by
Sir Simeon Meriwether Kerrigan, fresh out of college, was expected to marry his cousin Rebecca and settle down like a proper gentleman. But he didn't want to. And a farewell-to-bachelorhood voyage on his steam-powered airship with his dearest friend brings both disaster and a shocking discovery.
- 1 To Be Read list
Genres:
Pairings: M-M
Heat Level: 1
Romantic Content: 4
Ending: Click here to reveal
Character Identities: Gay
Protagonist 1 Age: 18-25
Protagonist 2 Age: 18-25
Tropes: Forbidden Love, Friends to Lovers, Unrequited Love
Word Count: 5861
Languages Available: English
Simeon Kerrigan leaned out over the railing, the cold dampness of the cloud slipping through his fingers like silk. He fancied he caught occasional glimpses of the ground as it sped by far below, bits of exotic South America in all its unexplored glory. Rubbish, of course. The inclement weather rendered everything outside the little bubble of light surrounding the Aurora invisible. What would it be like, to fly without a machine? To soar through the air, without a care in the world? Or to leap from the ship without the power of flight... to feel the air go by with increasing speed, to hear the wild keen of the wind, to see the ground spiral ever closer... and then the impact, the final end to it all. He leaned farther yet, considering. But death made for the coward's way out, and his father never raised him to be a coward. Reluctantly, Kerrigan straightened. The blood pounded in his head, providing a welcome diversion from regret.
READ MORENever strong enough, never resolute enough, couldn't carry through with any plan...
He waved off remembered criticisms and made his way back into the deserted interior of the Aurora. All on the upper decks had gone to bed. Surprise flickered through him. Surely he had not been out there so long? The mariner's timepiece on the mantel confirmed he had. He shrugged and made his way to the liquor cabinet. Some port would go down a treat. He poured himself a glass and settled into his favorite wingback chair, frowning at the contrast of the silvery-gray day jacket against the rich red and gold embroidery. He'd never changed out of day dress for evening, never heard the call to supper. He sipped at the port, wishing his mind would quiet and allow him to rest. He'd been up for three days. Insomnia itself was nothing new to him, but the disturbing direction his thoughts took if left unguarded... He gulped down half the port.
How was he to deal with this... this strange obsession growing inside him, focused wholly upon a certain young man? Worse yet, the unnatural dreams. Dreams of soft touches, of warm lips, of caring brown eyes... Distress curdled his innards. How could he think such things? Unclean. Unnatural. Punishable by death in some circles. Not that he'd ever cared much for social conventions, or facing death for that matter, but it simply wasn't done. The rest of the world could say what they liked about the primness of Victorian society, but proper behavior held the world together. He should give over these improper urges and feelings and make an effort to re-cultivate his relationship with Rebecca. They'd slipped apart on this journey, as she experimented with other men and he wrestled with his wayward heart. Yes, a good choice indeed, the proper path to follow. Socially acceptable, safe, expected by his peers... and utterly the opposite of what his most secret heart yearned for.
COLLAPSEFormerly available from Smashwords.
