Chapter 3
"Finally!" Laila said as she eyed Ray's uncombed hair and half-buttoned shirt with a frown of annoyance. "I'm starving and you two aren't even dressed yet."
"Ray had a long night," Florian offered soothingly but Laila just rolled her eyes.
"What else is new? The whole train's talking about Noir taking the Countess' sapphire." Laila put her hands on her hips and leaned forward a little. "Of course I didn't know anything about it until that mousy Alais told me." She pointed one finger at Ray. "No one bothers to tell me anything anymore." She gave Florian a glare for good measure, sure that he was the cause of her being denied such an interesting tidbit of information. She was used to being Ray's only confidant and she hated the fact that Florian now claimed that honor.
"Laila, it wasn't Noir," Florian said carefully. He could feel Ray's temper returning, and after he'd gone to such efforts to calm him down only a few hours ago.
"Of course it wasn't!" Ray shouted. "Noir's robberies are works of art themselves – elegant and sophisticated. He'd never be so gauche. This thief is nothing but a poor imitation. We must be surrounded by clods if they all believe this to be Noir's handiwork."
Florian coughed to cover a smile before he walked over and straightened Ray's collar. The man could be so careless about such things when he was upset. "The railroad staff will determine the truth of the matter soon enough. I'm sure they will do everything they can to settle things quickly. Let's get to the dining car before Laila faints from hunger."
Ray snorted at the visual, but his mood lightened and he even offered her his arm to escort her to their meal. Thankfully, the Countess was not in the car when they arrived and they enjoyed a well-prepared if somewhat noisy meal.
"Clods," Ray muttered as yet another group seated nearby speculated loudly about the robbery. "How soon are we off this train?"
"One more day," Florian reminded him calmly as he halved his scone and buttered it. He was particularly fond of scones with jam and had been sorely tempted to forego the eggs and sausage in favor of a second helping, but a frown from Ray had changed his mind.
Before they left the table, Ray had a word with their server and the man scurried away only to return a few minutes later with a cloth covered basket. Ray accepted it with a nod and carried it himself back to the passenger car where he reclaimed his book from the night before and settled in to read, the basket at his side, still covered. He made a silent bet with himself over who would give in to curiosity first. At one time it certainly would have been Laila, but Florian had become much more willing to speak up lately so he was just as likely a candidate.
"Ray…" Florian asked quietly, barely two minutes after they'd settled in the comfortable private car.
"Yes?" he replied blandly, keeping his head down and his eyes on his book to keep from laughing. If he so much as glanced at either of his companions he knew he'd give himself away.
"Do you suppose it would be acceptable for me to pay the Countess a visit? I wouldn't want to disturb her, but surely she's awake and dressed by now."
Ray did glance up then, curious to understand what Florian was thinking. He knew the man didn't particularly care for the Countess. Still, it was something of a comfort visit…"
"If you'd like. You will give her my regrets, of course."
"Certainly." Florian rose and smoothed his clothing into proper lines. He took a step towards the door, then stopped and turned towards Ray. "And in exchange you'll share what's in the basket?"
"What if it's something you don't like?"
"Then Laila will get my portion, of course." Florian grinned, leaning in just a bit as he passed Ray and adding, "And I'll let you make it up to me tonight." Florian was still laughing at Ray's reaction even after he left the room.
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"You'll be glad to know the Countess is most anxious to speak to you at dinner," Florian said distractedly, most of his attention focused on licking the last of the jam and scone crumbs off his fingers. He was lounging, half-dressed on the bed with Ray on his side next to him, watching the way Florian's tongue danced across his fingers, searching for the last bit of jam. "You're very bad," Florian added when Ray shifted deliberately to brush his hardness against Florian's leg. "I'll never get your correspondence done like this."
"It's my correspondence; I think I can decide when it needs to be done."
"I suppose," Florian drawled and he dropped back onto the pillows and turned to face his lover. He leaned in close, his tongue darting out to skip over Ray's lips, leaving a shiver of sweetness and heat behind.
"Glutton," Ray said with as much affection as if he'd called him 'dearest' and rolled over on the slender body before Florian could react. Damn the correspondence; Florian could finish it later.
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A languid afternoon with Florian proved to be a saving grace later that day when Ray sat next to the Countess Kourey through a full seven-course dinner. Pleasant afterglow carried him through the first course and well into the second before the grating laugh, the endless chatter, and the glittering spectacle of her beribboned, bejeweled bulk started to grate on his nerves. Thank goodness for Florian and his seemingly endless reserves of well-bred manners. The blond filled in those awkward conversational gaps and deftly redirected topics that had grown tiresome.
Florian knew his lover well enough to recognize all the warning signs and managed to nudge, brush against or otherwise touch Ray just often enough to help him remain calm, or at least help him retain control of his tongue. The Count could be quite cutting but the Countess had a long memory and had never met a grudge she was willing to let go of. The combination made for a nerve-wracking evening but somehow Florian managed to smooth over any rough spots. By the time dessert was cleared away he was exhausted.
"Forgive me, please," he apologized after having barely concealed his yawn behind his napkin. He felt a blush heat his face and wished, once again, that his skin was not so fair. It revealed far too much, he mused, thinking ruefully of the bandage on his neck. He'd explained it away to the countess as being careless while shaving, but he wasn't sure she'd believed him, and his blush hadn't helped. Thankfully, Ray had managed to steer the conversation in a different direction and Florian had grasped the minute he needed to regain his composure.
But now, he didn't think Ray was capable of soothing anyone. The Countess's latest tirade against "that demon Noir" had driven Ray to empty his wineglass three times. Combined with what Ray had already consumed, things were headed in a dangerous direction very quickly. "I do apologize, Countess." Florian said quickly during a rare break in the conversation. "We've caused you to linger over your meal when I am sure you must be quite fatigued. I would hate to think that Count Courland or I have detained you when you could have been resting."
"Your Grace, please, don't trouble yourself. It was a most enjoyable meal. But…" She darted a glance at Alais who looked as though she could fall asleep on her feet. "I suppose I should retire. I will be very busy when we arrive in Brussels and I dare not risk falling ill from exhaustion." She held out her hand, first to Florian, then to Ray for them to kiss before they departed. They complied and left as quickly as decorum permitted, the Countess's voice following with promises of seeing them tomorrow.
"Over my dead, decaying body," Ray retorted under his breath. He traversed the distance to their sleeping quarters almost at a run with Florian struggling to keep up without drawing attention. When they finally reached their room and locked the door, Ray tore off his jacket and threw it towards the nearest chair, his tie and shirt quickly following. Without waiting for Florian to even remove his suit coat, Ray grabbed the blond and tossed him down on the bed.
"If you had touched me one more time, I would have taken you right there on the Countess' table." Ray straddled Florian then pressed down letting Florian know it was going to be a rough ride. It was a good thing they had both eaten in moderation despite the quantity of food the Countess had ordered.
Florian knew this game and played his part willingly, wrapping his arms and legs around Ray and tumbling them both over so he was on top. It didn't last long, of course, before Ray had regained the upper position and was leaning down to growl in Florian's ear. "Someone's begging for a taste of the whip tonight."
Florian nodded eagerly, putting up no resistance when Ray pinned his wrists. It wasn't that he wanted lashes, but there were other things Ray could do with a whip… He lay still, waiting obediently as Ray stood and walked over to his luggage, throwing off the rest of his clothing as he went. He returned with the familiar black whip and held it up to show Florian before placing it on the bed.
There was a ritual to this and Florian endured it willingly, resisting at certain times, complying at others, just as Ray wanted. Soon he was undressed and completely vulnerable on his knees before his master. And Master is what this Ray was to this Florian, both of them fully embracing their respective roles. They couldn't play all of their games here, with so many people nearby, but they could do enough.
And they did, long into the night, leaving Florian carefully marked only in places that would be concealed with clothing, and allowing them both a long, restful sleep in each other's arms.
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