Deciding that perhaps he might take Ronald up on his offer and arrange some company of the erotic kind, William discreetly tucked away some items into his uniform just in case the next morning. He thought it would be crass to bring an escort to their room, so he thought he might call up one of his…contacts…for such endeavors and have them meet up with him at some other location for a tryst. Perhaps if he had a meaningless encounter and got his sexual frustration out of his system, he could stop thinking such inappropriate thoughts about Knox…but it would have to wait until the day's collections were completed.
They returned to the same place the next day to collect more records; this time within the besieged city rather than outside of it. It appeared that the Nazi forces were winning out, but they still had a ways to go before the completely took over Kharkov. They discovered two more cases of empty reels before their daily assignments were even halfway over with, and by noon, they had battled their way through several lesser demons. Bombs and grenades went off as they passed through the combat zones in the streets, and between avoiding those and dodging bullets, William wondered how on earth they were going to make it through the day without injury.
They turned down a broken street to head for the next name on the death list, and William saw an ominous sight sailing through the air toward them, aimed at a group of Red Army agents just up ahead. He grabbed Ronald by the arm and yanked him into an abandoned bread shop, just as the arching grenade hit the street outside. William slammed the door shut and went to the floor with Ronald, covering his body with his own without thought. The sound of screams could be heard and one of the windows shattered from the concussive force, but this time, no debris landed on the two reapers.
Ronald had been distracted as they walked and the sudden move had taken him by surprise. One second he was walking alongside William, the next he was pinned down to a floor by the man, and his cheeks heated. It took him a moment to realize what had happened and why.
"Are you okay, Senpai?" He asked, propping himself up slightly and causing their head's to knock together. "Ow! S-sorry." He rubbed his head.
William grunted in surprised pain and rubbed his forehead, before straightening his glasses. He looked down at the smaller reaper beneath him and he was just about to snap at him for head-butting him, when another explosion occurred outside. He compressed his lips, his nerves stretching taut. It was too much…the noise, the gore, the screams…he'd been holding it together so far, but he kept picturing that look on Ronald's face when he'd stepped on that landmine just yesterday. The fighting was too heavy for them to safely move outside right now, and they'd both taken enough damage on the job already. He glanced around and he spotted a storage area in the back, away from the entrance with a heavy, reinforced door. He presumed that was where they kept most of the baking supplies.
Climbing to his feet, he offered a hand to Ronald. "Come. We shall wait this out and move again when the fighting outside moves on to another area."
Were this place under siege from an air raid, there would be no way he'd suggest holing up inside a building again. Everything happening outside was ground fighting, however, and the storage room would provide enough protection until they could either move on or were forced to portal out for safety.
Ronald nodded and took William's hand, letting him help to pull him to his feet and lead him further away from the doors and windows, and into the storage. His hand never letting go of Will's the whole way, even as they closed themselves up in the small closet-like room lined with shelves, all mostly empty as if it had been raided or the owner packed it all up and left when the fighting started getting too close.
"Damn," Ron sighed, leaning against the door. "This so sucks."
William clicked on the overhead light bulb so that they could see a little better. It flickered weakly before coming on, casting the storage room in dim light. With a glance down, he realized his gloved hand was still clasped firmly in Ronald's. He met the blond's eyes and he started to say something—perhaps to try and reassure him—but then the floor vibrated with another grenade explosion that must have occurred just outside the building, and he impulsively pressed up against him, instead.
Will had never been a particularly protective individual. He watched his colleagues backs when out on assignment with them, true, but more often than not he found himself trying to shield Knox with his own body. After the incident with the mine, it seemed to be an even stronger urge. He thought of the mortals he'd seen blown apart or burned alive, and he closed his eyes and shook his head as his mind painted a picture of any of that happening to Ronald.
"Knox," he said, opening his eyes again. Ronald was staring back at him. His breath quickened with something not quite anxiety. He felt an urgency that was both sexual and emotional, and it was nothing like anything he'd ever felt before.
Ronald's breath caught in his throat as his gaze met Will's. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he felt a…spark? Something more than his usual little crush. More explosions sounded outside, but he hardly noticed them as he lifted his free hand and rested it on Will's shoulder, gripping it.
A kiss…
It's all he wanted in that moment. it's all he could think about and before he knew it, he'd met his boss' thin lips with his own. William felt a shiver race through him at the touch of those lips against his, and that shiver became a quake. He kissed Ronald back and he forgot all about propriety and his doubts. He pressed Ronald up against the wall, tongue lancing into his mouth demandingly as he snapped and gave in to his feelings. His knee pushed between the blond's thighs and his leather-encased fingers slid through Ronald's dual-toned hair, curling into it and forcing his head back further. He ravished his mouth, teeth scraping against the blond's in his desperate passion.
He wanted to devour him. He wanted to tear his clothes off and have him right there in that tiny storage room, lay into his body and forget about the living hell they were in. Ronald's uniform hat fell to the floor, and William knocked his own off as well. The blond's toned, smaller frame fit against his as if it were meant for him, and he pressed harder against it, grinding his body against Ronald's with needy felicity.
Everything around them was falling apart, but this…ah, this made it all go away.
Wait—what was happening? Lips responding to his? No lecture? No rejection or reminders that it was inappropriate behavior for work? It was all too good to be real. Was it real? Ron opened his eyes to make sure it was really William who was so needfully assaulting his mouth in return.
William was so caught up in the moment that he didn't notice Ronald's confusion. All he knew was that the blond was responding to his kisses, and he wanted more. He practically shoved Ronald up against the wall and he further deepened the kiss. The booms of explosions outside and the sound of gunfire rattling seemed a distant thing to him…unimportant now. He recalled something Ronald had mentioned about restraint, and he stopped clutching his hair to reach down and grab his wrists, and then he forced them up over the younger reaper's head and pinned them there.
Want…need…desire…it was all the same to William, right now. All of that pent up frustration and attraction was finally being vented…protocol be damned.
Oh sweet Rhea!
Ronald groaned, his uniform slacks growing tight quickly. William was pushing his limits. No, destroying them. It was everything he'd ever dreamed of, except—
"No…no," he gasped, reluctantly turning his head away, leaving William's lips on his ear instead—which wasn't any better, "I can't! Not with you…not casually. Fuck, I'll hate myself for this later…"
William was so inflamed with passion that it took a moment for Ronald's protest to register in his brain. When it did, it hit him as hard as the building that crashed down on them before they came to this place.
~That's right…he wants another. Not you, Spears.~
But then why had he initiated that kiss? It confused and frustrated him, but he was not a vulgar man. He released his hold on the blond with a gasp and he pulled away, averting his gaze.
"I apologize," said William stiffly, regretting letting himself go like that. Perhaps Knox briefly saw in him something that reminded him of whomever held his affections.
Rejected and mortified, William bent over to retrieve his forgotten uniform hat. He brushed it off before replacing it on his head. "It won't happen again, Knox."
Ronald took a shaky breath, trying to calm himself down, "Sorry—I would, but, It's you. I mean, you aren't the reason I can't…it's totally me, but it's because it's you—I mean…" Ugh, he sounded like a babbling idiot. But he didn't want William to misunderstand. There had been people who used him before. Knowing his reputation, they took what they wanted from him and he'd let them—but there was too much real emotion this time.
He clenched his fists. Maybe it was best to come clean to the man after this? It was the only real way he could think of making sure the handsome older reaper could know why he couldn't have casual sex with him—or anything close to it.
"I told you before; I don't do things when there are real one-sided feelings behind it."
"I…see." William cursed himself vehemently inside. He'd given too much away. Well bloody hell…of course he had! Shoving the man against the wall to snog him in the middle of an assignment was a rather blatant reveal of desire. So, Ronald had no reciprocal desire for him. He'd already presumed as much, believing now that the boy's hasty, embarrassed action for that little kiss on the cheek yesterday was due to fear of leading him on…and it had, in a way. This was why William did not date. He'd learned that lesson in academy, and yet he'd foolishly begun—against his better judgment—to entertain thoughts of making an exception. Whatever had grown between himself and Ronald, it clearly was not as he'd deluded himself into thinking.
"Well, thank you for informing me of how you feel, Knox. I am not in the habit of making advances on parties that aren't interested. I misread you and convinced myself of a moment that only existed to me."
Heavens, he wished that he could slice out his own cinematic record of that "moment" and forget his own stupidity.
"Yeah…sorry, I knew you didn't feel the same way which is why I didn't tell you, but kinda have to, now… I can't because it'd get my hopes up, and it'll hurt more when things return to normal." He turned away and ran his finger through some spilled flour on a shelf. "Of course now it'll be awkward for you to know how I feel about you while we work together…"
He was an idiot. He'd even been the one to start the damned kiss! And then he'd pulled back his offer and….
"…If it's too much for you, I'll put in for a transfer to a different district after this or… I'm sorry, Senpai."
William's eyes narrowed. "Wait a moment…did you just say—"
Another explosion occurred outside, and this one must have hit the building they were in. The overhead light swayed and flickered, and one of the shelves inside of the storage room rocked and fell over. William pressed Ronald up against the wall again, once more shielding him instinctively. When it settled, he looked into his eyes again. Perhaps he hadn't heard him right over all the noise.
"Ronald, did you just say how you feel about me?"
"Of course! What else would it be?" Ron pointed out, flushing again, "There's a reason I offered you the room to yourself if you wanted rather than, you know, me. You know you can move now, sir. I mean…no more falling selves for the moment…"
William did not immediately move, because he was too stunned and pleased that Ronald reciprocated his affections, after all.
~I'm the workoholic he was speaking of? Honestly, I feel so dense. The clues were right before me, but I didn't notice them.~
This was no way to conduct a romantic interlude, however. True, he had things on him that would aid such an encounter, but shagging the boy in a storage closet while grenades and bullets were flying outside wasn't ideal. The wicked side of him chose not to comment further on it, for the moment. He considered it repayment for flirting with him and kissing him, only to reject him when he responded. He fully intended to show Ronald how he felt, since he was so blasted awful at expressing with words…but not now. Not in this setting.
"We shall discuss this later," he decided aloud, finally pulling away from him. "Our objective should remain on gathering the records and making it safely through this day. As soon as the fighting moves on, we can leave this building and map out our next path."
Ronald looked down and nodded. So maybe William did want him to transfer out.
"Sorry again, sir—I promise I'll work hard."
William's pleasure at learning that Ronald desired him after all was spoiled a bit when their next target was devoid of records as well. He swiped uselessly at them and gnashed his teeth in frustration.
"It seems to be spreading like a plague," he observed, "And it's being encountered all across Europe. Mark another failed collection on the list, Knox."
Ronald sighed and pulled out their paperwork and a pen, marking the soul as blank. "This is getting out of hand!" He complained. "Whatever is doing this needs to get itself shot and blown up!"
"I'm very curious," remarked the brunet. His phone began to buzz and he dug it out of his pocket to look at the ID. "It's Slingby," he sighed.
Putting it to his ear, he answered the device. "This is Spears."
"Hey, boss," said the Scotsman, "I've go' some news for ya. Are ye somewhere ya can talk?"
William glanced around. Currently they were in an empty part of the city. Most of the fighting had moved further towards the center. "Yes, I believe I am. What is it?"
"Grell an' his partner are in tha hospital. Seems him an' Jeffries ran into some trouble in Auschwitz. We're no' sure wha' happened, 'cause they were both found unconscious by a couple German dispatch officers workin' tha area. Tha board wants yeh an' Knox tae investigate. From wha' I hear, they went back there again after doin' a few assignments in Romania. Guess they go' a lead concerning those empty records."
"I see." William checked his death list and his watch. "And when are we expected to be there?"
"By tomorrow at noon," replied Eric. "Ye'll have time tae finish t'day's collections an' get some rest. Ya can take a portal from tha nearest Dispatch division HQ near yeh."
Getting used to being assigned all over Europe at short notice, William checked a sigh. "Understood. We shall be on site in a timely manner. Please keep us informed on Sutcliff and Jeffries' condition, and relay any information they can recall to us as soon as they are coherent enough to report."
"Will do, boss," agreed Eric. "Watch yerselves ou' there. Whatever took 'em down must have been powerful."
"Agreed. Have a pleasant day, Mr. Slingby."
He hung up the phone and he looked at Ronald. "We are to travel to the Auschwitz concentration camp tomorrow, to investigate the goings-on there. Mr. Sutcliff and Mr. Jeffries have both been hospitalized after sustaining injuries that incapacitated them both."
"Wait—what?" Ronald gasped, snapping his full attention back to William, "What happened to them? Is Grell-senpai okay? I mean, Jeffries I hope is okay, too, but there isn't much out there that can take Grell down!"
"I don't have any details, yet," explained William. "Dispatch has no idea what sort of opposition they ran into. They are fortunate to be alive and they will recover, but we must be especially careful when we go to investigate this matter. We should try to finish this day's collections as quickly and safely as possible, and get plenty of rest tonight."
He silently groused over it…selfishly, perhaps. Tonight might not be the best time to show Knox that his affections were not one-sided. There were more important things at stake here than servicing his libido, however. Ronald was right; anything that could dispatch Grell so easily was something worth being wary of.
Ronald groaned and rubbed his temples, "So much for my plans for tonight…" he sighed. He felt a desperate need for a pub of some sort, a place to get drunk and forget about how he'd fucked things up that day with William and the general whole second great war business. Maybe some nice meaningless sex with someone to help prevent any further kissing of an by extension, leading on William into thinking he'd get something meaningless. Even if chances were slight that anyone spoke English or Italian.
"And mine…perhaps," agreed William with a reciprocal sigh. "Come, we have work to do, yet."
They resumed the cheerless business of collecting the souls they were assigned to, finding one more empty set of records by the end of the day. Feet dragging, they made their way to the portal that would take them back to their realm, both of them silent and pensive with their own thoughts.
William got the shower first this time, and after drying off and donning his robe, he gazed at his reflection in the steam-smudged bathroom mirror. Could he do this? Could he actually pursue a relationship with the young reaper in the other room? Ronald was so opposite of him…so wild and free-spirited. However, he'd proven himself time and time again during this endeavor. He could be serious when the situation required it. He was loyal, he was reliable…and he was also so very attractive.
~You are afraid,~ admitted the brunet to himself as he put on his glasses, staring into his own eyes through the reflection, ~Afraid of loss…afraid of rejection. Will you never do anything for yourself? Never at least attempt to have something that might make you happy?~
He could practically hear his mother speaking to him, while at the same time, he imagined his father scolding him, telling him it was a foolish hope to entertain when he had more important things to consider.
William compressed his lips, straightened up and nodded. He was tired of listening to his father's voice. He was tired of seeking out warm bodies that meant nothing to him, just to release sexual tension. Most of all, he was tired of depriving himself of the basic comforts of affection and contact.
He left the bathroom with purpose, his eyes latching onto Ronald intensely as he walked out with a damp head of hair.
Ronald was sitting on the edge of his bed in his suit he'd worn to Germany, as it was his only clothing he had with him that wasn't the uniform for fieldwork during the war. He was bent over, tying his shoes.
"Oh just in time. Hey, I wanted to ask before I go out…how do I order a scotch in German? I tried to abstain, but I really need a drink or two tonight."
William almost stopped his advance, dismayed. No. He'd made his decision. "We can order a bottle from room-service, if you like. You aren't going out, Ronald Knox."
He approached the bed and he stood over him, staring down at him with desire and determination. "Things need to be made clear between us. The time for miscommunication must come to an end tonight."
For once, Ronald didn't meet his gaze, looking down and away like a new recruit being scolded for filing out his paperwork incorrectly for the tenth time.
"I'd rather go out and be alone for a few hours, sir." he insisted in a low voice that didn't suit the young man in the slightest.
William frowned a bit. This wasn't at all the way he intended for this conversation to go. However, things never seemed to go as planned for him, lately. He reached down to cup the blond's chin. "Ronald, look at me." He said it in an uncommonly soft voice. He didn't always have to play the role of the supervisor. He used a lover's tone, trying to convey to Ronald something that he wasn't terribly good at putting into words.
Ronald childishly shook his head. "Stop, please. as much as I'd love to, I can't sleep with you—I won't be used by the man I have a stupid unmoving crush on!"
William patiently knelt down before the downcast young reaper. "I've no intention of 'using' you, Ronald. Today in that storage room, I thought…I was under the impression that you were speaking of someone else, those times you mentioned your interest. I honestly had no idea it was me. I believed you were informing me that you don't share my…interest."
He grimaced. Why was this so blood hard?
"And I'm not interested in meaningless sex."
Heavens, he hoped that came out sounding at least partially correct.
Ron's eyes widened and snapped up to William's face, "…You're…having me on!" He accused, unable to believe what he thought he had heard.
"I assure you, I'm not." William got to his feet again, only to sit down beside the younger reaper. He sighed, trying to find the words to explain himself. He stared at the floor, considering his words carefully, with the same meticulousness that he employed with everything else he did.
"Things have changed for me, I think. I was honestly considering arranging for some intimate company with one of my…associates, if only to relieve some frustration and attempt to think with a clearer head. I tried to convince myself that my growing interest in you was merely a symptom of comradery mistaken for more, and that an intimate encounter with another might prove that and set my mind at ease."
He turned his head to look at Ronald, a faintly ironic expression on his face. "I even included certain items when we left to fulfill our mission today, and I was of a mind to contact someone to meet up with me in another establishment for the night, once we finished. Truthfully, the idea has absolutely no appeal to me, now. Not after what happened in that storage room today."
"And…what was that? What happened today in that storage closet? I know I was there but…I'm a bit confused over what happened. It's all a blur, really," Ronald looked down at his signature white shoes he wasn't permitted to wear with his undercover uniform. He still didn't quite understand what William really meant. It still kind of sounded a little casual to him, but then again, it wasn't like William was ever very good at expressing any positive emotions. Anger and annoyance he had perfected.
Adding William's lack of wearing his heart on his sleeve to Ron's ability to be quite thick when it came to things, the blond knew he had to make sure—without a doubt—what it was William was trying to tell him.
The brunet ran his fingers through his damp hair, frustrated with his own inability to make himself clear in this matter, and Ronald's inability to read between the lines. "I'm saying," he began awkwardly, still holding his gaze, "that perhaps it's time I try dating. Obviously this is not the ideal time for me to come to this revelation. In the middle of a war is not truly the appropriate setting to begin a courtship, but I must at least inform you that my feelings for you have changed. Casual encounters between work duties are no longer a thing that will satisfy me, because…"
He took a slow breath and closed his eyes, pushing himself to go on and just tell him the truth. "Because I fear I would only end up thinking of you each time, Ronald Knox. I would compare my companions to you—pretend it was your skin I was touching, your body I was trading pleasure with. I think that would ultimately prove unsatisfying and frustrating."
He opened his eyes again and looked at him, trying to keep his tone calm, logical and practical. Still, a husky note of desire bled into his words when he spoke again. "Given the choice of a fantasy or reality, I would prefer the latter."
"Oh sweet River Styx…you really are saying what I have dreamed of? You actually like me? You want me? I…don't have to go get drunk and find some one-night stand to try and forget you?" Ronald leaned in closer to William, meeting his gaze. "I don't have to be afraid of kissing you again?"
William smirked, inwardly relieved that Ronald finally comprehended what he was trying to say. "I think I would be quite miffed if I discovered you slept with another, now…and as for kissing me, I insist you do so now."
"You have no idea how long I have wanted this!" Ronald's signature grin spread over his face as he reached out and grabbed Will's shoulders, pulling him in as their lips crashed together and he tipped William back to lay on the bed.
William's arms impulsively went around him, his surprise quickly obliterated by the immediate surge of lust and desperation. The only difference was that this time, they were in a bed and safe, rather than holed up in a storage closet in some abandoned, broken down bakery. He returned Ronald's kisses with enthusiasm that surprised even himself, and his hand slid down to cup the blond's bottom. Oh, how he wanted to continue what they'd started in that tiny room, but the practical and calculating side of him cautioned that they should try to hold off. While he had no doubt of his personal revelation or Ronald's sincerity, these were trying times.
He settled for just kissing him and stroking his body, running his hands over his bottom, hips, thighs and back as their mouths exchanged heated kisses. He ached for him, but he could not and would not spoil this new development by rushing it. It was new to them both—particularly him, considering he was used to a kiss leading to sex and then a casual good-bye in the morning.
"Mmmh….can we spend the rest of the war like this?" Ronald groaned happily when their lips parted, "No more paperwork or blank records, no bombs or bullets, no stress or worry… Just…us, wrapped in arms and battling with kisses?"
"I would prefer it that way," agreed William, his lips still caressing Ronald's throat. "If only this conflict could be resolved simply through snogging each other; but I'm afraid reality must take precedence. At the end of each day, however…"
He kissed Ronald's lips and ran his hand down his back. "We can forget about this horror and take comfort in each other."
"I think I could go for that." Ronald smiled, caressing William's bare shoulder. "Will you be this naked every night?"
William smirked. "I shall try to accommodate that desire, Ronald Knox."
Closing the distance between their lips again, he let go of his inhibitions and he kissed his companion with heartfelt passion. It was a healing experience for him, and he could only hope that Ronald felt the same.
"And I'll return the favor." Ron grinned, "Even if it's just snogging." He wiggled out of his suit jacket and kicked off his shoes. So much for the time he took getting ready for the pub; this was a much better activity.
William drew the smaller reaper into his embrace as Ronald joined him on the bed again, and he resumed kissing him. The sense of urgency from their earlier encounter was not present this time, as there was no impending danger surrounding them. In the bakery, he'd kissed Ronald as if it might be the last thing he ever did. Now he could take his time with it. His tongue languidly stroked the blond's, and his hand began to flick open the buttons of his shirt. When he had it open to bare Ronald's chest and stomach, he ran his palm over the toned, smooth torso leisurely. His touch was possessive and confident, silently conveying that the blond was his, now.
"No-one else gets to do this," he murmured huskily between kisses. "No other hand may touch this body, Knox. Only mine, from now on. Well, except for yours, of course."
He couldn't very well forbid the boy from touching his own body, now could he? He smirked. In fact, he would rather enjoy watching him do that. He wondered how the blond would react if he asked him to fondle himself in front of him.
Ronald's cheeks flushed from the unexpected reaction William seemed to have. "I don't play around when I'm serious about someone, Will," Ronald pointed out. "I won't cheat on ya. I have more sense than that."
"It wasn't a question of your loyalty," promised William, "It was a promise that I will not tolerate another so much as attempting to touch this body."
He drew away from him and he gazed into his eyes. "I am a territorial man, Ronald, a man who likes to be in control. I trust you. Still, I want you to know that you are mine. I've seen the way others look at you. I think that it's only fair to warn you, before we go much further. I am a civilized reaper, but I'm not particularly patient when it comes to sharing…or seeing my lover disrespected."
He was having difficulty explaining it. He certainly didn't want Ronald to get the notion that he thought of him as a thing…a piece of personal property…but he wanted to make it clear that he would scythe first and ask questions later if he ever witnessed someone laying hands on the blond. He'd seen Ronald dance before at company parties, and he'd seen the way others sometimes rubbed up against him in response to his sexy gyrations and moves.
"You are…a very attractive reaper," explained William further, once more feathering light kisses over the blond's neck, "and even before I admitted my attraction to you, I found it difficult to look away whenever I saw you dance. Unlike some, however, I know how to keep my hands to myself. I just want you aware that my scythe might pinch off something vital, if I see another man trying to take liberties with you."
"I can't help that I was born to be sexy," Ronald shrugged with a smirk. "You'll have to get used to men and women both ogling me. It won't stop, even if you stamp my forehead with 'Boyfriend of William T. Spears'. As for the dancing, maybe you could join me next time to avoid someone else taking the tempting spot? That way you know it's your hands on me, even if I'm too drunk to realize who's touching, hmm?"
William scoffed at the notion, his hand sliding up the blond's side again. "I haven't even a notion of what sort of dancing that is. I'm afraid that your club style gyrations are not my forte. Ballroom dancing is quite another matter." He allowed his lips to trail over his collarbone. "And you had better get used to the fact that I'll not allow others to touch you so familiarly, Ronald Knox. Not if you are with me."
"Ah, yes, because a ballroom-dancing twinkle-toes will scare away the drunken pub-goers," Ronald teased. "You know, I don't just dance at clubs." He slipped his arms around William. "I know a few ballroom dances, myself, believe it or not."
"You would be surprised how intimidating this 'twinkle-toes' can be, whenever a line has been crossed," promised Will between kisses. He cupped Ronald's bottom and gave it a squeeze. "I had no idea you could perform a more elegant form of dance. I think I should like to see that, sometime."
"I haven't done it since before I entered the academy. Probably rusty enough to step on your toes." Ronald shrugged, his hot breath feathering over Will's skin as he moved to press kisses to his neck and shoulders. "I used to do that a lot, actually. Even my mother didn't want to dance with me…"
William tugged on the blond's earlobe with his teeth. "Well, then, we shall have to see about getting you back into practice, won't we? I might even be inclined to let you teach me some of your modern dance moves—with enough drink in me."
It was pleasant to just sit there kissing and discussing activities of leisure they would like to do, whenever these dark days were over with. He decided to lie down on the bed, and he drew Ronald down with him. Tracing his nipples with his thumbs, he urged the blond on top of him. He imagined the two of them enjoying an extravagant ball together, dancing in elegant refinery and enjoying a gourmet meal afterwards. Afterwards, he would take Ronald home with him to his apartment and show him what an attentive lover he could be. Perhaps some silk scarves and a blindfold would come into play, and…
…He was getting carried away with his thoughts, and his body was reacting accordingly. It occurred to William that he was grinding against Ronald suggestively, hands clamped down firmly on his tight little ass.
"Heavens, it truly takes very little for me to forget myself with you," he gasped, easing up on his lewd motions. If he wasn't more careful, he'd surely forget his decision to limit this night to touching and kissing.
"I don't mind…" Ron moaned, "…feels good, oh Styx…" Ronald was getting flustered and excited himself, and he raised his head to look down at William. "We best make up our minds now on what we do tonight before we pass the point of no return."
Breathing heavily, William struggled with himself. He wanted this reaper badly, but this was a rather new development in their relationship. The logical side of him thought that it was best to progress more slowly, to prove—not just to Ronald, but to himself—that he was capable of being monogamous and did not require sexual intercourse to do so. The trials they'd faced together and the bond they had formed might give them both a good excuse to toss courtship aside and go for it…lose themselves in one another and just give in. However, how much sweeter would their first time be if they held off for a while…got to know each other more intimately and explored one another's bodies before finally joining?
William sighed, reaching up to trace the youthful features he found so irresistible. "I wish to kick myself even as I say this, but I think we'd best limit it to what we've been doing, for now. I am unfamiliar with being in a relationship. Rather than satisfying our deepest baser urges right away, I think I should like to explore on another. I…"
He paused, struggling for words. "Dating is an unfamiliar concept to me, and I believe I need practice."
"Then I'll help you." Ronald reluctantly rolled off William and walked over to the chest of drawers William kept his clothes that didn't need to be hung in the closet. He pulled out his pajamas and tossed them to the robe-clad man. "Cut down on the amount of tempting skin," he said before crawling back into the bed, "I don't normally wear pajamas…but I can get some to help us both keep control over out little Knoxwurst and Willswurst urges."
The brunet snorted. "You do come up with some interesting terms for body parts, Ronald."
With a sigh of faint regret, he carried his pajamas into the bathroom to change into them and avoid some of the temptation. Knox was right; too much skin contact might push them both over the edge of common sense.
"Why can't I name little Knoxy?" Ron pouted, readying himself for bed. He didn't yet have pajamas, but his boxers were better than nothing.
William opened the bathroom door a crack when he was finished changing. "Ronald, are you changed?"
He didn't dare peek out. If he saw a flash of nudity from his companion, he just might forget himself again.
"I hope just boxers are okay? I don't have anything else tonight." Ron said with a nod, climbing into bed.
"Boxers are fine," assured William, smiling a little before opening the door and schooling his expression. He joined Ronald in the bed, and he hesitated for a moment before reaching out to put an arm around him and pull him close.
"I cannot say I've ever just…held someone," he murmured. "Do you find that objectionable, Ronald?"
"Only if you object to more snogging." Ronald grinned, pulling him into another kiss. "At least for the next few minuets before we turn in for the night."
"Not in the slightest," agreed William. He kissed him back, and he reached out behind himself to click the bedside lamp off.
The night faded into sounds of kissing, husky whispers and the sliding of material as the two reapers kissed and caressed in the darkness. They fell asleep in one another's arms, and for perhaps the very first time since childhood, William T. Spears sported a relaxed little smile on his face.
-To be continued