Denial II, chapter 32: Breaking In
Title: Denial II, chapter 32: Breaking In
Author: wastingyourgum
Characters/Pairings: Legrand/Little John, Little John/Eleanor
Rating: NC17
Genre: slash
Words: 3700
Disclaimer: BBC & TA own; we just want to play in their universe
Notes: Beta'd by jagnikjen & robinfanatic; takes place after AU 2x13 but prior to 3x01
Introduction and chapter links for Denial II are here...
Summary: Eleanor finds new duties for some of the men in her household...
Chapter 32: Breaking In
by wastingyourgum
>>>---------------->>
Legrand tugged at his tunic to straighten it as he walked briskly towards the small stables on the western side of Poitiers.
He loved riding and had done since he was a boy. Many of his comrades were amazed to hear his booming laugh as he charged into battle, thinking it was the fighting he enjoyed, when he was simply taking delight in the moments of giving his horse full rein. He knew the queen also loved to ride and hoped she had requested him to ride out with her today but as he drew closer he could see only one horse standing by the mounting steps.
He recognised it instantly as the queen's favourite white mare. A groom stood by its head holding its reins. The queen herself was standing by the stable door, speaking to a courtier who she dismissed as Legrand approached. A couple of guards also stood nearby to instantly defend the queen from any threat but still at a discrete enough distance so as to be unobtrusive - just as Legrand had trained them.
Eleanor smiled warmly at him as he drew near. "Ah, Legrand..."
"You sent for me, Your Grace." He bowed low, then offered her his arm as she reached for it. They walked at a leisurely pace towards her mare, arm in arm.
"My son, Richard, has been kind enough to send me a new stallion. Unfortunately my other duties, and the fact that I am no longer as young as I like to think I am, mean that I will be unable to spend as much time in the saddle with him as I would like. I would very much appreciate it if you would make sure he is properly looked after."
Legrand's heart sank. Reduced to little better than a stable boy! He bit back his disappointment. "Of course, Your Grace. I would be honoured."
"I think grooming may be an issue - he's very high-spirited - but at least see he is well fed and watered. He's in the last stall on the left." She climbed the stone steps by the stable door then motioned for Legrand to help her up into the saddle and he did so, making sure she was well seated before stepping down himself.
"I know you must think this is beneath you, Legrand..." She held her hand up as he started his false protestation. "but I hope you will appreciate it. I know this is a love we share." She started to head off and he bowed low then turned to the building behind him.
"Oh and Legrand?"
He halted and faced her again. She wore a broad smile and he took some comfort from knowing he was pleasing her with his service, no matter how menial the task she assigned to him.
"You have my full permission to ride him yourself - but be sure you don't tire him out in case I find I do have some time for him."
"Of course, Your Grace." He bowed again and she tugged the reins of the mare back toward the palace and headed off at a gentle walk, the groom keeping pace alongside her and the guards following close behind.
As he headed back into the stables Legrand realised he'd not even thought to ask the animal's name. Perhaps the other groom could tell him - Legrand could hear him inside, whistling over the sound of tack jingling.
Last stall on the left... He noticed the other stalls were all empty as he passed, but the queen had several stables and a lot of the castle's working horses would already be in the field. He peered round the stall door... and laughed till he thought he might cry.
"What?" John stopped lifting the armfuls of tack from the wall and looked at him like he'd gone mad.
There wasn't another man or beast in the whole building.
-----
John regarded his former companion with a wary eye. He'd hardly seen him for days and now apparently there was something Legrand found very amusing about John finding some honest work to do in return for his bed and board.
Legrand wiped his eyes. "What are you doing here, John?"
"Let me guess - you wouldn't have come in if you'd known I was here?" John said darkly. "The queen asked if I could help move all the equipment out of here - she said she'd thought of something better she could use these stables for. Don't worry - I'm nearly done and then I'll get out of your way... Come to think of it - why are you here?"
"Her Grace asked me to take care of something for her."
"Well let me gather up this stuff and you can get right on doing that and go back to not even giving me the time of day," John huffed.
Legrand sighed as John barged past him and started dumping the harnesses into a large barrow, already half-filled. "John--"
"I'll just be a minute. You can wait outside."
"John--"
John turned on him and grabbed the front of his tunic, pushing him up against the stall. "What? What's so important that you can be bothered to speak to me after all this time? Carter stopped putting out?"
"John--"
"Well?"
"John - I think you may just have nailed me to the wall," Legrand weakly replied.
"What?" John let go of Legrand's front in confusion as he stepped away from the wall. One of the long hooks that had been holding the harnesses was now holding part of the back of Legrand's tunic and the sharp spike on the end of it was red with blood.
"Damn!" John swore as he looked at the neatly pierced hole in Legrand's back. "Here." He started tugging Legrand's tunic off, making him wince in pain. "I'll get some clean water - wait there."
He grabbed a bucket he had only recently filled and helped Legrand lift off his shirt before washing and inspecting the wound. "It's not too bad - not deep at all. That spike doesn't look too rusty either - must be well polished having all those harnesses taken on and off it." John suddenly realised he had both his hands on Legrand's bare back and hastily removed them. "You, er, you should probably get the physician to put a proper dressing on it though."
"Thank you." Legrand didn't turn round. "I suppose you think it's only fair that I also get stabbed in the back, n'est-ce-pas?"
"Was that what you were doing to Carter?" John said bitterly.
"No. I was using Carter to try and feel better about not having you," Legrand replied, as if that was a reasonable explanation.
John was furious. He grabbed Legrand's shoulder, spun him round and punched him in the face. Legrand staggered back a few steps and sat down heavily on the floor, clutching his chin.
"You had me!" John roared. "And I didn't know that had changed until we got here and you started treating me like a bloody leper."
"I never had you, John," Legrand said slowly as he got to his feet. "You forgave me and you trusted me but you never let me in. You were just biding your time until you could go back to having nice, uncomplicated, natural sex like you're used to and stop worrying about burning in hell."
John stared at him, slack-jawed with amazement. "I've never been that intimate with another man. What the hell did you think that was?"
"I think I'd have had a better idea what to call it if you'd paid me," Legrand spat.
"What? You think I was using you? You wanted it too - you wanted it more."
"Yes, I did. And you knew that and still you gave me practically nothing back. If that wasn't using me then tell me what all those times of me getting you off really were."
"I... touched you," John protested.
"Yes, you did, and it was wonderful every time. Right up until I saw the look in your eyes afterwards, like you wanted to chop your hand off."
Legrand had been closing the distance between them as he spoke and John now found he was the one backed up against the wall. He turned his head to check there were no hooks on this section and when he turned back Legrand was right in his face.
"It's - it's not like that," John stammered.
"Isn't it?" Legrand's hand shot out and he cupped John through his leggings. "Come on, John, tell me why I'm not your unpaid whore." He started slowly rubbing John through the soft material.
John gasped as he felt himself responding to Legrand's touch. "I... It's--"
Legrand nodded in disgust and dropped his hand to his side. "I'm sorry I stopped speaking to you, John. It was selfish of me. I just wanted a clean break because I knew once you were the queen's lover I could no longer have you. But maybe I was the one being had all along."
"Guillaume--"
"I thought maybe now you could be mine as well as hers... but you'll never be mine." Legrand turned away sadly and reached down for his shirt. As he pulled it on over his head and straightened up, John wrapped his arms around him.
Legrand didn't move. "Let me go, John."
"No."
"John--"
John released Legrand's arms but grabbed his shoulders and turned Legrand round to face him. "Someone said to me recently that at our age life is too short to play games." John sighed. "I don't want to play games any more, Guillaume. I'm sorry if you think that's what I've been doing with you." He pulled Legrand towards him. As their lips met Legrand made a soft noise of protest and tried to pull away but John's fingers dug firmly into his shoulders.
John broke the kiss but only moved his head far enough away that he could focus on Legrand's face. "Ask me what you asked me on the boat."
"Do you trust me?" Legrand quietly replied.
"Yes... Now ask me what you really want to ask me."
"Do you... do you love me?" Legrand's voice dropped to a whisper as if afraid of the answer but hoping against hope.
John made sure he was looking straight into the grey-blue eyes in front of him. "Yes, Guillaume, I love you. It scares the hell out of me and I've been denying it for ages but I do love you... I'm sorry for--"
John's next words were lost into Legrand's lips as he suddenly seized John's head in his hands and kissed him.
John dropped his hands to Legrand's waist and pulled their bodies close together as he gave in completely to the need he'd been denying for too long. Legrand's hands were in his hair, on his arse, clutching at his back; his lips desperately kissing him as if he needed John's breath to breathe himself. John returned the kisses with equal passion, not caring any more what was right or proper or sinful, just knowing he wanted it.
They broke apart, hands fumbling at each other's clothes.
"God, I've missed you so much, John," Legrand panted. "I couldn't even look at you without thinking of that night in Acre."
"I've missed you too - I tried to pretend I didn't, but it didn't work," John admitted. He had no hesitation in pushing his hand down the front of Legrand's leggings as soon as he'd loosened them.
"Uhhh..." Legrand groaned and his eyes rolled back in his head. "N-Not here... hay loft..." he gasped. He jerked his head over his shoulder towards the ladder leading up to the upper platform of the stables.
"You expect me to climb a ladder when you've just got me this hard?" John growled, taking Legrand's hand and placing it on his crotch.
Legrand kissed him again and grinned against his mouth. "I'll have the same problem, I promise you."
"Better get your arse up there quick then."
Legrand took the ladder two rungs at a time with John following close behind him. When he reached the top Legrand leaned over and helped pull John up over the edge of the platform and into his arms. They fell backwards into the hay, laughing and kissing as their hands resumed the removal of clothes.
It was only as he pulled his shirt off and he felt the heat of Legrand's long body pressed against his, John realised that they had never been completely naked together. He felt a rush of panic at the thought - which Legrand must have noticed.
"Are you all right?"
John nodded. "I... I just--"
"What?" Legrand leaned back. "Too quick? Too much? Should I stop?"
John looked at the honest concern in Legrand's eyes and relaxed. "No. It's nothing. Don't stop - please. I just..." He shrugged. "It's a lot to take in. I love you - and I've no idea how it happened but I wouldn't change it for the world."
Legrand smiled. Not his usual grin but a slow, wide, genuine smile. "John?"
"Yes?"
"Je t'aime aussi." Legrand pulled him close and John needed no translation...
>>-------------------->
John lay on his back, satiated and sleepy, with his hands behind his head, his eyes closed and a contented smile on his face.
He licked his lips thoughtfully. A lot to take in, indeed... Using his mouth that way on another man hadn't been nearly so bad as he had feared it might be. Not exactly enjoyable but Legrand had left him in no doubt that what he was doing was being well received. If he'd managed to make Legrand feel half as good as he himself was feeling right now, he'd take - and give - that any day.
Legrand lay alongside John, turned towards him, propped up on his elbow with one hand supporting his head and the other draped over John's stomach. "She was right. Grooming is definitely going to be an issue." He reached up and picked a bit of straw out of John's hair.
John's eyes drowsily blinked open to find Legrand grinning down at him. "What? Who was? And I was perfectly presentable until you showed up," he protested. "Just a bit sweaty from moving all that tack around."
"Mmmmm." Legrand murmured his agreement as he leaned over and playfully kissed John's chest. "You don't like riding, do you? I got that impression on the way here."
"No, I only do it when I have to. I don't really get on that well with horses. I suppose I'm too used to being chased by them rather than than being the one on top."
"That's a shame. There are some fine destriers here that you would look very handsome on."
John laughed. "For about a minute! Than I'd look not so handsome when they threw me to the ground and trotted off. You need to be practically born in the saddle to tame one of those things."
Legrand smiled happily. "It's amazing what you can tame if you're persistent enough."
"Like bears, for example," came a female voice.
Both men scrambled to their feet, clutching at whatever item of clothing came to hand, as Eleanor suddenly appeared at the top of the ladder behind them.
"Oh please, I first saw you naked when you were three years old, Legrand, and the sun hasn't even set since the last time I saw all of John." She grinned mischievously at the pair of them as they both blushed furiously.
John felt his mouth go dry and his stomach turn to ice water as Eleanor slowly finished climbing the ladder and walked towards them.
Oh God, she may as well have seen me on my knees in front of him... She's going to kill me... have me killed... and Legrand too... What the hell was I thinking? "Your Grace. We, uhh, we were... tired after moving all that equipment and... we thought we'd have a nap and it was quite hot so..." John's voice ground to a halt in the face of her amused expression.
"You really are a terrible liar, John. It's very sweet." She turned to Legrand. "I'm glad to see you following my instructions, Legrand. I hope you put as much devotion into your new duties as I know you have done for others in the past."
He bowed. "It has always been both a pleasure and an honour to serve you, Your Grace."
"Slightly more of a pleasure recently, I trust?" she chuckled.
"Very much so, Milady."
John looked at them, sure he was missing some vital part of the conversation though both were speaking in English which could only be for his benefit. "You're... not angry?"
Eleanor looped her arm through John's as he continued to hold his jacket in front of him. She surreptitiously leaned back to enjoy the view and then winked at Legrand who struggled to keep a straight face. "Of course not, John, although I am absolutely exhausted after climbing that ladder. Would you mind if I sat down for a moment?" She was already doing so as she spoke, dragging John down beside her. "Legrand, would you fetch us some water?"
"Of course, Your Grace." He hesitated as he realised she'd just sat down on his clothes then shrugged and backed away to the top of the ladder. He leaned over and looked out of the stable doors. There were two guards about thirty yards away, facing away from the stables. Legrand knew as a Guard himself they would happily stand there and not turn round until the world ended unless they were ordered to do so. Their presence would also discourage anybody else from coming too near.
He carefully stepped down the first few rungs, still clutching what he discovered to be John's shirt then, once he was sure his waist was below the level of the hay loft, he dropped the shirt and used both hands for the rest of the descent.
Eleanor loosened the neck of her dress slightly as John stared at a fixed point on the wall. "There's not much that happens within my borders that I'm not aware of, John, particularly when it concerns people I love. Legrand has been in my service for many years and has become a very dear friend of mine as his father was before him. He has been exemplary in his duties since returning, as he always has been, but he has also been miserable and I couldn't have that. Especially not when it is in my power to do something about it. "
John slowly turned to look at her. She already knew?
"I am not at all jealous or disapproving of any affection between you - in fact, I have given it my blessing. That's why I arranged for you both to meet here today. One of his new duties is to make sure you are happy. I would consider it a great favour to me if you were to do the same for him."
John regarded her in awe. "You are the most... generous, wise and remarkable woman I have ever met, Your Grace."
She lightly pushed her fingers against his chest and forced him back against the straw, putting his arm around her as she joined him. She slyly slipped her small hand under the jacket covering John's modesty, making him catch his breath. "It is well there is enough of you to share though, isn't it?"
They both looked round as a large pitcher of water was shakily deposited on the floor above the ladder with a gentle thump.
"You may join us, Legrand." Eleanor called over and a moment later his blond head appeared over the edge of the loft. He raised his eyebrows at the position of her hand and smiled as he saw the discomfort on John's face. He clambered up over the top of the ladder and placed the pitcher in front of them. John's shirt was now carefully tied around his waist as a makeshift pair of braies.
"If Your Grace has no further need of me..." He stood back and clasped his hands behind his back as if he was on parade.
"I think I have everything in hand here, Legrand," Eleanor laughed as John stared at her in mute shock. "You may go."
Legrand gestured to John to throw him his clothes. John dragged them out from underneath himself and the queen and tossed them over as Legrand headed for the ladder.
"Legrand?" Eleanor stopped him just as he stepped on to it.
"Yes, Your Grace?"
"Thank you. It's a great comfort to me to know I can trust you with the things my heart most treasures."
Legrand nodded. "Il est facile. Il est précieux à mon coeur également, ma Reine."
He vanished into the stables below.
"What did he say?" John asked.
"I think you already know, John. You are a very lucky man."
"Many, many times over, Your Grace."
"Ah?"
"Eleanor." He smiled, remembering her instructions for when they were alone.
John looked up at a soft whistle from below as his shirt came sailing up over the edge of the loft to land beside them. They heard the stable door gently close as Legrand left, then heard him bellowing a dismissal to the guards as he took up watch himself.
John sat up and pulled his shirt towards him.
Eleanor frowned at the scratches on his back. "The straw is much more uncomfortable than I remember it being when I was younger," she said.
"It's all right if you're lying on something soft... like that lovely dress for example." John suddenly leaned over her, grabbed her waist and pulled her towards him.
She laughed. "Whoa, boy! Do I need to get some reins from downstairs?"
"Planning on breaking me in?" he grinned.
"No, John, I think I like you a little bit wild and untamed." She gasped and arched into him as he started kissing at her neck and shoulder.
"You probably have somewhere much more important to be, don't you?" he mumbled into her skin.
Eleanor leaned back and looked deep into his eyes. "Nothing is more important than this right now, John. Wild horses couldn't drag me away..."
Author: wastingyourgum
Characters/Pairings: Legrand/Little John, Little John/Eleanor
Rating: NC17
Genre: slash
Words: 3700
Disclaimer: BBC & TA own; we just want to play in their universe
Notes: Beta'd by jagnikjen & robinfanatic; takes place after AU 2x13 but prior to 3x01
Introduction and chapter links for Denial II are here...
Summary: Eleanor finds new duties for some of the men in her household...
Chapter 32: Breaking In
by wastingyourgum
>>>---------------->>
Legrand tugged at his tunic to straighten it as he walked briskly towards the small stables on the western side of Poitiers.
He loved riding and had done since he was a boy. Many of his comrades were amazed to hear his booming laugh as he charged into battle, thinking it was the fighting he enjoyed, when he was simply taking delight in the moments of giving his horse full rein. He knew the queen also loved to ride and hoped she had requested him to ride out with her today but as he drew closer he could see only one horse standing by the mounting steps.
He recognised it instantly as the queen's favourite white mare. A groom stood by its head holding its reins. The queen herself was standing by the stable door, speaking to a courtier who she dismissed as Legrand approached. A couple of guards also stood nearby to instantly defend the queen from any threat but still at a discrete enough distance so as to be unobtrusive - just as Legrand had trained them.
Eleanor smiled warmly at him as he drew near. "Ah, Legrand..."
"You sent for me, Your Grace." He bowed low, then offered her his arm as she reached for it. They walked at a leisurely pace towards her mare, arm in arm.
"My son, Richard, has been kind enough to send me a new stallion. Unfortunately my other duties, and the fact that I am no longer as young as I like to think I am, mean that I will be unable to spend as much time in the saddle with him as I would like. I would very much appreciate it if you would make sure he is properly looked after."
Legrand's heart sank. Reduced to little better than a stable boy! He bit back his disappointment. "Of course, Your Grace. I would be honoured."
"I think grooming may be an issue - he's very high-spirited - but at least see he is well fed and watered. He's in the last stall on the left." She climbed the stone steps by the stable door then motioned for Legrand to help her up into the saddle and he did so, making sure she was well seated before stepping down himself.
"I know you must think this is beneath you, Legrand..." She held her hand up as he started his false protestation. "but I hope you will appreciate it. I know this is a love we share." She started to head off and he bowed low then turned to the building behind him.
"Oh and Legrand?"
He halted and faced her again. She wore a broad smile and he took some comfort from knowing he was pleasing her with his service, no matter how menial the task she assigned to him.
"You have my full permission to ride him yourself - but be sure you don't tire him out in case I find I do have some time for him."
"Of course, Your Grace." He bowed again and she tugged the reins of the mare back toward the palace and headed off at a gentle walk, the groom keeping pace alongside her and the guards following close behind.
As he headed back into the stables Legrand realised he'd not even thought to ask the animal's name. Perhaps the other groom could tell him - Legrand could hear him inside, whistling over the sound of tack jingling.
Last stall on the left... He noticed the other stalls were all empty as he passed, but the queen had several stables and a lot of the castle's working horses would already be in the field. He peered round the stall door... and laughed till he thought he might cry.
"What?" John stopped lifting the armfuls of tack from the wall and looked at him like he'd gone mad.
There wasn't another man or beast in the whole building.
-----
John regarded his former companion with a wary eye. He'd hardly seen him for days and now apparently there was something Legrand found very amusing about John finding some honest work to do in return for his bed and board.
Legrand wiped his eyes. "What are you doing here, John?"
"Let me guess - you wouldn't have come in if you'd known I was here?" John said darkly. "The queen asked if I could help move all the equipment out of here - she said she'd thought of something better she could use these stables for. Don't worry - I'm nearly done and then I'll get out of your way... Come to think of it - why are you here?"
"Her Grace asked me to take care of something for her."
"Well let me gather up this stuff and you can get right on doing that and go back to not even giving me the time of day," John huffed.
Legrand sighed as John barged past him and started dumping the harnesses into a large barrow, already half-filled. "John--"
"I'll just be a minute. You can wait outside."
"John--"
John turned on him and grabbed the front of his tunic, pushing him up against the stall. "What? What's so important that you can be bothered to speak to me after all this time? Carter stopped putting out?"
"John--"
"Well?"
"John - I think you may just have nailed me to the wall," Legrand weakly replied.
"What?" John let go of Legrand's front in confusion as he stepped away from the wall. One of the long hooks that had been holding the harnesses was now holding part of the back of Legrand's tunic and the sharp spike on the end of it was red with blood.
"Damn!" John swore as he looked at the neatly pierced hole in Legrand's back. "Here." He started tugging Legrand's tunic off, making him wince in pain. "I'll get some clean water - wait there."
He grabbed a bucket he had only recently filled and helped Legrand lift off his shirt before washing and inspecting the wound. "It's not too bad - not deep at all. That spike doesn't look too rusty either - must be well polished having all those harnesses taken on and off it." John suddenly realised he had both his hands on Legrand's bare back and hastily removed them. "You, er, you should probably get the physician to put a proper dressing on it though."
"Thank you." Legrand didn't turn round. "I suppose you think it's only fair that I also get stabbed in the back, n'est-ce-pas?"
"Was that what you were doing to Carter?" John said bitterly.
"No. I was using Carter to try and feel better about not having you," Legrand replied, as if that was a reasonable explanation.
John was furious. He grabbed Legrand's shoulder, spun him round and punched him in the face. Legrand staggered back a few steps and sat down heavily on the floor, clutching his chin.
"You had me!" John roared. "And I didn't know that had changed until we got here and you started treating me like a bloody leper."
"I never had you, John," Legrand said slowly as he got to his feet. "You forgave me and you trusted me but you never let me in. You were just biding your time until you could go back to having nice, uncomplicated, natural sex like you're used to and stop worrying about burning in hell."
John stared at him, slack-jawed with amazement. "I've never been that intimate with another man. What the hell did you think that was?"
"I think I'd have had a better idea what to call it if you'd paid me," Legrand spat.
"What? You think I was using you? You wanted it too - you wanted it more."
"Yes, I did. And you knew that and still you gave me practically nothing back. If that wasn't using me then tell me what all those times of me getting you off really were."
"I... touched you," John protested.
"Yes, you did, and it was wonderful every time. Right up until I saw the look in your eyes afterwards, like you wanted to chop your hand off."
Legrand had been closing the distance between them as he spoke and John now found he was the one backed up against the wall. He turned his head to check there were no hooks on this section and when he turned back Legrand was right in his face.
"It's - it's not like that," John stammered.
"Isn't it?" Legrand's hand shot out and he cupped John through his leggings. "Come on, John, tell me why I'm not your unpaid whore." He started slowly rubbing John through the soft material.
John gasped as he felt himself responding to Legrand's touch. "I... It's--"
Legrand nodded in disgust and dropped his hand to his side. "I'm sorry I stopped speaking to you, John. It was selfish of me. I just wanted a clean break because I knew once you were the queen's lover I could no longer have you. But maybe I was the one being had all along."
"Guillaume--"
"I thought maybe now you could be mine as well as hers... but you'll never be mine." Legrand turned away sadly and reached down for his shirt. As he pulled it on over his head and straightened up, John wrapped his arms around him.
Legrand didn't move. "Let me go, John."
"No."
"John--"
John released Legrand's arms but grabbed his shoulders and turned Legrand round to face him. "Someone said to me recently that at our age life is too short to play games." John sighed. "I don't want to play games any more, Guillaume. I'm sorry if you think that's what I've been doing with you." He pulled Legrand towards him. As their lips met Legrand made a soft noise of protest and tried to pull away but John's fingers dug firmly into his shoulders.
John broke the kiss but only moved his head far enough away that he could focus on Legrand's face. "Ask me what you asked me on the boat."
"Do you trust me?" Legrand quietly replied.
"Yes... Now ask me what you really want to ask me."
"Do you... do you love me?" Legrand's voice dropped to a whisper as if afraid of the answer but hoping against hope.
John made sure he was looking straight into the grey-blue eyes in front of him. "Yes, Guillaume, I love you. It scares the hell out of me and I've been denying it for ages but I do love you... I'm sorry for--"
John's next words were lost into Legrand's lips as he suddenly seized John's head in his hands and kissed him.
John dropped his hands to Legrand's waist and pulled their bodies close together as he gave in completely to the need he'd been denying for too long. Legrand's hands were in his hair, on his arse, clutching at his back; his lips desperately kissing him as if he needed John's breath to breathe himself. John returned the kisses with equal passion, not caring any more what was right or proper or sinful, just knowing he wanted it.
They broke apart, hands fumbling at each other's clothes.
"God, I've missed you so much, John," Legrand panted. "I couldn't even look at you without thinking of that night in Acre."
"I've missed you too - I tried to pretend I didn't, but it didn't work," John admitted. He had no hesitation in pushing his hand down the front of Legrand's leggings as soon as he'd loosened them.
"Uhhh..." Legrand groaned and his eyes rolled back in his head. "N-Not here... hay loft..." he gasped. He jerked his head over his shoulder towards the ladder leading up to the upper platform of the stables.
"You expect me to climb a ladder when you've just got me this hard?" John growled, taking Legrand's hand and placing it on his crotch.
Legrand kissed him again and grinned against his mouth. "I'll have the same problem, I promise you."
"Better get your arse up there quick then."
Legrand took the ladder two rungs at a time with John following close behind him. When he reached the top Legrand leaned over and helped pull John up over the edge of the platform and into his arms. They fell backwards into the hay, laughing and kissing as their hands resumed the removal of clothes.
It was only as he pulled his shirt off and he felt the heat of Legrand's long body pressed against his, John realised that they had never been completely naked together. He felt a rush of panic at the thought - which Legrand must have noticed.
"Are you all right?"
John nodded. "I... I just--"
"What?" Legrand leaned back. "Too quick? Too much? Should I stop?"
John looked at the honest concern in Legrand's eyes and relaxed. "No. It's nothing. Don't stop - please. I just..." He shrugged. "It's a lot to take in. I love you - and I've no idea how it happened but I wouldn't change it for the world."
Legrand smiled. Not his usual grin but a slow, wide, genuine smile. "John?"
"Yes?"
"Je t'aime aussi." Legrand pulled him close and John needed no translation...
>>-------------------->
John lay on his back, satiated and sleepy, with his hands behind his head, his eyes closed and a contented smile on his face.
He licked his lips thoughtfully. A lot to take in, indeed... Using his mouth that way on another man hadn't been nearly so bad as he had feared it might be. Not exactly enjoyable but Legrand had left him in no doubt that what he was doing was being well received. If he'd managed to make Legrand feel half as good as he himself was feeling right now, he'd take - and give - that any day.
Legrand lay alongside John, turned towards him, propped up on his elbow with one hand supporting his head and the other draped over John's stomach. "She was right. Grooming is definitely going to be an issue." He reached up and picked a bit of straw out of John's hair.
John's eyes drowsily blinked open to find Legrand grinning down at him. "What? Who was? And I was perfectly presentable until you showed up," he protested. "Just a bit sweaty from moving all that tack around."
"Mmmmm." Legrand murmured his agreement as he leaned over and playfully kissed John's chest. "You don't like riding, do you? I got that impression on the way here."
"No, I only do it when I have to. I don't really get on that well with horses. I suppose I'm too used to being chased by them rather than than being the one on top."
"That's a shame. There are some fine destriers here that you would look very handsome on."
John laughed. "For about a minute! Than I'd look not so handsome when they threw me to the ground and trotted off. You need to be practically born in the saddle to tame one of those things."
Legrand smiled happily. "It's amazing what you can tame if you're persistent enough."
"Like bears, for example," came a female voice.
Both men scrambled to their feet, clutching at whatever item of clothing came to hand, as Eleanor suddenly appeared at the top of the ladder behind them.
"Oh please, I first saw you naked when you were three years old, Legrand, and the sun hasn't even set since the last time I saw all of John." She grinned mischievously at the pair of them as they both blushed furiously.
John felt his mouth go dry and his stomach turn to ice water as Eleanor slowly finished climbing the ladder and walked towards them.
Oh God, she may as well have seen me on my knees in front of him... She's going to kill me... have me killed... and Legrand too... What the hell was I thinking? "Your Grace. We, uhh, we were... tired after moving all that equipment and... we thought we'd have a nap and it was quite hot so..." John's voice ground to a halt in the face of her amused expression.
"You really are a terrible liar, John. It's very sweet." She turned to Legrand. "I'm glad to see you following my instructions, Legrand. I hope you put as much devotion into your new duties as I know you have done for others in the past."
He bowed. "It has always been both a pleasure and an honour to serve you, Your Grace."
"Slightly more of a pleasure recently, I trust?" she chuckled.
"Very much so, Milady."
John looked at them, sure he was missing some vital part of the conversation though both were speaking in English which could only be for his benefit. "You're... not angry?"
Eleanor looped her arm through John's as he continued to hold his jacket in front of him. She surreptitiously leaned back to enjoy the view and then winked at Legrand who struggled to keep a straight face. "Of course not, John, although I am absolutely exhausted after climbing that ladder. Would you mind if I sat down for a moment?" She was already doing so as she spoke, dragging John down beside her. "Legrand, would you fetch us some water?"
"Of course, Your Grace." He hesitated as he realised she'd just sat down on his clothes then shrugged and backed away to the top of the ladder. He leaned over and looked out of the stable doors. There were two guards about thirty yards away, facing away from the stables. Legrand knew as a Guard himself they would happily stand there and not turn round until the world ended unless they were ordered to do so. Their presence would also discourage anybody else from coming too near.
He carefully stepped down the first few rungs, still clutching what he discovered to be John's shirt then, once he was sure his waist was below the level of the hay loft, he dropped the shirt and used both hands for the rest of the descent.
Eleanor loosened the neck of her dress slightly as John stared at a fixed point on the wall. "There's not much that happens within my borders that I'm not aware of, John, particularly when it concerns people I love. Legrand has been in my service for many years and has become a very dear friend of mine as his father was before him. He has been exemplary in his duties since returning, as he always has been, but he has also been miserable and I couldn't have that. Especially not when it is in my power to do something about it. "
John slowly turned to look at her. She already knew?
"I am not at all jealous or disapproving of any affection between you - in fact, I have given it my blessing. That's why I arranged for you both to meet here today. One of his new duties is to make sure you are happy. I would consider it a great favour to me if you were to do the same for him."
John regarded her in awe. "You are the most... generous, wise and remarkable woman I have ever met, Your Grace."
She lightly pushed her fingers against his chest and forced him back against the straw, putting his arm around her as she joined him. She slyly slipped her small hand under the jacket covering John's modesty, making him catch his breath. "It is well there is enough of you to share though, isn't it?"
They both looked round as a large pitcher of water was shakily deposited on the floor above the ladder with a gentle thump.
"You may join us, Legrand." Eleanor called over and a moment later his blond head appeared over the edge of the loft. He raised his eyebrows at the position of her hand and smiled as he saw the discomfort on John's face. He clambered up over the top of the ladder and placed the pitcher in front of them. John's shirt was now carefully tied around his waist as a makeshift pair of braies.
"If Your Grace has no further need of me..." He stood back and clasped his hands behind his back as if he was on parade.
"I think I have everything in hand here, Legrand," Eleanor laughed as John stared at her in mute shock. "You may go."
Legrand gestured to John to throw him his clothes. John dragged them out from underneath himself and the queen and tossed them over as Legrand headed for the ladder.
"Legrand?" Eleanor stopped him just as he stepped on to it.
"Yes, Your Grace?"
"Thank you. It's a great comfort to me to know I can trust you with the things my heart most treasures."
Legrand nodded. "Il est facile. Il est précieux à mon coeur également, ma Reine."
He vanished into the stables below.
"What did he say?" John asked.
"I think you already know, John. You are a very lucky man."
"Many, many times over, Your Grace."
"Ah?"
"Eleanor." He smiled, remembering her instructions for when they were alone.
John looked up at a soft whistle from below as his shirt came sailing up over the edge of the loft to land beside them. They heard the stable door gently close as Legrand left, then heard him bellowing a dismissal to the guards as he took up watch himself.
John sat up and pulled his shirt towards him.
Eleanor frowned at the scratches on his back. "The straw is much more uncomfortable than I remember it being when I was younger," she said.
"It's all right if you're lying on something soft... like that lovely dress for example." John suddenly leaned over her, grabbed her waist and pulled her towards him.
She laughed. "Whoa, boy! Do I need to get some reins from downstairs?"
"Planning on breaking me in?" he grinned.
"No, John, I think I like you a little bit wild and untamed." She gasped and arched into him as he started kissing at her neck and shoulder.
"You probably have somewhere much more important to be, don't you?" he mumbled into her skin.
Eleanor leaned back and looked deep into his eyes. "Nothing is more important than this right now, John. Wild horses couldn't drag me away..."