LoveBetrayed (2 page)

“Daniel,” Harry murmured, kissing his neck again, licking
the soft spot behind his ear, a spot he thought perhaps no one else had ever
tasted. This was heaven. He’d never known it could be like that. He’d fisted
his own cock a hundred times to fulfillment and never felt the way he had when
he’d come inside Daniel, Daniel’s cries of surrender in his ears as he pulsed
around Harry’s cock, lost in his own release. It had indeed been magnificent.

He rolled Daniel in his arms until he could reach his mouth
and leaned down to kiss him. He’d never kissed a man, but he needed to kiss
Daniel as much as Daniel had needed to fuck earlier.

Daniel turned his face away and shoved at Harry’s chest.
Surprised, Harry let him go and Daniel rolled away. He rose unsteadily and
stumbled over to a tree where he leaned against it as he tried to step back
into his pants.

“What’s wrong, Daniel? Did I hurt you?” He scrambled to his
feet, yanking his pants up as he hurried over.

Daniel laughed roughly. “Only in the best way.” His voice
was hoarse, from his cries during their love play, Harry supposed. He felt a
primal satisfaction that surprised him.

He strutted over and leaned in to kiss Daniel and again, to
his consternation, Daniel shoved him away. “Don’t get sentimental, lieutenant,”
Daniel said dismissively. “It was only a fuck.”

That took him aback. “It was a damn good fuck and you know
it,” he said, annoyed. “I may not have the experience to back that up, but I
still know it to be true.”

“Every fuck is a good fuck if you do it right,” Daniel told
him, sitting now and pulling on his boot. “You gave me what I wanted. I’m sore,
used and satisfied, and for that I thank you. Good night and goodbye.”

“Goodbye?” Harry asked incredulously as Daniel began to walk
away. He spun around, looking for his shako. When he found it he scooped it up
and on his head without a care for how it looked and ran after Daniel. He
caught up with him easily. “How can you just walk away? When will I see you
again?” He struggled to right his clothing as he kept pace with Daniel.

“I rather think you’ll see me later today around camp,”
Daniel said carelessly. “After I get some sleep I’ve a few days to kill before
my next assignment, so I’ll be billeted here for the duration.”

“That’s not what I mean and you know it,” Harry said through
clenched teeth.

“You seem rather sure about what I should and shouldn’t
know,” Daniel said with amusement. “What I do know is that we will both be in
camp, and cannot avoid seeing one another.”

“Quit being so obtuse,” Harry snapped.

“The youngling knows some big words,” Daniel mocked.

“I also know obfuscate,” Harry said, forcing himself to be
calm. “And oblivious. And I can tell you that they all apply to you.”

“Ob…viously,” Daniel said, laughing at his own joke.

Harry grabbed his arm and swung him around so they faced one
another. For a brief moment Daniel looked furious, and then a mask of
disinterest fell into place. “Yes?”

“I want to see you again. Alone. I want to be alone with
you.” Harry spoke slowly, as if explaining something to a child. “Do you
understand?”

“I understand English perfectly,” Daniel said, shaking his
hand loose. “You, on the other hand, do not seem to understand that I am
through with you. You have served your purpose. Say goodbye and walk off with
your dignity intact.”

“My dignity is just fine,” Harry said, jerking his buttoned
waistcoat down to smooth the wrinkles out. “Your attempted dismissal has not
even bruised it. Now, when can I see you again?”

“If by see you mean fuck, the answer is never.” Daniel’s
reply was flat and succinct.

“Liar.” Harry refused to believe Daniel, or show how angry
he was at his rude behavior. He knew that Daniel had felt the same way he had
during their amazing encounter. There was no possible way he didn’t want to
have that again.

Daniel threw his hands up in the air. “Have it your way,
lieutenant. Hold on to your delusion that I wish a repeat performance. I will
attribute your stubbornness to a lack of intimacy with my acquaintance. You do
not know me well enough to know that I mean what I say. I do not speak without
conviction. When I say that we will never be together again, I mean it.” He
spun on his heel and stomped off.

“You may mean it now,” Harry said quietly to his retreating
back, “but you’ll feel differently when you need me again. And I’m going to be
right there waiting for you. I can be just as stubborn as you.”

“Why are you being so stubborn?” Simon Gantry, another War
Department agent and probably Daniel’s best friend—if he admitted to such
things—sat on a campstool by Daniel’s side, drinking wine and observing the
camp with him. They were having decidedly unseasonal warm weather lately,
though it had been accompanied by excessive rain. What dismal weather for a man
stuck in an army encampment. Directly across from them, on the other side of
the center clearing, sat young Lieutenant Ashbury, smoking his pipe and
observing Daniel. He wasn’t even being discreet about it. He’d stopped being
discreet days ago. And he didn’t look the least ridiculous smoking that damn
pipe.

“What do you mean?” Daniel asked, feigning ignorance. “I’ve
done nothing to warrant that accusation.”

“Oh, come on,” Simon said mildly. “You can play the ingénue
with James. I know what’s going on between you and the lieutenant. And it’s
obvious he wants you again in the worst way.” Simon took a drink and looked
contemplatively between Daniel and the lieutenant. “Honestly, I seem to be the
only one who has ever fucked you and walked away willingly. Your charms enslave
mere mortals.”

Daniel snorted. “Indeed. I seem to recall you crawling back
into my bedroll several times after our first skirmish. It wasn’t until you
discovered there were other like-minded men about that you turned your back on
my charms and sought greener pastures.”

“Exactly. For God’s sake, man, he’s in the Fourteenth. You
can’t spit without hitting a man who’ll bugger you around here. Greener
pastures abound and yet he stalks you like a starving beggar.”

“Hardly starving,” Daniel replied coolly. “He looks well fed
and complacent and smug.”

“Ha,” Simon said, as if he’d unveiled a dire secret.

“‘Ha’ what?” Daniel asked with resignation. Clearly Simon
was not going to give up on this conversation until he’d said his piece.

“Ha, you seem to be observing him as closely as he’s
watching you. Very interesting.”

Daniel tried to count to ten, telling himself he wouldn’t
ask. He gave in at eight. “Why interesting?”

“I’ve never seen you give a care for any of your previous
lovers. They could have been standing in front of you with their peckers
hanging out, declaring undying love, and you’d hardly blink an eye before
asking politely who the devil they were. Yet you have noticed not only where
your young lieutenant is, but his physical appearance and his mood as well.
That’s interesting.”

“Not in the least. It simply indicates my level of boredom
as I sit here drinking to excess awaiting my next assignment.”

“You are a liar. As a matter of fact you are an expert liar,
the consummate liar if I may go so far as to say so. And yet even I don’t
believe that clanker.”

Daniel bowed his head in acknowledgement of the compliment.
“Thank you. I agree, my skills in deceit are indeed the best. But in this case,
I am telling the truth. Perhaps that is why you don’t recognize it.”

“James is letting you stew.”

Daniel blinked rapidly as he tried to process the change of
topic as he poured himself another glass of wine. “Is he? Why?”

“That’s why you’re still sitting around here waiting for a
new assignment. I’ve been out twice since your last encounter when you, ahem,
met Ashbury. Tarrant at least once. I know others have done the same. And yet
here you sit. I think he knows your attentions have wandered and he’s punishing
you.”

Daniel snorted. “Don’t be ridiculous. James is my superior
and more when the mood strikes. We are hardly lovers to have such silly
quarrels. He is as perfunctory about our recreational activities as I am. We
have an itch, we’re both here, we scratch it. There is no sentiment attached.”

Simon shrugged. “Since we are speaking of James, I’m sure
you are correct about his lack of sentiment. There is, however, the matter of
pride, which he has in abundance. You are quite sought after for recreational
activities, as you well know. To be blunt, you are a legendary fuck. He likes
having you at his beck and call. He does not want you wandering into other
pastures.”

“And?” Daniel asked, annoyed. “What has this to do with
anything?” Inwardly he feared Simon was correct. James was getting far too
proprietary for Daniel’s liking. Normally, when he got overly excited during a
mission, as he had the night he’d met Ashbury, he’d simply report back to
James, fuck him, and move on. James had been irritated the day after he’d met
Harry, when Daniel had reported to him. He’d asked where Daniel had been, why
he hadn’t reported the night before. Daniel had brushed off his irritation.
Perhaps he shouldn’t have.

“Just keep an eye on your lieutenant.”

Daniel’s head whipped around and he glared at Simon. “What
are you saying? What have you heard?”

Simon shrugged. “Nothing. But he’s far from discreet, isn’t
he? James has probably put two and two together already. He is not a man to be
dismissed or replaced. I wouldn’t put it past him to simply eliminate the
competition.”

Daniel dumped out his wine with a flick of his wrist and
stood up. “You are being melodramatic. Too much wine always makes you maudlin
and intolerable.”

Simon just laughed as he watched Daniel walk away. “Say
hello to the lieutenant,” he called out softly, making Daniel grit his teeth in
irritation.

As he passed Ashbury he made eye contact and with a small
movement of his head let him know he wished to see him. Simon was an old woman,
always worrying, but he’d planted the seed of worry and Daniel knew he wouldn’t
be able to rest until he’d warned Ashbury. Sir Barnabas James was not a man to
be treated lightly.

Much to his relief Ashbury walked off in a different
direction. The young idiot wasn’t as stupid as he looked then. Daniel would
find him, and then he’d settle this foolishness once and for all.

Harry’s heart was pounding in his chest, with fear or
excitement he wasn’t sure. He had no idea what had prompted Daniel to seek him
out. He’d been sitting there drinking desultorily with that Gantry
fellow—another War Department agent, he thought, though he wore a captain’s
uniform. Harry had been watching Daniel for days and he hadn’t paid him any
attention. He’d begun to despair that Daniel had indeed meant what he’d said
the other night. But Harry was as stubborn as they came, or so his father
always told him. Once he had an idea in his head he was like a dog with a bone.
And Daniel was a juicy, delicious bone he was not willing to give up.

He wondered if he’d done the right thing, going off in a
different direction. But he knew that Daniel didn’t wish to parade his business
in front of the entire camp. So when he’d indicated he wanted to see Harry,
with nothing more than an inclination of his head, for God’s sake, Harry had
turned the opposite way on instinct. It wasn’t until he’d started walking that
he panicked and wondered where he should go. His feet had led him here, to the
stables. It was late evening and most of the camp was abed or eating or
whoring. The stables were quiet and deserted.

Harry petted the nose of his horse, Galway. He was a blue
roan Connemara Pony. Perhaps not the best warhorse, but Harry trusted him. He was
sensible and well trained, two very important characteristics over here. They
were both still alive, so Harry didn’t feel his trust was misplaced. So many of
his comrades were losing their less sturdy mounts to starvation. There simply
wasn’t enough to feed them properly around here.

“Lieutenant,” Daniel said briskly behind him. “I wished to
speak with you about your behavior, which must desist. You are attracting
attention to both of us.”

Harry took a moment longer to pet Galway and shush him,
before he turned to Daniel. He wore a nondescript brown jacket and riding
pants, a loosely tied cravat and polished boots. When the wretched rain that
had been falling on and off for weeks had most of them looking like drowned
rats, he didn’t have a hair out of place. His trousers even refused to wrinkle.
Harry wanted to muss him up, wanted to run his fingers through those tight
curls and kiss his hard lips until they were swollen and red. He wanted to
disrobe him as he’d done to Harry the other night, leave him with his trousers
down and shirt untucked—sore, used and satisfied again.

Daniel was watching him and his eyes widened slightly at the
look on Harry’s face. “You actually thought I wanted to fuck you.” He sounded
incredulous. “I have summarily dismissed you all week, and yet with a nod of my
head you came running for another go.” He shook his head. “I don’t understand
you. Why?”

“I’m stubborn. Come here.” Words were not what Harry wanted.
There was a rushing sound in his ears and he could hear nothing but the beat of
his own heart as his cock filled and he grew overheated in his uniform. He
began to unbutton his jacket.

“What are you doing?” Daniel demanded. He sounded flustered.
His cheeks were flushed and Harry perused him slowly, stopping at the evident
bulge in his perfectly creased trousers. He smiled smugly as he looked back up
and met Daniel’s gaze.

“I’m removing my jacket.” Sweat trickled down his temple
onto his cheek and he wiped it away. “The sight of you makes me warm.”

Daniel was breathing heavily. “Well, you can stop disrobing.
I’m leaving.” He turned and Harry caught his arm.

“I’ll play the game,” Harry said quietly. “I’ll beg and
seduce, if that’s what you require. But it’s a waste of time. Time I could
spend inside you.”

Daniel shuddered. Harry felt it in the arm he still held.
“We cannot go on like this,” Daniel protested. He sounded rather firm about it.
“Association with me will put you at risk.”

“We’re at war,” Harry said. “I could become intimate with a
French bullet tomorrow. If I do, I want to know I was far more intimate with
you tonight.”

Daniel turned slowly back to face him. “That is the sort of
convincing argument you should have started with.”

Harry grinned in relief as he tugged Daniel around the back
of a small tent meant for the stable master, but empty now. “For someone who
easily dismissed me, you remember a great deal about our conversation that
night.”

“I have an excellent memory,” Daniel said, taking one step
closer to him. Harry took a chance and dropped his arm to finish unbuttoning
his jacket. Daniel watched his hands, fascinated. “It pays to remember
everything in my line of work.”

“Then you must remember that I knew exactly how you wanted
to be fucked. Is that how you want it again?” He tossed his jacket over a damp
hay bale. There were several scattered about an abandoned fire. “Kneel on
that.”

Daniel stood there staring at him, his harsh breaths cutting
through the quiet air. His hands were clenched at his sides. Everything about
him spoke of denial and confrontation. Everything except his eyes, which
devoured Harry hungrily. Oh, he wanted him. Now if Harry could just get him to
admit it.

“Am I in danger?” Harry asked calmly.

“Yes. No.” Daniel shook his head and his hands unclenched.
“I don’t know. You could be.”

“Then make it worth my while to be so,” he said. “I’d hate
to think some jealous captain is going to run me through when I’ve only had you
once.”

Daniel laughed. “I never know what nonsense you’re going to
say. So two fucks are worth a sabre?”

“Hardly,” Harry said, reaching for Daniel and gently pulling
him over. He held him loosely by the arms, not wanting to spook him. “I expect
many more than that. Tonight actually. And as long as you and I are still
around to go at it.”

“Oh?” Daniel wasn’t pulling away. He just stood in Harry’s
grip, gazing up at him, studying his face.

Harry nodded. “Absolutely. You owe me.” Daniel’s eyes
widened and he grinned. Harry’s heart sang.
Almost there.

“I do? What for?”

“For making me wait nearly a week to have you again. I’ve
suffered, Daniel. I’m suffering still.” He slid his hand down Daniel’s arm and
took his hand, guided it to his cock. He shivered at the touch of Daniel’s hand
there. Daniel turned his hand slightly, cupped Harry’s cock, caressed it
lightly.

“Are you?” he murmured. It was that same voice he’d used the
other night. A voice that spoke of heat and tightness and fucking and want.

“Yes,” Harry whispered back. “Watching you and wanting you,
not being able to have you. You have tortured me.”

“Torture?” Daniel’s hold tightened and he rubbed his thumb
against the sensitive underside at the head of his cock. Harry moaned. “Is this
torture?”

Harry nodded. “It is when I want to shove it inside you and
fuck you into the ground.”

Daniel bit his lip. Harry leaned down to finally kiss him,
but Daniel pulled away. He walked over to the hay bale and undid his trousers
without looking at Harry. Then he kneeled on Harry’s coat, pushed his trousers
down over that gorgeous, plump arse and bent over, placing his hands on the
bale. He was an irresistible sight. “You’ve talked me into it, lieutenant,” he
said, looking coyly over his shoulder. “Give it to me, just like that.”

“Harry,” he replied. He unbuttoned his pants and pulled his
cock out, stroked it. “Say it if you want this.”

“You’ve learned how to go about this business rather
quickly,” Daniel said quietly. He stared right into Harry’s eyes. “Fuck me,
Harry.”

They were the sweetest words Harry had ever heard. He took
two quick steps over and pulled Daniel’s hips back, nestling his cock in the
warm crease of his buttocks. Daniel sucked in a breath and pressed back against
him. “You can suck me, or I have something to ease the way.”

“What?” Daniel looked at him over his shoulder, his brows
drawn together. “What do you have?”

Harry reached down and fished around in his jacket until he
found the small vial. “Saddle oil.”

A small huff of amusement escaped Daniel. “Ride away,
Harry.”

Harry poured the oil into his hand and ran it over his cock.
It felt so good he had to choke back a moan.

“Put some on me,” Daniel told him in a rough, urgent voice.
“Put your finger inside me.”

“Christ,” Harry muttered. He pressed his finger against
Daniel’s hole and it slid inside and Daniel moaned. He pushed it in until he
could go no farther and wiggled it about. Daniel squirmed. He was so tight and
hot and Harry’s head pounded with the need to get his cock in there. He pulled
away and Daniel cried out softly.

Harry didn’t make him wait long. When he replaced his finger
with his cock and slid inside, Daniel hissed out, “Yes.” Harry felt the same
but couldn’t speak. He hadn’t thought he’d be here again and he wanted to savor
the moment.

It was easier this time with the oil. It was a smooth, tight
glide, and Harry was struck by the contrast of tight heat and cool air as he
fucked in and out. It became an obsession to see how long he could stand the
cold emptiness before he had to push back inside Daniel. He realized he was
holding his breath every time he pulled back and he forced himself to stop.

“Harder,” Daniel demanded. He sounded desperate. “Fuck me
into the ground, Harry.” He put his elbows down and laid his forehead on
Harry’s jacket, presenting himself like a sacrifice, and Harry took a moment to
take a few deep breaths before he slammed into Daniel. Daniel’s fingers curled
into the hay, but he said nothing. Harry began to fuck him hard and deep, the
hay bale rocking on the hard ground. Daniel’s upper body went lower and lower,
so the angle of Harry’s penetration was sharper and finally Daniel cried out
and sobbed Harry’s name. “Right there,” he pleaded. “Fuck me again and again,
Harry,” he begged. “Right there.”

The sound of Daniel’s desperation, his name on Daniel’s
lips, pushed Harry into a frenzy. He lost any rhythm he’d possessed, just
slammed in and tried to get so deep in Daniel he could crawl inside. Daniel
cried out quietly each time, gasping and begging incoherently and Harry knew he
was going to come. Just the thought of filling Daniel’s backside with his
release gave Harry a shiver of lust so powerful he nearly lost his grip on
Daniel’s hips. “I’m going to come, Daniel,” he said, his voice harsh. “Come
with me.”

“Yes,” Daniel said simply, his voice weak and needy. Harry
wanted to roll around in that voice and scent himself with Daniel’s submission.

A sound unlike any he’d ever made before escaped him as he
came, his seed hot and heavy as it pulsed out of his cock and filled Daniel.
Harry wanted to keep fucking into the hot, wet evidence of his possession. But
at that moment Daniel came, his arse gripping Harry’s cock so tightly all he
could do was press deep and hold himself there, giving Daniel something to come
on, something to hold on to as pleasure swamped him.