NOVELLA - A FRAGMENT

 

Leandor and Claire – A Cambridge Love Story

 Relics of Love

A Fantasy

 

 

 I

 Shawn asked him to meet him at the Spade and Becket near the lock on Jesus Green. He would have preferred the Pickerel Arms near Magdalene. But no that was Shawn for you - always taking the odd choice. But he long ago decided after he first met Shawn that what Shawn wanted he usually got. He pushed open the door of the pub - it was full of the usual post Hall crowed - mostly from Jesus and Johns. He did not see Shawn at first and checked his watch to be sure he had the right time. As he looked up from his watch his eye caught her standing in a small group at the far right of the bar

 ‎​Unusually, his gaze lingered on her. It was her face. It was her face and eyes that caught his attention.  As she spoke it was animated in a compelling open friendly way - her eyes seemed particularly lively and open.

 ‎​Shawn came up behind him and slapped his back. He jumped out of his reverey and turned to face Shawn.  "What were you staring at" Shawn asked him. "Oh nothing" he responded a bit embarrassed.

 "Was it her?" Shawn asked as he motioned with his head towards the knot of three at the bar. "Um ah ya well maybe" he stuttered. Shawn laughed.

 ‎​"Stay away my little boy, she will eat you alive."

 "Do you know her?" Leandor asked quietly.

 ‎​Ya, some - he paused- she was with that Euro kid Elisandro who was at the summer Language School last term.

 ‎​"She is a second year at Newnham"

 ‎​"You know how these Euro trash blow in here for the language schools in summer term - turn on the charm and try and fuck all the pretty English girls or boys."

 He thought for a moment and continued - "Stay away - not your garden to play in. I hear she is a bit of an ice princess - demanding. Out of your league Leandor

  ‎​"No no was not thinking that way. Was just fascinated by her face - as I am with yours Shawn. He chuckled to himself"

 Shawn cuffed him on the head.

 ‎​"Are you going to buy me a pint? All I have is a onecer and no ciggys. - I am officially skint."

 ‎​"Ok ok I'll take care of you little brother. What do you fancy?"

  "A pint of bitter pls" – Leandor answered in his soft small voice. He was a bit in awe of Shawn and around him he always felt smaller and more vulnerable.

 ‎​Shawn went to the bar and Leandor followed. As he trailed after Shawn his eye wandered once more to her. He thought "I never asked Shawn her name." "I wonder how he knew her?"

 Shawn walked back to Leandor and handed him his pint. "So how did the boat go today?" Shawn asked. Leandor was number 7 seat in the 2nd Caius Boat. Shawn was stroke in the Caius 1st Boat. "Well enough we did a long lock to lock steady state. Boat sat well and seemed to move ok. That kid Leandor Black is distracting to row behind - I keep thinking what it would be like to be with him."

 "Ha keep your mind on your rowing you ass. I'm the only one you should be thinking of being with!" Shawn chided him.

 ‎​"Ok ok just idle speculation" Leandor responded.  "Um how do you know that girl who you said was with that kid Elisandro?" Leandor asked quietly.

 "What did you say?" Asked Shawn above the din in the pub.

 "Oh nothing - just mumbling." Said Leandor embarrassed that he had even asked.

 ‎​They talked in a desultory fashion of the prospects for the Lent bumps and drank their beer quietly.  When he was finished Shawn asked "Want another or do you want to go back to my rooms - I have some brandy."

 ‎​"Oh sure - I never much warmed to this place - too many Jesus chaps!" "Why did you choose it?"

  "Well it was close to the boathouse and I'd been working out there."

 "Oh ok. Are you ready?"

  "Ya let's go." As they left Leandor cast a backward glance at the girl whose face caught his attention. As they left he asked Shawn "so what is that girl’s name?" Shawn laughed - "she is Claire Strachey - but I told you she would eat you - so stay away. Besides you ready to throw me over??"

 "Very funny Shawn - sure why not! You accuse me every other day of I am throwing you over."

 "Ha just because you wanted to read law - stop talking like a barrister."

 They crossed the Green and made their way up Queens Parade and eventually to Trinity St. Soon they came to Caius and entered Tree court.  Shawn had rooms in Caius Ct. so they made their way through the Gate of Virtue into Caius Court.

 As they walked Leandor couldn't loose the image of the girl in the pub. Her face was haunting him. He was pensive as they reached Shawn's staircase.  They mounted the stairs as Shawn had rooms on the first floor landing across from Titus Prynnes, English Don and mad poet from what Leandor could tell.

 The outer door to Mr Prynnes’ room was shut so they would be alone on the landing.  Entering Shawn’s room he saw the usual clutter and wondered yet again how he could live in such disorder. Books, papers, notebooks lay scattered over the entire surface of the large table in front of the windows on the right as you entered the room which overlooked the Master's garden.  A welter of clothes lay strewn over the sofa in front of the fire. A squash racquet occupied the club chair to the right of the fire along with shorts, shirts, socks and underpants. It was clear that Shawn had not been entertaining recently.

 "Shawn you are a true pig!" He exclaimed.

 "Oh shut it Leandor - none of your obsessive compulsive neatness pls."

 He went to the cabinet at the far end of the room and found the Martel and two glasses. Pouring two substantial drinks he handed Leandor one and went to the sofa brushing off the littler of clothes and patted the seat next to him for Leandor to sit. Leandor moved slowly to the seat and sank down his legs extend toward the unlit fire. Shawn took a pull at his brandy and got up to light the fire.  It was not yet cold but the gas fire spread a warming light across the otherwise dim room. Shawn settled back down with his brandy and looked to Leandor. Leandor felt his penetrating gaze on him and blushed.

 "Aw you are so cute" Shawn said softly. 

 Leandor put his head down and concentrated on drinking his brandy.

 Shawn reached over and tussled his chestnut hair.

 "Stop please! You know where that will lead to and I'm not sure we should get involved." Leandor was pensive and his words came slowly and again the face of the girl appeared before him.

 "Oh stop Leandor. You always want this as much as I. No one has ever forced you.". He reached over and stroked Leandor's face. Leandor turned towards him and smiled.

 "That's my little brother!" Shawn almost whispered.

 He finished his brandy and slid closer to Leandor on the sofa.  Leandor put his brandy down. Shawn embraced him pushing him back against the arm of the sofa. He rubbed his face on his and in his hair. Leandor could feel his deep breathing and he seemed to inhale his smell.  Shawn undid Leandor's shirt and belt loosening his clothes. He rose up for a moment pulling his own shirt off and opening his pants. He then lay on Leandor - running his body and sex against Leandor's.  Their cotton covered sex rubbed hard against each other in a rhythm as if that of the boat on the river - thrusting forward and pulling back - relentlessly in a steady state. Leandor could feel his wetness grow.  He was lost now - he felt Shawn's hardness against his own.

 "Oh Shawn he gasped as he shuddered and his seed flooded over and he went rigid! Only moments later Shawn made his own contribution to this act of surrender. They lay together in the warmth and dampness.

 They were still for a long while. Then the damp began to feel cold and clammy.  Leandor stirred and said softly in Shawn’s ear “I should go”