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It was late when Reynolds returned to his chambers, half exhausted and ready to drop. It’d been a long day of keeping the king grounded - a long day of keeping his own emotions at bay, as he watched his friend, his monarch, struggle to keep his own mind.
It wasn’t fair for such a strong, kind, and devoted man, to be a victim of such horrible mental plagues.
Part of him felt the urge to wander down to Brimsley’s chambers, but his feet were already tired and had carried him as far as they were going to.
He pushed the door open and froze.
A dozen candles were everywhere, lining the shelves and tables and casting a warm glow throughout the room. The table was set up for a meal, with a vase of orchids - his favorite flower, placed in the middle.
Brimsley stood the second Reynolds stepped in and smiled. “Welcome.”
Reynolds couldn’t stop himself from smiling. “What’s going on?” His mind ran quickly over their conversations throughout the day, trying to remember if they had made plans. “Am I forgetting something?”
“No. I wanted to surprise you. Please, come in. I asked the kitchens to prepare your favorite.”
Reynolds stepped further into the room and closed the door. “I can see that. You also got orchids. Did you do all of this?”
“Yes.”
Reynolds looked around the room again and shook his head in shock. “For me?” ‘
Brimsley nodded a slight tinge of pink filling his cheeks, and looked down. “Yes.” He rocked on the balls of his feet for a moment, before pulling the chair, closest to Reynolds, out. “Here. I know you’ve been on your feet all day.”
“Thank you.” Reynolds crossed the room, and sat down, allowing Brimsley to push the chair in. “You didn’t have to do all of this.”
Brimsley removed the cover from both of their plates and sat down. “I wanted to do something special for you...a gesture.”
Reynolds smirked and looked down at the plate of food. “The gesture is appreciated.” He looked up at Brimsley, in time to catch the man beam.
“Good. Now eat, please.”
Reynolds nodded and began to eat.
The food was divine.
Brimsley was divine.
He found it nearly impossible to keep his eyes off of him, noting how the dim light of the candles accented his features.
Their gazes met several times, the light flickering in the darkness of Brimsley’s eyes, and causing Reynolds’s heartbeats to quicken.
Reynolds was done for.
He lowered his fork, stood, and crossed the room to Brimsley’s chair.
Brimsley stood to meet him, and their lips crashed into each other.
Reynolds made quick work of removing his coat, waistcoat, and shirt, while Brimsley did the same.
“I’ve had a thought,” Brimsley said, while Reynolds kissed his neck.
“What’s that?” Reynolds asked, his lips inches from Brimsley’s chin.
“Today’s our anniversary."
Reynolds pulled away slightly and met Brimsley’s gaze. “Anniversary?”
Brimsley kissed him and stroked his cheek. “It was a year ago that we...started all of this.”
“All of this?”
Brimsley undid Reynolds's breeches and smirked. “All of this.”
Reynolds raised his eyebrows. “A day worth celebrating.” He took control and pushed Brimsley toward the bed.
They tripped over their feet and landed in a sprawl in Reynolds’s pillows.
Goosebumps spread as the skin of their chests touched.
Reynolds straddled Brimsley and smiled down at him. “God, you’re beautiful.” He brushed his fingers over the skin of Brimsley’s torso. “Truly, breathtakingly beautiful.”
“You should see things from my perspective.”
Reynolds chuckled and bent down to kiss him.
He walked to his chambers seeking rest, and now only sought Brimsley.
All he needed was the man he had inexplicably fallen in love with.
“I had a thought,” he whispered.
Brimsley took his face and brushed his fingers over his cheeks. “What’s that?”
“This is getting too dangerous.”
Brimsley frowned and sat up slightly. “What do you mean?”
Reynolds pushed him down again and kissed him. “There is more that I would do with you. I would have you as my husband, out in public instead of behind closed doors.”
“There is little that we can do about that.” Brimsley ran his hands through Reynolds’s hair.
“I know.”
“It doesn’t mean that we can’t still love each other. I don’t need the world to know. I do not seek their validation. All I need is you.” He sat up and pushed Reynolds onto the bed so that he could straddle him. “You are enough for me - you are my world.”
Reynolds tilted his head slightly, as he gazed up at his lover. His skin looked soft in the light. “I could stare at you forever.” He reached up and stroked a finger down Brimsley’s face.
Brimsley moved to the side of the bed and laid down next to Reynolds. “I had a thought.”
Reynolds smiled and turned onto his side so that he was able to face him. “What’s that?”
“We should run away together.”
Reynolds chuckled softly and cupped Brimsley’s cheek. “You know we cannot.”
“Just imagine it though.”
“Alright,” Reynolds indulged. “Where would we go?”
“France.”
“France?”
“I’ve heard the food is divine.”
“I see. Where would we live?”
“A cottage in the countryside. Close enough to the city, but far enough to be separate.”
“With a garden.”
Brimsley nodded. “Of course.”
“What would we do?”
Brimsley shrugged. “Live. I would get a job as a tailor, and you could pursue your dream of being a doctor.”
It had been years since Reynolds had thought of pursuing a job in the medical sciences. “That was a childish dream.”
“But still a dream.”
Reynolds hummed, inched close, intertwining his legs with Brimsley’s. “It would be a lovely life," he admitted. "One that I would love to give you."
“It would. We could take the King and Queen with us. I think they would enjoy getting out of the spotlight.”
Reynolds chuckled again. “I know the King would hardly object to a quiet life in the countryside.”
“And the Queen would be happy to simply have him.”
“Therein, however, lies the problem. We are meant to serve them, Brimsley. We are bound to them and our duty to serve.”
“I know,” Brimsley murmured.
Reynolds ran his hand through his hair and kissed him. “This is enough, right?”
Brimsley nodded, and pressed moved forward in order to press his forehead against Reynolds. “Yes,” he whispered.
"Happy Anniversary."
Brimsley kissed him. "Happy Anniversary."