Men of Sherwood (A Rogue's Tale Book 1)

by Sarah Luddington

  I opened my mouth in surprise. “Erm, Robin…”

  “What?” he asked, his voice deepening further. His gaze slipped from my eyes to my lips and I drew the bottom one into my mouth, holding it for a moment between my teeth before releasing it, and the moment I did he grunted.

  “I don’t understand what’s happening,” I said.

  “You are mine,” he breathed, still watching my mouth.

  I wanted to argue with him. To be honest he didn’t seem like the most stable or consistent person and I knew parts of me were vanishing into his soul whether he was aware of it or not, and I couldn’t afford to lose much more.

  “I think you should let me settle the horse down for the night. She needs rubbing down.”

  He growled, before managing to form words, “So do you.” His mouth descended onto mine and his tongue forced entry, arms tightening around my back and his entire body pushing into me. I couldn’t quite control the whimper that escaped.

  When he pulled back daylight had almost vanished and the twilight felt heavy. “I have to be with you.”

  “Tuck isn’t going to sleep that heavily again,” I said.

  “I know, but I cannot sleep by the fire and know you are just a few feet away. I have to hold you, Will,” he said while rubbing his rough cheek against mine as if scenting me for his personal use. His hands moved from my back to my hips, then gripped my arse and he rolled his pelvis against me, our ripe cocks hard against each other.

  Wherever my brains hid while Robin held me, I couldn’t coax them out to prevent his mouth claiming mine again. He tasted of wine but that scent of his, the one made up of leather, wool, horse and woodland musk – his perfect smell – drove me to fight for more control. I whimpered in need and he growled once more.

  “We can move your bed farther into the cave complex,” he said when he pulled back.

  “Not going to help us tonight.” I trembled in desperation.

  “Maybe we could sleep outside,” he said.

  I snorted. “It’s going to rain again. I’m not sure even we’re that desperate.”

  “I disagree,” he said, fisting his fingers in my clothing. “I don’t mind being wet.”

  I chuckled. “Come on, let’s go inside and see if we can figure something out.”

  “We could chuck your brother into the rain,” he muttered as I tackled my horse’s saddle.

  It took some time and some serious grumbling from Robin, but the patient beasts were settled before full dark and we were in the cave eating pheasant, thanks to Tuck’s poaching.

  I felt the heat of Robin next to me, a painful awareness and the scorch of Tuck’s gaze every time I looked up from the stew. Both made me uncomfortable in very different ways. How was I supposed resolve this glaring difficulty?

  The silence between the three of us was strained and I could sense Robin’s growing irritation. He wanted me to resolve this problem of our sleeping arrangements but I didn’t want to have an argument with Tuck.

  “Just ask, Will,” my brother said, placing his bowl near the fire.

  “I would, happily, but I’m not sure I want the grief,” I said, watching his eyes. They were positively serene, and it made me more nervous.

  “I understand your affection for each other, I’ve come to terms with it. My problem is with your physical intimacy. Marion and I believe as the rest of the world does, your feelings for each other are not natural lusts –”

  Robin rose, a low growl coming from deep inside his heart, I could hear his pain at my brother’s callous words. I stepped in front of the soldier, my back to my brother. “Don’t,” I requested, placing my palms on his chest. “Let me deal with this.”

  I turned my back on Robin, the wall of heat and power giving me confidence. “Robin is staying with me, in my bed, we will ensure you don’t have to listen or see our intimacy but I have no intention of sleeping alone while he wishes to be with me. You can either remain here and share this space with us, or you can find somewhere else to sleep.”

  Tuck blinked. His mouth tightened. I braced for the impact of his words. “You are throwing me out of my home?”

  “No, you are doing that all by yourself.”

  I felt Robin’s hand on my shoulder. “He’s right, Will.”

  I glanced at Robin. “What?”

  Robin sighed. “I can’t ask him to be in the same room with us, it’s wrong to expect him to understand. The fear he has of what we share is created by his faith. That faith has him scoring his back because of his unhappiness, not everyone can see beyond the hate to Christ’s words.”

  Tuck frowned. “What does that mean? You have no faith, you said yourself.”

  “No, monk, I just don’t believe your version of Rome’s faith. There are many paths to salvation. I saw it in Acre. I saw it in the eyes of a man who truly believed his God and his Prophet were the only path to salvation but he still took me in, healed me and loved me. Christ talks of love, deep love, compassion and understanding. Your faith talks of judgement and control. Which Christ do you want to serve? The one who makes you score your back? Or the one that says love thy neighbour?”

  I could see the mulish side of my brother taking the reins and I sighed, which didn’t stop him. “I serve the Lord by understanding and living the rules laid down to us by holy men. Men who hear the Word of God and understand it, interpret it according to the natural laws God gave us. You have been corrupted, tainted and I have no wish for you to encourage my brother.”

  “You have no wish for your brother to know happiness? That’s cruel,” Robin stated.

  I sat down again, this was going to take a while. My lusts were more than cooling, they’d been dipped in ice.

  “I wish my brother would find a path that meant he didn’t have to be a sodomite,” Tuck said.

  Robin drew a sharp breath over his teeth. “So you would have him celibate and alone?”

  “He’s not alone, he has me and I’m celibate.”

  Robin snorted. “The way you look at my sister makes it clear you’re willing to change that at any convenient moment.”

  Tuck’s blush coloured his skin such a deep shade of red I chuckled. “He has a point, fornication with a married woman is a serious offence.”

  The look Tuck gave me should have sliced the flesh off my bones. “What Marion and I have is something you’ll never understand.”

  Robin snorted. “And you’ll never understand what I feel for your brother. We are doing this and you’re going to have to live with it – or not. I don’t care. But listen to me, monk, you taint what Will experiences with your hate and I come after your faith, I’ll batter at it until you have shreds left in your hands. I have spent years coming to terms with who and what I am, what makes me happy and how that feels in this dark world of ours. The little bit of light I allow myself with Will has more to do with love than you can possibly imagine until the moment you hold my sister in your arms.”

  The look of utter shock and horror on Tuck’s face really did make me laugh. Robin held out his hand for me. “It’s been a long day, come to bed. Tuck can see to his own wounds tonight.”

  I’d forgotten the awful wounds on his back would need dressing again but Robin had made it clear I needed to choose, my brother or my lover. I knew choosing Robin would cost me with Tuck and I loved my brother but I needed more than the empty words of a religion I didn’t believe in to keep me warm. I laced my fingers through Robin’s and he led me to the bed.

  The silence in the cave was thicker than a goat’s skull and just as hard. Even the fire seemed muted. Robin turned me to face him, pulled off my belt which held my knife and purse, then bent and removed my short boots.

  “We need to replace these soon, they are very worn,” he said.

  I didn’t have words as he looked up at me and smiled. My hand reached out and touched his hair, the rough locks tugging at my fingers the way his chest hair had the night before. The confidence in his blue eyes overwhelmed me and tears threatened.
His fingers paused on the lacing to my leggings, I nodded and he deftly rid me of them. I sat on the bed and he shifted to hover over me a little, his lips close to my ear. “It’s just a statement, Will. I won’t have him control you, whether you deem me worthy of your bed or not. Whoever you chose to spend your life with, you should be free to make that choice, and not have Tuck make you feel lesser, weaker, wrong or twisted for it.”

  His words were confusing. Did he expect me to leave him? Did he want to keep me? Why was this all so complicated? His actions against Tuck’s wishes made me hope I had a future with Robin, but his private words for me made it clear he didn’t see it happening. Surely, he meant me to be the one who was unworthy of him. My confusion intensified as Robin divested himself of his clothes, except his braies and slipped into my bed, shuffling close to the wall.

  I followed and felt him curl around my back as I shifted onto my side, facing the fire. I could see Tuck watching us, and felt Robin grow hard against my backside. Another whisper reassured me though. “Just ignore the old fella, Will. I’ll have my way with you when it’s more appropriate.”

  I twisted slightly so I could look into his dark eyes. “Old fella?”

  “He’s as old as I am and I’m no spring chicken, Will. One day you’ll see that.” I could hear his resigned peace at the inevitable ending of our passion.

  “Never,” I whispered and I risked a kiss.

  “Don’t do that or I’ll not be able to restrain myself,” Robin growled.

  The desire he felt was a pale echo to the ache in my cock and balls but as I turned back to face the fire my eyes met Tuck’s and the mixture of hate and longing in his expression hit me square and deep in my guts. I shut my eyes, blocking his out and pulled Robin’s hand up to my heart.

  14

  ROBIN WOKE BEFORE DAYBREAK and I felt him snuffling into my neck, which made me squirm against his cock.

  He reached around me and I felt his hand close over my painfully hard manhood. A small whimper escaped my control.

  “I’m awake,” Tuck announced from his bed.

  Robin’s hand released me. “Outside, now.” He grabbed some of the blankets and yanked them off the bed.

  I wasn’t going to argue with him. I rose from the bed, ignored Tuck, slipped my boots on and almost ran out of the cave. The dawn was cold, damp and very grey. The strong arms wrapping around my back were warm and dry. I turned into Robin’s body and his lips devoured mine. Within moments we were kissing, our tongues tangled and desperate. Robin pushed me backwards until I hit a tree, it must have been the old oak I often sat under during the summer. The rough bark and his rough hands were all over me.

  His height and weight pinned me, his hands controlled, his tongue invaded and his cock sought in blind hope for stimulation.

  I pulled my mouth from his. “Robin, slow down, please, please.” My heart raced and in that moment I didn’t know if it was lust or panic.

  The weight holding me vanished.

  “Will, please look at me, I’m so sorry. I just… fuck, I need you so much,” his voice was roughened stone smashed by hammers. I didn’t realise I’d closed my eyes.

  When they opened I gazed into his and saw his desire but also his sorrow. I held out my hand. “Just take it a little slower.”

  He took my hand. “You are so beautiful, Will. I’m sorry I scared you.”

  “My desperation scared me, I’ve never wanted anything so much in my life,” I chuckled.

  “Come on, I’ve an idea.” He drew me away from the tree, his long boots looking odd against his linen braies, and we made our way to the river. “I found this place while looking for a safe place to cross with the horses.”

  We twisted down the path, Robin almost pulling me into a run, before he stopped at some bubbling rapids. “It’s deep enough for a quick wash. I want to do something for you, but you’ll want to be clean first.”

  “I could have washed in the cave,” I said.

  “You could have but this is going to be better,” he said. Within moments Robin had removed all his clothing and for the first time I saw him naked and in daylight.

  My breath stopped. He was magnificent.

  Dark redden gold hair covered his chest, the muscles defined and proud. The scars were there but understated; he healed well and more muscles descended to his hipbones. None of us ate enough to carry spare flesh on our bones but I had the feeling Robin could eat a horse and never look fat. His shoulders were wide, strong, the strength in them obvious even at rest. Every part of him screamed confident power and I wanted to lick each inch. I allowed my eyes to stray downward and almost whimpered. Thick thighs, covered in hair, and a proud, thick, beautiful cock with heavy balls nestling in a tangle of darker hair.

  My mouth watered.

  I managed to raise my eyes to his scarred face and saw him smirk, a twinkle in his dangerous blue gaze. “You look terrified and hungry all at once,” he said.

  “That’s pretty much how I feel,” I squeaked, the heat in my cheeks obvious to the crows in the trees it must be so bright.

  He chuckled. A low, coaxing sound and my balls throbbed in response. “Come, Will. Come bathe with me and I’ll make the cold worth braving.”

  He really didn’t need to ask again. I stripped in record time.

  He took my hand, led me to the water and I almost screamed it was so cold. He coaxed and pulled, taking me into the centre of the rapids before he suddenly dropped to his knees. The water hit my knees, and now covered him to his ribs.

  “Fuck, Robin, what are you doing?” I asked. My cock had not reacted well to the cold but I yelped as he cupped water into his hands and used them to engulf my cock and balls in the freezing liquid.

  “You’ll want to be clean for what I have planned. Ghaalib taught me a great deal about the benefits of cleanliness and how much it encourages all kinds of games between lovers.” He rubbed my nether regions and I already began to feel the benefits. I took a deep breath and dropped down into the water in front of him.

  “Fuck, Robin, that’s cold.”

  He laughed at me. “If you’d been as thirsty as I have been you’d learn to love every damn raindrop this country produces.”

  His hands explored my cock, balls, taint and slid farther back, even as his mouth explored my neck. The moment he touched the entrance to my body I whimpered, but whether from fear or need I could no longer tell and to be honest it didn’t matter. He rose from the water, an ancient god of the forest, and brought me up with him to kiss me deep. He swallowed the sounds I made and placed my hand firmly on his now softened dick.

  I rolled and played with him and was rewarded with groans and soft words of passion. I mirrored his movements but my movements were less confident and where he knew how to give pleasure I was stumbling in the dark. It didn’t seem to matter to Robin. He made it clear he was hungry for me with his kisses. Encouraged by his passion I explored farther back and felt his hips buck forwards into me when I touched his entrance.

  “Oh, Will,” Robin groaned, breaking away from my mouth for the first time. He placed his brow on my shoulder as I rubbed and circled the tight skin. I snuffled into his hair and felt him shiver. To be honest I couldn’t tell if it was the cold or my desire making me tremble.

  “Time to finish and get out,” Robin murmured. He moved away from me a little, drew in a deep breath and ducked back into the water, rubbing under his arms and giving his groin a swift rub as well. I grinned and matched his movements again, the cold stealing my breath.

  He drew me out of the water, dragged my numb feet to the blankets and rubbed me down with quick movements to remove the water. When he’d done us both I realised the November morning felt quite warm. He lay the blanket down and I didn’t need asking twice. I sank next to his body and the warmth of him caressed me before we’d even touched. He covered us in another blanket and before I could think he smothered me in warmth.

  He gazed at me for a moment. “So fucking beautiful,” he murmured.
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  I smiled, feeling the heat of a blush colour my skin and I’d had enough of talk. I drew his mouth to mine and he came, his willingness tender. We kissed with slow passion, our bodies tight together. Robin’s thigh was positioned for me to roll my hips against, giving my cock and balls that delicious pain and pleasure sensation I craved. He kept his weight on one elbow so he could use his free hand to explore my body, every place he touched lit me up from the inside out and the outside in. I allowed my hands to drift down and gripped his firm backside, rocking him into me. The groan of pleasure from my lover encouraged me and the solid length of him felt like Heaven on Earth.

  He kissed my jaw, sucked hard at my neck and I arched into the pain, crying out with the need for more. Robin gave. He descended to my chest, pulling the blanket over us both so he was hidden but I was warm. I wanted to see what he was doing because it felt amazing but thinking about coordinating such an adventure evaporated the moment he licked into my bellybutton.

  “You taste so good,” he murmured. “I’m going to taste all of you.” His breath made my skin dimple and my hips buck. Strong hands held my hips down. “If this is too much, Will, tell me.”

  I frowned, confused by the muffled words from under the blanket, until I felt something hot and wet coast up my cock.

  “Holy fucking shit,” I cried out. I ripped the blanket off us, unable to feel the cold, and Robin’s bright blue eyes focused on me even as he licked my cock a second time. I breathed in short pants and my fingers tangled into his hair.

  “You like it?” he asked, amusement and tender understand vying for priority on his face.

  “This is why you wanted me clean?” I asked, trembling but not from the cold.

  “It is, this and more but we’ll start with this and see where we go from here,” Robin said. He licked again. “You can hold my head, I can take quite a lot, but I’m out of practice so try not to force yourself too deep this first time.”