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"Here it is, Mr. Ruskin. Our room for the night."
The young King of Media, Jonathan Ruskin stopped in front of the door and waited until his secretary, Mr. Milverton opened it for him. They were on a longer business trip as it became inevitable for Ruskin to check his branch firms in New York, but he didn't like to be here. He wanted to go back home, to the London manor where he lived. He felt alien in this new world where nothing was like back in England - and he felt more powerless now than ever before. Seeing how big his empire was reminded him that his father built it up - and Ruskin had nothing to do with his success other than inheriting the companies and the position from him.
Ruskin's father recently passed away and he left his entire media empire to Ruskin. Ruskin knew that he would eventually get everything, but he didn't expect that this would happen so soon. Ruskin was not ready to take all the responsibilities, but he had no choice. He felt weak, young and inexperienced - and also, broken from the grief. After all, he and his father only had each other, Ruskin's mother died when he was just a little child. They were really close. And with his father leaving him behind, Ruskin was left alone.
At least, until he hired Mr. Milverton.
Ruskin admired his secretary very much. He was the same age as Ruskin's father and this gave Ruskin a strange reassurance that he can trust him. Unlike him, Mr. Milverton had very good skills when it came to managing several companies at once. The advice he gave to Ruskin never failed to help and Ruskin knew well that it was only thanks to Mr. Milverton that his father's business rivals didn't shatter him yet. With Mr. Milverton on his side, he felt strong again. And it was not just due to the man's fatherliness, there was another reason that Ruskin didn't share with anyone because he was aware that it was wrong. However, he couldn't change how he felt.
And he actually didn't want to erase the fact that he was in love in with Mr. Milverton.
Ruskin was actually not surprised by this. Mr. Milverton was still a handsome man despite his age. His curly hair already turned white and it sparkled in silver in the sunlight and his golden eyes were always glowing as a sign of his restless mind. With Ruskin, he always acted soft, but Ruskin was aware that the man had a dark side well-hidden from him. A darkness he couldn't and didn't want to understand. Mr. Milverton seemed to enjoy power too much and caused pain to innocents. But Ruskin turned a blind eye towards this. He didn't want to get disappointed in the man he loved more than anything in the world.
As he opened the door, Ruskin followed Mr. Milverton inside. His secretary began to pack down their packages while Ruskin turned his attention towards the beds - or rather, where the two beds were supposed to be. On business trips, be always slept in the same room as Mr. Milverton. This was the only thing he actually enjoyed during it - having him so close and staring towards his direction in the darkness while he fell asleep. But now, instead of the two, he saw only one bed inside. Ruskin blinked from the surprise, however, he had no time to tell it to Mr. Milverton. His secretary turned around as well and let out an "oh".
"It seems that the receptionist misunderstood our registration." He noted. "I ordered a room with two beds. I will go and correct this mistake." He said, but before he could step out of the room, Ruskin stopped him.
"No. It is too late for that. What if we share the bed for once?" His secret wish slipped out of his mouth before he was able to stop himself.
Ruskin immediately turned red from the embarrassment when he realized what he just said. No, no! This was not right! It was true that he wished to sleep with Mr. Milverton more than anything else, but he could imagine how this sounded to the other man. After all, Ruskin was his higher-up. Mr. Milverton can't really say no to him even if he didn't want them to sleep together. He was ready to immediately change the order, but Mr. Milverton spoke before he could do that.
"I am not against that, Mr. Ruskin - but is it really appropriate for me to sleep with you as your secretary?"
This froze the words in Ruskin's mouth who felt that he ended up in a difficult situation. He can't say anymore that it would be better if they ordered another room, because that would make it seem like that he looks down on Mr. Milverton - when the case was the exact opposite. Ruskin's face was burning when he finally gave the answer.
"It is fine. I would like you to sleep with me." He said awkwardly.
Mr. Milverton nodded while a smile appeared on his face.
"Thsn it is settled. I will prepare your bath immediately, sir, and while you are inside the bathroom, I will order our bed." He noted and disappeared in the bathroom.
While Ruskin bathed himself, he was still unable to believe that he and Mr. Milverton are going to share a bed. He will be so close that he can even touch him. His heart started to beat faster for the thought even if he knew that he was not supposed to do that.
When he walked out of the bathroom, he saw that the bed was ready. Mr. Milverton got another blanket from somewhere, so at least, they didn't need to share that. It made Ruskin feel disappointed even if he knew that this was the right thing to do. He could only hope that he would not feel the irresistible temptation of hugging his secretary while he is asleep.
But he did. An hour later, both of them were lying in the bed, next to each other and Ruskin was about to explode from the excitement and the yearning. He wanted nothing more than to hold the other man gently in his arms and gently comb Mr. Milverton's curly locks. He kept staring at the other man's direction with this wish in his heart and he was unable to fall asleep. Mr. Milverton was somehow able to feel this, because in the next moment, he turned around.
"Mr. Ruskin, is everything alright?" He asked in a gentle voice.
Ruskin was happy that his blush was at least, not seen in the dark.
"Yes. I just have trouble falling asleep." He admitted it to the other man.
"Homesickness?" Mr. Milverton brought it up. Ruskin was once again relieved that his secretary didn't see his face.
"Yes." He answered when it was only partly that.
But Mr. Milverton was not his secretary without a reason. He was able to read his mind even if he didn't see his expression.
"Would it help you if I came closer?" He said and Ruskin turned even redder by the question. First, he wanted to lie to not make Mr. Milverton feel forced into doing something for his sake which made him uncomfortable, but in the end, he was too weak to not tell the truth.
"Yes. Yes, it would." He replied shyly. He sensed that his secretary moved closer to him - Ruskin was soon able to feel his comforting scent in his nose and this made his heartbeat faster. Then he felt a touch on his shoulder.
"You don't need to be shy to hug me if that's what you want." He heard the offer and Ruskin stopped resisting. Like his life would have depended on it, he wrapped his arms around Mr. Milverton's body and buried his head into his chest. He heard Mr. Milverton's chuckle but he felt that the other man was not against the hug. Ruskin didn't feel the homesickness anymore nor the longing. He was not alone, after all. And nothing bad can happen to him until they are together.
"Good night, Mr. Ruskin." He faintly heard Mr. Milverton's voice, but Ruskin was sleeping by the end of the sentence. He was home.