Chapter 10 (Rated R)

Salieri sighed as he turned the key and opened the door to his home. It was very late, the sky an inky black as overcast clouds blocked out the moon and stars. Another night in society's embrace, another night having to listen to the pretentious chitchat of shallow women and watch the preening of self absorbed men. Salieri would much rather have stayed home and worked on his music or read a good book. But unless he wanted his career as a composer to disappear, he had to be social and continue making appearances.

Making his way inside he went up stairs and got ready for bed. Sitting down at the small desk in his room he quickly did some paper work, trying to keep himself busy. Now that he was home alone with no distractions it was hard not to think about what had transpired between him and Mozart earlier that day.

God, what had he'd been thinking! This simply could not happen. He would have to talk with Mozart tomorrow, explain that this was all a mistake and that they should forget it ever occurred. The problem was he didn't think he could forget. He could still feel Mozart's weight on top of him, feel Mozart pressing him into the floor, how hot his mouth had been, how passionate his kisses.

Salieri could feel himself starting to get aroused at the memory. Groaning in frustration he went to the window and opened it, hoping the night air would cool his fevered skin. This was insane! Salieri was torn between his body's desires and his mind's objections, he didn't know what to do. And what was all this to Mozart? Was this some sort of game to the man. Salieri had always thought that Mozart was attracted to women, he'd seen the man kiss and chase after enough in public. But there was no denying that Mozart had been aroused as well during their encounter, hell, the man had initiated it! Suddenly all the touching and physical contact between them started to make sense. Lord in heaven, had Mozart been…seducing him? But why? Mozart had his pick of women, and he was in love with Constance Weber…wasn't he? It couldn't be because Constance was still visiting her sister, Mozart did not seem the type of man to stray just because he lacked access to a woman for a few weeks. None of this made any sense.

Salieri was in deep trouble and he knew it. He had never been one for casual intimate encounters, he just wasn't like that. Salieri had always needed to feel a connection to enjoy sexual relations or else it was meaningless. That's why he had had so few intimate relationships over the years. For him to desire Mozart like he did meant a part of him felt that connection with Mozart, and if he didn't watch himself, he would end up hurt again. Salieri couldn't set himself up for the pain of being discarded for a second time. No, Salieri had to stop this before it progressed any further. All the conflicting emotions running through him was starting to give him a headache. This was why he preferred to be alone damn it!

Making his way over to the bed, Salieri flopped down gracelessly and tried to rest but his mind was still a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. It wasn't like he was in love with the man, that would be ridiculous, impossible. Salieri turned over, banishing the thought. Tomorrow he would talk to Mozart and end…whatever this was. Salieri felt his chest grow tight at the thought, his heart crying out against his mind's logic. He closed his eyes and tried to ignore the feeling. After a long time he finally drifted off in a restless slumber.

...

Mozart sighed to himself as he walked into the music room. One look was all it took to see that Salieri was as rigid as a board. His whole posture radiated tension and distress. Mozart had expected as much.

When he had gone home yesterday Mozart had cursed Rosenberg to high heaven for his ill timed interruption. He had finally had the chance to kiss Salieri, to touch him and it had been magnificent. Salieri had opened up and responded to him in a way he'd only dreamed of. Salieri had let some of his passionate nature emerge and as Mozart had suspected, Salieri was a fiery force when he dropped his guard. But that had been in the heat of the moment and now Salieri had had time to over think what had happened. Salieri thought to much and didn't let himself feel enough. No doubt he had stressed and analysed their encounter to death and was set on preventing anything further from occurring between them.

To hell with that. Mozart had finally tasted Salieri and it had only wet his appetite for more. Besides, Mozart had a feeling that Salieri needed this more the he realized. His mind might be set against it, but his body and soul were crying out for the contact of another. Mozart could feel it in the way Salieri had clutched him, holding on like he was starved for touch and physical sensation. No, Mozart was not going to give up on this and he wasn't going to give Salieri the chance to deny him. Mozart quickly set his traveling case down and starting walking across the room towards Salieri.

Salieri had been aware of Mozart as soon as he had entered the room. It was like the space had suddenly become smaller and he almost found it hard to breath. This was it, they would talk, agree to stay friends and colleagues, and things would return to normal…or not. Salieri looked up to find Mozart right in front of him. When did he get there? Before Salieri could react Mozart grabbed hold of his vest and pulled him into a kiss, their mouths coming together hard, almost bruising. With one hand gripping him tight, Salieri felt Mozart's other start to slide up around to the back of his head. NO!

Salieri moved his arms up between them and pushed himself away from Mozart. Trying to catch his breath as he starting backing up blindly.

"W-what are you doing!" he gasped, trying to get some distance between them.

"I'm not giving you the chance to think Salieri, I only want you to feel. Stop fighting this" Mozart responded low as he pursued Salieri across the room.

Salieri stared at Mozart's intense and unrelenting expression. Suddenly his back hit against something hard and he glanced down to see that he'd backed up into the side of the piano. Salieri looked back at Mozart to see the man stalking towards him. In a heartbeat Mozart was up against him with his arms on either side of his body, hands braced against the top of the piano, trapping him there.

"No, stop. Mozart we can't do this, it isn't right" Salieri exhaled, trying to get Mozart to see reason.

"And why not?" Mozart whispered, "Why can't we Salieri. What are you so afraid of. Don't try to deny you want this, I can see that you do" Mozart leaned in as he spoke and soon his face was just an inch away.

"What I want is for us to stop this nonsense and get back to work" Salieri responded breathlessly. It was hard to think straight with Mozart pressed up against him so, the heat of his body burning him through their clothes. God, that didn't even sound convincing to his own ears. Salieri closed his eyes and turned his head away as he tried to concentrate on talking and not the feel of Mozart's lean body against his own. "This stops now, we're not suppose to be doing this, w-were rivals for god sakes!"

One of Mozart's hands came up to grasp Salieri's face, forcing him to look back at Mozart. Salieri opened his eyes, looking into Mozart's own dark orbs.

"Don't try to pull the 'we're rivals, we hate each other' card" Mozart bit out, "That's bullshit and you know it, I have never hated you. We've become friends Salieri, we care about each other and you know it. We're more then friends now, I…care for you a lot, I want to be with you. God Salieri, you keep yourself so cut off, so closed up from the pleasures of life. Just let your self go for once and trust me, let yourself feel!"

Salieri could only stare as Mozart finished his passionate plea, the words he was going to say getting stuck in his throat. Mozart took Salieri's silence as a yes and closed the distance between them, touching their lips together in a softer, more gentle kiss. Mozart kissed him slowly, taking time to gently nibble and suck on his lower lip, waiting for Salieri to open and give him access to his mouth. Mozart would not force it this time, Salieri had to be the one to move the kiss further.

After a minute Salieri couldn't take it anymore. His body and heart slammed the doors shut on his mind's insecurities and doubts and he gave in to his desire. He let out a soft moan of surrender and lifted his hands to Mozart's face. Holding Mozart to him he deepened their kiss, moving it from a gentle press to a passionate duel.

Mozart felt the moment Salieri gave in by his body language. No longer holding himself back, Salieri pressed himself closer to Mozart's, both of them now firmly flush against the other. After a few minutes of passionate kissing Mozart's body demanded more. He moved his hands to Salieri's shoulders and griped the fabric of his coat, slowly peeling it down Salieri's arms and dropped it at their feet. He moved back enough to fit his hands between their bodies and worked at unbuttoning Salieri's vest, removing it as well. As Mozart moved to untuck his shirt Salieri broke their kiss and looked at him with a mixture of need and uncertainty.

Stilling his hands at Salieri's waist, Mozart looked at him with what he hoped was a calm and encouraging expression. "Trust me Salieri".

Salieri exhaled and shivered in anticipation as he gave Mozart a small nod. Mozart smiled and gave him a small kiss. His hands quickly pulled up the material and Salieri lifted his arms so Mozart could remove it completely. Naked from the waist up with Mozart still fully clothed, Salieri felt more vulnerable then he had in a long time. This was different from when Mozart had seen his body when he was ill, so different. Soon though all thoughts of embarrassment left as Mozart moved his lips down his neck to his chest. Salieri could only close his eyes and try to breath as sensations ran wild throughout him. His eyes snapped open and he gasped in surprise when Mozart bite lightly at his nipple, the feeling going straight to his groin, making him harder. His trousers were starting to get uncomfortably tight. He felt Mozart grin against his skin and continue his assault on Salieri's body.

Mozart kissed and licked his way across Salieri's chest. The man tasted divine and his fantasies didn't hold a candle to the real thing. Salieri was beautiful, smooth pale skin over lean muscle. He could feel every shiver, every breathy intake of air as Salieri reacted to his touches. Mozart made his way back up to Salieri neck, pausing to bite down lightly on the tendons, desire pounding through him at Salieri's moan. Mozart took Salieri's mouth in another heated kiss and then pulled back to stare into his eyes. Without breaking eye contact he reached down and brought Salieri's hand to his lips. Slowly he guided Salieri's index and middle finger into his mouth, laving and sucking on them gently. Mozart watched as Salieri's breath stuttered and his eyelids drop halfway, his pupils blown wide in desire. Mozart slowly brought the fingers out, nipping lightly at their tips and moved his lips down to kiss Salieri's palm.

Jesus, Mozart was killing him. Salieri had never been so turned on and hard in his life, and the man had barely touched him! What was it about Mozart that effected him so. Salieri couldn't take much more of this. As if sensing his thoughts, Mozart trailed his hands down Salieri's chest to his trousers and started undoing the buttons. Oh God this was really happening. Mozart's hand reached in and slipped around his aching length. Salieri let out a loud groan at the contact before he could stop himself and fell back against the piano. Mozart's hand was hot on his skin and slightly calloused from years of playing music instruments. Mozart stroked him at a slow and easy pace and it was driving Salieri insane. Salieri's fingers clutched uselessly at the piano's smooth surface.

Mozart could only watch in fascination as Salieri gave himself over to the sensations coursing through his body. He was stunning. Mozart's own arousal was aching in need but he ignored it. This time wasn't about him, this was about showing Salieri how good this could be, how good they could be together. Mozart watched as Salieri's beautiful features twisted in need and ecstasy, every moan and look going straight to Mozart's groin. Soon Salieri was arching off the piano and into Mozart's hand, letting out a startled cry as he came.

Salieri fell back against the piano in a boneless heap, barely managing to keep from falling to the floor. He'd just had one of the most intense orgasms of his life, and Mozart had only touched him with his hand! This really was going to kill him. Salieri laid back against the hard wood taking deep deaths, his chest heaving slightly, and tried to calm his racing heart. Well, there was no going back from this now. He slowly managed to brace himself up on his arms and looked up at Mozart.

"That was…do you…uh, are you…do you need…" Salieri stammered out embarrassingly, trying to ask if Mozart still needed release as well. The man had seemed focused solely on making sure Salieri had been reduced to a wanting mess, he hadn't seen Mozart touch himself once.

Mozart leaned in to kiss Salieri and then moved back slightly with a very satisfied look on his face. "No, I'm fine. Watching you was enough to…take care of my own pleasure. Though I could use another pair of trousers if you wouldn't mind".

Salieri felt his face heat up in embarrassment. "I-I'm sure I can find something for you to ware" Salieri stated faintly as he re-buttoned his trousers and bent down to grab his rumpled shirt off the floor. He quickly put it on and looked down at himself…looks like they were both going to need a change of clothes. Salieri took a step away from Mozart and the piano as he felt the reality of what they just did crash down on him. Dear God, he was in it now.

Mozart looked over to Salieri after doing his best to clean himself up and saw the man start to close himself off.

"Oh no you don't" Mozart reached over to pull Salieri back before he could retreat any further. "Don't run from this, please Salieri".

"And what is this Mozart?" Salieri asked, looking into Mozart's eyes as if the answer were hidden somewhere in their depths. Mozart sighed and brought his hand up to brush back a strand of hair that had fallen across Salieri's cheek.

"Honestly, I don't know Salieri, but I want to find out. I can't promise you anything because I don't know what the future will hold for either of us. All I can do is live my life each day at a time and take what pleasures God see's fit to grant me. And I want to do that with you".

"But why, why me? There are numerous women out there who wouldn't think twice about falling into your bed, and I thought…I thought you loved Constance Weber" Salieri couldn't stop himself from asking those questions, despite how pathetic they made him sound. God, he sounded like some kind of lovesick, insecure youth. But he needed to know that this wasn't a game to Mozart, that this wasn't about being a replacement for some woman.

"Honestly Salieri you give me far to much credit. And I care about Constance, she is a sweet girl and a good friend, but I don't love her and I have never experienced anything sexual with her past a few kisses. As for you, do you honestly not see how beautiful you are? When you let go of that cold mask you hide behind you are a sight to behold. We enjoy each others company, why not make our encounters more pleasurable when we both want it".

Salieri just stared at Mozart speechless. No one had ever called him beautiful before. It wasn't an attribute normally given to a man but for some reason it made his heart ache to hear it coming from Mozart. Turning off to the side, Salieri had to give himself a moment to think. Mozart had basically just propositioned him about having an intimate relationship together. Was that something he really wanted? Looking back at Mozart, seeing his passionate gaze and caring expression, Salieri couldn't deny that he did want more, despite all the reasons he should not. Just looking at Mozart was heating up his blood once again, but more importantly, Salieri did enjoyed his company, just enjoyed being with Mozart. For the first time in his life, Salieri decided to ignore reason and follow the desire in his heart.

"All right Mozart. I admit that I would not be against experiencing this again. But it cannot effect our work and no one, absolutely no one, can know. It would destroy us both". As Salieri finished speaking he watched Mozart's face light up in joy and felt a warmth bloom in his chest at the expression.

Quickly grabbing the rest of his discarded clothes with one hand, Salieri reached out with the other to take Mozart's hand and squeezed it gently. Slightly embarrassed at his outward show of affection he looked away as he guided them to the door. Opening it slowly he glanced out to insure no one was present and guided them up the stairs towards his room.

"Lets get changed, we still have a Sonata to finish after all".