* * * * *
Part 5
Life was good. No, that wasn't right - life was perfect.
With a soundless sigh of happiness Heath closed his eyes and rested his head against his master's knee. His master was sitting at his desk, typing and occasionally sipping on his beer, Heath was comfortably curled up on a huge pillow on the floor next to him.
In the first two days Heath hadn't quite known what to do with himself while his master sat at his desk, working on his novel. There was only so much cleaning up, preparing food and prettily lounging around one could do without getting bored at some point.
He had managed to conceal his growing restlessness but at some point his master had picked up on it. Heath was pretty sure that his master had been rather annoyed at the constant slight disturbance in his concentration Heath must have been. He had pretty much considered all his chances of ever convincing his master to take him home gone, then.
But his master had remained calm and simply asked what was wrong. Something that Heath wouldn't have expected any master to do. So Heath had gathered his courage and told his master the truth - that he was plain simply bored.
The next question of his master had caught him completely by surprise. It had been if there was nothing he enjoyed doing that he could spend the time with while his master was busy. Of course there were a hundred things he liked to do. He just would never have considered doing them - doing something for himself - while he was supposed to service his master.
So he had carefully asked if maybe his master would allow him to read - somewhere close by so he would be available when needed of course.
His master had been more than happy with the suggestion. More than happy had turned into delighted when he had enquired what Heath had been reading during dinner that evening. They had talked at length about the book and various others Heath had read during his studies and Heath had discovered that his master valued his opinion - not just as pleasant conversation but as an intelligent counterpoint to his own.
Since then Heath had spent his days pretty much on holidays himself - at least it seemed like holidays to him. He did as he pleased most of the day - including long intervals curled up at his master's feet reading - over dinner he talked with his master and after dinner...
Heath couldn't help but grin in silent happiness and rub his head against his master's knee just a little. After dinner definitely was the best time of day. If there was one thing he could say for absolutely certain by now it was that having a master who was creative by trade was a gift of god.
The only shadow on this perfect life was that more than a week had passed now and Heath still had no idea if his master might change his mind and take him home. The thought that maybe only a precious few days remained that he would stay in his master's company grew more terrible every day. It wasn't just that Heath didn't want to be a 'slave left behind'. What was a lot worse was the fact that Heath loved his master more every passing day. He just couldn't imagine a life without him.
His dark thoughts were interrupted when he felt gentle fingers run through his hair. He glanced up to check if his master was only caressing him with his mind still on his writing like he often did, or if he needed something.
He was somewhat startled when he realized he had his master's full attention and that the expression on his master's face was one he had not seen before. A strange mixture of sadness, thoughtfulness and affection.
"Are you all right?" his master asked, and Heath realized that some of his worries must have been showing on his face.
He quickly put on a cheerful smile. "Of course, master." he answered not quite truthfully. He had never gotten perfect at hiding his feelings. One of the few things his teachers had admonished him for. But this time it seemed to work as his master smiled back at him, affectionately ruffled his hair and turned his attention back to his writing.
Heath picked up his book again and scanned the page to see where he had left off. But when he had just found the right paragraph his master's voice interrupted him again.
"Heath..." his master said hesitantly and when Heath looked up at him again that strange expression had returned to his eyes. And he almost never called Heath by his name. It was 'beauty' or 'love' or 'pretty'. Now Heath really started to wonder if maybe he had done something wrong.
"There is something I want to talk to you about..." his master said slowly, his normally so sure voice insecure and almost shy.
Heath looked up at him, trying to keep the mask of perfectly attentive slave in place. "Yes, master?" he asked as if nothing was wrong at all.
That seemed to make his master even more nervous. He ran his fingers through his hair, making a small sound of distress that Heath would have thought utterly adorable under other circumstances.
"I... gods... would you believe I really don't know how to say this...?" His master tried to force an expression onto his face that could only be called a brave smile and suddenly Heath wondered if maybe this was not about him doing something wrong but maybe - just maybe - the thing he had been hoping for all the time. Why else would his loving, gentle, sweet master turn so nervous and shy?
Trying to convey how very much he loved his master, Heath again rubbed his cheek against his master's knee and that did seem to calm him down as his master's hand dropped to his head to caress him instinctively. Still he obviously just didn't find the right words as he opened his mouth two times just to close it again.
'Come on', Heath thought, 'say it!'
Maybe his master had heard his thoughts because he drew in a deep breath and then said: "I don't know if they told you but when I booked my holidays here I told them I only wanted to slave for the vacation. That I was not going to take my slave home with me..."
Heath nodded silently, his mouth suddenly dry with nervousness. 'Say it, please say it!', he thought.
"I didn't expect I would ever enjoy someone else's company as much as I have enjoyed having you around." his master continued. "And I... I only have a few more days here... and... well... I was thinking about going home... and... if you would like my garden... and... I guess... I realized I would miss you..."
That was as much as Heath was able to take. It wasn't his place to say it - so what?!
"Yes!" he exclaimed, looking up at his master with shining eyes. "Yes! Please take me home with you! Pleeease!"
His master answered his outburst with a startled laugh but he certainly didn't look angry at it. "You... you want to come with me?" he asked, sounding as if he could hardly believe it.
Heath couldn't contain the deep love he felt for his master colouring his voice when he answered that silly question with the only sensible answer. "Of course."
"But I'm quite boring," his master objected, his hands fluttering nervously, "I never go out much, I spend days holed up writing, I don't like people..."
Heath didn't let him finish. "I love you, master," he said softly, "I just want to be with you, take care of you. A master like you is what I've wished for all my life. You are everything I have ever imagined a perfect master would be like and you are beautiful and brilliant and sexy on top." He waited for a moment to let his words sink in. "Please don't leave me behind." he then added.
For a long moment doubt and hope were warring on his master's face but then hope won out and was slowly replaced by the most brilliantly happy smile Heath had seen on his master's face so far. Still he was slightly startled when his master suddenly leaned down and hugged him close.
"I won't," his master promised almost fiercely, making Heath heart beat hard with barely contained joy, "I promise I will always keep you."
---
In the light of the afternoon sun the room looked golden, warm enough to shed any blanket and bask in the glow. David lay on his side, his head resting on his elbow, admiring the most beautiful thing he had ever laid eyes on. The most beautiful thing he had ever owned.
Heath lay on his back, one arm thrown over his eyes to shield them from the light, snoring softly. He had spent the morning packing up David's things while David had a last look at the final chapter of his novel. He had finished it before dinner the previous evening.
And then Heath had left to pack his own things and David had been alone for the first time since he had arrived at the Resort.
David had planned to use the quiet time to re-read all that he had written during his stay. At first he had thought his lack of concentration stemmed from the fact that he was excited about going home. It had taken him a while to realize that he wasn't concentration on his writing but constantly listening for the sound of Heath's returning footsteps. Even the one hour without his slave felt like it was way too long.
His slave.
The thought had evoked a feeling of fierce possessiveness then and it did the same now. Heath was his. And not just because David owned him but because he wanted to be his.
That fact hadn't stopped to amaze David. He didn't really understand why Heath wanted him. He felt so ordinary and bland next to the beautiful slave. But his doubts melted like butter in the sun every time he looked into Heath's eyes and saw the raw love in them.
Love. That Heath really loved him still felt a bit alien to David. He couldn't say if he loved his slave as well. He had written about love so often and been told that he captured it perfectly. But now, that it was happening to him, he just wasn't sure if the naked hunger he felt for his slave was love or possessiveness. In the end it didn't matter as the result was pretty much obvious - he would take Heath home with him and he would most certainly never ever let him go.
When Heath had come back it had felt to David as if the sun had returned to the small house on the beach. He had relaxed back into his chair, finally able to concentrate on his reading after Heath kissed his cheek in greeting and then headed outside again for a last swim. And after that Heath had curled up on the bed in all his naked glory and fallen asleep in a display of beauty and trust that made David feel like a puddle of bliss on the floor.
So when he had been done with his reading and had packed up his notebook he had curled up on the bed next to Heath to watch him for a bit.
Now only half an hour remained till their plane was leaving. A little less than an hour and his vacation would be over. David wondered how he could ever have believed he would be able to leave Heath behind. The thought of boarding that plane without him was unbearable. He was looking forward to spending the flight talking with Heath - about what they would do when they got home. Together.
David reached about and gently touched his slave's shoulder. He would have loved to let Heath sleep and to watch him some more but they had to get ready to leave.
Heath sighed and then dropped his arm from his eyes to blink at his master sleepily. A drowsy smile appeared on his lips and David couldn't help but lean in and kiss him softly.
"Hey, my beauty." he whispered nuzzling Heath's cheek.
Heath answered with a happy purr and his arms wrapping around him master possessively.
He was kind of insatiable, David thought with a smirk. "No time for that, I'm afraid," he said regretfully, "we have to get ready."
"Oh..." Heath put on his prettiest pout and drew David closer, placing a feathery kiss against his neck. "Should have woken me earlier, master." he complained with mock petulance. "Now this poor slave will have to go hungry till he gets home."
David laughed and kissed his slave again soundly. "Yes, it would seem that's the case." he confirmed, wiggling out of Heath embrace. Sitting on the bed next to Heath who was making a show of stretching invitingly, he sighed softly. Not just the slave would go hungry...
Before he could get any more carried away he got up. Heath followed his example, picking up the clothes he had brought back when he returned from packing earlier. David watched with interest as his slave dressed, for the first time wearing not only jeans but a shirt and shoes as well.
"Will you miss the island?" David asked, the thought crossing his mind for the first time.
Heath shrugged. "A bit, I suppose," he answered, clearly not overly worried, "I guess I will miss the warmth but that's about it. It will be wonderful to see new things."
David nodded, relieved that Heath didn't seem to mind leaving the place that had been his home for his whole life.
Picking up his worries with that sixth sense he seemed to possess where David was concerned, Heath came over to him and after just a moment of hesitation hugged David gently. "Wherever you are is home." he said.
David leaned his forehead against Heath's. "Thank you." he answered softly. "Thank you for everything."
For a long moment they stood like that and David felt the realization tug at his heart that probably the same was true for himself. Wherever he went with Heath, it would feel like home. And probably - most probably - he really was in love. He just wasn't ready to admit it yet. Just like one of the shy heroes in his books. But just like them, he was sure that at one point he would overcome his doubts and be able to tell Heath.
When they got home, maybe.
Or maybe already on the flight.
Or maybe...
"Heath...?"
"Yes, master?"
"I love you."
If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Beryll