Liefde Towers / In the Quiet (Private) / Rowan Murphy 12 years ago

In the Quiet (Private)

Rowan lay awake, staring up at the ceiling, resting comfortably against Cris who slept beside him, curled around him protectively. It had been two nights since he'd foolishly run headlong into what had been a set-up and he was having trouble sleeping. That fact didn't trouble him terribly... he knew it would be a little while before he got the images out of his head. He had some time off and he was making good use of it, he hoped, getting himself back together so he could return to work.

His body was close to being healed. He still wore bandages around his hands but the wrappings only covered from his wrists to his palms, leaving his still slightly reddened fingers free. The burns were mostly healed. All that remained were the welts in his palms which had been far worse than he'd thought at the time and were still closing. They were well on the mend though; merely a little tender and sore. He couldn't really grip anything tightly yet but it wouldn't be long.

Once he'd come to his senses he'd been able to shed a little light on the situation, but not as much as he would have liked. He had informed Cris that the little girl's name was Jessie, that she'd been physically and sexually abused by her parents. Rowan had turned them in to the authorities. Jessie would be the proverbial damsel in distress, but he had no idea who would have written such a thing or killed a child. None of his co-workers fit the profile.

He sighed into the darkness of their bedroom and tried to gently extricate himself from Cris's arms without waking his lover. Poor Cris. He didn't deserve any of this. Rowan wished he could turn back the clock and erase what had happened. He was trying to remain in good spirits, for himself and for his partner. It wasn't tough; Rowan was a natural optimist. He had faith in their ability to sort this out, he just wanted it to happen before anyone else was hurt... or killed. That people were dying because of him - that bothered him a great deal. He was trying not to dwell on it or his confidence and positivity might fail him, and he needed them now.

Sitting up on the edge of the bed Rowan tenderly reached back and touched his sore fingertips to Cris's cheek. There was so much love there, he thought, a shadowed smile ghosting across his lips. He rose and made his quiet way down to the living room where he stood in front of the windows for a long moment, gazing out at the snowy alpine night. Outside it would be mid-day and the sun would be blazing but here, in their home, they were surrounded by starlit darkness. It was tempting to remain here and forget the outside world but Rowan had never done things the easy way.

He finally moved over to the sofa and sat. He didn't expect to be alone long; Christian was a remarkably light sleeper and Rowan knew his presence in bed would have been instantly missed. On the off chance that Cris could stay asleep though, Rowan reconsidered the idea of watching TV. Maybe he should read a book instead. He was certain to sleep more in a little bit, he just wasn't sleeping for long periods at a time before dreams woke him up. He felt badly about the fact that every time he awoke, Cris did too. Yet at the same time it was comforting. Cris had been ever-present since the fire, Rowan's supporter and caretaker, his sounding board, his shoulder to cry on. Rowan knew he was worried but he kept his legendary calm and made himself everything Rowan could possibly need.

A pirate and a mercenary... Rowan's lips quirked up a little. Surely, the two of them could make this work with the help of their friends. They were tough and resourceful and Rowan didn't think anyone could out-strategize Cris. They would get to the bottom of this. They had to. Failure was not an option.

Christian Bern 12 years ago
He held Rowan close as he waited for an answer. It was comforting; holding his lover was what he wanted and while Rowan was cooperating then he could indulge in it. Cris sighed softly as his partner's fingers touched his abs, teasingly light because of the awkward angle at which Rowan was required to tilt his bound hands in order to reach him.

It seemed that his lover was done cooperating for the moment. Cris clamped down on the moan of disappointment that those words caused and what it meant for their current progress. He would have to stop rewarding Rowan which meant punishing himself as well.

As soon as his companion refused to comply, Cris let him go and stood up once more. He came back around in front of Rowan, standing just far enough away that his lover would not be able to lean forward and touch him without losing his balance and falling over. Yes, Rowan could scoot up once more but Cris's current attitude was stern and uninviting. He stood there with his hands on his hips and looked down coolly at his partner.

In truth, he loved Rowan's resilience. His lover was making this enjoyable for them both, a test of endurance and restraint for them both. Cris had played such roles in the past but he had never been so invested in the results. He could be turned on by a stranger in the same situation but those desires were nothing compared to the immense need he had for Rowan. If his past partners had refused to cooperate then he could take all night patiently making them see the error of their rebellious ways. He found it easy to win because it meant so little to him; if they continued to be troublesome only they were losing out. He could control himself long enough to calmly leave them unfulfilled and perhaps the knowledge that he could take or leave the sex that came as a reward for their good behavior was enough to make most others who had been in Rowan's role in the past capitulate more quickly. It had never really been a challenge. Cris was not sure he could last another hour without being able to make love to Rowan. The fierce desire that was building up inside him would eventually demand release.

"If you do not tell me then you wait some more. I will not touch you. I will not kiss you.” Cris paced around in a circle as he spoke to Rowan, his hands now clasped behind his back. The posture and the role were so natural that he fell into it easily, even while naked and aroused. He was the military officer; he was the Security Chief. It was at his very core. This role was not difficult for him to play because it was not a role but one part of his true self.

Cris turned away from Rowan and stared blindly out the window. It was mostly for effect; he was illustrating in a physical way what he was taking away from his lover. He was both the interrogator and the prize. If Rowan did not cooperate then he did not get the prize. Cris's attitude might have suggested that his lover's choice did not matter to him but it was a rouse. Like many a police officer's interrogation, they may say it did not matter to them whether the criminal confessed or if they kept their secrets and rotted in jail for a while longer but it was a lie. They wanted to know the truth; they wanted to see justice done. The best cared what happened in the tiny interrogation room no matter how well they pretended that they didn't.

The other reason for turning away was so that Rowan could not see his mask slip. He did not want his lover to see the desire in his eyes, the aching need in his expression, even for a moment while he continued to speak. It was obvious that he was turned on. Cris could not hide that but he wanted to keep Rowan guessing about just how much.

His voice might give him away. Cris could feel that it would be difficult to speak normally. He took a deep breath, letting it out in a quiet sigh. Speaking almost as if to himself, he continued in a soft voice. "You will not feel me inside you replacing that vibrator with something warm and alive or my hand stroking you to release as we make love here in front of everyone.”

"Instead I will continue tormenting you from a distance. There are more toys in the closet to play with and if you should happen to come from them instead of me, well...we would just have to begin again after I sit here and masturbate in front of you to completion.” Cris was relying heavily on the knowledge that Rowan would rather be the source of his release. He was sure that watching him get himself off would be enjoyable but it would not be as good as Rowan being a part of the experience.

Turning partially around so he could watch Rowan, showing him just a hint of what he could have if he cooperated. "If you tell me then you get me. You will climax with my arms wrapped around you, my hand stroking you, my cock inside you. I cannot promise to be gentle or that either of us will last very long but I can promise to leave you fulfilled....far more satisfied than a cold hard vibrator.”

Cris turned fully around to better show Rowan what he could have and what he had to lose. "The choice is yours.”
Rowan Murphy 12 years ago
Rowan felt Cris's absence. Keenly, like a knife in his chest. It hit him hard... he reflected on his previous thoughts. This was real, outside of their games. Cris moving away made him ache deep inside, down to his soul, he thought. He bent over, still kneeling on the floor, and felt a shudder sweep through him in a way that had very little to do with pleasure. Cris... come back.

He finally raised his eyes to see Cris standing over him, hands on his hips, beautiful, still aroused. Rowan watched him, knowing his desire and pain were naked on his face. His previous attitude of insolence and pride was momentarily shattered when Cris withdrew from him, becoming cold and distant.

His lover paced away from him, hands behind his back, every inch the man in charge. In spite of the pain from the sudden separation, Rowan felt himself growing ever more aroused with the sight of him, his air of complete control. Rowan listened to him talk, mesmerized by his beautiful soft tenor, drawn to the silhouette of him against the pseudo-window.

The choice was his... was it, really? Rowan absorbed Cris's words for a few moments, and came to the conclusion that Cris was ready for him. If he wasn't, why would he offer Rowan such a choice? Rowan had no desire to be taken with toys today and Cris knew it. Rowan didn't think Cris would enjoy stroking himself to climax either, when they were both there, wanting each other. Cris had offered him a choice; Cris had capitulated. Rowan could meet him halfway by capitulating as well, or he could injure his lover and himself with his refusal.

It was no choice.

Rowan drew in a shaky breath, recalling the point in his story at which he'd stopped. "The... the pistol," he said, closing his eyes, stammering over the words a little as he tried to rein in his emotions, "It's pointed at me, but your hand is shaking."

Rowan let himself slip into storytelling mode. He had done this many times before; now he tried to coax Cris closer with his lilting accent and soft words as he painted a picture.

"The ship is rocking; the sea is choppy. There are clouds overhead but I've stopped seeing them. I don't even see the pistol. I see you. I see your perfect face, your eyes... they seem so hard but there's kindness beneath, and passion. Passion for what you do, and surprisingly, passion for me.

"I never knew it. While we played cat and dog we learned to respect each other. We learned to admire each others' dedication and perseverance. The game became more than a game. More than a chase."

Rowan continued to speak softly, his gaze steady on Cris. "We stare at each other across the gap between us. Then you approach, pistol still between us. I watch you without flinching. But you don't fire it. Instead you let it down, to my surprise, and move closer.

"In that moment even the ship ceases to exist. I don't know who moves first but suddenly we are in each others' arms. Your lips are on mine, or mine are on yours. I don't know. But you love me fiercely, up against the mast of my ship."

He fell silent then. In his daydream the scene ended with their parting but Rowan didn't want that to be the image they made love to. He quickly revised his ending, his voice even softer.

"It's then that I know I cannot leave you. I'll never leave you. Even if we part ways for a time, I will always be yours. We forge a bond between us that will last across land or sea. You have my trust... I can be myself with you, show you my strengths and weaknesses. You support me when I need it, you motivate me to become better than I am. And in return I support you; I can handle all you are. You can relax with me, you can release everything inside you and I will take it, absorb your energy, and love you more for it."

That was what he loved about this fantasy in particular. That was what he wanted. Rowan adored Cris for letting him do this. At work Rowan was in control of everything. He made snap decisions that affected peoples' lives. He knew what to do and he could not, ever, panic. Cris understood that... he did it himself. There had to be an outlet, for both of them.

He fell silent once more, watching. Waiting. Cris couldn't promise gentle, or lengthy... that was perfect. Rowan was trembling with need, with desire, with emotion. He was at the brink of his endurance and so, he suspected, was Cris. Rowan wanted him so badly at this point that there was very little he wouldn't do by now. The next move, however, was Cris's.
Christian Bern 12 years ago
Rowan looked so lost and upset for a moment that Cris was tempted to stop their game and go to him. He wanted to hold his lover close and it seemed to him that Rowan wanted it as well.

However, Rowan had asked him for this and he knew that if his partner were overwhelmed by what they were doing then he would say so, knowing that Cris would stop it all in an instant. They were pushing each other and it would be a shame to stop now if there were not a good reason for it.


His lover made his choice and started speaking. Cris closed the space between them and came to kneel in front of Rowan. He listened to the rest of his partner's fantasy while gently stroking Rowan's shoulders and chest. The touches were to reassure and reward his lover, and perhaps himself as well.


"Fiercely, hmm?” Cris smiled when Rowan was finished speaking. It sounded like a beautiful movie or a nice novel. His own fantasies seemed sort of shallow in comparison. They were little scenarios that generally had to do with sex or surprising Rowan in some way...which often eventually led to sex. Perhaps he was not as romantic as his partner. He loved spending time with Rowan and it did not have to involve physical release at all. However, the fantasy of coming home and finding Rowan there waiting for him and the two of them spending a tame night curled up on the sofa watching television did not seem to appropriate for the moment.


"Your ship is rather far away and I do not believe it has a mast.” Cris smiled. "However, we have this nice ottoman here...”


He stood up and pushed the foot stool forward again and then moved around behind Rowan once more. Guiding his lover back into position over the ottoman, he reached down to relieve his lover of the vibrator. Cris leaned forward and murmured softly. "I am not going to be gentle with you. I hope you were not expecting me to be.” Rowan had eventually told him the information that he had requested but he had been reluctant. Cris had promised himself as a reward but he did not promise anything else. He pulled the vibrator out and tossed it aside onto the towel still running. Turning it off could wait.


Placing one hand at the base of Rowan's neck, he held his lover down like a rebellious prisoner and with the other hand he guided himself into his partner. Cris pushed into Rowan in one smooth move until he was buried deep inside. "Thank you for your cooperation.” His voice, now that he was not needing to appear calm, was hoarse with desire. He doubted he could control it any longer, certainly not while buried to the hilt inside his companion.
Rowan Murphy 12 years ago
Words came more easily to Rowan with Cris right there. He sighed softly at Cris's touches, light and perfect while he set the stage of his fantasy. When Cris commented, Rowan nodded in return. "Fiercely," he replied.

Fierce didn't have to mean painful, of course. Rowan just wanted Cris's intensity. His energy. All of him.

Rowan waited with suspended breath while Cris moved around behind him. This was what he wanted; the ultimate reward. He smiled back at Cris when his partner was in place. At Cris's warning the impishness was back on his face, in his slightly wicked smile.

"Bring it," he said softly.

He wanted Cris's release, his surrender, not to Rowan but to his own urges and desires. That was the crux of the authority fantasy, the collapse of those walls. He wanted to experience that with Cris, again and again, to know his partner without restraint, without boundaries, to embrace that ferocity and that passion and to know Cris trusted him to handle it, to take it on.

The vibrator was removed and tossed aside, still running. It only made him smile wider. Rowan gasped with pleasure as Cris restrained him carefully but firmly. He let out a soft laugh of delight. God, yes... he wanted Cris to take him.

Cris did just that, sliding into Rowan's slicked opening easily, stretching him wide, pushing into him with ease. Rowan cried out loudly at the sensation. It was what he'd been wanting. The hand that had guided himself into Rowan dropped to Rowan's waist. Rowan felt Cris gripping his hip tightly, his hand shaking a little.

But Cris's voice. That was the best. There was a ragged quality to it that turned him on more than he'd believed possible. It spoke of all the things Rowan wanted, of desire, of passion. He groaned Cris's name, determined not to make it easy on his partner even now.

He shifted his hips against Cris's hold, pushing back against his partner insistently. Without words he was telling Cris to continue, begging him to keep going. Rowan needed it; Cris needed it. Once again he moaned, asking for more. This was just what he wanted.
Christian Bern 12 years ago
With a low growl, he pulled back and then thrust in deeply once more. It was hard to contain himself at all. He wanted to keep pushing until they were both overcome. Rowan's enjoyment served to fuel his ferocity; that his companion enjoyed this and even wanted it made Cris all the more turned on by every sound and movement that Rowan made.

He rocked his hips backward and forward, gasping each time. "You make me crazy.” Cris spoke in a halting breathless voice. Removing his hand from Rowan's neck, he placed it on his lover's other hip. Now grasping his partner firmly, Cris began to ride him in earnest. There was no slow build up, no teasing, no gentle kisses. It was hard, the sounds of flesh meeting flesh and the small grunts of exertion.

Not trusting his voice to be able to communicate what he wanted, he sent instead. [I need you. ] He wanted Rowan so badly that it was a physical ache. Cris doubted that it would completely go away; he always wanted Rowan but when they were done he would be content, for a while.

"Look...outside.” He managed between thrusts. Cris reached up and grabbed both of Rowan's wrists, holding onto them as he continued to move inside his partner. [I want you so badly that I would take you in front of all them right now.] Right now he felt nothing else was as important as this. Job be damned; if the only way to love Rowan was in front of a crowd of Evenhet elders he would do it. Happily, perhaps even smugly. He's mine. Good luck finding your own.

Lasting was not something that was going to happen, even with extra help from the rings. Cris leaned over Rowan, releasing one wrist. He reached down and began to stroke his partner in time to his own insistent thrusts. [ I want to see you show them everything, expose it all. Show them how much you enjoy being claimed by me.] The idea that Rowan would be willing to let everyone else see him this way and to watch him in the throws of ecstacy excited him. It was private, intimate but at the same time displaying it showed trust and love in a way that was incredibly erotic.
Rowan Murphy 12 years ago
Cris's growl sent a shiver down Rowan's spine. He loved the sound of it, the abandonment to a baser instinct. Cris was normally so restrained, so controlled. Knowing this side of him, knowing Cris trusted him with this side of him, was an erotic thrill.

It was difficult to move too much in this position but Rowan was strong and agile for his size; he twisted in Cris's hold, writhing against his partner, moaning with increasing volume as Cris pushed into him again and again. Tenderness had gone by the wayside but that was fine. Rowan wanted this roughness, wanted to feel every bit of his partner's passion. As Cris moved his other hand down to Rowan's hips, he groaned a sound of absolute enjoyment.

Cris's hands were tight on his hips, grabbing him, holding him while he thrust hard. Rowan felt the pressure of Cris's fingers, felt every inch of his partner's rock hard length as he penetrated deeply with every thrust. In the back of his mind he found he hoped Cris was bruising him. He knew it would fade quickly but he wanted to be marked, for however short a time, visible proof of his lover's claim.

[Need you too, love,] he sent back. Cris's gasping breaths were driving him frantic with arousal. He shifted, using his shoulders to lever himself against his partner, to meet him as best he could, to brace himself against the force of Cris's rhythm.

Rowan felt Cris let go of his hips and grasp his wrists instead. At the request, or order, to look outside he did so, arching his back and raising his head, taking in the casual passers-by with a proud gaze that quickly gave way to ecstatic bliss as Cris continued to ride him. Show them, was the request... not a difficult one to fulfill. As Cris leaned forward and pressed against him, as his hand enclosed Rowan's cock, Rowan did exactly that. Moans became loud cries of agonized pleasure as he lost himself to the sensation. Between cries he panted for breath, but every time Cris's hand stroked him it tore another scream from his throat. Incoherent cries soon shaped themselves into Cris's name, falling from Rowan's lips repeatedly mingled with promises of love.

[Let them... watch,] he sent back with difficulty. [No one else... can ever claim me. Just you.]

He teetered on the brink of release for a long moment, his body tense, shuddering. [Let it go, love,] he pleaded. [No restraint... no control. Let me have you.]

Rowan could say nothing else; his body shuddered one last time and despite the harness he still wore he came intensely. Tremors rolled across his shoulders as he felt each ripple of pleasure. He kept his face upturned to the window although with the flashes of white before his eyes he couldn't see anyone. He was only aware of Cris, and his face reflected his emotions. Yes... look at me. This is what my lover does to me. This is how he cares for me.
Christian Bern 12 years ago
Hearing Rowan be so vocal and obviously enjoying himself so much was impossible to resist. Cris loved every moan and gasp; he listened in rapt fascination as those sounds became louder and more desperate. All the while, he continued his own frantic drive for release.

Eventually, he let go of Rowan's wrist and grasped his lover with an arm circled around his waist. Cris held his partner tight against himself this way, thrusting as deeply as he could possibly manage.

He could not help but do as Rowan requested of him. There was no way to control the explosive release that was the inevitable result of their foreplay and the furious rhythm he was currently setting.

Cris did not even try to slow down the climax that hit him like a freight train. He threw his head back and pushed into Rowan one final time as the waves of pleasure wracked his frame. Afterward he could not have told you what he said or what noises he had made. He had the vague sense that they were loud,gutteral and completely without coherence. It was all an overwhelming blur of achingly intense sensations. He could feel Rowan warm in his hand, his lover's body trembling against him, the cool floor beneath his knees; outside of their small space nothing else existed.

Falling forward against Rowan, he rested for a few moments, breathing in large gasps of air. His heart was hammering in his chest and a fine sheen of sweat covered his body. Despite the physical exhaustion, the moment was one of perfect peace.

"I hope that was suitable, Love, because I do not think I have any more in me.” For the moment. Cris had to admit he was pretty well sated right this minute but the night was far from over.

His release had been cathartic, purging him of pent up stress, emotional restraint and worry. He felt lighter and more capable than he had felt in days. Cris felt as though he were once more in control of himself and able to handle the crisis that was upon them. It was interesting that losing control was what gave him that but it had.

Slowly, he pulled out of Rowan and quickly cleaned himself. He then set about taking care of his lover with tender careful attention. It was very counter to the roughness of his earlier actions but now that they were both finished he wanted to take care of Rowan properly. Then he released his partner from the ties that bound his hands. "Now touch me please. I want to feel your arms around me.” Cris wrapped his own arms around Rowan's chest and held him close.

"That was perfect, Love, absolutely perfect.”

Looking out the window, he sighed. "You know they could have at least applauded, ungrateful wretches.” Cris waved a dismissive hand toward the unsuspecting audience. "No more shows for them tonight...but for you...” He smiled "Shall we see what trouble we can get into in the shower?”
Rowan Murphy 12 years ago
Ask and ye shall receive, Rowan thought to himself fleetingly as Cris proceeded to do exactly what he'd requested. Rowan wasn't sure he'd ever felt such a lack of restraint from his partner. Cris's hand was tight upon his wrist, releasing him only to lock around Rowan's waist like a band of iron. Rowan moaned loudly in spite of the fact that he had just come; it still felt incredible. Cris stroked deeply into him, forceful and perfect. Rowan cried out with satisfaction, his heart pounding with excitement as Cris's moans echoed against the walls of the room. It was a very short time after Rowan's release that Cris found his own with a loud cry.

They lay together quietly, hearts pounding, chests heaving, the emotional and physical intertwined in perfect harmony. Rowan couldn't imagine having enjoyed that any more than he just had. Cris was beautiful in his lack of restraint, gorgeous in his complete release, and Rowan loved that Cris entrusted such a thing to him. His intensity didn't give Rowan even a moments' worry. He loved it.

Cris spoke and Rowan smiled, turning his head against the ottoman. "Cris. You are perfect for me. Every time. But," he cocked one eyebrow up with an impish smile, "we'll see how finished we both are. I don't believe I'm utterly exhausted yet."

He grinned at Cris and then waited while his partner cleaned them both off. Closing his eyes, he smiled with amusement at the great care with which Cris was handling him... as if he were made of glass. He suspected the reason; Rowan was observant and he knew Cris. Such wild abandon didn't come naturally to Cris and while Rowan embraced it and found it thrilling, it wouldn't surprise him if Cris felt guilty about having done so.

Finally released, Rowan turned and did as he was asked, wrapping his arms around Cris and tugging him close. He glanced out the 'windows' and laughed when Cris muttered at them.

Glancing down, Rowan noted with satisfaction that there were, indeed, slight purpling bruises on his hips and wrists. He felt a stab of arousal; even now, completely sated, the sight of Cris's marks filled him with happiness. This wasn't a normal desire for Rowan but tonight; tonight it was, as Cris had said, perfect.

"Mmm. A shower sounds great," Rowan said. Then, to prove he was perfectly fine, uninjured, intact, and all that, he gathered Cris up and crushed him close, lifting him and carrying him into the bathroom to put him in the shower.

Once there he proceeded to show Cris just how much trouble he could get into. He was strictly forbidden from using his hands but Rowan was perfectly comfortable using his mouth, and they discovered that Cris did, indeed, have more in him. Literally as well as figuratively.

Afterward they returned to the bed, sitting together in the quiet of the room once more, 'windows' returned to their peaceful Alpine view. Cris re-bandaged Rowan's hands for the bandages had gotten a little disheveled during their activity and then wet in the shower, which was unpleasant and didn't feel good on the healing welts beneath. His partner was gentle with him once more, and Rowan sighed at his tender care.

As they relaxed back into each others' arms once again, alone in the private of their bedroom, Rowan forgot to worry about nightmares. In the stillness of their sanctuary they loved each other again and again, several times before the day was out. Ultimately, they did exhaust each other into a senseless state. Rowan actually closed his eyes at last and immediately dropped into a sleep from which he did not wake for hours. If he had bad dreams he didn't remember them. There was only Cris and the echo of a perfect love that lasted the entire time he slept, until he awoke once more safe in the arms of the person he loved more than anything.

((ooc: Both out.))