"Go on, have another!" Cleveland chuckled, pushing the fourth tankard of what Horatio presumed to be one quarter rum and three quarters water towards the young midshipman.

Horatio shook his head. "Thank you, but no," he said politely. He ignored the laughter at his expense, knowing that if he had any more to drink, he would not be able to make it back to the midshipmen's berth unaided. Odd... all added up, he had only had one full tankard of rum. Yet as soon as he stood, he was immediately reminded that he was neither used to any real amount of alcohol, nor that he had ever managed to get over his seasickness.

"Are you well, Horatio?" Archie asked, a little concerned. He had his suspicions about the rum/water ratio his friend had been consuming, but did not want to spoil the fun. And Horatio seemed to be quite "happy" himself.

"Oh yes," Horatio declared. He picked up his coat off the back of his chair and made his way to the stairs shakily.

"Are you certain you don't need any help?" Archie tried once more.

"Just... getting some air, Archie..." Horatio told him, swallowing down the feeling of nausea. "Then I will go to sleep."

Cleveland and Heather chuckled, wondering how long it would take Horatio to make it up on deck. Archie frowned but went back to playing cards with the other midshipmen while Horatio swayed towards the stairs.

He counted them, "One... two... seven... four..." as he ascended, finally making it all the way up onto the main deck where he inhaled deeply. Too deeply, because all that fresh air at once was too much of a contrast to the smoky, rum-filled atmosphere below. He grew even dizzier, so he decided that he needed more air.

Horatio looked heavenwards. The main rigging... perfect! He nodded, having made his decision. Dizzy or not, he felt that now was as good a time as any to combat his fear of heights. Perhaps that small amount of rum would keep his hands steady?

He gripped the ropes and began to climb. Slowly. Somehow, it seemed easier the higher he went. Feeling almost euphoric, he began to giggle. This was not as bad as he had always thought.

He began to sing - loudly and not very well - a tune he had heard his division sing below a few days earlier. It was a rather questionable tale of rum, chickens and debauchery onboard ship - composed, apparently, by Styles.

"Good god, Hornblower! What are you doing?"

Ah, the Captain... Horatio thought, and looked down to wave to Pellew. Unfortunately, looking down turned out to be a very bad idea. "Oooh!" he gasped, his grip tightening until he was certain the ropes would leave a permanent pattern in his palms.

Pellew stood below, peering up at him in concern. He had gone for a late night walk on deck and had been about to go below when he had seen Hornblower walk out onto the main deck. No, not walk - stagger. The man was clearly drunk. No harm in that, he had thought. He would simply wait to make certain he went back below and did not fall overboard. But then the young fool had gotten it into his head to climb into the rigging!

Quite aware of Hornblower's dislike of heights, that could only mean trouble, even while he was sober. In this condition... Pellew began talking to him now, imploring him to climb back down. Slowly.

But Hornblower merely stared down at him, growing exceedingly more unhealthy in colour. "Cap'n Pellew, Sir," he called out weakly. "Don't think I can..."

"Hold on tight then!" Pellew instructed, breathing hard. "I'll get you down." He decided to make his way up into the ropes himself to disentangle Hornblower before he would fall.

But right then, Horatio's pride got the better of him, and he began his descent - sliding more than climbing.

The closer he got to the deck, the more relieved the Captain grew. "Almost there, man. Almost there." Pellew paced back and forth at the foot of the rigging, not taking his eyes off Horatio for an instant.

"Oh dear!" Horatio exclaimed. Suddenly, the quick slide downwards became too much for his equilibrium, and he grew too disoriented to hold on. He barely managed to swing around to the underside of the ropes before he let go. Thankfully, he only had a few feet left.

Moments later, he was on the deck. Or more precisely, he was on the Captain, who - on realizing what had been about to happen - had moved below him and caught him in his arms.

Horatio found that he rather liked to be there and with a bright, adoring smile at his Captain, he wrapped his arms around Pellew's neck and let his head lull against the broad shoulder with a sigh. Then he closed his eyes, quite happy to go to sleep right there and then.

Pellew gasped, for a moment unable to move. This was much too close for propriety to some of his less than honourable fantasies about the young midshipman!

Bracegirdle had watched the entire scene from the poop deck and now came hurriedly down the stairs to the main deck. "Captain? What is wrong with him?" He had his suspicions, of course, but his concern for Hornblower far outweighed his outrage at his apparent drunkenness.

"I do believe we can make a guess at that, Mister Bracegirdle," the Captain said cynically, before clearing his throat and quickly lowering Hornblower to stand on his own two feet. More or less. He held the young man up, for otherwise he would most certainly collapse in a heap.

"Sir, that is quite unlike him!" Bracegirdle declared, certain the Captain would be outraged at Hornblower's display.

But to his surprise, Pellew answered calmly, "I know that, Sir." He cleared his throat. "Well, return to your watch, if you please, Mister Bracegirdle. I will... I will take care of Hornblower."

"Would you like me to...?" Bracey began, but the Captain would have none of it.

"I was about to go below anyway. I shall attempt to get him sobered up so we can get an explanation of this... this..." He paused, unsure what to call the young man's display. Ever since Horatio had landed in his arms, he had found his anger subside quite miraculously. "I shall get to the bottom of this, and then I will deposit him in the midshipmen's berth."

"Aye, Sir." Bracegirdle saluted, making his way back upstairs with a frown on his face which soon turned into an enlightened grin.

Getting Hornblower below had sounded by far easier than it turned out to be. Pellew found that in his state of advanced inebriation, Hornblower was a dead weight which he had to basically carry down the stairs. This would not have been so bad, only the young man - barely awake - had no qualms about leaning on him entirely for support. So far worse than the physical effort to walk along with the tall, lanky and utterly lovely young man leaning on him was the physical effort of not enjoying it too much.

Pellew was grinding his teeth. Each soft breath from the sleepy youth felt so warm against his skin. He had to sternly remind himself of the state Horatio was in, everytime the sweet face came to rest snugly against the side of his neck and a tiny sigh of contentment escaped the parted lips. It was not as if Hornblower was doing it on purpose, nor was he likely to even be aware he was doing it at all. That thought made Pellew feel a little better. Or did it?

"Come now, Hornblower, let's get you inside." It wouldn't do to dwell on this, he told himself, as he propped Horatio up against the wall next to his cabin door while he opened it. But he soon found the young man back in his arms when he caught his steady slide down towards the floor.

"Pull yourself together, man!" Pellew chided to no avail.

Horatio, by then a little more cognizant it seemed, looked at him, his eyes widening and a warm smile spreading across his face. "Cap'n..." he slurred.

"Yes, Hornblower, yes it's me." Pellew saw the officer's renewed awareness as a good sign and returned the smile.

"Oh..." Hornblower sighed, his eyes lowering and fixing on the Captain's full lips. He raised one shaky hand and - oblivious to the shocked gasp his action was causing - touched his index finger to that tempting mouth.

Pellew's heart was racing. The tender caress - which it was not, of course, since Hornblower must have been quite unaware of his conduct - shook him to the core. He gently removed the finger from his lips and held the officer's hand in his grasp.

"Horatio!" he said, softly chiding. Then he finally remembered that he ought to get him inside, and opened the door, moving the drunken boy into his cabin where he once again propped him up against the wall.

On realizing nothing about his position had changed significantly, Horatio giggled. But he grew serious when he realized... he was inside the Captain's quarters!

As soon as the door had closed, Horatio said, "Sir?" He waited for the nod allowing him to continue. "I am going to kiss you, Sir."

Pellew's eyes widened. No, this really had gone far enough!

"You will *not*, Sir!" he exclaimed, only to find his outrage entirely ignored and Hornblower's face moving closer to his. So close in fact that he could gather neither the strength nor the willpower to remove himself from the situation or - incidentally - from his young officer.

Horatio pursed his lips, closed his eyes and with a little sigh, made his dream come true.

Of course, his Captain's dream came true much at the same point in time when the moist, rosy lips closed on his and two long arms wound around his neck.

Pellew felt quite drunk himself then, having to support himself with the palms of his hands against the wall on either side of Horatio. Hornblower seemed to think he was about to be embraced, so he moved forward against Pellew who reacted with a tortured groan.

Intoxicated entirely with Horatio, Pellew returned the kiss, his arms finally drawing the yielding body tightly against himself while his mouth parted the soft lips to taste the honey sweet mix of Horatio and rum. Rum!!

He withdrew with a shocked gasp, nearly wavering in his decision when he saw the deep disappointment on Hornblower's face. "We cannot do this, Mister Hornblower! You are drunk!"

Horatio sniffled, grasping for words. "Please..." he finally managed, feeling like crying. Oh, and he had felt so very happy only a moment ago!

"Mister Hornblower... Horatio..." Pellew decided that in this situation and in Hornblower's condition, he would have to take control not only of his own conscience, but of the boy's as well. "What you want or do not want, Sir, is right now influenced entirely by your state of drunkenness. And even while I am unsure as to why you are in this state..."

"Thought it was... mostly water... made me..." Horatio volunteered just enough information for Pellew to deduce what had happened.

"I see." Pellew cleared his throat, realizing his hands were still on Horatio's hips. He quickly withdrew them and clasped them behind his back before straightening himself up. "Well, either way, Sir, you are in no condition to judge your... uh... your needs right now. I suggest you allow me to prepare some coffee for you before settling you into the midshipmen's berth."

Horatio sighed deeply, his lips forming into a pout and his eyes looking at his Captain pleadingly. It had been so nice in his arms. He wanted nothing more than to be back there...

But the Captain stayed firm, directing Horatio to a chair while he went to brew him some of the Javanese coffee he had stowed away for special occasions. It was a rather potent brew, and he was certain it would do the trick.

A few minutes later, Edward Pellew passed the cup into his young officer's hand, waiting patiently until the long fingers had clumsily curled around the handle. Then he sat down opposite Horatio, watching to make sure he would finish it all.

Horatio drank as if he was quite unaware of how hot the mix was. This was nothing like that dreadful Scotch coffee the midshipmen mixed at times - a burnt piece of biscuit crumbled into water and stirred until it made a thick syrup. He shuddered slightly at the thought.

Pellew looked at the pale face and cursed whoever had made Hornblower drunk. He knew his young officer would never give their names - he was far too loyal for that, but if he should ever find out...

After a few minutes had passed - Pellew had been listening to Horatio slurping the coffee without any regard to proper manners - he smiled at him, placing a steadying hand on Horatio's.

"Are you feeling any better, Mister Hornblower?"

Horatio did not look at his face but at the hand clasping his own on the table top, a smile forming around his lips.

Quickly, Pellew withdrew the treacherous hand and cleared his throat.

With some disappointment, Horatio looked up at him before asking hesitantly, "Will I be punished, Sir?"

Pellew raised his eyebrows. "Punished?"

Horatio broke into a wide grin, proving beyond doubt he had not yet sobered up to any significant extent. "I thought you might wish to... spank me, Sir?"

Pellew's jaw dropped. Seeing the eagerness which came with Hornblower's suggestion, he couldn't help but smile. Good Lord! "No, Mister Hornblower," he said reluctantly. "I do not intend to... spank you."

Horatio showed an inkling of a pout, but he went back to slurping the coffee, his eyes continuing to connect with his Captain's over the rim of the mug.

Pellew bit his lips. ‘Don't tempt me, boy!' he thought.

"Mister Hornblower, you must be more careful in future. Keep away from any spirits that have not been poured either by yourself, the cook or one of the senior officers, you hear?"

"Aye, Captain." Horatio saluted, grinning.

With a sigh, Pellew rose and pulled his drunken officer to his feet. "If I return you to the midshipmen's berth now, will you go to sleep?"

Horatio squinted, apparently thinking hard. "No," he declared, giggling.

‘Patience, Edward, patience.' The Captain sighed. "Why not?"

"Want to stay here... with you, Sir." And Horatio wrapped his arms around the Captain's neck again and let himself slouch, entirely certain he would be caught.

Pellew mumbled something, but on realizing there was no chance of settling Hornblower down for the night without keeping a careful eye on him, he walked him to his own berth where he stood him against the wall and began to remove his coat and vest.

Horatio watched curiously, a smile around his lips and his head lolling to the side every so often. Once the Captain had progressed to his shirt, he raised his arms so the shirt could be pulled off more easily.

Pellew began, but halfway there, Horatio lowered his arms again and wound up with the shirt tangled around his head. He was laughing like a child, flailing his arms about and making matters worse all the while.

The Captain's composure was lost entirely and he giggled helplessly as he attempted to divest Hornblower of his shirt.

"Hold still, boy!" he berated, but the effect was lost in his laughter.

"Yes, Sir. Aye aye, Sir!" Hornblower - still stuck within his voluminous garment - now got it into his head to salute, which resulted in the nasty sound of fabric being torn apart.

"Now see what you have done!" Pellew smiled, patiently taking Horatio's arms and stilling them in midair. He managed to remove the shirt now without further ado, and soon, Horatio stood before him, naked down to his waist and grinning at him.

The Captain scrunched the shirt he held within his fists to keep from touching the bare, smooth chest. He stood for a moment, gazing longingly, until he realized his self-restraint did have its limits and he was dangerously close to them.

"Lie down!" he demanded, and Horatio obliged immediately, half falling, half climbing up on top of Pellew's bedding.

Once Hornblower lay with his long legs dangling over the side, Pellew began to pull off his shoes and stockings, before starting on the closure of his breeches. When he looked up at Horatio's face, he saw him watching, a smile lighting up his face and his eyes glistening. By god, in his drunkenness, the boy was actually attempting to seduce him!

"You had better sleep with your... um... your breeches on, Mister Hornblower."

"As you wish, Sir." Horatio sighed blissfully and closed his eyes, trying to please the Captain by going straight to sleep.

Pellew quickly straightened the discarded garments out and hung them over the back of his writing chair. Then he retrieved another chair from the main cabin and settled in next to his bunk currently occupied by Hornblower. He could not help but appreciate the irony; this was exactly where he had wanted the young man to be for some time, only now that he was there, he could not so much as touch him.

"Cap'n..." the gentle voice came from the tangle of limbs and sheets.

"Yes, Mister Hornblower, what is it?"

"May I ask something, Sir?"

Captain Pellew rose again and came to stand beside Horatio, suppressing a whimper when he was faced with a pair of huge, trusting brown eyes gazing up at him adoringly.

"Yes?" he asked, his voice quivering.

"May I... come to you... tomorrow?"

His heart beating frantically at the realization of what Horatio was asking, Pellew took a deep breath.

"Let me make a suggestion, Mister Hornblower."

Horatio nodded. "Yes, Sir, of course!"

Pellew hid a smile at the young man's eagerness. "If you should still remember your request tomorrow, and if..." He stilled Horatio's frantic nodding with a gentle stroke of his forehead. "No, let me finish! *If* you should still... desire to come to me, then all you need to do is give me a sign."

Horatio beamed. "I understand, Sir."

"Good. Very good." Pellew cleared his throat, the entire idea suddenly more than he could bear to think about. "But now you must sleep, Sir."

"Aye, Captain." Horatio blinked a few times and - still smiling - let his eyes drift shut, entering the world of dreams.

Pellew however was in for a sleepless night of contemplation - would Hornblower indeed come to him the following day? Would he even remember his request once sober? He settled back into his armchair and resigned himself to listening to the sound of Horatio's breathing. It was something at least, in case there was to be no more.

Pellew started his morning watch early. Amazingly enough, he had eventually gone to sleep, but he had also woken again a few hours later, deciding that he would rather not be in his cabin when Hornblower woke, unable and unwilling to face the confused boy who was bound to be either oblivious to or ashamed of last night's conversation.

So he stood on deck, gazing out to Sea and trying to clear his thoughts by inhaling deeply of the salty air. Of course, it would take infinitely more than a cool morning breeze to banish Hornblower from his mind.

Horatio woke with a smile, knowing at once where he was. Then he realized his head was throbbing unpleasantly. With a groan, he sat up, noticing that he was alone, but that some fresh water had been left for him so he could wash. He did so and dressed quickly to exit the Captain's quarters before he would be found by the steward.

Before he left the room, Horatio spotted a note in the Captain's handwriting, perched on the writing desk. It read, ‘Mister Hornblower, I have sent word to the master that you may be late in starting your watch today. I hope you have recovered sufficiently to attend to your duties. Captain Pellew.'

Horatio sighed - the note was so... impersonal. He picked up his vest and coat and went to retrieve a fresh shirt from his sea chest in the midshipmen's berth. Then he went upstairs to join the Captain on watch.

"Ah, good morning, Mister Hornblower," Pellew greeted him, his heart pounding so loudly that he was certain it could be heard on the nearly empty deck.

"Captain, I must apologize..." Horatio felt most embarrassed, the memory of last night - while a little blurred - vivid enough to shame him to the bone. Had he truly asked to be spanked?

Pellew smiled ruefully. Of course, he had anticipated this. If Hornblower remembered at all, it would be with embarrassment. How foolish of him to have hoped for anything more.

"Let us forget about the whole... affair, Sir. It is past and it won't do to dwell on it."

Horatio understood that was all he was to say of it and with a nod, he took up his familiar stance on the Captain's right.

Close to the end of their watch, Mister Bowles appeared on deck. He was to take over and was in the process of exchanging a few polite words with the Captain when Pellew suddenly yelped.

He was being pinched. In the a... Pellew gasped, his eyes nearly popping out when Hornblower brushed past him and with a tip to his hat and a polite greeting to both of them left the deck.

"Captain, is something amiss?" Bowles required, frowning.

But Pellew was stunned into silence as his eyes followed Horatio down the steps to the main deck until he reached the stairs, where he turned and gave the Captain a wink and a smile to very nearly make him lose his composure entirely. Oh, heavens!

"Captain?" Bowles grew concerned.

"Yes, yes, Mister Bowles." Pellew raised his chin and gave Bowles a determined look which made it clear that he was not about to give explanations. "Well, start your watch, Sir. I will be... in my quarters. I have urgent business to attend to. Please ensure that I won't be disturbed."

"Aye, Captain." Bowles looked most concerned, but knew better than to question Pellew. Besides, the Captain already was no longer by his side.

Edward Pellew's heart was racing. He had no idea how he even made it to his quarters. It all felt like a dream. Well, he had his sign, that much was certain. How to proceed now? Not truly having expected this to happen, he had made no plans, no preparations... nothing.

When he entered his cabin, he immediately noticed the coat - not his own - hanging over the back of one of the dining chairs. He inspected it closely to be sure. Then he saw a discarded vest on the floor, between the dining table and the entrance to his sleeping quarters. He went to pick it up and realized a pair of buckled shoes were lying only a foot or so further on. He looked up and found a cravat crumpled up carelessly in the doorway.

Standing with his eyes closed for a moment, Edward tried to still his breathing, but it was no use. He knew what awaited him through the next door - each one of his feverish dreams, his fantasies, his longings come true.

He stepped over the stockings right into his sleeping quarters and at virtually the same instant, the door closed behind him and a most beloved voice said, "I came to you, Captain."

"Horatio!"

He smiled when his Captain slowly turned to face him. Leaning back against the door, Horatio stood with his eyes lowered coyly even while from underneath his lashes, he peered up expectantly, lust positively streaming from his hopeful gaze. He knew that soon, he would be in his beloved Captain's arms. And it would not be like last night when he had known he was about to be pushed away to face a guilty look of regret, but to be loved.

Pellew's first instinct had been to tear off the rest of Horatio's clothes, to ravish him right there against the cabin door, but the trust and... love perhaps even if he would allow himself to hope, in those deep, beautiful eyes brought his feelings of tenderness to the surface. All he could do was step forward and embrace Horatio, hold him close to his heart. He stroked his hair and whispered endearments into the mass of curls.

"Kiss me, Captain," Horatio pleaded. He looked up into Pellew's loving eyes. "Please."

Pellew's heart was so light, so happy... infinitely warmed by the request. "I remember you rather like to take the initiative in these matters, my dear."

Horatio blushed most becomingly. "I apologize."

"You must not!" Pellew held Horatio's chin in his hand and immersed himself in those wonderful eyes. "You must never apologize to me for anything, Horatio. And certainly not for kissing me."

Encouraged by this, Horatio's shy smile changed to one more closely resembling the leer of a tiger.

"Good god!" Pellew returned the smile, suddenly realizing the degree of passion he was unleashing.

Horatio moved against Pellew then, his fingers sliding into his Captain's hair and his lips pressing on the partly open mouth. Fully conscious of each and every sensation, this was even better than it had been last night. He felt the Captain respond to the kiss, the protective arms pulling him closer and those strong hands kneading his back soothingly through his unbuttoned shirt.

When their lips parted, both of them were breathing heavily. Pellew searched Horatio's face for a moment, seeing all his love and desire reflected right back at him in those wonderful eyes. It was a sight to behold!

"You do not intend to simply continue looking at me, do you, Sir?" Horatio asked, a tiny smile lighting up his face.

"I would like to, my love..."

Horatio gave a happy little sigh. "Could you perhaps..." He suddenly grew all shy.

Pellew smiled encouragingly, letting his thumb trace the outline of his beloved's beautiful broad mouth. "Anything you wish of me."

This gave Horatio all the reassurance he needed. "Could you perhaps make love to me while looking at me... Edward?" The name came to him naturally now, just like the rest of his 'invitation'. And he felt his heart beat more quickly when he saw the reaction to both in the glint in his Captain's eyes.

"My precious, precious angel..." Edward swallowed down the lump in his throat and began to stroke gently down the sides of Horatio's graceful neck, his fingertips moving warmly beneath the shirt and over his collarbone. His hands cupped the broad, now partially bared shoulders as he drew his darling closer.

Whispering into Horatio's ear, Edward told him, "I would never wish to do without either the sight or the feel of you in my arms, Horatio. Never again."

Horatio felt unbelievably happy, realizing he would have a permanent place in his Captain's life. "Truly?" he whispered softly.

"I do not jest about love, my sweet." And Edward enfolded him warmly and kissed Horatio's mouth until they had to separate for lack of breath.

Finding himself released, Horatio impatiently shrugged out of his shirt and began to unbutton his breeches, but found his hand stilled almost instantly.

"Should I not be the one to unwrap this most precious gift?" Edward asked hoarsely, and Horatio relinquished command over the situation only too willingly.

Each accidental touch of fingertips on his bare skin sent a pleasant warmth through Horatio's body, and once his remaining clothing had been removed, he sighed, his momentary chill immediately replaced by the heat in Edward's dark eyes and the fire in his touch as he lead him to his bunk and gently lay him down.

Edward's eyes roamed over him for a moment. "By god, you are the most beautiful creature I have ever laid eyes on..."

Smiling coyly, Horatio reached up to his soon-to-be lover, waiting impatiently for Edward to undress. When he finally had his Captain standing naked before him, his eyes were so full of adoration that it quite stunned Edward. "And you, my dear Captain, are perfection itself!" he gasped, his eyes roaming over the broad shoulders, the smooth chest, the narrow hips and strong thighs, lingering especially on the sculpted manhood weeping for his touch.

Edward smiled, moving to lie beside Horatio and finding himself drawn tightly into the waiting arms. He could not contain a deep groan when his arousal was crushed against Horatio's, the firm silkiness almost more than he could bear.

Horatio offered his mouth for a kiss, and once Edward obliged, his hands began to roam over the strong body in his arms, coaxing soft moans from his Captain.

With his lips against Horatio's sleek neck, Edward murmured softly while his hands roamed all over that warm, sensuous body he had dreamt of since that first day he had caught sight of it. He kissed the full lips which had been a constant offer he'd found torturous to resist. And he kept willing himself to just stop and look at Horatio - into those lovely eyes holding so much tender affection, so much more than he'd ever dared to hope. He voiced the sum of his feelings then.

"I love you so very dearly, Horatio."

Too overwhelmed to speak, Horatio simply smiled. His hand trembled slightly when he laid it against Edward's cheek, and more so when his beloved leant into the caress, his soft eyes closing in bliss. That was when Horatio found his voice again.

"I've loved you so much for such a long time!" he said passionately, finding a twinkle of pure joy appearing in his Captain's eyes.

"A long time, darling?" Edward teased sweetly. "You have been on my ship for scarcely a month."

Without hesitation, Horatio answered, "And I have loved you for each and every day of that month, more than most people love in a lifetime. That is why it appears to be a long time."

Laughing softly but without betraying the tenderness he felt, Edward shifted them so that Horatio was above him, looking down at him with sparkling eyes. "It has been a long enough wait for certain. But we need wait no more, Horatio."

"No," came the quiet response.

Edward drew Horatio down for a kiss, his arms wrapping about the narrow waist and drawing him close, delighting in the whimper caused by the heated contact of their skin and the silky friction between their loins. Edward's hands moved over Horatio's buttocks, squeezing lightly, before they went to his hips and began a rhythmic push and pull, causing their erections to glide against each other.

Horatio's head snapped up and his eyes were enormous when he gazed down at his Captain. He tried to speak, but anything he might have said was dwarfed in meaning by the sheer wonder of their closeness, by this incredible feeling.

When Horatio sank against him, his curly head burying itself against his neck with a soft moan, Edward blinked. "Are you alright?"

Without hesitation but barely audible between gasps of pleasure, Horatio quickly said, "Yes, oh yes. Oh, I do love you!"

Edward increased the tempo of their sensuous slide against one another, instantly finding Horatio's lips when the young man raised his head in astonishment. He kissed Horatio so very deeply, his tongue opening up the sweet cavern of his mouth and advancing deep inside, teaching Horatio's tongue a new, exiting game.

With every nerve ending on fire, Horatio felt a most wonderful build-up of sensation within his body. His breaths came in gasping puffs now, all of them consumed eagerly by his more experienced lover as their open mouths were crushed together fiercely.

Horatio melted into Edward, relinquishing control of his body and his soul to him. He felt himself falling so deep. And when his release came, he moaned his lover's name.

Edward crushed Horatio to him when he joined him within moments, liquid warmth oozing between their heated bodies, slickening their slowing thrusts.

Horatio gave a little gasp when he felt it, too. He raised himself slightly, looking deep into Edward's eyes. "Oooh..." he sighed, intrigued and stunned by what had just happened. "Edward, I..."

"Yes, my love?" Edward brushed back the stray curls which had fallen over Horatio's wide forehead, tucking them behind a lovely ear.

"May I..." Horatio gulped. He was curious, overwhelmed, and suddenly shy again.

"Whatever it is you want to do - yes, of course you may." Edward smiled. And then very nearly passed out when he gathered Horatio's intention. He watched the youth - who was still trembling from his recent climax - as he moved lower in the bed and knelt between his legs, touching Edward's now flaccid manhood very lightly.

Edward moaned, still so sensitive himself. He watched wide-eyed when Horatio's finger gathered some of their mixed spilled seed and felt its texture. And when Horatio bent down and began to lick at his groin, his inner thighs, and finally his spent cock, Edward wondered for a moment if it was possible to find release again so soon after one's climax. "Heavens! Horatio..." he sighed.

Realizing the effect his curious exploration was having on his lover and feeling the organ under his tongue come back to life slowly, Horatio looked up with a smile, taking in Edward's parted lips, his hands digging deep into the mattress and his eyes seeking his own. He continued his licks, seemingly raising Edward's manhood as he lapped at it, cleaning it even while lavishing it with more moisture. When it was reasonably firm, Horatio let it slip between his parted lips, drawing on it experimentally and noting the harsh gasp this caused.

With his hands on Edward's thighs, Horatio now began to attend to his lover's need in earnest, knowing instinctively what to do while being guided by Edward's exclamations of joy when he did particularly well. He suckled and drew on the ever more firm shaft in his mouth, letting his tongue flick against its sides. When he felt a distinct throbbing begin within the depths of his mouth and became aware of Edward's hand in his hair, he sucked harder still, knowing what was about to happen and wanting to make Edward moan and shudder in ecstasy. He soon got his wish.

Edward found his release for the second time within the sweetness of Horatio's mouth, his concern for the boy's reaction to what was about to occur immediately replaced by a delighted groan when he felt him drink up all he had to give. He could not resist but watch as Horatio's eyes widened while he swallowed eagerly.

When Horatio took a deep breath and licked his lips, he found Edward's eyes on him and smiled. Not a coy or shy smile this time, but a most triumphant one. "Thank you, my Captain," he said.

Edward's eyes lit up and he reached for Horatio, drawing him up and into his arms. "I shall expect return gifts in excess, my dear," he whispered into the ear closest to his lips.

"I intend to shower you with gifts in all manner of pretty packages," Horatio said with a contented smile.

"I wish to claim some of them right now, my darling, but..." Edward looked down at Horatio's lovely naked form. "No package could outshine these gifts, so you need not bother to wrap them at all."

And he swiftly reversed their positions and began a slow trail of heated kisses down the trembling body in his arms.