When they arrived at Easterwel, Oliver paused, watching the country side house, as Callum referred to it.
It was anything but a country house.
The building was a bit smaller than The Fernsbury Manor, but at the same time there was something that made the place different.
Magical.
Oliver almost slapped himself for gaping like a complete idiot at it, and since when did those associations came to his mind.
Nevertheless, he continued admiring the piece of art. Because that was what he was looking at.
That was the place the household maids talked about occasionally.
It very much resembled an actual castle, it was as if taken out of the stories Emma used to read as a little girl and dreamed of living in.
Seeing one of those in front of him made Oliver feel out of place.
The other time he'd felt that way and so strongly about it had been during the ball.
It was dark, but he could still see that the beautiful garden was bright green, the bushes in the form of different- sized, intricately shaped figures.
Marble statues decorated the wide staircase, leading up to the entrance.
The Easterwel was like a small version of the Grand Palace.
He heard Callum thank the coachman, then his light steps, catching up with him. Oliver resumed walking towards the grand House. He glanced back and saw Callum had wrapped his coat tight around him.
He didn't miss the shiver, that ran through the lord's body, so Oliver took his own coat off and wrapped it around Callum.
The Lord stood obedient, he reminded Oliver a schoolboy, who felt guilty about doing something and now was waiting to be reprimanded for his actions.
Oliver avoided meeting the Lord's eyes and pulled away once he'd buttoned him up.
"You hate it.You hate being here too. " Callum said.
"I don't . Shall we go in?"
"What is it, Oliver?"
Callum stayed where he was and didn't follow, hands clutching at the fabric of Oliver's much bigger coat.
"Nothing, I just..I just sometimes forget who you are and where you come from."
Oliver resumed walking and Callum caught Oliver's hand in his. There wasn't anyone around and the place was dark, so Oliver didn't pull back right away.
"Is that it? Is this why you can't meet my eyes since a while ago?"
"It's not that."
"Then tell me what is it? “
Nothing. He didn’t wan’t to talk about this.
“You're getting back to me for avoiding you the past days.” Callum guessed when Oliver still didn’t say anything, “ You’re mad at me, for everything I did. "
Oliver could’ve stopped himself and just kept his mouth shut. He should’ve just said he was fine, that everything was fine. He was supposed to just go inside and be done with this.
But he had to be irrational, just like everything going on had been, so he turned deliberately to face the Lord and said.
"Callum, whatever it is you ask of me I will try to give it to you. And I'm not pushing you to name it. But it's me- it's been really difficult for me to catch up with the constant shaky feeling of uncertainty. It’s not because of you, as I said. It’s me. I don't know how to deal with this, with ny of this."
He admitted, his words filled with more strain.
“That, and I have no idea what’s going on. With you or in your head. And it pains me because I can’t do anything about it.“
He removed himself from Callum and said.
"And you drink too much, that's why people doubt your judgement or are hesitant to trust you. It doesn't even matter if you're right or not ." He grit his teeth "No one stops to think about it. Yet, again- that's not for me to say, you know your real self best."
Calum had a mixture of surprise and bewilderment painted all over his face. It was as if he was hearing those words spoken to him for the first time ever.
Oliver looked up the stairs leading to the main gate.
"Let's go, it's getting cold."
Calum followed, still silent.
The main servant of the house was expecting them, despite the late hour. Oliver had long ago noticed servants never complained about having to wait and stay up late.
Not even Thomas, but he was way too stuck up, anyway. They were all constantly gossiping, that was true, but they never did it with ill intentions.
It was likely rather the opposite- the staff were honestly concerned and upset when something was troubling their masters.
Thomas included. Although Oliver was sure given the opportunity, the butler wouldn't even greet Calum.
Yet again, he was just someone else's loyal dog and that was all.
One of the maids showed Oliver to his room. They didn't meet anyone on their way up, the way they would've encountered at least five people were they at the Fernsbury's.
Oliver quickly discovered Easterwel was as enticing on the inside as it was on the outside.
The mansion in London was mostly lit by gas, however, even the lighting here was different.
In order for the castle to perfectly complete the medieval atmosphere it created, numerous wax pieces in intricate, tall candlestands were lined along the hallways.
Oliver felt like he was entering a different world with every step he made further.
He got accommodated and the servant informed him they were the only members here besides the household the family normally kept.
What rang louder than that was the information theservant provided him with- the lord had insisted Oliver was given a room of a guest and not one of a servant.
After he wished goodnight to the maid, Oliver unpacked the luggage which had already been sent here before their arrival.
He changed, then took his surroundings in. The room was huge.
Oliver felt very alienated in it.
And guilty.
Whatever he might have aimed for, he was the one at fault and above all- he had no right to speak to Callum like that.
He went out in the corridor and hoped he wouldn't get lost before finding the Lord's rooms.
Then he saw Callum walking quickly towards him.
He lord began speaking in a hurried voice as soon as he saw him
"Oliver, you're right. Maybe I do avoid you, and that's only... I can't do anything properly when you are around, and I know I drink too much, it's all because..."
He couldn't finish because whatever Oliver had been planning on telling him, or apologizing for completely evaporated from his mid the moment he saw Callum.
He grabbed him and kissed him.
"Oliver, I really want to say I'm..."
"We'll talk tomorrow."
Oliver pushed the Lord towards one of the tapestry covered walls and kissed him deeply. He felt the raspy stubble on Callum's face and that excited him even more. His thougts were all over the place, just like they’d been last time, but at least now Oliver thought he could be more successful at managing thim.
He broke the kiss and his eyes searched Callum’s face.
The many candles in the hallway hadn't been put out yet and they were still emitting warmth.
Cal was panting, his face flushed with the heat. Oliver noticed the few freckles scattered over the Lord's cheeks, the light making them more visible now.
He wondered how many they were during the summer and where else they showed up, spilled over the Lord’s skin like tiny fallen stars.
Oliver pressed hard to him and put his hand on Callum’s throat, urging him to look up.
"You think I avoid looking at you?"
He squeezed lightly and a low sound escaped Callum's lips. Good, he hadn’t miscalculated, then.
Oliver felt the pulse under his palm drumming like crazy and he leaned closer, his eyes never leaving the Lord's blue ones.
"When I’m inside you, Lord Callum, and when you're panting under me, breathless and undone, I'll be watching you the way I am now."
He tightened his hold and Callum moaned "So you'll never assume I don't look at you. I always do. I follow every single move you make. Do you understand?"
Callum nodded.
"Now get in my room." Callum headed, and Oliver took a final look around, the entire time hoping no one would jump out of thin air and ruin everything.
Once they were in the room, Oliver locked the door behind him.
He glanced at the bed, then back to Callum who was standing still, waiting for instructions. He remembered last time and what instructions did to Callum, so he said.
"Take your clothes off."
He ordered and Callum began untying his cravat.
Oliver sat in the chair by the fireplace, the burning fire was washing everything in warm light, its shadows playing over Callum's delicate features.
The Lord took his shirt off and tried for his pants.
He looked up.
Oliver took a cigarette out from his pocket and lit it, leaning back in the chair, giving himslef something to do with his hands and not use them to trace them gently all over Callum‘s body.
"Everything, My Lord."
Callum took his trousers off and began unlacing his briefs, a wet spot marring the fabric.
"You seem to be quite eager about all of this, don’t you?"
Oliver took a drag and exhaled through his nose. His eyes traveled the Lord's body intentionally slowly and Callum looked away.
"No, look at me. Show me how you touch yourself."
Callum's hand moved and grabbed for his cock.
"Slower, not like last time."
Oliver’s eyes travelled across Callum’s chest and he saw the wound was soon going to be a scar.
He wanted to run his hands over it, follow its outlines, but he reminded himself he had to stay where he was and took another drag from his cigar.
Callum traced his finger over the tip of his cock, smudging the precum.
He began moving his hand slowly up and down and Oliver felt the buttons of his pants digging painfully in his own hard cock.
Their eyes never left each other's and when Callum's hand established a slow rhythm Oliver said.
"Get on the bed."
The lord's hand stilled and he glanced back.
"On.The.Bed."
The commanding voice did something to his Lord and Callum did as told.
Oliver stubbed his cigarette out and got up. He saw the silky tie Callum had just taken off lying on the floor.
It was the one he'd wrapped Callum's hand with when the lord had cut himself. He felt absurdly lightheaded because of this, although he didn’t want to put any foolishly hopeful meaning behind it.
Oliver picked it up and moved to Callum, who was kneeling quietly on the bed, his cock hard and glistening. Expecting.
He was so beautiful and Oliver wanted to remember every single moment of what was happening now.
It was then that he realized - this would be the night he’d probably go back to in his mind years from now.
That gave him a strange feeling of confidence. He looked at the cloth in his hand.
Oliver did the first thing that came to his mind. That was becoming a habit whenever he was with the Lord.
He moved behind the man and Callum flinched.
"Cal?"
"Yes?"
"Do you trust me?"
Callum nodded instantly and said " I... I do, yes."
Oliver wrapped the scarf around Callum's eyes and pushed him slightly forward.
"Stand on your fours and don't move."
Callum obeyed and Oliver marveled at the sight of him- naked and blindfolded.
Hard.
"Do you imagine yourself being fucked like that?"
Oliver bent over him and began trailing ghostly kisses down Callum's spine, his lips moving lower.
Callum shuddered and made another of his low sounds. Oliver took it as a sign he could continue and he moved his lips further down.
He squeezed the lord's buttocks lightly and spread them carefully.
A small gasp escaped Callum, but he didn't try to pull back, and Oliver's mouth moved over Callum's cheek and bit at it.
“Yes, “ Callum said quietly and Oliver sucked at the spot. He kissed the skin around it, moving his tongue towards Callum's opening.
Oliver had never in his entire life done this or thought he ever would.
But that had changed recently.
He'd imagined doing it to Callum so many times he felt like he'd already done it.
He licked Callum's entrance and the man shivered.
Oliver looked up and saw the lord's hands were clutching the white sheet underneath, so he began drawing slow circles with his tongue. Callum pushed back against him and Oliver patted him lightly.
"Don't be too eager."
The Lord stopped moving and Oliver pulled his tongue away to lick his fingers. He traced one over Callum's hole and the Call moaned louder.
"This is... Oh god."
Oliver began massaging the spot and heard the ragged intake of breath coming from Cal when he pushed his finger in, very, very slowly.
"Oliver...please..."
"Please what?"
"Move your finger."
Oliver thrust his finger deeper and curled it, finding the spot he'd been looking for. He brushed it lightly, then pushed a little.
"Oh, fuck ..."
Callum groaned and dropped his head as if entirely surrendering to the touch and the feeling Oliver was giving him.
"Yes, that's it. Relax, Cal."
Oliver twisted his finders again, brushing the spot and Callum's legs trembled.
He guessed the fact the Lord couldn't see probably made the whole sensation much stronger, and all his senses had singled out to the places Oliver was touching him.
The Lord said something incoherent and Oliver pushed another finger in.
He wrapped his other hand around Callum's cock and tugged at it.
The Lord pushed back against him and Oliver began moving his hand along Callum's shaft and squeezed, while still massaging Callum's hole.
Callum began breathing faster and Oliver knew he was close.
"Come for me, Cal. Come on."
Oliver whispered and Callum bit the bed covers.
He felt the Lord tighten around his fingers and only a second later Oliver felt the hot liquid trickle down his hand, the lord's whimpers muffled by the bedcovers.