marlowemuses | Sin and Salvation

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Sin and Salvation

Ashley Raventon had known for his entire life that his brother was the center of the world. As much as Ashley liked the attention of others, it was always his brother he sought when he was hurt or upset. If there was anything in the world that he desired, Ashley went to his brother to coax and wheedle and beg until he got his desires.

Ashley had known, too, when he grew old enough to have an interest in men and women, that none of them compared to his brother. None of them were as tall, as handsome, as intelligent, as confident. And though Ashley enjoyed thoroughly a number of dalliances as he was finding out his tastes and temperament, they all left him feeling lonely, and he often preferred to spend his evenings in his brother's study, reading a book until he got bored, and then monopolizing Arkady's attention until he was tired.

It was not until he was nineteen that he realized that he might be able to consolidate his interests. Morality and legality had never bothered the Raventons much, Ashley least of all, and Ashley found himself achingly bored of everyone in the world but his brother.

"Evening, Arkady," Ashley said, having decided upon what he wanted but not yet how to get it. He strode boldly into his brother's study, long red hair loose down his back. His clothing was impeccably fashionable, with tight-fitting breeches and a loose white shirt, his vest and jacket somewhere misplaced.

Leaning forward across his brother's desk, Ashley propped his elbows on the desk and snagged one of the papers in front of his brother, curious to see what business or scholarship occupied Arkady's attention tonight.

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"How can I say no?" Arkady asked rhetorically. Ashley could have asked for the sea, or the moon, and Arkady would have asked the gods themselves to make it happen.

Still naked, Arkady put his arm around his brother's waist, while the other went under his legs, scooping the younger man into his arms bridal style and carrying him out of the office. A servant could pick up their clothes later.

They didn't run into anybody, saving the trouble of having to tell them to mind their own business, on the way to Ashley's room. He'd been in here before, but never under these circumstances, of course. "You have impeccable taste, brother." Arkady deposited Ashley onto his bed and climbed in with him, hovering over his brother's body and leaning down to kiss him again.

Thrilled to be carried, Ashley rested his head on Arkady's shoulder, eyes only for his brother as they made their way upstairs. He'd always loved--and expected--to be spoiled, and having Arkady doting upon him was the best thing in his world.

His room was sumptuous, decorated in gold and white with heavy burgundy accents, so that Ashley himself matched the decor, and the dark red drapes on the curtains and hanging from the four-poster bed didn't clash with his hair.

Lingering in each kiss, Ashley smiled up at his brother, winding a lock of Arkady's hair around his finger so that he could use the lightest of touches to pull Arkady in for another kiss, and to ensure that Arkady would be kept close to him on the shortest of leashes.

Arkady loved anything that reminded him of his beloved Ashley, including the colors of this room. His brother's hair was one thing he loved about him. That beautiful, burgundy hair that sparkled when wet and ran through his fingers like fine silk.

He gave Ashley a long, lingering kiss that made full use of his tongue, while his hand cupped his brother's cheek. "My beautiful Ashley," He whispered in between kisses.

"I've always been yours," Ashley promised, radiant with devotion. "All my life I've been yours, and I wanted you before I even knew what it was that I wanted."

Happy, Ashley kissed him deeply, giving of himself without holding anything back. His fingertips roamed over Arkady's skin, distracted by his desire to explore every inch of his brother. "How exquisite you are," Ashley remarked, tracing his fingernail along Arkady's ribs. "My Arkady."

"And now you're mine completely," Arkady purred, kissing Ashley's neck. "In body and soul." He let out a soft noise of pleasure as his brother touched him. "We belong to each other. You're mine, and I'm your's, forevermore." Arkady ran his hands through Ashley's hair, unable to resist touching it. He cupped the back of Ashley's head, kissing him on the cheeks, neck, and lips.

Ashley nodded, blissful. He hugged close to Arkady, winding his arms around Arkady's neck and clinging to him. "Can we sleep together always, from now on? You know I hate sleeping alone."

He'd always been prone to nightmares, and had snuck into Arkady's bed for years until Arkady began insisting he was too old to do so. Now Ashley wondered whether he'd only been banned because of the temptation he presented.

Part of Arkady always regretted telling Ashley that he couldn't sleep in Arkady's bed from now on. Part of him did want Ashley to learn to conquer his fears on his own, but a large part of it was that he wasn't sure how much he could resist his brother the older and more beautiful he got. Not that either point had done much good in the long run.

"Of course, my love. We can sleep in here tonight, and tomorrow night we can use my bed."

"Good," Ashley said, nestling close to him and tucking his head under Arkady's chin. He kept his grip tight, too scared of the possibility that Arkady might change his mind and return to his own bed. Sighing once, Ashley closed his eyes, weary and wanting simply to be held.

Arkady, making sure Ashley didn't lose his grip, shifted them both to lay on their sides, pulling the covers up around them both. He wrapped both arms around his brother and held him tightly, closing his eyes. "Sleep well, dear brother. Dear beloved."

Safe in Arkady's arms, Ashley slipped deep into slumber, clinging to Arkady even in his dreams. His body relaxed, but his grip stayed tight, viscerally possessive and scared that if he let go, Arkady would slip away.

When he woke and found himself still in Arkady's arms, he smiled wide, starting to press soft kisses along Arkady's throat.

If Arkady dreamt that night, he didn't remember any of them. He used to dream of Ashley, and making love to him, but after that had become reality, he didn't need to dream it anymore. Not when he had Ashley in his arms for real.

He awoke to the feel of those kisses, turning his head downward to meet Ashley's lips in a good morning kiss. This was real. Ashley loved him, and they had gone to bed together.

A servant usually brought Arkady his breakfast by the door, since there were lots of mornings where he was too engrossed in his books to come down to breakfast. Let it get cold this morning, he thought.

Ashley moaned and squirmed happily when Arkady woke and kissed him in return. "Arkady," he murmured, taking another kiss before drawing back just enough to study Arkady's face again. "I was scared you wouldn't stay."

Tangling his legs together with his brother, Ashley beamed at him, radiating happiness.

"Why would I ever want to leave your side?" Arkady brushed some hair out of Ashley's face, kissing his forehead. "Not even if the sea swallowed us up would I leave you, beloved."

If it were a dream, this would be where Arkady woke up, all alone. But that wasn't going to happen now.

Trusting every word, Ashley's heart pounded at the promise, at the kiss. "I'm yours," he vowed, hugging tight again as the intensity of his emotions swelled, dizzying him, and Arkady was his only stability. All his life, he'd wanted nothing so much as Arkady's attention and approval, and now he had all of Arkady. "Only yours, Arkady."

Ashley was hugging him, kissing him, and loving him in every sense of the word. It was everything Arkady could have ever wanted. Why would he ever need to get married when he had his brother?

"Let the servants wonder where we are. Because it's just you and me right now. And you're all mine."

"We'll need to ensure that the servants can be discreet," Ashley said, since it was a certainty that the servants would soon suspect something. Arkady might be subtle enough to keep his behavior from giving anything away, but Ashley certainly wasn't, and it would be difficult to conceal that only one bed was being slept in.

Nipping softly at Arkady's jaw, Ashley smiled blissfully. "Are you going to ravish me again?"

"You let me worry about the servants," Arkady promised. He could make sure none of them breathed a word about what the brothers did in their private time. He'd promise them that he'd do worse than simply fire them.

"I thought you'd never ask," He leaned in to kiss Ashley, gently rolling him onto his back so Arkady could lay on top of him.

Laughing with delight, Ashley wove his arms around Arkady's neck, drawing him close and returning the kisses. Obedient and devoted for Arkady alone, he parted his lips for his brother, offering himself eagerly.

Arkady took the invitation, sliding his tongue into Ashley's mouth and brushing it against his brother's tongue. His hands ran through Ashley's hair, stroking his scalp softly.

Ashley moaned into the kiss, suffused with a feeling of satisfaction. He flicked his tongue against Arkady's, inviting, and moaned louder whenever Arkady's tongue was in his mouth, claiming him. Parting his legs, he curled them around Arkady's hips, wanting to feel Arkady hard or hardening against him as they kissed.

Kissing Ashley like this, deep and intimate, was making Arkady's groin stir. His cock began to get hard and brush against his lover's leg. He broke the kiss only when he began to run out of air. "How lovely you are."

"How nice for you, then, that I am all yours," Ashley teased, "to admire at your leisure." He leaned up to kiss Arkady's nose, then dropped back into the pillows, stretching out so that Arkady could admire him.

Arkady ran a hand down Ashley's torso, then back up. "Michelangelo himself couldn't have made a form as beautiful as you." The hand ran along Ashley's slender arm. "Your legs, your arms..." His other hand traced Ashley's cheekbones, his lips following the trail of his fingers. "Your face."

Ashley turned his head to kiss those fingertips as they drifted over his face, then found himself meeting Arkady's lips, which was better. Shifting happily under his brother, Ashley raked possessive nails over Arkady's back.

Arkady grunted into Ashley's mouth, arching against him as those nailed raked over him. He reluctantly broke the kiss so he could ask his brother, "Where do you keep your oil?" Because he was assuming Ashley kept some in here. Otherwise he was going to have to walk down the hallway naked to retrieve a bottle from his own room.

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