Theyâre halfway back from rescuing Trelawney when Arthur waved Charles off the side of the road, dipping down into one of the hundred forest trails scattered around Rhodes.
Arthurâd been quiet since they parted from Trelawney, opting to take the long way around to camp. It was probably stupid, staying together instead of splitting up. Foolish.Â
Foolishness had become a habit of Charlesâ for a while now. Since heâd joined up with the gang. Since heâd first laid eyes on the thief currently leading him to a hidden clearing, deep in the woods.
âWhatâs up?â Charles asked, dismounting Taima and cocking his head as he watched Arthur pull his bedroll from Bodiceaâs back. "Weâve got plenty of time to get back to camp before nightfall.â
âNeed to talk at ya for a bit,â Arthur said, spreading the rolled horse blanket he used for a ground pad over a patch of grass. âLay down.â
Charles blinked, then crossed his arms. âExcuse me?â
Arthur looked up from where he crouched in the grass, blue eyes burning under the rim of his worn leather hat. âYou deaf?â
âWhy do you want me to lay down, Arthur?â
âWanna thank you for saving my life,â Arthur said, hand going to his throat. It was decorated with a vivid red mark, the physical accompaniment to the rasp in his voice that was the only remainder of the man who almost put an end to Dutch van der Lindeâs eldest son. âYou gonna let me?â
Charles hadnât done much fumbling with other people over his life. Opportunities had been few and far between.
âWhat makes you think this is the kind of thanks I want?â Charles asked, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. Tried to figure out if maybe the bounty hunters had got him, instead. If he was laid out under the hot Lemoyne sun in that cornfield, bleeding out while his dying brain played out a fever dream.
Arthur smirked at him, shockingly superior for a man on his knees. âCome on, angel,â he said, raspy. Arthur reached for Charlesâs hand, tugging it, coaxing him down to the makeshift bedding.Â
Charles shocked himself by following, mind a blank white buzz of anticipation, rimmed red with desire.
Arthur arranged Charles to his liking with sure hands, every touch confident. Damn near proprietary, like Charles giving in to him was a forgone conclusion.Â
âSome men would kill you for this,â Charles managed over the thrum of his own pulse in his ears. His mouth was dry and tacky as he let Arthur scoot between his legs, knees pressing against Charlesâ calves.
âNot you, angel,â Arthur said, smoothing one gloved hand up the inseam of Charlesâ trousers. âBeen watchinâ ya. Knew youâd roll over for me. Known that for a while now.â
Charles gasped, leg twitching in Arthurâs grip as those fingers inched towards the join of Charlesâ thigh, warm pressure inches away from where Charlesâ cock had begun twitching in his jeans.
Arthur held Charles still with perfect self assurance, easy as scuffing a cat.
âThat so?â Charles asked, dazed, as he shakily got to his elbows, looking down to watch what he was allowing Arthur to do to him.
âSure, sweet thing,â Arthur drawled, casually unlacing Charlesâ boot. His thick fingers were clever on the laces, practiced in a way that spoke to years of experience taking other folks apart at the seams. Thereâs always been something slinking and predatory to Arthur, a wild beast licking its chops.
Charles found, with the warmth of Arthurâs torso settled between his knees, the fresh smell of crushed grass wafting up around him where Arthurâs borne them down atop the spread saddle blanket, that he liked the look of those teeth. That the nervous, twitchy thrill that started in his belly and zinged all the way down to his toes liked the look of that coyote smile.
âCute lilâ thing like you,â Arthur drawled, massaging up the muscle of Charlesâ calf to the dip of his knee. No one had called Charles little in over a decade, let alone cute. Still, Arthur seemed to be earnest enough with the compliment. Well, as earnest as the man was about anything.
 âClear as day what you really need,â Arthur continued, shuffling closer so Charles had no choice but to spread his legs further, letting the man work up between Charlesâ parted thighs.
âWhat youâre really after when you roll through camp like our personal storm cloud.â Arthur tugged his gloves off with his teeth, bright white against the dusty leather. The other man let the gloves drop to the side, grin a wicked snarl of hungry avarice beneath his mustache.
Charles swallowed, breath hitching as Arthur hefted his left leg over his shoulder, fingers curled tight to secure the weight. Arthurâs other hand danced up the side of his right thigh, thumb flicking the little brass clasp that kept his thigh holster in place open.
âWhat is it you think I need?â Charles asked, biting his lip as Arthurâs hand snuck up under his thigh holster, thick fingers burning hot.
Arthur leaned in close, grin filthy as he took the thin leather strap between his teeth. The other man leaned forward, pressing Charlesâs thigh into his chest as he tugged the strap slowly down Charlesâs leg , breath damp and burning through the thin denim. He followed the movement with his fingers, caressing the jumping muscle of Charlesâ thigh as he slid the holster off, satisfied as a groom slipping the garter off his bride.
âNeed a little rough handling,â Arthur said, tucking the leather strap into his back pocket. His free hand wandered back up the length of Charlesâ quad, fingers smoothing against the thin, dark denim of Charlesâ jeans, pressing against the heavy muscle. âHow long has it been since someoneâs seen to you, proper like?â
Charles blinked, heart clenching in his chest, suddenly remembering to breathe. His cheeks felt like they were burning, even in the cool of the shade. âIâve neverââ
âOh, angel,â Arthur said, pupils blown wide. He looked at Charles, covetous, like he eyed a gold brick or a new gun, shiny with gun oil and engraved with silver. âYou shouldnta said that.â
âI was gonna go easy on you,â Arthur said, fingers digging greedily into the soft flesh of Charlesâ thighs. Arthurâs eyes seared into him, hungry, devouring flames that promised to burn Charles down to his foundations and fuck him senseless in the ashes.
âWas just gonna blow off a little steam. But if Iâm first?â Arthur laughed, a short jackalâs yelp. He surged forward, pushing Charlesâ knees up until pressed practically to his shoulders, cutting his air.
Charles still hadnât made a move to throw him off. He felt like prey, somehow. And he wanted nothing more than to stay caught.
âGonna wreck that sweet ass of yours, gorgeous,â Arthur promised, humping forward so Charles could feel the long line of Arthurâs cock through two layers of denim. It felt enormous, hot and thick around as two shotgun barrels. âRuin you for anyone that comes begginâ after, so you canât help but think of me anytime you spread these pretty thighs.â
âBig words,â Charles bit out, swallowing. Adrenaline surged through him, like the ramp up to a fight. Heâd never been less interested in getting another man off of him. âSure you can back âem up, Morgan?â
Arthur grinned, leaning in to take Charlesâ mouth in a messy, wet kiss. He was all tongue and teeth, not giving Charles any quarter to catch his breath. When they parted, he seized on a patch of exposed skin at the base of Charlesâ throat, bared by the neck of his open collar.
Arthur sucked the salt from Charlesâs skin, teeth tugging at his flesh, sharp and perfect. The man worried at the spot like a mongrel, working up a bruise Charles couldnât hope to hide when they eventually returned to camp.
Charles buried his hand in Arthurâs shaggy hair, pulling at the root until Arthur relented, releasing his mouthful with a wet smack.
âImma fuck you till you cry, Mr. Smith,â Arthur promised, running his tongue over his teeth, chasing the last remnants of salt. He looked ravenous. âBy the time Iâm done? You wonât remember what state weâre in, let alone your own name.â
(to be continued but I needed to exorcise the horny demons)