Into the Lion's Den (102 page)

Konrad was surprised that someone was knocking at his door so late. It could only mean troubles and put aside the book he had been trying to read since several hours, unable to sleep, too excited and plethoric in his bliss, as his kitten was back. He went to answer the door and was shocked to see the young man standing there.

“Hi, I'm sorry to disturb you but I can't sleep in my bed. I don't know what's wrong with it. Could I stay here?” Guntram blurted at full speed and Konrad was speechless.

“I'll go away, if I'm bothering you,” the boy added, feeling very ashamed that he had disturbed Konrad, who was only gaping at him.

“No, no. I can't also sleep. Come in. It's very late. I don't know if we could prepare another bedroom for you. I apologise for the inconvenience, Guntram.” Konrad recovered from his shock and quickly thought that calling one of the servants would be very daft and counterproductive for him.

“No, I'm sorry to be such a bother for you.”

“Not at all. I was going to bed now. We can share it, if you don't mind,” the man suggested. “I swear to keep my hands to myself,” he added at full speed.

'Bugger!' Guntram's inner voice yelled, but the boy managed to keep a straight face. “Thank you, Konrad. I'm sorry to disturb you.”

“Get in the bed and I'll change into my nightclothes.” He moved away from the door frame allowing the boy to come inside and go in a straight line toward the bedroom. He followed and took his own pyjama from under the pillow on the right side while Guntram went automatically to the left side, with the confidence of a shared intimacy. Konrad had to make a supreme effort not to stare at the boy when he removed the robe and left it over one of the chairs as he always did and returned to the bed and slid under the covers.

Konrad went to the bathroom to change himself. 'I have to let him make the first move.' He put on his pyjama and made a ball with his clothes, without caring about the jacket and cursed when he squeezed the toothpaste almost pouring all its content over the sink. 'Calm down or you'll screw it up!'

Taking a deep breath he opened the door and stood motionless when he saw again Guntram in his bed, lying as always on his right side, curled up and almost asleep. 'He's everything I have, if he would just give another chance.' Konrad turned off the light and walked toward his side of the bed and removed the covers, still afraid that this move could scare away his kitten. But nothing happened and he slid in, checking that he was well covered. He settled in the bed and turned around in his attempt to ignore that he was there.

He laid awake for a long time, remembering how it was before and all the joyful moments they had shared. 'Others will come with the children, even if we are only friends.'

In his sleep, Guntram turned around and his put his arm around Konrad's waist, seeking for his warmth and protection, and surprising his lover. Konrad turned around and gathered the youth in his arms as they used to sleep in the past. 'Maybe he shouts at me tomorrow, but I will not miss this opportunity,' he sighed and closed his eyes, revelling in the small body curled in his arms, sleeping deeply for the rest of the night.

Friederich was surprised when he found out that he was missing one young French boy. Obviously, Guntram had not slept in his room and what was Antonov doing there so early?

“Have you seen Guntram, Mr. Antonov?”

“I would look for him upstairs, Mr. Elsässer,” Alexei sauntered, glad that he had been fast enough as to recover the wooden cubes and slid them in his pockets one second before the butler entered in the room with a tea and Guntram's morning pills. “I'll take the dog out, now. Come, girl, come.” He crouched and patted his thighs to call the dog, jumping from her basket. 'I have to make another suicidal mission and return them to the nursery. I'm getting old for this job.'

Still gaping, Friederich could only mumble “I see,” before leaving the room to order Dieter to move everything back to the Duke's quarters, once they were out of bed. 'It's impossible to run a house under these conditions!'

*

More relaxed that he had ever been in months, Guntram woke up in Konrad's arms, disoriented for a fleeting second of his whereabouts. He looked at the other man's face and smiled, remembering how much he loved to watch him in the mornings, looking like a small child. 'It wasn't that bad, Guntram. We could give each other another chance after all.'

He caressed his face delicately to wake him up and smiled at him when he opened his eyes, still partly asleep. “Good morning, I have to disappear before Friederich comes in.”

“He will not come, he's crossed with me since Vienna. I have to fetch my coffee downstairs now,”

Konrad whined and Guntram's smile broadened. “It's not funny. He told me to get it by myself!”

“I'll get dressed and I can help you to get to the dinning room. It's far away, but we will manage,” the young man teased him and laughed when the other closed his eyes in delight at the caresses he was receiving from Guntram. “You were right about something else.”

“What?”

“My dog snores very loudly. It's impossible to sleep with her around. I will have to move out.”

“I'll tell Friederich to look for another place for her.”

“No, she's happy there as I am here,” Guntram whispered and blushed.

“Then we will move you here and leave the dog there,
Maus
,” Konrad said softly and bent his body to kiss his kitten, happy to feel his kiss returned without reserves and with true love.

Finis

March 12th, 2011