The Fitzwarren Inheritance

by Various Authors

  “Phil, what the hell are you talking about? All I did was tell you that I wasn’t letting you go. What have I done wrong?” Lee asked, his voice soothing as if he were trying to calm a spooked horse. He stood up, seemingly unconcerned by his nakedness. “I really don’t know what has got you so freaked.”

  “It’s the curse, you used the words of the damn curse.”

  “Tell me the words of the curse, Phil. You’ve got to tell me, ‘cause I really don’t know what has got you so freaked.”

  Phil gave him a disbelieving stare. “You’re local. You said you’d heard of the curse of the Fitzwarrens.”

  “Well, yes, but not the exact words. We don’t exactly mix in the same circles, do we? I don’t drink in Steeple Westford,” Lee pointed out, “and I haven’t met any of your family. You’re just the lords of the manor. All I hear is the old biddies clucking their tongues and shaking their heads about poor Mrs Fitz. I know Mum has met your sister once or twice.”

  Ignoring the ache in his arse, Phil walked to the window and looked out. “Long story short, my ancestor made the mistake of falling for a warlock. The warlock cheated on him. To get his revenge, my ancestor contrived a horrible death for him and his lover, and the Fitzwarrens have paid the price ever since. Then Jonathan Curtess cursed Belvedere Fitzwarren, saying, ‘I curse you and your children’s children, that you shall all live out your allotted years, and that those years shall be filled with grief and loss and betrayal, even as you have betrayed and bereaved me.’”

  He was able to quote word perfect after years of studying the lines of misery that had wrought such a devastating effect on his family.

  “Nice,” Lee said, “but I don’t see how that affects me.” He stopped as Phil held up his hand.

  “Oh, there is a get-out clause. Suitably obscure and, up to now, pointless. ‘When the one who reads the earth joins with he who sees beyond, when the warrior and the healer stand to swear a sacred bond, when the one who seeks in danger is sworn to the landless lord, then shall my curse be lifted and all the lands restored.’ Before you ask, Mark, the spawn of that bastard, Curtess, and his partner, Jack, are the first pair, Daniel, the village psycho, and Sean—Lester, the doctor—are the second.”

  “And the one who looks for danger?”

  “Seeks in danger,” corrected Phil. “Yes, the part of it yet unfulfilled.” He was still looking out the window. He didn’t have much of a view from his room, but it wasn’t over-looked, a fact Lee had taken complete full advantage of when he’d pushed Phil up against the window and fucked him senseless.

  “So, you are the landless lord?” Lee asked.

  Phil felt Lee come up behind him and enclose him in his arms. Leaning back into the comfort of Lee’s body, he said, “It makes sense, doesn’t it? Charlie is the baron, and Edward…” His breath caught in his throat as he thought of his young nephew, struggling to maintain his fragile connection to life. “Edward is his heir. I have no lands or money of my own. I live here because I can’t afford to live anywhere else.”

  “And what? You think I’m the one who seeks in danger? Because I rock-climb?” His breath tickled Phil’s ear.

  Lee’s hands splayed over Phil’s heart and belly. It was grounding and completely scary. He had never revealed this much about himself to any person, yet he was standing here naked, vulnerable, and lonely in the arms of someone barely a man.

  “It doesn’t matter what I think,” he muttered. “What will be, will be.”

  “When I first saw you climbing the wall, I was transfixed. I thought you were so fucking hot,” Lee confided. “I waited every week for you to notice me, but you didn’t look up. I thought that maybe you were straight, or in love. Then I wondered why you were so sad.” He tightened his arms at Phil’s snort. “But I never stopped watching. And hoping. And then yesterday, you looked at me for the first time.”

  Phil turned his head to press a kiss to the underside of Lee’s jaw. “I was hanging in mid-air. If I hadn’t looked at you, I would still be there.”

  “The fact is though now the other partners are in play, sweetheart. Mark and… Jack, was it? Then Sean and Daniel. Now it’s our turn. It was time for you to see me.”

  Snorting a little, Phil said “Very philosophical. You’re taking this very calmly. I’ve just dumped hundreds of years of family curse on you and told you I’m waiting to die, and you haven’t run screaming.”

  “I’m not sure why, either. I haven’t been interested in a relationship up to now.” Lee admitted honestly. “I just know you’re different. There’s a reason I’m meant to be here.” He kissed down Phil’s neck, pausing to suck at his collarbone.

  “Sheesh.” Phil gasped at the sudden pain, good pain, pain he wanted to press into. Lee’s mouth worked at his skin, teeth nuzzling, almost pain, almost pleasure.

  Lee’s hands were busy, running over his bare skin.

  Phil wasn’t aroused, not yet. The raw emotion and confusion were too much to put aside. He leaned into the touches, seeking comfort from the uncomplicated affection Lee was offering. Turning in Lee’s arms, Phil kissed him, his hands on Lee’s backside, drawing him closer.

  “Hmmm,” Lee hummed happily into his mouth.

  “You taste good, baby.”

  “Oh no no. I am no one’s baby,” Phil insisted, although he wasn’t really struggling to get away. Lee was much too good at this.

  “I can feel that,” Lee said smugly, wrapping his hand around their cocks.

  “You’re a tricky bastard, aren’t you?” Phil’s body was down but obviously not out, judging from the way his dick was responding to the feel of Lee’s cock filling and thickening against his. He gasped when Lee gave them an experimental tug and felt Lee chuckle against his neck.

  “So I’ve been told,” Lee agreed as he squeezed them both together, swiping the pad of his thumb over the heads. He laughed again as Phil cursed, but it sounded a little shaky.

  Phil sought out Lee’s mouth again, tugging gently on his lower lip and exploring his mouth.

  “You taste so good,” Lee murmured again.

  “It’s my turn now,” Phil growled, pushing them back towards the bed. Phil had no qualms about fucking in his bed.

  One eyebrow flew up. “Your turn?”

  Pushing Lee down onto the duvet, Phil climbed on the bed and straddled his hips. “Oh yes. I am going to fuck your arse, Mr Curtis, and you are going to like it.” He lined their cocks up again, stroking them both gently, satisfied at the sight of Lee’s eyes unfocused and his mouth slackened in pleasure.

  Leaning forward, Phil kissed Lee again, aware he couldn’t get enough of Lee’s mouth. Lee kissed back, but Phil didn’t stay for long, kissing down Lee’s neck and chest, nosing through the sparse hair of his chest to tug at his nipples. He played with one for a while until it was hard and swollen beneath his lips, then kissed his way over to pay attention to its companion. Judging from the amount of noise Lee was making, he wasn’t complaining.

  Ignoring the friction on his own cock as he slid farther down the bed, Phil continued his path down Lee’s body, pausing briefly to lap at his navel and then lick down the trail of dark hair underneath. Lee’s dick was there, in his face, but Phil paid it no mind, choosing instead to suck gently on his balls, eliciting a long drawn-out moan. Hands clutched at Phil’s hair, but Phil grabbed them and put them on the bed.

  “Keep them there or above your head,” he ordered severely, pleased to see Lee did as he was told even if his hands did clench into fists.

  “Bossy git…” The words trailed off into a groan as Phil licked a long stripe up Lee’s rigid shaft.

  Phil looked up from where he was poised over Lee’s groin. “You were saying?” he asked mischievously and gave another lick for emphasis. He could taste the come and latex from their earlier lovemaking. Not the most appealing combination but what the hell.

  “If you want to fuck me, you’d better get on with it before I change my mind,” Lee growled at him.

 
Ignoring the order, Phil went back to the task at hand—driving Lee insane. It worked pretty well, shutting him up as he slowly and methodically sucked Lee off, not giving him a moment’s chance to say anything beyond moans and pleas. Oh yeah, Lee begged so prettily. He could tell when Lee was about to climax. He was knocked into almost silence as he went rigid, flooding Phil’s mouth with his flavour.

  Not giving Lee a chance to come down from his orgasm, Phil got the lube and prepared him, one finger gently inserted to prepare him, increasing to two when Lee started to bear down on his hand. Lee hissed initially at the intrusion, but by the time Phil brushed against his prostate, Lee was begging again and Phil was more than willing to deliver, his own arousal screaming in his ears.

  Phil wanted to look into Lee’s eyes as he fucked him, needing to give that reassurance. Lee however had other ideas. The minute Phil’s fingers slid out of Lee’s arse, Lee flipped them over so that Phil was lying on his back and quickly straddled him, sliding a condom over his cock and sinking down slowly, tortuously onto Phil’s shaft.

  “Jesus!” Phil yelled, unable to hold back as what felt like a slippery vice sheathed him.

  “Hah!” Lee smirked as he rested on Phil’s body.

  Feeling like a single movement would take him over the edge, Phil glared up at Lee. “You couldn’t even let me have my turn,” he grumbled.

  “What can I say, baby? I’m a top,” Lee crowed and rocked slightly, just to prove he was in control.

  It was impossible to prevent the catch of breath, but Phil tried, he really did. “Arsehole.”

  “True,” Lee agreed and rocked some more.

  Phil gave up. He wanted to get off, and if Lee wanted to do all the work, then who was Phil to argue?

  Sensing Phil’s unspoken capitulation, Lee’s face softened. He bent forward and kissed Phil, raising up slightly. “I’m going to fuck you now,” he informed Phil.

  Rolling his eyes, Phil grabbed Lee by the hips, not hard, but just as a reminder of who had his cock in whom.

  Lee rose up a little more and slammed down, and Phil grunted and hung on tight. It wasn’t going to last. Phil was almost coming before Lee had got started, but Lee didn’t stop until Phil was spent and boneless beneath him.

  As soon as Lee had cleaned them both up, he climbed back into bed beside Phil, who wrapped himself around Lee’s warm body to bury his face in Lee’s neck.

  “You don’t have to hide, baby,” Lee whispered. “I’ve got you. You’re not on your own now.”

  Phil raised his head. “Telling you to stay away because I’m dangerous to be around is useless, I suppose?”

  Nodding, Lee tightened his arms around Phil. “Yup, you’re mine now. ‘Sides, it is me you’re meant to be with. We both know that.”

  “I know.” Phil yawned and snuggled closer. “Don’t call me baby,” he ordered as he settled down for post-coital nap.

  Before sleep claimed him, Phil felt Lee press a kiss to his cheek. “Sleep well… baby.”

  Chapter 5

  The buzz of his phone vibrating on the bedside disturbed Phil’s sleep. Fumbling for the phone, he knocked it on the floor and ended up half-in, half-out of the bed, feeling in amongst the discarded clothes for the source of the noise.

  By the time Phil found the phone, he’d missed the call. Growling under his breath, he flopped back onto the bed. The phone started again, and he answered it with a snap.

  “Hey, baby.” Lee’s voice was too fucking cheerful.

  “Don’t call me baby,” he said automatically. “What time is it? Are you at work?”

  It was Saturday. He hadn’t seen Lee since their afternoon together, Lee’s shifts not coinciding with Phil’s work. They’d spoken on the phone every day though, and Phil was looking forward to spending the day with him tomorrow, as a reward for having to deal with Mark, Jack, and Mark’s grandmother today.

  His heart sank at the sigh on the other end of the line. “I’ve had to change my shifts. Dave needs time off tomorrow. But I’m off today. I’ve promised to take Mum shopping this morning, but I’m all yours this afternoon. Mum says you can come for dinner if you want. You remember we’ve got these distant rellies turning up?”

  The bitter taste of disappointment flooded Phil. “I can’t, Lee. I’ve got Mark and his grandmother over this afternoon.”

  “The psychics?”

  “Yeah. Mark thinks his granny could help. God knows why. She’s a bloody Renfrew after all.”

  “Then I’m coming over, Phil,” Lee said immediately. “If I am the missing link, they’ll know, won’t they?”

  Phil’s immediate reaction was to say “Fuck, no!” He wanted to keep Lee to himself a while longer, but on the other hand, he had to admit it made sense.

  “Phil, are you awake?”

  “Huh? Yeah? I’m just… not sure, you know? It’s all so soon.” He curled over onto his side and snuggled under the duvet, tucking the phone under his ear.

  “Don’t you want to see me?” Lee asked quietly, and Phil could hear the note of disappointment in his voice.

  “God, yes, I do. I’m being selfish. I just want you to myself, that’s all. Without the weirdos and psychos getting involved.”

  “Sometimes you come off as a complete dick, Phil Fitzwarren,” Lee told him. “I bet you don’t call them that to their faces.”

  “I’m not that stupid,” Phil said. “Do you really want to be thrown in the deep end?”

  “You need me there, and I’m your other half, so yes, I’m going to be over by one pm, baby,” Lee said firmly.

  Phil let out a contented sigh and forgot to call him on the baby. He wasn’t looking forward to the day, but somehow, knowing Lee would be there to back him up, it wasn’t quite as bad.

  “In the meantime—” Lee’s voice dropped several octaves. “—I have three-quarters of an hour until I have to get up and I have morning wood that needs taking care of.”

  His own voice dropped in response. “Are you suggesting we indulge in phone sex?”

  “I’m telling you I’m going to have a wank, and you can join in if you want.” And why did that sound like an order that Phil was already obeying?

  Unconsciously, Phil’s hand had already crept to his dick, hard from listening to Lee talk to him. “Ungh,” he garbled.

  “There,” Lee breathed. “That’s better, isn’t it?”

  Lee didn’t bring Phil to orgasm so much by his words as by his sighs and whispers of pleasure and by the sound of the slapping of his hand on his own cock and grunts of pleasure as he got closer to climax. Whether by luck or by judgement, they came at the same time, Lee’s cries of pleasure drawing out Phil’s own orgasm.

  “Jesus,” he managed when he’d got past the white fuzz in his head.

  “I know, baby, I know.” Lee sounded as exhausted as he did.

  “Don’t call me—”

  “Forget it, baby, you’re stuck with it now. Oh shit, Mum’s calling me. Be down in a minute,” Lee called out.

  Phil grinned as Lee went from lover to son in the space of a heartbeat, thanking God all the while that the domesticity hadn’t interrupted their mutual masturbation.

  “Sorry, gonna have to go before Mum comes in here and finds me covered in jizz.” Lee suddenly sounded harassed and very young.

  It was tempting to tease him, but somehow Phil knew Lee would find a way to carve it out of his arse later. “See you later,” he said, hunting around for some tissues to clean himself up.

  “Love you.”

  It was muttered so quickly, and before Phil could answer, Lee was gone, leaving Phil staring at the phone in shock. Love? No way. It was way too soon to be talking about love. Wasn’t it?

  * * * *

  The closer it got to lunchtime the more nervous Phil became. He hadn’t told Charlie and Di that Lee was turning up. The one person he had told was Will, who was turning into a valuable ally against the combined force of Phil’s elder siblings.

  Mark and Jack were due around t
wo, so the Fitzwarrens decided to have lunch together, all of them including Carol. Edward had been more stable for a few days. Carol was desperately in need of a break from the hospital but didn’t want to leave her son alone. She had been persuaded to take the afternoon off by her mother who was currently sitting with her grandson.

  Charlie was dishing up the food when the doorbell rang.

  Diana frowned. “We’re not expecting anyone yet, are we?”

  “Don’t think so,” Will agreed as he went to the front door, dropping a wink at Phil, who flushed, hiding his face before his keen-eyed sister noticed.

  There was the sound of Will greeting the newcomer and then a murmur of voices. It didn’t sound like Lee and the entrance of Sean and Daniel, limping behind him, proved Phil correct.

  “What are you doing here?” Phil asked, aware that disappointment was making him sound waspish.

  Daniel’s lip curled in a sneer, but Sean clipped Phil around the ear. “Good to see you too, arsehole. Oops, sorry, Carol. How’s Edward?”

  They all laughed at the speed Sean went from friend to doctor and the tension was gone. Sean sat down next to Carol to talk about her son.

  The two men declined the offer of food, and Daniel sat down somewhat awkwardly next to Phil. The two men sat in silence for a few minutes until Charlie sat back down.

  “Are you into cricket, Daniel?” Charlie asked around a forkful of food.

  Phil, Carol and Diana groaned in unison. Charlie was obsessed with cricket, and worse than that, village cricket.

  “Don’t let him get started, Daniel. He’s a menace once he starts talking statistics,” Phil said, grinning as Charlie glared at him.

  “You’ve got no taste, little brother. Some of us like playing a real game,” Charlie said, not put out by the derision around the table.

  “You don’t like cricket?” Daniel asked Phil.

  “I’m a rugby man myself,” Phil said, seeing the spark of interest in Daniel’s eyes.

  At the back of his mind, Phil had vague recollections of Will telling him that Daniel had played rugby at county level in secondary school.