"Arabian Nights"
Part 88
by Beryll
Sean watched with a smile as Billy and Dominic left the yard. They were the last to go, leaving only him and Eric now.
"It seems they all agree the two of us should spend some time alone." he voiced his thoughts, turning to Eric, who was looking back at him a bit unsure.
"And do you agree as well?" Eric asked.
"Indeed I do." Sean replied.
He delighted in the fact how all insecurity instantly faded from Eric's face, leaving nothing but honest love. No pity or worry like he constantly saw lurking in Karl's and Viggo's eyes. Sean had been so afraid that Eric would look at him differently and all for naught. Even though he knew, nothing had changed between them. In Eric's eyes Sean was just Sean. It was what Sean wanted to be.
He got up and started extinguishing the oil lamps that lit the yard. "What did Lij say to you?" he asked curiously.
Eric grinned. "That I could have you to myself this night but that I should not take this for granted. Your kitten really does grow claws."
Sean nodded. "It's strange. I thought he would grow away from me but the opposite seems to happen. He does not seem to care at all that a pretty boy like him has so many good men to pick from. He just wants the grumpy old warrior."
Eric got to his feet as well and walked over to him. "The grumpy old warrior is in high demand these days it would seem." he said. Then his voice grew much more serious as he continued. "When I went back to Denmark and you were not there at first I refused to believe it. I thought you and Viggo were playing some cruel joke on me."
Denmark. Home. It had been a while since Sean had thought of the north. It was another thing he had considered forever lost and beyond his grasp.
"How were they when you got there?" he asked, not entirely sure if he wanted to hear the answer. "How did they take our disappearance?"
"Yours they took pretty well. They all believed you followed Viggo to bring him back." Eric shook his head. "They really do understand neither of you. And Viggo... his father was - is still I would guess - furious to say the least. He was raging about how his youngest shunned any kind of responsibility. That he was a brat who needed a good beating to put some sense into him." Eric sighed softly. "He was very upset. He misses Viggo terribly and blames himself. Of course he'll never show it. The two of them are just so alike."
Sean nodded silently. He had expected as much.
"Did Viggo real run away because he was supposed to get married?" Eric asked, somewhat incredulously.
"Yeah." Sean thought back to that evening in the king's hall and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Things went as wrong as they possibly could there. As far as I understand it was just an idea of Viggo's father really. But he told Viggo in his typical autocratic way. Viggo said no way. His father decided to use the matter to put his foot down and show Viggo who was in command. They argued, they shouted, weapons were half-drawn, Viggo was dragged out of the hall screaming bloody murder and locked in his room. When I went to see him the next morning he was gone."
Eric's comforting hand on his shoulder felt impossibly good.
"What was I to do but follow him? I thought he would come to his senses but his pride could lift a mountain. He was halfway across Europe before I realized that he wouldn't go back unless his father apologized. Which is as likely as hell freezing over. So I kept following him, trying to catch up to him but he managed to always stay a step ahead. Fate did not favour us."
"It did in the end. You found him and I found both of you."
It did sound so simple when Eric said it. "Yes, you did. I thank the gods for it. Now..." He looked at Eric and chose his words quite deliberately, "shall we retire as well, lover?"
The last word ignited in Eric's dark eyes. His answer was as simple as the love they shared. "Yes."
They made their way to Sean's room. Sean took his time, lighting the oil lamp next to his bed, giving Eric ample time to take in his lover's new home. Then he sat on the bed and took off his boots.
"Doesn't very much look like you." Eric commented, turning to him. "It's so... empty."
Sean laughed softly. "Considering I have only lived here for about a month I think I have already acquired quite a bit of clutter. Though I must admit half of it belongs to Lij." he added with a look at a small heap of colourful ribbons on his desk. "He seems to move in here more and more."
"Good. Being alone does not suit you." Eric came over to the bed, stopping right in front of Sean, smiling down at him. "I must make sure I tell him he should take good care of you while I'm gone."
How was it that Eric did not make him flinch at all, even though he was much too close for Sean to feel comfortable normally? Instead Sean's hands found their way to Eric's hips, resting there easily. "I have missed you, lover." he said.
"And I have missed you." Eric ran his fingers through Sean's hair gently, his voice thick with emotion. "Gods, Sean, how could you do that to me, disappearing without a trace. You promised to never do that again."
"I did?"
"Yes." Eric scowled down at him. "Don't tell me you forgot! After the siege at Jormurng castle."
"Oh." Indeed he had. Now that Eric mentioned it, Sean remembered clearly how desperate his lover had been when he had found nothing but Sean's split shield on that battlefield. And how outraged he had been when Sean had showed up two days later with a few other warriors after they had chased some escaped enemies through the frozen forests halfway to the next castle. He had promised never to do that to Eric again.
"I'm sorry." he said softly, laying his brow against Eric's thigh. "I would promise to never do it again but if Viggo runs off I will always follow him I'm afraid."
"Then I will always have to forgive you." Eric sank to his knees so they were eye to eye now. "Let's not dwell on the past." he said. "Let's make some pleasant memories for both of us to treasure while I'm gone."
Pleasant memories, Sean thought with a rueful smile, yes he definitely was in dire need of those. Still - even with it being Eric who knelt before him - Sean felt cold fear stir in his heart. With silent determination he shoved the dark memories away. They had no place, here, between Eric and him.
Refusing to be controlled by them he leaned forward and kissed Eric. The urge to keep the touch soft was there but Sean didn't give in to it. Instead he leaned into their kiss, deepening it. Eric responded in kind. There was nothing shy or careful in him. His hand came up to rest in Sean's neck, strong and warm.
The trick was not to stop so he didn't have time to think, Sean realized. Quickly his fingers found their way to Eric's belt, unfastening it. Then he grabbed his lover's tunic and pulled it over his head to uncover the broad expanse of Eric's chest. It was a homecoming of sorts. This was familiar territory, every scar known to Sean.
He couldn't help but compare Eric to Elijah who he had spend so many nights with recently. He wondered if Lij's smooth skin would he as riddled with scars one day. And if there too Sean would be able to tell the story of every single one of them.
A shudder ran through Eric, his eyes slipping half shut as Sean ran both hands over his chest, his shoulders. With a small grin Sean noticed the growing bulge in Eric's pants. If he had had any more doubts his lover had missed him they were laid to rest now.
Again he kissed Eric, both hands buried in his wild curls. Then he tugged on this handle insistently, drawing Eric onto the bed with him. It was an easy tumble as Eric did not resist at all as Sean put him down onto his back and straddled him, grinning down at him.
"You are easy prey tonight." Sean remarked casually. He was grateful for the fact. Even though he loved Eric he knew he was not ready yet to submit to another man again.
Eric grinned back. "Call me a lazy prey." he answered, stretching under Sean, showing off all his muscles, making Sean painfully aware how hard he himself had grown. With a soft growl Sean leaned down to bite at the throat Eric offered so invitingly. He was rewarded with a deep groan and fingers twisting in his hair, Eric's hips bucking of the bed, his hard cock rubbing against Sean in desperate need of any kind of friction.
"Gods, Sean, don't tease me, I have missed you too long." Eric growled. "We have all night for tender touches. Now just fuck me. Please."
How was a man to refuse such an honest plea?
Quickly Sean rid himself of his clothes while Eric struggled out of his own pants. Then they were in each others arms again, kissing, hands remapping naked skin. Mindful of Eric's demand Sean only took the absolutely necessary time to prepare his lover and even that seemed too much as Eric growled impatiently.
Entering Eric slowly, savouring the tightness of the other man proved impossible as Eric again bucked off the bed, impaling himself, groaning in mixed pain and pleasure. There could be no doubt what he wanted and Sean didn't mind obliging. He didn't give Eric time to adjust, withdrew almost completely, then plunged back into the welcoming heat. Hard thrusts, no quarter given. Eric grunted his approval and met every single thrust, his eyes half closed but always staying focused on Sean as if he was trying to edge every second of his lover's face into his memory to take away with him.
It couldn't last long, to intense, to fast was their love making.
Sean came first, burying himself to the hilt and spending his seed deep inside Eric. He wasn't given time to enjoy the pleasant buzz of orgasm as Eric snarled at him. Grinning at the other man's open need Sean grabbed his weeping cock and stroked him to completion as well. With a low moan Eric came as well and then collapsed bonelessly, at last pacified. At least for the moment.
He looked good enough to eat, Sean thought, all flushed, shining with a thin sheen of sweat. Even if he hadn't loved Eric for the fact that they were brothers in arms and in soul he would always have wanted this man just for his gorgeous body.
New excitement ran through him, his cock twitching in the tight sheath of Eric's body, reminding Sean that fucking Eric was right now an extremely easy feat. With an almost malicious smile Sean slowly withdrew, making Eric shudder and groan at the new friction against his sensitive flesh. And then he pushed back in just as slowly, delighting at the sight of Eric's eyes flying open as he realized Sean was anything but done with him.
All night, Eric had said. Sean had every intention of using it.
---
Morning came much too soon. The first light of the rising sun found Sean sitting on the edge of his bed, watching Eric sleep. He would have preferred to sleep as well - considering how long the night had turned out to be - but two facts had prevented that. One was that he had gotten used to rising with the sun. The early hours of the morning were pleasantly cool still and Sean had learned that he got some things done much quicker when he took care of them before breakfast. The other fact that Eric was snoring like a bear. Like he always did when he had downed a few mugs of med to many, Sean thought with a fond smile. It was reassuring that some things about his friend would probably never change.
As stealthily as possible he collected his clothes from the floor where they had been discarded the previous evening and put them back on. Then he picked up his boots and sword belt and slipped out of his room. With a bit of luck he would be back by the time Eric woke up.
The yard was still dark as the sun did not reach here yet. Only the two oil lamps that Sean had left burning the night before shed some light. On top of the pile of pillows were they had had dinner the lion cub had curled up, one paw resting possessively on a leftover bone it had snatched. The Prince's quarters were silent and peaceful in this hour. Sometimes Jared would be up as early as Sean but not today. Sean guessed that the mouse would sleep in after spending his night of 'punishment' with Karl. Whatever he had chosen to do to the Captain, he would be tired.
As if on cue a small sound drew Sean's attention from Viggo's office. He smiled as he noticed Karl slipping through the beaded curtain, looking much like he did himself, carrying his boots and weapons in one hand, his braids coming loose at the ends where Sean's hair was still tousled. He looked dishevelled and confused but definitely not hurt.
"Good morning." Sean said, quietly not to wake the many other sleepers in Viggo's quarters.
Karl flinched at the sudden sound, his eyes scanning the dark yard for the speaker. When he noticed Sean he relaxed slightly but still looked ready to bolt. Sean couldn't help but feel sorry for this nervous young man he had met as such a self-confident warrior. There were many things he would have liked to say in reassurance and he was about to open his mouth when he remembered what he had realized just the night before: that he hated the pity and worry in Viggo's and Karl's eyes, that he hated being treated like a weak child when all he wanted was to relearn how to be strong.
What would you like to hear in Karl's place, he asked himself.
"I was hoping to see you before you left." he ventured carefully. "I have missed our training sessions. I was hoping we might take them up again?"
Karl blinked at him in consternation but then the tension slowly flowed from his posture.
"I have missed your company too." he answered just as quietly as Sean. There was a great amount of emotion behind his words, so many more meanings then he had spoken aloud. But there was no need to, Sean understood well enough.
Sean rolled his shoulders. "A little match before breakfast then?" he asked, a smirk on his lips, "I'm sure I will have you pinned before Eric wakes up."
And there was that glint in Karl's eye he had missed so much. "Have you tired him out so much?" Karl asked back, mirth creeping into his voice. "I bet you Jared will sleep longer."
Sean laughed quietly. "Let's go then, my friend, or our jabbering will bring both their wrath on our heads."
Together they left the Prince's quarters to face another day.
If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Beryll
go to PART 89