Thank you to everybody who reviewed this story

_________________________________________________________ _________________________________

A Small Piece of Heaven

Part 8

The annual, high-society Christmas ball at the Khushrenada manor was a long-standing tradition; a tradition that Treize had inherited along with the estate and the family fortune. Dozens of aristocrats had been invited. Many arrived with a daughter or pretty little niece in tow, in hopes that she might catch the eye of their handsome, unmarried and incredibly wealthy, young host. Being the gentleman he was, Treize attended politely to each and every one of them.
The ballroom was tastefully festooned with holiday decorations; including a 15-foot Christmas tree. A small orchestra was playing classical music from Mozart to Tchaikovsky. The banquet includes such delicacies as Russian Beluga Caviar, French Foie Gras, and smoked Alaskan Salmon, all flown in freshly from the country of origin. Chilled Russian vodka and French champagne were served alongside of holiday beverages like punch and eggnog. Only the best of the best was good enough for Europe's blue-blooded elite.

Treize smiled politely as he welcomed Count Prushovski and his wife who had just arrived. "Milady, Count,"

he greeted the couple with a slight bow. "I'm pleased that you were able to attend this party."

"The pleasure is ours," Prushovski, a long time friend to the Khushrenada family, answered. "It appears that you have outdone yourself, once again. You have to tell me, Treize, how do you manage to do that each and every year?"

"That…" Treize replied with a smile "Is one little secret I'd rather keep. Can I get you something to drink?"

He gestured for one of the servants.

"Say, are we going to meet that gorgeous slave of yours everybody is talking about, or are you keeping him hidden away?" the countess wanted to know.

The ex-colonel laughed. "No, I'm not hiding him. He is supervising the caterers but he should be here any minute."

And as if this had been his cue, the young slave walked into the ballroom, dressed in a white tuxedo with black and gold trimming.
Milliardo's entrance did not go unnoticed. Conversations stopped, and heads turned all over the room as the blond walked over to Treize. "The banquet is set up, Master."
"Thank you," the ex-colonel said, and then directed at his guests, continued. "Lady, Count, please meet Milliardo."

"Oh my, he truly is stunning," Mrs. Prushovski exclaimed.
Smiling politely, Milliardo gracefully placed a ghost of a kiss onto her hand before he greeted the count with a deep bow.

It seemed that the countess wasn't the only woman who was enchanted by the blond's beauty. It took a whole two minutes before he was approached by a young lady and asked for a dance.

"Master?" As Milliardo turned toward his master for approval there was a hidden plea in his eyes.
Please let there be something else to do for me, like dusting the wine bottles in the cellar, or shoveling snow at the North Pole.

"By all means, go and enjoy yourself. It's Christmas after all."
"Thank you, Master. You are too kind," the blond spoke, but his eyes sent a very different message.

Treize simply smirked. If he had to "suffer" through this evening, it was only fair that Milliardo "suffered" with him.
"Treize, I have to congratulate you on your purchase of this young slave." Prushovski sounded genuinely impressed. "Not only is he extremely handsome, he also has a natural charm and grace that indicated good breeding. You just can't attain those qualities through training alone. May I ask what you paid for him?"
"I'm afraid that is another secret I would like to keep." Treize replied politely. "But I can tell that much. He is worth every penny that I paid for him, and then some."

"Oh I'm sure of that."

***

As soon as the ex-colonel had excused himself from the count and his wife to attend to some of his other guests, he was approached by another old acquaintance of his father's. Duke Dermail, a gray-haired man in the autumn of his life, was one of the ex-colonels neighbors so to speak. His land bordered Treize's estate in the east, and he too dealt with horses. To him it was a hobby more than a business. The duke was well known for his exotic taste; not only when it came to his mounts. Dermail also was a renowned slave owner. It was said that his personal harem consisted of more than two dozen pleasure slaves from around the world, males and females alike.
"I realize, this might not be the right time to discuss business," the duke said, with an apologetic gesture. "But I'm afraid that if I don't ask you now, somebody else might beat me to it. Would you consider selling that slave of yours?"

The ex-colonel shook his head. "I'm sorry, your Excellency, but I don't have any plans to sell Milliardo."

"Are you sure? You haven't even heard my offer yet. I'm willing to make you a deal you might not be able to refuse."
"It's not a matter of money. I wouldn't sell him for any amount," Treize answered politely, but Dermail wasn't ready to give up yet.

"What about a trade then? I would offer you two slaves of your choice for him."
"I'm afraid you are only wasting your time. Milliardo is neither for sale nor for trade."

The duke sighed in defeat. "I can't say that I blame you. I would most likely hold on to him too, if he was mine. Would you loan him to me then? I'm sure you must have considered breeding him. It would be a shame not to pass those genes on. I have a couple of females who would make excellent mates for him. We would split the profit of course… "

One could think he is talking about livestock, not human beings. Treize felt his bile rise. He had to force himself to remain calm. Besides, considering what I have heard about his training methods I wouldn't even put one of my horses into his care. "Just as you said, your Excellency," he cut Dermail off. "This is neither the place nor the time for a conversation like this. And now, if you would please excuse me, I have other guests to tend to."

***

Treize tried hard to hold back a yawn, as he listened to yet another of General Carter's wartime stories. A dozen or so young ladies were hanging on the general's lips, as he recalled his tales of bravery and camaraderie, and made it sound like war was an exciting adventure.

Lady Une slipped her arm around the ex-colonel's as she steered him gently away from the small group.

"What about you, Colonel? You have been in the war, haven't you? Do you have any interesting tales you would like to tell me?"

"I'm afraid, Milady, I'm not as good with words as the general. I would probably just bore you," Treize answered evasively.

"How could I ever be bored by anything coming out of your mouth," Une replied.

The young, German duchess had arrived at the party with another young lady. Her friend, however, had abandoned her soon, for the benefit of a handsome young gentleman. Being the perfect host and cavalier that he was, Treize had made sure Une had a good time anyway. Unfortunately the duchess seemed to mistake his actions for more than mere hospitality.

The duke was desperately trying to come up with a good reason to excuse himself, before she would drag him to the dance floor once again, when Milliardo approached them.
"Master, please forgive me for bothering you." The young slave bowed respectfully. "But there is a phone call for you. It sounded rather important, so I took the liberty of putting it through to your study."

"Thank you, Milliardo," Treize nodded in acknowledgment, then turned toward the duchess. "Please excuse me, Lady."

As he walked away quickly, Lady Une gave Milliardo a look that was cold enough to freeze over an active volcano. The young man kept his face blank as he followed his master upstairs.

***

Treize picked up the phone in his study, frowned and then turned to Milliardo. The blond closed the door behind them.
"There is no phone call."
"I know."
One of the duke's eyebrows rose in surprise, as he noticed the slight smirk on the younger man's face.
"You just looked like you desperately needed to be rescued from that woman."
Now Treize was smirking as well. "Milliardo, you truly are…"

"…an angel!? If you keep telling me that and I might actually believe it, Master." The blond stopped in front of his master, allowing Treize to embrace him.
"But it's true. You are an angel; the most beautiful angel to be found in heaven or on earth." The duke kissed the blond slave fondly. "You don't think I would lie about something like that, do you?"
"You wouldn't?" the younger man asked with a mischievous grin. "Then I suppose you weren't lying either when you complimented General Carter's wife on her beautiful party dress?"
Treize laughed and gave Milliardo another quick peck. "That, my Dear, is called being tactful. Besides, the general is one of my best business partners. So it was also a tactical move so to speak."

"Then, who is to say you are not just being tactful to me right now?"
"If you don't believe what I tell you, I suppose I'll just have to show you how beautiful you are," Treize whispered huskily into Milliardo's ear.

"Right now and here?"
The ex-colonel moaned as the blond pressed his body closer against him; close enough that their groins met.

"I wish; but unfortunately I still have to play the dutiful host for another few hours. So behave, will you."
"Don't I always?" the younger man asked innocently, while he pushed one of his legs between his master's thighs.

"You really aren't making this easy, do you know that." Treize growled. "But before I leave let me remind you, my fair-haired angel, that you belong to me." The ex-colonel nipped at the blonde's earlobe before he continued. "You are mine to do with as I please, and only mine. I have seen those looks you are getting out there."

"You got nothing to worry about, Master," Milliardo assured him. "I'm yours and only yours."
"Good. Because I don't share well and I'm fiercely jealous." The duke took another playful nip. "I would have to kill anyone who dares to put his hands on you. And I don' think that Christmas is the best time for a duel."

With that he claimed Milliardo's mouth again.
Soft lips parted for him, willingly. One of the younger man's hands buried itself into his master's hair, while the other arm snaked around the man's hips in an attempt to keep him close.
Treize pulled away gently, provoking a moan of frustration from his blond slave. "I'd better go back to my guests before anybody is missing me." With a final affectionate nuzzle the ex-colonel departed, leaving the younger man behind.

***

It was nearly three o' clock in the morning when the last of the guests finally left. Treize, who was standing with Evans at the front entrance, sighed tiredly as they watched the last limousine disappear down the long paved road. "I'm getting too old for this," he groaned. "Remind me again why I'm doing this every year?"
"Because people enjoy your parties, Sir." the butler replied. "And you enjoy hosting them."
The duke snorted. "As much as one would enjoy a broken leg."
Evans just smirked softly. "Will there be anything else I can do for you tonight, Sir?"
"I don't think so, Evans. I'll probably retire soon myself. Thank you for all your help, and Merry Christmas."
The gray-haired man bowed slightly. "Merry Christmas to you too, Sir."
"Evans, do you by any chance know where Milliardo is?" Treize asked as the man was just about to leave.
"Last time I saw him he was tiding up in the ballroom, Sir."
"Thank you."

***

"Just leave it, Milliardo. I have a cleaning crew come in tomorrow. They will take care of everything."
Milliardo turned at the sound of his master's voice.
"Shouldn't we at least put the dishes away?" he asked.
Treize only shrugged. It had been a long day and a even longer night, and right now all he wanted was to curl up by the fireplace with Milliardo in his lap.
"The dishes won't be going anywhere," he said, as he gently took the glasses out of the blonde's hand putting back on one of the tables, which had been arranged in the room. "Come with me. I have been waiting all day to give you your Christmas present."
"Christmas present?" the younger man echoed curiously, as he followed the ex-colonel.

Treize dimmed the lights in the living room, as the two men settled down by the fireplace. He retrieved a small rectangular box, wrapped in silver and red paper, from the mantelpiece and handed it to Milliardo.

"Merry Christmas, Angel."

"Thank you, Master."

"Open it," The ex-colonel nodded encouraging as the blond slave hesitated. "I want to know if you like it."

Milliardo removed the red bow, and ripped away the wrapping; exposing a silvery box with the name Cartièr printed on it. As he opened the box, the young man gasped. In it was the most exquisite wristwatch he had ever seen. Its band and casing were made from white gold. The face was black, and decorated with diamond inlays between the numbers.

"It's beautiful," Milliardo breathed. He kissed the older man warmly. He couldn't even remember the last time somebody had given him a present. "Thank you so much, Master."
Treize smiled. "I'm glad you like it. Let's see how looks on you." He helped the blond putting the watch around his left wrist. "I think it goes great with the color of your hair." When the ex-colonel looked up he noticed the somewhat solemn look on Milliardo's face.

"What is wrong? Are you sure that you really like it?" he asked.
"Yes, I do," Milliardo assured him quickly. "It's wonderful…"

"…but?"

"I just wish I had something to give you in return."

The ex-colonel smiled softly as he embraced Milliardo and pulled him into his lap.

"You have already given me more than you think, my sweet Angel," he whispered into the younger man's ear. "Having you here with me is more than I could ever wish for."
Milliardo returned the smile as he rested his head against Treize's muscular chest.

"Thank you, Master, for everything."

_________________________________________________________ _________________________________

T.B.C.

Author's Note:

Feedback is greatly appreciated, constructive criticism is welcome :-)