The Painted Hours

A soft sound behind him made him turn, his heart leaping into his throat as he saw Leo standing in the doorway, watching him with a small, tender smile on his face. He was dressed in a pair of loose, linen sleeping pants and nothing else, his chest bare, his skin gleaming like molten gold in the moonlight.

“Couldn’t sleep?” Leo asked softly, his voice a low, husky rumble.

Elias shook his head, setting his brush aside and wiping his hands on a rag. “No,” he said, his own voice rough with emotion. “I was… inspired.”

Leo’s smile widened, his dark eyes glinting with amusement as he stepped into the studio. “Inspired, hmm?” he murmured, his gaze flicking to the canvas behind Elias. “I see.”

Elias blushed, ducking his head. “It’s not finished yet.”

“It’s beautiful,” Leo said softly, reaching out to brush a lock of hair from Elias’s forehead. “Just like the man who painted it.”

Elias’s blush deepened, his heart fluttering wildly in his chest. “Leo,” he whispered.

“Elias,” Leo murmured, his hand sliding down to cup Elias’s cheek. “Mon cher. Mon amour.”

He leaned in then, his lips brushing against Elias’s in a soft, tender kiss. Elias melted into it, his arms coming up to wrap around Leo’s neck. The kiss deepened, grew more urgent, their tongues tangling in a sensual dance that left Elias breathless and trembling.

When they finally broke apart, they were both panting, their foreheads pressed together. “Elias,” Leo murmured. “I want you. So very badly. But only if you’re ready.”

Elias’s heart soared. “I do,” he choked out. “I want you, Leo. More than I’ve ever wanted anything.”

Leo’s arms tightened around him. “You are mine, mon amour,” he whispered. “And I am yours. Always.”

He took Elias’s hand then, leading him across the studio to the old, velvet-upholstered chaise lounge. He pulled Elias down beside him, his hands coming up to frame his face. “Tell me what you want, Elias,” he murmured. “Tell me what you need from me.”

Elias’s breath hitched. “I… I want to touch you,” he whispered. “I want to learn your body, to know what makes you feel good. I want… I want you to touch me, too. To show me… to show me how to love you.”

Leo’s eyes darkened with want. “With pleasure, mon cher,” he murmured. He took Elias’s hand then, guiding it to his chest. “Touch me, Elias,” he whispered. “I’m yours. All of me. Every inch.”

Elias hesitated for only a moment before letting his hands roam, exploring the warm, smooth skin of Leo’s chest. Emboldened by Leo’s reactions, Elias let his hands drift lower, skimming over the sharp cut of Leo’s hipbones.

“Elias,” Leo breathed. “Mon Dieu, your touch… it sets me on fire.”

Elias’s heart swelled. “Leo,” he whispered. “I… I want more. I want… I want to see you. All of you.”

Leo’s eyes widened slightly. “Are you sure, mon amour?” he murmured. “We can go as slow as you need.”

Elias nodded. “I’m sure,” he choked out. “I… I need this, Leo. I need you.”

Leo’s lips curved into a soft, indulgent smile. “Then you shall have me, mon cher,” he murmured. He stood then, his hands going to the waistband of his sleeping pants, pushing them down over his hips.

Elias’s breath caught as he took in the sight of his lover in all his glory. “Leo,” he breathed. “You’re… you’re beautiful.”

Leo smiled. “Come here, mon amour,” he murmured, holding out a hand to Elias. “Let me see you, too.”

Elias hesitated for only a moment before standing, his hands going to the buttons of his own shirt with trembling fingers. He stripped quickly, letting his clothes fall to the floor beside Leo’s.

Leo’s eyes darkened as he took in the sight of Elias. “Elias,” he breathed. “Mon Dieu, you’re exquisite.”

He closed the distance between them, his hands coming up to rest on Elias’s hips. He leaned in, his lips brushing against Elias’s in a soft, tender kiss that quickly deepened.

They moved together towards the chaise lounge, never breaking their kiss. When the backs of Elias’s knees hit the velvet upholstery, Leo gently lowered him down, following him onto the soft cushions.

“Elias,” Leo murmured, his lips trailing down the column of Elias’s throat. “Mon cher. Mon amour. I want to worship every inch of you.”

Elias’s breath hitched. “Leo,” he gasped. “Please. I need… I need more.”

Leo smiled against his skin, his hands skimming down Elias’s sides. “More, mon amour?” he purred. He wrapped his hand around Elias’s cock, stroking him slowly.

Elias cried out, his hips bucking into Leo’s touch. “Leo,” he gasped. “Oh God, Leo. Please.”

Leo’s lips curved into a wicked, indulgent smile as he leaned down, his tongue swiping over the head of Elias’s cock. “Mmm,” Leo murmured. “You taste divine, mon amour.”

Elias’s head fell back, his eyes fluttering closed as pleasure washed over him. “Leo,” Elias gasped. “Oh God, Leo. Don’t stop. Please, don’t stop.”

Leo hummed his approval, his hands coming up to grip Elias’s hips, holding him steady as he took him deeper. Elias could feel his release building, and he knew he was close.

But he didn’t want to come like this, not yet. “Leo,” he gasped, pulling him off his cock. “Leo, please. I need… I need you inside me. I need to feel you.”

Leo’s eyes widened. “Are you sure, mon amour?” he murmured. “We don’t have to… I don’t want to rush you.”

Elias nodded. “I’m sure,” he choked out. “I… I need this, Leo. I need you. All of you.”

Leo’s lips curved into a soft, indulgent smile. “Then you shall have me, mon cher,” he murmured. He reached for the small bottle of oil, coating his fingers. “I’ll go slow, mon amour,” he whispered. “I’ll make this good for you. I promise.”

Elias nodded, his heart in his throat as he watched Leo’s hand disappear between his legs. Leo worked him open slowly, patiently, his fingers sliding inside him one by one.

“Leo,” Elias choked out. “Oh God, Leo. Please. I’m ready. I need you.”

Leo’s eyes darkened with want. He settled himself between Elias’s thighs, his hands coming up to grip the backs of his knees. “Breathe, mon amour,” he murmured. “Relax for me. Let me in.”

Elias took a shaky breath, forcing himself to relax. He felt a pressure, a stretching, a slight, burning pain, and then… then Leo was inside him.

Elias cried out, his back arching off the cushions. “Leo,” he gasped. “Oh God, Leo. You’re… you’re inside me.”

Leo’s breath hitched. “Elias,” he breathed. “Mon cher. Mon amour. You feel… you feel incredible.”

He began to move then, his hips rocking slowly. Elias gasped, his head falling back against the cushions. “Leo,” he choked out. “Oh God, Leo. Don’t stop. Please, don’t stop.”

Leo’s lips curved into a wicked, indulgent smile as he began to move faster, harder. Elias cried out, his back arching.

“Elias,” Leo gasped. “Mon Dieu, Elias. You’re so tight. So hot. So perfect.”

Elias could only gasp and writhe. “Leo,” he gasped. “Oh God, Leo. I’m… I’m close.”

Leo’s eyes widened. “Come for me, mon amour,” he murmured. He thrust harder, deeper.

Elias came with a shout, his release spilling over his fist. Leo followed him over the edge a moment later, his hips jerking as he spilled himself deep inside him.

“Elias,” he breathed. “Mon cher. Mon amour. Je t'aime. I love you.”

Elias’s heart swelled. “Leo,” he choked out. “I love you, too. So very much.”

They lay like that for a long moment, wrapped in each other’s arms. The hourglass sat on the table nearby, the sand slipping through the glass with a soft, constant hiss.

But in that instant, time seemed to stand still. For the first time in his life, Elias Whitlock was exactly where he was meant to be.

They lay like that for a long moment, wrapped in each other’s arms. The hourglass sat on the table nearby, the sand slipping through the glass with a soft, constant hiss.

But in that instant, time seemed to stand still. For the first moment in his life, Elias Whitlock was exactly where he was meant to be.

When the trembling aftershocks finally subsided, Leo gently withdrew, easing himself out of Elias and tying off the soiled length of silk in a discreet knot. He settled himself beside Elias on the drop cloth, wrapping him in his arms and pulling him close.

Elias turned to face him, nestling his head on Leo’s chest, his ear pressed to the steady thump of his heart. The sound was a comfort, a lullaby, and he felt himself sinking into a warm, contented lassitude.

“Are you all right, mon amour?” Leo murmured, his hand stroking idly up and down Elias’s back.

Elias nodded, his cheek rubbing against the warm, smooth skin of Leo’s chest. “I’m wonderful,” he whispered. “Better than wonderful. I’m… perfect.”