Chapter 20

Twenty

It had cost Leo several restless nights, but he had meant it when he said they couldn't be intimate again unless Jonathon was absolutely certain. There was no way Leo could get on a plane and fly back across an ocean without Jonathon after touching, tasting, and feeling that kind of bliss again. He'd be damned to another decade of torment and Leo had more than his share of regret and frustration, nein dánke.

By the fifth day of their one-week trial, Leo was ready to take command and turn Jonathon's attention toward the future. "No more disguises," he had announced after Jonathon arrived at the Plaza for breakfast. "I have been invited to tour Shaller the day was overcast and too chilly for Jonathon to sit outside.

Leo heard the elevator ding and spun, quickly wiping his sweaty hands on the front of his coat. The doors opened and Leo smiled and offered Jonathon a dignified bow. "Mein Liebster, you are perfection this morning." He held out a hand, charmed by Jonathon's oversized black cardigan, red flannel, white T-shirt, and jeans. Leo hoped he had chosen red and white in honor of the Austrian flag.

"Wow! You look…" Jonathan's lips twisted suspiciously as Leo kissed his hand. "Amazing. Immaculate. But really overdressed. Where are we going? The only thing you told me was that I should be comfortable," he said and warily accepted Leo's arm.

"I was waiting until you got here to decide," Leo replied as he guided Jonathon to the table. He gestured for Jonathon to wait as he poured each of them a glass. "There's some business I'd like to attend to… A formality, really," he murmured, stalling as his nerves fizzed like the bubbles in his champagne. He was fizzing with giddiness, not panic or dread, though. Because Leo was fairly certain that Jonathon would say yes and he was utterly convinced that marrying Jonathon was the best thing he could possibly do, as far as his own personal happiness and future were concerned.

"A formality?" Jonathan asked, a wry smile curving his lips as his thumbs tapped against his glass.

"A privilege, actually," Leo said with a nod. "I'm blessed to have had a second chance and this week to earn your trust and love back, hopefully." He paused, raising his brows.

Jonathan nodded and his smile started to wobble. "You have," he mouthed, sniffling as he took Leo's glass and set both on the table. "Just to be safe," he explained and Leo's lips twitched into a smile.

"That's probably a good call. I am blessed, more than I deserve," Leo said, so deeply humbled as Jonathon closed the distance between them. He stepped into Leo, resting a hand on his heart. "Marry me, Jonathon, and you will always come first and I will always fight for us. I've given the last ten years of my life to the House of Hessen and continuing its legacy. But my legacy will be my love for you, if you will have me," he said with a shy smile.

"Yes!" Jonathon threw an arm around Leo's neck. "Yes! Yes! Yes!" He attacked Leo's lips. "I will always be yours!" he said, laughing and crying.

"And you could leave New York City and live in Austria with me?" Leo asked carefully, praying Jonathon understood that Leo would need to return and spend much of the year there if he were to remain Margrave.

"I could happily live in Austria with you," Jonathon said through his tears. "I'm so tired of my life—of life here in New York—and I just want to be with you. That's all I've ever wanted."

"Alright!" Leo laughed as he tightened his arms and rested his forehead on Jonathon's. "I have a few homes and the margraviate has several properties we can use, but I don't care where we live in Austria as long as you're happy. We can get a place in London or Paris or Rome if you don't want to live there all year," he suggested, but Jonathon didn't hesitate and shook his head.

"Can we go back to Sch?nbühel?"

"You want to go back to Sch?nbühel?" Leo croaked, he was so overcome. "I haven't been able to go back. I was so afraid of how much I'd miss you—and us. But I can't think of any place I'd be happier now than at Sch?nbühel with my Jonathon."

A tearful gasp burst from Jonathon as he traced Leo's jaw. "Take me back and never let me go."

"Never," Leo promised and closed his eyes, breathing Jonathon in and savoring the feel of them , together again. He was finally complete after years of feeling like he'd lost a chunk of his heart and his soul, and Jonathon felt just as magical as Leo had remembered and fit so well in his arms. His lips nudged Jonathon's and Leo's legs began to shake, he had never needed a thing as badly as he needed to kiss him. "Oh, bitte, bitte, bitte," he begged.

"Leo." Jonathon's hand slid under the lapel of Leo's coat, deftly undoing the buttons on his vest.

"Mein Liebster," Leo groaned raggedly. His tongue swept around Jonathon's and Leo drank his ecstatic cry and tasted his tears. "Mine." The arm around Jonathon tightened and Leo's other hand slid around the back of his neck and into his hair. Leo was finally home and he would never allow anyone or anything to part them again.

"Leo!" Jonathon's plea was muffled as he pushed his face into the corner of Leo's neck, kissing, nuzzling, and licking. "I can't wait any longer. I'll scream if you?—"

Leo cut him off with a kiss. "I should feed you first," he said and Jonathon gave Leo's tie a firm yank.

"I will scream, sir," he stated with a pointed look.

"I suppose it can wait," Leo replied and sighed dramatically. He shed his coat and tossed it at the sofa, then danced Jonathon up the stairs. But Leo couldn't wait. He scooped Jonathon into his arms and hurried to his bedroom. "I'll do my best to be patient," Leo mumbled against Jonathon's lips, grunting when his shoulder clipped the doorjamb.

"Don't," Jonathon said as he was laid onto the bed and Leo quickly unlaced his Converse. They were slipped off and tossed over Leo's shoulders. "Is this a dream?" Jonathon asked as he shimmied out of his jeans and boxers.

Leo threw his vest and shirt aside, then crawled over him. "It feels like a dream," he said softly, leaving kisses on Jonathon's knees and thighs as he made his way to his lips. Leo paused when he reached Jonathon's hard-on, inhaling deeply and letting out a hungry groan before nuzzling his navel, savoring the smell of his warm, aroused body. He remembered that Jonathon didn't want to be loved there and they both shivered when Leo's fingers trailed along the cleft of his ass. "And this feels like home," he whispered as he caressed Jonathon's hole. "I will taste you here soon, but first, I have to see you and hold you like this," he explained in a gravelly mumble, kissing and rubbing his face all over Jonathon's stomach and chest and his neck. The feel of his body, so lithe and restless was now precious to Leo and he was so profoundly grateful just to hold Jonathon again.

"Yes! Home!" Jonathon babbled bits of words as Leo's lips and tongue washed over his skin, licking and nibbling at goosebumps, earning watery gasps and giggles. "I feel like I'm finally home and my body… I can feel it again and I'm so happy whenever you touch me."

Their limbs tangled as they rolled, arms and legs winding around each other as their hands spread and gripped at backs and asses. Leo kicked away his briefs and trousers, and gave in, drunk on the feel of Jonathon's body. He was so warm and luscious as Leo licked and sucked at Jonathon's taut, quivering navel and the corner of his hip.

He had just enough sentience left to hit the brakes before they went too far. "Verdammt!" Leo's head popped up. He blinked and squinted around the room, then pushed off the mattress.

Jonathon got his elbows beneath him and frowned as Leo rolled away and leaped out of the bed. "What…?"

Leo muffled a swear as he pushed open the bathroom door and headed for the vanity. "Condoms. Lube." he growled as he opened his toiletry bag.

"Probably just the lube," Jonathon called after him and Leo's heart skipped, then raced. He went to the door and leaned around it, a brow arching warily.

"Are you sure? "

Jonathon bit into his lip and shrugged. "I've done a lot of stupid things, but I stayed mentis enough to make sure there was always a condom and I'm on PrEP. I got tested a few weeks ago and everything was clear. I haven't been with anyone since then and I can show you if we find my phone."

"I don't need to see it," Leo said as he strode back to the bed with just the bottle. "It's been…a while, but I had a physical a few months ago and I'm in perfect health. With the exception of my ulcers, and I still get migraines."

Jonathon rose on his knees and stopped Leo, setting a hand on his chest. "I'll see what I can do about those," he murmured, distracted.

His gaze wandered down Leo's body and he was suddenly conscious of the little changes to his own physique since they had last seen and touched each other. He was even more solid and wider and there was more hair across Leo's pecs and a thicker trail leading to the base of his cock. That had gotten fuller and heavier as Jonathon stared at it, then gripped it firmly.

A strained grunt wafted from Leo, but he closed his eyes, allowing Jonathon time to get reacquainted and take stock of what was his. "Have I changed much?"

Jonathon nodded, licking his lips. How was it possible for a mouth to look angelic and designed for the most wicked deeds? Leo wanted to taste them, then lick and bite various other parts and suck on each of Jonathon's fingers and his toes and taste his…

"Good changes," Jonathon said with a weak laugh, risking a glance at Leo's eyes.

They were filled with tears as he studied Jonathon. "You are exactly as I remember you."

"Am I?" Jonathon looked down at himself.

Leo now understood that Jonathon rarely considered his body beyond the way it fit into a particular outfit on a given day. Jonathon admitted he was self-conscious about how lean and "unremarkable" his frame was, compared to Leo's. But he was absolutely perfect for being carried and cuddled and fucked while seated on Leo's lap.

"I guess I haven't changed all that much," Jonathon murmured and his face turned red.

"Shhh!" Leo cupped Jonathon's cheek and found his eyes. "You will. I noticed that time began to catch up with me rather quickly after I turned thirty. And I will love every change and feel blessed to be here with you to witness it. No matter what, you will always be perfect to me." They kissed and Leo hummed in approval as he sucked on Jonathon's lip, then traced it with his tongue. "I dreamt of this part," he whispered and angled his head so he could kiss along Jonathon's jaw to his earlobe. "And this…" he gave it a quick tug with his teeth, making Jonathon shiver before leaving a trail of kisses down his neck. Leo bit and blew softly before he sucked hard, making Jonathon's eyes cross.

"Tell me more. Later ," he said, trying to get his arms around Leo and pull him onto the bed, but he was spun and thrown onto his chest.

"Now." Leo dragged a knuckle down Jonathon's spine, growling in approval as he kneaded an asscheek. Jonathon grabbed hold of the edge of the mattress as Leo lowered. They both knew what was coming and it would be heavenly. "You're so bright and graceful, like touching a star and you taste?—"

"Stop it!" Jonathon giggled breathlessly and swallowed a loud moan as Leo's tongue swept over his puckered flesh.

"Oh, Gott… The way you taste."

Leo stopped talking after that, using his lips, tongue, and fingers to show Jonathon just how much he still adored his body.

Meanwhile, Jonathon whimpered and writhed as Leo thoroughly fingered and rimmed him. "Fuck! Only you know how to do that to me, Leo," Jonathon panted, his cheek dragging on the duvet. "Fuck, fuck, fuck, Leo! I need you to fuck me."

"Lass dich fallen," Leo commanded gently. "Ich will dich h?ren." He wanted to hear Jonathon let go and fly high, then hold him tight, tight, tight, and fill him. Consume him.

"Please!" Jonathon cried as Leo stroked his prostate, seeking his release. "Leo!" Jonathon came, crisp and tart on Leo's tongue, but his ecstasy was brief. Jonathon twisted and wiggled, attempting to pull Leo up and get under him. "Please, please, please! I need you!"

Leo fought to maintain his control as he turned and rolled them so that Jonathon was on top. "Reite mich," Leo ordered before pulling Jonathon onto his cock. "Jetzt," he said and guided Jonathon up and back. His hand slid around Jonathon's throat, tender at first, as Leo strummed and shushed. "Like this?" he asked, thrilling at the wild anticipation thrumming in his veins as Leo sensed that he had finally returned to his sanctuary. Here, Leo could be as demanding and strict as he wanted.

"Yes! Please, sir!" Jonathon begged and Leo's cock jumped, pulsing and making them slicker and hotter.

Leo's hand tightened, reigniting desires that had gone dormant and making him burn even hotter. "Still mine," he growled as he bucked off the bed, making Jonathon moan and yelp deliriously. He was stretched so tight and every slide of Leo's shaft matched Jonathon's lustful whimpers. Leo commanded him to let go and Jonathon's eyes rolled and his body jerked as he came again.

"So gut," Leo murmured, licking cum from his fingers as he held Jonathon by the throat. He gathered every drop from Jonathon's stomach and thighs, then flipped him onto his back again. "Mine." He dove into Jonathon's mouth and body, gripping his ass tight as Leo rolled his hips, hard and swift. Leo sucked and licked blindly, drunk on the scent of Jonathon's breath, their hot, sweating bodies, and the taste of his cum.

"Yes! Yours!" Jonathon clutched at his head and shoulder, his feet were hooked under Leo's ass. "Reclaim me, sir. Make me yours again."

"Yes!" Leo's lips covered Jonathon's and his kiss was ruthless and possessive, his hips pumping harder and deeper with every grinding thrust. "Mine! My Jonathon!" he shouted as he slammed forward and heat flooded Jonathon's ass. "Mine!" Leo rasped, crying as he cradled Jonathon's face and sucked on his tongue and lips. He stayed deep, lingering and showering Jonathon's face in kisses. "My Jonathon," he said softly, over and over again.

"Yes and forever, this time," Jonathon whispered and tightened his arms and legs around Leo, making him chuckle and hum in agreement.

"I will never part with you again, mein Sü?er."

"Can we stay like this forever?" Jonathon asked dreamily but Leo shook his head, sliding out and sitting back on his heels.

He hauled Jonathon upright by his wrists and kissed the left one. "I want to feed you, and take a long, hot bath with you, and then I want to use that sweet mouth of yours."

A loopy, crooked smile spread across said mouth as Jonathon offered his lips. "That sounds even better, sir. Make sure there's plenty of champagne."

"Anything you wish, mein Liebster. And later, we can tell your aunt and pack all your things for Austria."

Jonathon cleared his throat and offered Leo a sheepish smile. "You know Muriel's coming with me wherever I go, right? She's my best friend and she's taken care of me long enough. It's my turn to look after her."

"I wouldn't dream of separating the two of you and I am very fond of your aunt."

That got a hard snort out of Jonathon, but he was smiling. "We'll see, but thank you for understanding."

"I'm looking forward to it," Leo said and hummed contentedly as he held Jonathon tighter. "I could be very happy, I think, looking after you while you paint and keeping that meddlesome aunt of yours out of trouble."

Jonathan chuckled softly as he snuggled closer. "Now, I know we were made for each other because you might be the only man on the planet who'd happily sign up for that."