Disappear with Me

Chapter 6-3

After dinner, Raphael’s parents turned in early, tired from entertaining them. Neither of the young men minded; it meant more time alone with each other.

Leander returned to his room to prepare for bed. When he was finished dressing, he sat on the edge of the bed, hoping Raphael was serious about spending the whole night together. After a few minutes passed, Leander’s hands grew clammy. Then Raphael appeared in the doorway and motioned him to follow. His body warmed suddenly, as if a star had been born inside him. He was unsure how to describe the feeling until he realized it was joy.

Prior to the holiday, they had only kissed and explored each other’s bodies. For the first time, that night they consummated their relationship. Their lovemaking was beautiful, if not a little awkward, each of them equally as inexperienced as the other. It worked for them, however. Neither would ever forget this night at Whisperbrook.

They slept well. As the morning sun edged into the room, they woke. The birds chirped while Leander and Raphael talked quietly. Although cool outside, the room was warm with the joy of unbridled love.

“You don’t think I should get up and get into the other bed?” Leander asked.

“We’ll be fine. Neither Papa nor Mama will bother us, and no one else should be in this part of the house yet. The servants have two extra mouths to feed.”

“I love you, Ray.”

Raphael kissed him. “And I love you, Lee.”

“This all seems like a dream. Here I am, treated like a guest at your estate, and soon we’ll be going away to Cambridge.”

“And?”

“I don’t want you to forget about me.”

“Lee, we’re connected in a way that no other lovers have ever been connected.”

“Even more than Anthony and Cleopatra?” Leander asked, teasingly.

“Even more than Romeo and Juliet!”

“Are you sure your parents or the servants aren’t going to catch us?” Leander started to get out of bed, but Raphael pulled him into an embrace.

“Stop. Everything is going to be fine. Besides, it would serve them right to find their youngest son in bed with the ward of a parish priest.”

“Ray, are you all right?”

“Oh, I’ll be fine. A bit of a chip on my shoulder, but I’ll get over it, right? You certainly did.”

“Are you upset at them?”

“I can’t be bothered with them any longer. It is what it is. I am the youngest son of a cash-poor gentleman. Something had to give, right?”

“I guess that’s what makes us such obvious companions?”

“Fine pair we are, the ward of priest and the youngest son of a broke peer.”

“The ward of a brilliant parish priest who can’t communicate with the ones closest to him,” Leander said. They began to wrestle each other lightly, grunting, then groaning as their teasing turned into something more serious.

Without knocking, Mrs. West, the senior servant, opened the door to Raphael’s room and entered. Her mouth dropped open and her eyes grew wide at the sight of them wrestling naked on the bed. Her cheeks turned bright red, and she covered her eyes, turning her face in the opposite direction as they scrambled to cover themselves.

“Master—Mister Melvin—I am so sorry. I didn’t expect the young gentlemen to be up so early. I was coming in to open the windows.”

Raphael said in a calm voice, “Thank you, Mrs. West, but that won’t be necessary this morning.”

“Yes, sir,” she turned a bit toward Raphael to curtsy, then turned in the opposite direction to leave the room.

As soon as the door shut, they burst out laughing. After they had their laugh, Raphael ambled through the sitting room to the other bed and messed up the bedclothes.