“Guntram, know that my love for you is true and I will respect and honour you every day of my life. I cannot marry you in the way I would like, but I want to give you this ring as a symbol of my fidelity for you. It's the original seal of my family and has been with us for centuries. Always the Griffin's consort carries it,” he told me and showed me a very old looking ring.
“It's a Sassanian cameo carved in a cornelian stone, but the design is Sumerian. It represents a griffin with a tree of life at its side. It was a present from Pope Innocence IV to our family for their contribution to the Teutonic Order in the XIII century. That order financed most of what we know as the Vatican today. You should always wear it as a symbol of your status and my love for you. You have to give it to the eldest son when he marries because he will be the next Griffin.” Konrad took my right hand and kissed it before he placed the heavy thing in my finger. I was speechless.
He served the wine in the glass and I was surprised because he always tastes it before anything. It's automatic in him.
“This vintage is from before the War. It's a 1938 Château Mouton Rothschild. My father bought these bottles when I was a child for my marriage and for my children's births. I drank the first bottle when I was appointed Hochmeister and I had given up hope that I would taste the others till I met you.” He took the glass and presented it to me and I took it, still speechless.
“I swear to love, protect and cherish you till my last breath, Guntram.”
“I swear to love, respect and support you till my last day, Konrad,” I said out of the blue, but knowing that it was the right thing to do and that I meant each one of the words. He took again the glass from my hands and put it to my lips and I drank from it just a little and repeated the same for him, almost lost in his eyes while he finished the glass. The sound of the glass against the wooden table was very strong with my eagerness for what was about to come.
Konrad kissed me once more but this time with unbounded passion. I had to cling to his neck to avoid falling. Perhaps, it was the wine, perhaps the company, but this kiss was the best ever. His arms grabbed me by my waist and we continued to kiss, tasting each other. His hands caressed my back and I felt my robe fall into the floor.
Somehow I found myself sitting on the border of his bed, looking hungrily at him while he got rid of his own robe. He also put out the pyjama tops and I swear this man puts the Michelangelo's David to shame. I was like a rabbit in front of the wolf while he sat next to me and resumed his earlier kissing more feverish than before.
I felt him on top of me and I loved the feeling of his body heat over mine. It was simply maddening for me. I closed my eyes in bliss as he was unbuttoning my own clothes.
“Please, turn off the light.” I pleaded with him.
“Why? You're so beautiful. I do want to look at you.”
“I have the scars from that. I don't want that you see them.” I confessed. “It's not pretty.”
He removed his body from mine and smiled with infinite sadness. “I also have scars from fighting. It's nothing to be ashamed of. You're beautiful to me just as you are; with everything. We love each other.”
“I've been with no one since that day and I don't know how I am going to react.”
“If you want to stop just tell me and we will stop. I want to make love with you, not just have sex. I want what we are going to do tonight to mean something for you and I.”
I let him undress me, and he continued to kiss me as lovely as before, placing his kisses on every one of the scars, making me shudder with pleasure every time he did. He bit me lightly several times but I didn't care because it felt great.
“Don't stall, Konrad. Please. I need to feel you inside me,” I croaked and he nodded After using the lube just briefly, he penetrated me with infinite care, taking his time to let me get used to his size. Each one of his pushes transported to heaven and I was dizzy with pleasure. I remember that I put my tights over his hips when I felt he was completely inside me enjoying the rocking of his pelvis moving me—and almost lifting me from the mattress—slowly to pick up speed as he felt that I was responding to his caresses. I was moved that during all the time he was kissing me and checking that I would be fine. We climaxed together and for the first time I didn't want to run to the shower, but feel him inside me for as long as I could.
“I wish you would have been my first,” I whispered, totally spent but happy like a child.
“I want to be your last, Guntram,” he panted, hugging me stronger.
“How could I get another after this?” And it's true. He did very little gymnastics or tried strange positions and it was the best I ever had. I can't want another after him! I understand now why they call it “la petite mort.”
“Guntram, I'm almost forty-six, with you at my side I don't know if I'll turn sixty,” he chuckled. “It was incredible, my love,” he said, kissing my temple several times and caressing my hair. I guess I moaned because he laughed and said: “just like a happy kitten,” obviously proud of himself. “Those nuts were not so useless, after all.
The chef gets a raise in the morning.”
“I don't understand.”
“I was afraid he would have sprinkled Viagra in my food! Didn't you realise what was in the menu? Red meat, strawberries, walnuts, passion fruit in the salad and a long etc.”
“Oh no. Do you think they imagine what we were doing?”
“My staff has a very vivid imagination, kitten and if you're in my bed you're not here to play chess.” I looked at him baffled. “The best is if we play straight since the beginning. They have to respect you and hiding in the cellar for a romp is a bad idea. They will be shocked, or not, for a few days and by next week, they will forget all about us.”
“Friederich is unhappy with all this. I don't want to cause you troubles with him.”
“He's happy with you. He's unhappy with me. Pissed off. This morning he told me that if I hurt a single hair from you or behave less than the perfect gentleman with you, he will make my existence miserable. That's a threat I take very seriously. You are my Consort now and my equal.”
I didn't know what to tell
“Why do you think he let you have the dog in your room? To bite me if I dared to set a foot in there at night!” He laughed and I did the same. “Your Mops does not like me at all. Every time I come near you, she shows me her teeth.”
“She's jealous,” I chuckled, “but you're cuter and far more interesting in bed than her.”
“She will not come here. It's the kitchen or another room. That's final Guntram.”
“All right, poor Mopsi. What about when you're not here?”
“In the kitchen, Guntram. I don't share my bedroom or you.”
We had a shower together and I definitively wanted more, but “I don't want troubles with your doctor,”
was his answer. I let him dry me with the big towel and I don't know why, I took his cologne from the marble sink and smelled. It was so similar to my father's.
“Do you like it?”
“Yes, reminds me to my father's one,” I answered and he froze.
“I'm not your father.”
“I know! It's just the smell. Who makes it? It seems like there are apples in there.”
“A perfumer in Milan,” he answered and put some of it on my neck, deeply smelling it as he hugged me possessively. His member once again was active and against my bottom. I felt once more become jelly and placed my hands against the sink to support myself as he buried once more inside me.
I felt his hands taking me by my hips bones to prevent that his thrusts would hurt me against the sink, his head buried in my shoulder. It was a hard ride but I loved him more in his unbound passion than in his controlled and tender way from before. I nearly collapsed after this one but it was worth it.
He was very concerned and took me to bed, redressing me with the pyjama and putting me inside the bed, disregarding my protests that I was fine (not true)
“Should I call An
tonov?”
“I'm not up for a threesome and he must be also eating apple ice cream with the chef,” I joked.
“It's not funny! I can't lose you now!”
“I'm fine, Konrad. I need to catch my breath, that's all. Just hold me for a while,” I panted, feeling better as my heart slowed down. He redressed and joined me in the bed circling me with his arms and kissing me several times, with real concern.
“I shouldn't have taken you twice.”
“Tomorrow more.”
“Not in your life time. Three days rest, kitten. I'll fly to Shanghai if I have to.”
“Party pooper!” I scolded him falsely.
“I'm a banker, Guntram. It's in my job's description.” I laughed, feeling much better and burying myself in his arms till I fell asleep.
As usual, Friederich knocked on Konrad's door at 6:00. 'You said nothing about loafing today, so out of the bed, boy,' but didn't enter the bedroom as the man was sleeping with Guntram. He set the breakfast table with his morning coffee and toasts. “Holgersen is waiting for you Sire. Should I dismiss him?” Friederich said through the door.
“Come in,” Konrad grunted.
Friederich stood frozen in the door frame when he saw his pupil lovingly arranging the covers around a soundly sleeping Guntram, already dressed for training. “Let him sleep all what he needs. I fear yesterday's activities were too much for him.” The Duke told him haughtily and kissed the child in the forehead. He also noticed the empty bottle of wine on the desk and the single glass there. Guntram changed his position in the bed and he saw the well known ring with a red stone.
Konrad dragged him out of the room and closed the door. “Surprised Friederich? I told you he is the Griffin's Consort, not one of my whores. I am blessed with my choice as he is a gift from God.”
“Konrad, I never had anything against Guntram. If he were someone else, I would hit you in the head for not taking him. I only fear that he finds out about your past and suffers for it. His health is very frail!”
“He's my gift from God and I will do all what's within my power to keep him. I passed many of the trials He set for me and this is my reward. I will not let anything or anyone to come between us. Is that understood? He truly loves me for myself.”
“Konrad, he is very sick. Could you survive it if the worst happens? I worry for you also.”
“He's getting better, the doctor said it.” Konrad said with a lump in his throat. “I'll be very careful with him because I don't want to lose him. These months with him have been truly blissful for me. If the Lord decides to take him from me, I will live the rest of my life remembering the time he has granted me with him. I've decided to take that risk. If I were to spend only a month with him, then my life would have not been a total waste.”
Chapter 23
Guntram de Lisle's Diary
August 12th, 2005
Sylt.
Konrad and I have been for almost two weeks in Sylt. Honestly, I've never heard about this place before but it used to be (and still is) the favourite holidays spot for the wealthy and noble Germans. It's an island, very quiet where we are, a turn of the century villa with eight bedrooms and a private beach. I love the place as it's lonesome but haunting at the same place. The large beach with the stormy sea. I've been sketching most of the time, well, when I was not with Konrad, or painting with watercolours in the veranda. The light and weather are very nice.
Friederich also came along and he took care to “keep things orderly”. Translation; he oversees (really!) that Konrad keeps distance from me after one night of passion. How can he tell if I've done something? We are not noisy! Two days, minimum.
I'm so happy with Konrad! He makes me feel great like never before. It's not just his kisses or the way he looks at me (that certainly helps too) but how he's always aware of my needs and I'm just happy to make him smile or laugh. He's not a cold man, as he likes to pretend, he's generous and in need of being loved. Sometimes I believe that when he comes with his papers and sits next to me, just to read them and sighs dejectedly, he does it in order to get a kiss and a hug in my effort to comfort him. I'm more than aware that he can fight to get his way on his own, but he seems to love when he's hugged, petted and comforted like a child.
But he also behaves like a pig sometimes. A real pig.
Two days ago he wanted to attend the Polo Masters Series in Keitum, on the north part of the island.
Elegant club, full with noble and rich people, all of them on first name basis. I'm glad to be called Guntram—never thought I would say that—because most of the men were called Walter, Karl, Heinrich or Wilhelm. Konrad introduced to many, most of them bankers or industrialists coming to him with a humble attitude. I kept myself quiet because being introduced as “my companion” to most people or “my consort” to some of them, who bowed their heads, was a bit shocking. Do they all have to look at my hand to check the griffin's seal? I mean, Constantin always introduced me by my name with a “fellow of my foundation” if he deemed necessary and everybody knew I was his boyfriend.
After lunch, buffet in a tent, I had enough and scurried myself toward the terraces for a bit of peace.
Konrad was busy speaking in German with four men. I started to draw, enjoying the peace as most people were still eating.
Just like that I felt someone sitting next to me and peering over my shoulder to see what I was drawing. I hate onlookers! I have no problems with people coming and watching your things or when they ask you something, but this is very bothersome. Truly. I threw a dirty look at the offender, a guy in his mid-thirties, also “elegant sport”
dressed (wonder if you could come here with a tracksuit) blond with blue eyes, nothing out of the ordinary. He said:
“Entschuldigung…” and a long speech totally incomprehensible for me.
“I'm sorry, but I don't speak German.”
“Oh, I just wanted to apologise if I disturbed you. I have an Art Gallery in Berlin. I was asking you if you do it professionally. Those sketches are very good.”
“I used to but I'm not presenting anything at the moment.” I said.
“Andreas Volcker, how do you do?” he said and extended his hand.
“Guntram de Lisle, pleased to meet you.”
“It can't be! Are you really Guntram de Lisle? I saw your exhibition in London last summer! I bought two paintings, one charcoal with a worker's hands and an oil of three children in a slum. I've been trying to contact you since last October but Robertson told me you had a car accident and moved to Russia, not painting any longer.
It's incredible that I find you here, in the middle of the champagne drinker’s tribe!”
I laughed because the last sentence saved me from having a nervous breakdown at the mention of my past. “No, I'm not painting much at the moment.”
“But your sketches are very good. I saw a few more things from you and they were much better than your exhibition, more mature and intense. Dark, but hypnotic. Nothing like before.”
“It was a near death experience, Mr. Volcker,” I whispered.
“I'm sorry to hear that. Are you not painting at all? Who's your manager now? Robertson plans to retire next December. He's eighty-three now and very tired of all.”
“I'm studying with Rudolf Ostermann. He says he's my manager now and sold one or two paintings from me. I'm not sure because he never tells me a thing. One thing that was completely hideous was sold without my consent!”
“Sometimes you have to be hard with your artists!” He chuckled. “I will call him in September and ask if he wants to lend me some of your pieces for a collective exhibition I'm planning for December. All young but good artists. Here is my card.” He told me and gave me the thing. I took and kept it in my sketch pad. “Do you want to have dinner with me?”
Before I could tell him no, Konrad appeared out of nowhere and politely shouted “We have plans for tonight, Mr…”
“Volcker, from Volcker Industries. Mr…”
“Lintorff.” Wow, he's impressive with one word sentences and he was looking really pissed off that the man was speaking with me.
“As I was telling Guntram, I would like to have his work in an exhibition in Berlin, at Alexanderplatz.”
“In that case you should contact Mr. de Lisle's manager, Rudolf Ostermann. He will decide if the place is appropriate for him.” Konrad barked. OK, one, he does not like familiarity of any kind and two, it seems he decides for me. “Let's go, Guntram. It's too sunny for you.”
Dilemma: Fight with your love in front of most of Germany's high society and keep your ground and independence or keep your mouth shut till you're home? Second option.
“Good-bye, Andreas.”
“Good-bye, write to me and send me some photos of your work.”
“All right, I will.” That should give Konrad an idea of my views on the matter.
We went back to the car he was using. A monster Audi Q7. He was almost about to explode. Why? I did nothing wrong. He was driving and fuming at the same time. He's going to have a heart attack before I if he persists in his attitude.
“Konrad?”
“What?”
“Why are you so worked up? The man just offered me a job. At some point I should start to work again. I can't live all my life depending on you. He also bought two of my paintings at Robertson's. He says he wanted to contact me but I didn't know till today.”
“I don't like adventurers near you! You should have not spoken with him!”
“What am I supposed to do if a man, in a good place, introduces himself as an Art dealer; I have his card here, and tells me that he knows me?”
“You were flirting with him! I saw him looking at you at lunch time!”
“Certainly, you don't need glasses! I didn't see him at all! I was doing my best not to fall asleep in front of the old dinosaur making a list of all his diseases and comparing medications with me!”
“That was the Baron!”
“Boring nevertheless!”
“All right, next time, you stay at home!”
Into the Lion's Den Page 47