all that I can to actively promote it. I can foresee a time in the not-too-distant future when you will be given a command of your own and we will have to part." He felt the inevitable protest and quieted his young lover by placing a finger over his lips. "Shh. You know I speak the truth. You are the best and bravest young officer I have ever known with a fine career ahead of you. What you will become in a few years..." He shook his head. "Would that I'll be around to see it! In the meantime, provided we are both willing, and provided we are most discreet and never neglect our duties in any way, I see no reason why we may not give each other such comfort and affection as is possible between serving officers in His Majesty's fleet. Do I have your agreement as a gentleman and a man of honour?"
The Captain let go his hand only to find the tables turned and his dearest young lover taking his hand and bringing it to rest on the smooth flesh over his heart.
"Sir, as a gentleman, a man of honour and a proud officer of 'Indefatigable', I hereby give you my pledge to always uphold my duty to my ship, her officers and her men. Most of all, I choose freely, and from my heart, to uphold my duty to her Captain, whom I shall always regard with the deepest respect and affection, and whom I cherish above all others."
Releasing his Captain's hand from its captivity, he brought it to his lips to place a tender kiss on the back, then the palm before finally releasing it. Standing dead straight, he gazed proudly at his Captain.
"It is done," Edward Pellew murmured, his heart full. Never, not in all the years he was married, could he remember an affection so strong, nor a passion so deep that it seemed to be in his very marrow. He had loved his wife most dearly, of that he was sure, yet even she had never aroused this fire in him; this longing of the heart that ofttimes threatened to consume him. Briefly, he wondered if he would be condemned to burn in hell forever for taking this sweet and precious lad to his bed. He decided that he cared not.
"Then let us drink to it!"
As they clinked glasses and drank, their eyes never left each other.
Afterwards, they embraced.
Edward Pellew, lips next to his lover's ear, found himself whispering, "My treasure. You are my treasure," as he hugged his wonderful new lover. As Hornblower returned the embrace with equal fervour, he kissed him in most tender manner, sealing their agreement for now and for the future.
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