Date: Wed, 30 May 2012 18:03:04 +0100 From: Adam Stewart Subject: The Tangled Web - part 1 This is a gay love story set in the late 60s and early 70s when, despite the new legislation allowing homosexual acts between two people, it was still difficult to be open about your sexuality. It is pure fiction and fantasy and none of the characters portrayed relate to any known person. Warning - it contains explicit m/m sex. The Tangled Web 1. Lord Rupert stood at the side of the boat watching the white cliffs of Dover as they slowly sailed by. It had been five years since he had last seen them. As the boat slid into the harbour his mind flashed back to what had caused him to leave home. He had been twenty five at the time and had lived at Brylands, his father's estate in Kent. He'd known he was different from other men from an early age and didn't have the slightest interest in women much to his father's disappointment. All he wanted was his one and only son to marry and have an heir to inherit the family line and estate. But Rupert knew that was never going to happen. He liked men and that was that. Fortunately he had a younger sister. He hoped that Lady Ann would produce what offspring were necessary to keep his father happy but so far, even though she was only two years younger, she'd shown no signs of finding a suitable husband either. It had all gone wrong for Rupert when his father found him in bed with one of the stable lads. Rupert loved the lad and enjoyed his company as well as his body. The lad was more than happy to oblige whenever he could. Unfortunately for both of them, neither knew that Lord Rupert's brute of a father had come back from London early and gone straight up to his bedroom to find him. Being the kind of man he was he never bothered to knock on doors. He considered everything was his right, including his son's private life so he just barged in. Sadly Rupert hadn't locked the door when he and the lad had crept upstairs some three hours earlier for their love making. His father had never shown any love for Rupert right from an early age. He had been packed off to boarding school so hardly knew the boy. Seeing him naked in bed with the stable lad made him storm and rage. The poor lad received several lashes from the stick that Rupert's father always seemed to carry with him. His naked body was bloodied by the time he managed to grab his clothes and run out of the room leaving Rupert to face the wrath of his father. Rupert had tried to protect his protégé and had jumped out of bed stark naked showing off his manhood to its fullest state. His father seemed not to notice as he lashed out at the lad. The result was that the stable lad was sacked and Rupert was exiled so as to avoid any scandal that the family may endure, or more to the point, the embarrassment that his father would have to overcome having realised that his only son and heir was 'one of those'! Rupert's greatest sadness though was leaving his dear friend Lord John who was one year younger. They had first met at boarding school as pre pubescent boys. Even then it was clear that both of them were different to the other boys which caused them torment and bullying from their school fellows. Many a time they would be stripped naked by the senior boys and paraded round for the fun and enjoyment of others and sometimes made to suck either each other's organs or those of the senior boys. They both quickly realised that despite the embarrassment at having to do this, they enjoyed it! Lord John's father was also an intolerable man. He'd already seen the death of his wife due to his brutish behaviour towards her. She'd always been a sickly person and had nearly died when she had brought John's younger sister Isobel into the world. As with Rupert, John's father expected him to marry and produce an heir for the continuance of the family. "He doesn't seem to understand the concept of love" John had told Rupert one day, "and of course I daren't let him know that I have no interest in the fairer sex otherwise he'd cut me off financially." Just before Rupert's banishment from England, they'd both agreed one day that being the son and heir of a titled family was far from easy despite the fact that a fortune was at the end of the rainbow once they inherited everything. With these thoughts in his mind, Rupert found his luggage and a willing porter to help him get off the boat. He and John had kept in contact by regular correspondence throughout the five years whist Rupert had travelled round Europe and he couldn't wait to see his dear friend again. They had always loved each other but they were never quite sure whether it was 'true love' or just the fact that they were both of the same persuasion and had grown up together. Either way, it was with great delight when he finally saw his friend standing at the exit waiting for him. Having paid off the porter who had diligently followed Rupert with his luggage, they shook each other's hands warmly. Rupert was dying to take John into his arms, hug him and kiss him but of course that would not be acceptable even though the year was nineteen sixty eight and the previous year had seen the passing of the legalisation legalising homosexuality which allowed two consenting adults to be together in a sexual way. Both Rupert and John knew of course that despite the change in legislation, the general attitude of the populace was that two men who loved each other in the way they did was still very wrong so they knew that their secret would have to remain so. At least they no longer risked being arrested for sodomy which was another reason Rupert's father had banished him abroad to save face. "How are you my dear friend?" John asked as he hailed a nearby taxi and organised the loading of Rupert's luggage into it. "I am well, and you my friend?" "All the better for seeing you again Rupert" John whispered as they finally climbed into the back of the taxi. John gave the driver instructions on where to take them, and they sat back saying no more. Taxis outside of London didn't have the convenience of glass panels dividing off the driver from the passengers so it was not possible to say anything more than pleasantries about the trip over the water and Rupert's fairly horrendous train journey from the south of France. Within a few minutes, the car pulled up outside a smart looking hotel. Once John had paid off the driver, having given him a generous tip, John explained why they were here. "I decided you'd be too tired to travel to Brylands today so I've booked us into this rather nice but quiet hotel." "An excellent idea" Rupert said smiling, "I hope we have adjoining rooms". "Of course" John grinned in reply, "I told the very nice man who owns the place that you have just lost your dear father and have returned from Europe for the funeral in a few days' time. I've also said that you are unwell and need a rest before the onward journey and that I am looking after you so would appreciate adjoining rooms!" Rupert chuckled at John's connivance to get them together as soon as he'd arrived. "Well, the bit about my father's death and the funeral is true even though he was far from being a dear father and me being sad about his loss, but I'm sure I can play the part perfectly." It was the death of his father that had brought him home. Now that his father was dead he could live his own life. His mother had died when he and his sister Ann were quite small. She'd had pneumonia and died suddenly. Not that his father was that upset at the time but he and Ann missed her kindness towards them. Suddenly they heard the front entrance of the hotel open and a man appear. "Ah, Lord John" he said offering his hand, "and you must be Lord Rupert" he added. Rupert shook the man's hand as he offered his condolences regarding the death of his father. "Yes, it was very sudden apparently so I never had the opportunity to say goodbye" Rupert said with a deadpan face. John almost burst out laughing but managed to control himself as he started to pick up one of the suitcases standing beside them. "No, no my lord, leave those; my boy will attend to those; come, let me take you in and deal with the necessary formalities" the man exclaimed as he led them inside. A young lad who seemed not much older than fourteen or fifteen, was told to collect the luggage and bring it in whilst Lord Rupert went through the necessary registration process and was told which room he was occupying. "I arrived earlier so am already booked in" John explained as the man then led them up the stairs to a room at the front of the house. "I do so hope you will be comfortable in here my lord" he bumbled as he opened the door to what turned out to be a large living area. "Take those into the bedroom boy" the young lad was told as he staggered into the room with Rupert's two large suitcases which seemed large enough to swallow the whole boy if they had been open. Having shown Lord Rupert all the facilities which the man described with great enthusiasm he eventually gave Rupert the key to his room and started to leave. "Would it be possible to have a cold platter of some sort sent up" John then asked, "my friend I think is too tired to dine in the public room. Hopefully he will feel better when it is time for dinner this evening." "Of course my lord; I'll arrange that immediately" the man said graciously as he pushed the young lad out of the door in front of him. "I take it he is the owner" Rupert grinned when they were finally on their own. "He is" Lord John replied, "a bit overbearing at times but is of good intent I feel but at least we are alone and my room is just through that door" John said excitedly. "I hope you don't intend sleeping in it" Rupert chuckled. "Of course not" John replied with an equal amount of chuckle in his voice, "I shall just ruffle the bedclothes to make it look as if I have". "Oh, you hussy!" Rupert giggled. "But it's so good to see you again John; I have so missed you all these years". "And me you" John readily replied, "but no doubt you have found plenty of young men to satisfy your needs whereas I have had to live a life of chastity these past five years." "Well, Florence did produce one or two nice young man for me to dalliance with and I also found a nice young man in Rome who enjoyed drinking me to satisfaction but in France I was not so lucky so I am in need of serious attention from the man I have loved for so long." "I was so hoping you still wanted me Rupert" John was now saying as he pulled the man he had always admired and loved into his arms. They kissed passionately without saying any more for several minutes. As they did so, Rupert ran his hand through John's long flaxen hair which now reached his shoulders. It was just as he remembered. His other hand moved down to the other prize he hoped to find beneath John's tight trousers. He admired John's trim body neatly packed inside his close fitting trousers, as soon as they'd met at the exit from the ferry. John looked just as dashing and delectable as he had always done. If anything, the passage of five years had improved him even more. "Oh Rupert, it is so lovely feeling your body against mine again and you're looking good" John was now saying, "oh, and you feel so good" John added chuckling as he too came across what he was seeking further down Rupert's body. "I want to strip you naked now and ravish you" Rupert grinned. "All in good time my good man, all in good time" John replied laughing; "As soon as our bumbling friend has sent up our lunch we can lock the doors and spend the afternoon in bed". With perfect timing, there was a knock on the door to announce the arrival of their repast. John opened it to find the young lad ready to wheel in a trolley laden with neatly cut sandwiches and a variety of other delights. John told the lad to place the trolley in the centre of the room and then gave him a coin which the lad accepted with a large grin having clearly been pleased with the size of his tip. "Mm, having seen that lad again me thinks he could provide us with some enjoyment" Rupert said once the lad had left and closed the door behind him. "Behave yourself Lord Rupert" John chided with amusement, "otherwise I shall have to chastise you". "Now you are really getting me excited" Rupert replied feeling the enlarged organ inside his trousers. "So, do we divest ourselves of these restraints before we eat, or afterwards?" John asked with a somewhat naughty grin on his face. "Oh definitely before" Rupert replied, "the food will not get cold since it is cold already and I can't wait to gaze upon your nakedness any longer." Having made that momentous decision, they carefully undressed each other until they were both standing naked. "You are as beautiful as ever my dear friend" John exclaimed as he looked at Rupert's naked body, felt the long black hair that dropped onto his shoulders before running his fingers down the line of equally black hair that traversed from his navel down to the organ of his desire. "And you" Rupert replied pulling John's naked body up against his to feel his hot flesh hard against his own. When they had kissed some more and gently caressed each other's tumescent organ they finally pulled apart. "Do we sit naked to eat or cover ourselves with a robe?" Rupert asked. "Since I want to gaze at your beautiful body Rupert, I suggest we dispense with modesty and sit naked." Having checked that the door was securely locked they sat down in easy chairs by the window and pulled the food trolley within easy reach. Fortunately the hotel looked out onto open fields so nobody could look in upon them. John opened the bottle of fine wine he had ordered with their cold platter and poured two glasses. "To us my wonderful friend and lover" Rupert said holding up his glass. "Am I still your lover?" John asked with all seriousness. "Of course you are" Rupert replied somewhat amazed that the man he'd been dreaming about for the past five years was questioning the fact, "Why have you lost your love for me or found another?" John knelt between Rupert's naked knees and pulled him into an embrace. "Of course I haven't but we have been apart for five years and I was not sure what to expect; you must know Rupert that I have always loved you; I always will and want to be with you as much as this unfair life of ours will allow." Rupert smiled and kissed John's soft lips before replying. "Thank god for that John because I've never once forgotten you and I've been looking forward to this moment for so long." "Even when you were no doubt fucking your young men in Florence and Rome and wherever else you came across them" John said looking into Rupert's dark brown eyes. "Even then my darling, because they were purely a means to an end to satisfy my basic needs; I've always loved you John, you must know that and when my father forced me to go abroad you were the one thing I missed beyond anything else." John's face softened as he finally accepted what he'd always hoped was true. Tears started falling down his face as he gently kissed Rupert. "Thank you" he finally managed to say before sitting in the chair opposite. "I'm starving" Rupert suddenly said helping himself to a plateful of food from the trolley. "So am I" John giggled, "and I'll need all my energy for when we get to bed!" "You will indeed because I have needs that have not been satisfied for a very long time." They grinned at each other and admired each other's nakedness as they ate. "I can't really believe that you have not been with anyone during the past five years" Rupert giggled, "if that is so then your five fingered widow must have been put to great use!" "Well ..." John was about to reply. "Ah, so you have young man, now tell me all; I want to hear every sordid detail" Rupert laughed. "Only if you tell me about your dalliances with young Italian men." "Agreed but you go first" Rupert chuckled as he refilled the wine glasses again. "There's not much to tell really but I did happen across a rather nice young farmhand who when we first met was clearly interested." "And?" Lord Rupert asked wanting to hear much more. "We used to go for walks when he could get away and find somewhere we could, well you know ..." "Satisfy each other's needs" Rupert interjected. "Well yes" John replied clearly visualising the young man as he spoke. "And what was he like this young farmhand?" "He was rough and ready and had a beautiful body" "Ah, so you got him naked then?" "Oh yes, he loved showing me his body and in fact he never wore under garments and his trouser pockets always had large holes in them; I'm not sure whether this was by design or not but when we walked side by side I would put my arm round him and slip my hand into his pocket so I could feel his naked flesh inside." "You saucy thing!" Rupert exclaimed, "And did his flesh react to your attention?" "Oh yes, by the time we had reached wherever we were going he was hard and almost ready to burst." "And did he take you?" Rupert asked remembering that his lover always loved being entered from behind. John flushed slightly before answering, "He did on a couple of occasions and when he was deep inside me I imagined it was you so you see it was purely to satisfy my needs as your Italian men did for you." "That is fine my me John; as you know I am not a jealous man and we have always agreed that taking another purely for sex does not affect our love for each other" Rupert said looking into John's hazel eyes, "I trust that will still be the case". "I am more than happy to accept your love on those terms Rupert; I know your sex drive is higher than mine so I don't expect you to only be satisfied with what I can offer." "Perhaps we should find a young man to satisfy us both" Rupert grinned. "Perhaps, but in the meantime I want to feel my naked flesh against yours; let's go to bed if you have had sufficient food for the time being." Rupert smiled and put his hand out for John's. They then walked naked into the bedroom and climbed into bed. For quite some while they just held each other close and kissed. It felt so good to have their nakedness touching again after all these years. Neither dared to touch each other down there since if they had they both knew they would reach their climax and for a while at least the passion between them would be lost. Instead they explored each other's nakedness as if it was the first time they had ever done so. It was beautiful and they both yearned for each other. Finally Rupert could no longer hold back his undying need to feel his flesh inside of John so he manoeuvred their bodies so that he could enter him but still look into his eyes as he did so. Fortunately John had come prepared and had already placed a tube of KY in the bedside cabinet so having prepared John in readiness for his aching organ which was already leaking its contents, he slowly entered his lover. "Oh John I have so wished I could do this for so long" Rupert purred as his shaft sank deep inside. Once fully engulfed, he purposefully moved his buttocks back and forth giving both himself and his lover the full thrill of his organ slipping in and out. John groaned and moaned with sheer joy as he felt Rupert's organ fill his inside. It was the most perfect moment of his life and he wanted it to last forever. Unfortunately, good things never last forever and he was suddenly aware of Rupert's hot seed filling him up inside. Even so, it felt good and John was more than happy to accept it. John had briefly forgotten how long Rupert's ejaculations lasted but he was pleased that it did since it meant they were both linked together for much longer. Finally Rupert's ejaculate had ceased and they smiled at each other. "Thank you my love that was just perfect" Rupert said as he bent forward and kissed John. When Rupert had pulled out he knelt between John's legs and took his still hard organ into his mouth. It wasn't long before John was spilling his seed and Rupert was once again tasting the man he loved. "You really are the best cock sucker I have ever met" John finally exclaimed once he'd come back down from his heights of ecstasy. "Thank you my love; and you have the most perfect arse to fuck!" Having cleaned themselves up, they dressed and went out for a walk before going into the dining room for dinner. "Ah, my lords, I hope everything is to your satisfaction" the owner said when they entered the dining room. John assured him it was and chuckled to himself. "More than satisfactory!" he eventually whispered to Rupert when they'd been shown their table and left to peruse the menu. The following morning having spent a wonderful night in bed together, they shared a bath. The bathroom contained a large old fashioned Victorian bath that was amply large enough for both of them to get into. They enjoyed washing each other and the closeness of their naked flesh. When they'd finally had enough, they dried each other off before dressing to go down for breakfast. John had thought about asking for it to be brought up to their room but they decided that might cause too many eyebrows to be raised so they braved the dining room again and settled in to a plate of fine English cooked breakfast with all the trimmings. It was another thing that Rupert had missed when in Europe. He loved bacon, eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes and a sausage if available for his breakfast. They checked out and when their taxi arrived, made their way to the railway station to journey home to Brylands. Rupert had invited John to accompany him so that he could stay until after the funeral. John's father had no intention of attending since he and Rupert's father, the Marquess of Tyndale, had never got on particularly well despite them both being brutish individuals and should therefore have done so. Rupert had phoned ahead and arranged for the chauffer to collect them from the nearby station which was some twenty minutes away. When they got off the train a rather nice young man was waiting for them on the platform. "Lord Rupert" the young man called out, "I am Jacob your chauffer sir" he then said before adding "Cecil asked me to come and collect you. Good morning my lord" he then said turning to Lord John. "Good morning" Rupert replied smiling and rather liking the look of the young man, "so what is your name?" "Jacob sir; I also look after the horses" "Ah, a multitasks man" Rupert smiled. "Yes sir, Cecil the butler kindly took me on when your father's staff left" "I can see there have been lots of changes whilst I have been away" Rupert said to John as they climbed into the car. Rupert had spoken to Cecil a week ago when he got the news about his father's death and had agreed with Cecil that the entire staff at Brylands with the exception of Cecil, who had been treated very badly by the old butler who thought his father was the most perfect man that god had ever produced, should be dismissed. Most of them were elderly and not up to the job so Rupert gave Cecil the task of hiring a new chauffer come stable lad since they only had two horses now, a new cook and a general assistant to do odd jobs around the house. Cecil, being of the same persuasion as Rupert, had asked him if it was in order for him to staff Brylands with young men who he knew personally and were also, of course, of the same persuasion. Rupert said he'd be delighted for him to do so. Having met Jacob, Rupert was sure he was going to approve of Cecil's choice of staff! As the car, which Rupert noted was also not the same Bentley that had been around when he was last in England, finally entered the estate and drove along the winding road towards the house, Rupert felt a slight queasiness in his stomach. Was it excitement at being home or concern about what his life had in store for him? He could not decide. "Good morning my lord" Cecil said holding open the car door for Rupert to alight. "Good morning Cecil, are you well?" "Very well my lord and may I offer my condolences on the loss of your father" "Thank you Cecil" Rupert said and then whispered into his ear, "but as you well know Cecil, I am more than happy that the old sod is dead". Cecil smiled knowingly. He knew what had actually happened but had kept the knowledge to himself. "May I introduce Ralph who is your new cook" Cecil then said turning towards another good looking young guy. "And this is young Joseph who is our general hand" he then added indicating another young lad. "And of course you've already met Jacob who is your chauffeur and also tends the horses for yourself and her ladyship." Rupert smiled at each person introduced and shook their hand. "You appear to have chosen well" Rupert said quietly to Cecil and then added in a whisper "and are they all ... you know?" "Yes my lord, every one of us so no chance of any disapproval on those grounds" Cecil said smiling at both Lord Rupert and Lord John. "Excellent, well I hope all of you will be happy at Brylands and I look forward to having you work here" he then said to the assembled staff. "Thank you my lord" they all chimed as he and John followed Cecil into the house leaving Jacob and Joseph to attend to the luggage. "Is Lady Ann around?" Rupert asked Cecil when they were finally inside. "She is currently out riding my lord but she should be back soon I think" Cecil replied, "I think she has ridden over to see your sister Lady Isobel, Lord John" he added looking at John with slightly raised eyebrows as if he knew something that Rupert clearly did not. "Lord John is going to stay with us until after the funeral Cecil so perhaps you could prepare the blue room for him." "Of course my lord" Cecil replied knowing that the blue room had an interconnecting door to Lord Rupert's bedroom, "Can I first get you a drink my lords?" Both Rupert and John nodded and walked into the library. "I expect it feels good to be back doesn't it Rupert?" John said whilst Cecil poured out two whiskeys which he knew both of them would wish to drink. "It certainly does" Rupert said looking round the room, "but I think there needs to be some changes in the decor here don't you?" "It could do with some updating I agree" Lord John replied, "don't you agree Cecil?" Cecil gave them their drinks and said it wasn't really for him to say. "Come on Cecil, there's no need to be coy; what do you really think?" "Well, I have to agree sir that the place could do with some updating and modernising. The Marquess seemed to loathe changing anything." "You are spot on Cecil and old Braden, your predecessor was just as bad" Rupert giggled, "By the way, did the removal of all of them go off okay?" Cecil smiled, "Perfectly sir; once I'd given old Braden your message he immediately packed his bags and the others followed suit so they were all gone within a day. I'd already lined up my lads so they took over the next." "Well done; and they are all ... you know" Rupert grinned. "Yes sir, each and every one of them prefers to work and play with their own sex sir" Cecil grinned, "Jacob and Ralph are in fact together as it were and young Joseph is just pleased to please whoever takes the fancy if you know what I mean sir" he added. "Good work so all we now need is to do the same for the Regents Park house in London." "Yes sir; and with your permission sir I do already have the perfect young man in mind for the job of butler and a young assistant for him which I consider will be ample for looking after that size of house." "Excellent, perhaps we can talk about that tomorrow then" "Yes sir" Cecil replied clearly pleased that his master was happy with what he had achieved within the last week since the old man had popped his clogs. "You are a scheming devil aren't you?" Lord John exclaimed when Cecil had finally left them alone. "I had no intention of continuing on with my father's homophobic servants apart from the fact that most of them were useless but my stupid father couldn't see what was going on under his own nose. Fortunately I have kept a tight watch on the financial affairs with the help of the family solicitor, who also happens to be one of us!" Rupert said with a gleam in his eye. "How on earth did you manage that?" John asked laughing. "The old boy who'd been the family solicitor for years popped his clogs and I put forward Stephens & Stephens and I knew that young Stephens was our way inclined. My father seemed to like him so agreed not realising what he had taken on. This was a few months before he found me with my cock in young Michael's arse! Since young Stephens had already been appointed, things remained but he kept me fully informed whilst I was away." John laughed at Rupert's ingenuity and lifted his glass for a toast. "To us" "To us and all who sail in us!" Rupert laughed. ******* The next chapter of 'The Tangled Web' will be available shortly. I welcome comments so feel free to do so by sending me an email. Don't forget that Nifty needs donations to host stories like these. See the Donate link to make your donation. Thanks. Other stories by Adam Stewart: Moving Forward Love at Last Gary's Story Finding Ryan The Advert Number Twenty Five Life After Ryan