CHAPTER 6

The silence that settled over the house was heavy. The grief was almost tangible. The maids who usually chatted happily as they went about their daily work were quiet as they moved unseen from room to room.

But Jimmy felt at odds with the mourning house. He had to bite his tongue to stop himself whistling a happy tune as he went about his duties. The family had asked that lunch be served early, and since Mr. Carson was still adamant that Thomas was in no fit state to be seen in public, only Jimmy and Alfred went up to the dining room. Almost every platter of food they offered had been refused. Only the Earl and Mr. Branson had eaten, and even then only a little. The ladies had barely touched their plates and as soon as the meal was over, Lady Edith and the Countess had left to visit Lady Mary at the hospital. From what Jimmy had heard of their conversation, Mary was inconsolable. The Dowager Countess had said she would call on Mrs. Crawley, while the Earl had asked Mr. Branson to accompany him to the library to discuss the funeral arrangements which had to be made.

Jimmy and Alfred carried the platters of uneaten food back to the kitchen where they found Thomas smoking a cigarette with a cup of tea and a newspaper spread out on the table in front of him. The two footmen joined him and shared the snippets of conversation they had heard during lunch. Alfred watched in surprise as Jimmy picked up Thomas' cup of tea and took a mouthful. He was even more shocked when Mr. Barrow's only reaction was to flick his ash into the saucer and turn the page of his newspaper.

That evening at the servant's dinner, Mrs. Hughes thought it would be nice if they all shared some happy memories of Mr. Crawley. There were a few amusing tales to tell of his first visit to Downton which seemed like so many years ago, and some sad stories of his heartbreak at losing Lavinia and his service in the war. Thomas told of their time in the trenches of the Somme and recounted how they had literally bumped into each other in the midst of all the chaos, and how they had shared a cup of tea and talked through a long dark night. Daisy recounted her story of what Mr. Crawley had done for William after he was injured in battle, and how Mr. Mason had always been grateful to Mr. Crawley that his son had been able to die at home, surrounded by those who loved him, and be buried in England instead of alone in the cloying mud of France.

Jimmy noticed a subtle change in Thomas as he shared his story of Matthew. It seemed that his memories had taken him back to a faraway place that he had long wished to forget. When Daisy spoke of William, and everybody's attention was focused on her, Jimmy who was sitting next to Thomas, slid his hand over to Thomas' leg under the table, and gave his thigh a gentle squeeze. It brought back the memory of when Thomas had done the same to his hand under the table after Lady Sybil had passed away. He watched Thomas out of the corner of his eye and realized that the two people in the Crawley family that had shown Thomas the most kindness were now both gone.

By the time they finished talking the mood was sombre. Mrs Hughes thought the boys might ask permission to go to the village pub, but when they didn't, she fetched a bottle of sherry from her sitting room and they all drank a small toast to Mr. Crawley's memory.

Thomas swallowed his drink in a single mouthful, stubbed out his cigarette and said goodnight. It was a long half hour that Jimmy sat watching the clock after Thomas went up to bed. He played a game of cards with Alfred, but neither of their hearts were in it and they gave up after a few hands. Slowly each of the maids said goodnight and went up. Anna and Mr. Bates left and walked with Mrs. Patmore to their cottages. Finally Jimmy said goodnight and climbed the steps up to the attic rooms. He undressed and washed, heard Alfred's door close and listened to the heavy footsteps of Mr. Carson going into his own room. Wearing just his pyjama bottoms he shrugged into his dressing gown and quietly opened his door, tiptoeing to Thomas' room.

He found the under-butler sitting on the edge of his bed wearing stripy bottoms and a tight under-shirt that clung to his torso and upper arms. He was hunched forward, elbows resting on his knees, a cigarette clasped between his fingers. Only the bedside lamp was on and it illuminated the room with a soft, warm glow. Thomas turned his head as Jimmy entered and the corners of his mouth lifted in a sad smile.

"I'm glad that day's over," Jimmy said, coming to a stop in front of Thomas who sat up straighter as Jimmy wedged himself between his knees.

"Tomorrow won't be any easier," Thomas told him, lifting his cigarette to his lips to free up his hands. He looked up at Jimmy's face through the rising plume of smoke and tugged on the cord of his dressing gown. It opened to reveal Jimmy's smooth, flat belly. Thomas' hands slid around the back of Jimmy's thighs pulling him a step closer. His eyes were level with Jimmy's navel but his gaze was lowered a few inches to where the waistband of Jimmy's pyjamas sat low on his hips.

The smoke stung Thomas' eyes and he blinked, still holding the cigarette between his lips. He felt Jimmy's fingers caressing his jaw, then gently brushing against his mouth as they closed around the end of the butt. He took a deep draw as Jimmy took the cigarette from his mouth. He held the smoke in his lungs for a moment, enjoying the burn at the back of his throat, then blew it out against Jimmy's stomach as he leaned forward and kissed the smooth skin an inch below his bellybutton. As he leaned back, Jimmy held the cigarette back to his lips and Thomas took another long drag before Jimmy stubbed it out in the ashtray on the bedside table. Exhaling the smoke, Thomas tugged at the sleeves of Jimmy's robe, it slipped down his shoulders and Thomas let it fall to the floor. His hands roamed up the back of Jimmy's legs caressing him through the thin material of his pyjamas, his nose nuzzled against Jimmy's belly, then his lips parted and he slowly licked the warm, soft skin he found there. He felt Jimmy's hands slipping down his back, his shirt bunching between the footman's fingers as he pulled it upwards. Thomas lifted his arms and Jimmy pulled it off over his head.

He longed to kiss Jimmy's gorgeous mouth but for now he was content to return his attention to the pretty blond's stomach as he opened his mouth and placed a loose-lipped kiss, first on one side of his navel, then the other. He could feel Jimmy's fingers slowly massaging his shoulders as he moved his mouth lower, dragging his lips and then this tongue down Jimmy's belly to the waistband of his pyjamas. With the tip of his finger he dragged the material lower, exposing first one hipbone then the other, and kissing each one in turn. Jimmy was starting to breathe faster and Thomas felt the boy's fingers digging into his upper arms. He was aware that Jimmy was becoming aroused, he could see material at the front of his pyjamas starting to fill out and he let his hands wander up Jimmy's legs until his fingers touched the exposed flesh of his hips. He ran his thumbs over the protruding rise of hipbones and licked a wet trail across the skin of his stomach. Then he moved his head downwards and let his lips skim over the material covering the shape of Jimmy's swelling cock. He heard the hitch in Jimmy's breath.

"Beautiful," Thomas said with wonder, as much to himself as to Jimmy as he slowly rubbed his hand against the material, feeling Jimmy's shaft lengthen and harden under his palm. "This is all mine," he murmured against Jimmy's cock.

"Oh God..." was all Jimmy could say when Thomas rubbed his mouth against it and carefully nipped with soft lips through his pyjamas. His cock was fully hard now and straining against the material. For a fleeting moment he thought he should be embarrassed at his eager arousal, but he found it daring and exciting to have his body show how much it was enjoying the attention it was receiving.

Thomas was in heaven. His hands ran up the back of Jimmy's thighs to his bottom, kneading his cheeks. He pressed his lips to Jimmy's stomach, tracing circles around his navel with his tongue. He heard Jimmy's breath coming faster as he slowly lifted himself from the bed, his lips never breaking contact with Jimmy's skin. Kissing and licking a wet trail up his torso to his chest, Thomas' hands moved to Jimmy's sides and his fingertips traced every rise and valley of his ribs. When his mouth closed over one of the footman's nipples he heard Jimmy gasp as he worked the tip of his tongue over it. He felt it pucker as he gently grazed it with his teeth. Jimmy's nails dug into Thomas' skin and goosebumps rose on his flesh. Thomas moved his mouth to the other nipple as Jimmy's fingers began to scratch gently up his neck and thread through his hair.

When Thomas lifted his eyes to Jimmy's face his heart thumped at what he saw. Jimmy's eyes were closed, his head tilted back, his luscious lips parted and his cheeks looked flushed. Thomas couldn't resist him any longer, he straightened and snaked his hands around the back of Jimmy's neck, pulling his head in for a long, sensual kiss. The heat of Jimmy's mouth made him tremble with happiness, but it was the speed at which Jimmy responded to him, wrapping his arms around Thomas' body and thrusting his tongue into his mouth, that made Thomas pull him closer and kiss him harder.

When they broke apart they were panting. Thomas was grinning and Jimmy couldn't pull his eyes away from the man's beautiful face. He couldn't believe the effect he was having on Thomas, he knew that the under-butler found him attractive but the way Thomas was looking at him spoke of pure adoration and devotion. He was amazed at the usually guarded man's ability to show love. As they held each other's gaze, Jimmy's hands found their way to Thomas' chest and his fingers rubbed through the soft, dark hair that covered it. It felt different to his own smooth skin, but he enjoyed the sensation of it under his hands, and even more on his lips, when he bent his head to kiss it. He felt Thomas' hands rubbing his back, moving up and down sensually. It tickled but it felt good. When his fingers moved to Thomas' nipples and he carefully raked his nails over them, he felt the taller man's fingers dig into his back and heard the soft purr in Thomas' throat. Lifting his head, Jimmy opened his mouth for another hungry kiss. Their bodies pressing together, Jimmy felt the hard heat of Thomas' erection sliding against his hip as they rocked gently against each other. The kiss went on while their hands explored, and when their wet lips finally broke apart Jimmy glanced down at the tented front to Thomas' bottoms. He was aroused by the sight but a little nervous too. Thomas looked very big and while Jimmy hadn't actually been with a man before, he knew the mechanics of what had to happen. He wasn't sure his body could take all of Thomas' cock.

Thomas' eyes followed his gaze and he saw the concern reflected on Jimmy's face. He tilted his head, placed a kiss on Jimmy's forehead, another on the tip of his nose, and a third on his mouth.

"I won't do anything until you're completely ready my love," he said, running a finger a down Jimmy's chin.

My love...

The endearment sounded strange coming from a man, but it made Jimmy's heart flutter. He gazed at Thomas and saw the raw emotion in his eyes. Like a veil lifting he understood that a whole new world had just opened to him. How could this be the male love that the world saw as disgusting and unnatural? What Thomas was offering him was not the quick rutting of anonymous bodies in a dark, dirty alleyway, this was love, as pure and real and honest as any between a man and woman. He wished the world could see them now, all the people like Mr. Carson who thought they were foul, all the lawmakers that said their love was illegal. How could this possibly be wrong? How could society want punish a man like Thomas for the feelings he had in his heart?

"You are beautiful," Jimmy whispered. They were not words he ever imagined he would say to a man, he had never even said them to a girl. But in that moment he knew he had never meant them more.

Thomas answered him with a smile so bright that Jimmy thought his insides might melt. He felt Thomas' hands gently turning him, pushing him towards the bed. He yanked the covers back and lay down, shifting his body to make room for the gorgeous man who stretched out next to him.

Their eyes met for a moment and Thomas held his gaze before their mouths joined in a passionate kiss. Lips twisted, hands roamed, and bodies writhed together. Jimmy's back arched up in need every time that Thomas broke their kiss to look down at him. Thomas' hand teased, caressing all the way down Jimmy's stomach, a fingertip dipping into his navel and running along his lower belly, along the band of material circling Jimmy's hips. Every time Jimmy thought Thomas' hand would go where he wanted it to go, it slowly, torturously started inching its way back up his torso. It was blissful and maddening at the same time. He showed his frustration with soft bites to Thomas lip and the frantic action of his tongue pushing against Thomas' own, running across the roof of his mouth and tracing the line of his teeth, but still Thomas denied him.

Jimmy was mewling with frustration, when Thomas pulled away from another frantic kiss and ran his tongue over Jimmy's lips.

"Does my bonny Princess want something?" Thomas purred with a wicked glint in his eye.

"You know what I want." Jimmy hissed through clenched teeth as he tried hard to control his body.

"Say it," Thomas' voice was a low sexy rumble, coming from deep in his chest. "I want to hear you ask for it."

For just an instant Jimmy clamped his lips together stubbornly, but when Thomas' tongue circled his ear and he felt the under-butler's teeth gently nip at his neck, he let go of his pride and spoke.

"Touch me," he whimpered.

"Where?" Thomas breathed into his ear as he licked it again.

"Damn you!" Jimmy hissed, and grabbed Thomas' wrist, forcing his hand downwards until his fingers were cupped around Jimmy's achingly hard arousal.

The sound Thomas made came from somewhere deep inside him. He watched every nuance of Jimmy's expression as he started to rub him through the soft material. His fingers felt the slippery heat of the wet patch where Jimmy's desperately needy cock leaked its slick essence. Their mouths crushed together as Jimmy bucked wantonly against his hand. It was more than Thomas could take, he yanked the material down, felt Jimmy lift his hips to assist as he pulled the pyjama bottoms all the way down his legs and off him, abandoning them in a tangle somewhere at the end of the tiny bed.

"So perfect," Thomas husked as his gaze fell on Jimmy's finally naked body, his eyes brushing glances up and down the slender, creamy-pale length of him.

His fingers itched for contact with Jimmy's skin and when Thomas ran his hand up a bare thigh, letting his fingertips linger in that crease where Jimmy's leg met his torso, he found the skin was even smoother and softer than it looked. His mouth found Jimmy's neck and alternated tender kisses with hungry, nipping bites. His hand smoothed over Jimmy's stomach feeling the way he shivered and trembled with need.

"Please…" Jimmy puffed out the word on a desperate breath.

Thomas licked along his jawline as he hand slid lower and finally claimed its prize. He was rewarded with a low, grateful moan when his hand at last touched Jimmy's bare flesh.

With teeth gritted against the desperate need to cry out, Jimmy found his hands scrabbling at the sheet beneath him when Thomas' fingers closed around his cock and started stroking with agonizing slowness up and down his length.

Thomas revelled in Jimmy's blissful torture. He loved the control he had over him, the granting or denying of pleasure was completely at his whim, and he would have kept him hovering on the brink of orgasm all night if he could, but more than anything he wanted to make Jimmy come, wanted to watch his face, hear his voice and feel his body convulsing under his touch.

He sped his movements up a little, his palm gently closing over the head of Jimmy's cock, gathering up the abundance of slippery moisture it found oozing there. He spread it down Jimmy's shaft, then stroked his hand up to gather more, repeating it until Jimmy's length was slick and wet. Then he curled his fingers around him and with a gentle squeeze, began to slowly pump the rigid flesh in his hand. His thumb carefully circled the swollen head on every upward stroke and he gently squeezed the base of Jimmy's cock with every downward pull. It was torturous and he knew it. Teasing enough to pull shivers of pleasure from Jimmy's body, but maddeningly short of what the lovely footman craved.

Jimmy was beautiful to watch as he relinquished himself to the exquisite pleasure of Thomas' hand. His eyes were closed and his mouth was incapable of speech, the only way he could communicate what he wanted was through the strangled sounds coming from his throat, and the lustful way his hips lifted to thrust himself through Thomas' fist.

Sensing his need, Thomas pumped him faster and received an appreciative whimper in return. Jimmy was glorious, abandoning himself to his need, chasing his orgasm shamelessly. Thomas sped up more, his thumb catching Jimmy's sensitive cockhead with every upward stroke. Soft cries of pleasure rewarded his efforts as he bent his head and tongued a pebble-hard nipple.

Squeezing gently and twisting his fingers with every pull, Thomas' hand wrung Jimmy's orgasm from him. With eyes clenched shut and his mouth opened in gasping breaths Jimmy surrendered to wave after wave of heaven as his climax washed over him. His final cry of ecstasy was swallowed by Thomas' lips as the dark-haired man pressed their mouths together in a rough, hungry kiss. His fingers were coated in Jimmy's slippery climax. It had erupted from him in spurting ribbons landing on Jimmy's stomach and chest. When the last shudder of pleasure finally left Jimmy's body and he lay quiet again, Thomas lovingly kissed his forehead.

"That was beautiful," Thomas whispered.

Jimmy half-opened his sated lids and smiled sleepily at Thomas. His gaze widening as he watched Thomas slowly lick the cum from his fingers. It was the most obscene, yet sexy thing he had ever seen. He could easily have closed his eyes and fallen into a deep sleep but the pressure of Thomas' hard cock jutting against his thigh pulled him from his contented stupor.

He pushed his hand down the front of Thomas' pyjama bottoms, wrapping his fingers around his length. Thomas' cock felt thick and heavy in his hand, it was the only one he'd touched other than his own but Jimmy knew exactly how to make himself feel good and he used all his favourite tricks on Thomas.

The fact that they could even be friends made Thomas' heart leap, but having Jimmy's hand on his erection was almost too much for him to bear. Stretching his arms upwards, Thomas curled his fingers around the iron rungs of the bedframe, his toes dug into the mattress and he abandoned himself to the incredible pleasure of being touched by his beautiful blond lover.

Frustrated by the confines of the material, Jimmy removed Thomas' pants and found his breath hitching at the erotic beauty of finally seeing Thomas naked and aroused. The sight of his hand wrapped around Thomas' intimate length looked more perfect than he could ever have imagined. Thomas' body still bore the evidence of the attack, the cuts had mostly healed although the bruises remained, but it did nothing to detract from the glorious sight of him stretched out and falling under the spell of Jimmy's clever hand.

"Oh God," Thomas whimpered, so close to the edge of bliss that he could feel the shooting tingles starting to ignite deep inside him.

Jimmy felt giddy with the power he had over this usually composed and self-possessed man. Thomas rarely let his guard down, but now he was allowing himself to completely surrender to Jimmy. His eyes were closed, his mouth slightly opened, his breathing heavy. Jimmy shifted his position, stretching out next to Thomas, pressing close to his body. His hand never stopped its rapid movement as he stretched his neck up and closed his lips over Thomas' mouth, his tongue invading and Thomas' eagerly accepting it. With a stifled cry and a sharp thrust of his hips, Thomas was undone.

The evidence of his climax discharged over his abdomen as Jimmy's mouth slid from his, kiss-wet lips breaking into a satisfied smile. He lay gasping as he slowly unfurled his fingers from the bed frame.

"That was embarrassingly quick," Thomas panted, opening his eyes and gazing adoringly at Jimmy.

"But was it good?" Jimmy whispered softly.

"Better than you can ever imagine. And you?" Thomas asked, brushing the hair from Jimmy's forehead with a loving finger.

"It was wonderful," the young blond replied, lifting himself up on one elbow and tilting his head to look down at Thomas' face. "But don't ever call me Princess again."

Thomas laughed as he reached up to pull Jimmy down into a tight hug.

"My Prince then," he murmured against Jimmy's ear.

When they'd recovered a bit and got their breath back, they got up and went into Thomas' small bathroom. They cleaned themselves up then went back to bed, pulling the covers over them and settling comfortably into slumber. Jimmy lay on his back with Thomas at his side, his head propped on his elbow as he watched Jimmy sleep.

To be continued…..