December X

REALISTIC SHOWS

Wild Wild West - Jim/Artemus

Author: Islaofhope
Title: Winter Solace
Date: December 13
Fandom: Wild, Wild West/Realistic
Pairing: Jim/Artemus
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Artemus goes to London to surprise his friend and partner, Jim West, who President Grant loaned to Scotland Yard. They both end up with a Christmas Eve surprise.
Disclaimer: The characters of Jim, Artemus, and Sir Nigel all belong to Columbia House (at least, I think that's who currently owns the rights to Wild, Wild West!). I just took them out to play with them. I'm making no money from this. Just having a good time.
Feedback address: Islaofhope@aol.com
Advertisement: part of the SAC-2004 at http://www.kardasi.com/Advent/2004/SAC-2004.htm
Betas: Miss Sunbeam, Jhava, Lefey Morgan, and Toni

Winter Solace

Artemus Gordon shivered and stuffed his hands in his pockets. Christmas Eve 1872, and London was cold, damp, and thoroughly unattractive. When he'd boarded the ship in New York, his imagination had been alive with thoughts of his last visit to Europe; that had been in the springtime and over a decade before. Of course, the weather had been far more appealing and the crossing had been swifter and more comfortable that last time.

It wasn't entirely true, of course, that Artemus had been thinking about his last visit to Europe when Lily Fortune had said goodbye to him in New York. He and Lily hadn't spoken of it, but five months together had confirmed her wisdom in rejecting his marriage proposal. Although she was entertainingly quick-witted, eager in bed, and possessed of a sweet temperament, she wasn't what Artemus wanted. And what he wanted was at the end of this crossing.

When duty had sent James T. West, the dearest friend of Artemus' life, to England, Jim had unwittingly taken Artemus' heart with him. All the sparkling society that had revolved around Artemus in Washington City and New York hadn't been enough to distract him from his heartache; nor had the smaller but equally glittering society on the ship.

The final train ride up to London in a crowded, smoky passenger car had been nearly interminable but, at the end, there was a certain comfort in knowing that he was in the same city as the man who possessed his heart.

Determinedly throwing off his malaise, Artemus hailed a hansom for Scotland Yard. As he sank onto the cold, hard seat and the conveyance wheeled through the dank, puddled streets, he admitted to himself that he was torn between eagerness at seeing his partner after nearly six months apart and nervousness that his reception wouldn't be as warm and welcoming as he'd envisioned during the trip across the Atlantic. He shook his head and smiled at his own foolishness. Of course, Jim West would be pleased to see his partner.

The real question that nagged at Artemus was whether he would have the courage to tell Jim what he'd discovered about his feelings while they'd been apart.

Artemus climbed out of the hansom and paid the driver--he didn't know where Jim was staying in London, so he had to seek his partner out at Scotland Yard. And hope that he hadn't gone off to Paris with some lovely, young lady to celebrate the holidays.

The wind whipped at Artemus' cloak and grabbed the heavy door out of his hand when he pulled it open. The door slammed behind him, and he peered around him at the poorly lit entry hall, bustling with all manner of humanity. The stench of wet wool and unwashed bodies, as well as the fact that he hadn't eaten a decent meal in hours, only worsened the headache that had hovered at the base of his skull almost from the moment the ship had hit rough waters mere hours out of New York.

Pasting on a civil smile, Artemus approached a tall, broad-shouldered, uniformed police officer. "Pardon me, sir, but could you direct me to Sir Nigel?"

The officer turned with a disapproving frown. "An American, aren't you?"

"Well, yes, I am," Artemus admitted, putting down his carpet bag, which was beginning to strain his shoulder, "but it was my understanding that we'd ended the unpleasantness between us nearly a century ago."

The officer's frown deepened. "Another one." He shook his head. "I've nothing against Americans, y'know, but you'd think that Sir Nigel could trust his brother policemen to--"

"That's just what I'm here to see him about," Artemus said, patting the man on his shoulder. "I've come to fetch Jim West home. President Grant could use his help."

"Well, in that case…" The man's face brightened, and he stuck out a hand to grasp Artemus' in a tight grip. "Come along then. I'll take you to Sir Nigel myself." He tilted his head slightly. "What did you say your name was?"

Withdrawing his hand from the Brit's meaty fist and extracting his credentials from his inner pocket, Artemus said, "Gordon. Artemus Gordon. United States Secret Service."

The man didn't even glance at the credentials. "Right. If it's such a secret, Mr. Gordon," he said without rancor, "why are you telling me?" Without waiting for an answer, he turned and hurried away.

Artemus rolled his eyes, picked up his carpetbag, and scrambled to catch up with the man's long-legged stride. They mounted a dark stairway and followed an equally dark corridor to a large door near the end. The officer knocked, and when a voice behind the door said, "Come in," he pushed the door open and stepped aside for Artemus to enter the room.

The man behind the desk looked up from the sheaf of papers in his hand, an expression of mild curiosity on his face.

Recognizing the man from a photograph that Colonel Armstrong had given Jim, Artemus said, "Good afternoon, Sir Nigel."

"Artemus Gordon, is it?" Sir Nigel smiled, rose to his feet, and walked around the desk, his hand extended. Tall and rather gaunt, with an abundance of gun-metal gray hair, his dark eyes shone with intelligence, and his air of somber forbidding lightened as soon as he smiled. "James did not inform me that you were joining us."

Taking the police detective's hand in a firm handshake, Artemus smiled. "My fault. It seems that I failed to inform him."

"Right." Sir Nigel nodded once, his smile widening, and released Artemus' hand. "He isn't here, I'm afraid."

Artemus' smile faded. "Don't tell me… he's already left for home?" He shook his head, bitterly disappointed and annoyed with himself for his stupidity in failing to send a cable. He'd been charmed by the idea of surprising Jim, but the prospect loomed of spending the Christmas holiday alone before boarding another ship home.

"Without informing you?" Nigel shook his head, still smiling. "I doubt that young man be so impractical." He paused and turned to gaze out the window at the gathering dusk. "Or so romantic."

Artemus' face grew warm, but somehow he sensed that the man approved of his actions. His tone was light when he said, "You're accusing me of being impractical… and romantic?" He shrugged although the detective couldn't see his gesture. "If he's not gone home, can you tell me where he is?"

Nigel crossed the room to retrieve his greatcoat from a hook on the door. "I can't be sure, but James agreed that if he had no other plans, he would meet me at my club for Christmas Eve dinner."

"Is it likely," Artemus asked with studied casualness, "that he had no other plans?"

"My dear boy," Nigel said, smiling as he led Artemus out of the room and back down the long, dark corridor, "I'm afraid that your partner is not the most social of creatures. He came here to England to work and has done little else." He half-shrugged. "Oh, certainly, he has joined me at my club from time to time and has proved himself to be a connoisseur of fine wine and fine cuisine--"

"He's always been a connoisseur of beautiful women as well," Artemus commented. "And certainly London has many beautiful women."

"I wouldn't know about that," Nigel said in an amused tone.

&&&&


Sir Nigel hailed a hansom cab in front of Scotland Yard, and Artemus took a seat across from the detective. "How is the investigation going?" he asked. "Has Jim's assistance proved valuable?"

"Quite." Nigel turned his gaze on Artemus. "He's a talented young man. I would be pleased to keep him on indefinitely."

"I gathered from the officer that I spoke with earlier that others in Scotland Yard don't share your enthusiasm for Jim's presence here."

"I wouldn't worry about Doyle. He was recently disappointed in his hopes for a promotion to inspector." Nigel drew off his leather gloves and clutched them in his right hand. "Nonetheless, I suppose that you'll want your partner back."

"Certainly, Jim won't leave until the case is solved," Artemus said, gripping his own hands together in his lap, "but I expect that he's a bit homesick." He gestured out the window of the cab. "We spend most of our time in the Southwest Territories where the temperatures are warmer, the climate is drier, and the sun shines more frequently. London is a beautiful city, but--"

"I would enjoy visiting your Southwest, I'm sure." Nigel smiled faintly. "When I last visited your country, I spent my time in New York and Washington City."

"Both exciting cities, but Jim prefers the wide open spaces of the Far West."

"And what do you prefer, Mr. Gordon?" Nigel leaned back in the cab.

"Call me Artemus," Artemus said automatically. Faintly uncomfortable under the Brit's piercing gaze, he glanced out the window. "Frankly, I prefer the amenities to be found in large cities, the cuisine and culture, but…" He shrugged. "Uncle Sam sends us where we're needed."

"You have a sterling reputation as a brilliant scientist as well as a talented investigator, Artemus." Nigel paused before adding, "I'm certain that… your uncle… would find use for you in Washington City."

"Yes." Artemus rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. "I've been kept quite busy in Washington City ever since Jim sailed for England."

"Is it only James' homesickness that concerns you?" Nigel leaned forward slightly. "Have you come on your own, or do you bear a message from your President Grant? Has he decided that he can no longer spare James West?"

"I've come on my own." Artemus looked out the window and, in a voice too quiet for Nigel to hear, added, "I'm afraid that I can no longer spare James West." Turning to face Nigel again, he said out loud, "In fact, I've become bored with the work that I've been assigned in Washington, and I'm entitled to some furlough. I thought I'd spend it here, in hopes that Jim would be ready to come home soon. I thought we could travel back together."

"Perhaps," Nigel said amiably, "you'll lend him to me for just a bit longer. I believe that we are very close to the end of our investigation." The cab drew to a stop, and he alighted with Artemus close on his heels.


&&&&


"The food is quite good here," Nigel promised as he led Artemus into the candle-lit dining room. "Perhaps the best in London."

"I'm looking forward to trying out the cuisine." Artemus gazed around him at the elegantly attired throng, grateful that Nigel had taken him to Jim's disappointingly empty flat to change before bringing him to the club. He'd look very out of place here in his traveling clothes.

As Artemus seated himself and accepted the wine list from the handsome young waiter, he silently catalogued the fact that most of the tables seated attractive young men and prosperous-looking older gentlemen. Certainly, there was nothing odd about a private men's club being thronged with men, but Artemus had the nagging suspicion that this wasn't the kind of men's club that he'd first assumed that it was. The men weren't here merely for good cuisine, fine wine, and billiards. He looked up at Nigel with a slight frown. "I can't believe you brought Jim here. Did he realize…?"

Nigel smiled and opened his menu. "Perhaps you don't know as much about your partner as you think." He didn't look at Artemus when he added, "You've never taken him to your club in Washington City, have you?"

Artemus' face grew warm. "No, I didn't expect that he would be interested." He glanced up sharply. "How do you know that I--?"

"I hope that you don't believe that I would be crass enough to use the information to blackmail you." The waiter brought a bottle of champagne, Nigel read the label and nodded his approval, and the waiter opened the bottle.

"That was a different part of my life," Artemus said quietly, allowing his gaze to roam appreciatively over the waiter's lithe body before he looked at Nigel. "Does Jim know?"

"That it's possible to procure the company of handsome, young men?" Nigel took a sip from his glass of champagne. "Certainly. You can't believe he's that innocent."

"No, I don't." Artemus sipped his own champagne. "I'm just a bit surprised that you would bring him here without knowing his view of--"

"In fact, he was flattered that I'd trust him enough to bring him here, thereby revealing such personal information about myself." Nigel leaned back in his chair. "I hope you don't mind, but I've already ordered dinner. I'm sure that you'll find it to your liking."

"I can't fault your taste in champagne. I'm sure dinner will be equally good," Artemus said cheerfully, but then he frowned. "Has he ever…" His throat too dry to continue, he paused to take a sip of champagne. "…hired a man here?"

Admittedly, Artemus was torn. If Nigel told him that Jim had shown interest in other men, wouldn't he be more open to Artemus' feelings? But the truth was, Artemus preferred thinking of Jim as untouched, preferred that he'd never considered the possibility of loving another man before Artemus declared himself.

Nigel lifted an eyebrow. "Why would a man who looks like James need to hire sex?"

Artemus' frown deepened at Nigel's unhelpful answer. "To avoid complications, of course."

"You've visited brothels together?" Nigel looked up when the waiter brought their salads. "Ones where only women were for hire, I suppose?"

"Yes." Artemus picked up his fork and stared at it as though it were the most fascinating artifact he'd seen all day.

"Your earlier question," Nigel said quietly. "You were actually asking whether James is aware of your fondness for young men." He sampled a bite of his salad and nodded his approval before he added, "Wouldn't you know better than I?" Frowning, he said, "Or perhaps you are being coy, trying to hide the truth about your relationship from me." He shrugged. "Given the closeness of your friendship, the depth of feeling exhibited by--"

"Even if it were true," Artemus said in a low, angry voice, "that would be none of your business."

"Perhaps," Nigel said mildly, "you haven't been honest with each other about the complications that you are trying to avoid."

Throwing his napkin on the table, Artemus rose to his feet. "I'll be sorry to miss the dinner that you've ordered, but I don't believe--"

"Forgive me, Artemus." Nigel laid a restraining hand on Artemus' wrist. "I meant no offense. I am a romantic fool. Please sit down. I promise that I will cease to pry into your personal affairs, and we'll enjoy our dinner."

Artemus was hungry, and he certainly had no wish to cause a breach between himself and the man with whom Jim was working. Besides, what Nigel was suggesting was precisely why Artemus had come to England, and it was irrational for him to be annoyed with Nigel for reading his mind.

"Since we're talking so frankly…" Artemus took another sip of his champagne. "I'm curious what you know about Jim that I don't. He's certainly never given me any indication that he was interested in other men... sexually."

"Other men, no." Nigel smiled faintly and helped himself to more champagne.

His face growing warm and his heart beating faster, Artemus said, "Has Jim told you something that--?"

"He is hardly the confiding type, Artemus." Nigel's gaze lingered over a handsome, young man walking past their table. "However, when he speaks of you…" His voice trailed away, and he made a vague gesture with his right hand.

"He's never given me any indication that he's interested." Frustrated by Nigel's caginess, Artemus shook his head. "It would never have occurred to me to take him to a place like this."

"One does not necessary follow from the other. I believe that he is sincerely attached to you, Artemus, but that belief certainly did not inspire me to bring him here to purchase sexual favors." Nigel gestured at the plate in front of him. "As I told you, the cuisine here is of the finest quality."

"I see." Artemus took another sip of his champagne. "It seems we're not getting very far with this particular topic of conversation." He picked up his fork. "Can you tell me about what you and Jim have been working on?"

"I fear not, my dear boy," Nigel said. "We are still engaged in the investigation and, although this is one of the safest places in the city to expect discretion, I dare not speak of it." He turned his champagne glass in both hands. "Perhaps you could be persuaded to tell me about some of the investigations in which you and James have engaged."

Artemus smiled. "Perhaps there are one or two cases that I can discuss publicly." He leaned forward in his chair and began to talk about one of his favorite topics of conversation: Jim West.

Dinner was excellent, the roast beef perfectly cooked, the potatoes and carrots swimming in a scrumptious sauce, the bread lightly browned and delicate enough to practically melt in the mouth, and the first bottle of champagne followed in quick succession by two more.

They continued to chat companionably throughout dinner, pausing occasionally to admire one or another of the young men that walked through the dining room.

As they contentedly repaired to the library for an after-dinner brandy, Artemus smiled to himself. Given that most of the companionable twosomes were made up of a wealthy older gentlemen and a handsome hired man, some of the others might draw the wrong conclusion that he, too, had been hired by Nigel. In fact, the man was intelligent and rather distinguished looking, but Artemus wasn't the least bit attracted to him and fervently hoped that Nigel had no hopes that he would have to dash.

"It was kind of you to invite me to join you for dinner," Artemus said carefully as he took a seat. "If I hadn't appeared at your door, you might have been sharing your evening with…" He made a vague gesture at a handsome young man at the other end of the parlor; his back was turned to them, and his form-fitting pants and short evening coat displayed an incomparably lovely bottom--well, there was a bottom that Artemus could compare to this one, but that one belonged to Jim West. "I wonder," he said, mostly to himself, "where Jim is tonight."

Nigel poured out their brandies. "Right. I do recall that I mentioned the possibility that James would be here."

Artemus shook his head. "It was only a possibility," he said as he accepted his brandy. "Certainly, I'm disappointed, but I didn't expect that…" His voice trailed away as the man across the room turned to speak to one of the older gentlemen, his handsome face was caught in profile, and Artemus' eyes widened as he recognized his partner.

At least, Artemus thought that it was Jim.

The young man's hair was a bit too long and lighter than usual, the color of dark honey. His hand rested lightly on the older man's arm, and his head was tilted back, a seductive smile turning up his full lips. In the lamplight, his handsome face appeared to be carved from purest ivory, paler than Artemus had ever seen his sun-loving friend, the chiseled cheekbones accentuated by kohl-darkened eyes and carmined lips.

As Artemus gazed on, Jim's doppelganger leaned forward to murmur something in the older man's ear. The older man's arm slid around the lithe waist, pulling the younger man into an embrace, and his hand moved lower to cup that perfect bottom. Jim's low chuckle was audible across the room before he turned his head and kissed the other man full on the lips.

A hot flush of anger swept through Artemus, followed by a sickening tide of nausea. "Jim," he gasped and jumped to his feet. Vertigo stopped him from barreling across the room, but Nigel's tight grasp on his arm stopped him from falling. Cursing softly, he turned his head to glare at Nigel; Nigel's gaze rested on Jim, too, his lips set in a stern frown.

"You did say that Jim might be here," Artemus said in a low, dangerous voice, struggling to escape from Nigel's grip, "but you didn't tell me that--"

"What are you saying, Artemus?" Nigel said, his facial expression revealing confusion. "Certainly, you have drunk quite a lot of champagne, but I wouldn't expect you to hallucinate--"

"That was no hallucination!" Artemus jerked his arm away, but when he turned back to where Jim had been standing, there was no one there. Weary and disoriented, he pushed a shaking hand through his hair. "Or was it?"

"That golden-haired beauty was perfection, and you have been noticing beautiful, young men all evening, Artemus," Nigel said in a low voice, leaning back on the couch to sip his brandy. "Of course, your beloved James is very much on your mind…" Nigel's smile was sad.

Artemus looked up sharply. "Are you…infatuated… with Jim, too?" He flushed as soon as the words spilled out.

"I'm not that foolish," Nigel said before taking a sip of his brandy. "I feel fortunate that he gave me his friendship, but I would not presume to desire him as a lover. And you can't think that I would compromise our temporary partnership by propositioning him."

"Of course." Artemus pushed away his glass of brandy still half-full. "I believe that I've had more than enough of this for one night."

"You said that your desire for beautiful, young men was a part of another life," Nigel said quietly, putting aside his glass also, "but perhaps for tonight, you may want to take advantage of the pleasures that can be--"

"If you didn't expect Jim to be interested in buying sex," Artemus asked in a low, angry voice, "why would you assume that I would be?" Without waiting for an answer, he stood up abruptly, saying in a more civil tone, "Thank you for dinner." His head was beginning to feel a little better, but he needed some fresh air as soon as possible. "I think that I'll call it an evening."

"Shall I escort you back to James' flat?" Nigel stood up, too. He was smiling, as though he hadn't heard Artemus' angry words.

Artemus shook his head. "I wrote down the address." He patted his pocket where he'd put the card. "I believe that I'll be able to find it on my own, but I'll hire a hansom, if necessary."

Nigel nodded. "Good night, Artemus." He started to walk away, but then he turned back. "And a merry Christmas."

Artemus pasted on a smile. "Merry Christmas to you, too, Nigel."

Alone, Artemus wandered through the gorgeously decorated rooms, pausing occasionally to listen to music and laughter and to admire the well-dressed men who were dancing together, playing cards, or engaged in lively conversations. He was a sociable man, and it was rare for him to feel left out in the company of others, but for tonight, he was strangely reluctant to respond to any of the curious and admiring glances that came his way.

Fumbling in his pocket for a cigar, Artemus stepped outside onto a balcony overlooking a private courtyard. The air was damp and cool, but not as bracing as it had been earlier, and he breathed it in gratefully before he lit his cigar. His head was still far from clear, and he smiled cynically at himself. He couldn't recall the last time that he'd been so muddled by drink. Tilting his head back, he scanned the sky, but the moon and stars were obscured by clouds. Shivering a little, he listened to the sounds of merriment from within the house and drew the smoke in, savoring the flavor of the fine Cuban tobacco.

"Mr. Gordon?"

Artemus looked around in confusion. The beautiful creature who stood in the doorway was the first woman that he'd seen all evening. It was possible, of course, that she wasn't a woman. He had no prejudice against that sort of thing, but it certainly wasn't his preference. When he wanted a woman, he wanted perfumed softness, and when he wanted a man, he wanted--

"You are Mr. Gordon, aren't you?"

With an exaggerated bow, Artemus said, "Yes, ma'am, Artemus Gordon, at your service."

She smiled, and the smile made her even more beautiful. "Your friend asked me to see to your pleasure."

Artemus' eyes widened. "In fact, madam, I was just about to--"

"It's Christmas Eve," she said, shaking her head with obvious amusement. "You don't have a wife and family to go home to, do you?"

"No, I don't." The thought should have made him feel sad, but Artemus felt a kind of relief. Certainly, he wished that Jim were waiting for him at home, but--

"So many of our regulars are going home to their families…" She shrugged slightly.

"Not I," Artemus said with a smile. "I suppose that Nigel was right. It couldn't hurt for me to…" He thrust his hand in his pocket for his money clip.

She held up her hand. "In fact, your friend has already paid." She took a step backward and gestured for him to follow.

Extinguishing his cigar, Artemus threw the butt away and followed her. In spite of the enormous quantity of alcohol he'd consumed and his general weariness, he'd been in a state of erotic longing most of the night. He smiled in anticipation as he walked down the corridor and mounted the carpeted steps.

She led him up two floors before gesturing toward the door at the end of the hallway. "He is waiting for you."

"Thank you." Artemus watched her walk down the stairs again before he approached the door. He stood outside for a moment, inexplicably nervous, but then his curiosity got the better of him. Cautiously opening the door, he stepped inside.

Closing the door behind him, Artemus paused in the doorway. The room was barely lit by a small lamp beside the bed and, at first, he didn't even see the young man standing by the window, his back turned to the door. But when his eyes adjusted to the near-darkness, Artemus realized with a small shock that the man that Nigel had purchased for him was the same one whom he had mistaken for Jim earlier in the evening.

Apparently, he had finished with the older man very quickly and, to Artemus' great fortune, the older man had been obliged to go home to his family.

The young man was even lovelier than he'd appeared when Artemus had glimpsed him before, his fine suit discarded and his lithe body clothed only in moonlight and a thin silk dressing gown. Unexpectedly, the deep blue of the dressing gown brought a flood of memories of his own beloved Jim dressed in the same color, and Artemus' throat constricted. "I'm sorry," he said, grabbing the door handle. "There's been a mistake."

"You wanted…?" the man asked in a low voice. "… a woman?" His shoulders lifted slightly in the barest suggestion of a shrug, but he didn't turn around. "Monique rarely makes errors."

"No," Artemus said hastily. "It's not that. She knew that I wanted a man." He swallowed when he saw the man's shoulders stiffen, but he couldn't resist lowering his gaze to admire the elegant line of the man's body. "It's not that I don't want you… you're perfection…"

"When you saw me… before… in the parlor…" The man drew back the curtain slightly to gaze out the window at the streetlights, which seemed to glow a more muted yellow in London than in the cities that Artemus knew in the United States. "…I thought that you--"

"You remind me of someone I love." Artemus clenched his hands at his sides. "It would be a betrayal."

"Is that so?" The man turned from the window, and he gazed levelly at Artemus, a hint of a smile playing over his full, sensuous lips. He took a step nearer and Artemus, unable to resist, released the door handle and also took a step forward.

"So, that's how it's going to be, is it?" Artemus said softly, mostly to himself. He tilted his head slightly to one side, his vision slightly blurred from drink and weariness, and he marveled at his incredible fortune in finding a whore who so nearly resembled the true object of his desire. "What shall I call you?"

"As you prefer," the young man said in a voice that was as soft and dark as velvet, and lamplight painted shadows on the lovely creature's face as he sank to his knees and smoothly opened Artemus' trousers and extracted his cock. The whore's tongue, warm and slick, teased Artemus' cockhead, and his hand tenderly massaged Artemus' balls.

For a mad moment, Artemus considering calling the young man Jim, but he immediately realized how wrong that would be. However, he couldn't completely resist…

Jim’s middle name was Taylor.

"Taylor," Artemus said softly. "Let me call you Taylor, my dear boy." He slid his palms over the silk covering Taylor's muscular shoulders and pushed it aside, baring the ivory skin. He rubbed his palms over Taylor's smooth chest, thinking with some regret of the hair that adorned Jim's slightly more muscular chest.

"Taylor?" A perfectly shaped eyebrow arched, but the young man shrugged to signal his indifference. Barely callused fingertips rubbed lightly over Artemus' groin and a warm tongue teased the underside of his phallus.

"You have the mouth of an angel, Taylor." Artemus squeezed his eyes shut as the talented tongue stroked his sensitive flesh but, unable to resist the sight of his cock sliding into the man's mouth, he reopened his eyes and gazed downward at the lovely sight at his feet. The heat started as a glowing coal in Artemus' groin and spread slowly outward. He slid his hands into the cloud-soft hair and caressed it lightly.

The scent of eau de cologne filled Artemus' nostrils, reminding him that this was a paid whore rather than the man he'd irrevocably fallen in love with. He smiled at his foolishness. Better to enjoy the man on his knees before him than to long for what he couldn't have.

Taylor worked slowly, using only lips, mouth, and tongue at first, but as Artemus became more erect, he could no longer hold the shaft in his mouth. He wrapped one hand around the base of the shaft, used the other to cradle Artemus' balls, and continued to lick and suck what he could fit in his mouth.

"That's good." Artemus closed his eyes briefly but opened them again, not wanting to miss the rapt expression on the face of the man worshipping his cock. "So very good." The slow movement of the mouth and hands over his intimate flesh caused him to melt inside, and he knew if they kept up this way, it wouldn't take long before he spilled his seed.

"Wait--" Artemus said hoarsely, grasping Taylor's head to haul him off his cock. "I don't want to spend yet. Not until I fuck you."

The young man allowed Artemus to slip from his mouth, but he continued to caress the saliva-slicked length of Artemus' shaft as he gazed up at Artemus, a question in his eyes.

Artemus rubbed two fingers along Taylor's jawline, mildly surprised by the texture of the nearly invisible stubble. "I want to fuck you," he said again.

The man's eyes were dark in the dim lamplight, revealing nothing of what might be going on in his mind. Gracefully, he stood up, moved to the bed, and threw back the covers.

Swiftly, Artemus undressed, draping his clothes over a chair. Taylor sprawled on his back on the bed, one hand lightly gripping his cock, and the fine lines of his body momentarily took Artemus' breath away. "Roll over," he ordered softly, and the man obeyed, revealing the ivory perfection of his buttocks. His shoulders were wide and as muscular as if he'd worked an honest day's labor, tapering down to a slender waistline and narrow hips.

With a soft exclamation, Artemus knelt on the bed and straddled the other man, sliding his cock along the crevice between Taylor's buttocks. "Beautiful, just beautiful," Artemus said, eagerly rubbing his hand over the mounds of Taylor's ass. "Do you have anything to…?"

The man gestured at the bedside table, and Artemus retrieved the lightly scented oil from the top drawer. After warming a generous amount in his palm, he used two fingers to massage it into Taylor's tight anal cavity, pushing in deeply, seeking out and finding his prostate. "Oh," Taylor gasped with delighted surprise, bucking and writhing under Artemus' tender assault.

"If you think that feels good," Artemus murmured as he pulled out his fingers and filled his palm again with the oil, "I've got something even better." As he oiled up his cock, he stroked his left hand over his bed partner's flank. Taking a slow calming breath and squeezing the base of his cock to curb his arousal, he savored the sight of the lovely body spread out before him for his pleasure.

"You're easily the most beautiful creature in this place," Artemus said, leaning forward to grab a pillow to position under the man's hips. After pressing Taylor's shoulders to the mattress, Artemus centered the head of his cock against the whore's opening and pushed inside. Taylor was incredibly tight, and he gasped at the initial penetration, his hands clutching the bedclothes.

Artemus groaned at the incredible sensation of the warm, velvet interior clasping his cock. "You are…" Instead of completing the sentence, he started to move, fucking Taylor's tight, perfect ass, gripping his lovely, muscular hips.

Perhaps it was the effect of the champagne but, despite the obvious physical differences, Artemus didn't even have to close his eyes to imagine that it was Jim he was fucking. He paused for a moment, an arrow of guilt thrusting painfully into his heart at the disloyalty of the thought. But he knew that he didn't have the strength of will to pull out and walk out the door. Resuming his thrusting, he sped up the tempo of his fucking, pushing in deeper with each thrust, his groin pressed against Taylor's buttocks and their balls slamming together.

Most whores were well-versed in feigning pleasure, but Artemus flattered himself that Taylor was truly enjoying the fucking that he was getting. Taylor's breath coming out in gasps and low cries and his hands clutching at the bedclothes added to Artemus' own pleasure in the act. Realizing that his own climax was approaching, Artemus burrowed in deeper and gripped Taylor's hips.

"Oh." Artemus spilled his semen and collapsed on top of his bed partner. He lay there dazed for a moment, his breath calming and his heartrate slowing. Overcoming his lassitude reluctantly, he carefully rolled over to his side, sliding his spent phallus out of the grip of Taylor's ass. "Sugar…" he murmured, but the whore's eyes were closed, and Artemus was too spent for unnecessary conversation. He rearranged the pillows beneath their heads and pulled the bedclothes up to cover them both.

Rolling onto his side, Artemus settled Taylor's arm around his waist and, Taylor's warm body spooning against his back, Artemus permitted himself to doze contentedly. After all, it was Christmas Eve, and the madam had confided that she didn't expect more business. It was simpler to sleep here, Artemus rationalized, than to dress and go out into the cold, rainy London night to return to Jim's empty apartment. Resolutely ignoring the guilt that again whispered in his ear, he plumped the pillow under his head and closed his eyes, allowing himself to drift off to sleep for just a moment or two.

"Artie," a familiar voice, heavy with amusement, said in Artemus' ear, a finger poked rudely into his waist, and an erect cock pressed against the back of his leg. "Wake up, you inconsiderate bastard."

"Christ!" Artemus' eyes opened wide, and he sprang up to a sitting position. Cold reality spawned sudden sobriety, the contrast reminding him just how drunk he'd been when he'd walked into the room. He stared wide-eyed at his partner, sprawled naked beside him. "Jim? What the hell are you doing here?"

"Don't you think," Jim said, turning on his side and supporting his head with one hand, "you should have asked me that before you shoved your cock down my throat?" His lovely mouth was turned up in a faint smile.

"I didn't shove my cock down your throat," Artemus said in an unsteady voice. Gripping the bedclothes in his fists, he turned away, unable to meet his friend's gaze. "Damn it, Jim, I didn't know it was you."

"That's a bit hard to believe, Artemus." His smile replaced by a stern expression, Jim threw back the covers and swung his legs off the bed. When he stood up, a soft grunt escaped his lips, as though he were in pain, and Artemus looked up guiltily.

"Jim, I--"

"I'll be right back," Jim said in a clipped tone. He wrapped a dressing gown around himself and retreated into the hallway. When he had been gone for a couple of minutes, Artemus realized that Jim had gone to the necessary down the hall.

On his return, Jim--oblivious to Artemus' silent mortification--poured water into a basin and hastily cleaned himself. He retrieving his evening suit from the closet and dressed before, his expression stony, he crossed the room to turn up the lamp.

"I doubt," Artemus said, breaking the long silence, "that President Grant would appreciate knowing that he'd loaned you to Scotland Yard to work in a brothel. How the hell--?"

"Christ, Artie," Jim snapped, "you don't actually think that I'm working as a prostitute, do you?" He opened a cabinet and retrieved a bottle of whiskey and two glasses.

Artemus swallowed. "Lacking evidence to the contrary--"

"I assumed that Nigel explained to you." Jim poured a generous amount of whiskey in both glasses. "I've been here a couple of months, and we were gathering the evidence that we needed."

"We? As in you and Nigel?" Artemus swung his legs off the bed and went to the sink to wash, too. He retrieved his clothing from the chair and dressed. "It seems to me that you're the one who is taking all the risk here. What kind of crazy scheme--?"

"He told me you were here." Jim handed Artie one of the glasses. He was still obviously angry, but habit was ingrained too deeply, and he touched his glass lightly to Artemus' in an informal toast. "Salud," he said and tossed back the drink.

Artemus frowned down into his drink. The whole situation had an air of unreality. He'd just changed their friendship irrevocably by rolling Jim onto his stomach and fucking the hell out of him, and now they were calmly having a drink and discussing Nigel. "Bastard didn't tell me you were here." He took a gulp of whiskey. "He told me that you might be here, but when I saw you, he pretended that--"

"Did you expect me to blow my cover by coming over to say hello?" Jim asked coolly. He turned away to refill his glass. "How the hell could you not recognize me?"

Artemus put down his glass with a clatter. "You certainly didn't act like you recognized me." He frowned and crossed his arms on his chest. "Standing there by the window, half-naked, and all you said was some nonsense about Monique never making an error." He shook his head. "The Jim West that I know would never have agreed to--"

"You're right," Jim said, holding up a hand as if to stop the flow of Artemus' words. He took a deep breath before adding, "The thing is… I really missed you, Artie."

"And that's supposed to explain why you would stand there and…?" Artie's voice trailed away, and he looked at Jim, astonished by what he was hearing--and not entirely convinced that this wasn't a part of a drunken hallucination. "Certainly, we don't stand on ceremony with each other, and I've seen you in your dressing gown plenty of times, but--"

"I deliberately undressed when I knew you were coming to my room." Jim looked at Artemus levelly. "It certainly wasn't what I was wearing when Nigel was here."

Artemus rubbed his hand over his chin. "You know, when I saw you in the parlor, it didn't take much effort for Nigel to convince me that it wasn't you. I never thought you would act that way with… other men."

"What way?" Jim sloshed the whiskey around in his glass before he glanced up at Artemus.

Artemus shook his head and gestured vaguely with his right hand. "Seductively."

With a frown, Jim said, "I've seduced women in the line of duty, you know that."

"Women, yes." Artemus tilted his head to one side and studied his partner's face, mildly surprised by the faint flush that painted Jim's cheeks. "But you're generally so cool and indifferent to..." He shrugged, thinking of his earlier conversation with Nigel. "I've never seen any hint that you might be attracted to a man."

"Haven't you?" Jim's chin lifted, and he pinned Artemus with a stern gaze. "And it bothers you because…?"

It was Artemus' turn to flush. "Well, even if it's in the line of duty, I don't particularly like the idea of you being fucked by a succession of men."

"Don't be ridiculous, Artemus." Jim put his glass down on the table with exaggerated deliberateness. "No one's fucked me except you." He turned on his heel and walked out the door, shutting it almost soundlessly behind him.

"Christ," Artemus said to himself, sinking down on the bed, his legs suddenly too wobbly to hold him. "What the hell did I do?" He buried his face in his shaking hands for a moment of sheer agony. But he was too practical to wallow in his horror for long. Forcing himself to his feet, he grabbed his cloak, wrapped it around, and hurried out the door. The corridor was quiet as a church but it smelled like the brothel it was, and it was a relief to push open the door to the outside.

Stepping outside, Artemus cursed softly as the chilly drizzle ran down the back of his neck--he'd left his hat at Jim's flat. Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he peered into the gloom. He spotted Jim quickly, but he suspected it was more due to Jim's own willingness to be found than the acuity of his own eyesight.

Artemus walked hurriedly down the deserted street but resisted the urge to call out to his friend. The icy rain slicked the cobblestones under his feet, and he nearly stumbled. He followed Jim for several blocks before his partner stopped in the middle of London Bridge.

Taking a deep breath, Artemus cautiously approached his friend. "So, you've decided to slow down and listen to me?"

"You've come all this way across the Atlantic," Jim said quietly, gazing down at the Thames below them. "I figured you were entitled to explain."

"I appreciate that." Artemus rested his hands on the cold handrail and swallowed. "Unfortunately, I don't know where to start."

"You could start with why you're here." Jim's voice was level, but the stiffness of his shoulders revealed his anger. "Has Grant decided that it's time for me to come home? He could have just sent a wire instead of putting you through the trouble of--"

"I'm here on my own." Artemus turned to face his partner. "I missed you, too, Jim. I want you to come home."

"How long did it take for you to figure that out?" Jim gripped his hands together behind his back before lifting his chin to meet Artemus' gaze. "And what have you figured out? After I spent two years throwing myself at you, it seems that--"

"You were throwing yourself at me?" Artemus asked sourly. "What part of 'should we hire one whore or two tonight, Artie' was you throwing yourself at me?"

"Artemus Gordon," Jim said, pinning him with a cool look, "I've spent the last two years listening to you talk almost incessantly. It's time that you listened to what I have to say."

Artemus' jaw dropped, but he snapped his mouth shut again, thrust his hands in his pocket, and fixed an attentive look on his face.

"Apparently," Jim said, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, "I've been impossibly arrogant; I find I have no talent for seducing the one person that I care for." He clenched his hands at his sides. "From the day I met you, I was fascinated and attracted in a way I've never been before."

Stunned that his reticent partner was speaking so freely about his feelings--and by the flattering nature of those feelings--Artemus wouldn't have been able to form a sentence even if he'd been allowed to speak.

"I've never been very good at working with a partner," Jim continued, "but from the day we started working together, I was impressed by your intelligence and the ease with which we communicated. I'm never bored with you, and I've enjoyed spending our free time together, enjoyed our conversations and learning from you." He paused. "But there's more."

Jim tilted his head to one side and silently studied Artemus' face for a moment before he continued. "I suffer from an overwhelming need to touch you, and I've indulged that freely. I gradually realized that I wanted more from you." He straightened his shoulders and turned away, his expression glacial. "I was told by a reliable source that you have experience with… that you'd have no problem with what I wanted, but you never responded to me." He raised his shoulders in a slight shrug. "When I went to New Orleans on my last furlough…"

Pausing, Jim stared out at the water, his expression bleak. "That madwoman kidnapped me, remember? She blew up my double, and you thought I was dead. When I walked into your cell, and you knew I wasn't dead, I thought you were going to take me in your arms, and I thought..." He frowned. "But it was too late; you were already in love with Lily."

"Jim, you can't think--"

"I know Lily turned you down initially when you proposed," Jim continued, as if Artemus hadn't spoken, "but I believed that she loved you and you loved her." He shrugged again. "It was sheer hubris, but I waited for you in New York for a week before I sailed for England. When you didn't come, I accepted the fact that you and Lily--"

"I received a letter from you, but that letter," Artemus said heatedly, "never mentioned that you--"

"I tore up the first letter that I wrote you from New York," Jim said. "The letter I sent was safer. The one where I told you that Grant was sending me to England as a favor for a friend." He thrust his hands into his pocket. "I suppose I realized how hopeless my feelings were." He turned his head to gaze at Artemus again, his face expressionless. "I didn't really expect you to show up here. You really surprised me." After a moment of silence, he put a hand out to touch Artemus' arm lightly. "I know that you and Nigel drank a lot of champagne, but…" A faint smile turned up one side of Jim's mouth. "…you'd have to be pretty damn drunk not to recognize me."

Artemus smiled sheepishly. "Yes, well… I was."

Looking thoughtful, Jim said, "You were right earlier. I should have said something. Made sure that you knew it was me." He tilted his head to one side. "I deliberately undressed when Nigel told me you were coming to my room, but I wasn't sure that I'd have the courage to…" Tightening his grip on Artemus' arm, he said, "It was easier to go along pretending that I was Taylor instead of Jim West." His smile was a sad one. "Unfortunately, it wasn't what I imagined it would be." He shrugged. "I've never been to bed with someone that I was in love with, and I had this poetic notion that--"

"Jim, no…" Impulsively, Artemus leaned forward to stop the flow of Jim's words with his own lips. Wrapping his arms around his friend's waist, he kissed Jim for the first time. His earlier shock and the chilled London air had effectively sobered him, but the feel of the Jim's lips against his own rapidly imparted an euphoria worthy of fine French champagne or the purest opium.

Tightening their embrace, Artemus deepened the kiss, nudging his tongue into Jim's warm mouth. To his relief, Jim, recovering from his initial surprise, began to return the kiss enthusiastically, sliding his hands over Artemus' back in a fervent caress.

Their kiss went on and on, each growing bolder and more impassioned in their caresses, and it required a loud explosion to draw them apart. Dizzily and with his arms still around Jim's waist, Artemus looked up into the night sky.

"What the hell?" Artemus blinked, still drunk from their kisses.

"Fireworks." Jim threw his head back to admire the colorful explosions. "It must be midnight." Grinning, he rested his hands on Artemus' shoulders. "Merry Christmas, Artie."

Recovering, Artemus grinned back. "Fireworks? Shouldn't it be a heavenly host?" He pulled Jim close and stole another quick kiss. "Merry Christmas, James."

Eyes glowing, Jim extricated himself from Artemus' embrace to watch the show, but he clasped their hands together tightly. "Back home, it's reserved for Independence Day, but here…" He tilted his head back as a rocket flew higher and exploded into a shower of golden light.

"That's exactly how I want to make you feel." Artemus moved to stand behind Jim at the bridge railing and wrapped his arms around Jim's waist. He pressed his lips to the back of Jim's neck. "Like a bottle of champagne exploding."

Jim shivered, partly the cold but partly (Artemus hoped) from the excitement of their embrace. "Don't take this the wrong way…" Jim pressed his right hand over the hand that rested on his waist. "…but that kiss was far better than…"

"…than what I did to you less than an hour ago?" Artemus nuzzled his face into Jim's hair. "It was for me, too." He shook his head sadly. "I'm thoroughly ashamed of myself, you know. I've never treated a bed partner with as little regard as I treated you."

"It wasn't that bad." Jim reached behind to rest one hand on Artemus' left hip. "Much as I'm enjoying this, we probably shouldn't be doing this in public. My flat isn't much to brag about, but--"

"Looks like the fireworks show is over anyway." Artemus tightened his embrace briefly before releasing Jim. "Let's go back to your flat, and we can have our own fireworks."

Jim rolled his eyes before he smiled and tucked his hand into the crook of Artemus' arm. "Can't say I'm terribly impressed with what I've seen so far."

"I don't blame you," Artemus said with a grin as they walked off the bridge, "but I promise I'll make up for my slow start."

&&&&

Closing the door behind him, Artemus paused in the doorway. The room was barely lit by a small lamp beside the bed and, at first, he didn't even see the young man standing by the window, his back turned to the door. But when his eyes adjusted to the near-darkness, he smiled.

"Jim?" Artemus took a step forward. "It really is you, isn't it?"

"Hi, Artie." Jim turned from the window, smiling his most dazzling smile.

Artemus realized what an idiot he'd been. Many times, he'd basked in the incandescence of that smile, but he'd never realized how much more than friendship was being offered with that smile.

"James, my boy, I've missed you." Artemus shivered slightly; unfortunately, the shiver wasn't due only to the strength of his emotion when he looked into his friend's eyes. The flat was chilly, and he caught himself wishing that they'd stayed the night at the luxuriously appointed brothel.

Jim took a step forward, and his expression turned solemn. "I've missed you, too, Artemus." He placed a hand on Artemus' arm and rubbed lightly; his expression was intent as he watched his hand moving over Artemus' arm, and the warmth from his palm seeped through Artemus' linen shirt. "How's Lily?"

"Lily Who?" A sound that was half a chuckle and half a sob of desperation escaped from Artemus' throat, and he pulled Jim into a frantic embrace.

The sound that Jim made was definitely a chuckle, but it was quickly muffled when their lips met in a hard kiss. Artemus held on tight, Jim's mouth opened under his own, and the euphoria swamped him again. Perhaps only seconds passed, but it could have been minutes or hours; the sweetness of Jim's kisses was all that Artemus could absorb at first.

Artemus relaxed into their shared embrace; Jim smelled wonderful. He had washed away the pungent eau de cologne, and the scent that Artemus breathed in now was more familiar, more arousing: expensive Parisian cologne, used sparingly, enhanced Jim's own special musk, a delicate hint of clean air and expensive leather.

Deepening the kiss, his senses deliciously overloading, Artemus caressed Jim's arms, savoring the swell of his biceps. Jim deliberately rubbed his body against Artemus' and crept his hand under Artemus' shirt. Their groins were pressed together so hard that Artemus could feel the pulse of the blood swelling Jim's phallus. Jim's warm hand rested against the small of Artemus' back, and it was nearly too much. To prevent himself from spending, Artemus pulled back from the kiss and scrutinized Jim's flushed face.

"Artie." Jim untucked Artemus' shirt all around and placed his palm flat on Artemus' stomach. His smile was faint, and his lips were bruised from their kisses. "Artemus."

"Jim." Artemus smiled, too. He unbuttoned his vest and shirt and shrugged them off. Jim's gaze swept over Artemus, his eyes glowing with affection and approval as Artemus stripped, but Jim made no move to assist.

As Artemus stepped out of his trousers and underwear, Jim shed his dressing gown. Although they'd casually undressed together before--and they'd even had sexual intercourse earlier that evening--when they moved naked into each other's arms this time, the moment was too solemn for words.

Artemus bore Jim back onto the bed, and Jim went willingly, content to allow Artemus to take the lead. Artemus took that lead gladly, kissing Jim's mouth thoroughly before slowly kissing a path down his body. He paused at Jim's right hip and traced his fingertip over the scar from a bullet wound, remembering; he'd removed the bullet himself. Blinking at the sudden sting in his eyes, he said, "How could I have failed to recognize you?"

"You were drunk," Jim said quietly. "Remember?"

"I hurt you." Artemus stroked his finger over the scar and, much as he wanted to, he was unable to look up to meet Jim's eyes. "Why did you let me hurt you?"

"You saved my life." Jim rested one hand on the back of Artemus' head. "…when you took out that bullet. Yes, it hurt, but--"

"When I sodomized you, I meant," Artemus said in a choked voice before bending to press his lips against the scar. "If only I had realized…"

"Well, that hurt, too." Jim's fingers slid into Artemus' hair and gently massaged his scalp. His voice was warm with affection when he added, "But it was worth it, Artemus."

"It wasn't exactly the way that I pictured making love to you for the first time." Artemus swallowed. "You deserved better."

"You'll make it up to me," Jim murmured. His fingers moved down to stroke the back of Artemus' neck. "Besides, you imagined that it was me." He rested a warm palm against the base of Artemus' skull. "While you were fucking Taylor, I mean."

Artemus chuckled softly. He couldn't help himself. The situation was ludicrous.

"If you want," Jim said, chuckling himself, "you can imagine that I'm Taylor."

"It's you that I want, Jim." Artemus kissed Jim's hip again and lifted his eyes to meet Jim's gaze. Despite the seriousness of his words, they were both laughing, and Artemus moved back up to kiss Jim's mouth again. It took a passionate kiss or two before they were ready to resume their lovemaking.

In spite of Artemus' intentions to make slow, leisurely love to Jim, neither of them had much patience when Artemus resume caressing Jim, and when he took Jim's cock into his mouth, Jim spent almost immediately.

Wiping the back of his hand over his lips, Artemus smiled. "Was that an improvement?"

Jim's only response was to roll onto his side and begin snoring softly.

"I'll take that as a 'yes.'"

&&&

Jim's eyes fluttered open, fastened on Artemus' gaze, and a sheepish smile turned up his lips. "How long did I sleep?"

"Not long. Maybe thirty minutes." Artemus brushed his thumb across Jim's lips before he added, "Guess we're even now."

"That wasn't my intention." Jim looped an arm around Artemus' neck and pulled him close for a hard kiss.

"Jim," Artemus murmured against Jim's lips before closing his eyes and giving himself over to a series of intense kisses. They lay side by side, Jim's warm body pressed against his own, and Artemus ran his hands distractedly over the smooth skin of Jim's sides and back.

"Artie," Jim gasped, rolling onto his back and pulling Artemus on top of him. Kissing Artemus fiercely, he arched up, his cock pressing firmly against Artemus' belly.

Artemus reached between them to align his cock against Jim's; slick with sweat and precome, their cocks cradled between their stomachs, Artemus rubbed himself hard against Jim. The heat and friction of their intimate flesh, along with the intensity of their kisses was enough. He spent himself first, but Jim wasn't long in joining him.

After kissing the tip of Jim's nose, Artemus grabbed a shirt off the floor, rubbed the worst of the mess off their bellies, and tossed the shirt aside. Contented, they settled down again, face-to-face in an intimate sprawl of limbs and, this time, they both slept.

&&&

"Did you mean it?" Jim murmured against Artemus' neck. He lay on his side, nestled against Artemus, his cheek resting on Artemus' chest.

"Hmm?" Artemus turned his head slightly, and their lips met in a lazy kiss. He squinted as the morning sun nudged under the shade they'd forgotten to fully draw before falling into bed. "Mean what?" He stroked his hand over Jim's naked flank.

"You told Taylor," Jim said, lifting his head and fixing Artemus with a mock-accusing look, "that you were in love with me."

"Why would I lie to a prostitute?" Artie said before yawning hugely and closing his eyes again.

"Son of a bitch." Jim poked Artemus' side rudely, but there was a smile in his voice. He shifted closer, running his hand lightly over Artemus' chest.

The room was silent for a moment before Artemus said, "Speaking of Taylor… You said that you weren't prostituting yourself at Nigel's club. Why did you shave your chest?"

"It was an act," Jim said sleepily, his hand stilling on Artemus' thigh. "I wanted to get into character, and it helped to change my appearance as much as possible."

"Makes sense." Artemus smiled faintly. "For a virgin, you were one helluva fuck." He rubbed his hand down Jim's back, savoring the ripple of his muscles. "And you did an impressive job of sucking me. I nearly--"

"You wondered if I'd practiced on someone else? I have a cock, you know," Jim said, nuzzling his cheek against Artemus' collar bone. "Well, maybe you didn't know. Certainly couldn't tell by the way you bedded Taylor."

"You're never going to let me live that down, are you?" Artemus smiled.

"It stands to reason that I know how to please you in bed." Jim swept his palm down Artemus' belly and lightly cupped Artemus' balls. "Our anatomy isn't so very different." He gently caressed Artemus' dormant phallus. "Although--much as I hate to admit it, and I would deny it if questioned--you're rather larger than I am."

"You've nothing to be ashamed of in that department." Artemus kissed the top of Jim's head. "And your body is perfection." He moved one hand down to cup Jim's right buttock. "But you've neatly sidestepped the question. Where did you learn how to suck cock like that?"

"I trust, Artemus," Jim said in a voice devoid of rancor, "you've posed your question as a result of your thirst for knowledge. Not as a display of jealousy."

"Idle curiosity," Artemus insisted, squeezing Jim's buttock lightly.

"You've always been insatiably curious," Jim observed. "It's one of your strengths as an agent." He placed a kiss over Artemus' right nipple. "It was a woman who taught me the finer points of fellatio, but I'm too much of a gentleman to tell you her name."

"I see. Not that it matters," Artemus said with studied casualness, tracing Jim's hipbone with his fingertips, "but have you been with a man before?"

"Not that it's really any of your business..." Jim lifted his mouth to kiss Artemus' lips lightly. "No, Artie. And, beyond the kiss that you saw, I did not provide sexual favors to the man that Nigel and I entrapped tonight."

"Tonight?" Artemus frowned and captured Jim's hand against his chest.

"Last night, rather. It's morning, isn't it?" Jim rolled out of their loose embrace and onto his back. "When I kissed the man, it was a signal that I had enough information. Nigel arrested the man on the way to my room."

"That means that you're done with the investigation?" Artemus propped himself up on his side with one hand and studied Jim's profile in the dim light.

"I'll probably have to testify." Jim shrugged slightly. "We'll go see Nigel tomorrow to find out." He smiled a lopsided smile. "I guess I owe him a debt of gratitude."

"Do you?" Artemus asked.

"He set us up, didn't he?" Jim turned his head to look at Artemus. "If he hadn't sent you to my room with the expectation that--"

"I'm not sure that I should thank him." Artemus frowned. "If he'd just told me the truth, maybe we would have come back here together, I would have told you what I came her to tell you, and we would still be here in this bed without--"

"What did you come to England to tell me?" Jim sat up and gripped Artemus' wrist. "You still haven't told me. You're so sure that we would have worked this out on our own? We had plenty of time, and we never--"

"I love you," Artemus said, ducking his head to avoid Jim's penetrating glare. "You're right. It shouldn't have taken you coming to England to make me realize it." He shrugged. "Fine, I owe Nigel a debt of gratitude, too." Lifting his chin, he met Jim's eyes. "But he owes you, too. The investigation is over, you helped him capture his criminal, and it's time for you to come home."

Jim loosed his grip on Artemus' wrist and smiled, tilting his head to one side. "You're eager to go home? You just got here."

Artemus recaptured Jim's hand in his own, brought it to his lips, and kissed the knuckles. "Home, my dear James, is wherever you are."

Jim smiled, flashing his even white teeth. "I love you, too, Artemus."

"That's a relief." Artemus kissed Jim's hand again. "Now that you're free, James, I'll show you London, and then we'll--"

"I'd like to go to Cornwall." Jim put his hand on Artemus' chest to push him back to a reclining position and nestled against him, head resting on his shoulder. "We can rent a couple of horses and make it there in--"

"I should have known," Artemus said with a chuckle. "You're ready to resume telling me what to do." He wrapped his arms around Jim's back and held him tight, loving the warmth of his body. "Not that I'm complaining."

"Now that we're in agreement…" Jim kissed Artemus collar bone. "…can we get some sleep? I didn't get much last night."

"Splendid idea." Artemus rolled onto his side and rearranged their limbs so that he spooned against Jim's back, his right arm looped loosely around Jim's waist. "The only trouble with an expedition on horses," he murmured against the back of Jim's neck, "is the discomfort that you may suffer as a result--"

"That occurred to me, too." Jim reached back to rest his hand on Artemus' hip. "We probably won't be able to leave London for a few days anyway." His hand moved in a gentle caress over Artemus' hip. "We can find plenty else to do on our trip, of course. But you'll have to wait until we sail back across the Atlantic to fuck me again."

"Oh," Artemus exclaimed softly, excitement and disappointment churning in his belly. "In that case, the first thing we must do tomorrow is determine just how soon we can book passage for New York."

"A double cabin with a decent bed, of course." Jim stretched luxuriously before settling back into Artemus' embrace with a contented sigh. "You don't suffer from seasickness, do you?"

"No, I generally don't," Artemus confirmed, "but I have a premonition that I won't feel much like leaving our cabin during this particular voyage."

- finis