you could have my heart (and i would break it for you)

by Aviantei

William James Moriarty tended to prefer his men a bit taller, a bit sharper at the jaw and darker in complexion, but this one had managed to land in the exact exceptional sweet spot to catch his attention. William wanted to destroy him. (Who became destroyed in the end was a different matter altogether.) [William/Trans Male!OC] [Shibuya Operation - Story Storm]

16. His Third Bow, Act One

you could have my heart (and I would break it for you)

-or-

be gay do crime

By: Aviantei

His Third Bow, Act One:

"ran so fucking far (that you would never ever touch me again)"

---

Having William's company again was wonderful enough, but it became even more so with the addition of their newfound established commitment. It wasn't anything as intimate as what Albert had proposed—with his death on the horizon, William wasn't promising a full courtship, and Jameson didn't wish to burden him with such a thing in the first place—but it was an agreement that meant they had plenty of reason to enjoy each other regardless, and Jameson was beyond satisfied with that alone.

Now there was just the issue of approaching intercourse again.

Perhaps issue wasn't the correct term, but it did seem like a challenge. He knew, now that he'd expressed such a thing, William would not repeat his mistake of attempting to hold him down in bed, so that was one less thing to worry about. However, Jameson's mind had a tendency to attach to the fear before anything else, and he didn't want to sully the experience again, which had made him hesitant at first.

However, such hesitation had less and less power whenever Jameson's desire began to grow. Since the incident with William, Jameson hadn't indulged to the point of release aside from Maryanne—and while she was a skilled and wonderful woman, even all her practice paled in comparison to the rush that Jameson had experienced under William's careful ministrations, something that Jameson could now recognise as an enhancement that came as his affection for the other man grew.

He had called William's name while under Albert's careful touch for a reason, after all.

And so, whenever Jameson had gone to invite William down to dinner, he'd asked for William's company after the meal. Dining had been simple, Jameson no more than somewhat distracted by thoughts of William, of having those hands and lips upon him again. At the very least, Albert wasn't giving him that smug look, so Jameson must not have been too obvious in his thoughts.

William did keep glancing at Jameson, though, just frequent enough to make it clear he was on the other man's mind. To be on the end of such attention again was wonderful, as was being able to return to Jameson's room side by side once they'd finished cleaning everything up. Jameson recounted the story of his baking experiments for the day, to which William listened, and he shared some anecdotes of the mathematics theories he'd been studying for enjoyment, the topic continuing even long after they'd settled into Jameson's chambers.

It was just so easy to be with him that any other night Jameson would've been satisfied with such talk alone.

For the night at hand, Jameson had far too much anticipation built up inside him to go such a route. Their current topic petering out, Jameson scooted closer to William, glancing up at him through his eyelashes, knowing his intent would come across clear. "William."

"Jameson." William's voice was thick, but he didn't move into the invitation just yet. "Please, allow me to confirm that you want this. I…I wish to as well, but I don't want to repeat my mistakes." Jameson didn't want his own fears to interfere, either, which was why he'd made the location his own bedroom, rather than William's.

But even with all that in mind, Jameson had but one answer to give.

"I do want to." Jameson was certain of that much, no matter what challenges that would involve. "I…I want you, William. In every way I can receive." It was such a desire that had followed him, even while in bed with Albert, and that spoke more than anything else, even if he did not quite wish to share that exact scenario yet. "I…I may stumble again, but I promise, so long as you respect my wishes like you did before, that want shall not change."

"I will always respect your wishes, Jameson." William's voice was full of pure certainty, and Jameson had an absolute trust in him that he'd never felt before. "Whatever you need different, whatever you don't wish for me to do, I will follow." Jameson stepped closer, enjoying their close proximity with a renewed appreciation. It hadn't been all that long since they'd been in such a position, and yet Jameson found himself surprised at how easy it was to feel comfortable in his presence—how easy it was to feel desirable. "What are you thinking about right now?"

"You." William didn't look surprised, but Jameson was close enough that he could see the faint moment of stillness that indicated the answer had caught William off guard. "Us." Having been craving the sensation for so long, Jameson reached out to cup his hand against William's cheek, even that simple contact feeling far too warm and comforting to be real. "I want to be with you again, William."

"And I you." William's voice had been much softer and more tender than Jameson had expected, and that just made his affection go even deeper. "If we are to do this, though, would it be alright if I were to propose a rule for us to follow?" Jameson's breath caught, nervousness tumbling up and down between his chest and stomach, but he nodded. William had been so accommodating to him, the least he could do was listen. "I believe we should establish a few words. Of course, if you tell me to stop or slow down, I will always listen. And I will do my best to ask for anything we haven't already discussed. But I believe having a few phrases at the ready will help us out in the long run."

The concept made some sense, but Jameson couldn't help but feel that something wasn't quite clicking. "Wouldn't just saying 'stop' on its own be enough?" It had taken his own courage to do so, but once Jameson had done so, William had complied.

"I'm not saying it wouldn't. However, sometimes 'stop' can be used in different contexts. For example…" William took a lock of Jameson's hair between his fingers, capturing his full attention with so little effort. "Perhaps one of us wished to tease each other. 'Stop' would work well to keep us from proceeding even further without having to halt the entire affair."

Whenever William put it like that, Jameson could start to see the appeal. Keeping the common words for such things would make such things simpler, indeed. Of course, not having been given much opportunity in such concepts before, there was no guarantee he would like it, but that didn't mean he couldn't try.

"I'm not opposed to the idea," Jameson said, well aware that his voice was much more measured than it had been before. William must have noticed, but he gave Jameson the space he needed to sort it out. "I'm sure with you, I'd enjoy something to that extent very much." He'd enjoyed it whenever William had given him full command of the situation, after all, and William's proposition didn't seem all that different in concept. "That said, I'm not sure what sort of words would do best."

"No need to worry. I have a few suggestions. The concept is that it should be something easy to remember, but not so common that it would come up on a regular basis. Just like the rest of the rules we agreed to, we can also change it any time. I was thinking we could use tardus for when we need to slow down, then satis for when you need to stop." If Jameson's memory wasn't failing him, the words were Latin, and he trusted William had chosen them for their approximation of their intended meaning. "And should speaking be difficult, a click of the fingers—once to pause, twice to stop."

"No, that sounds fine to me." Jameson tested each of the words on his tongue, repeating them until they seemed like second nature. He did, however, have some doubts about whether he'd be able to recall such words in the midst of his panic. "If…if it seems as if I'm struggling, though?"

"I'll remind you." The gentle reassurance made Jameson exhale in relief; while he hoped that such a situation wouldn't emerge again, it was best to be prepared. His mind was nowhere near as kind as he wished it to be at the best of times, let alone the worst. "And with that settled, I feel much better about proceeding." Though they had just been talking about how to stop, Jameson couldn't consider himself to be anything but eager to keep going. William's soft smile and fingers brushing across the freckles dotting Jameson's cheek just added to the effect. "And you, Jameson? I do wish to prioritise your comfort above anything else."

"I'm happy to proceed from here." Jameson reached up to rest his hand over William's, the contact feeling all the more exhilarating from its relative freshness. He smiled, adding a slight purr to his words: "Even without touching me, you do quite enjoy dragging out your foreplay, don't you?"

William chuckled. "I confess, it's rather a poor habit of mine, though I do believe you might be objecting for the sake of objecting." Jameson hummed, not able to deny the accusation but not assenting to its full truth, either. William always made the length of the prologue worth it, but Jameson couldn't deny his impatience. "How about it, dear? Would you be interested in teasing me in such a manner instead?"

Jameson shivered, but he attempted to pull himself back together. "I'm not going to be able to tease you much if you're so forward, you know." He understood that William was offering him a full sense of control, with no exceptions, almost like an apology. Jameson already felt that William had apologised enough—but wasn't it also the perfect opportunity to practice the forwardness he so wished to master. "I assume I have permission to do as I desire while I tease you, then?"

"I could want for nothing more."

Jameson felt as if William's resulting smile was the most gorgeous it had ever seen it, and what better excuse was there to kiss him? It was the sweetest possible taste, the warmth of their bodies mingling together. Jameson hummed his satisfaction, and William hummed back in return, the two of them sharing the moment without any sense of hesitation between them. Somehow, William had wanted Jameson as much as he'd wanted William in return, the mutual desire feeling just as if not more compelling than anything else. When they parted, Jameson slipped his fingers into William's hair, pulling him closer and to his neck. William's lips found purchase there, each press gentle enough not to leave a mark, but plenty warm enough to make a happy gasp spill from Jameson's mouth. He didn't need to push further for William to continue, so instead Jameson adjusted, pulling his legs up on the couch so that it was easier to face William, a hand upon the small of his back helping him keep his balance.

"God, I missed this," Jameson said, not bothering to withhold the tremble in his voice. Being touched again was satisfying on its own, yes, but responding to William's hands was much more so. "I missed you."

"I missed you as well." Jameson pulled William back into another kiss, wanting to make up for the lost time between them. "I told myself that I shouldn't, that I didn't deserve it, but I kept wishing for your company while we were apart."

"Just my company?"

"And every other sensation of tasting and touching you. I longed for your voice, your smile. I wished to feel your warmth at my side while I fell asleep." Jameson shivered in his touch. "I wished to have you back at my side, my dear, so that I could enjoy every last thing your presence has to offer." Such pretty words from an even prettier mouth—Jameson didn't know how he'd managed to convince himself he'd be alright never being at William's side again.

Even if it was just his fantasy, such words made Jameson feel cherished.

"Well, I'm yours now," he said, pressing his palm to William's cheek. His other hand was much less innocent, sliding down William's chest, his nails clicking as they passed over William's vest buttons. About halfway through, he gave up the pretence of a tease, starting to pop the fastenings apart. From there, it was easy to untuck William's shirttails, giving Jameson the perfect opportunity to run a hand over the bare skin of William's stomach. The motion earned him a gasp of pleasure, which encouraged him to press onward. "And I believe by the terms of our agreement, you're mine right now, yes?"

Jameson increased the pressure of his caress, teasing his nails across William's skin. William offered him a faint groan in response, the sound one of approval. "You wished for me to pursue no one but you whenever I feel desire, Jameson, and I have no intention of denying you that." His palms slid over Jameson's backside, both of them slipping under Jameson's jacket and tracing the curve of his spine. Jameson shrugged off his jacket, letting it fall to the floor with no ceremony whatsoever. His mouth was working gentle kisses into Jameson's neck and up his hairline, hot breaths washing over Jameson's ear.

"Mm. And how much desire might you be feeling right now?"

"No mere words could express it." God, was William's voice unfair in every sense of the word, and Jameson whimpered as those teeth tugged upon his ear. Just the littlest things made him feel as if he were drowning, and he never wanted to come up for air. "Jameson," William said, keeping Jameson from submerging himself in the deepest depths of pleasure. "Remember that you have control, as ever and always."

Jameson squirmed, already lowering his hips so that he could feel William's forming erection pressing into him. Right, the offer to tease William had been there from the start, and there Jameson was, not taking advantage of it in the slightest. "William," he said, because it was the one word that he felt like he could manage to get out.

"Jameson. Jameson, tell me to stop."

Convinced that his voice wouldn't outright fail him, Jameson pressed his forehead into William's, enjoying the way the low light made those scarlet eyes look even deeper and richer in their hue. "William, stop."

The effect was immediate, William's hands stilling from their caresses. It was almost torment to have the sensation halt, but that was but a secondary feeling to the sense of safety and security that washed over him. Even in a situation such as the one before them, in which Jameson wasn't in any immediate feeling of distress, William would listen to him.

How is it that he can make my affection even stronger every single time? It didn't feel like it should have been possible—but there Jameson was, enthralled to a helpless degree, and, with William promised to be at his side as long as he could, didn't that just mean Jameson would be able to revel in that feeling as it further grew and grew and grew?

Jameson felt grateful he had the opportunity to find out.

"My, this is more difficult than I expected," William said, the tone in his voice making it clear he felt more amused than distressed. He was just so warm that any fear Jameson had felt at all during their last interaction seemed impossible. "I have quite the number of things I wish to do to you, my dear, and yet here I am, unable to do so."

Jameson chuckled, resting his hands over William's, where they had stilled upon his waist. "You cannot fault me for acting upon your suggestion, William." He leaned in, swiping a short kiss while William was still at the perfect distance to hear the other man's breath catch in his throat. "But I'm quite curious, my lord. What is it that might be tempting you so?"

"I wish to feel your warmth against me. I wish to run my hands along the curve of your body and hear you gasp from pleasure." Even without moving an inch, William was still able to make Jameson's stomach twist into an infinite collection of warm knots. "I wish to have your mouth upon every inch of my skin, and I wish to taste the ecstasy as it falls from your very lips."

"I'll allow it." Jameson's words trembled, but he couldn't help it, nor did he wish to waste the energy on composing himself. Yes, there was a power in William stopping at Jameson's say so—but there was something even more intoxicating about him acting at his command, too, even if Jameson wasn't giving precise orders. Instead, he told hold of William's collar, pulling him into another kiss before standing up. "As delightful as the prospect of enjoying you upon the couch is, I wish to spend the night afterwards falling asleep in your embrace."

"What a coincidence, Jameson. I was thinking much along the same lines." Even when accounting for the both of them each dropping a few extra pieces of clothing (Jameson's vest and belt; William's jacket and tie) along the way, it took no time at all for them to find themselves upon the bed, with Jameson gesturing for William to lie down first. He did so, remaining half propped upon the pillows resting against the headboard, his arms extended in the offer of an embrace that Jameson rushed to enter, his legs straddling William's hips as they met in another kiss.

William's hands were bolder, wandering the curves of Jameson's body, and Jameson was just as bold, pressing himself closer to William and establishing a rhythm to coax those longing breaths from him, to tempt the arousal to manifest itself. William had not been lying about his own eagerness, either, for as methodological and thorough as his touch always was, there was an extra sense of urgency to the movement, long fingers already starting to tug Jameson's slacks away from his waist and to his thighs.

"Stop," Jameson said, his voice coming out as a purr, and William obeyed. Was it Jameson's imagination, or was there a flicker of desperation in those scarlet eyes as they glanced up to Jameson's face, awaiting his next command? It was such a satisfying picture that Jameson thought he might grow drunk upon the sight alone. "I'd much rather see you be undressed first, William."

"Then by all means, I'll—"

"No." William's lips pursed at the word, almost giving the impression that he was pouting. The effect was beyond adorable. "You seem to be in a rush tonight, and I'd like to savour the moment just a bit more, so I'll be the one to do it." Jameson reached out, unplucking the last few necessary buttons to make it possible to pull William's button-down up and over his head. Despite his choice in words, Jameson found he didn't have much more patience, either. Seeing the expanse of William's chest exposed to the air just added to that, and Jameson planted kisses from collarbone to pectoral, slipping a nipple into his mouth as he undid William's belt buckle. William wasn't sensitive at the area, per say, but he did release a groan as Jameson flicked his tongue over the hardened bud a few times enough to signal his enjoyment.

Said treatment could not last forever, not if Jameson was to get William's slacks off, and so he pulled his mouth away—though not without leaving a breath over the wettened skin first. William shivered, and Jameson kept on his best smile as he shuffled back, dragging William's pants and undershorts along with him. There was no denying that William was aroused, not with his erection at the ready, and Jameson felt himself clench up at the sight, the bottom of his stomach feeling all the hotter.

If William was a flame, Jameson would allow himself to be burnt to a crisp.

"I feel as if every time I see you, I am reminded of just how incredible you are," Jameson said, teasing his fingers along William's thighs. The tight muscles there felt incredible enough that he couldn't resist pressing the whole of his palms against them, enjoying the firm but subtle curve. "I am fortunate to have you, William."

"And I am fortunate to have you." Oh, there was a bit of a strain in William's voice, and Jameson thought it a wonder that he didn't combust then and there. Should he be granted the opportunity to lead their sessions in such a way again, Jameson would not pass it up for the entire world. "It seems my state of undress has met your satisfaction, has it not, my dear? Would you mind allowing me to do the same to you?" Even in his current state, William was more than capable of making Jameson wish to follow his every request, and any other night, he would have agreed without a second thought.

But on that night? No, Jameson already had plans in mind, and he was not about to pass them up, not when the opportunity was so perfect.

"Goodness," Jameson said, allowing himself to feel giddy at the situation. "I was thinking I'd like to disrobe for you instead." William's lips parted, releasing a small exhale, and Jameson knew he'd had a correct read on the situation. "You did ask for it for your birthday, after all, so I thought it might be something you'd wish to see again."

"You're not wrong." Oh, that was delightful to hear, to know something William preferred just as well as he had been able to deduce all of Jameson's own predilections. William's arms remained at his sides, though those eyes were more than enough to simulate the effects of his touch as scarlet roved over Jameson's current state of undress. "If you wish for such a thing, my dear, it would be uncouth of me to deny you it after claiming I would follow your command."

"Then relax and allow yourself to watch." Deciding to change it up a bit from their previous encounter, Jameson committed to removing all of his upper layers first, adding his tie and button-up to the messy pile that contained William's outfit, the whole collection half-sliding off the bed. From there, Jameson's hands reached behind him, undoing the clip that held his chest bindings together. With a bit of coaxing, the bindings fell away, sliding down his torso as Jameson took a deep breath to stretch out his lungs. His eyes had been on William the whole time, so it was impossible to miss the look of pure fascination upon his face.

It was also impossible to miss the way his erection had grown stronger just in the space of the past few minutes alone.

Jameson fluttered his eyelashes. "It seems you enjoy this treatment more than I expected."

"So long as I am with you, I will always find something to enjoy, Jameson." Whenever Jameson raised an eyebrow, though, William relented, "But I will confess a particular attraction to watching you undress for me, yes. Watching your skin become exposed… Knowing this is a sight you trust me enough to see." Even without touching him, William made Jameson ache with desire; he wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if William was choosing each and every one of his words with the express purpose of getting Jameson to allow William the permission to move again. "The one thing I could wish for more in this moment is to have you pressed against me, calling my name."

It was working.

"So do it," Jameson whispered, unable to resist. William's arms were perfection around his waist, and soon there was no space between them to speak of, not with Jameson's hips flush to William's, his erection pressed against Jameson's entrance, already slick and ready to go. Their chests were flush against each other, too, hot skin against hot skin, and William was gentle but urgent as he moved their hips together. "Oh, William," Jameson said at the same time that William called his name as well, both sounds disappearing into the kiss that was soon to follow.

It would have been so easy, to allow themselves to become one in that moment, to at last enjoy the sensation that had avoided them both the past month, to do nothing but drown in the pure ecstasy of enjoying another. Jameson was not certain how he resisted, all he knew was that whenever William looked up at him, eyes lidded and lips swollen from their kiss, Jameson felt like he had the world under his fingertips—that was what it meant to have William at his mercy.

So it would be a shame not to take advantage of such a thing, would it not?

"Stay put," Jameson said before moving. William mumbled a my dear in protest, but he did let Jameson go, even if his hands did linger upon Jameson's hips a bit longer than necessary. Flushed red from arousal and embarrassment, Jameson dug into the drawer of his bedside cabinet, soon finding the Vaseline he'd been seeking.

Even in the dark, William seemed to recognise the sound of the top popping off, or perhaps it was the scent that gave it away. "I didn't realise you were so prepared."

"I…considered it would be a possibility." In particular, he'd expected that perhaps Albert might want such a thing, as so he should be ready for it, but it wasn't something he could deny wishing to happen with William, either. "It was how we spent our first night together, was it not?" It was one of the many experiences that Jameson was eager to try again, but that was no surprise whenever the list of ways he wished to entangle his body with William's was near infinite. "That said, I was hoping to be the one to explore you tonight." To make sure his point was clear, he swiped up a bit of the Vaseline, teasing it against William's entrance without adding any pressure to be intrusive.

William let out a gasp, and Jameson didn't dare go any further. He knew from experience that such an area was sensitive; he was capable of handling it due to being toyed around with in every possible way, but what about William? The prospect of hurting him rather than giving him pleasure was not one Jameson liked, but it wasn't as if anal stimulation had to be painful, so long as you were careful.

The first night they'd spent together had more than proven that.

"Go ahead," William said, that slight tremble of anticipation that Jameson was learning to recognize present in his voice. "It's been some time since I've indulged in such a way, but it's not as if I mind it. You'll just have to take your time with me, which I suspect you were planning on doing anyways."

Jameson nodded, but he still didn't push any further, though he was longing to see the face William would make whenever he did. "I…haven't done more than prepare myself, so do let me know if I need to change tactics." Jameson felt skilled enough when it came to his own body, but he was well aware that not everyone felt pleasure from the same things. "But with your permission, William, I'll be getting started now."

"Yes, please do—ah." William tensed as Jameson teased a fingertip inside, but soon enough he relaxed. That was just a starting point, however, and Jameson added more lubricant to his finger before proceeding. After moving in and out a few times, Jameson went further, going past the first knuckle, then the second. William's body let him in, and the soft moans slipping from his partner's mouth were enough to give Jameson some confidence. Once he'd made it all the way down, Jameson waited, feeling William's body clench and unclench around him.

There were very few times whenever Jameson outright longed for the body he hadn't been born with—he'd for the most part made peace with himself, and the surgery had helped—but in that moment, Jameson would have done anything to feel William around him firsthand.

The look on William's face more than made up for it, though, as did his breaths becoming more uneven. Jameson may not have had a penis to enjoy the feeling with, but knowing that he was causing such a reaction from William, who was almost always collected and in control, felt as if Jameson had had happiness shot straight into his veins.

There was a growing wetness upon his thighs, at any rate, and that spoke for itself.

Jameson tested out moving, keeping his pace slow. "I can guess based on your reaction that I'm doing well, William, but I'd much rather hear it from your mouth."

"You're wonderful." Jameson imagined his own experiences—that tight, almost burning feeling, right on the edge of overwhelming—and prayed that William was feeling much of the same thing. "The next time I have to—mm—tell you about what I adore about your body, I'll need to give extra praise to your fingers."

"So you say, but you have just one in you now." Jameson's free hand dipped into the can, spreading Vaseline upon his middle finger as well. "I think if you're to praise them in the plural, you'd at least need to experience more than that, would you not?"

William's hands had gripped into the sheets, though Jameson wondered if it was from pleasure or to keep himself from touching Jameson. He couldn't help but hope it was some combination of the both. "I agree, yes. Would you allow such a thing?" Jameson's answer was to pull his hand back just enough to line up his fingertips before pushing back in. He hadn't thought it was possible, but he moved even slower than he had upon his initial intrusion, almost afraid to go any harder for fear of messing up.

Whenever William let out a hum like that, though, Jameson wasn't sure why he'd even felt worried in the first place. Still, he took it slow, settling into a rhythm that he knew he'd find tortuous were he subjected to it himself. William didn't complain, though, instead seeming to be caught up in the motion altogether, though those lidded eyes watched Jameson with a desire that grew hotter by the second.

Following the building momentum, Jameson spread his fingers, a louder moan slipping out of William's mouth—which, by his standards, wasn't all that much, but the extra volume was more than enough for Jameson to repeat the motion. There was the slightest bit of resistance, but it wasn't long before William's body stretched without issue.

"One more?" Jameson asked, uncertain if he was reading William's reactions right or projecting his own desires upon him.

"One more," William agreed, and Jameson didn't hesitate to follow through on the promise, earning him a moaned, "Jameson," in response, and from there, what other excuse did Jameson need to start moving again? William seemed to be enjoying himself, judging by the way his mouth hung open and his back had begun to arch the slightest bit off the mattress, and Jameson had caused that, now hadn't he? The calls of his name, the way William shivered—that was all Jameson, and he would take that position as the nexus of William's desires with pride.

And then Jameson's fingers brushed against something smooth, earning a near shout that William slapped his hand to his mouth to stifle, and Jameson couldn't stop the flutter of panic from unfurling in this chest; if he was the one to hurt— "William—"

"A-again." To hear William stutter was such a marvel to witness that Jameson almost didn't process the meaning of the word he'd stumbled over in the first place. After a moment, William seemed to regain some composure, though it was still a shaky thing. "That spot is…sensitive, but it's not painful. In fact, it's quite pleasurable; it's just been so long that I wasn't expecting…" It must have been pleasurable to make the otherwise quiet William have such an explosive reaction. He licked his lips. "I-if you can, I'd like that again, Jameson. Please."

Now in what world would Jameson ever stand a chance against a request like that?

He started with a gentle push, finding the same smooth spot after a moment's searching. Since it wasn't too deep into William, it was easy enough for his fingers to reach, and the first press earned another pleased groan. After that, it was difficult to restrain himself, and William had yet to utter the word they agreed upon, so Jameson picked up the pace of his fingers, falling into a rhythm, one that William's voice matched with in perfect synchronization. It still wasn't on the level of racket Jameson knew himself to be capable of making, but it was addicting nonetheless, slipping into his veins with even more warmth than the sweetest wine, and the evidence of William's enjoyment increased as a bead of early release began to form at his tip.

Jameson leaned down, opening his mouth to take in the top of William's erection, swirling his tongue just right to clean up the bit of semen, and William's hips jerked up on instinct. Jameson let himself chuckle against the sensitive skin, feeling William squirm beneath him in an attempt to control himself. Feeling generous, Jameson took more of William's penis into his mouth, though he moved his free hand to wrap around William's base, the resulting position putting more of Jameson's weight upon William's hips, keeping him flush against the mattress. It took a bit to get it just right, but soon Jameson was able to move both hands in a somewhat slower but no less stimulating pace than before. When combined with the ministrations of his mouth, William was unable to stay silent for more than a moment, and to hear him plead, "Jameson, yes," was beyond euphoric.

When he had been younger, Jameson had once believed in Heaven, and part of him still did, but he was certain that such a place had nothing on this.

"Jameson," William called, the tone in his voice reaching a point of pleasure that Jameson recognised as a warning of his impending release, "Jameson, I—ah." To his credit, William did not complain as Jameson gripped his base tighter, preventing his release, nor did William gripe as Jameson ceased any movement of his other hand and mouth. Instead, William chuckled, though it sounded as if it took him great effort to do so. "I—I suppose this is what I proposed."

Keeping his hands in place but sitting up, Jameson swallowed the remaining saliva in his mouth before speaking. "You're welcome to change your mind, William," he said, keeping his tone light. Jameson had experienced more than enough for the night to consider it a success, and he would have no issues with finishing William off in whatever manner he requested, so long as Jameson got the same treatment in return. "I know if I were in your position, I wouldn't be able to hold out for much longer."

His will stronger than Jameson's, William shook his head. "I-I'll be fine, dear. I want you to enjoy yourself as long as possible. Besides, being pushed to the edge of pleasure and then pulled back, over and over until you cannot resist the urge to orgasm anymore… Well, the results are marvellous, so I don't mind waiting until then." At the rate they were going, Jameson wasn't certain he'd be able to wait that long, but so long as William was happy to continue, what would it matter. "I must say, though, dear, I didn't expect you to pull out all the stops from the start, though."

"Was I supposed to resist something so appealing right before me?" He accentuated the words with a finger tracing up the vein in William's erection, earning yet another delicious shiver. "I'm astounded, though, William. Whenever I think I've enjoyed every type of carnal pleasure there is, you give me something new to discover." It wasn't as if many of the targets Jameson had dealt with before had ever requested to be touched in such a manner.

"Trust me, my dear. There are plenty more lusts that I'm certain I could introduce you to." With one more push against William's prostate for good measure, Jameson pulled out his hand, wiping it off on the pile of discarded clothing that had yet to fall off the mattress. William let out a sigh at the loss of stimulation, but his gaze was still hot and appealing. "But until then, what is it that you might be thinking about doing to me now?"

Jameson chuckled. "While I'd like to indulge myself on you, I think if I'm to tease your orgasm out of you, then I should give you a break, yes?" He slid his hands over William's torso, tracing the familiar patterns with a sense of unbridled satisfaction. From there, he dipped his head, kissing wherever he saw fit. "Go ahead, William. Feel me." Jameson was more than capable of telling him to stop should things go past where he wanted them to, after all; he'd more than proven so already.

William's arms were quick to embrace Jameson again, pressing him close. As a natural result, William's erection was pressed between their bodies, but William didn't push the opportunity to earn himself any extra stimulus. Instead, his hands explored Jameson's shoulders, his waist, his backside, and his thighs, each touch pulling a gasp or a moan from Jameson's mouth. He returned the favour by kissing William's shoulders, then pushing his teeth against the skin.

"How much?" Jameson whispered, wanting to know how much pressure he could get away with.

"I shall tell you if there's any issues," William whispered back, and Jameson waited no longer than the time it took to ensure his marks wouldn't be visible to the public eye before biting down. William groaned at each increase of pressure, though Jameson couldn't bring himself to bite as hard as he could. Maybe, one day, with more practice, but he was satisfied enough with the results he'd earned. He repeated the process a few more places (right upon the collarbone; atop William's shoulder) before pulling back to admire the impressions of his teeth upon William's skin. When he glanced up, William was gazing upon his face, and Jameson took the kiss that was just waiting for him upon those lips. "Jameson, my dear."

"William." The thought crossed his mind that, with their recent understanding, Jameson might wish to choose a term of endearment for William as well. Considering the options, Jameson swallowed. "William, I— May I call you 'darling'?"

Despite the fact that they were already in a state of deep intimacy, embarrassment coursed through Jameson like a wagon barrelling downhill. The ensuing beat of silence made the matter worse, and Jameson could not help but fear he'd overstepped his boundaries; just who was he to think that he could use such a familiar term of endearment with someone like—

The brush of William's lips upon his silenced any thoughts Jameson had for the ensuing several moments that the kiss lasted.

"Of course you may," William said, nuzzling their noses together. "It would delight me to no end to have you refer to me in such a way." Relief crashed into Jameson, along with a million other feelings, but he did not have the wherewithal to sort through each and every one of them. No, instead he was pulling himself out of William's embrace so that he could sit upright again, his legs spreading as he lined himself up with William's waiting erection, Jameson's wetness more than enough to let him sink all the way down to the base with no issue.

"Darling." It felt like a dream to say such a thing, but that was true of the entirety of the past four months, was it not? And yet, despite the challenges involved and those that were to come, everything had not disappeared and slipped away through Jameson's fingers. For the first time in over a decade, Jameson felt stable, and—though he still feared it would disappear one day, knew William would vanish into the mist—he would still build himself up and take hold of what he had without hesitation.

And if such a thing just so happened to involve riding William until both of them were able to repeat nothing but each other's names? Well, Jameson would not complain about that, either.

At last adjusted to the pressure inside him, Jameson lifted his hips before sliding back down. The friction inside of him was almost rapturous, and a keening moan slipped out of his lip. William fit inside him even better than Jameson remembered, made him feel full in a way that went beyond just the sensations in his body and filled up every last crack of his battered heart. Jameson repeated the motion once more, twice—and by that point his patience cracked, even as William's was straining.

It was a breathed "You, too" that spurned William to motion, him at first matching Jameson's pace, then pushing it the slightest bit faster. Jameson had no issues with following along, it now much easier to move with both of them contributing, though it wasn't a frantic pace, either. It was instead the perfect speed for Jameson to feel every ounce of stimulation William gave him without feeling as if it were nothing but teasing. Not relenting in his movements, Jameson lowered himself down, sucking upon William's lower lip as their chests pressed together, one expanse of bare skin smooth against the other, and William pulled him even closer, as if he had no plans to let him go.

Jameson would have let him. He wanted much the same thing, after all. For several minutes, there was nothing but that pleasure, the only difference being the way that Jameson's own moans got louder, how William's breaths became much more ragged. Jameson would have needed to be a fool to not recognise what that sound meant whenever he'd heard it not that long ago at all, and he chuckled as he bit onto William's earlobe.

"Darling, stop."

William's groan of protest was much louder than the previous one, but he did obey. His gaze was a bit unfocused, though, in contrast to his otherwise sharp demeanour. Jameson's insides clenched tighter on pure instinct, making the both of them moan, and William's fingers gripped tighter onto Jameson's hips, as if that were the one thing keeping him together.

Jameson brushed those fine bangs out of William's eyes. "Can you hold out, darling?"

"F-for a bit longer, though it is difficult." William's soft laughter made Jameson's chest explode in a shower of butterflies. "You are quite the taskmaster, Jameson. Pushing me to such limits…" Talking seemed to be helping him regain his cool, or at least as much cool as a man could muster after being dragged to the edge of orgasm and denied it twice. William pressed a kiss to Jameson's cheek. "How do you plan to continue to do so?"

"I feel that to give you any more stimuli now would make you finish, yes?" William hummed his agreement. Jameson moved to sit up, William letting him go without more than a split second of hesitation—though it was much more difficult for him to allow Jameson to slide off his erection. Jameson, too, felt the resulting emptiness, but he was able to contain himself to instead crawling further up William so that he could straddle the man's waist. Seeing William looking up at him, waiting for any hint of what might be to come, made Jameson lick his lips. "I will confess to feeling needy myself, though. Would you care for a taste?"

It took William no time at all to interpret Jameson's meaning, though Jameson's movement must have provided more than enough context. William moved as well, sliding from his propped up position to lying down flat, a few pillows getting tossed aside in the process. Jameson pulled William's hands to his hips, allowing William to guide him down to that wonderful and waiting mouth.

"William." The warmth enveloping Jameson's clitoris was perfection, and he was rather impressed he didn't fall into an immediate orgasm after going so long without one. Resisting such a thing became even more difficult as William continued, his tongue flicking in a steady and through pattern that began at his vulva and made Jameson grip the headboard for support. All the heat that has pooled inside him was coiling tighter, and the way William hummed against him added further to his pleasure. "I missed this."

Jameson couldn't resist much longer, starting to move his hips in a subtle rhythm. William, as adaptive as ever, matched Jameson's pace, those long fingers perfect against his hips. In a pace that seemed far too fast and yet not fast enough for how much Jameson had already teased the both of them, the heat of an orgasm built up close to its climax, and Jameson debated for a moment upon denying himself the same pleasure until he decided he had no wish to restrain himself in such a way whatsoever and he threw his head back in pure satisfaction, William's name spilling from his lips like water overflowing from the edge of a chalice.

William didn't stop, pulling the climax out as long as he could, and Jameson didn't tell him to quit, either.

Not even as his pleasure petered out. Not even as he approached overstimulation. Not even as his thighs started to shake. It was perfect, all perfect, and if Jameson could've commanded time itself to cease, then he would have.

And then he breathed, lingering in the afterglow but still tasting the way the seconds ticked on, one after another. Jameson shuffled back, sitting more upon William's chest than his face. William had a way of looking upon him as if he were a piece of art, each and every piece of him crafted with a painter's intention, and, somehow, even the flawed brushstrokes were gorgeous. Jameson reached out his fingers, caressing William's cheeks, finding the subtle slick left upon his lips.

"You're beautiful," Jameson whispered, though William must've already known that.

"As are you." William took Jameson's hand, kissing the fingertips, the touch feather soft. "It brings me great joy to see you happy again, Jameson." Yes, he was happy, to an almost unbearable level, and the smile on William's face was proof that he shared the feeling. "Now what else did you have in mind for me, my dear?"

Jameson flushed; he'd been so caught up in his own pleasure that he'd almost forgotten the extensive teasing he had put William through. Perhaps later he could marvel at the fact that his orgasm had taken precedence over everything else, but it seemed cruel to not provide William the same sensation. And yet—

"I have in mind," Jameson said, feeling as if something inside of him was shaking but without having the faintest clue as to what, "enjoying watching you for a moment longer." William did have the loveliest face, after all, made all the more so by his desire. "You wouldn't deny me the pleasure of that, now would you?"

William shook his head, as patient and understanding as ever. "If you wish for me to wait, then I shall."

"And if I were to ask you not to orgasm at all?" Jameson's voice came out as a breath, feeling stunned at his audacity in requesting such a thing—for thinking of it at all. William had been nothing but patient with him, allowing Jameson to receive pleasure after pleasure, responding to his every whim, and there Jameson was, about to leave him without release once again. It seemed cruel and yet Jameson couldn't deny a simple thought—

If he would agree to such a thing, I know he would always be safe.

And then, the very next second: Selfish.

Jameson opened his mouth, ready to take it back, at the precise moment that William said, "I would do it."

I—

It did no good to snap his jaw back into place, as it went slack the next second. William adjusted, propping himself up on his elbow, his other hand reaching out, his fingers as gentle as ever as he made sure Jameson didn't look away. "It…it would not be without some disappointment," William continued with some strain in his voice, "but I would do anything to prove to you that I am a man of my word, Jameson. And that includes denying my own pleasure."

There was no denying it from looking at William: he meant it.

Jameson released a sob before he knew what hit him, tears cascading down his face. He hadn't cried, not even whenever he'd panicked upon speaking William's name in bed with Albert, but in that moment it felt as if everything inside him had crumbled apart, leaving him defenceless as he collapsed upon William's chest.

"You…mean it?"

"I mean it."

"I'm safe?"

"You're safe."

"I can stay here?"

"You can stay here."

"…As long as I want?"

"As long as you want." And then, while a soft hand ran through Jameson's hair, "I swear it."

And, for once, Jameson's mind allowed him to believe it.

---

"Harris has been arrested?" The news wasn't surprising to hear—after all, William had been involved in procuring the evidence for said arrest—but he hadn't quite expected for Jameson to react. The news hadn't even been a headliner in the newspaper, and yet Jameson had found it while perusing the pages. His brow had furrowed, though his expression became apologetic as he noticed William's eyes upon him. "Sorry for the outburst."

"It's not a bother," William said. "I just didn't expect you to know of Harris enough to react." He hadn't been one of Jameson's abusers, not unless Jameson had missed a name, which was unlikely.

Jameson had already proven he was unwilling to forgive such transgressions, after all.

"I wouldn't say I knew him well, but his name came up once or twice. My patron had some sort of dirt on him that he extorted him with, but it wasn't something I was involved in." He shook out the newspaper. "I assume it might have something to do with this labour scandal, though I suppose it doesn't matter much now." Not whenever Stratford was head and Harris had been punished for his unfair treatment of his workers. Jameson dropped the paper upon the side table, his gaze trailing over to William. "You speak as if you're familiar with Harris, though. I think you'd have even less reason to know him than I."

William sipped at his tea. "Your assumption is quite correct, yes. However, that presumes that I had nothing to do with this recent scandal." Jameson's eyes widened as he put the pieces together. "You haven't met yet, but we do have a contact within the police. He enlisted me to gather evidence where he could not under the constraint of the law." And in the process of that evidence gathering, William had come across a connection to Jameson's own past. Add on what Jameson had just mentioned, and a few more pieces had clicked into place. "Forgive me for prying, but I did find something while investigating that might answer the question you just posed." He set down his tea, not finding it appropriate to keep in hand when breaching such a serious topic. "I believe he has some involvement with Leinster."

Jameson flinched, his shoulders hunching in. And who could blame him? It wasn't as if he had any sort of reason to suspect her name would come up, not in such a conversation. A few steadying breaths later, Jameson hadn't stabled in full, but he had enough awareness in his eyes to indicate he wasn't lost in his own mind. "Why would he…?" Jameson swallowed, taking a further moment for the pieces to click together. "Photographs," he said.

"Yes." William did not need to elaborate, since he suspected that Jameson knew far better than he could about such affairs. Whenever Jameson reached for his hand, William offered it with no hesitation, hoping that stability would be enough. "I…wish to apologise for uncovering such a thing on my own. It wasn't my intention to do so whenever I took the job, but I would have preferred you had the choice to explain it to me on your own."

"No, no, that's not your fault." Jameson shook his head, but he was trembling in William's grasp. "This is… What Leinster does isn't just something that affects me. I don't know all the particulars, but I understand she has plenty of clients with their own tastes." Some, like the photos William had found in Harris's desk appeared to be nothing but sexual shots, none all too different than the erotic drawings found in a variety of cultures.

But for those that impacted Jameson, taken against his explicit consent, the matters were much worse.

Were there still negatives and copies of such photos out there? If Jameson had said he wished to destroy each and every one, William wouldn't have blamed him.

"There were…others like me, William." Jameson had shut his eyes, but he kept talking. "Other…children. She never touched us, but she didn't have to. We were a product to her, one that could make an incredible profit."

"Even so," William said, "to put you through such a thing… It's just as awful as what Stratford did to you."

"It is." Jameson squeezed William's hands tighter, and William ran his thumb in comforting circles. "I know…I wasn't the only one she took photos of. Unlike how I was to Stratford, she considered us all replaceable." Jameson spat out the words, the anger keeping himself tethered to the surface. "After a certain point, I got too old for what she wanted, so I wasn't made to go back. But I'm sure there are others that…"

William had no intention of making Jameson speak such things out loud. "And that's the precise thing that we plan to put a stop to." Jameson's eyes opened, looking at William, not with surprise, but with expectation and hope. "I believe the upcoming social season will be the best time for us to act, as the number of people in the city will make it easier to act without being noticed. You've already made your debut, dear, so we just need to move forward with our strategy." Then, thinking of Jameson's previous desperation, William leaned in to embrace the other man in full. "You're safe with us, Jameson. I promise."

He tensed at first, but a second later Jameson relaxed, his arms slipping around William's waist. "I'm…safe," he said, as if testing out the words on his tongue. "I'm safe. Yes." An exhale. "Thank you, William."

"Anytime, dear." Whenever he could provide such comfort, William would, without any hesitation. "With that in mind, though, I do have a few more questions, if you're up to answering them." After a moment of contemplation, Jameson nodded. "Since photographs were involved…was it something that Leinster handled on her own?" It wasn't a skill that was impossible to learn, but taking such photographs would have tied more direct evidence to her hands.

No, such things were better to pass onto others, so the blame could lie with them.

"No. I remember there being a photographer but…" Between his shrug and the semi-apologetic look on his face, it was clear Jameson had no clear recollection of the person.

"There's no reason to force yourself. We should be able to find out the information we need with a little investigation." There was, after all, a shell company in place under Leinster's name; William just had yet to access any of its records to pursue the case further. "Though if you do remember anything, I would not turn it down. Just know that it's not necessary for success."

Jameson frowned, but at least his countenance leaned more towards concentration than any sort of distress. William kept up his vigil, just in case said thoughts spiralled too far into an unwanted direction, regardless, but Jameson opened his eyes a few moments later. "I remember it being a man. Otherwise, there wasn't much opportunity to get a good look at him."

William had no doubt that was true—not that he'd had any intention whatsoever of questioning Jameson further on the matter. "That's more than enough. As it is, we'll doubtless find his identity without much trouble." He squeezed Jameson's shoulders once more. "My current strategy is to take things slow for a while longer to help keep you from falling under suspicion. Would you be alright with waiting a bit longer?"

"I can handle that, though I would like to know about how long we're thinking of waiting."

"For the current draft of the plan I have in mind, I would like to wait at least a month, if not two." Jameson's lips pursed, but he didn't outright protest. "If you like, I can move that timeline up, but it wouldn't be without risks. However, if that's what you wish for me to do…"

Jameson shook his head. "No. No, it's fine. I trust your judgement on that matter. You haven't failed me yet."

"Nor have you been failing yourself. Ever forget that your own efforts have brought the majority of results." William would not allow Jameson to forget such a thing, no matter what transpired. Putting aside the complex morality of the situation, Jameson had found his own courage and acted upon it, seeing through his resolve to break free of the chains that had held onto him for so long. Jameson nodded, though the motion was almost hesitant. "So long as you'll have my help, Jameson, we shall see this task through together."

Jameson squeezed William's hands, offering him a smile. "Then we shall be walking that path until the very end." Somehow, with the honesty about William's future before him, it was easier for him to accept such a thing. Jameson knew what he was getting into, and yet he still wanted to see the journey through. William couldn't help but wish he had a fraction of that bravery inside him.

What he had, however, was a sense of responsibility to help the world in a way no one but him, could, and that would need to be enough.

"With that in mind," William said, "I'll be happy to arrange things so we can have a long-term strategy meeting soon. It's just about time we begin to lay the groundwork for our next plans, after all."

---

Anticipation had turned Jameson's nerves into a prickling mess beneath his skin, but it was not enough to keep him from functioning the way that stress did. The biggest difference was that, while his imagination ran wild, it was not of himself coming to harm, but instead of him completing his vengeance. With both the memories of Charleville and Westmeath's murders at the forefront of his mind, it was seeming possible that it would not be difficult at all to overcome Leinster, and then Waterford and Beauclerk after her.

And so: all four residents of Moriarty Manor had gathered in the basement conference room to cover the next steps when it came to handling the remaining regulars.

"Alright, we've all gathered, so let us begin," William said, getting up from his seat to stand at the head of the room. That was more than enough for Jameson, Albert, and Louis to all give him their undivided attention, and so William continued, "I believe we should take a much more metered approach with our next plans, which Jameson already agreed to." Jameson nodded his approval; what would it be worth if they went ahead and got Jameson caught, leaving the other regulars to continue to harm others? "For the sake of safety, we should still take our time before you commit your next murder. However, that doesn't mean we cannot continue our preparations. As I'm sure you know, the social season has begun. I think it would be beneficial for you to make your social debut in the next few weeks."

Jameson had considered the concept before, whenever Albert had taken him to get extra outfits for the occasion, but it had been swept out of his mind by other issues. That said, being able to make such open social connections would be beneficial in many ways—both in general, and for Jameson's own vengeance. "I assume we'll be operating under the implication that I'm a member of your household, then?"

"Correct. You'd be able to use your chosen name, of course, but you are a ward of our family. That will help mitigate most awkward questions. You don't even have to act as your title, either, if you don't wish to." Jameson nodded. Though he'd been managing the Aldborough estate and resources, it still felt odd to think that he was, in fact, a Viscount, though no one but the Moriarty brothers and those under his immediate employ knew it. "Of course, this is just a tentative plan, but I believe the most effective strategy will be for you to slowly grow closer to Leinster over the course of the social season, lowering her guard until you are able to take your vengeance."

"I think it's a strong plan," Albert said, and Jameson didn't have any immediate quibbles with the option. "Thus far, we've been relying upon single encounters to complete our plans. Of course, when it came to Westmeath, there was no immediate connection to you, Jameson, but a bit of caution will do us well."

"Not to mention that you won't be alone in trying to enter her social circle during the season," Louis said. "No one will think anything odd of it. I believe if you must be involved with her in some way, this is the best way. Though I must say, Brother, it's unusual for you to propose a plan that requires such public interaction where it wasn't present already." Such things wouldn't be without risk, and Jameson's—relative—anonymity could've been a blessing, as it had been with Westmeath.

"That's because there's more to this case than just Leinster," Jameson said. William had offered to keep the full scope of the situation under wraps if it would help him feel comfortable, but Jameson found that it made him much better to at least make some of what he'd endured known. Not to the world, no, but the Moriarty Brothers, who were working so hard to help him, seemed worthy of such trust. "She…didn't work alone, but I know nothing about her accomplice other than the fact that he existed. If I draw closer to her, I'll have a better shot of finding the answers."

The photographer had been a man willing to enable such things. Even without Leinster as a patron, there were plenty of others willing to fund such services.

Jameson had no intention of forgiving such atrocities. All the Moriarty brothers understood that, and so no one attempted to stop him—after all, if Jameson were to decide not to pursue the matter, he understood that they would not let it go.

"If this is how we are to approach matters, Will, what's the plan for best supporting Jameson?" Albert asked. "I can't help but feel as if it would be suspicious for all of us to attempt to enter her social circle, but acting without any backup seems risky." Not to mention there was every risk that Jameson wouldn't be able to handle himself in her vicinity alone, though at least Albert was kind enough not to say so outright.

Just another plan of feeling like a liability…but there's still plenty of time to prepare. Since they were taking their time, Jameson would be able to continue to improve his skills. William must've noticed something was on his mind, because he gave Jameson's thigh a reassuring pat under the table before he answered, "I would like at least one of us to be available, yes. I believe this part is going to be flexible, depending on who is by Jameson's side whenever he happens to cross paths with her. In an ideal situation, it would be I or Louis who does so, as our schedules are the most flexible these next few months, but it is not as if we could not make it work with you, Albert."

"No, no, I'm in agreement." Just to make sure, Jameson glanced at Albert, but his expression was as genuine as ever, though perhaps it had been rude to try and see if he were lying to his own family? "I am busy as of late, and there will also be other social functions I need to attend as the Earl Moriarty as well. That said, whatever shared social functions we do attend, I'll provide my help. On that note, though, Louis, are you certain you'll be able to pull yourself away from the house much? Even if we don't plan to host, there's still a lot of prep work you handle for us when it comes to this time of year…"

"Don't be silly," Jameson said, "I'll continue to help with the housework, Louis, so don't feel as if you can't count on me." Yes, the mission would take priority, he couldn't deny that, but that didn't mean he wouldn't be able to contribute around the house.

He looked to Louis, hoping to impress the issue upon him, but was instead met with a shake of the head. "I don't mind if you need to pull back from your duties around the house. I'm rather used to handling most things on my own, after all," Louis said, and Jameson couldn't help but feel like he was getting a free pass to something he didn't quite deserve. "I won't turn down your help, but do know this is expected to be a mutual agreement. I'm certain whenever other cases come up, I'll need to step away to take care of preparations, so I'll be relying on you then, alright?"

"Yes, of course!"

"Then it seems we understand the positions we'll all be in for the next month or two," William said, looking pleased at the two's cooperation. "Now, the trick is that we don't know how long it will take for us to infiltrate Leinster's social circle. I have every confidence with a bit of digging, we'll be able to identify her photographer, as well. The precise details of the plan will be ironed out, but I do have a number of possibilities in mind, depending how things go.

"So in other words," Albert said, "the best thing we can do is focus on getting Jameson in the public eye and in a position where he'll be able to enter her social circle in the first place. Lucky for us, we do have until August to make such a thing happen, though I'm certain none of us want to wait that long." Just the thought of holding out for that much time was enough to make Jameson clench his fists hard enough for his nails to sting against his palms. Taking notice, Albert reached out and patted Jameson's shoulder. "No need to worry. We'll be acting in the interest of caution, but we don't drag out anything further than necessary. None of us have interest in allowing someone who brings such harm to others to go unpunished in this world."

Jameson nodded. After enduring everything for so long, it was still tricky to remember that he was now among like-minded people who were willing to take such radical steps to create necessary change in the world.

"And with that in mind," William said, shuffling a different page of his notes to the front, "I wanted to also discuss the long-term plan for the remainder of Jameson's crime consultancy." Everyone refocused upon the front of the room. "In addition to Leinster, there are two other remaining regulars that were involved with Stratford. Among them, we have Waterford, as well as Beauclerk."

Louis frowned, and Albert's eyebrow rose. "The Duke of St Albans?"

"…Yes," Jameson said, though his voice didn't come out anywhere near as bitter as he had hoped it would. Instead, he just sounded as defeated as he once was. "He was…the one that suggested to Stratford in the first place…"

Listen to me, Verity. We cannot pass this up. It will be easier if I first—

Jameson bit his tongue as his stomach turned. He refused to vomit, no matter how much he wanted to.

"Such an abuse of power is something unacceptable," William said, his voice pulling Jameson back to the present. "It is not a situation I like to imagine, but I have no doubt that you are not the sole person harmed by him, Jameson." Jameson knew that himself to be true, but speaking of it felt like too much on top of everything else. It was just another reminder of how lucky he was to have been found and taken in by the Moriarty family. "That said, going after someone in such a high profile station will take even more time than our current plans, so that may be the case we handle last. We'll sort out the particulars of our next steps after we've taken care of Leinster."

"We shouldn't have much trouble when it comes to Waterford, I imagine," Louis said, scanning over the short informative document William had prepared for his brothers. "We won't just be sitting around while waiting for our target to come wandering into our grasp."

Jameson appreciated the reassurance, even if it wasn't so obvious from the outset. "Just knowing that there's an end to all of this in sight helps a lot," he said. For so many years, he'd convinced himself that there was no way to escape, let alone fight back. "I know with all of you helping, I'll be able to make it through this."

And, maybe, just maybe, then Jameson would have a much better idea of who he was and what he wanted to do whenever pursuing revenge wasn't his main purpose in life.

"That is the plan, yes," Albert said. "Now, Will, you mentioned we'll be using the social season to our advantage for this first case, yes? I can help us determine which events we'll be going to, so what sort of outline did you have in mind…?"

---

"Will, we have an emergency," Albert said with the utmost seriousness as he swung open the door to William's study. Behind him was Jameson, looking awkward but with a half-apologetic smile on his face. "Something has come to light that could jeopardise the upcoming operation."

Given that they were but a week away from the social gathering they needed to attend, there was very little room for error—and yet William wasn't all that concerned. Yes, he trusted Albert's assessment of the situation, but he also knew his elder brother well, and sometimes the definition of emergency varied with reckless abandon. "Well, if that's the case, we should fix whatever we can, or at least plan an alternative," he said, playing along. "What might be the issue?"

"I've just discovered that Jameson hasn't had much opportunity to learn to dance the lead." From the way Albert said it, one might think that he'd learned their target was onto them, but such a proclamation had been within William's expectations. "Since this will be his social debut as a member of our household, we can't allow for such a thing. Under normal circumstances, I would volunteer myself, but I am much busier during the day than you are at the moment, Will, and you know I can't ask Louis to take over whenever he's already doing so much. Since you have some more free time on your hands, can I trust you with this duty?"

It was nothing more than a not-even-veiled attempt to have William and Jameson spend more time together, and there was no doubt that Albert wouldn't even attempt to deny such an accusation were it pointed in his direction. "Is that so?" William asked, seeing no downsides in going along with Albert's schemes. "I do believe you're much more suited for such instruction than I am, Albert, but if you're busy, it can't be helped. Any objections to my serving as your tutor, Jameson?"

"There you go, saying such things as if you're mediocre again," Jameson said, speaking with much more fondness than exasperation. Now that Jameson was mentioning it, William did deflect in such a way quite a lot, didn't he? Something to reflect on whenever there weren't such pressing matters before him. "I'd be honoured to have your instruction, William, so long as you're patient with me. With our heights, it'll be a bit difficult for me to practice the lead with any of you."

"True as that may be, you can still make some progress with the footwork. We shall make it work. Thank you, Brother, for bringing the matter to my attention."

"I'm glad to assist," Albert said, meaning every word. Doubtless, his satisfied smile seemed to be saying, he would be asking at least one of them for details later, if not just outright the both. "Anything to make the upcoming mission a success, after all."

All three of them in the room knew very well that such a motivation was not the sole reason William agreed, nor was it even the reason such a thing had been brought up, but to argue over it would be a waste of time. "I'll leave you to it," Albert said, waving as he stepped out of the room, but not without giving Jameson a clap on his shoulder in passing. "Will is an excellent teacher. I'm sure you'll grasp the subject in no time, but I'm wishing you luck, regardless."

"Thank you, Albert." There was a comfortable ease between the two of them that hadn't been present a month ago—and yet William didn't feel anywhere near as bothered as he thought he would. It was hard to feel threatened whenever it was obvious Jameson had been looking forward to the prospect of practicing with William. "Do you have time to practice now?"

"I do." Even if he hadn't, William would have had the same answer—Albert had even given him the perfect excuse, claiming it was for the success of the mission. "I don't quite have the space in my office, so we'll need to relocate, though. Apologies for any inconvenience."

Jameson just shook his head. "I believe I'm the one that's imposing on you." That didn't stop him from matching William's pace, settling in to walking at his side as if he belonged there. It felt to William as if he did, at any rate. "I believe Louis said the unoccupied hall on the ground floor was for hosting social events, yes? It has more than enough space."

"Right you are, though it's not as if we use it for such a thing often." Inviting a large amount of guests into their home was just asking for trouble, and the hall was as such left unused for much more than taking up space. "In fact, I believe it's been over a year since any of us set foot inside it for anything other than cleaning. It will be good to give it some use, barring that it's not filled to the brim with dust."

"Louis and I did go in there and wipe it down a few weeks ago. Of course, I'm sure it'll be a bit dusty from disuse, but an open window should make it manageable." William couldn't help but chuckle at his younger brother's preparedness, always ensuring that their manor was in the utmost shape as possible.

And, sure enough, the room was as predicted, just the slightest note of dust tickling his nose. Starting on opposite ends, Jameson and William went about opening the windows, the sweetness of late spring air helping ease it. It was an easy task, what with any of the relevant furniture for such parties stored stacked and covered to one side of the room, which also meant that there wouldn't be anything in the way as they practiced.

"We might've done well to bring in a gramophone, though," Jameson said, looking thoughtful. "Then again, I don't know what sort of collection you have and if any of it is conductive to practice…"

Though it had been some time since he'd browsed it, William was able to flip through the Moriartys small music collection with ease. "I say we have one or two that might be helpful, though it's not as if we built our choices with this use in mind." After all, by the time they had their own home, they'd long since already mastered the skill of dancing. "Whenever we were learning, we would all practice together, and one of us would be in charge of playing at the piano."

Jameson's gentle smile came easier now. "It sounds lovely."

"Yes, it was." Those moments they'd shared in their youth were some of Williams' favourites. He'd already known long before then about the sort of future he would be aiming for, so any such moments of peace were ones that he treasured, the ones of a sort he would've been able to enjoy forever were it not for the state of the world. "I think making such a memory with you would be just as lovely, though. Will you settle for my renditions of some music instead?" He had a number of pieces memorised, and humming them would do well enough for keeping the pace in a practice setting.

"I don't believe that could be considered any sort of compromise." Jameson stepped forward, holding out his hand like a perfect gentleman. "Will you do me the honour of sharing this dance, William?"

"It would be my pleasure."

---

Given Albert's own popularity—as well as the additional popularity of William—there was no shortage of invitations to the Moriarty household for social affairs. Jameson often caught sight of Louis sorting through the various invitations as they came in, and it seemed impossible that they would attend each and every one. In fact, they would not do such a thing; at the level of an Earldom, their rank afforded them some leeway in which parties they could choose not to attend, though there were a few that would be inappropriate to ignore.

Such as that of the Duke of Pénières. Short of a direct invitation from the Queen, there would be no greater disrespect.

There was, however, the issue of Jameson then attending the party, which was just a nerve-racking prospect for his first true foray into high society as himself, rather than the mask of a beautiful woman he'd been forced to wear before.

"Are you certain I shouldn't attend a more moderate gathering first?" he asked, already prepared and in formal dress as Albert checked him over. He'd coordinated the whole thing, from his rsvp to the invitation to the selection of Jameson's wardrobe from the collection they'd already ordered from Mr Eden's. "What if I make some sort of error and disgrace the Moriarty name?"

"Don't be ridiculous," Albert said, his voice more reassuring than scolding. His own enthusiasm for the night's event had started the week prior and had done nothing but grow in the time since. "Your manners are beyond impeccable, so you won't have any such issues. Besides, you deserve to have the biggest debut possible. Short of us hosting our own party for such a purpose—" which the Moriartys wouldn't do as it involved inviting more people into their home than Louis alone could handle "—this is the best way to ensure everything is perfect." Deliberating between a few boxes upon Jameson's vanity, he at last picked one, and Jameson held back a sigh as he worked the jade cufflinks into the ends of his sleeves. "I couldn't ask for a better stage than at Duke Pénières."

"You're just saying that because you weren't well established whenever William and Louis made their social debuts, aren't you?" Jameson had meant it in jest, but Albert's resulting sheepish smile meant that he'd hit the nail upon the head without even trying. "I shouldn't be surprised, I suppose."

Albert chuckled. "We were all so young back then. I had very little idea of what I was doing as an Earl, but we made do." When given a nod of approval for his appearance, Jameson checked himself in the mirror; his formal hairstyle showed off much more of his forehead than he was used to seeing, but it wasn't as if he looked bad. No, no, Albert would never allow such a thing to take place under his watch. "Excellent. I believe you're in a perfect position to knock Will off his feet."

Oh, Albert was never going to let that go was he? Even worse, he had a fair point; Jameson found his appearance to be rather impressive. No one would have guessed he came from the streets, and the fit of the suit was just right so that no one would ever guess he had once been toted about in silk and frills, either.

Come to think of it, William must have dressed up as well. Yes, Jameson had met him in formal dress, but it had not been the time nor place to appreciate it. Present circumstances were much different, though, in particular due to the fact that the two of them had an understanding between them. For certain, William would allow Jameson some indulgence, should he ask for it…?

Albert's eyes were alight with a clear understanding of where Jameson's mind had wandered. "Quiet," Jameson said.

"I haven't said anything, you know."

"You were thinking it." Albert had the decency not to deny it, but the broadness of his smile suggested he wasn't apologetic in the slightest. "Let's go, then. We don't want to run late for such an important event." Were he alone, Jameson would have rushed down to the foyer, but he kept his pace much more metred with Albert at his side, not wishing to give him further opportunity to tease.

And then they made it downstairs, wherein Jameson saw William, and the prospect of trying to not become the target of further teasing seemed pointless—and if he were, what should he care?

William's current tuxedo had been styled in such a manner to make the longness of his legs and arms even more apparent, which made his overall frame even more slender than he already seemed. As was standard for such formal gatherings, the material was deep black, but the waistcoat was a brilliant white, accentuated with shimmering pearl buttons and with a faint pattern stitched into the material that was visible just under the light. He'd styled his bangs out of his face as well, creating more of a side part, which was nothing new as far as Jameson was concerned, but somehow the combination of it all was enough to catch him off guard.

Beautiful. That was just about the one word Jameson could muster to describe William, and yet it didn't seem like anywhere near enough. There was also captivating, handsome, and worthy of devotion, he supposed, but again, it was all but mere drops in the bucket of being able to convey the depths of Jameson's emotions.

"You look wonderful," he breathed instead, figuring that was a safe middle ground to prevent himself from saying anything foolish.

William received the compliment with grace, though he wasted no time upon capturing Jameson's hand in his, laying a kiss upon the gloved knuckles. "As do you. I almost don't wish to let anyone else see you like this." With Albert's presence behind them, Jameson flushed darker than he expected he would have otherwise, though he didn't pull away. "However, it's expected to arrive to a high class party in such dress, so I suppose I'll have to allow it. I have no doubt that you'll outshine everyone else around you."

"Given the company I'll be having, I don't believe such a thing would be possible." It wasn't to say Jameson wasn't feeling confident in his appearance—having William compliment him without the slightest pause had contributed much to that feeling—but all three of the Moriarty brothers were incomparable when it came to their handsomeness, each one of them supplemented by their own unique charms. "I believe this is the first time I've seen you in such formal dress, Louis. You look just as dashing as your brothers."

"You flatter me," Louis said. His more serious expression didn't change, though Jameson was certain there was a faint blush dusting the other man's cheeks. It was all the easier to notice because he was not wearing his spectacles for once, making his eyes appear a bit brighter than usual, though they remained closer to garnet than William's shocking scarlet. Still, the difference from his typical garb—which was more akin to that of a distinguished butler than the second adopted son he was—to the formal dress of a member of a high-ranking noble household was striking.

"Louis, you are far too modest," Albert said. "You look more than incredible, I assure you."

"Brother and Jameson are right," William added. "You're quite handsome tonight, Louis, no need to be shy."

The faint blush that had come from Jameson's comments intensified as Albert and William piled on their own compliments, leaving Louis with no room to argue. As someone who also had a similar weakness for praise, Jameson could relate—though he had noticed something unusual. "Come to think of it," he said, tilting his head, "this is the first time I've seen you in formal dress, isn't it, Louis?"

"It should be, yes." Having composed himself for the most part, Louis explained, "I tend to take on the role of a servant in most cases, so there's not much opportunity for me to attend such events, and all the more so whenever I need to take on a supporting role in a case. However, this party is being hosted by the Duchess Pénières, so it would be best for me to pay my respects to her."

Jameson blinked, reminded at just how much he was unaware of when it came to the Moriarty household's affairs. On his outings with Albert, the Earl had chatted with plenty of others, showing that their family wasn't in isolation, and even Stratford had maintained a number of relationships with other houses that Jameson was expected to keep track of so as not to make a fool of himself at social gatherings. However, the concept that the Moriartys were in any way close to a Dukedom—which wasn't unthinkable, given their status—was still a bit more than Jameson had expected to learn at the last minute.

His confusion was no doubt noticeable as all three of the Moriarty brothers shared a knowing look. "Goodness," Albert said, looking the faintest bit apologetic, "I suppose we did fail to mention that, now didn't we?"

"Are you planning on elaborating or being mysterious for a bit longer?"

William chuckled. "Apologies. The short version is that it was due to the encouragement of the Duchess Pénières that the previous Earl Moriarty even decided to adopt into the family in the first place. And thanks to that, here Louis and I are." It was a simple enough narrative to follow, and Jameson nodded. Taking it further, it was because of the Duchess that William had even been in a position to come into Jameson's life in the first place, then, so he'd have to pay his respects as well. William checked his pocket watch before tucking it away. "On that note, though, it would not be very respectful to show up late. The lot of us are ready, yes? We can discuss further details in the carriage if you like, but it would be best to be on our way."

And with no objections to be had, the four of them put on their outer layers and piled into their waiting carriage as the sun started to stain the sky in shades of orange and red.

---

The ride to the Pénières Duchy's estate was pleasant with all four of them packed into the carriage together. It was such a rare treat for all the Moriarty Brothers to be able to go out together, and that lightened the atmosphere despite the fact that half the point of the night was to begin their plans to eliminate Leinster. Albert was in his element, more than ready to enjoy the luxuries of the evening, and that enthusiasm was somewhat contagious.

Even Jameson's earlier nerves seemed to have reduced in intensity, which William was glad to see. Though they were there both to fulfil social obligation and to begin to move their plans forward, Jameson deserved to enjoy his proper debut as Jameson Liam Moriarty.

He held onto William's hand atop the carriage cushion a good chunk of the ride there, which William hoped was as helpful to Jameson as William himself found pleasant.

And then they arrived at the estate itself, and things became a relative flurry of activity. The estate was massive for one, and it was capable of accommodating a large number of people. The staff managing the check-in process was efficient, but even then, the sheer amount of attendees meant that the opulent entryway was just as crowded. As was usual, the Moriarty brothers all together managed to attract a fair amount of attention for their looks alone, and it was no shock whatsoever that Jameson did as well.

So was it any surprise at all that within five minutes of entering the ballroom proper that he was surrounded by a swarm of curious onlookers? No, not in the slightest. The crowd was, for the most part, young ladies, all of them with a sharp eye for any potential eligible bachelor, though a few fellow gentlemen came over to introduce themselves as well. As had been the plan, William stayed by Jameson's side, whilst Albert and Louis went about to maintain the handful of relationships the Moriarty household did have, such as the Lord Rockwell.

It wasn't as if Jameson was inexperienced in such social matters, so he handled himself well, the time slipping away, and soon the ensemble was preparing themselves to play music, which then invited the partygoers to dance. Jameson was soon caught up in playing dance partner to several interested parties, and William allowed himself to do the same so he could keep a better eye on Jameson on the dancefloor. William wasn't worried, per se, but he figured that Jameson would appreciate the open support.

Several songs later, there was a lull in the music, and William was quick to pull Jameson aside. Jameson had handled himself well, but the poor man looked exhausted from all the attention. Lucky for them both, the pause in the ensemble continued, preventing anyone from swiping them up as immediate dance partners, and so the two were able to mingle in with the conversing crowds.

"Oh, thank God," Jameson said once they were out of the immediate range of any of the admirers that had monopolised so much of their time. "I thought if I didn't stop soon, my head would be spinning all night."

"Would you like to take a breather?" William asked, earning an immediate nod. "The weather is lovely tonight, so we should be able to find a nice spot on a balcony." He flagged down a waiter, collecting champagne flutes for them both, chuckling as Jameson eyed the dessert table as they passed it. "Which one were you thinking of trying next?"

Jameson flushed a little—William had not missed that he'd already managed to pass by the dessert table twice—but he admitted, "…The lemon tart."

"I'll get it, then. You go ahead and get some fresh air." William nodded towards the closest balcony entrance, and Jameson offered a quick thanks before slipping off. Intending to join him soon, William first procured Jameson's requested treat, though not without thinking about how most of the decadent spread would go untouched by the end of the night. Such luxury wasted on people who would ignore it while the lower classes starved on the streets…

Well, Jameson would not be wasting some, at any rate. The thought of that pleased smile emerging upon the first bite of the dessert helped keep William's spirits from plummeting into the ground, and he picked up the requested plate before joining the other man upon the balcony. The weather had been pleasant during the day, and the cooler note during the evening wasn't enough to make a chill; it must have been the draw of the early social season that kept most partygoers indoors, rather than retreating for any sort of break. They would hear no complaints from William, though, the solitude almost creating a separate realm altogether from the ballroom inside. It was that sort of environment that William preferred, rather than the bustle of crowded parties.

"You know, I have plenty of experience socialising like this, but I don't think I'm cut out for it," William said. At once, Jameson raised a sceptical eyebrow, and William chuckled. "I do mean it. High society follows plenty of rules, as complex as they are needless, yes, but they are still rules. If you follow the correct steps, it's not difficult to impress people. Despite all my hopes to blend in, though, I always happen to find myself the centre of attention…"

"There's no helping that," Jameson said, looking as fond as William had ever seen him. "You are wonderful in every possible way, William, from both your looks to your wit. Of course people would wish to engage in conversation with you and bask in your presence."

"Goodness. You seem to have been practicing your flirtations whenever I wasn't paying attention."

"Of course. I need to be able to keep up with you, after all." Jameson grinned, washing away William's fears that he was not enjoying himself in the slightest. It would be nice to give Jameson something else he could enjoy doing, and all the better if attending social functions wasn't a chore for him. "That being said, I do feel like I need more practice if I'm walking away from the dance floor feeling so exhausted."

"You seemed to do more than well enough whenever you were dancing with those ladies earlier." Jameson had been elegant, the perfect escort, his steps sure and his smile inviting. There were very few high society women who wouldn't wish to have him as a dance partner.

"Be that as it may, I much preferred dancing with you." After a quick glance to ensure that no one was about to step out onto the balcony with them, Jameson squeezed William's hand. "Awkward as it was with our heights, guiding you across the dance floor brought me nothing but joy. In fact, were it with you…I wouldn't mind following your lead, William."

It was not, by any means, a surprising statement. After all, Jameson had always been more than receptive to William's lead—both when it came to murder and lust. But when it came to dancing, something he'd often dreaded, the prospect of doing so under William's careful guidance felt much more freeing than anything else.

After all, it felt as if Jameson's world was nothing but the two of them.

"Perhaps we could both take the lead for a song, then," William said, and Jameson mulled over the idea. "It's a bit disappointing that we cannot do so in the public eye, but I confess to wanting to enjoy the night much more with you than anyone else.

"Well, in that case," Jameson said, stepping closer, "I would not refuse if extended such an invitation."

With one hand to his chest, the other reached out to Jameson. "Would you do me the honour of sharing this dance?"

"Always."

The two of them closed the space between them with ease, hands falling into place. Even with the door to the balcony closed, the music of the pianist and string ensemble was loud enough to be heard, and, with William making the first step, they set into the rhythm of the waltz. There was a faint moment of hesitation from Jameson as he adjusted away from the lead he'd been performing for the past several weeks, but then he caught up, and the two of them looked upon each other as they moved through the dance with the same ease it took for them to breathe.

William had thought so upon first seeing him in the foyer earlier that evening, but Jameson was almost devastating to look at. The softness of his face was still present, yes, but with his hair tucked behind his ears, it made it even easier to see the way his freckles stretched across his cheeks, and the darker colours of his more formal wear added a different tone to his skin. But above and beyond all that, it was the way that Jameson smiled that contributed the most to his beauty, simple joy that blossomed upon his face whenever he saw William more than capable of lighting up the room through its power alone.

So who could blame William for taking a kiss in such a moment?

Due to the circumstances, it could not be a long one, as doing so would invite unwanted scrutiny upon them. But a short peck was more than justifiable, though Jameson almost lost his footing due to it.

"Easy, dear," William said, helping Jameson regain his balance.

Within a few steps, Jameson had fallen back into the rhythm of the waltz. "That was unfair, darling. Do give me a warning if you're going to do such a thing." The blush upon his cheeks was pleased, though, and William restrained himself from taking yet another kiss for himself. "I hope you're prepared for me to catch you off guard next time."

"I'd be delighted, though I will say you've caught me plenty off guard already."

"Hm. So I shouldn't continue to do so?"

"I said no such thing. I will welcome any surprise that you bring my way." The music started to crescendo, the waltz reaching its climax, and William focused upon the moment as he spun Jameson about. With the final notes, they came to a stop in perfect form, and, with the glow of the inside lights cast upon him through the window, Jameson was far more striking than William had ever seen him. "Ja—"

A figure, crossing the windows in the balcony doors.

"Jameson." The shift in William's tone was immediate, and Jameson tucked away the feeling of elation that had enveloped him in its comfort. As much fun as they were having, they were, in fact, at the party to complete a job, and his vengeance held a much higher priority over the fleeting moments of indulgence. Jameson finished out the measure, leading them to a stop, and he followed William's gaze back inside the ballroom.

For all that could be said about her, there was no denying that Leinster was a beautiful woman, and not even the slightest signs of wrinkles forming in the corners of her eyes could change that impression. She carried herself with an elegant sort of grace, not a single ounce of hesitation in her step nor a single flaw in her posture. Her copper-coloured hair had been twisted up into a complicated style, the whole affair tied together by matching twin combs, each decorated with a multitude of pearls. The accessory matched well with the cream-like yellow of her dress, the embroidery done in just the right shade of gold to look luxurious without being too gaudy.

Perhaps William should have, but he didn't even think let to go of Jameson. If Jameson needed him, William would be right there, he wouldn't dare let anything happen. They'd crafted their plans, and Jameson had agreed to them, but there was no guarantee he'd be alright when seeing the woman face to face. But William's protective nature forgot to account for the one thing he should have never allowed to slip from his mind:

Jameson's anger was a raging inferno, one that wouldn't be put out by such simple means. Even his rage was a thing of beauty, one that refined him into a blade so sharp that William was impressed his fingers upon Jameson's hand and back were not split apart just by the mere act of touching him. He'd stiffened at first, but Jameson was now watching Leinster through the window, jade green eyes narrowed in a fierce glare that offered no mercy.

William allowed himself a moment to soak it in, to preserve such an enthralling sight into his very being.

And then he returned to being William James Moriarty, Crime Consultant. "Are you ready to go, then?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.

"Yes." Jameson took a long breath—and then the anger was gone, replaced with a pleasant smile and bright eyes. "Would you be so kind as to accompany me, my lord?"

"I'll be with you every step of the way."

And with that, they re-entered the ballroom, almost in perfect step. Leinster had a few people around her, already engaged in conversation, but Jameson was alluring enough that a couple of the ladies lost track of their words upon seeing him, and William was certain his own presence contributed just as much.

"Apologies for interrupting, Countess Leinster," Jameson said, holding a hand to his chest while Leinster's eyes fell upon him without the faintest trace of recognition, "but I've been hoping to speak to you for some time. My name is Jameson Liam Verity.

"It's a pleasure to meet you."

And so the countdown until Jameson's third bout of vengeance came to fruition began.

---

[Author's Notes]

Guys, I just survived a chaotic time of work and I'm so tired I don't have anything clever to say. This chapter is also long af; please enjoy all my indulgent food.

We have one more chapter left in the third arc! And I finished drafting all the pre-canon so we'll continue to have regular updates to this fic throughout the rest of the year. I'm excited, and I'll be even more excited when I get some extensive sleep, so I'm calling this a wrap!

Title of the chapter is from Halsey's "You Should Be Sad."

Next time: His Third Bow, Act Two. Please look forward to it!

-Avi

[9 March 2024]