"I'm sorry, my wife has delivered an ultimatum. Family only for Christmas. She apparently has a major announcement to make. I'll go up by plane. Emmet can drive you up in the Jag on the 27th and then bring us both back down after New Year's. I won't be able to stay at Brambleton long then, though. The winter is a busy season from me in Philadelphia. I hope you won't be too upset being here alone."
"No, of course not, Archie," Matt answered. The two were sitting in a small pool of candlelight at one end of the massive table in the cavernous dining room of Brambleton. And it was, in fact, fine with Mattâor so he thought at the time. Judge Atherton spent hours alone in his study, working away at who knew whatâhe supposedly was retired, but he seemed to be putting in a full day's work with paperwork. And, although they slept together in the same bed, the judge, being content to have a young man to hold in his arms, only asked for anal sex a couple of times a week now. In the last few days, he had been wheezing through that. Other than that, it was mostly hand jobs or blow jobs. Atherton still liked to get it off at least once a dayâand Matt had grown used to more often than that. In fact, Matt was getting antsy for more active sex than that, although Brambleton itself was commanding much of his arousal.
Matt was in the burned-out wing testing supports and beams when Emmet, the chauffeur, came back from taking the judge to Dulles airport for a commuter flight to Philadelphia the next day. Emmet appeared at a door from the garage forecourt at the back of the house and cleared his voice to get Matt's attention.
"The judge's plane took off a half-hour late, but it's probably already in Philadelphia now," Emmet said in a rich, deep voice. In many ways Emmet reminded Matt of Dashad. He was probably in his early thirties, a black manâmuch darker skinned than Dashadâand handsome as mixed-race men from the Caribbean islands often were. Where he reminded Matt of Dashad the most, though, was a manner that appeared diffident on the surface and at first blush but had a backbone of steel and authority underneath it as well as in having a physique that was big boned and heavily muscled without being fat.
"Thank you, Emmet. Archie says you'll drive me up on the 27th."
"Yes, sir. Four days from now. And, if there's anything you needâanything I can do for youâbefore then, let me know. I'm a good driver."
Matt looked up sharply, and saw the look that the last comment had suggested he might getâa somewhat knowing smirk. Emmet, like all of the servants, of course knew exactly what Matt's status was at Brambleton. For the first time, Matt saw Emmet as a possible source of relief for the itch that the judge was unable to scratch.
"Thanks. I think I'll manage OK. With Archie gone, I can do a lot of measurement and study in the house that I didn't want to get in his way with."
"I know the master planned for both of you to be away for Christmas, so there are no decorations or anything. No tree. There are boxes of lights and ornaments, though, and I could bring in a tree, if you like."
"No, I wouldn't want you to go to any trouble, thanks," Matt answered. But having said that, it suddenly hit Matt that Christmas was in two days. It had always been a happy holiday for him, and the decorations always helped make it special. He, indeed, would miss not having any of the trappings.
"Yes, well," Emmet was clearing his throat. "I have a tree up in my apartment behind the garage, so if you feel in the need for some Christmas spirit, sir . . . or if there's anything else you need without Judge Atherton being here to do for you . . ."
Matt looked at Emmet directly. It was clear he was making an offer. It wasn't the least bit hard to tell. The look in his eyes said it as much as the innuendo did. He was a beautiful man, with a powerful body. And he achingly reminded Matt of Dashadâeven more so now that he was establishing the proposition. But Matt wasn't sure what he wanted. He had been so steeped in studying the architecture and restoration needs of the house that he hadn't thought much about sex, and when it occurred to him that he was missing something in that department, he'd brushed the thought away. He was aware that he was too greedy in wanting it all.
What he had with the judge had almost become routine and wasn't what he called invigorating. He'd gotten that from Perry and William Henry, but they appeared in the past now.
"Uh, thanks, Emmet, I'll keep that in mind."
"Just one thing, sir."
"Yes, Emmet, what is that?"
"Everywhere but my apartment, I work for Judge Atherton . . . and his guests. But in my apartment, on my own time, I am master."
"Uh, yes, of course, Emmet. That's as it should be."
"And I am a good, but very demanding master."
"Uh."
"It's just that I don't want there to be any misunderstand, sir. I wouldn't want anyone to come to my apartment without realizing how it would be."
"Thank you, Emmet. I think I understand . . . perfectly. I doubt I'll have the need to see your Christmas tree, though."
"As you wish, sir," he answered, although he didn't sound convinced, and perhaps it was because he could see Matt trembling. But he turned left.
And keep Emmet's offer in mind he did through the next day. And as chance would have it, part of his uncertainty was answered when he saw Jaime, from Ravensworth, almost stealthily come around the side of the garage the next afternoon and enter an open bay.
Curious, Matt quietly approached and peeked through a side window in the garage. Jaime was kneeling in front of a mostly naked Emmetâonly wearing boots and a shirt open and pulled back at each side to reveal a magnificent body and proud cock and balls. Jaime, already nearly naked himselfâonly in his open shirt and shoes as wellâwas sucking Emmet off.
As Matt watched, Emmet pushed Jaime's mouth off his cock and rolled a condom on it. Then he lifted the smaller Jaime with hand grasps under the Hispanic's armpits; turned him toward the trunk of the Jaguar salon car, which Jaime reached out for with his hands, planting the heels of his palms on the shiny surface of the car. Grabbing Jaime's hips in broad hands that permitted him to grip and spread the butt cheeks, Emmet lifted Jaime's feet off the floor of the garage, positioned his condomed cock head at Jaime's spread hole, and worked his way inside as Jaime writhed his body and voiced cries of welcome that easily reached Matt's ears through the window. When Emmet began to pump him it was with strong, vigorous strokes.