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"Your room, Mr. Milverton."
Charles Augustus Milverton walked inside the hotel room after his secretary, Ruskin, opened it in front of him. He looked around and nodded with satisfaction. It was a decent room to spend the night for, nothing too luxurious or too poor, the way he liked the best. The bed was big enough for a comfortable sleep, and there was a door which led to the bathroom in the corner. Milverton turned back to Ruskin who was still watching him, observing his reaction whether he liked the arranged room or not. Milverton quickly reassured him.
"It is fine. Thank you, Ruskin. You will stay in the neighboring room, I assume." He noted. This was how they always did it if Milverton went on a business trip. He kept Ruskin close for comfortable and safety reasons. He had a lot of enemies in both the business world, rivals who would love to see him gone, or victims he previously ruined, some of whom probably still seek revenge on him. He needed to take his security very seriously, that's why even when he didn't bring his bodyguards, Ruskin was always there. He made sure that Milverton could spend the night in peace. With Ruskin in the neighbouring room, there was nothing he needed to worry about.
He was about to continue giving the instructions to his secretary, when he saw that Ruskin shook his head.
"No, sir. Unfortunately, I only got a room for myself on the other side of the corridor." He answered. "I am sorry for that."
Milverton raised his eyebrows with annoyance. He was not angry at his secretary, he was sure that Ruskin did everything he could to stay close to him, but it seemed that it was not enough. He didn't like how things turned out. He felt that the worry quickly started to crawl under his skin. With Ruskin being so far, he was not safe anymore. He will definitely not get a good night sleep at this rate - and Milverton was especially fond of sleeping.
"This is not good." He murmured to himself. Ruskin heard it and just like he always did, he immediately came up with a solution.
"I can stay in front of your door for the whole night, sir. I can sleep when we get back home where you are surely safe." He offered loyally. Milverton thought it through, but he dropped the option fast. Ruskin better not try to stay awake for the whole night. It was not like he couldn't do it, Milverton had no doubt that for protecting him, he was capable of anything, but he was not fond of the thought of watching his secretary's tired face tomorrow. No, he needed to find another solution. Maybe he should blackmail the hotel's manager for a room change - but that would mean that he can never come to this hotel ever again and Milverton otherwise liked the place. Then his eyes shone up as he got a better idea. Yes. That's how it will be.
"No, Ruskin. You will sleep in my room tonight." He stated. Ruskin's usually expressionless face showed the sign of surprise.
"Are you sure, sir?" He asked. "Wouldn't it be a problem for you?"
"Not at all." Milverton said and he gestured at his secretary. "Come inside. Bring the packages as well."
Ruskin obeyed without a word, but he seemed awkward by needing to spend the night in his employer's room. Milverton rolled his eyes. Ruskin was on his side for long years and he was the only one who bore his complete trust. He should have learned by now that he didn't need to be wary of Milverton. He never mistreated his secretary, he never even punished him harshly. Ruskin was loyal to him and his cause, and Milverton valued his right-hand man for it. Milverton watched as he closed the door behind himself and put the packages down next to the wall. Then he looked at Milverton again, waiting for more orders.
"We should bathe and try to sleep." Milverton told his secretary. "It was a long day. I am sure that you are tired as well."
"I am never tired of serving you, sir." Ruskin gave him a respectful bow. "I will prepare your bath in a minute."
He went to the bathroom and Milverton soon heard the sound of water. He sat down on the bed and wondered where his secretary should rest. He didn't need to think about that for long.
By the time Milverton came out of the bathroom, Ruskin finished ordering his bed for the night. Milverton lay down and drew the blanket upon himself. It was cold in his night clothes. He didn't sleep yet, he waited for his secretary to be ready. But he didn't need to wait for long until the bathroom door opened again.
"Is there anything else you need, Mr. Milverton?" Ruskin asked when he saw that his boss sat up in the bed. Milverton shook his head.
"No. I want to discuss with you where you would sleep." He noted. Ruskin watched him with wide eyes.
"Obviously, on the ground, sir." He replied obediently. Milverton cleared his throat.
"Well, I wouldn't like that. I would like you to sleep on my side in the bed." He said and he didn't take his eyes off his secretary's face to see what he thinks about the idea.
Ruskin immediately turned red by the request. He opened his mouth but no sound came out of it. Milverton could see that he was shocked by what his boss asked from him.
"Would that be appropriate, sir?" He gulped and his gaze wandered to the ground. Milverton let out an unnoticeable sigh. Ruskin and his shyness. He really should have known by now that Milverton is not going to hurt him.
"Why wouldn't that be?" He kept fixating on his secretary.
Ruskin gulped again.
"Because you are my boss, sir. Am I worthy of....?"
"You are." Milverton cut into his speech before the other man could finish the embarrassed ramble. "It is a big bed, big enough for both of us. I will not let you sleep on the ground where you can catch the cold. Come, Ruskin." Milverton sighed, this time, he didn't even try to hide it. "I promise that I am not going to touch you."
He watched as his secretary shyly, but ended up obeying the order. He lay down next to Milverton and drew up the other blanket on himself. Milverton was relieved that the other man didn't need more convincing. He was tired of playing these kinds of games.
"Thank you, sir." Ruskin said quietly after he settled down.
"It is nothing." Milverton replied. "Good night."
He closed his eyes and he was about to fall asleep when he heard a whisper coming from the side.
"You know, I... I wouldn't mind if you would touch me, Mr. Milverton."
Milverton opened his eyes again, bewildered, and he just stared at Ruskin whose face was now basically burning. Ruskin closed his eyes, probably to hide from Milverton's curious gaze after this confession, but Milverton couldn't be deceived. He finally started to understand the real reason for his secretary's shyness. A smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Really, Ruskin?" He asked and to obey a sudden urge, he gently ran his fingers over Ruskin's blushing cheek. He felt that his secretary trembled from this touch, but Milverton didn't confuse it with fear anymore.
"Really, sir." Ruskin whispered and while he didn't open his eyes, he shyly smiled back. Milverton slid closer to him in the bed and grabbed one of his hands. It was warm... and he surprisingly liked the touch of it as much as Ruskin did. But he didn't want to analyze the reason for it now.
"Then I am going to hold you. It is comfortable in this cold." He smirked and closed his eyes again. He could still hear Ruskin's answer before he truly fell asleep.
"It is comfortable for me, too."