"I need a drink." Ray unfastened his tie and tossed it onto the sofa with his coat and mask. He poured himself a measure of brandy and downed it, then repeated the action. He poured himself a third but Florian reached over and took the glass, draining it himself and handing back the empty with an apologetic smile.

"I am very glad the Countess is going to Germany. That means we won't see her for another month at least." Florian slumped in a chair and kicked off his shoes, not caring where they landed. His head was still ringing from the Countess' shrill laugh and he was sure there would be bruises all over his feet from where Alais trod on them while dancing.

"Does that mean you'll be politely refusing her offer to accompany them on their travels. How unkind to leave the poor ladies without an escort." Ray smirked around his cigar, amused that Florian had had an even worse time at the party than he did. He did take enough pity on the blond to pick up his left foot, set it in his lap and massage it gently.

"Thank you, no. I don't believe my employer would approve of me leaving my duties, even if it is for such a worthy cause." Florian slouched down in the chair and closed his eyes, appreciating the feel of Ray's hands on his sore foot.

"Laila and Michel seemed to have a good time." Florian added with a smile. "And Dudley was in the best mood I've seen him in for ages. Of course Franz was there so..."

"Franz? I thought Edmond was Dudley's 'dear friend'."

"Oh that's been over for years. No, it's Franz and they seem much better suited for each other to be honest. Dudley needs someone steady and Edmond is anything but that."

"Perhaps Alais wasn't such a bad match for him after all." Ray said, running a finger up the length of Florian's sole just to see the blond wriggle. His feet were very ticklish.

"Stop that." Florian scolded, but he didn't pull his foot away. Instead, he lifted his other foot and placed it in Ray's lap too.

"Do I look like a masseuse?" Ray complained even as he slid his hands up Florian's legs and yanked first one sock off then the other. He tossed them aside, wrinkling his nose a little and earning a poke in the stomach from one of Florian's big toes.

"Who said I wanted a massage? Perhaps I had something else in mind?" Florian shifted his right foot over a little so it was settled in a very specific spot. He wiggled his toes and smiled, his eyes half-lidded.

"Whoa!" he grabbed at Ray as the man twisted around and picked Florian up before standing. Florian clung to him in surprise. At times like this the blond was never quite sure if Ray was intending to carry him off to a romantic interlude or drop him on the sofa and go to bed alone. Florian tightened his grip deciding that the sofa looked far too uncomfortable. Besides, he had other ideas for tonight that had nothing to do with sleep.

"I know what you're thinking." Ray told him sounding very amused. "But I'm rather tired after all that dancing and the endless chatter and intend to go right to sleep."

"Certainly," Florian replied in his best, "agreeing with the master" tone. He let out an "oof" when Ray dropped him on the bed but refused to let go, pulling Ray down on top of him. He wrestled his lover a little until Ray was on his back and Florian was straddling him, smiling in a way that would have shocked his acquaintances.

"People who are overly tired must prepare for bed properly or they won't have a restful sleep. First, they must undress slowly, like this." Florian unfastened the buttons of his own vest and shirt very slowly, letting his fingers trail down his chest as he parted the fabric. Shifting first to one side, then the other, he slowly untucked the shirt and then, finally, used his teeth to remove the cufflinks, dropping each into his hand and leaning over to set them in the ashtray on the nightstand. Only then did he slip the vest and shirt off and drop them over the side of the bed. Ray would complain about that later but for now his mind was on other things.

Florian reached down and unfastened his trousers, using his fingers to slowly part the fabric. He used the opportunity to stroke himself several times through the cloth of his undergarments while leaning forward so Ray would be fully aware of what was happening.

It took a bit more maneuvering but Florian was able to remove his trousers without getting off the bed, or off his lover. Now he was clad only in his plain white undergarments and was left fretting over Ray's overdressed condition.

"You'll never have a good night's sleep like that. Here, let me help you." Florian repeated his clothes removing ritual on Ray, lingering even longer over the unfastening of each button until the man beneath him grew impatient. Once the shirt and trousers were gone, Ray reached up and gripped Florian's undershirt, tearing it off with an animal-like growl. He shifted, throwing Florian down onto the bed, removing his underwear the same way leaving the blond exposed and very eager.

Ray flipped him onto his back and pinned him there while Ray removed the last of his own clothing, making sure Florian could feel every bit of Ray's newly-exposed skin. Only then did Ray lean down over him and whisper into Florian's ear. "Massages are excellent preparation for a restful night sleep. Shall I demonstrate?" Florian nodded eagerly, then sighed when Ray's hands started working on his back.

It was rare for Ray to prolong foreplay like this and Florian wanted to enjoy every moment but he soon felt himself drifting off, no matter how hard he tried to stay awake. He was floating pleasantly, almost asleep when a spike of pain brought him back to full awareness.

He lifted his head and twisted around to glare at his lover. Ray just gave him a grin and lowered his head again.

"Do not bite me again." Florian said, slightly annoyed to have his relaxation interrupted in such a way.

Ray laughed and a moment later Florian felt him licking the sore spot. Florian sighed in contentment when the licking changed from little laps of the tongue to long, wet caresses. At the same time they moved downwards to a very sensitive area. Florian shivered a little when that exploring tongue caressed his opening. It was very unusual for Ray to do this and, although it embarrassed him, Florian still enjoyed every moment. He enjoyed it even more when Ray stopped and slid up his back, moving into position. Florian lifted his hips eagerly and cried out when Ray claimed him.

Ray was feeling playful tonight and so their lovemaking lasted a long time, allowing both men a chance to explore the other, not just with tongues, but with hands, and bodies. It left them both completely sated, and very, very tired.
XXXXX

"I'd switched our tickets for the later train days ago," Laila said with a grin. "Coincidentally, it happens that Michel is on this train as well. Between us we have an entire car reserved, as before. But because Michel is with us, you and Florian will have to share quarters."

"If we must," Ray conceded gracefully, hiding a smile behind his newspaper as he watched Florian walk stiffly into the room and sit very carefully. Laila just rolled her eyes and handed him a breakfast plate although technically it was past time for lunch.

"We leave in an hour for the train station. Try to be ready." She all but skipped out, oblivious to the men's matching scowls.

"It will be nice to get back to Paris. I'm looking forward to seeing Noel." Florian tried not to eat like he was starved, but he wasn't very successful. He noted that Ray's plate was unusually clean for a man who was often quite particular about his food.

"I suppose." Ray folded the paper and set is aside, an indication that he wanted to talk about something serious. "Florian, about the Pleiades."

Florian wondered when they'd be having this conversation. He'd given it some thought over the past few days and still didn't have an answer that satisfied him. The sapphires didn't belong to them, yet Azura had compensated those that he'd stolen the gems from. It would raise too many questions to try and return them.

"You're wondering what to do with them?" Florian asked, a little concerned by what Ray's answer might be.

"Actually, I have an idea already." Ray looked away as if he couldn't meet Florian's eyes and the blond was sure the plan involved something illegal, and most likely something embarrassing for him. And no he was not going to wear a dress again, damnit!

"Not that kind of idea." Ray said, causing Florian to relax until Ray added, "Although..." He laughed at Florian's expression but shook his head. "What do you think of donating them, along with a suitably modified copy of Laila's research notes to the Paris museum? The Pleiades are a legend after all."

"I think it's a wonderful idea." Florian was delighted. He suddenly felt lighter, as if the fear of the curse, and all the events of their time in Brussels had been weighing him down without his realizing it.

"You do." Ray wanted it to be a statement but there was the smallest bit of lift on the end of the sentence, turning it into a question. For all his confidence, sometimes Ray liked to be reassured that he'd made the right choice in a difficult decision.

"I do," Florian said softly, and there were layers of meaning far beyond a simple answer to an uncomplicated question.

"All my ideas are wonderful. Good to see you're finally learning that," Ray told him, taking up the paper again. He hid his grin even as he heard Florian pick up his empty dishes and stomp away.
XXXXX

"I'm glad we're taking the faster train home," Florian said as he opened his suitcase to extract his change of clothes for tomorrow and his personal grooming items. He didn't think he'd need nightwear. In fact, he was hoping he wouldn't and made a mental note to eat lightly at suppertime.

"I am too," Ray groaned and pulled random items from his suitcase. "I'll be glad when I'm not living out of a suitcase." He snapped it closed and shoved it into the wardrobe. "I miss my bed." He added, looking doubtfully at the place where they'd been sleeping in a few hours, there were some suspiciously lumpy spots visible under the duvet.

"I do too," Florian agreed with an impish grin as he leaned over to Ray's pile and took a book. "I was wondering what had happened to this. Mind if I finish it?"

"Of course not," Ray agreed readily although he'd wanted to say no and finish the thing himself. He'd supposedly bought it for Florian, but... well the cover looked interesting and Florian was enjoying it so much that Ray had just wanted to see what all the fuss was about. He'd only meant to read a few pages.

Florian accepted the book, curling up against Ray and opening it to the marked chapter. Ray had his own book, but he kept sneaking looks at Florian's. Finally the blond reached over and took Ray's book, marking it and setting it aside. He handed Ray the novel and they finished reading it together just in time to meet Laila and Michel for supper.

"I win!" Michel said as soon as Florian and Ray arrived at their table in the dining car. He turned to Laila with his hand out, palm up. "Pay up! You thought they'd fallen asleep."

Laila made a face but slapped a small sum of money into his hand. "Fine, but I still won the last six bets. And I know I'll be the winner later tonight."

"How often do you bet?" Florian asked, then added, "About us?"

"Only a few times a day most of the time," Laila answered sweetly, ignoring Ray's glare and Florian's outraged gasp. "Can we eat now? I'm hungry."

"But of course," Michel said as he signaled the waiter. A short time later, orders placed, the group was conversing when Ray got a strange, almost frightened look on his face. He turned to Florian urgently. "The Countess Kourey is going to Germany, isn't that right?"

"That's what she told us at the party. Why?"

"Nothing. I just thought..."

"There you are! Count Courland, or should I say Counts Courland." The Countess Kourey bustled over to Ray's table, Alais trailing in her wake.

Florian and Ray exchanged frantic looks at each other then, as one, looked underneath the table, calculating the odds of using that as a way to hide.

Across the table, Laila leaned over to Michel and said, "I win."

:end: