It took a full day for Mr. Stephen Matthews, Vicar of Ashton on the Green, the home of Freddie’s country seat, to arrive. Kate and Tony had despaired of his being on time, as Jason’s fever had spiked during the third day, and even the doctor had seemed disheartened and preparing for the worst. During the night, however, Jason’s fever broke in a maelstrom of thrashing, sweating, and delirium.
His room had grown so crowded it was hard to move as all his friends had come, afraid it was their last chance to say goodbye. Kate was weak with fatigue. She’d eaten very little and slept less the last three days, and her frequent bouts of heavy weeping had sapped what little strength she had.
Tony was the walking wounded. He loved Kate dreadfully, but wasn’t sure he was strong enough to go on without Jason. He wanted to be, God knew, for Kate’s sake, but just the thought of life without Jason made him feel hollow inside. He had to step out of the room at one point because he was trembling so badly everyone noticed.
It was around three in the morning when Jason’s fever broke. Kate was sure he was dying, and fell to her knees beside Jason’s bed, weeping and praying as feverishly as Jason was muttering and shouting in his delirium. Thank God she didn’t realize what he was saying. With a room full of men, Kate would have been horrified to hear him describing in shocking detail the night the three of them had spent together before the duel. Doctor Peters had led her from the room and let her return only after she took a small draught of laudanum to calm her down.
By the time Kate came back, Jason’s delirium had passed, and he was sleeping. The doctor checked the bandage over his wound, and reported the infection seemed to be getting better, but Tony was afraid to be too optimistic. Jason had yet to wake up since he had collapsed after being shot.
He was still sleeping the following morning when Mr. Matthews arrived. He hurried up to Jason’s bedchamber, and was ushered through the gauntlet of old friends with hugs and handshakes as he made his way to the bed.
“Tony, my God, what’s happened? I received Doctor Peters’ missive, and fairly flew from home, only taking time to tell the smithy as I saddled my horse. How is he?” He knelt beside Jason’s bed and clasped his hand, his head bowing in prayer without waiting for an answer. Kate slowly lowered herself beside him, as did Tony, and soon the whole room followed suit.
“Lord, please bless Jason, whatever your plan is for him. There are many here who would miss him were you to call him to your side, particularly Kate and Tony. He is still needed here. Please remember that when making your decision. Bless this house and all who live and love here, and help them accept what may or may not be. Amen.”
They all stood, except Kate, who was dry eyed for the first time in days. She had no tears left. Mr. Matthews held out his hand to help her up.
“You must be Kate. I’ve heard so much about you from Jason and Tony, I feel I know you, my dear. Please try to be strong.” He was so kind and gentle and his blond, boyish good looks added to the charm of the country vicar.
“Thank you, Mr. Matthews, for coming so quickly.” She glanced around the room nervously. “Perhaps we should discuss why we called you here privately.”
Tony was shaking his head before she even finished. “No, Kate. I trust everyone here. They are as much a part of our life as any family could be.” He turned to the vicar. “Stephen, we want you to marry Jason and Kate. It’s what he wants, and if,” he couldn’t say he doesn’t make it, “if something happens, we want to know that Kate and any child she may have will bear his name.” Stephen started to speak, but Tony wasn’t done. “It’s what we dreamed of Stephen, all those long nights in hell. Please.”
Stephen sighed. “It’s highly irregular, Tony, and if anyone contests the validity of the marriage, it probably won’t hold up. But if it’s what you want, and truly what Jason wants, then I’ll do it.” He started to glance around the room, then looked back at Tony in afterthought. “Have you a license?”
Tony pulled one from his jacket pocket, much to Kate’s surprise. “Yes, Jason got a special license as soon as he asked Kate to marry him. He said that when she finally said yes, he wasn’t going to give her time to change her mind.”
Kate raised a trembling hand to her mouth. Oh, if only she hadn’t denied them. If she’d only said yes, it wouldn’t be like this. Her wedding day would have been joyous, celebrated in a church with friends around them, and Jason well and happy. He might never have gone to that duel.
Stop it, she told herself firmly. You said you were tired of the what ifs, so stop thinking them. This is the way it is, and even if it’s only for a short time, she would pledge her love to Jason before God and man.
She felt a hand on her elbow, and looked up at Tony, by her side, as he had been all these long, torturous hours since Jason was shot. How she loved him, how she needed him. She turned into his embrace gladly.
“Is everyone ready, then?” Mr. Matthews asked, pulling a small Bible from his pocket.
“No, no,” Kate said, turning to him. “Please, just a moment more.” She looked to the other men in the room. “Would someone go and get Very, and Lady Randall, please?”
They were already in place when Wolf Tarrant returned, supporting Lady Randall on one side, while Very held her arm on the other.
“Lady Randall,” the vicar made a small bow to her as she came to stand next to Tony beside the bed. “I’m Mr. Matthews. It’s a pleasure to meet you, my lady. You raised quite a wonderful son.”
“Thank you, Mr. Matthews. I think so, too. Now, let us proceed as quickly as possible so he can marry this wonderful girl.” She laid her hand on Kate’s shoulder where she sat on the bed at Jason’s side, and gave it a comforting squeeze.
“Thank you, Mother,” Kate whispered, patting her hand. “Tony,” she said, reaching for his hand. He clasped it tightly, and nodded at Stephen to begin.
The room was silent as the marriage ceremony proceeded. Stephen wasn’t verbose by any means, but he said a few meaningful words about marriage, and the true communion of man and woman, sanctified by God, which struck a chord with all those present.
Kate said her vows in a strong voice, still a little rough from ill usage the last few days. But when it came time for Jason’s, they realized they had no ring. Freddie stepped forward, and handed Tony a ring that had adorned his smallest finger.
“It’s not much, but I give it to you in love, knowing you will do the same.” The ring was beautiful filigreed gold in a wide band, set with opals and diamonds in a cluster. “Was my Grandmere’s,” he said as he handed it over. “She was a capital gal.”
Kate smiled her thanks tremulously, and turned back to Jason. When the vicar asked if Jason would take Kate to wed, she closed her eyes, expecting to hear Tony’s voice. Instead a rather irritated voice spoke from the bed.
“Bloody hell, Kate, you had to wait until I was at death’s door to marry me?”
“Jason,” Kate gasped, her eyes flying open.
Lady Randall shrieked and fainted dead away. Freddie caught her before she hit the floor. Tony was too shocked to react quickly enough.
Kate threw herself on Jason’s chest.
“Christ, woman, be careful,” he growled. He lifted a trembling hand to stroke her hair. His eyes were mere slits. “I’m weak as a babe and my head is splitting, so let’s get on with this.”
Tony couldn’t decide whether to laugh or cry, so he did both. He fell to his knees by the bed, for the first time in days not in prayer or despair, but weak with joy.
“Jase,” he cried. “We thought we were losing you.”
“I’m not ready to cock up my toes yet.” Jason’s eyes were beginning to open more, and he looked around the room. “Fuck, is this a wedding or a wake?”
By now half the room was laughing as people called out his name.
“Watch your language, young man,” Lady Randall said weakly from the chair she had been lowered into.
“Mother?” Jason rasped in disbelief.
“Oh, Jason, she’s been wonderful,” Kate told him. “This wedding was her idea. She didn’t want you to die without ensuring any baby was secure.”
Jason smiled weakly. “In that case, let’s get on with it. I believe it was my cue. I do. There, are we done?”
Tony tried to give him Freddie’s ring to place on Kate’s finger, but Jason refused. “In our eyes, the three of us are getting married. It’s only right you place the ring on her finger, Tony.”
Kate cried, again, when Stephen pronounced them all married. This time, her tears were tears of joy.
Three weeks later, Jason was bored out of his mind, and as horny as he was bored. He had hardly been allowed to wipe his own arse these past weeks, and he was heartily tired of it. He felt fine, goddamn it, with nothing but a twinge in his shoulder to remind him of the injury.
He was anxious to start looking for Robertson. After shooting Jason prematurely, the man had run. Phillip and Jonathan and several others had pursued him, but he went to ground like a fox. He was socially ruined and several of his creditors had the authorities looking for him as well. Supposedly none of his cronies knew where he’d gone. Jason and Tony were convinced he would return. He was a man who liked revenge above all things; he would not let this go unpunished. They kept their thoughts to themselves, however, for Kate was happy as a lark, believing Robertson gone from their lives for good.
Jason growled with frustration, actually growled, in the quiet of the empty room. If they didn’t stop coddling him, he’d go mad. He’d had a struggle a week ago to make them agree to let him don at least a shirt and pants. They were hiding his boots, damn it, until they thought he was “strong enough”.
He was pondering how to prove this without boots when Tony had the misfortune to enter the room. This time his growl had another source.
Tony gave him an amused glance as he set down the tea tray on the table by his chair. “You sound like a crazed bear, Jason. I’m sure a few more days will see you up and about.”
“I’m up and about to now,” Jason said in a silky voice that did nothing to hide its sensuous menace.
Tony straightened slowly and looked at Jason, awareness in his eyes. “You’re too weak,” he told him, regret in his voice.
“Come here,” Jason simply replied, holding out his hand to Tony as he sprawled in his chair like a pasha from the east.
Tony couldn’t say no. This was the Jason that had captivated him in Kate’s parlor. Forceful, menacing, he was a man to be obeyed. His heart tripped as he stepped over and took Jason’s hand.
Jason gave a slight tug, pulling Tony down. He was unsure where to go, and stopped the downward momentum with a hand on the chair arm.
“Straddle my lap,” Jason ordered him in a rough voice.
He did as he was told, carefully lifting one leg over Jason’s, and perched on his lap. It was awkward and unfamiliar.
“On your knees, closer,” he told Tony, reaching around him and cupping his buttocks to pull him in.
As soon as he slid down Jason’s legs and found himself straddling his hard cock, Tony tried to pull back.
“Jase,” he said apprehensively.
Jason wouldn’t let him go, holding him immobile, pressed tight against him. “I’m fine, and you’re not getting away that easily.” He leaned up and breathed in Tony’s scent deeply, his nose tucked into the soft spot behind his ear. “And if I remember correctly, you’ve a promise to keep.”
Tony’s heart raced. God, he wanted to fuck Jason, but it was too soon. What if it weakened him again?
“I want to fuck you Tony, and I want to fuck you now.” Jason’s teeth nipped at his neck and he heard Tony’s breath hitch.
“Oh God, Jason, you know I want it, but—“ Jason didn’t let him finish.
“Then I’m going to give it to you. Take off my shirt.”
Tony paused a moment too long and Jason slapped his ass through his tight buckskins. Tony moaned.
“Remember what I said about wanting to punish you, Tony. There’s nothing I’d like better than to see your sweet arse pink from the palm of my hand.” He felt Tony shiver.
“Mmmm, like that idea, do you?” he murmured, his tongue making lazy circles in the swirls of Tony’s ear. “In that case, I won’t whip you unless you take off my shirt.”
Jason felt Tony’s fingers fumbling with the fastenings on his chest. He chuckled, a low self-satisfied rumble, and he liked the sound. He sounded content, and he was.
“Now I know how to control you, pretty boy. You’re mine for the taking.”
He waited until Tony pulled his shirt off over his head, then he cupped the back of his neck and pulled him down for an open-mouthed passionate kiss. He loved the way Tony kissed, so thorough, he made sure he explored every corner of Jason’s mouth, and when Jason sucked hard on his tongue, Tony whimpered.
They broke the kiss with a gasp, neither able to disguise their lust when their engorged cocks were pressed together in Jason’s lap.
Jason slid his hands under Tony’s jacket, gliding up his ribs and over his aroused nipples, and Tony rocked his hips against him.
“Take off your clothes,” Jason whispered to him, arrested by the hot look in Tony’s eyes. He knew Jason was going to fuck him, fuck him hard, and he wanted it.
Tony began to fumble with the buttons on his waistcoat. Suddenly the door to Jason’s room opened and Kate walked in, already talking.
“Jason, darling, if you’re up to it, I thought we might—,“ She stopped as soon as she registered the tableau before her. “Oh dear.” She began to back towards the still open door.
“Katherine Randall, stop right there,” Jason ordered her, his voice silky with determination. She stopped. “Close the door.” She closed it. He could see her chest rising and falling rapidly. Bloody hell, these two were as horny as he was, and they’d been keeping him on a short leash. That was going to end now.
“Come here.” He held his hand out to her much as he had done to Tony, and she came as bidden, mesmerized by the scene. When she took his hand, he slowly brought it to his lips, and kissed it with the finesse of a born courtier.
“I’ve a need to show just what I’m up to, Kate, my darling. I believe you and Tony need proof that my strength is back.” He looked at her through the fringe of his eyelashes, clearly flirting. “Don’t you?”
“Only if you feel up to it,” Kate whispered, her eyes on his lap, and his and Tony’s large erections. Jason didn’t think she’d meant the pun, as he had, but he smiled anyway.
“Clearly I am up to a great deal,” he told her devilishly, and she finally looked at his face, smiling tentatively. He took her hand and placed it over Tony’s, which had paused on his buttons.
“Tony’s having a little trouble undressing for me, Kate. Why don’t you help him?” His tone was inquiring, almost nonchalant. “And then you can help me fuck him. You don’t mind if I fuck Tony this afternoon, do you?”
Kate’s pupils dilated and her fingers convulsed around Tony’s. Both of them were looking at Jason greedily.
He laughed, that same self-satisfied laugh. “No, I didn’t think you would.”
Tony climbed from Jason’s lap and stood there while Kate unveiled him for Jason, one article of clothing at a time. He had to sit in Jason’s lap while she pulled his boots off, and Jason took the opportunity to fondle his cock. Tony eagerly thrust into his hand.
When he was fully naked, standing before Jason for his pleasure, Jason licked his lips. He looked good enough to eat. Then he saw Kate kneeling on the floor at his feet, where she had helped him step out of his breeches.
“Suck him for me Kate. I love to watch you.”
He didn’t have to tell her twice. She leaned in gracefully and grasped Tony’s cock with her hand, bringing it to her lips.
“Turn sideways, you two, so I can see it better,” Jason told them, leaning his chin on his fist as he settled deeper into the chair. His cock was aching for Tony, and he knew if he fucked him now, he wouldn’t last. He needed to get control of his desire.
They did as he ordered, and he watched Kate delicately kiss the head of Tony’s penis, her lips caressing, her tongue coming out to lick around it, as if she were kissing his mouth. It was one of the most erotic things he’d ever seen. Tony grabbed the back of her head to try to force her mouth further on him, but she resisted.
“No, Tony.” Jason told him quietly. “Let Kate do it her way. I like the way she tortures you.”
Tony reluctantly let go of Kate and simply stood there, his arms at his sides, watching her lick and nibble his cock like a treat.
“Yes, you love the way it tastes, don’t you darling?” Jason purred at her. He couldn’t resist, he slid out of the chair to his knees next to her. He stopped inches away and watched her take Tony’s length halfway into her mouth, making him moan.
“Should we suck him until he comes, Kate? Before I fuck him? Then you could watch us. Or would you like him to fuck you while I’m fucking him? Whatever you want, darling.” He whispered the question in her ear, staying there to kiss and nibble her ear and neck.
Tony heard the question, and his hips thrust forward, his cock fucking into Kate’s eager, open mouth. Jason gently fisted his hand in her hair and pulled her head back, Tony’s cock slowly easing out. “Tell me what you want, Kate.”
Kate turned eyes flashing with desire to him. “I want to watch you suck him, Jason, with my help. I want to watch him come in your mouth. Then I want to watch you fuck him, while he licks me.”
Jason laughed out loud. “Well, you’ve certainly gotten over your shyness, haven’t you, kitten?”
Kate leaned towards him, and he let her take his mouth in a volatile kiss, all teeth and tongue. When she pulled back, she sucked on his lower lip until it released with a pop. “You told me there would be no embarrassment between us, Jason, and there isn’t, not anymore. You’re my husbands, and I love you both, and want to do everything with you.”
Jason and Tony were both breathing heavily. Delicately Jason rested his forehead on Kate’s, then rolled his head to rub his cheek along Tony’s cock. Both Tony and Kate moaned.
“I don’t know what I did to deserve you two, but I thank God every day that you are mine,” Jason whispered. Then he smoothed his hand down Kate’s back, and leaning over, took Tony’s cock into his mouth from Kate’s hand.
“Jason,” Tony groaned, “yes, lover, yes.”
Kate leaned in and licked along Tony’s cock as it emerged from Jason’s mouth. Tentatively she reached in with a hand, and lightly grasped his balls, rolling them with her fingers. He thrust hard into Jason’s mouth, making him gag slightly.
“Sorry, sorry,” Tony panted.
Kate laughed. “Not so easy to take a cock deep in your throat, is it, darling?” she purred in Jason’s ear. “Relax your muscles, and swallow around him.”
She watched closely as Jason followed her instructions. The sight of Tony’s cock fucking in and out of Jason’s mouth was the most wonderful thing Kate had ever seen. To think they’d almost lost him. She suddenly felt tears in her eyes, and looked away quickly to hide them. She needn’t have bothered. Tony only had eyes for his first male lover, the first man to suck his cock. And Jason’s eyes were closed as he savored the cock in his mouth.
“It’s good, isn’t it, Jason?” Tony whispered. “Your cock was so good. I loved sucking it. Suck me, Jase.” He fucked smoothly in and out of Jason’s mouth, and Kate saw Jason’s cheeks sink with each powerful pull.
Suddenly Jason’s hand was on the back of her head again, and he pulled it in close. She understood he wanted her to help again. She began to lick and nibble Tony’s cock as it glided out of his mouth and back in. Jason’s hand on her head was replaced by Tony’s as he grasped both she and Jason.
“Yes, darlings, God, yes, I love it like that,” Tony gasped. His strokes were still smooth, but his rhythm increased. Kate had to pull back, collapsing against Tony’s leg, wrapping an arm around it while she watched Jason suck him to climax.
Even sucking the cock of another man, a position that usually denoted subservience, Jason was clearly dominant. He feasted on Tony as if he were a delicacy prepared just for him. He forced Tony to his pace, pulling back when Tony tried to take the lead. One hand went between Tony’s legs, forcing them wider, and Kate saw Jason toying with his sac. Then one long finger slid back between the well muscled cheeks of his buttocks, rubbing.
“Oh, God, Jason,” Tony cried out, and he thrust deep into Jason’s mouth. Jason sucked him hard, holding him still with one hand on his hip. Kate saw his finger thrust into Tony to the first knuckle, and Tony exploded.
“Jason,” he ground out, doubling over, wrapping both hands around the other man’s head to hold him there, close. Tony’s body shook, and Kate thought perhaps he was trying not to thrust too deeply for fear of hurting Jason. Jason swallowed repeatedly, and Kate knew he was savoring Tony’s taste as she had. Finally, Tony threw his head back and groaned, and Kate saw Jason pull his hand away from his buttocks.
Jason slowly moved back, Tony’s long, shining phallus emerging from his mouth, still hard. When it fell free, Jason leaned over and kissed it gently where it lay.
“Yes, I can see why you two love it,” he said with a grin.