Chapter 11: In Plymouth (4)

With steps more lifeless than a corpse’s, Claire entered Elpian’s room. It was a place he already had no good memories of, but now it felt a hundred times more like a waking nightmare.

Claire walked slowly to the bed, sat down, and after a deep sigh, spoke in a low voice.

“Henry… are you there?”

“…Claire?”

After a brief pause, Henry’s voice came from beneath the bed. Claire stared at the wall with a mournful gaze as he replied.

“Yes, it’s me.”

“Did you come to check if I’m okay? This was a brilliant idea. I heard people running around all day, but not a single soul came near this room. They’d never imagine I’m here.”

Along with his cheerful voice came the rustling sound of movement from under the draped bedsheets. Claire let out a sharp, frantic whisper.

“Don’t come out!”

“…What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Henry asked worriedly at Claire’s jittery reaction. Claire struggled to remain calm as he explained.

“Stay exactly where you are. Elpian is coming soon.”

“Already? Did they catch on?”

“They haven’t caught us yet.”

“That’s a relief. Did you come to warn me? Don’t worry, I won’t move a muscle.”

That bright voice only made Claire’s heart ache more. Bowing his head and burying his face in his hands, Claire squeezed out a strangled whisper.

“Henry.”

“Yeah?”

“Even if… even if something happens to me… you mustn’t come out.”

“What are you talking about?”

“There’s no time to explain. If you come out, we both die. Never forget what I said.”

“Claire?”

Henry started to say something, but footsteps echoed outside the door. Claire tapped his foot against the floorboards, signaling for silence. Fortunately, Henry held his breath and said no more.

Soon, the heavy iron door opened with a weighted groan. Claire looked toward it, his heart sinking into shadow.

Elpian walked into the room like a grim reaper. He tossed his heavy coat onto the armchair and turned his marble-cold face toward Claire, issuing a short command.

“Take off your clothes.”

The mere words sent a surge of shame through Claire. Everyone on this ship already knew what was happening to him, but the difference in Henry knowing was monumental.

Henry knew Claire Dane Grant—the diligent, refined, and capable surgeon who had moved through London’s high society. Now, Henry would be forced to witness this wretched humiliation.

When Claire froze like a statue, unable to move, Elpian furrowed his brow. Instead of repeating the command, he strode over, pushed Claire down onto the bed, and began to strip him.

Normally, Claire would have overflowed with resentment, shouting at him to stop or pleading his refusal. But now, he forced himself to swallow every sound. He wanted as little as possible to reach Henry’s ears. He wanted to shield his friend from the full extent of this disgrace.

But Elpian would not let Claire have his way. After stripping him and dropping the clothes to the floor, he pried open Claire’s tightly shut lips and invaded. The wet, messy sounds of their saliva mingling and the force of the kiss echoed through the silent room.

Given their earlier conversation, there was no way Henry—a grown man—wouldn’t realize what was happening. Claire found himself wishing a storm would suddenly capsize the ship. Elpian finally pulled his lips away from the tightly closed eyes of the stiffened man.

“You’re strangely quiet.”

Long fingers traced Claire’s cheek, followed by the sound of a low chuckle. Hot breath tickled his ear, and a crimson tongue began to lick and suck at his earlobe. At the unbearable erotic sensation, Claire had to bite his lip hard to keep from making a sound.

“Have you finally grown used to being touched?”

“Don’t be ridiculous!”

He had intended not to say a single word, but he had fallen for Elpian’s provocation. Flushed with the fear that Henry might misunderstand, Claire snapped his denial, making Elpian look amused. The rage that had been on his face moments ago was gone without a trace.

Elpian kissed him again, deep and lingering, before licking down his jawline and biting into his neck. A subtle hand slipped between Claire’s legs, which were twitching at the stimulation.

As his expression softened, so did Elpian’s touch. Usually rough and overbearing, today he was remarkably delicate and soft. At the gentle gestures—reminiscent of someone handling a prized possession—Claire’s rigid body began to go limp and pliant.

“Stop… don’t.”

Claire shook his head, pleading as Elpian’s hand wrapped around his member. He almost wished the man would just be violent, satisfy himself, and get it over with—but Elpian didn’t. As the man took a pink nipple into his mouth and flicked the tip with his tongue, Claire’s back arched like a bow. With trembling hands, Claire grabbed Elpian’s wrists, trying to push him away while shaking his head.

“This… stop it, just you… ngh!”

“You’re making such lovely sounds.”

Pinning Claire’s wrists down, Elpian continued to pleasure him. Leaving a trail of marks across the pale skin, Elpian’s face moved lower. Claire’s slender legs were forced apart and raised, exposing his most private parts clearly to Elpian’s gaze.

“Ah, no. Don’t!”

The moment Elpian’s tongue licked up the length of Claire’s fully engorged member, Claire’s body convulsed. For a man who had never even explored himself, let alone received such attention from a woman, this sensation was a shock to the system. He had never imagined anyone would ever do such a thing to him.

Elpian took him deep into his mouth. Claire’s vision went white; his muscles gave way. He wanted to resist, but with his waist feeling as if it had melted, all he could do was gasp and tremble.

Even amidst the pleasure, thoughts of Henry beneath the bed snagged in his mind like a hook. Each time, his desire cooled, only to be instantly reignited by the onslaught of stimulation. His mind recoiled in disgust, yet whenever Elpian teased him with his tongue or made lewd sounds with his lips, a primal instinct surged within him to let go of everything and surrender.

“Stop, let me go. Fast.”

Finally, a plea of surrender broke from Claire’s lips. But Elpian acted as if he hadn’t heard, taking him deeper and sucking hard. A high-pitched moan escaped Claire before he could stop it.

“Haah, ugh… ah…!”

He nearly spat out a curse he had never used in his life. That was how intense the release was. As Claire lay trembling, his legs stiffened to the tips of his toes, Elpian raised his head.

A single white thread of Claire’s essence trailed from between those red lips. Elpian swallowed it down and immediately buried his face between Claire’s thighs again.

Claire thought it would be over, but the wanton act continued. Elpian mouthed Claire’s ivory-smooth legs, leaving crimson marks behind. Having already climaxed, Claire was now so sensitive that he gasped at every single movement. Watching Claire flutter like a bird caught in a trap, Elpian let out a low laugh and sat up.

The laces of his white shirt were undone, revealing Elpian’s well-conditioned torso. His black hair flowing against his skin was devastatingly erotic. Even in the dim light, his vivid green eyes were clouded with arousal.

Elpian traced his wet lips with a long finger before licking it with the tongue that had just driven Claire to the edge. Stripping completely, he moved to cover Claire’s body with his own.

“You look like you enjoyed that.”

Softly brushing away the sweat-soaked blond hair clinging to Claire’s cheek, Elpian kissed him. The attitude was so different from their previous encounters that it felt awkward and strange. As Elpian kissed him with a lingering heat as if they were lovers, Claire turned his face away and spat out:

“Don’t do this. You’re just supposed to satisfy your own needs.”

“Do you think I’m performing some kind of service?”

As he spoke, Elpian pressed his body firmly against Claire’s stomach. The sheer size of his arousal, seen on the first day, was now felt in full.

Is he the type who gets aroused by touching others? What a troublesome fetish. Elpian continued to pepper him with light kisses, whispering clearly into his ear.

“It’s interesting to watch those who are full of pride in their own ‘difference’ crumble. After all, everyone has a rock bottom.”

“Such a filthy hobby… mmph.”

Elpian thrust his fingers into Claire’s mouth, coating them thoroughly. Then, those fingers moved down between Claire’s legs.