The Following Sea

by Clonesgirl

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Note: Although this story is set during HH3 it is strictly a slash story and you will not find any het sex or godawful marriage.

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A following sea: An overtaking sea that comes from astern and easily carries the ship along, her sails full.

"Victorious war... and beauty ashore," the Admiral had said.  For Horatio Hornblower, once upon a time all the beauty that he had ever wished for had been aboard ship...

As he stood on the deck of Tonnant awaiting Hotspur's longboat Commander Hornblower turned back to gaze at the door to the Admiral's quarters and recalled how well he knew the man within.  It was ten years now since he had been a green mid stepping aboard the Admiral's former frigate Indefatigable, and the years he'd spent aboard her he would never forget.  He also could never forget that there had been a time when the man who still commanded him today had been his lover - and it had been the happiest time of his life.  He would never forget those years.  It had ended at his commanding officer's behest - and that had been the darkest day of his life.  Shortly after that had come his promotion and transfer to Renown, but it had never been his desire; he simply had been given no choice in the matter.  The admiral - then captain - had been his first lover, and he had never ceased to love the man.  Whenever he was in the same room as him his heart beat faster.  Oh, he could hide it well under a veneer of duty - indeed had become expert at it - nonetheless it was still there, that sense of excitement he would always feel in the man's presence.  No matter that Pellew was older now, to Hornblower he was still the same handsome captain of Indefatigable that he had fallen for a decade ago as a green midshipman.

He would never forget their parting.  Things were so strained between them that he had stood stiffly in the captain's quarters as Pellew had wished him well, handed him his papers, shook his hand and immediately dismissed him.  As he had closed the door he saw that Pellew had quickly walked over to the stern windows to gaze beyond at the bustle of the port.  To Hornblower, it meant only that his captain, whatever his reasons, could not bear to look upon him.  His heart had sunk, hoping that at least at their parting the man would acknowledge what he had been to him.  Instead, by forcing him to stand to attention Pellew had not given him a chance to speak, nor even to gaze upon him.  He had literally been cut adrift by the man he adored, and he would have sold his soul had it not been so.

And now?  Now he had Hotspur to command, all thanks to the Admiral.  He had earned the man's respect and friendship, but it seemed that never again would there be anything more between them.  Indeed Pellew now seemed to regard him as more of a son.  But, damn it, it was not what he wanted.  They had separated, they had both advanced in their separate careers - and all because of what? he ruminated.  Because of Pellew's misguided attempt to do what was right by his young lieutenant.

Observing his ship, Hornblower saw that her boat was now halfway to Tonnant.  He estimated another three minutes before it arrived.  On turning once again toward the Admiral's door there was about him a certain tilt to his chin as he pursed his lips - a look that people who were familiar with him knew well; a look of utmost determination.  It was high time that he found out if the man still desired him or not.  If Pellew really did not want him, then no more would be said and he would have to accept it.  But if he did...  Oh, Lord, if he did...  His groin stirred.

Squaring his jaw, he turned to the Officer of the Watch.  "Lieutenant, I require a further word with the Admiral.  Please signal Hotspur that I shall be delayed."

Without further ado he strode toward the door of the Admiral's quarters.  As he was bid enter, he noticed that the man had not moved from where he had last seen him.  Half turned away from the door, Hornblower perceived that the man's expression appeared sad.  Indeed to the younger man the admiral appeared a lonely figure in his large quarters.

"Sir, I...  Forgive me for disturbing you but I would speak further with you."

At the sound of Hornblower's voice the older man started, abruptly turning in his chair to see the one person he longed for and yet dreaded to see.  "Commander Hornblower?  Did you forget something?"

"I...  Yes, as a matter of fact I did, sir."

Pellew rose from his seat.  "And what might that be?"

He recognised Hornblower's familiar look of determination.

"I neglected something very important, sir."

"Indeed, sir?  And are you going to enlighten me then?  Or do you intend to play charades?"

"Charades?  No, sir.  Certainly not."

Pellew gazed at Hornblower, the beautiful young man who had been his protégé and even his lover.  As always now, whenever he gazed on him his heart was filled with sadness for what they had once shared and could no more.

"Then just what do you intend, Mr Hornblower?"

Hornblower stepped closer.  "Sir, I believe we've both been playing charades for far too long.  ‘Tis time for the game to end."

Pellew's eyes narrowed.  "Hornblower?  You are treading on dangerous ground, sir."

Hornblower pursed his rose pink lips.  "I think not, sir.  In fact I firmly believe that you still love me, yet you have deprived me..."

"Stop, sir!  I order you to cease and desist!"

"... yet you have deprived me of your companionship and affection for four long years now..."

Pellew's expression was dangerous.  "Hornblower, I order you to cease this madness now for no good can come of it."

"And I must wilfully disobey you, sir, for I cannot and will not let you go without a fight.  I once allowed you to cast me out of your life, but I was younger then.  Now," he paused briefly, gazing into his former lover's eyes and refusing to be intimidated, "I will not allow you to give me orders as far as our personal relations are concerned."

Pellew, knowing full well how stubborn this particular young commander could be, decided to appeal to his reason.  "Hornblower...  Horatio, you're being most foolish.  That time in our lives is over - over and done with.  Let it go, lad.  We cannot recapture the past.  Now go and join your lady friend, there's a good lad."

Hornblower, if possible, appeared even more determined.  "No, sir, I will not.  On the contrary, sir, I decided that I should join you this night.  Indeed join with you, Edward," he added.

"Hornblower, this is outrageous!  You will remove yourself from my ship this instant, do you hear, sir?"

"No, sir, not at all," Hornblower answered mildly, the corners of his lips turned up.  "Indeed I intend to savour you, sir, fully and completely as we once did, and will from now on should fortune favour us."

Pellew appeared incensed.  "What is this, Hornblower?  A sop for an old man?  Well you can forget it, sir!  Now go before I forget that I hold you in high regard.  Go, sir!  Now, sir!" he ordered, his dark eyes blazing.  His control, always precarious where his former lover was concerned, now manifested itself in anger at the younger man's effrontery.

"Old, sir?  I think not.  Older, yes, but still vital, still so very much alive."  He stepped closer.  "Still so very..."

"Don't say it, man.  Don't say it.  It was over a long time ago.  Over and done with and there's an end to it.  Cannot you leave it at that!"

"Over, sir, at your behest - not mine.  I have never ceased to..."

"For God's sake, man, don't!  You're only making it harder on both of us!"

To the older man it seemed that Hornblower only grew even more stubborn and determined.

"I fully intend to make it impossible - sir!"

"Go!  Go to your lady friend, go to your ship.  I order you to leave, sir."

"And I defy your order, sir!  I will not leave.  If you wish you may call the guard and have me removed, but I do not think you will, sir."

He began to unbutton his coat.

"You are in grave peril, sir!" Pellew warned.

Hornblower removed his coat and hung it over the back of a chair.  "Am I, sir?  I think not."  He proceeded to work on the buttons of his vest.

Pellew stepped closer so that less than a foot of space separated them.  "Horatio, do not do this," he murmured.  "I...  I could not..."

Hornblower observed the man's downcast eyes.

"Could not what, sir?"  His voice was very soft now.  "Could not bear to lose me again?  Is that it, Edward?  But you must see, sir, that you never have.  You have never lost me.  You treat me almost as a son, but I would far rather be lover than son."

Pellew closed his eyes.

Hornblower removed his vest, followed shortly by his shirt.  He stood bare-chested before his former lover, his eyes defiant, daring the man not to want him, not to desire him as he once had.

"Look at me, sir, and tell me that you do not want me."

Pellew turned away from him.

"Look at me, sir.  Look at me and tell me that you do not want me.  Look me in the eyes and tell me that you do not desire me - sir!"

Pellew took a deep breath, his control precarious.  He had to master this situation.  He had to make Hornblower see that it was over between them - long over, even though, God alone knew, the boy still dwelt in his heart of hearts and always would.

Reluctantly, he turned back to face the young man that he still loved, even if now he could not acknowledge it.

"Hornblower...  Horatio, can I not make you see that it's over?  We... cannot be as we once were, can you not see that?"

"On the contrary, sir, I see that we can be, if you wish it.  In a few years, God willing, I will have earned the right to be your flag captain."

"My flag captain?  My, but you are ambitious, sir!"

Hornblower smiled, bowing to the man before him.  "I am always ambitious, sir, and it has never interfered with my feelings for you, that is until you had me promoted and transferred out of your life.  You may as well have stretched my neck."

"Horatio, cannot you see that it was for your own good?  We could not have gone on as we were.  I had to let you go.  I had to let you become the man you were destined to be."

"And am I that man yet, sir?"

Pellew smiled a little before nodding.  "Yes.  By God, you are!  You are everything I knew you would be."

"And you gave me that chance, sir, and more, for which I shall always be grateful."

Pellew seemed to soften a little.  "You have earned the respect of many with your intelligence, your courage and your sense of honour."

"Thank you, sir."

Pellew dared to gaze on the fine features of the young man who had once been his lover.  The smooth skin of his face had not changed, the large and beautiful eyes, the straight nose, the determined chin and, most of all, the sensual pink lips, now parted slightly.  Against his will he remembered what it had been like to kiss that wonderfully sensual mouth, to plunge his tongue into its warm, wet depths to taste and explore as desire sang through his veins; to feel the boy's long and playful tongue enter him that he might adore it while their bodies pressed warmly together; the times when that wondrous tongue had worshipped and teased his erection, and the times that it had plundered his arse...

No, he berated himself.  He could not allow himself to remember how it had been.  If he did he would lose what little control he possessed.  Only now his eyes fell on the broadly muscled shoulders and the scar that lingered from that long-ago day when the boy had chosen to defend his honour against a blackguard named Simpson.

Hornblower witnessed his former lover's eyes lingering on the scar and touched it now himself, deliberately running a finger over the indentation in his otherwise smooth flesh.

"You saved my life, sir.  I would not be here today if you had not acted when you did."

"I would have done the same for any member of my crew."

"Would you, sir?  You had only seconds in which to grasp your weapon and aim it.  Therefore you must have already had it to hand.  I would guess that you first aimed it when Simpson shot me."

Pellew smiled.  "Not true.  I took aim when I saw him aim his pistol in most precipitate fashion."

"You were going to shoot him?  I mean even before he attempted to stab me?"

Pellew nodded.  "Quite.  I could not believe that he fully intended to disregard the rules and shoot you before you had even raised your weapon.  It was unthinkable that an officer should have so little honour.  Of course reason prevailed and I realised that I could not act until he almost took your life."

Hornblower shook his head.  "Oh, Edward.  I thank God for your perspicacity."

Pellew gave a snort of derision.  "Perspicacity be damned.  I could not let him kill you."

"We were not yet lovers then."

"No."

"But you already loved me."

"Let it go, boy," Pellew said quietly.

"No, sir.  You saved me that day, and I loved you all the more for it.  My captain saved my life.  My own dear captain saved me - and all I wanted was to be in his arms, to feel his lips pressed to mine.  I would lie in my bunk at night and imagine how it would be and how you would teach me to please you.  How I adored you then, dearest Edward - and adore you still."

"By God, boy, it's been four years.  You should have found another to love before this."

"How could I, Edward, when you spoilt me so?  I was but a youth and my lover was my captain; my adored captain for whom I would willingly have laid down my life.  You were my first - my only - love.  How could I possibly forget Captain Sir Edward Pellew offering me tender kisses and whispering sweet words of love in my ear?  How could I forget how we had meant the world to one another?  Do you realise, even now, how privileged, how very, very special I felt?  Sometimes I felt as though I were floating on air and I wanted to climb the mast and proclaim my love for you to the whole ship.  All I wanted was to serve and love my most honourable captain."

"Honourable?  I lost all claim to honour the night I took you to my bed."

"Never, Edward.  You granted my wish and allowed me to love you - and it was the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me in my whole life.  It still is," he added.

Pellew's face appeared stricken as he shook his head.  "You cannot still feel the same."

"But I do, sir.  For me, ‘tis a flame that will never die.  My commanding officer was my lover - and will be again."

Pellew shook his head, however, his eyes were drawn to the smooth, bare chest with its small pinkish-brown nipples that he had so loved to suckle, the pale skin of the ribs and firm, flat belly, and...  Even as his traitorous eyes betrayed him, Hornblower opened his breeches and drawers, sliding them down to reveal...

"By God, man, don't do this."

Horatio smiled now, the smile of a predator who knows that he has conquered his foe.  He stepped even closer so that mere inches separated the two men.

"But I must, sir.  Cannot you see that I must?"

Reaching out, he grasped his former lover's hand in his own and brought it to touch his already straining erection, which fairly jumped at the contact.

"You play dirty, sir!" Pellew accused, his dark eyes narrowed.  His companion, however, was not intimidated.

"I play to win, sir."

Holding the sweet, warm, jutting hardness in his hand after so very long an absence proved to be the older man's undoing.  Pellew found to his horror that, against his will, his fingers now encircled it, feeling its pulsing veins and lovely, soft tip, now beginning to ooze a little silken fluid.  As his finger spread the moisture, the boy took his face in gentle hands.  He should have resisted, he decided; he should not - most definitely not - be fondling the lad's dear, remembered prick; he should have pulled back as he saw the lovely lips draw closer.  Instead, he stood paralysed under the spell of his former lover - and he damned himself for his weakness.

As the sensual mouth that he had once worshipped touched his, something gave way inside him; something that had been dormant, neglected and near forgotten arose once more, almost frightening in its intensity.

Hornblower witnessed the change in his former lover - and rejoiced.  Everything in him yearned for the man before him. Edward Pellew was his past and, if his will held sway, future lover, and he knew now that he had won.  He had gambled and he had risked the loss of respect he had earned with this man.  He was in control now and he was prepared to take his time.

Letting go of the lovely cock, Pellew grabbed the boy, heat and desire now coursing through him in a tidal wave of feeling that swept him along on a mighty crest.  The boy's lips were as delicious as he remembered and he opened to them, inviting the frolicking tongue to come and play that he might suck on its nectar... and he was lost and he knew it.  Silently, he berated himself for not calling the marine and having the upstart boy thrown overboard while he still could; while he still had his wits about him.  But then Horatio's long-fingered hands slid down his back and under his coat to squeeze his arse and press their erections together, and the thought was lost - as was his soul, he decided.

Edward Pellew was gorging himself on that mouth once more - that lovely, adored mouth that he could never get enough of - and it was devouring him and he was utterly drunk on sensation, at the same time wanting to weep for the beauty he held in his arms once more.  He was kissing the lean hollows of the cheeks, the high cheekbones, the sculptured ears and on down the strong line of the neck and Horatio was arching, wanting more - willingly now he gave it.  His hands stroked the bare arms as his lips travelled over the width of the shoulders and slowly down to the tempting buds of the small nipples, there to linger and suck and adore as his hands travelled lower to the roundness of the buttocks so that he might grasp and squeeze them as his mouth moved ever lower.  Lower still now down the smooth, flat flesh of the belly, dipping briefly into the navel as something damp bumped him under the chin.

On his knees now, Pellew pulled back to gaze on the desired object before taking it in one hand to fondle.  Below were the lovely, full balls and the whole surrounded by crisp, dark curls.  Smiling, he ran his fingertips through the coils of shining hair, now glimmering faintly gold in the lamplight, watching as they curled around his fingers as though trying to capture them.  But the pendant balls drew him like a magnet and he cupped them in his hand to feel their engorged weight, to inhale their musky scent, before taking them into his mouth, gratified to hear Horatio's simultaneous sharp intake of breath.

Pellew simply feasted there, thoroughly enjoying himself as Horatio parted his legs further to allow his finger to travel higher, now almost at his opening.

"Edward!  My Edward!" the boy was gasping.  "You have not forgotten."

"No, lad, I've not forgotten.  Never forgotten your sweetness."

Pellew allowed his finger to travel higher to rub against the small opening, listening to Horatio's hiss of pleasure, a whimpered, "Yesss!" before he pushed in a little, feeling the rim grasp him.  At the same time he allowed his mouth to travel higher, his tongue tracing the underside of his lover's large member until he reached the soft, sculptured tip to taste the moisture there as he had once so loved to do.  For him, to taste of his lover's desire had always been akin to tasting honey, and he rejoiced as he relished anew the young man who now stood proudly before him and whose hands were stroking eagerly through his hair.

As he took the glorious prick deep into his mouth he felt more alive than even in the heat of battle.  In utter wantonness he managed to swallow most of the glorious length, so warm, pulsing and alive in his mouth, and he was thrilled for he was tasting his beloved boy once more.  His senses were drowning in the boy, his desire leading him on, and yet he was dying of thirst.  At the same time he was aware of the lovely lad whispering his name over and over and urging him on.  His finger was now pushing deeply into the lad's lovely arse, feeling the rim of muscle grip him over and over, begging for more.

For a moment Pellew glanced up to gaze on the face of his past - now present - lover, only to see a look of such complete adoration that he wanted to cry at the beauty of it.  It was not he who was on his knees worshipping the lad but Horatio who was giving his all to him.  And then he had no time to think any more for the lovely hardness in his mouth suddenly jerked and vibrated keenly as a strangled cry issued from Horatio's mouth and his own was filled with the salty evidence of his lover's rapture, and he drank thirstily until the spasms ceased and even then he continued to suck it dry.

Slowly, Horatio sank down to kneel before him, his breath coming in gasps, and they were embracing and the boy was kissing him, tongue reaching deep into his mouth to taste of his own desire.  When the long kiss finally ended both were out of breath.

"Lord, lad, help me up will you," Pellew panted.  "My knees are not as young as they used to be."

Smiling, Hornblower pulled the older man to his feet before reaching to fondle the distinct bulge in his breeches.

"You may be a little older, my Edward, but I see that at least one part of you has not aged!"

Pellew returned the smile.  "Well don't just stand there, man, get your uniform."

He led the way to his sleeping quarters, locking the door securely behind them.  In the cabin two lamps were already lit and Hornblower beheld the large, comfortable bed with its pale coverings.

"Oh, sir, we could have done with this on Indefatigable!" he couldn't help but remark in admiration.

Pellew smiled.  "We managed well enough as I recall - and not just in bed," he added.

"On the deck," Horatio mused.  "Against the bulkhead.  Under the stern windows.  But right now let us make good use of this lovely, large bed."  He placed his uniform on a chair.

"Let me undress you, sir.  Like I used to," he added, his hands already sliding Pellew's heavy coat off before going to work on the buttons of his vest.  However, Pellew now appeared to hesitate.

"Hornblower..." His face appeared stricken.  "Please, I...."

The young commander's deft hands did not cease their movements, now undoing the Admiral's sash and working on his vest.

"You hesitate, Edward.  Am I now unworthy of you?"

"You know it's not that."

"Then do you have another lover now?"  He sincerely doubted the latter.

Pellew shook his head.  The very idea that he might have a lover aboard Tonnant was so absurd that he could barely keep a straight face.

"Then do you find me ugly, sir?  Tell me if you find me ugly, sir, and I shall depart forthwith."

An ironic smile quirked the older man's lips.  "Ugly, sir?" he queried.  "You are more handsome - nay more beautiful - than ever.  ‘Tis I that's aged."

Horatio shook his head.  "Aged, sir?  To me you are as wonderfully handsome as ever."  He slid his arms around his commanding officer's trim waist and leaned very close to whisper into his ear, "My Captain.  My dearest Edward."  He nuzzled the ear and mouthed it gently causing Pellew to shiver.  The younger man smiled at the reaction he remembered so well.  He kissed his way over Pellew's cheek to his lips once more to plunge his tongue in and savour the taste of his lover.  "Tis as I remember, sir, and wondrous fair," he murmured, gazing into the dark eyes of the man he adored.

He assisted Pellew to finish undressing.  However, instead of climbing into bed beside him he now knelt in front him as Pellew sat on the bed.  As his former captain gazed down at him Hornblower stroked his strong thighs, slowly working his way to the inside.

"Part your legs for me, my Edward, for you are no blushing virgin."

In silence Edward Pellew did as he was bid, parting his legs to allow the younger man to gaze on the fullness of his lust.

Hornblower leaned closer until his mouth touched the smooth flesh of the inner thigh to press a tender kiss there before gazing up once more into his companion's eyes.  The man was helpless before him - and it was exactly how he wanted it.  Taking his time he trailed moist lips over the man's thighs, for now consciously avoiding the potent evidence of his desire.  After deliberately teasing his lover he finally decided that enough was enough and relented at the pleading look in Pellew's eyes.  Taking the lovely hardness into his mouth he thoroughly relished it, savouring its throbbing heat and musky perfume.

For a long moment Hornblower looked up, their eyes meeting in mutual hunger.

Edward Pellew moaned softly in delight as he gazed down on his gorgeous lover, his hands moving to free Hornblower's queue so that he could run his hands through the shoulder-length waves.  How he loved the thick, luxuriant curls.  He had always loved to run his hands through it and he was free to touch it once more and the boy was worshipping his cock and, damn it, it had been too long and he would come if he did not cease this instant.

"Horatio?"  The boy took no notice.  "Horatio, cease, my love," he gasped.  "Cease this instant.  Oh, God!"

Hornblower pulled back to grin up at him.  "My dearest Captain, it has been an age since you have addressed me thus.  An age, sir."

"And you still call me ‘Captain', sir."

"You will always be my Captain, sir."

"Then I can only commend your loyalty, sir."

Hornblower grinned.  "Yes, sir.  Thank you, sir."

Together, they got under the covers, Pellew now kissing his way down the smooth flesh of the torso, his hands busily caressing ribs and trim belly before moving back up to the small nipples, there to suckle the one and tease the other as he had once done.  All the while the boy was running loving fingers through his hair, loosening his queue until his long hair was free.  Long, powerful legs wrapped around him, trapping him, his needy sex now pressed delightfully by his lover's belly.

"Oh, Horatio!" he found himself murmuring.  "Dear God, but I have missed the taste of your sweet flesh."  He pressed his lips to that spot over his lover's heart.  "So sweet, my love.  So sweet," he murmured.

"Say my name, Edward.  So few people call me by my christian name, and you have always had that right."

Pellew pulled back to gaze into the younger man's eyes, openly cherishing his features as he had not allowed himself to do for so long.

"How beautiful you are, my dearest Horatio."  He ran his fingers through Hornblower's curls, playfully ruffling them.  "How very... very beautiful," he continued, his voice more a sigh than a murmur.  "Dear God," he groaned as the one person in the world who meant more to him than any other brought their lips together once more - and all rational thought left him.

He was so hard, harder than he could remember being in years.  He wanted Horatio to go on loving him and never stop for he was burning, every nerve ending in his body seeming to throb, and he revelled in it - yet he wanted more.  So much more.  He wanted to enter that long, lithe body and experience that sense of belonging that he had once known only with the boy; the wonderful boy that he loved so dearly.

Reaching over to a side cabinet, he withdrew a phial of rose oil.  Opening it, he held it before the younger man for him to smell.

"You kept it.  You kept it, Edward!"

"I found that I could not bear to part with it.  Sometimes I would take it out and it would remind me of you and..."  He shrugged.

Hornblower grinned.  "...and how we made excellent use of it."

He offered the phial of sweet-scented oil to his once and future lover.  "Use it, dearest boy, that I might enter heaven once more."

Hornblower did not hesitate to pour some into his hand.  Sliding down a little, he gently, delicately began to spread it over his lover's stout member, recalling all the times that he had done this in the past.  Leaning over, he took a hard nipple into his mouth to suckle avidly, Pellew's groan of pleasure music to his ears.  As he switched to the other one, he continued to massage the oil tenderly over his lover's sex.

"Oh, sir, it's been so long since I've held your sturdy mast in my hand.  ‘Tis wondrous to touch it once more."

Pellew rolled them both over now, placing a pillow under Horatio's hips and pressing his needy sex up against the entrance as his lover raised his legs.  "And is your hold ready for me, dear boy?"

"Indeed, sir.  Ready and willing.  Don't keep me waiting, Edward," the boy begged.  "I ache to feel you inside me again."  Pellew pushed a little.  "Yes, yes!  Let your dear mast claim me now, sir!"

"Yes, my love, yes, but I would not hurt you."  He pushed a little harder, this time breaching the entrance to a simultaneous grunt from his lover.  "You're very tight, my dear."

"Then you must stretch me, my Captain, for the time has been long.  You must enter me fully, sir, and stretch me to fit you once more."

Pellew pushed in further, whimpering softly in ecstasy as his cock was constricted by such incredible tightness and heat that he was left gasping for breath, his control precarious.

"All the way, sir," his eager lover implored.  "Fill me with fire, beloved Captain.  Fill me with your fire and take away the emptiness."

Pellew slid gently all the way in now, his lover's long, powerful legs wrapping high around him, enfolding him in remembered bliss until he was near sobbing with the sheer beauty of their joining.

"All right now, my darling?" he managed to murmur.

"God, yes!  Oh, Edward, do you remember what you said to me on our first night?"

In the lamplight Pellew smiled down at his once and future lover.

"Once upon a time I let my tongue run away with me."

"Then I implore you, sir, to let it run away once more."

Edward Pellew gazed into the eyes of the beautiful young man whom he could not resist.

"I said that we would ride the swell as gently as the ship with a following sea."

"And I said, ‘Then let us ride the swell, my Captain, for the wind is at our stern.'"  He stroked his lover's face.

"And not a moment's regret?"

"Never, sir.  No regrets ever."

"You were a brave lad that night."

"It required no courage, Edward, for I knew you would never hurt me.  Your wish was my command and I wanted only to please you."

"You did, my lovely lad.  You did - and you always have."  He withdrew a little and gave a gentle thrust.

"You're with your Captain now, sir," he gasped, repeating the action to the accompaniment of a soft groan from his lover.

"Yes, sir!" Hornblower gasped.  "Always, sir.  Yours, sir."

"Dear God, boy, but you make me feel like a lad again."

"And I trust that I always shall, sir."

"Audacious boy!"

Hornblower smiled.  "But I have sought only... to emulate you, sir."

"Brazen scoundrel!"

"Always, sir.  I learnt it from you."

Pellew threw back his head and laughed, feeling as though a weight that he had borne for too long now was suddenly gone and the feeling of lightness was enough to make him giddy.  He was free once more; free to love the beautiful young man in his bed.

The boy was gazing up at him in mute adoration, his large, dark eyes reflecting the soft glow of the lamplight - and Edward Pellew wanted to cry at the beauty in his arms.  The boy was his once more; his to love with a passion that seared his soul.  Only with Horatio could he give of himself with total and complete abandon - and still he wanted more.

The boy's hands were caressing his long hair. "Edward," he was murmuring.  "Edward.  Beloved Captain of my soul."

The lovely mouth was tempting him, begging for a kiss, and he was being drawn down to taste its sweetness, his tongue sucked so wantonly that he felt as though it must be halfway down the boy's throat.  Strong muscles clamped around his burning cock and for a moment his control slipped.  A moment was all it took.

The long legs tightened around him and he was grasped within and without; grasped and loved to the depths of his soul.  Lost to the lovely, all-consuming haze that enveloped him, he abandoned all control, coming so easily, so blissfully that he wanted it never to end.  And the boy, the splendid boy whom he loved so dearly, was coming too, his cock now wetting them both as Horatio came helplessly and so beautifully in his arms.

Slowly he came to rest his head on his lover's heaving breast, listening to the pounding of his heart and hearing Horatio whisper his name over and over, the boy embracing him.

"Ah, sweet lad."

Horatio's hands were running over his back and caressing his exposed buttocks.

"Dear God, Edward.  Beloved Captain, how I have missed you.  You are as I remember you - brave, noble, handsome and so very lustful."

Pellew chuckled softly.  "Oh, lad, I'm not young any more.  I'm an ageing admiral and the days of my youth are long gone, much though I might regret it."

Hornblower merely shook his head, lifting his lover's chin that he might gaze into the man's dark, dark eyes.  "You are the dearest, most handsome man I have ever known.  Look at your lips... so sweet," he mused, "so utterly desirable.  Let us savour kisses once more."

Together, they curled up under the covers as they had always done, and it was as though the last four years had never been.  Between them, it was as it had always been.  They were older, and Hornblower was no longer the youth he had once been, and yet when they gazed into one another's eyes nothing had changed.  There was that spark between them that would never die.

As their lips met in deepest affection to share gentle touches, Pellew murmured, "May God forgive me but I have so missed your dear lips."  As they continued to kiss he murmured, "You realise that we shall probably burn in hellfire for this."

"‘Twould be a cruel god who would condemn two people for love."

Pellew smiled as Horatio licked at his lips.  "Perhaps not love but lust."  He returned the gesture.

"My dearest Captain, it was you who taught me the joys of lust."

Pellew rolled his eyes before sucking on Hornblower's lower lip.  "Then I am surely consigned to hell."

"If you should go to hell, sir, then I shall willingly join you for I am no less guilty."

"Your loyalty is admirable, sir."  Pellew was quiet for a moment, enjoying the feel of his dear lover sucking on his upper lip.  "In the normal course of events," now the lower lip, "and provided that one of us does not die in battle - a distinct possibility in our line of work," a tongue was pushed into his mouth and licked at his own before kissing his upper lip once more, "I shall be dead long before you, lad."

Horatio sucked on his lover's lips.  "And perchance, darling Edward, I may meet with a premature end in battle."

Pellew gave him a soft, gentle kiss.  "Hush, my love.  Do not speak of it."

"But why not, sir?  If I live long enough I shall attend your funeral and proudly would I bear your coffin.  If I should die before you, then you must know that I shall die proud and happy because I was Edward Pellew's lover."

Pellew hugged him as Hornblower nuzzled against his neck.

"God, boy, what have I done to you!"

"You taught me the meaning not only of courage and loyalty, but of love.  All that I know of love I have learned from you, my darling Edward."

For a moment they were quiet.

"Edward, in two months it will be Christmas."

"Yes," was his lover's simple reply, an acknowledgement that they would spend it together.

"Then I shall look forward to spending all night every night with you and waking up beside you in the morning."  He lightly kissed Pellew's ear and whispered, "My dearest Edward, I intend to ravish you all night, sleep late in the mornings and take you again when I wake."

Pellew's expression was rueful.  "Do you indeed, sir?  And what if I have other intentions?"

"Of a certain I can accommodate them, sir."

Edward Pellew could not keep a straight face and dissolved into chuckles as Horatio grinned at him and they hugged each other.

"Edward, you haven't changed," he murmured, reaching out to run an exploring hand down his lover's smooth torso.  "You are as wonderful as I remember."

Pellew savoured the feel of the caressing hands.

"And you are twice as beautiful, gentle lad."

"Oh, Edward, let us never part again.  Promise me that.  Promise me that you will never deny me again."

"How could I!" Pellew responded somewhat ruefully.  "You have undone me, my dear, and I know not where to turn."

"Then turn to me, dearest Edward.  Turn to me."

Hornblower wrapped his arms around Pellew and buried his face in his warm neck.  Taking his lover's hand, he kissed the palm before holding it against his own heart.

"My arms are empty without you, Edward.  I feel as though there is no sense of feeling left in me, and my heart is like ice."  He pulled back to gaze into his lover's searching eyes.  "Edward, I do not wish to be that person."

"Then you must not be, my dear."  Hornblower let go of his hand and he stroked the boy's face, his fingers tracing along the line of the sharp jaw.

"Then tell me that I'm still your boy.  Tell me that you still care for me as you once did, Edward."

"Dear God, Horatio, how can you doubt it?" his lover whispered.  "There is no other for me.  I wanted to...  Damn it, I thought only to spare your feelings.  I realised that one day you would wish to marry, to have children, and..."

"And?"

"And you loved me far too much, my dearest.  I realised that if you stayed under my command I would only hold you back.  I therefore sought to further your career, to broaden your horizons as it were.  Horatio, cannot you see that it had to end?  For both our sakes."

"No, Edward.  I loved you too much.  I never wanted to leave you and hoped to gain promotion while remaining under your command.  But you sent me away, banished me first from your bed, then from your ship.  You never explained, and I was devastated.  I couldn't understand why, or what I had done to so displease you when all I wanted was to be your lover, as I had been."

He buried his face in his lover's neck as the older man's arms encircled him.

For Pellew, suddenly it was no longer Horatio Hornblower the man, the captain of Hotspur, who now clung to him but the boy that he had been when they had first become lovers.

"I loved you, sir," the boy whispered brokenly, hot, bitter tears leaking from his large eyes to wet his lover's neck and shoulder.  "I loved you so much, sir, and I... I was sure that you loved me, and I... I could not understand why... why you took it all away.  Why you held yourself aloof from me when I was sure that I had done nothing to deserve it.  You just...  You cast me adrift, my Captain, and I could not... could not..."

"I know, my darling boy.  I know."

Pellew found himself blinking back his own tears for the times long past that he had dared to glance at the beautiful young man and seen the naked hurt in his eyes.  God alone knew he deserved to be flogged at the gratings for the harm he had done to the boy.  He blamed himself for ever succumbing to temptation and taking the lad to his bed in the first place, but it was too late for that.  They meant too much to each other, and he, too, had been deeply scarred by the ending of a relationship which had been so idyllic and so marvellously sweet.  He had known then that, whatever the future might bring, nothing would ever come close to the love he had shared with his beautiful and brave young officer.

He had lived with the memories of that relationship for the past four years.  He might go for hours without thinking of Hornblower, then something would happen to take him back to it once more.  He had long given up trying to fight it.  Each night he thought of the nights the courageous young beauty had come to him and he had welcomed him into his arms and into his bed.  It had been worse since he had been based in Portsmouth as duty - and even social obligation - had forced them together on a regular basis.

"Horatio, it's... not true.  It's not true that... that I ceased to love you.  It was nothing you had done, lad.  It... was difficult for me as I knew how much I had come to mean to you.  I loved you most dearly."

"And do you still, sir?" the boy whispered.

Pellew tilted Horatio's chin up to bring their mouths together in a long, exploring kiss that rekindled all their desire and longing.

"My dearest Horatio, to cease to love you would be to cease to live."

"Then let me love you now, sir."

"Yes, my dear.  My adored boy," Pellew whispered.

"Never leave me again, Edward.  Never cut me adrift again."

"Never again, my sweet.  Never."

"Promise me."

"I promise, my darling.  I promise.  We shall be together now for it's what we both wish."

"Seal it with a kiss."

Pellew leaned down and brought their mouths together, tongues meeting in blissful wetness to caress delicately, moisture glistening on their lips as they parted.

"There.  I have sealed it, my love.  And now you shall seal it."

Hornblower knew what his lover wanted, for it was what they both desired.

Abruptly, Pellew found himself on his back, his legs spread, a pillow whisked under him and the boy's magical tongue swiping at his arse before pushing into him and, dear God, but he loved it; he was a slave to this form of desire and he knew it.  No lady would ever do this, only the boy knew how he loved it.  Only his beloved boy...

Delirium overtook him as the superb tongue wriggled around.  How utterly glorious it was to be adored in this secret and so intimate manner that left him helpless as a babe in arms.  How lovely to lie yearning and utterly exposed before a beautiful, sensual lover and be worshipped to the depths of his soul.

At length Hornblower rolled his lover onto his stomach, mounting him quickly from behind, groaning softly as he was enclosed by the grasping arse that welcomed him into its exquisite warmth.  Now, finally, he could relax a little.  His hands, which had been massaging the firm buttocks, stretched up to cover his lover's, their fingers intertwining in harmony as their bodies began to move together now.

Pellew welcomed the boy's cock with heartfelt gratitude, pushing back to meet its welcome thickness as it stretched him.

"Yes, my love, yes," he found himself gasping, and the boy was moaning softly in his desire, hips now grinding against his buttocks.

For Pellew, the boy's long, wonderful cock was stroking against that spot inside him that always spelt ecstasy.  It had been so long now - so very long - and no other had ever enjoyed the pleasures of his arse.  Yet here they were, lovers once more, and he would not fight the enchantment any more for it was simply too powerful.  They needed each other as they needed air to breathe - and he found that he revelled in that thought.  His cock was hard as the masts above them and he gloried in his masculinity once more.  No woman could ever give him this and no other man ever would.  It was what he needed, but only from the darling boy whose love he so cherished.

"Yes, my darling," he rasped.  "Yessss..."  He was pushing back to meet every thrust, groaning in his ecstasy.

"My love, my Edward!"

And still he needed more.  He needed a deeper penetration and pushed back further, wanting to take more of the boy inside him.  Parting his legs more, he knelt, his lover's warm arms encircling him, warm breath hissing against his ear as the boy's swollen sex slid a little deeper.

"Edward, my love, is it all right?"

"Dear God, yes.  Move, boy, move!"

Anchored firmly by his lover's strong arms, Edward Pellew let himself fly, pushing back firmly to meet his lover's sturdy thrusts, his heart pounding, his soul soaring with the beauty and sheer lust of their joining.  Horatio's hands, the hands that he loved to observe as they touched him, were stroking all over his stomach and chest, squeezing his nipples and kneading his hips while the boy's lovely prick was rubbing against that magical spot inside him that always spelt fierce pleasure.

He could hear the boy's whimpers of pleasure, the breath hissing through his teeth with every movement of their bodies as the ropes supporting the bed creaked with their combined movements.

Yes, dear God, yessss!  His darling was coming - the lovely cock was erupting inside him and his lover was crushing his ribs hard enough to crack them - and it was damned glorious.  The boy loved him still and life was for living once more and love was the grandest of miracles.

Through the rapture of his own lust he heard the boy's gasp, "Wait, Edward.  Don't come yet."

And now Horatio was withdrawing and he wanted to shout no, not yet, I need you, but he was being turned, his needy prick grasped in the boy's lovely hands.  It was caressed and gently squeezed, as were his swollen balls as a finger ran tenderly over the slippery wet tip.  His lover grinned at him rather cheekily before leaning down to take his nipples each in turn and tease them with his tongue before sucking avidly on each.

Pellew was loving every minute of he wonderful suckling as his lover whispered, "How could I neglect these sweet buds when I love them so?" And he was holding the boy's head close, hands running through his curls in mute adoration, his cock begging for more attention, dying to come yet wishing fervently to prolong the rapture so thoroughly consuming him.

At length the boy slid lower, bestowing kisses to his ribs and belly.  Finally, he looked up and, as their gazes met, Hornblower deliberately licked his lips and leaned down to take his lover's cock into his lovely, warm, wet mouth; tongue stroking all over the head and probing eagerly at the tiny hole.

His fingers ran through the boy's dark curls as his hips thrust, his cock entering the sweet mouth again and again, the boy now taking him deep into his throat - and, dear God, but it was beautiful.  He was fucking that sensual mouth, each touch of the frolicsome tongue seeming only to fan the flames higher and still higher until he was coming so marvellously that he groaned aloud when all that he desperately wanted was to shout his joy to the heavens and proclaim his love for the boy - his beautiful, wonderful, lusty boy.

*

Bodies aglow with pleasure, they lay quietly together, Hornblower's head on his lover's shoulder as he nuzzled against the warm dampness of his lover's neck, inhaling his scent.  His eyes were closed and a gentle smile curved his lips.

"Will you sleep for a little while, Edward?" he murmured after a while.

"For a little while, my dear.  Then you must go."

"Then sleep now, beloved Captain, for I would hold you."

With a soft sigh of happiness Edward Pellew allowed himself to drowse, utterly content, his long-legged lover wrapped around him as comfortably, as marvellously as he had ever been.  No, more so, he decided, for now they would cherish even more the precious time that they could spend together.  He allowed himself to drift...

*

Some half an hour later they rose, cleansed themselves and dressed once more, inspecting each other's appearance as they had always done.

"You are my best and bravest captain.  I would not send you back to France but that I need you to be my eyes and ears."

"I shall do my best, sir."

"I know you will.  I know you will, my boy.  You always do.  You have never let me down."

"But I have an unfair advantage, sir."

"And that is?"

"I carry you here, sir," he touched his own chest over his heart, "and that will never change.  It has always given me an unfair advantage."

"How so?"

"I was determined not only to justify your faith in me but to make you proud of me."

"Mr Hornblower, are you saying that your captain's fond regard was justification for your frequent foolhardiness?"

"Aye, sir.  I suppose you could say that I tried harder."

"And damn near got yourself killed more than once."

"I always returned to you, sir.  God willing, I always will."

Grasping his lover's hands Hornblower brought them around until they covered his own buttocks and began to automatically fondle them.  "And I hold you here, sir."

"And just what are you implying, sir?" Pellew inquired playfully, continuing to stroke and massage his lover's arse.

"Only that I've had a rocket up me, sir."  He grinned at his commanding officer.

Pellew chuckled, continuing to fondle the shapely buttocks.  "Impudent boy!"

"I can still feel you there, sir," Horatio whispered into his lover's ear.  "It's like you're still there - and that is my unfair advantage."

"Unfair indeed!  I'll wager that no other captain in the fleet can boast of having an admiral for a lover - any admiral!"  Hornblower grinned.  "The other captains already know that I favour you.  If any of them even suspected...." he warned.

"They know that I'm your protégé, sir, and, as you say, you already show me undue favour.  So nothing need change.  As always, we shall be discreet."

"And tonight, chess shall we say?"

Hornblower smiled.  "Checkmate, sir."

"Touché.  And shall you go to see your lady friend?"

"Indeed not, sir.  I shall spend the night aboard ship and shall send Mr Bush to check on the lady and her mother for he is acquainted with both."

"A wise decision no doubt."

"And if I had said that I would still pay a call on the lady in question would you be jealous, Edward?"

For answer, Edward Pellew gazed into Horatio's dark eyes before tilting his chin up.

"Does this answer your question, boy?" he demanded, lips now feasting on his lover's sweetly swollen ones as Horatio opened to him, greedily devouring the tongue that was offered and sucking on it like a famished infant.

When they finally withdrew the boy was grinning at him in that stubborn and charming way he had that Edward Pellew loved.

"Eminently, sir.  I shall return to my ship forthwith.  But first..."  He picked up the wine goblets, handing one to Pellew.

"To fair winds, sir."

"And a following sea.  May it always be at our stern," Pellew responded as they clinked glasses and drank the last of the wine.

"I have been thinking..." he mused, "I have never inspected Hotspur.  Most remiss of me.  Shall we say first bell of the forenoon watch?"

"Hotspur will be ready, sir."

"Ah, but will her captain?"

Hornblower stood proudly before him, a hint of a smile hovering about his rosy lips.  "Her captain always stands ready for inspection, sir."

"Then I shall inspect you both in the morning."

Hornblower saluted, their gazes joined.

"Aye, aye, sir."

Pellew returned the salute before Hornblower embraced him once more to share a final tender kiss - a kiss that sealed their past and spoke of promises for the future as their bodies pressed fiercely close.

"May God bless you and keep you, boy.  Now go before I take you back to bed and disgrace us both."

Hornblower grinned as his lover stepped back.

"Aye, aye, sir!"

As Pellew watched, the young commander saluted smartly once more, turned and walked swiftly to the door, closing it firmly behind him.

Smiling, Pellew shook his head at the evening that had been.  As he turned to retrieve the chess set and set up the pieces for an end game he found himself studying the board intently, finding it appropriate that his own black king was now checkmated by the white queen, a rook and a bishop for he had indeed been royally outflanked by the young commander, a superb tactician who would one day make admiral.

"Touché indeed, my Horatio," he murmured. "It shall be as you wish, my love, for I would not have it otherwise."  He tipped over his own king.  "Come what may."

As Pellew re-entered his sleeping quarters the first thing he noticed was that his bed was a complete shambles.  Simultaneously, as he closed the door, his nostrils were assaulted by the proof of their coupling - a combination of male passion and rose oil.  There was no breeze that night so that, even though the windows were open, the scent hung heavy in the air.

Later, as he lay in bed, he thought of the inspection he had planned for the morning.  Yes, he would thoroughly inspect Hotspur.  Even more so, under the guise of giving last minute orders, he intended to inspect her young captain - also most thoroughly.

Lying on sheets that retained the odour of their passion, he reflected on the evening's events.  Horatio still loved him.  In spite of everything, his Horatio, his beautiful boy, still loved him.  He remembered the feel of his smoothly muscled flesh, the scent of it, the taste of it, the kisses bestowed by the voluptuous mouth, the touches of the long-fingered hands on his own aching flesh, the strong limbs that wrapped around him in such rapturous welcome; the ardour that had consumed them both.  Had anything really changed?  Perhaps not, he reflected.

As Edward Pellew drifted off to sleep, his head resting on the pillow that his dear lover had used, his arse was tender and somewhat stretched, his heart was lighter than he could ever remember and a smile hovered about his distinctly swollen lips.

"Goodnight, my dearest Horatio," he whispered.  "May God keep you safe on your mission tomorrow and the angels protect you always."

Feeling like the luckiest person in the world, he allowed himself to drowse.

*

It was late by the time Hornblower could finally take to his bunk aboard Hotspur.  He had worked hard with Bush and Prowse to ensure that the ship was ready for the admiral's inspection in the morning.  As he drifted off he thought of the evening that had been, and the morning to come.  He smiled to himself...

He dreamt of a moonlit night and a deserted deck.  A sense of anticipation filled him as, to his delight, he discovered that he was not alone after all.  The figure of his captain sat near the wheel reading a book.

Of a sudden the breeze came up and a loose page from the book fluttered to the deck.  Quickly, he placed his foot on it before it could blow overboard.  However, as he did so, his captain slowly raised his eyes, allowing them to rake the length of his body, leaving him feeling naked and utterly vulnerable before the man's penetrating gaze.

He picked up the small sheet of paper and went to hand it back to his captain.

 "‘Tis a poem for you, boy," Pellew murmured.

His heart filled with longing, he held out his hands to his beloved captain.

"Then I shall treasure it, sir," he murmured, grasping his captain's chilled hands and drawing him to his feet.  "But you are cold, sir," he could not help but remark for the man felt like ice.  "Allow me to warm you."

Removing his cloak, he placed it around his captain's shoulders before taking him into his arms.  With infinite tenderness his hands caressed the man's cold cheeks as the other gazed at him in mute adoration.  Finally, he allowed their lips to touch, only to discover that Pellew's lips, too, were frozen.  Wanting so much to warm his beloved commanding officer, again, he gently kissed the cold lips, and this time they somehow seemed a little warmer.

"I shall keep you warm, sir," he murmured, offering another kiss.

The kiss was long and rapturous, lips sliding and caressing, tongues meeting and stroking in slippery delight, only this time his captain's lips tasted warm and ineffably sweet.

Pellew smiled at him.  "You always will you know."

"Aye, sir.  ‘Tis my duty - and my very great pleasure."

In his sleep, Horatio Hornblower touched his lips and smiled.

*

Edward Pellew dreamt that he lay in the arms of a gentle lover.

"We have a following sea, sir," his lover whispered.

In his sleep, Pellew smiled, knowing it to be true.

*    *   * *** *   *   *