"Oh God, Ivo, oooh," Tim whimpered, moving above me. "It feels so good," he panted. I wondered to myself if the old women from the opera were staying on the floor above us and just what they would be thinking right now.

I held his hips steady against the wall and continued to drive him crazy. He looked so blissful while at the same time seeming like a burning furnace. He was still as skinny as when I had first met him which made me quite self conscious owing to how trim and young he looked in comparison to me. Looking up at his gorgeous physique I couldn't help but wish that I looked something similar to know for sure that he would want me.

"Mmmmm, yeah like that," he whispered, tugging on my hair to take control. It surprised me but I carried on. He isn't usually so bold. His fingers held my in an oddly strong grip and he moved faster than I would have liked.

I licked at him which caused him to jerk, tugging my hair roughly. I pulled away from him then and he looked at me, bewildered.

"What's wrong?"

"You were pulling my hair," I warned.

"So," he replied cheekily.

I frowned.

"So don't."

He seemed embarrassed then and nodded, waiting for me to continue.

"Hngh," he sighed as I went back to pleasuring him. "Yes, Ivo." His hips canted forward slightly until I moved him back. I brought my hand up and started preparing him but he pushed my hand away.

"Not yet," he whispered, his eyes closed as he rested back against the wall.

I stared up at him but he ignored me, squirming slightly and breathing deeply.

I allowed him a few more minutes until once again I tried to move his legs apart.

"Mm, do we have to," he asked irritably.

I pulled back and looked at him.

"No," I replied, hurt. "I thought you wanted to."

"I'm kind of tired," he replied. "Don't really have the strength."

I stood and watched his expression carefully.

"So what do you want to do," I asked lowly.

He looked away and avoided my stern gaze.

"I don't know," he told me quietly. "Just fool around for a bit?"

"Fool around?"

"No, it's fine, it doesn't matter," he said hastily. "Whatever you like," he said with startling enthusiasm. It was his fantastic acting skills that made him such a good liar, and what made me doubt myself.

He grabbed my hand then and guided it between his legs, moaning in a very convincing performance.

"Fuck Ivo," he groaned once I had pressed into him, holding him with his legs wrapped around my waist, his arms around my shoulders and his breath hot on my neck.

"Nggh, yes, yes," he whimpered pathetically. "God, yes."

The angle was perfect, more so psychologically than anything else. Tim clung to me desperately, afraid to let go should the pleasure stop. His fingers were creating friction burns across my shoulder blades as he dug them into me.

I kissed his neck and moved faster, enjoying the unmistakable and trademark silence that meant Tim was most certainly enjoying himself. Sure enough he gave a heavy gasp and a strangled sob, biting down on my shoulder.

I could barely think straight. Sometimes as a game, I would challenge myself to think about my work while we were in the throws of passion because I knew that once I had Tim near me anything human left me until all I had remaining was something raw and animalistic. I proved that when I felt myself growl.

Tim looked at me, wide eyed and fragile, his eyes shining in the low lighting of the familiar hotel room. It was just possible to hear the waves far in the distance.

"Ivo."

My stomach jolted. Tim had never said my name quite like that before. I felt him shaking through his climax and only realised I had too a few moments later when I could gather my thoughts.

I pulled out from him gently and set him down onto the soft bed, pushing his hair back from his forehead. He clung to me in a hug and kissed my chest with an entrancing delicacy.

I pulled us both back against the headboard and allowed him to nuzzle into my neck as I pulled the covers over us both to keep out the chill. He rested against me as his breathing calmed, his fingers lightly tracing across my stomach and a smile playing on his lips.

"I'll love you forever Ivo," he whispered.

He shuffled down the bed until he was resting with his head on my chest, ready to sleep. I smoothed his hair and tried to steady my shaky hands as I wiped away the few tears that had managed to leak out. I was glad he was facing the opposite direction.

I stayed awake as he fell asleep against me, his breathing heavy and occasionally he would start fidgeting.

I used the time to think on what Tim had written. I thought about how it had terrified me to realise how intelligent he was, not because I wanted to be smarter than him. Purely because it showed what he was capable of. I pondered what I would do when he left me for good. Which I knew was inevitable.

I was the king who had caged the beautiful lark to listen to it sing.

I thought back to the first time I had ever thought I loved someone and I could barely remember their name. I doubted this would be like that.

There would be no going back after Tim. I would pine for him always.

Perhaps that is how my sister feels now. Now that I have stolen the bird. She was a bird too, they would have been happy together.

I tormented myself until I fell asleep, holding Tim to me.