-5-
Ciel had hidden in the study all day, and now he sat at the window, reading a book as the sun set. He heard the soft knock at the door and looked up from the novel to see Sebastian enter and glanced out the window.
"Is it time for dinner?" he asked quietly, closing the book. He had been sitting with his legs curled beside him, and when he shifted in his seat, both his feet had gone numb. He groaned and pressed his feet to the floor. "Ow! Ow, ow, ow... my feet are asleep! Sebastian!" Sebastian laughed quietly and approached, kneeling before Ciel, and taking off his shoe, rubbing the arch of his foot gently with one hand, the other slipping up his ankle to his calf, massaging gently. "OUCH! OW! Ow... oh that hurts!" Ciel whined, shifting in his seat in an attempt to pull away from Sebastian's hands, but found himself captured in a firm grip.
"Hold still, Master. You have to restore the blood flow... just relax."
"But it HURTS!"
"Yes, I imagine it does. Be patient." Sebastian continued to massage Ciel's calf and foot, working his muscles gently and after a few moments the feeling began to return.
"It's getting better..." he said quietly, wincing at the pins and needles he felt from his knee down.
"The other?" Ciel looked down at Sebastian, kneeling before him, hands wrapped around his foot and leg, fingers delicately rubbing his muscles. The butler smiled suggestively up at him and slipped his hand a little further up Ciel's calf, fingers just brushing the soft skin at the back of his knee.
"Yes... they were both asleep..."
"Still?" Ciel shook his head, his heartrate increasing at the lingering touch.
"N-no. It's okay now..." Sebastian nodded and released Ciel's foot, putting his shoe back on, still gently cradling his calf. "Rub the other one anyway..." The butler smiled, slipping off Ciel's other shoe and doing the same, rubbing the arch of his foot gently with his thumb, the other hand gripping the scant muscle of his leg. Ciel closed his eyes and rested his head back in the chair, sighing quietly. "I don't want to go to a party."
"I know, Bocchan. It's really more of a dinner and of course, gifts." Sebastian gazed up at Ciel as he spoke, taking the rare moment to admire the young Lord he hoped to soon have in his bed. "And I prepared your favorite dessert, if that makes a difference." Ciel perked and looked down at him, smiling.
"The cake? You made the cake for me?" The demon chuckled softly and looked back down to Ciel's dainty foot in his hand, smiling to himself.
"I did. I thought you might like it for your birthday."
"Mmm, yes. That will be something to look forward to." Sitting up in his chair, Ciel pulled his foot from Sebastian's hand and looked at him. There was a long pause while he looked his butler over for the first time since he'd entered. He wore his best uniform, perfectly pressed tailcoat and black slacks, grey vest and white dress shirt, black tie. The freshly polished chain to his pocket watch and belt buckle gleamed brightly as he slipped Ciel's shoe back on and stood, offering him a hand. At his full height, he was stunning, and with the movement, Ciel caught a whiff of roses and Sebastian's cologne.
"Come, you should dress for dinner." The bluenette nodded and took the offered hand, standing and allowed himself to be led to his bedroom, where Sebastian had already laid out his dinner wear. Ciel stood beside the bed, waiting to be undressed and did his best to keep his eyes from wandering over his butler. "I've chosen your red suit, if it pleases you." Ciel nodded, looking at the deep red jacket and matching shorts, trimmed in gold, black dress shirt and matching knee-high socks.
"Yes. That will be fine."
"Very good, Master." Taking a deep breath, Ciel leaned back against the bed and allowed Sebastian to undress him, doing everything in his power to ignore his butler's hands as they disrobed him.
"You said I'll have time? After dinner?"
"Yes. Your schedule is clear for the rest of the evening once Lady Elizabeth is taken home."
"The earlier the better." Ciel said quietly, looking up at Sebastian. The bluenette stood in only his eyepatch, undershorts and socks, and the butler took a step back, looking him over with an appreciative smile. "What?" Ciel asked, looking down at himself, then back to the garnet eyes that roamed his half-clothed body, making him feel small and vulnerable.
"Nothing, Bocchan." He smiled and stepped forward, kneeling before his Master, and tapping his ankle gently to prompt him to lift his foot.
"No, not nothing. What was that look? What's wrong?" Sebastian shook his head and looked up at Ciel as he knelt before him, still waiting for him to lift his foot.
"Really, it's nothing."
"Sebastian." Ciel said sternly, ready to command him if necessary. The butler laughed quietly and shook his head.
"Bocchan. You are a man now." Ciel rolled his eyes, lifting one foot at a time to allow Sebastian to pull up his shorts. As he did so, he slipped his hands to the small of the bluenette's back, pulling him close. Ciel stepped forward to steady himself and found himself pressed firmly against his butler's front. He tensed, placing his hands lightly against Sebastian's stomach, looking up at him apprehensively, his heart racing. Sebastian smiled suggestively down at him and wrapped an arm around his waist, keeping him close, and stroked his cheek. Ciel laughed quietly, looking away, but Sebastian slipped a finger under his chin, raising his eyes. Gloved thumb ran slowly over Ciel's bottom lip and the demon winked. "Elizabeth is a very lucky woman." With a lingering gaze, Sebastian released him and retrieved the dress shirt from the bed, going about dressing him as though nothing had happened. Letting out an unsteady breath, the bluenette laughed nervously, shaking his head as Sebastian helped him into his shirt and began buttoning it.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"What do you think it means?" Ciel groaned in frustration and rolled his eyes.
"Don't do that. Don't make me ask a million questions. Just tell me." With a little smile, Sebastian tucked in Ciel's shirt and buttoned his shorts, latching his belt. He let his hands linger at Ciel's hips as he looked down at him.
"I mean, Bocchan, you are beautiful." A blush rose to Ciel's cheeks and he smiled shyly, looking away. With an uneasy laugh, he shook his head and placed his hands on Sebastian's lightly; when he felt Sebastian's eyes still upon him, he glanced up. "She will hardly be able to keep her eyes off you." He leaned closer, whispering into his ear, hot breath raising goosebumps on Ciel's flesh. "I find it rather difficult myself." The young Lord was frozen, his heart beating so loudly he would have sworn everyone in the manor could hear it. Sebastian smiled kindly and took a step back, preparing to tie a crimson ribbon around his collar.
"Oh..." Ciel replied softly, trying to will the blush from his cheeks. Sebastian was being far too gentle, too kind, making him yearn for real touch, and then to act as though everything was the same. Sweet words and delicate embraces were unusual, and he wasn't sure whether he should be on his guard or let himself return the little affections. Was he flirting? Was Sebastian... trying to seduce him? He wanted desperately to feel those hands against him again, but he sighed softly, trying to calm the flutter in his stomach and bring himself back to the conversation.
"It will not be easy to keep her at arm's length." The bluenette shook his head, groaning quietly at the thought of being captured by her arms. "She is your betrothed, you will have to learn to tolerate her affection."
"Affection." Ciel scoffed, shuddering at the thought. "All she does is... fondle me. Constantly. I don't like it." Sebastian tied the ribbon and knelt once more to put on Ciel's knee high crimson and black heeled boots.
"Maybe not, but it is expected that you eventually return her affection." Gazing down at his butler, Ciel bit his lip, quieting. When Sebastian glanced up at him, he saw a single blue eye trained upon him. "What's the matter? Are the boots not to your liking?"
"No... they're fine. I just... I don't love her. I mean, I love her; she's my cousin. I can't... not love her. But... she isn't who I want." The demon rocked back on his heel, listening and did his best not to smile, looking up at the bluenette with an alluring gaze.
"No? Well, perhaps Lady Elizabeth will overlook an affair, if you are discrete."
"An affair? No! I don't want to marry her at all."
"You hardly have a choice in the matter, Master."
"I know that." Ciel said softly, looking down at the blue diamond ring on his thumb. "It doesn't matter anyway. I am Ciel Phantomhive, and I must keep my noble reputation in service of the Queen, regardless of my personal feelings in the matter." With a smile, Sebastian nodded and stood, offering Ciel his hand to help him stand.
"You really have grown up." Sebastian said softly, and Ciel laughed, shaking his head as he steadied himself in the heels. He held out his arms and Sebastian slipped the red jacket over his shoulders, buttoning it.
"Shut up. I'm trapped between the Queen and a demon; I've had to come to terms with it." After a brief pause, Ciel nodded. "No, it doesn't really matter what I want. And even if it did, I doubt I could have it." The butler raised an eyebrow, taking a step back and allowing Ciel to go to the mirror, looking himself over. His visible eye looked at his reflection sadly, but he raised his chin and looked at Sebastian's reflection behind him, doing his best to appear noble and lordly.
"Why would you say that? You never know what you can have until you ask for it."
"How do you ask for something when it will surely be denied?" Sebastian shook his head, approaching Ciel and placing a hand gently on his hip, leaning down to whisper to him, maintaining eye contact through their reflections.
"Are you so sure?" Ciel paused, eyes flitting to Sebastian's hand on his hip. "Perhaps you should ask anyway. I think you may be surprised at the outcome." He kissed Ciel's cheek softly and winked at his reflection before he went back to the bed, gathering worn clothes to be taken to laundry. Ciel watched him through the mirror with a surprised half-smile and pressed his fingers against his cheek where Sebastian's lips had been. He dropped his hand away quickly and turned to look at his butler.
"Do you think so?" he asked quietly, lip caught between his teeth, anxious for a reply. Sebastian only smiled and bowed his head.
"I think, if you were to pay a little attention, you would see the answer clearly." Ciel blushed and laughed quietly, snuffling his feet a moment before he pulled himself together and regained his noble appearance. He nodded once and started towards the door, pausing briefly as he approached Sebastian. The butler smiled indulgently down at him and Ciel took a deep breath. He stood on tiptoe and kissed Sebastian's cheek softly, just a quick peck, before hurrying towards the door.
"I'm... going back to the study." He said quickly and disappeared through the door, closing it behind him. He stood in the hallway with his back pressed against his bedroom door, cheeks aflame and heart racing. He couldn't bear to see Sebastian's reaction, and he had fled, retreated to the place he felt most comfortable. Leaving the door, he hurried to the study, collapsing in his chair with his head upon the desk, silently cursing his childish behavior.
As Ciel fled, Sebastian turned to watch him go, devilish smile curling his lips. Gloved fingers strayed to his cheek, pressing lightly where soft lips had been only moments before and his smile grew larger. He had his answer, had all but been given permission to begin his advances and show visible interest in his Master. He would keep the Lady Elizabeth busy during the party, but he would make sure Ciel's attention was on him. With a smirk, Sebastian left the bedroom, headed back to the kitchen to see about final preparations.