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Jekyll advanced towards him, their breaths intertwining. He smelt faintly of wood smoke and alcohol, indicating to Utterson the great amount of time he spent by the fire and perhaps the fact he was a bit drunk. Too much scotch always does that to a man. Almost nose to nose now, Utterson finally spoke:
'Harry, I find this rather absurd.'
'I think you would find that I do not.' He firmly clasped the underside of his counterpart's jaw, 'Ah-ah, don't pull away.'
'You're unbearably close,' said Utterson, taking a step back.
Jekyll only pressed forwards, 'It's not such a bad thing.'
'It's quite unnecessary.'
Jekyll tilted his head, searching for something in Utterson's eyes, 'Do people ever tell you that you are quite the beautiful man, Gabriel?'
'Not particularly, no.'
'Well, they should.'
He now had Utterson pressed against the wall without a single hand upon him. Utterson audibly squirmed, the respectable, seemingly unbreakable man practically melting under the pressure. A sweat droplet trickled from his scalp, brows severely knit together.
'Jekyll!- This is quite inappropriate!' Utterson stammered.
'Don't act like you're so innocent, don't act like you dislike this, your wants are etched on your face, you're such a transparent man.'
He swallowed nervously, 'On the contrary.'
'You don't have to be so scared, either,' Jekyll's laugh rumbled through him as he pressed his chest to Utterson's, 'I think you'd find this place is more private than you think,' he paused, 'I fear this will be the last time I'll see you, Gabriel.'
'What does that mean?' He was near panting, eyes darting around the cabinet, lingering on the red baize door for a while--was it locked?
'Don't worry about it, my dear friend,' he sighed. He cupped the left side of Utterson's neck, his palm slightly clammy, 'I can't hide for much longer. I admire you, Gabriel.'
The fire crackled, shadows dancing up the walls. Rain thundered outside, pummelling the barred windows, wind howling like a beast clawing to be let inside.
'I never knew you were--'
'There's a reason why neither of us have wives. The more you try to conceal it, the worse it'll get; I can't live to see you eat yourself from the inside-out as I have done.'
Something about his words drummed terror into Utterson. What on earth could he be talking about? If something was consuming the man in the severity he made it out to be, Utterson assumed he would've been told instantly. Despite the shut doors and the silence, Jekyll still appreciated him enough, he hoped. Currently, the man seemed perfectly normal, despite his sickly skin and slightly messier hair, having hosted a dinner party just an hour ago. And what was this about tempting Utterson into not concealing his desires? What a rude thing for a friend to say to another friend, he thought, despite the nagging in his stomach.
Utterson squinted, 'Nonsense! What are you talking about?'
'Stop being so afraid,' Jekyll breathed down his neck.
His jaw clenched, watching Jekyll diligently. His chest met Jekyll as it hiked up, the warmth of the other man's hand on his waist sending him into some frenzy. Frantically, he cocked his head back to keep his gaze on Jekyll's face, observing how cool he was, almost mockingly calm and unbearably smug. Utterson blurted out, as Jekyll leant against him: 'You're more of a religious man than I am, why aren't you afraid?'
'Fear holds me no longer,' his thumb traced circles on Utterson's hip, 'One day, you'll understand.'
Utterson shuddered, breath quivering. He glanced at the elegant furniture, the grand armchair poised in front of the fireplace, the red and gold rug, the finely crafted wardrobe and good, solid chest of drawers. Attempting to read the titles of some of the books on the distant shelf, he noticed the spot where Jekyll's Bible usually rested was empty. How peculiar, he thought. A thousand ideas could've then rushed through his head at once, but the warmth of the man's weight against him was mesmerising and he could hardly focus on anything else. He jolted as Jekyll's thigh was unexpectedly wedged between his legs.
'I think--' he met Jekyll's eyes once more, 'I think I already understand.'
Gabriel moved his hand to the back of Jekyll's head, tugging him closer. He kissed him, slowly at first, Utterson's eyelids flickered as their lips merged together, a peculiar surge arising through his crotch. Soon, they grotesquely began to share each other's slobber, Jekyll pawing at his waist and humming gleefully at Utterson's sharp intakes of breath. Gabriel was no saint, either, using a fistful of Henry's hair to pull him in closer like an addict taking his fill of his fix. Every time Henry tried to part from Gabriel's lips, he would pounce on him again, something rabid glinting in his eye. A burning flame within Utterson, one he had long tried to stamp out, was ignited once more, and what annoyed him the most about it is that it felt good, unbearably good.
Eventually, much to their respective disappointments, they broke free, quickly glancing up and down the other with their mouths agape and breaths rapid, Henry's arms still wrapped around Gabriel. Jekyll was the first to smile, resting his face in the crook of the other's neck. Utterson traced his fingers through Jekyll's hair, a nauseating guilt surging through him.
'Am I allowed to stay the night?' Utterson asked.
'No, I'm sorry, you cannot.'
'Why?'
'I fear I cannot tell you.'
'What's the matter? You can tell me, you always can. You know that anything you tell me is told in confidentiality, I can keep a secret quite well.'
'I fear it's not your concern.'
Utterson frowned, 'I worry for the man you're going to become, Jekyll.'
'Don't get so worked up, my friend. My fate is self-made, my pain is my own, it'll come and get me eventually. It shouldn't be your responsibility, it would only destroy you. And I just--I just cant. I can't let that happen to you. Never to you. You've been so kind, Gabriel, so very kind. Please, if you wish to keep a secret, don't tell anyone about our--'
'I didn't plan on it.'
He buried his face into Utterson's collar, 'I'm so sorry. Im so very sorry, Gabriel.'
'Are you crying, Harry?'
'Please don't call me that, it'll only make this worse.'
'Make what worse?'
'Nothing,' he growled, 'you really must go now.' Jekyll stepped back, sharply turning towards the fire.
Utterson inched closer to the door, hand hovering on the handle. He turned back, just for a moment. 'Goodnight, Jekyll.'
'Goodnight, Utterson,' he said in a changed tone.
The door clicked sharply behind him.