TheSoldiersScoundrel

by VictoriaVallo

  “That how I seem?” Adam asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Sorry,” he said softly.

  “No reason to be sorry. The contrast is … interesting.”

  “The contrast?”

  “Between this you and the guy who grabbed my cock three minutes after we met.”

  Adam looked into Bran’s eyes, his body stirring a little. “Just say the word and I’ll grab it again.”

  Bran chewed slowly, his expression hard to read in the firelight. After he swallowed, he said, “Your heart isn’t in it right now.”

  That was true, yet he couldn’t let this opportunity pass without making some effort. “My heart isn’t what needs to be in it.”

  Bran laughed. “I’m right, and you know it.”

  “You change your mind about me? It is a bit odd you’d come out here with me alone after turning me down.”

  “I’m here to help you. Nothing to do with us having sex.” He took another bite of his apple, chewing slowly. Then he said, “Besides, aggressive as you might be, you don’t seem likely to jump me.”

  Adam rolled his eyes, then chuckled. “Nope. Won’t do that.” He licked his lower lip. “Though maybe I could reward you if we’re successful.”

  “A reward, huh?”

  “Yes. A very big one.”

  Bran took another bite of his apple and chewed thoughtfully. Then, in a soft voice, he said, “I’ll think about it.”

  The gentle sound of his voice made it impossible for Adam to stay quiet. “What changed? It because I stopped trying so hard?”

  Bran looked away a moment before turning back. “The truth?”

  “Yes, please.”

  “You aren’t leaving as soon. I never said I didn’t want you. I said I didn’t want a one-night stand.”

  “You didn’t use those exact words, though.”

  “I know, but it’s what I meant.”

  “Hmmm.” Adam stood up and got out his bedroll. It was getting a bit shabby, but it would do for a few nights under the stars. “Nice to know there’s hope.”

  “Hope? It that important?”

  He glanced back at Bran before rolling the material out a few feet from the fire. “Some things are worth the wait.”

  “They are.” Bran stood and broke his apple core in half, tossing a piece to each of the horses. Then he pulled out his own bedroll and went to his spot on the other side of the fire. “Sleep well, Adam.”

  “You, too.”

  Adam lay back and stared up at the night sky. He felt sure Bran wouldn’t turn away if he moved over to lie beside the man, yet he stayed put, his mind whirling as he tried to plan their search.

  Chapter Three

  Bran woke when he heard voices, and he sat up to see one of the boys from the farm approaching with a woman who was likely his grandmother. Bran rose and dusted himself off, glad he didn’t have to rush to make himself decent.

  “Good morning,” he called.

  “Good morning to you, young man,” the woman said. She carried a frying pan, and the boy had a basket in each hand. “Thought you’d like some eggs. We have an abundance. Can’t even sell them all.”

  “Thank you very much,” Bran said, moving to help them. “I’m Bran. We’re on a mission from Castile.”

  “I’m Edna. Pleased to meet you.” She gave a little nod and then set her pan down on a large rock.

  “You’re one of the soldiers,” the boy said. “I’m Gus. You helped my brother mend the fence.”

  “Yes, I remember that. It holding up?”

  Gus nodded enthusiastically as he set his stuff down. Then he eyed Adam, who was still asleep. “He’s like my dad. Sleep through anything.”

  His grandmother reached into the basket and began setting up a little metal stand for the frying pan. Then she stirred the fire. “They’re probably tired. Don’t blame them.”

  “We’re actually pursuing my friend’s brother. A thief. He’s served his time, but Adam was supposed to escort him back home. He ran off, though. Roughly twenty-four hours ago.”

  “What’s he look like?” Edna asked.

  “Brown hair and eyes. He was wearing plain gray linen clothes, though he might’ve changed out of them to hide the fact he’d just come from prison. And he’s a bear shifter.”

  “Three lone men passed by yesterday. Two with dark hair. One blond. Plain clothes, as I recall, though hard to remember the color,” she said.

  Gus spoke up. “One wore a white shirt and gray trousers. The other was dressed all in black.”

  “It’s a start,” Bran said. “We have reason to believe he’d head north.”

  Adam rolled over and groaned. He rubbed his eyes as he sat up. “What’s going on?” he asked.

  “You’re sleeping when we have guests,” Bran said, smiling down at Adam and extending a hand to him.

  Adam’s eyes went wide as he let Bran help him up. “I’m so sorry, ma’am.”

  “No bother,” Edna said. “I’m Enda, and this is Gus.” She cracked an egg into the pan and reached for another. “Just came over with some breakfast.”

  “Thank you,” Adam said, blinking and then rubbing his eye again.

  “You sleep all right?” Bran asked.

  “Not really. I kept waking up.”

  “You have a lot on your mind.” Bran nodded to Edna and Gus. “A couple of men who might’ve been Garrick passed by yesterday.”

  “Good to know,” Adam said. “What time of day?”

  “The dark-haired guys were in the morning. Kind of late,” Gus said, squatting by the fire and watching the eggs fry. “Neither of them stopped. The blond man was in the afternoon.”

  “Did the men in the morning pass by about the same time?” Adam asked.

  “Maybe an hour apart. Or less,” Gus said.

  “One of them could’ve been him,” Adam said. He stretched and walked over to Beast, stroking the animal’s neck. His gaze went down the road as his fingers tapped on the horse’s neck lightly.

  Edna handed Gus two tin plates and began piling eggs on them. “You boys eat up.” Her gaze cut to Adam a moment. “Seems he’s ready to get on the road.”

  “Yes, he promised his mother to bring his brother home,” Bran said in a low voice.

  But based on the look Adam gave him as he walked over, he had in fact heard Bran. Adam looked at least a little more at peace, and the slight curve of his lips suggested he was pleased, though Bran couldn’t really be sure. Serious Adam was much harder to read than flirtatious Adam. Bran chatted with Edna as they ate quickly, and before long they were waving their farewell to their two hosts.

  “That was nice of them,” Adam said as they both turned to focus on the road.

  “Yes, the countryside surrounding Castile is full of good people. Seems a nice place to settle,” Bran said.

  “Tired of adventures?”

  Bran shook his head. “Just a thought.”

  A thought that lingered with him as they made their way down the road.

  * * * *

  Adam found Bran in the tavern at a table over in the corner. One of the tavern girls had just set down two mugs of ale, and Adam sighed at the sight. They’d been through two villages that day, questioning everyone who would give them a moment of time. Bran knew the tavern owner here, so they’d secured a room for the night. As he sat down, Adam once again thought how excited he’d be about their circumstances if it weren’t for Garrick’s idiocy. He’d wanted to share a room, and a bed, with Bran since they’d met, but as Bran had pointed out the night before, Adam’s heart truly wasn’t in it.

  Of course, that didn’t mean he’d turn the man down.

  “Thanks,” Adam said, hefting his ale and taking a huge gulp.

  “It’s thirsty work. I managed to get a few tips on the man in black. Some said he behaved oddly,” Bran said.

  Adam nodded. “Yes. Same here. A couple of men said he asked a lot of questions but avoided answering any. It could be him.” He took another long d
rink. “No word of the other man? Or anyone else fitting Garrick’s description?”

  “No. Nothing.”

  Adam stared down into his almost empty mug. “How far can you go with me?” He kept his eyes down until Bran reached over and tapped on his hand to get his attention.

  A serious look on his face, Bran said, “As far as you need. Your brother will hang on to my things, and if my troop leaves, I’ll follow them after we get back.”

  “That’s kind of you.” He paused. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Thank you will do it. I became a soldier to help. I don’t want a war or battles or glory. I want to do something useful.”

  “I don’t know how useful this mission is.”

  Bran leaned forward and whispered, “Maybe I’m after that reward.”

  Adam held his gaze and said, “But I didn’t offer it until we’d already set out.”

  Bran shrugged one shoulder and leaned back again. “Could be I had my eye on it already.”

  “You like to keep me guessing, don’t you? After our first conversation, I wouldn’t have expected this kind of teasing.”

  “Teasing? I thought I was flirting.” He finished his own ale. “I must be out of practice.”

  “No, it’s fine.” He cleared his throat. “I guess I want to know if you’re serious.”

  Bran fixed him with a steady look. “I’m no cock tease. It would’ve been stupid to come with you like this if I was set against anything happening between us.”

  “You ready to head up then?” Adam asked.

  “You tired?”

  “A little.”

  Bran slid a key over to Adam. “Top of the stairs. There’s a wooden star on the door to mark it. I’ll have one more ale. Say good night to my friend. Our bags are up there already.”

  “All right.” He rose and took the key. “You’ll be up soon?”

  “Count on it,” Bran said softly as he rose and brushed past Adam.

  Adam felt his body stir as he made his way upstairs. As he lit candles and looked around the room, he wondered how things would go. Bran seemed to have done an about face regarding them, but was it really because he hadn’t wanted a one-night stand? And did that then mean that now he wanted far more than one night or even a few nights? Did he imagine them spending weeks or even months together? He spoke of rejoining his troop, so that didn’t fit with him thinking of anything long term.

  Or would he take me along? Like a little wife keeping his tent clean and his shirts washed?

  Adam laughed, knowing that’s not quite how it would be. He removed his boots and lay back on the bed, very tired yet already growing hard at the thought of Bran touching him. His heart still might not be completely in it, so to speak, but he certainly felt some of that old fire coming back after Bran’s bit of encouragement down there.

  His eyes fluttered open when he felt something at his wrist, and he looked up as he realized he’d fallen asleep.

  Bran straddled him on the bed, doing something to his wrist. Adam tilted his head and saw he’d been bound to the bedposts. A surge of lust drove through him as he looked into Bran’s eyes. “What are you doing?” he whispered.

  “Forcing you to enjoy the pleasure I’m going to give you.” Bran cupped his cheek. “You’re tired, yet you need this. We can be inside each other another night.”

  Inside each other. I want that now. Adam’s cock was already half erect as Bran drew his trousers down his body. No one had ever undressed him before, and Adam found he liked the sensation. “You can take me, Bran. I prefer to be on top, but … I think I’d like you fucking me.”

  Bran ran his hands over Adam’s bare thighs. “You ever had a man inside you?”

  “Fingers. Never a cock.” He tilted his head and smiled. “Like I said, I prefer to top.”

  “Another night, little one.”

  Little one? “I’m not little, as you can see,” Adam said, licking his lips as Bran stripped his own shirt off and revealed all the hard muscles Adam had been fantasizing about.

  “It’s a term of endearment.” Bran leaned down and unbuttoned Adam’s shirt, baring his chest and running his warm hands over the flesh. “You’re beautiful.”

  Adam felt oddly embarrassed by the compliment. “So are you,” he said, his gaze moving over Bran’s body. He loved the dusting of dark hair here and there. “Can I see your cock?”

  Bran nodded and moved off the bed, shedding his trousers slowly and then moving back to straddle Adam. He stroked himself, his gaze locked on Adam’s face.

  Adam focused on Bran’s cock as he realized how different this was from every other sexual encounter he’d ever had. A tremor moved over his body, and Bran leaned down.

  “Don’t be afraid,” Bran said.

  Adam laughed, though even to his ears it sounded forced. “Afraid? Don’t be silly.”

  But then Bran kissed him, and he whimpered as he felt the truth of the man’s words. His heart thudded in his chest as that simple brush of lips resonated all over his body.

  * * * *

  Bran deepened the kiss as he felt the way it affected Adam. His hunger grew as Adam whimpered and then moaned. The desire he’d been repressing broke forth as he poured all of himself into that kiss. When they parted, the look in Adam’s eyes told him this was more than a seduction.

  I won’t make the mistakes I made before. If this proves as real and true as it feels now, I’ll give him everything. Bran kissed Adam again to keep from saying something sappy. He’d had many lovers, and it had always been good. But something about Adam called to him.

  The question, of course, would be whether he called to Adam in the same way. It was still possible Adam felt only lust, that his desire only came from the frustration of having been denied, though Bran hoped to banish that possibility by sunrise.

  Bran kissed his way down Adam’s body, setting a very slow pace so he could really feel and taste every inch of him. Adam giggled a few times, possibly because Bran’s beard was tickling his tender flesh as much as his tongue and lips were.

  “You always tie your lovers up?” Adam asked, his voice low and breathy.

  “First time. A man tied me up once, but I didn’t like it.” Bran lifted his gaze as he grasped Adam’s hips. “I think you like it.”

  “Learn something new,” Adam paused and sighed, “every day.”

  Bran laughed as he spread Adam’s thighs and cupped his balls. “Apparently so.” He massaged Adam’s sack and bent to suck his cock, first licking the head and then slowly taking the shaft in.

  Adam arched beneath him, pushing more of his cock into Bran’s mouth. Bran gripped his hips as he felt the tension moving through Adam’s body. While he wanted to draw things out, he also longed to give Adam release. The past two days had been long and tense for the younger man. Bran slid his fingers between Adam’s cheeks and gently massaged his hole as he took Adam’s cock to the back of his throat. Before long, Adam cried out and came for him, shooting a hot, thick load down his throat. Bran gagged a moment before swallowing it all down. He kissed his way back up Adam’s body and captured his mouth, sharing his sighs and matching his passion.

  Bran untied him, and he lowered his body over Adam’s when he felt Adam’s arms wrap around him. “I need to fuck that load out of you,” Adam said against his ear, his voice raw and needful as one hand moved down and gripped Bran’s cock.

  “Insistent, aren’t you,” Bran said, even as he rolled to his back and spread his legs for Adam.

  “Can’t help it. You’ve got me so worked up,” Adam said as he went to the dresser and returned with a small bottle of oil. He prepared Bran’s hole teasingly, making Bran’s cock leak with pre-cum. Then Adam oiled his own cock, which stood hard and ready once more, and wiped his hands.

  Bran held his knees and opened fully to Adam. He hadn’t planned for them to go this far, but he couldn’t help giving Adam what he seemed to need so much. They came together hurriedly, Adam keeping his eyes downcast at first. But th
en they looked at each other as Adam slowly took him. Bran watched him trembling again, and his own heart clenched. He clasped one of Adam’s hands to his chest as they both neared release.

  Bran came first, his cum spilling onto his stomach. Adam moaned deep in his throat as he filled Bran with his load. Then Adam hovered over him, panting and searching his face, seeming on the verge of saying something.

  “Adam?” Bran said softly.

  Adam opened his mouth, but then he seemed to change his mind. He kissed Bran gently before pulling out of him. He returned with a cloth and cleaned Bran up, though not until after he’d leaned over and licked some of the cum off Bran’s flesh, tracing over some of his muscles with his eager tongue.

  The silence that followed was heavy, though not awkward. Once they were settled in bed, Bran rolled to his side and said, “We’ll get a wake-up call at six, though the rooster should crow a good bit before then.”

  “I’ll sleep better tonight,” Adam said, burrowing under the blanket. “I’m properly tuckered out.”

  “Good. You need your sleep.”

  Silence ensued again. Now would usually be the time for promises and sweet words. For them to talk about what their coupling had meant, how it had changed both of them. But Bran sensed those kinds of words might shatter Adam’s calm, so he sighed and closed his eyes. He would rather say nothing than make Adam retreat from him.

  “Good night,” Bran said.

  “Night,” Adam whispered after a few seconds.

  When Adam’s breathing steadied, Bran opened his eyes again. Adam slept peacefully, and Bran watched him for a while, wondering if the feeling of being so connected to Adam would last.

  * * * *

  Adam woke just before the sun came up, and he faintly heard the rooster crowing as he sat up on the side of the bed and rubbed his eyes. He turned his head to watch Bran, who was still sleeping. Even though he’d been the one to fuck the handsome soldier, Adam felt as if he’d been claimed. He couldn’t help being unsettled by the new emotions.

  He rose from the bed and began to dress before walking down the hall to the water closet. The system looked ancient, perhaps barely a step or two removed from a chamber pot, but nothing crumbled or fell on his head after he relieved himself. Fresh water was in a jug on the table against the wall, and he filled the basin and washed his face quickly, the cool, crisp water helping to wake him up fully.