Temptation ~ The second novelette from "Different Desire", a Gay Victorian Romance and Erotic novelette collection

the letter. “I have some news for you.”
    Winston looked at the envelope , and Oliver turned it around so that he could see who the sender was. Winston’s eyes widened sligh tly, and he licked his lips nervously in a way that made Oliver stifle a small groan.
    “And?” Winston asked slightly breathlessly. “What did they say?”
    “Are you prepared?”
    “Yes, of course! Tell me what they said!”
    Oliver could not help himself. “Are you completely sure you want to know?”
    “Just tell me what was in the damned letter,” Winston growled.
    “Ah, manners, manners,” Oliver tsk ed and shook his head slowly before he continued, “Clearly, we need to improve your attitude if you are going to Cambridge next term.”
    “Cambridge? As in University of Cambridge ?” Winston gasped and gave Oliver a disbelieving look. “You must be mistaken. Surely they would not … ?”
    Oliver withdrew the thick manila papers from the envelope. He cleared his throat and said, “This, my dear Mr Henley, is nothing other than an official invitation for you to attend a full interview for your admission to higher education in English literature at University of Cambridge.”
    “Did they accept our application? Are you sure?” Winston said and shook his head in astonishment.
    “They did,” Oliver reassured him calmly. “See for yourself.”
    He showed him the letter of invitation.
    “But… b ut … ” Winston said and sank down on a chair that luckily was nearby. Oliver had never seen him so taken ab ack and happy at the same time , and it secretly pleased him immensely.
    “Well, it is not Oxford , of course, but still … ” Oliver said and smiled at Winston. For as long as anyone could remember , there had always been a healthy competition between the two universities. “And you did have help writing the application, plus your tutor may have written a rather flattering letter of reference … ”
    “I … I never really thought … ” Winston said, staring at nothing in front of him in a way that almost made Oliver star t to feel a little bit concerned for him.
    “You do need to remember that there is no guarantee that you will pass the interview and that you will still have to study hard during the rest of the summer,” Oliver concluded soberly. He added in a softer voice, “However, I have a feeling that you are going to do rather well.”
    “I do not know what to say,” Winston said and looked up at him. “This would never have happened unless it was for you. Thank you, Oliver.”
    Their eyes met , and Oliver felt something changing in between them. What it was, Oliver could not say or describe completely, but suddenly he felt oddly shy. He looked away.
    “Ah, well,” Oliver mumbled. “I was only doing my job, after all … ”
    The atmosphere around them suddenly felt different, denser somehow , and even the smallest sound seemed unnaturally loud in Oliver’s ears. He was acutely aware that they were completely alone together , and with grow ing alarm , Oliver saw Winston reaching the same conclusion in his brown almond-shaped eyes.
    Winston smiled and tilted his head just a fraction to one side, like he was studying him for the first time. It was a very subtle movement, but also strangely predatory. It made Oliver nervous , and he tried to carefully move away from Winston and the dangerous temptation that he radiated. He knew that whatever it was that Winston was thinking was clearly something wicked , and he had the dreadful suspicion that it included him as well, possibly in the most compromising way.
    I should have left Wycliffe Castle a long time ago! Oliver thought franti cally , but another–less decent– part of him calmly reminded him that they were indeed all alone. There were no silent servants around that could spy on them and no family members who would interrupt them by suddenly entering a room. But still! It would be unwise! We could still get caught! Oliver tried convincing himself, but unfortunately the last thought only made it worse, tempting him further.
    With what was left of his common sense , Oliver edged towards the door as inconspicuously as possibl e to politely show Winston out. Preferabl y before he lost his private battle between morality and the rising sensation of suppressed desire. Winston’s smile broadened mischievously , in a manner that was unnerving to say the least, when he saw Oliver backing away from him.
    Just when Oliver had placed his hand on top of