All The King's Men -- FINALLY! Part Two of Three.

[marnanightingale]

All the King's Men (2/3)

Respectfully dedicated to:
Lois McMaster Bujold, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Tom Cochrane.
For knowing about love.

Affectionately dedicated to:

q_skud_, fairestcat.
Without whom. Words fail me, which is as well or the acknowledgements would outstrip the fic.

pewtergryphon, for patience.

ataniell93, for "immoral support".

And for my Wife, who knows why.

Betas: nindulgence and cortese

Set right after The Frogs And The Lobsters. Minutes after, actually.

Set in the All The King's Men universe, which I share with q_skud_

Dramatis personae (in alphabetical order):

Miss Kitty Cobham
Major Lord Alexander Rupert Edrington
Lt. Horatio Hornblower
Acting Lt. Archie Kennedy.
Chorus of Drunken Sailors.

Rating: explicit sexuality.
Warnings: non-explicit references to past abuse and present consequences.

Feedback: yes, please! Even if only to say 'I read this." All The King's Men (1/3)

---

Edrington shifted in his seat, straining to concentrate on the words rolling through the theatre.

But release me from my bands
With the help of your good hands

Hands. Release. Oh, God, release.

It had never previously occurred to him to consider Shakespeare as brimming with erotic meaning. On the other hand, he had never before found himself attending the theatre with a companion who seemed willing to take every possible advantage of him that the relative darkness and the comparative privacy of a high box made practicable, all the while taking in every moment of the unfolding drama with a rapt concentration that would, to the casual observer, doubtless account nicely for the gleeful expression Kennedy wore as he leaned forward, in the process dragging his fingers along Edrington's thigh and stealing around his knee to feather teasingly up the seam of his breeches again. He'd attempted to quell him once, frowning, and been stopped in his tracks by the flicker of a pink tongue as Kennedy leaned in to whisper in his ear, "I've wondered since I watched you ride up to the dock, My Lord, what it would take to crack your cool facade in two. More than this, I'm certain of that much. Just sit back and" -- warm breath washed over Edrington's ear and he shivered -- "enjoy the entertainment."

And he had, half-amused in spite of himself. He'd known the man was brave; he'd known he was sensual. He'd not known that the two qualities would, when coupled with freedom from the constraints of shipboard life, render him utterly, wickedly shameless.

Now I want
Spirits to enforce, art to enchant,
And my ending is despair,
Unless I be relieved by --

Dear God. All around him, people were rising from their seats, applauding. It was over. He leaned over and spoke into Kennedy's ear, trusting to the racket of the crowd around them to mask his words. "Just -- what else have you done in that convenient alley?"

He wondered idly how long it generally took Kennedy's superiors to learn what that particularly demure expression meant. "Not what you're contemplating, unless I miss my guess. Are you thinking it wants a further christening?"

Edrington rested a carefully casual-seeming hand on the back of his neck and growled into his ear, satisfied beyond words at the shiver he elicited. "I am thinking of taking you back to the inn where there is decent privacy and I shall have a great deal of time at my disposal in which to deal with you thoroughly and properly. But one ought always to consider carefully what possibilities exist if the original plan proves untenable. Which it may, if you do not behave yourself." He tightened his hand briefly and released him, schooling his face into stern lines. "Now. Are you going to permit me to get you safely behind closed doors, Mr Kennedy?"

* * *

Archie moaned, twisting against Edrington, crushing himself into the lean body that slid so demandingly over him. True to his stated intent, Edrington had been all restraint as they walked briskly back from the theatre, even commenting on several subtle points of the play, and Archie had smiled privately and begun to consider his next move as he preceded him up the stairs. His smugness had lasted for exactly as long as it had taken Edrington to follow him into the room, close and lock the door, and get him against the wall. Now he was held there, at the dubious mercy of the man he'd taunted all evening, hands pinned above his head, mouth expertly ravished, wondering desperately if perhaps he ought to have been a trifle less provocative.

But it was good, God, warmth and wetness and the sharp rush of pleasure from his prick as he drove his hips into Edrington's and the sweet aching of need as he twisted against air and the sound of harsh breathing as his throat was claimed by teeth and tongue and the fire and triumph in the dark eyes as Edrington pulled away to drink in the sight of his shamelessness. It was good to be warm. It was good to feel only pleasurable urgency, only playful trepidation. Edrington's mouth came down on his again and he rose to meet it, capturing his tongue and sucking it strongly, stropping against him like a cat, almost purring like a cat at the rough friction. He wanted more. He wanted everything.

He tore his mouth free for a moment, long enough to gasp "Clothes -- " before he was pulled into another long, dark undertow of a kiss, and even as he opened his mouth to the demanding tongue he felt his hands released, felt strong hands freeing him from his coat and pushing it from his shoulders, brought his own hands down and began to help strip away the layers that concealed and separated them.

They were down to breeches and shoes now and Archie thought he couldn't bear it, couldn't wait any longer to feel flesh heating his skin; he reached back to thread his hand through the lacing of Edrington's breeches and pull him in. Caught him off balance and pressed his advantage, twisting until it was Edrington against the wall now, Edrington whose mouth was plundered and whose shuddering hips were straining against the pace Archie set, Edrington who moaned as his hands were caught and held behind his back, and that was good too. Archie laughed against the salty skin of his throat, between nips and kisses, and at Edrington's groggy, enquiring "Mmmm?", he smiled up at him and kissed him soundly once more, laughing again for sheer joy as he tugged and they slid to the floor, still entwined.

Somehow he'd ended up on his back, sprawled underneath Edrington, the weight of the man crushing him into the floor, his hand still entwined in his lacing, feet scrabbling on the floor and the slick sweet slide of skin and he wanted them naked, wanted to race to the finish. Wanted it never to end. He moaned a protest as he felt the weight come off, as Edrington somehow freed himself from his grip and pulled back to straddle him, thwarting his squirms with a grin and a squeeze of strong thighs -- all that bloody riding, that must account for it.. But if his prick was denied he still had a hot mouth at his throat and the scent of him in his nose, and sharp teeth nipped where his shoulder met his neck and he shuddered. Oh.

Edrington grinned fiercely against the curve of Kennedy's collarbone, feeling him thrash beneath him, breathing in the scent of his skin, sweat and salt and a hint of soap, watching the column of his throat working as he bit back a high, breathy moan. It had been worth waiting for, this; if he hadn't wanted the skin and the scent and the sounds and the long, slow shivers and sighs he would have given in after all and hauled him into the alley, but he'd meant to do this properly, to wring every possible moment of pleasure from it, and he would.

He groped for Archie's hand; caught it. Brought it to his mouth and pressed kisses along the palm, watching dazed blue eyes widen in confusion until he nipped a fingertip and smiled around it at the gasping response. Ran his tongue down it, teasing the palm, trailing back to nibble again, greedily drinking in every change in expression as mouth followed tongue and he sucked strongly, feeling Archie grow frantic beneath him.

"Thoroughly. And properly. I did say so, did I not?" he reminded him, before returning to his explorations, teasing and playing with the hand he had captured as if he had all the time in the world, until Archie's moans changed to whimpers and his head rolled aimlessly against the boards.

"I'll never last. I never can, I know it," he gasped, and thrust again. Fell back, defeated, and swore.

"You shall. I'll see to that. Just--" Edrington grinned -- "enjoy the entertainment." He closed his teeth gently on his wrist and commenced his explorations in earnest.

Kennedy really was a beautiful man, more strongly built than he seemed in uniform, and so responsive that Edrington found the last of his impatience dissolving in fascination. Skating his tongue over the inside of his wrist produced the most fascinating whimper; sucking the soft skin at the bend of his elbow, a giggle. Gentle teeth closing on the muscle of his shoulder brought a deep moan so intriguing that Edrington lingered there, biting and licking, swooping up for a long, deep kiss before returning to wander along his throat and graze over his chest, until he caught a nipple between his teeth and attacked it with his mouth, drawing it in and flicking rapidly, keeping time with his hand on the other. He glanced up and caught his breath; Kennedy's face was split by a grin at once lascivious and joyful, so enticing it made him aware once again of how insistent his own desire was becoming. He moved on, tracing a path to the waist of Kennedy's breeches, mouth working more fiercely now, hands assailing the buttons until he could push the fabric aside far enough to nuzzle at the curve of a hipbone before grasping Kennedy's hips firmly and lapping at the slickness that covered the head of his now-twitching prick.

Archie twisted beneath him, yowling like a cat, hands snapping up to cling to Edrington's shoulder and arse, planting his feet and thrusting urgently against the confining hands at his hips, until Edrington began to work his mouth down over him and he fell back on a long, plaintive cry, his whimpers urging Edrington on he fell into a rhythm, slow and deep and wet, teasing even as he urged him ever higher, pulling back, drawing it out as long as he might, knowing that in any case it could not be long now.

Sure enough, in a few more moments Archie was thrusting against his throat, moving so strongly that all Edrington's weight would not suffice to keep him still, and Edrington let him set the pace for a final series of deep thrusts that brought him rapidly, until he was spilling into Edrington's mouth with a cry that was almost a shriek, falling back limply as the spasms died away, then hauling Edrington onto him and clinging fiercely, whispering his name against his neck, spilling hot tears over his throat.

After a long moment his grip slackened, and Edrington pulled away a little, concerned, only to meet with a glowing smile.

"It's all right." Kennedy said, softly. "Better than all right. I just -- I had forgotten."

Edrington smiled back, tentatively until he felt Kennedy's hand began to stroke down his spine, tracing each bump carefully, skating over muscle and rib, seeming to draw forth all the pent-up arousal in him and send it racing over his skin, making him groan and press his mouth to Archie's shoulder, gnawing and sucking, gasping as he felt himself pressed backwards, floorboards cool against his back.

"Let's see what else I might have forgotten, shall we?" Kennedy shifted until he hovered above Edrington and set to work pressing kisses over the lines of his jaw and throat, nipping gently at his ear, chuckling at the quivering, whimpering response a judicious combination of feathery kisses and warm breath just behind his ear produced. Emboldened, he strayed further, lingering over the sharp jut of collarbone, learning the textures and contours and tastes of him, investigating the jagged red scar over his collarbone curiously, running his tongue over it to trace the line, returning now and again to his mouth, dusting little kisses here and there, careful not to neglect the tender skin from ear to nape before he made his way downward to roll a nipple under his tongue, tracing his hands over the sharp points of hipbone just visible above the waist of his breeches.

He pulled away for a moment to appreciate the sight of him so abandoned, hands curling and grasping aimlessly, sweat sheening his throat, lean belly twisting beneath Archie's hand as he strained against his breeches. He'd expected to feel awkward, if not downright petrified, when it came to it. He felt ... covetous. Christmas had come at last, and here was his gift. He began to free Edrington from the confinement of his buttons, occupying his mouth meanwhile chasing a rivulet of sweat across Edrington's chest, surprising a giggle from him when he strayed too far over a rib and found a ticklish spot.

The last button vanquished, he paused, his forehead on Edrington's hip, and breathed deeply. Clean skin and the musk of arousal; he smiled as he nuzzled the swollen flesh, trailing his tongue along its length, circling the head, giving himself time to become used to the taste -- better than he recalled -- before he let his mouth slide over the head and set to work in earnest.

Edrington gasped. He'd scarcely dared breathe as Kennedy had explored him, suddenly afraid again of pushing for too much, too soon, but the tentative flickering tongue and huffs of breath over his sensitised flesh had been sweet torment, sharpened by the fear that even at this juncture Kennedy might yet pull away. Instead, he was enveloped in tightness and heat, long strokes punctuated by maddening sweeps of tongue. He let his head loll aimlessly and surrendered, rocking his hips into the blissful sensation, murmuring encouragement, until he felt Kennedy increase his efforts just enough to start him spiralling towards release, faster as the hand which had cupped his hip drifted downwards. He forced his head forward, then, and opened his eyes to see Archie's mouth on him, blue eyes flickering up to gauge his response as the hand between his thighs stroked and pressed, making him snap his hips with an airless gasp that made Kennedy's eyes spark and widen with glee.

Kennedy had found the perfect rhythm now, hand's petting driving him up into that clever mouth, mouth working him, tongue slipping and sliding over him with every motion, all of it pulling him headlong towards climax, and he closed his eyes for fear that the sight would send him over right then, then opened them and gazed transfixed, until he could bear no more and fell back, hanging on the brink for a long, desperate second before sensation crashed over him, pulled him under, and he went gladly, giving himself to the tide until at last he lay limp and spent, one hand entwined in Kennedy's hair, the other lazily stroking his back.

* * *

Archie shifted against the hard floor; however pleasing a mattress Edrington might make in principle, there was no denying that the man was a fraction on the bony side, quite apart from being too slender to prevent Archie's hipbone digging into the boards. "Come on, Edrington" he said. "There's a perfectly lovely bed, right over there."

He elicited only a sated grin and a noise that made him think of a disgruntled cat.

It took some moderately ruthless poking and prodding to get Edrington over to the bed and relieved of his shoes and stockings, but as he leaned over him to begin on the breeches he found a busy pair of hands before him, stripping them away and tossing them to the floor. As Archie straightened to strip himself he glanced up and was surprised to find Edrington bright-eyed, watching appreciatively as he bent to cope with his shoes. When he was naked, Edrington reached up a hand to pull him onto the bed, and they kissed, relaxed and langourous.

Archie trailed a hand from Edrington's shoulder to his hip, exploring lazily, until he found a spot that made him gasp and arch, deepening the kiss and bringing his own hand up to trace the muscles of Archie's back.

They sighed against each other's mouths as they explored, playfulness slowly giving way to greater intensity, hands dipping lower until each had a warm hand enclosing them, squirming and nipping at each other's mouths, free hands twining above their heads, rolling together until Archie was pressed into the soft mattress, Edrington's hand slipping down to gently part his thighs, short nails making him shiver as they circled upwards. He tensed, uncertain as the warm hand shifted to tease at the curve of his arse, then forced himself to relax, letting the shivery pleasure distract him, reassured by the steady pressure of the mouth against his.

Edrington shifted against his hip, feeling his prick stir impatiently, and freed himself reluctantly from the kiss, leaning back to search rapidly beneath the bed for the oil he had taken care to leave there when he had sorted out his baggage earlier, returning triumphant to catch Kennedy's shoulder and turn him. In the next moment, his wrist was caught and held in a painful grip; he looked up, startled, to see Kennedy's face frozen, his eyes blazing, and flinched.

Edrington held very still, watchful, waiting. At length, Kennedy sighed and slumped back against the pillow, letting his grip fall away to nothing, the fury in his eyes fading to a bruised, wary look.

"There are any number of things we can do," Edrington said, cautiously. "If you don't care for -- "

"I don't know," Kennedy said, quietly.

Edrington frowned. "You've not -- " There was more to it, he suspected, more than simple nerves in this; he'd wondered for a moment if Kennedy meant to strike him, or worse.

"Nothing ever went quite that far. Until I joined the Navy." His lips twisted downwards bitterly.

"I see." And he did, and had to turn aside for a moment. Turned back to see Kennedy shift his gaze away, wariness in turn replaced by a dull, resigned expression that it hurt to see.

"Is he dead?"

"He is."

"Excellent. I hope it was slow. And very painful."

Kennedy looked at him wide-eyed.

Edrington smiled slightly. "I apologise for my presumption."

"Don't." Kennedy sat up, taking Edrington by the shoulders and facing him squarely. "I said I didn't know. Not ... that I didn't want to know. What's it's like with, with someone I want. Someone I chose. I just ... panicked, for a moment. If you still want to, I..."

"I think it might in fact be extremely difficult for me to name anything I should like better. If -- if you're sure."

Kennedy looked at him with, Edrington was relieved to see, a trace of his previous mischief re-emerging. "It seems a popular enough occupation. I assume there must be something to it. Yes, I'm sure."

Edrington kissed him then, slow and wondering, stroking his hair, smiling against his mouth as he felt Kennedy begin to relax against him, taking his time about it, coaxing a slow response until Kennedy was hard against him once more and pulling Edrington down with him as he lay back.

Edrington pulled away then, searching his face as Kennedy sighed, once, and let his knees fall apart slightly, smiling reassuringly up at him, trusting, quiescent. Sent a gentle hand questing down his torso, noting the muted response. Not good enough, he thought, not nearly good enough. He drew a deep breath, considering, and bent forward to press a kiss where jaw met throat. Kennedy looked sidelong at him, startled, and he smiled. "We have time," he said.

Edrington buried his face for a moment in Kennedy's hair. It appears that a policy of avoiding the seduction of the innocent is not without its hazards. Such as the possibility that a comparative innocent might seduce you. His usual approach to these matters clearly would not do here; time for something different.

He thought of a horse he'd bought on an impulse, years ago, after he'd seen its owner senselessly thrash it. It had taken more patience than he'd thought he had, but in the end, he'd won it over.

Patience. Move slowly, be gentle. Let him come to you. And provide plenty of sugar lumps; he grinned, and began his campaign, letting the hand that rested in Kennedy's hair drift down to stroke the side of his neck, smoothing away the curls that clung there, slipping back to play at his nape, watching.

Kennedy stirred beneath him, restless, but he was smiling. Encouraged, Edrington brought his mouth down and captured his ear, pleased by the shivering response. More pleased by the hint of impatience. Come to my hand. I'll not press you. I have all the time in the world ...

* * *

Archie wiggled, chasing the hand that skated along the curve of his hip, brushed over his prick, shifted away to stroke along the line of his thigh, teased upwards -- he shifted encouragingly -- and danced away again as a lazy stroke of Edrington's tongue across his nipple distracted him, making him arch and bite his lip; the hand reappeared, curving around his arse, nails flicking, and he yelped.

He'd wondered, at first, what all this had to do with buggery; later, he'd forgotten the question. Now he thought he was starting to understand, as his hips arched off the bed, seeking the maddening hand that wandered between his thighs, teasing and provoking. It was starting to sound decidedly appealing ... Edrington's hand dipped lower as they kissed, circling, and suddenly brushing him there. He moaned into Edrington's mouth and chewed on his lips, hauling him closer with a hand wrapped around his queue, fingers digging into his back, heedless of how roughly he was handing the man, but Edrington only murmured against him, soothing and appreciative, and continued his slow teasing, stroking his prick with slow, lazy motions, returning now more and more often to circle and pet, slipping away to torment him with half-promises ... he could understand how buggery could come to seem desireable.

He considered, in fact, that it might well become imperative.

"My Lord!"

This time when Edrington reached for the bottle of oil that lay on the bed and opened it, Archie only murmured contentedly and took advantage of his distraction to do some teasing of his own, stroking along Edrington's side to grasp his prick and regard it speculatively, flushing when Edrington shot him a knowing, sidelong look.

Still he flinched when a gentle finger pressed against him, only to moan as it was withdrawn and the slow circling began again. Damn the man, anyway -- oh. It was back again, and he welcomed it with a sigh, pulling Edrington down for another long kiss, the tongue that dipped into his mouth seeming to echo the languid teasing of the hand down below until the sensations ran together.

* * *

Edrington bit his lip in concentration; catching the rhythm of it. Press; wait. Press again, as Kennedy slowly relaxed under him. Distract him with a kiss and press his advantage, stroking in and out, first inciting Archie, then following his response. Twisting his hand slightly, he searched for the precise spot -- ah, there, if Archie's response was anything to go by. He pressed again, letting his thumb echo the motion without, and was rewarded by an astonished wail.

Now he was ready, quite properly so, thought Edrington, smirking in satisfaction, unable to resist teasing a bit longer, gliding his fingers faster now, wringing sighs and whimpers from Archie, enjoying the play of expression on his flushed face and his increasingly frantic squirming, until finally Archie's moans became fevered demands and Edrington relented and pulled back to reach again for the oil.

* * *

Archie watched avidly as Edrington slathered oil over himself, wriggling appreciatively as he felt slick fingers inside him once more. He began to turn, and was stopped by Edrington's hand on his shoulder, and a shake of his head as Edrington moved over him, smiling at his surprise, pulling his hand away and shifting Archie's legs aside until he could lay between them. Archie kept his eyes fixed firmly on Edrington's face as he felt his prick nudging into him. It will be all right. Even if --

In fact, it was little different at first, if anything smoother, easier, and he began first to relax, then to move, tentatively, experimentally, closing his eyes to concentrate on trying to recapture the sensation of friction -- there. Then it was better, as Edrington pressed steadily forward; he opened his eyes to see Edrington's face nigh-split in a grin, and grinned back. For a moment they lay still, foreheads pressed together, enjoying their triumph, then Edrington began to move within him, slow and gentle, leaning in to whisper encouragement, his watchful expression softening slowly to contentment as Archie, astonished, felt himself begin to push back, rolling his hips, seeking the best angle as Edrington set a slow, steady pace, giving him time to grow accustomed.

He scattered kisses over Edrington's jaw, down his throat, everywhere he could reach, hands tracing the line of his spine, skittering up to explore the nape of his neck, feeling the thick queue, following the line of it until his hand found the knot. He set his other hand to it, and at Edrington's questioning look, grinned up at him. "Mind?"

"Not at all. If you think you can --" he shifted, pressing more deeply into Archie, making him squirm -- "manage. Under the circumstances."

"I shall do my best," Archie promised, biting his lip in concentration as he worked at the knot, pausing at each thrust, returning doggedly to his task in between, wrinkling his nose in concentration, until the knot gave and he grinned in triumph and began to unwind the narrow ribbon. An end brushed over Alexander's back, making him shiver and break his rhythm. Archie did it again, delighted; Edrington responded by twisting his hips in a way that left Archie gasping and dropping the ends, only to grasp the half-undone queue again and trail the soft brush of hair over Edrington's shoulders until he twisted and bent to nip sharply at Archie's throat.

Eventually, the ribbon came free in his hand and Archie combed his fingers through the fall of hair, pulling it forward to cover them like a tent, amused by the unexpected spring of curls, until Edrington pulled back to brush the ends over Archie's upturned throat, chuckling at the discovery that he could make him giggle and gasp almost in the same breath.

* * *

Edrington pulled away, regarding the sight before him with, he thought, pardonable smugness; Kennedy's face was a study in debauchery -- flushed and damp, his eyes dazed, his mouth swollen and slack, tongue darting out between kisses to trace his lower lip as he rocked under Edrington's thrusts. Edrington noted the raggedness of his breathing and shifted lower, angling his hips, until Kennedy squeaked in astonishment and his head lolled back, breath coming in a series of short gasps, punctuated -- as Edrington gradually increased the pace of his thrusts -- by a series of whimpers until they in turn blended into an urgent, keening moan that made Edrington smile in anticipation.

Soon enough, Kennedy began to demand more, thrusting upwards, wrapping his hands around Edrington's arse, and Edrington gladly gave it to him, snapping his hips and biting his lip, forcing himself to relax even as he pushed him higher, holding to his control for dear life as Kennedy at last threw his head back and cried out, shudders wracking him as he wailed and thrashed.

* * *

Archie gave a final gasp and collapsed against the mattress, hands drifting aimlessly along Edrington's spine, coming to rest on his arse. Edrington was still within him, still hard; he realised a moment later that he was as well. Edrington chuckled and moved within him and he squirmed, unsure if the feeling of it was too much to bear; not quite, he decided a moment later, and not quite enough; he looked up in amazement. His questioning look was met by a lazy smirk, and a long, slow thrust that had him rolling his hips up to meet it.

"Thoroughly and properly", Edrington reminded him, still smirking, and Archie could only grin weakly back as Edrington increased the pace once more. Archie was astonished to find how little it took to have him once again moaning and thrashing, head rolling heedlessly from side to side, rocking into each thrust, pulling Alexander down for frantic kisses, forever on the brink of an explosion which never quite came. He brought his hand towards his prick, now twitching between them, only to have it grasped firmly and pinned to the bed beside him.

"Not... quite ... yet." Edrington gasped, and Archie wailed and bucked desperately, hands digging into the mattress. Surely there was no more? But there was, keen and sharp and nearly intolerable, and even as his body fought desperately for release, this was better than he had ever imagined it might be, pleasure coming in waves still and the sight of Edrington, hair tangled about his face, dark eyes avid and greedy, drinking it all in, and he half-wished it might never end, especially when Edrington brought a hand to his nipple and rolled it gently, petting and stroking and then pinching sharply. Something within him tightened; the waves became a flood, and he could do nothing but hold to the bed and let it take him under again.

Oh, it was maddening, this, in its ebbs and flows, in the way it confounded his expectations again and again like a treacherous ocean, driving him spinning towards land only to pull him under again, taking him further and further from shore.

Finally, half-crazed after the completion lurking just out of reach, Archie wrapped his legs around Edrington's back and clung, kissing him frantically, gnawing at his mouth, thrusting and bearing down desperately against the measured thrusts that pushed him higher and higher while release drifted teasingly ahead of him.

He found something that made Edrington gasp and thrust into him harder, a twist of the hips and a trick of the muscles, so he did it again, and again, teeth bared with effort and frustration, until Edrington was growling above him and snapping his hips hard, fighting for control and finally, finally, he came down on Archie, sinking sharp teeth into his shoulder, moaning heedlessly, grinding into him and at last, at last Archie's prick was crushed between their bellies, slippery with sweat. It was almost perfect, and when he found his hands were free and brought them down onto Edrington's arse to pull them tight together it was perfect and he cried out once more, this time in triumph, spilling across his belly, over his chest, holding onto Edrington for dear life until it was over and Edrington was taut as rigging in a gale, desperate concentration warring with the satisfaction on his face as he held himself almost still, waiting.

Archie tugged on him again, moving beneath him, insistent, until Edrington began to move with him, raggedly now, short rapid thrusts as he slumped against Archie's chest, burying his face in Archie's shoulder and uttering hoarse, muffled cries as he thrust frantically, until his head snapped back and he met Archie's eyes, stiffening and crying out as he spent, finally collapsing, shuddering, to lie across him, turning his face to tuck it into Archie's shoulder with a contented sigh.

* * *

Edrington stirred from where Archie had tucked him firmly against his side. He looked up, to see Archie regarding him, bright-eyed; he gazed back muzzily, unable to restrain a small smirk of satisfaction as he settled back onto his shoulder and said, "Mmm, well?"

"I'm not entirely certain," Kennedy said, and Edrington looked up, startled, to see Kennedy regarding him solemnly.

Unfair, so unfair to confuse a man in his condition like this. "I -- what? Not certain of..."

"This matter of buggery. I'm not at all certain it suits me."

Kennedy snickered at the look on his face and relented, pulling Edrington on top of him and kissing him soundly. "I may need another demonstration. Just to be quite sure, you see."

Edrington kissed him back. "You're joking."

"Am I?"

"You're not joking. Dear God. Well, on your own head be it if you can't get out of bed tomorrow."

"Were we proposing to?"

* * *

Edrington groaned. "Kennedy. I am not eighteen years old. I am in fact an old man, comparatively."

"Compared to whom?"

"Compared, for example, to the man I was at midnight. I am old. I am tottery. I am weak, decrepit, and in serious danger of being the first Earl of Edrington to die in bed. This bed. Any minute now."

Kennedy ran a lazy hand down his belly, stroking lower as his lips teased behind Edrington's ear. In the growing light, Edrington could see the expression of studied innocence on his face; he groaned. "It is only that I might forget my lessons if I fail to put them into use immediately," Kennedy said earnestly. "Captain Pellew insists that a man has only truly learned a thing when he has put it into practice." He ran his tongue down to Edrington's collarbone, back to his ear. Traced the curve.

Edrington, improbably, felt himself begin to stiffen. "I have every confidence in your ability to retain the essential points over" -- his face split in a yawn -- "the course of a few hours' sleep, however. And I have quite lost the use of my limbs." He closed his eyes, ostentatiously. Let his head fall to one side. I am asleep. See how soundly I sleep, you wicked boy?

Kennedy only grinned, and increased his efforts, taking full advantage of the expanse of throat thus bared. "You'll not need them." Warm lips on the pulse of his throat. "It is the responsibility -- " hand tracing down his chest, gently pinching a nipple on the way -- "of a candidate in any proper examination --" trailing lower to ghost over the sensitive curve of his hipbone -- "to demonstrate his proficiency --" tongue chasing through the hollow at his collarbone -- "in the subject at hand."

"There is nothing --" Archie's hand strayed over his thigh, teasing upwards, pulling back. Oh, Dear God. "-- nothing even slightly proper about --ah -- any of this." His hips slipped up to press against the hand that was feathering over the length of his prick; uncooperative bloody thing, didn't seem to understand about sleep. He yawned again, stretching, casually shifting beneath Archie's palm one last time before rolling aside, slumping into the mattress. Archie only chuckled and transferred his attentions to his arse, drawing lazy patterns that spiralled from the small of his back to the crease of his thighs and back again, fingers combing damp hair aside to expose Edrington's neck. He bit his lip, praying that the sigh which escaped him might be taken for a stifled yawn, I always sleep like this. Really. It means nothing that my arse is up in the air like that, convenient to your hand... and tried not to wriggle as he felt Archie hovering over him, warm breath playing across his back. In a moment, I shall put a stop to this. I shall insist on sleep. In ... just a moment more.

"You are fortunate that I am so completely exhausted, you know." Another yawn. "Or I should take quite drastic measures to deal with you."

Kennedy giggled. "As a disincentive to vice, your 'drastic measures' lack something. My Lord."

"Do they?" Face like an angel and that dulcet "My Lord" -- even though Kennedy's hand was no longer playing across his skin, he somehow doubted that this was a retreat -- no, it was back, and he was far too glad of it.

"Damn. I'd have taken my oath that --" Kennedy's mouth on his spine forced a shiver from him -- "Christ, Kennedy! -- that oil was out of -- ah -- reach."

"It was."

"It appears I must --" Kennedy flexed his fingers and Edrington found he could move after all -- "commend you on your initiative, then. And on your ... close attention to your ... Oh, God, there, yes ... lessons. Do you wish me dead, Lieutenant?"

"I seem to have survived."

"So you did. Did I --" damn those strong, clever fingers and the way they had him groaning and -- "Oh, bugger"

Kennedy chuckled. "Gladly."

Edrington hissed as Kennedy slid into him and wrapped a firm hand around his prick. Sleep ... could wait.

End of Act Two: ices, lemonade and towels available in the lobby. All The King's Men (3/3)

Comments

[lj_stowaway]

asl;kjlkfghjla
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laskjdlgkjfld;

R.I.P Stowaway

(and that's all you're getting - no fair expecting sensible, well-reasoned feedback when you do THAT to a person, oh em gee)

[commodorified.livejournal.com]

Huzzah! Kilt one!

But if you haven't revived by tomorrow, I send in professionals -- you're altogether too good a writer to lose.

[hazelhawthorne.livejournal.com]

*bites lip*
*searches brain for something coherent to say*
*finds puddle of steaming hot goo in place of brain*
The only response I feel capible of right now is

GUH!

I'm just glad I didn't tread this one at work.

[commodorified.livejournal.com]

*is v. v. happy*

Glad you liked!

I do seem to be lowering workplace productivity all over this week, don't I?

[hazelhawthorne.livejournal.com]

Between you and q-skud, I am emeshed in HH. I will have to watch some of the DVDs tonight. In honor of these bits you are feeding us, I think it must be The Wrong War. Good thing that is my daughter's favorite.

Sooo... When do we get part three?

I mean, you wouldn't want me to ruin my track record and actually get anything done around the office would you?

[miner-va.livejournal.com]

Ohhh.


Oh yes.

I'm at work, where there's a window to a busy street behind me, and yet you made me bold enough to read this.

I'm counting on the fact that nobody passing by my window can actually read English from this far away. Ahem.

So anyway, *worshipworship* and all that. Wow. I mean. Wow. Ngh. Thanks for that.

(Edrington said "oh, bugger"!! I died. Many times. <3<3<3<3! :DD)

[commodorified.livejournal.com]

YAY

And yes, yes he did.

Quite, err... feelingly, at that ...

[rubynye.livejournal.com]

This. Is. GORGEOUS.

You even got a nose-scrunch in there!

And, oh, yes, that is indeed the way to get back into the saddle, as it were.

And oooh is this hot.

*applause*

[commodorified.livejournal.com]

*bows deeply*

I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

[tanacawyr.livejournal.com]

You know what it is?

It's the way they're both the same, only different. :-) They're both sort of semi-party-boys, but differently. Archie is a bit of a bantam cock-of-the-walk, and Edrington is more suave, but they both love a party and are outgoing. Archie's got a bit more sizzle to him, and Edrington's more controlled, but they're both social animals.

And here, we can see them both be surprising, and both taken by surprise. They do have an easy meeting of the minds going on that Archie and Horatio have to work a little harder for. They connect on some level more easily. And it's terribly fun to watch.

[tanacawyr.livejournal.com]

Another thing is their personalities -- cynical and idealist, but differently.

(Sorry, I'm spamming your LJ, here ... )

Edrington is probably a natural cynic, but he's been forced to work on his idealism to stay sane in the battlefield. Archie's the opposite; he's a natural optimist, but he's had cynicism forced on him. So again -- the same, only different. And a story like this just illustrates all of this, from the chatting to the sex, to the post-coital snuggling. :-)

[commodorified.livejournal.com]

Spamming is good.

Enough alike to connect, and different enough to fill in some gaps for each other.

The more I wrote them, the better they worked together.

And here I thought I'd be flogged around the fleet for messing with the Horatio/Archie love...

[lasergirl.livejournal.com]

I've gotten through parts 1 and 2 without serious mishaps... haven't blown a fuse or had a stroke or anything yet. really enjoying it! the roundabout POV and some of your descriptions are meltingly beautiful.... I suppose you won't be posting part 3 until after I'm on the water, but I'll send all my adoration over right now so that when I'm dead tired tomorrow I can think of you and sigh lovingly.

♥

[commodorified.livejournal.com]

*squees* happily.

Sailing looks like it was here and there but glad you had fun -- enjoy part three when you get back. :-)

[lasergirl.livejournal.com]

*thinks of you and sighs lovingly* part three was lovely!!!!

[trolleypup.livejournal.com]

Read and enjoyed,

[commodorified.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[twoweevils.livejournal.com]

Wow. I have no words. You handle the language and rhythm of the period with wonderful wit and authority. So nice to see Archie getting some respect and a chance to demand some appreciation. I'm giddy. I can't wait to show this to the missus. I say again: Wow.

M.

[commodorified.livejournal.com]

*turns the colour of Ioan's collar with pleasure*

Thank you kindly!

Yes, Love Song For A Crumpet -- AND a Lobster -- this piece is.

I am quite mad about both of them.

[floriatosca.livejournal.com]

guh. 'twas very hot, and you also did an excellent job showing the Crumpet and the Lobster's personalities and how they interact.

[commodorified.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[meletor-et-al.livejournal.com]

-------
Reactionary flapping for this part, now. Or at least, what I could manage when my socks weren't being melted and such. Geez!
-------

It had never previously occurred to him to consider Shakespeare as brimming with erotic meaning.
No? It's hard to miss.

Just sit back and" -- warm breath washed over Edrington's ear and he shivered -- "enjoy the entertainment."
Sneaky evil Archie. Tsk.

"Now. Are you going to permit me to get you safely behind closed doors, Mr Kennedy?"
.::claps::. Sex! (What? No. I'm just in it for the Respectable History. Yes.)

wondering desperately if perhaps he ought to have been a trifle less provocative.
Natural consequences, dear boy. *headshake* *snicker*

He thought of a horse he'd bought on an impulse, years ago, after he'd seen its owner senselessly thrash it.
OMG! Edrington love! Dude. You're genius. He'd so do that.

Eventually, the ribbon came free in his hand and Archie [...] Edrington pulled back to brush the ends over Archie's upturned throat, chuckling at the discovery that he could make him giggle and gasp almost in the same breath.
The Sexy and Incredibly Long Queue! Mmm.

I am old. I am tottery. I am weak, decrepit, and in serious danger of being the first Earl of Edrington to die in bed. This bed. Any minute now."
Heeee! I think this is one of those rare few lines I write in blue chrome liquid eyeliner on my old useless PC box. .::scribbles::. Yep.

"Oh, bugger"

Kennedy chuckled. "Gladly."
You know, I never get sick of that joke. Nevereverever. Of course, it usually precedes Really Great Sex. Or, in this case, is preceded by it. It's all good.
-------

On another note, the most wonderful thing about this part is that it's not just another dose of reader-luring smut. Almost everything in this is integral, and reveals and builds so much of both characters, their pasts, and their relationship. Apart from being really really shamefully hot, which speaks of course more to the quality of writing than anything as far as I'm concerned, it's beautifully human and heartful, without yet becoming maudlin. This is me in awe ... again. Won't be the last time; better get used to the expression.