This chapter is taking place the same time Caliborn is with the Grand Highblood.
Three months after the King's party
Jake shifted his weight from foot to foot as he waited for Dirk, Equius and Dave to finish moving the grand piano from the sitting room to its appropriate place in the music room. He heard Dirk curse at his brother and he sighed, rolling his sleeves up to his elbows. His shirt was unbuttoned halfway down his chest and his feet were bare. He walked over to them and lifted the side that Dave had lost grasp of and flashed a smile at him.
"Go fetch John," Jake ordered Dave and the blond male reluctantly let go of the piano.
"Fuck," Dirk gasped out as the weight of the piano drifted towards him and Jake moved his hold to where Dave had been at.
Equius grunted and they shuffled into the music room where Jade was sitting patiently with Rose. They were sipping tea and conversing quietly with one another about the latest fashions in London. Jade giggled, her green eyes bright as she chatted away about things that Jake had bought her from the New World. Rose nodded politely and added in her own quips regarding the clothes she was wearing. Equius backed up to the wall and they lowered the piano to the shimmering floors as Dave and John rejoined them.
Jake wiped his hands on his pants and lifted the lid of the piano and propped it up, skimming his fingers over the keys. He tapped the closest keys and cringed at the sound they made. He looked over at John who gently placed his fingers on the keys, tapping out a quick song.
"It needs to be tuned," he murmured.
"Can you tune it or do I need to fetch someone off the mainland?" Jake asked, fingers already working on closing the lid.
John pulled the prop back up and smiled at him, "I can tune it, Jake."
"Very good," Jake sighed in relief and walked over to Rose, placing a quick kiss on her cheek. Dirk let out a soft growl and Dave elbowed him in the side. He slapped his arm away and left the music room, Jake's eyes boring into his back.
Rose cleared her throat and patted Jake's hand. "Don't mind him, love," she said, twining their fingers together. "He's always been the jealous type."
"What do you mean?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
She laughed softly and stood, smoothing her dress out, "Did I say that out loud? Slip of the tongue." She glided over to the piano and wrapped her shawl tighter around her shoulders. "How long do you think it will take you to tune the piano, John?" She asked him, his name coming out with a slight French accent.
"Well, maybe, a few hours," replied John with a sheepish smile. "I'll try and do it as quickly as possible."
"Take your time," Rose smiled and sat down on the bench that Equius had brought it after they had set the piano down. She smoothed her dress out again and watched as John started to tune the piano.
Jake pressed a kiss to Jade's head and left, knowing that the girls' would be alright with John. He made his way to the dining room and spotted Dirk, shining the silver with Nepeta. She giggled and flicked a glob of polish at the blond who snarled jokingly at her when it hit his nose. The redheaded girl smiled, handing Dirk her rag to clean his face off. Jake stood in the doorway, watching the two exchange jokes and laugh. It was the first time he'd heard Dirk laugh and smile at someone who wasn't his brother, his cousin, or Jane. He wished Dirk would smile at him and let out a soft sigh, dropping his gaze to the floor.
Nepeta looked over her shoulder at Jake and then glanced back at Dirk who didn't meet her gaze. She quietly set the fork she was polishing into its case and put the rag down on the table. She tiptoed out of the room and shut both the doors, locking them. She giggled mischievously, "No they have no choice but to polish silver and talk about their feelings!"
Equius turned the corner and Nepeta walked into his chest. "Oh, Nepeta, I was just coming to help you with the silver," He said, scratching at his cheek.
"No need Equius! Dirk and the master offered to finish it for me," she grinned up at him and took his hand. "Lets go wash the horses, okay?"
"But," he started and she shushed him with her finger pressed to his lips.
"They need to sort out their feelings, Equius," she stated.
Equius nodded and he let her lead them out to the stables to wash the horses.
Dirk glanced up shyly at Jake and rubbed the rag over the spoon, cheeks burning. Jake coughed awkwardly into his hand and picked up an unpolished knife, turning it over in his hands. He picked up the rag that Nepeta had been using and started to polish the knife.
"How are you today, Dirk?" Jake asked, fingers shaking as he set the knife into the box before picking up another.
"Fine," He replied, "you?'
"Fine," said the older male, his tan fingers scraping off a layer of dirt from the silverware.
An awkward silence fell over the two as they worked to polish the silver. Dirk placed the last spoon in the box just as Jake was putting the last knife in. Their fingers brushed together and Jake's breath caught in his throat. Dirk pulled his hand back and turned away from the brunet, swallowing hard. Jake closed the silverware box and put it back in the silver chest. He walked back to the table and closed the canisters of polish, placing them in the silver chest along with the rags. He collected the cloth from the floor and shook the dirt from it, throwing it back on the table. Dirk took a deep breath and turned back around, fixing the table cloth while Jake put the candles and flowers back in the middle. Dirk smoothed the table cloth out and stepped back from the table.
Jake scooted the head chair out and sat down, picked at the polish under his fingernails. Dirk stood at the door, ready to make a quick escape. The Englishman let out a long sigh and waved his hand at Dirk to leave. When he tried to open the door, it wouldn't budge.
"What the hell?" he asked, pushing against the door again. Jake looked over at him.
"What is it?"
"Door's locked," replied Dirk, moving to the second one across from it and tried it, "Same with this one."
Jake rolled his eyes and went back to getting the polish out, "Just leave it, Dirk. Someone's bound to come get us eventually. The doors like to lock by themselves sometimes."
"Well isn't that a nice surprise," muttered Dirk, sitting down next to him. He crossed one leg over the other and leaned back, sighing through his nose. "Do you think Nepeta locked them?" He asked after a while, staring up at the ceiling.
"I wouldn't put it past her," Jake commented, looking at Dirk. He let a small smile grace his lips, eyes trained on the blond's throat as he swallowed. His Adam's apple bobbed in and he cleared his throat, cheeks flushing.
Dirk patted the arms of the chair and stood back up, moving to the window. "It's a little hot in here..." He mumbled, opening the window. A warm breeze blew in and he sighed, pushing his hair out of his face.
Jake stood silently and came up behind him, wrapping his arms around his middle. Dirk shifted uncomfortably and looked down at the garden where he could see Jane tending to the growing fruits and vegetables. "Dirk..." Jake whispered into his shoulder, "Come away from the window."
He shuddered in his hold and let the Commodore tug him away from the window. Jake fell back into the chair and Dirk had to stop himself from tumbling into his lap. He felt the brunet's eyes bore into his back and he squirmed under his gaze, turning to face him. Jake grabbed his hand, pulling him into his lap with a forceful tug. Dirk stared into the green orbs of the commodore and he settled down, straddling his thighs.
"You do remember what being a personal slave entails, correct?" questioned Jake, his hands skimming over the pirate's lean torso. Dirk leaned his body into the touch but caught himself, pulling away from it.
"I don't think I do," He responded, "please, show me."
Jake smirked and gripped his hips. "Being my personal slave means you do things that I request of you, including sexual favors," explained the Commodore, "and you can't say no, remember?"
Dirk's face flushed pink and his brows furrowed. Jake was right. He had to agree to everything that was asked of him. He shifted his legs and settled his hands on the back of Jake's neck, tugging him closer. He dropped his head down, their lips brushing. "What is it that you want of me, master?" He breathed against his lips.
Jake grinned up at him and pressed their mouths together. Dirk took in a sharp breath and curled his fingers in the hair at the nape of Jake's neck, eyes fluttering shut. It had been over a year since he'd last been kissed by another. Jake's hold on his hips loosened and his hands found their way to his cheeks, stroking them as their lips dragged against one another's. They broke apart and the Englishman nipped at his jaw.
"That's exactly what I want Dirk," smiled Jake, his thumb brushing over Dirk's bottom lip. "I want that, every night until I'm dead."
Dirk froze and his fingers uncurled, pulling his body away. "Liar," he spat out. "You're such a liar!" He got off of him and moved to the door, having forgotten that it was locked. He tried to open it and kicked at the door with his knee.
"Dirk," Jake called.
"No! No you don't get to say that after what I've seen happen between you Rose," He snapped, head hitting the door. "You don't get to say that you want me or need me when you have her. I won't be your personal toy, English." His hand curled into fists by his sides and his shoulders shook.
Jake rested his elbow on the table and propped his face up with his hand. "She's already expressed her distaste in men, Strider," he replied, the tone of his voice was relaxed and calm. "Our teasing and tomfoolery is, simply put, a clever disguise to hide our true aversion towards one another."
The blond pirate hit his fist against the door and let out a shaky laugh. "Like I'd ever believe that, she likes you, I know she does," Dirk sneered.
"Oh? How do you that, pray tell," asked the Commodore.
"Because," He gritted his teeth together and looked over his shoulder at Jake, "She's my cousin."
"She's your cousin?" Jake's green eyes widened and his lips parted in surprise. "So that's why..." He mumbled, dropping his gaze to the flowers on the table that were just starting to bloom. His brows furrowed, remembering Rose's words to herself, "He's always been the jealous type."
Dirk dropped his gaze down and moved away from the door. He drifted over to Jake and sat back down in his lap. "She's Roxy's younger sister and is the same age as Dave. They look a lot like twins if you put the two of them next to one another. The only difference is the eyes, actually and the fact that Rose has breasts." He kept his eyes fixed on the floor, not daring to look at Jake.
"Which only continues to prove the theory that you could be the king's long lost son," Jake said to himself, pursing his lips. He nodded his head and breathed out slowly, resting his hand on Dirk's bruising knee. "What are we going to do, Dirk?"
He shook his head, chewing on his lip. His nerves were out of control. He placed his hand over Jake's and squeezed it. "Do whatever we have to, I suppose," He remarked, lifting his head to focus his eyes on the sky outside the window. He started to chew on his lip again as he thought, Jake's arm wrapping itself around Dirk's waist. He bit down on it hard enough to draw blood. It bubbled up and then dripped down his chin. He didn't wince at the pain and sucked his bottom lip into his mouth, the coppery taste of blood filling his mouth.
"What are you thinking Dirk?" asked Jake, pressing his nose into his shoulder.
"I'm thinking about going home," he answered, voice distant.
Jake drew his face back and cocked his head in question, "What do you mean?"
"I think it's time for the lost princes to return, don't you?" Dirk looked at him and the brunet nodded.
"Yes, I think I do," he kissed his lips and patted his knee gently, careful of the bruise. "We'll need a plan before we return to London."
Dirk nodded his head and rested his head on Jake's shoulder with a sigh, "Dave is the one who has to take the throne. I can't, not anymore. I'll take the fall for the both of us. It was my idea from the beginning to become pirates. He was only acting as a younger brother should."
Jake hummed in reply and pressed his nose into Dirk's hair. "Try the door again, I'm sure it's unlocked now."
"No..." He mumbled, "We deserve a little privacy."
"Or a little intimacy," smirked Jake.
"Don't," warned Dirk.
Jake laughed into the blond's hair and the pirate hit his chest weakly with his palm. The Commodore quieted and stroked Dirk's thigh, "Spend the night with me Dirk..."
"Jake," He started to get up but Jake gripped his arm.
"Please," Jake said softly.
He took a deep breath and nodded slowly, relaxing into the brunet's chest. He shut his eyes and pressed a quick peck to Jake's neck. He settled against him and drifted off as Jake rubbed his thigh and stroked his thumb over the back of his hand. He felt himself drift to sleep, the Englishman murmuring sweet nothings into his hair.
