The Stone Knight (gay)✔️

10. Celebration.

In the days leading up to the birthday party, Dylan worked from home with as unexpected bonus for Lucas the regular presence of Mark. The intern obviously did his best to get his attention and Lucas was more than willing to give him his way.
Madeleine was right. Mark was a nice, handsome and hardworking young man. Their ages were close enough to yield no problems and Mark had responded well to Noah's presence in his life.

Lucas was grateful for the young man who seemed to accept him as he was and didn't inquire after a past he'd rather not talk about. It was simply too painful. Not like another man who seemed to have no regards for his feelings whatsoever and kept proclaiming in an overstated tone that Lucas had to stop harassing his employees.
"No, really Madeleine, I swear to you! Do you want to know what his exact words were?"
Lucas pulled his chin in, furrowed his face together and squeezed his lips forward. "I'll tell you one more time, Lucas. Stop stalking my staff. Find someone else to practice on," Lucas grumbled in Dylan's voice.
Madeleine laughed so hard after the successful parody that Lucas looked at her angrily.
"Honestly, I expected a little more sympathy, Madeleine."
Around her lips adorned a smile that made her eyes sparkle. "You've made so much progress, Lucas. I'd be sorry if you lost your nerve now."

She looked at her watch. "In a few hours, Jacob will be celebrating his children's party. Have you been in contact with the caterer?"
Lucas nodded.
"What did he think of your idea?"
"He was very enthusiastic. They come an hour earlier to set everything up."
"And that's not the only thing you've done," she said, nudging him.
He raised his hands in innocence. "No, no. I can't claim success for Jacob's choice of clothing. He came up with that entirely himself."
With a subtlety rarely present in a four-year-old, Jacob had chosen to meet the wishes of both men. For his afternoon party he chose the casual outfit lucas had picked out and for the formal party he would wear the suit his father had commissioned for him.
"A diplomatic solution," Dylan had nodded with satisfaction. "Take notes, Lucas. There is a lesson to be learned here," he added.
Lucas chose not to respond. He still needed Dylan's approval for his idea to make Jacob's birthday party unforgettable.

"You're not easy to please, are you?" Dylan remarked head-shaking after reading the proposal.
He had insisted that Lucas submit the proposal on paper. After a few eye rolls and deep sighs, the boy had started up his laptop and worked out the proposal. He had a lot of fun making the details as clear as possible while using a map of the house.
"I have to say that a scavenger hunt through the house is a nice idea." Dylan touted his lips and looked up at Lucas. "Does the staff know they have to play ghosts?"
Lucas looked at him gloating. "Of course. They're all very excited."
Dylan shook his head as if he couldn't believe he would agree to this. "But if something goes wrong, I'll hold you accountable for it."
"Agreed," Lucas said, grabbing Dylan's hand, which he shook extensively.
Dylan really didn't have to worry because the party was an overwhelming success. All the children enjoyed themselves excellently and everyone involved relished in seeing a gloating Jacob who grew into his role, after an uncomfortable start, as a shining centerpiece of a rousing birthday party.

After an enervating afternoon, Jacob had just enough energy left over to experience the first half hour of his evening party before he was completely exhausted. Lucas lifted the boy in his arms and put him to bed. After a final check on Noah and a brief conversation with the nanny, he went to his room to change. Madeleine had persuaded him to return, and after a few murmurs he had agreed. Nervously, he was fretting about the neat suit and thinking about Mark who would be present tonight. After all the flirtation of the past few days, maybe something more would happen tonight? Chewing on his lower lip, he blushed deeply.

His eye caught every reflection between his room and the hall below until he suddenly stopped with a sharp catch in front of a large mirror. In this light, the newly forming pimple was unmistakably prominent on his nose. A defeated moan escaped his lips. What a time to have a monster crater on your nose. For a second, he felt so depressed that he dragged himself back to his room. Halfway back, something suddenly caught him. Lizzy had always helped him by putting some concealer on it. With renewed energy he ran to the kitchen where François, the planner, took him smiling.
"What can I do for you?", said the man with a knowing look on his face.
"All those delicious chocolates and cakes from this afternoon are taking their revenge now," Lucas said poutingly pointing at his nose.
"I do have something for that," the man said, grabbing his bag. "Here," he said, handing over a small jar. "This stuff works wonders."
Gratefully, Lucas took the jar and went looking for a mirror in one of the many side corridors. Moaning, he looked at the pimple that was bigger, or so he thought, than five minutes ago. He opened the jar and tried a little on his wrist. The crème was a shade deeper and would fit perfectly with the color of his skin.

He had not seen the figure behind him approaching.
"Did I not warn you that you'd regret your sugar high? " taunted Dylan, referring to the large quantity of chocolate Lucas had eaten.
With a quick movement, he snatched the jar out of Lucas' hands. "Is this meant to fool Mark?" His gray eyes slid over the pimple. "Maybe you can convince mother to turn it into a masked ball," Dylan teased slowly walking backwards towards the party, holding the jar defiantly in front of him.
"What are you doing?" cried Lucas, appalled. Like he didn't know that Dylan would embarrass him without losing a wink of sleep. He didn't care a hoot about all those strangers, but Mark was out there, too. He cringed at the humiliation.

Much to his horror, they had almost reached the main hall. He quickly grabbed Dylan by the jacket and pulled him into a side corridor.
"Give it here!" he hissed and frantically tried to take the jar away. Behind him, he heard the voices of guests.
Without much difficulty, Dylan managed to keep him away.
"Maybe we should call Mark in so we can hear what he thinks of your pimple," he grinned maliciously. "Oh Mark?!" he exclaimed.
Lucas freaked out. He wasn't going to let Dylan win. With his left hand, he kept Dylan from shouting.
Quickly and simply his hand was removed. His wrist was firmly but not painfully pinched.
With a devilish smile, Dylan looked down on him. "Oh Mark?!" he shouted a little louder stretching the name.
Several people within earshot turned to the sound but saw no one.
"Stop it!" hissed Lucas, placing his right hand over Dylan's smiling mouth.
This too was easily taken into a firm grip.
They struggled for a while, but Lucas was no match for Dylan's muscle strength. The man looked at the busy space behind him.
"I think I spotted him just now," he teased with glistening eyes.
Desperation filled Lucas when he saw Dylan sucked in air for a third try. He blocked the exclamation with the only option left to him.
His mouth.