The room didn’t feel cold anymore.
Not when the two of them came together in a kiss that devoured their words and thoughts, and Henry tightened his arms around Jasper’s waist as if he never wanted to let go.
The young man’s presence dug into his skin and tore out the old bones of a creature buried beneath all of the doubt and insecurities, one who had a hunger for the heat and longing that Jasper’s body was made of tonight. He felt stronger, greedier, and confident, things he had never allowed himself to experience because of the fear and hesitation he'd known throughout his life. And he would give everything to this beautiful man as gratitude for helping him escape.
Henry felt Jasper’s soft mouth against his neck and collarbone, kissing down every inch of skin that was revealed once the buttons of his shirt were opened. He watched, flushed and ready, needy for more as he leaned back onto the table while Jasper went lower and lower. His belt was loosened, then his pants were undone, Henry shivered when he felt the touch of lips just below his naval and, instinctively, his fingers ran through that raven hair with a light squeeze.
Then, before the young man could go any further, he gently pushed Jasper’s face away from his groin and the young man looked up with curiosity. “What is it?”
Henry watched him, closely, and he moved his hand down to stroke Jasper’s cheek before taking his chin and guiding him to his feet. Another hand finding the young man’s waist once more, their eyes hadn’t looked away yet. Jasper seemed taken back, blushing a little as Henry refused to look away or say anything. He just stroked his thumb across those full lips and smooth jaw.
“You’re beautiful.” He finally said without a stutter.
And Jasper was unable to speak, unable to stop his eyes from softening as he took hold of Henry’s hand and kissed it.
With satisfaction, Henry lifted Jasper into his arms in a sudden show of strength that made the young man gasp and tighten his grip. Their faces a kiss away, their foreheads met and they smiled together without a word. He carried his young lover to the bed and lowered him down with ease, and when Jasper beckoned him closer, Henry crawled over him and they kissed again.
When their lips parted, Henry spoke faintly. “I’m not…well-informed in this subject matter.”
Jasper laughed softly. “What did you say earlier? Anyone can learn with the right teacher and the right motivation? Well, it would seem I’m the right teacher and I can feel your hard motivation on my thigh.”
Henry laughed with him when they embraced.
And night melted against them.
Hours later, Henry didn’t think it was possible to feel this good or this comfortable with a stranger, but a fire had been lit in him and it burned for this lovely man who leaned into him as they rested in bed. He couldn’t stop grinning, couldn’t stop reliving every detail of what just happened while Jasper stroked his chest in contentment, allowing Henry to take in the moment.
“Wow.” Was all he could manage.
“Thanks,” Jasper said teasingly.
Henry wrapped an arm around him, holding him even closer now. “I don’t think I’ve ever thought about doing that, what you did with my—“
“Great teachers know all the good tricks.” He said with a smirk.
Henry ran a hand through his damp hair. “You know, my mother would faint on the spot if I mentioned this part of the trip to her.”
Jasper folded his arms across Henry’s chest, watching him dreamy-eyed and still smiling. “I hear that a lot about mothers.”
“Oh, you don’t know mine. Once, when I was four, I fell into a lake while visiting with my grandfather and she screamed until she passed out.”
“That sounds like a reasonable reaction for a mother when her four-year-old falls into deep water.”
“Ah, well, the water only went to my ankles.” He said before they laughed together.
“My mother was nothing like that, she worked so much that I rarely ever saw her.” Jasper laid against his folded arms and closed his eyes.
“Does she live far from you?” Henry asked, his fingers weaving through strands of Jasper’s hair, lulling the young man into a sleepiness.
“I’m not sure. She took my baby sister and left the rest of us behind. I heard she remarried, but I never cared enough to seek her out, neither did my other siblings. We tried to stick together at first, but my sister got married, my brother found work on a coal ship and my younger brother just…disappeared,” Jasper’s eyes opened half-lidded. “I came here searching for a distant relative, but I found no one and I had no money to leave.”
Henry stared at the ceiling, stroking the young man’s hair and listening to his story. A sigh left him. “Jasper, would you—“
There was a knocking door and a voice followed.
“Jasper, honey, your patron’s friend is looking for him and…he’s having a little trouble standing straight. Oh, and his pants are torn wide open.”
Henry blinked, staring at the door as Jasper chuckled. “I think that’s your calling card, dear.”
“Eh, right,” Henry got out of the bed and began to dress once he located all of his clothing, then his fingers fumbled when a sudden thought came to mind. He stiffened.
“What’s wrong?” Jasper asked, seeing his sudden jolt of nervousness.
“W-Well, if I am to go…I should p-pay…I mean you should be compen—...because you and me...we…how much am I…”
Jasper watched Henry with a playful grin, seemingly enjoying him embarrass himself before he inhaled and stood. Still naked, he walked closer and helped fix the buttons on Henry’s shirt. “How about a deal?” He asked, straightening his collar now. “Come see me before you leave and you owe me nothing.”
His heart skipped, or perhaps it wasn’t moving at all while Jasper helped him dress. And when the young man’s hands stopped, Henry enclosed his own around them and lifted them to his lips, kissing them several times with such endearment before their eyes met. “I’ll be back.”
Jasper’s eyes softened again and he nodded, then his expression perked and he left Henry for a moment. “Here,” He said, retrieving a coat from a hook on the wall and bringing it back to him. “Take this, it’s most likely gotten a little colder.”
Henry was hesitant again.
“Don’t worry,” Jasper said, “It belonged to my father, but it might fit you a little better.”
“O-Oh, I couldn’t, not if it was your—“
Jasper helped him into it. “I know he’ll appreciate it keeping a good man warm.”
Henry kissed Jasper once more, almost not allowing him to finish the sentence. And the kiss deepened before the same woman called for them with another knock.
They parted. Henry quickly moved to the door, and when he opened it, he looked back. “Wait for me.”
Jasper blew a kiss and waved as he walked out the door and into the night.
The next morning was like waking up from a dream, a very painful dream where his back was concerned, but one that lingered on his thoughts for hours. At breakfast, Henry couldn’t sit still, he couldn’t concentrate on his notes or books, he couldn’t stop imagining every curve of Jasper’s body and also the taste of his lips.
Oscar seemed serene, quietly sipping his coffee and looking over his study guide, legs crossed and back straight. They hadn’t discussed last night, not in detail. His friend was more impressed than perplexed about his rendezvous with Jasper and the fact that such a beautifully described young man took out such a rough fellow. Henry had been more than impressed, he was smitten, completely! Jasper wanted more and he was smart enough to do so, and he would help him.
Finally, Henry dropped his notebook onto the table and inhaled deeply with a laugh that followed the sharp breath.
Oscar peered up at him through his glasses.
“I’ve decided,” He said quickly.
“With?” Oscar asked, taking another sip of his coffee.
“I’m taking Jasper back home with me.”
That sip was sent back into the cup and Oscar looked up at him troublesomely, his eyes shifting, looking Henry over as if he were trying to find any sign of deception or humor on him. And when he found nothing, he let out a confused laugh.
“W-What?”
“After the exam and celebration, I’m going to see him again and I’m going to ask him to come with us,” Henry said, his smile widened and he leaned back, rubbing his face in excitement.
“You’re…mad. Henry!” He laughed again, even more astonished. “You can’t be serious, what on earth are you thinking?”
“That I want him to come back with us, to start a new life! I talked to him last night, Oscar, he wants to change, he wants to go to school and—“
“Oh, the whore you met last night told you, who is to become a doctor, that he was interested in the same exact thing as you are? Education?” His friend cocked a brow and leaned forward. “Of course, he told you that, Henry, don’t be a damn fool. Last night, one of the girls told me I was the most handsome man they’ve ever laid eyes on, but you don’t see me taking one of them home to the family.”
“Jasper meant every word and I know it,” Henry said, his eyes narrowing.
“You know nothing, Henry, you met this man on the streets, talked for a few minutes and fucked him for the rest of the night.”
“I’ve made up my mind.”
“This…this can’t be happening. Think of your mother,” Then Oscar’s eyes widened and he inhaled sharply. “Oh, god, your mother, Henry! She’ll…she’ll join your father in the grave when she sees you stepping off the train with a male whore!”
“Then she’ll have a lot to tell my father,” Henry said with a satisfied grin.
A grin that didn’t end the argument, they went back and forth until they were yelling, screaming at each other. Oscar tried to talk him out of it with every reason and every excuse he could come up with, but Henry wouldn’t budge, not with this, not when Jasper was destined for more than the streets.
The silence was the worst part, however. Oscar and he hadn’t fought in years, decades probably, and they were quiet the entire carriage ride to the exam and even while they waited for their names to be called. They were strangers for the time being.
When the exam started, it took him several long moments to remove Jasper from his thoughts because this was for the people he'll help and cure soon enough, after years of endless work and studying, it was all going to pay off. After today, he'll be a Doctor, he'll help people, and he’ll go find his lovely savior and take him away from this dark city.
That evening, Oscar and he forgot about their fight once they received the passing scores of their exams and they hugged each other until they were no longer mad or concerned about anything other than the fact that they did it.
“We’re going to become doctors!” The man said, holding Henry’s face.
“We’ll seek out the perfect building for our practice the moment we get home!” Henry responded and they walked side-by-side to join the others for a celebration.
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