Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 7

a hard focus. Jeremy busied himself by clearing away the cleaning supplies, reluctant to leave the room, relegating all the supplies into the corner cupboard, taking great interest and forced concentration in ordering the space.
    Exhausted from cleaning and surviving through life's trials, with skin rubbed raw and filthy, the cold from the glass permeated his hand with a soothing embrace. His throat was so dry from work and fumes; he knew he could not talk, even if he was able to break the enchantment holding him. The one glass held such relief that it brought tears to the corners of his bloodshot eyes; not weeping simply due to his dehydration. Jeremy just had an authority over him that Jacob could not fathom. Jacob drank slowly, savouring every sip.
    Jacob would not admit how Jeremy's compassion and lack of an obvious commanding air left him powerless under Jeremy's authority.
    A short while later, when there was no more work to complete, the embarrassment was forgotten as they both stood and faced each other. Neither comprehended the fluttering in their stomachs as anything more than the consequence of inhaling fumes for so long. Nor could they understand why the other seemed so close even as they stood on either side of the island counter.
    Jeremy put aside this feeling for later; instead, letting the calming feelings neutralise the warmth spreading in his chest so that he would be able to act with further motion. With an audible deep breath, Jeremy took charge and began dispensing with his Duties in light of a more important one.
    "Okay," Jeremy dictated uncomfortably, "now the room is clean, it is only right that, erm, we should be as well." Jeremy's cheeks heated, as he refused to think on the implications of his order.
    Seeing incomprehension in Jacob's eyes, like someone remembering a distant dream, with lined brows, Jeremy elucidated. "Come, follow me, I'll take you and, erm, show you where to go. Because we're dirty and these clothes are, er, disgusting ."
    They both glared at their garments: a bleached to sky blue, ripped robe covered Jacob. A lax opening to his navel showed lines of grease covering his skin, making Jeremy's heart quickly beat rapidly over the impulsive need to clean and scrub the area thoroughly.
    Jacob beheld Jeremy: hair askew, clothes rumpled and stained, with lines of red and brown marks marring the pale flesh. The image was comical: seeing Jeremy's power-holding figure all rumpled . It brought a tight and hesitant smile to his lips, not thinking of the fact that he looked similarly uncouth.
    Jeremy took this smile as assent, so he leapt around the island counter and grasped both of Jacob's hands that were floundering aimlessly and tapping nervously at his side. With a firm grasp, he tugged, leading Jacob slowly out of the kitchen, waiting anxiously for any disagreement. At the same time, making sure, he did not think about the dark, plump curves peeking coyly from below the hem of Jacob's robe, nor the firm buttocks impressed against the fabric…
    Fighting the urge to stare and contemplate what he saw, he focused on more pressing matters. The rush of action had begun to make his own head spin and he was feeling filthy.
    Jacob swallowed a lump in his throat as he was led to the front door. A slight sweat broke out on his hands, hidden by the slick sludge coating them from cleaning. With relief, he was guided to the rising steps opposite the door. Walking over the carpet, soft and lush under his soiled feet, he became nervous and self-conscious, as he climbed to the next floor and its corridor.
    Jacob distracted himself by scheming how to remove the prints he was leaving in his wake before Jeremy noticed. From the phrases of instructions on the various cleaning bottles that his mind quickly ran through, he considered the best options while being led forward by Jeremy. Especially after watching Jeremy thoroughly rub down every surface until it sparkled…
    Jacob quickly interrupted himself. Jeremy's quite amazing! To lead me – while going backwards through this maze …
    Jeremy noticed Jacob's quickening breath as he moved forward to the bathroom. He reluctantly released the warm hands he held to open the door to his destination. He could hear his heart thumping in his skull as his hand slipped while trying to apply the force needed to twist the knob to enter. Although focused on this task, Jeremy could not help but notice Jacob's head bowing down in consternation, his feet