This is my first time uploading a story in this format so hopefully it isn't screwed up. If it is, I apologize.
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The next morning, Jackson woke to the warmth and familiarity of his own mattress. He sighed and leaned further into his pillow, pulling the blankets up around his bare shoulders.
"Jackson," Jane said quietly, touching his shoulder with her cool soft hand. "Are you awake?"
"Not for much longer," he said tiredly.
"You won't come down for breakfast?"
"No. I'll be down in a few more hours."
He rolled onto his back and gave her a small smile. She had the same dark hair and eyes as Dorian. He touched her shoulder and pulled her down into a small kiss. He never wanted to make her feel unloved. It wasn't her fault that she wasn't her brother. When he kissed her, she smiled before getting out of bed. Another husband would've watched while his young wife dressed. He didn't. He rolled back on his side and went to sleep.
***
"Wake up. You're being lazy."
This was how Jackson was woken the second time. He groaned and turned away as Dorian threw open the curtains on the window. The sunlight was far too bright, meaning he had slept into the afternoon. It wasn't uncommon for him to do so after traveling. Dorian knew this and took a malicious satisfaction in waking him.
"Go away," he said, pulling the blanket over his head.
Dorian laughed and Jackson felt the mattress shift as he sat on the edge. Then he felt the tug on the blankets and reluctantly let them come down. He squinted at the brightness of the room.
"You're evil," he pouted.
Dorian grinned and leaned forward to kiss him. Sliding his hand up Dorian's neck and threading into his soft dark hair was second nature by now. Once, he thought it strange to kiss him. Now, it was his favorite way to wake up, although the occurrence was far too rare.
"Make it up to me, Dor," he said against Dorian's lips.
"How would I do that?"
Jackson took Dorian's hand that was on his chest and moved it downward. "Do what I did for you last night."
Dorian jerked his hand away and stood. "No. You probably haven't even cleaned yourself after last night."
Jackson's eyes had adjusted now. He could see the irritation, bordering on anger, in Dorian's face. His dark brow was creased between his eyes and his lips turned down. He propped himself up on his elbows.
"I couldn't help myself," he said.
"It's disgusting."
"Don't be angry with me."
Dorian walked toward the door across the large room. His boots made a final thump on the hard wood. "Come down soon."
"Dor, I'm sorry. Come here."
The door closed and he was left alone. He sank back into the softness of his bed.
***
Jackson walked into the dining room for lunch. Dorian, Jane, and Emma were already seated and eating.
"I was wondering when you would wake," Jane said, giving him a sweet smile. "I thought it would be sooner since I sent Dorian earlier."
"You know what traveling does to me," he said, taking a seat on the far side from Dorian.
Dorian didn't look up. It wasn't something Jackson particularly liked about himself, but when Dorian was angry he thought him gorgeous. His features were stoic and chiseled, making him look like he could manage to have no emotions.
Unfortunately for Dorian, Jackson learned long ago that he was not a statue and experienced feelings just like any other person, as much as Dorian strove to keep this a secret. As if to prove his point, Dorian looked up slightly and caught his eyes and looked away again with his perfect mouth turning down further.
"Emma, have you gone to have your dress designed?" Jackson asked.
"No. Jane and I were going to go into town tomorrow. Would you like to come?"
"How long will you be gone?"
"Two days, possibly longer. Can you do without your wife for so long?" Emma asked with a small smile over the rim of her cup.
Jackson smiled at Jane, "It will be difficult, but I suppose I will manage."
"Dorian, would you like to come with us?" Jane asked her brother.
"No thank you. A few days in town and you could drop me at the asylum," Dorian said, picking through his lunch.
"When will you be leaving?" Jackson asked.
"Early tomorrow morning," Emma answered.
"I hope you two have fun."
"When we get home the wedding will only be a week away," Jane said. "Then my dear brother will no longer be the perpetual bachelor." She smiled across the table at Dorian who wouldn't look at her. Jackson could only see a small bit of Dorian's face, but it was enough to pull at his chest. "Are you excited, Brother?"
"Of course," Dorian said. He looked up enough to give Emma a close-mouthed smile that didn't reach his eyes before standing. "I'll be in the library if I'm needed. Otherwise, please leave me to my own devices." When he said the last part, he looked at Jackson with his eyes hard before leaving the room.
In times like this Jackson wondered what the hell he had gotten himself into. For most men one woman was enough, maybe a mistress on the side. Oh no, but he had to go large just as he did in most things. Instead of a mistress, he had to have a man on the side. Then again, Dorian wasn't on the side. He had been there before Jane. He was why Jackson had proposed to her. With Jackson being married to Jane it was acceptable for he and Dorian to spend months at a time in the same household. When Dorian married Emma it would be acceptable for them to spend all their time together as an extended family.
"I think he is nervous," Jane said, after Dorian was heard climbing the stairs. "It is adorable."
"Can you call him adorable?" Jackson asked.
"Don't be such a man, Jackson. Dorian is adorable isn't he, Emma?"
"Puppies are adorable, Jane. He is," she sighed and got a dreamy look on her young face. It made Jackson want to vomit. "He is handsome. If handsome is a strong enough word."
"Remember, Emma, I am your brother, I don't want to hear about how lovely you believe your fiancΓ© is," Jackson said.
He hardly controlled the frown threatening to surface at her words. It was just as much at himself as at her. He was unhappy with himself for leading Emma to take Dorian's hand. At least he would provide for her and do it well. She would never be left wanting. He convinced himself that was enough.
After lunch, he managed to leave Dorian alone for a few hours before climbing the stairs to the second floor. Dorian's library was lined with shelves, all filled with heavy volumes. They weren't dusty, Dorian wouldn't allow such things. The Bay family had devoted generations to perfecting their collection and Dorian was far from letting the books be neglected. A large oak desk sat on one side and a sitting room was on the other side near the fire. A wall of windows over looked the vast grounds on which the Bay estate sat. Dorian sat in the chair closet to the windows with a book open in his hands.
"Dorian, can I speak to you?" he asked.
"If you must," Dorian said.
Jackson walked in and closed the door. He didn't sit in one of the open chairs, instead kneeling beside Dorian.
"You're beautiful when you're angry," he said.
Dorian's lips pressed in a tight line. The sunlight came through his gray eyes and casting them silver. "Do not think to flatter me into forgiving you."
"I wouldn't do you the disservice."
Dorian cut his eyes toward him. "You know how much I hate when you do that in the mornings after being with her."
"I'm sorry. I forget myself."
"It isn't something to be forgotten. It disgusts me."
"I know. I'm sorry," Jackson said.
He saw the hard set of Dorian's jaw and took the chance of kissing along his cheek and up to his ear. Dorian tried to turn away, but Jackson stopped his chin with his hand. It didn't take much, Dorian could be a monster in many things, but he was Jackson's putty. Instead of pulling away any further, he dropped his eyes while Jackson gently nipped the curves of his ear.
"I missed you so badly and I forgot to behave. I apologize. Please, don't be angry with me."