Like the Tide, 2/?templemarkerJuly 1 2011, 23:50:59 UTC
Esca ran a hand along his brow and flicked the sweat away with agile fingers. Marcus couldn't help but follow the motion; he had never been one to look away from Esca.
With a seemingly careless motion, Marcus stripped the tunic from his own back and threw it atop Esca's own, earning him an approving look and the quick dart of Esca's tongue around the bow of his lips. Marcus didn't remove his shoes, however; no Roman went unshod on his own land. Sighing, but smiling, he picked up his tool and began to till again. They needed to keep finish this work today, if they were to have a day of rest tomorrow.
Esca, tireless, hacked away himself, pulling at weeds and digging into the dark supple soil with his brown hands. Marcus couldn't help but watch a bead of sweat drag along the column of Esca's spine, slowly following down. It was as if Esca knew Marcus was looking at him, as if he bent and flexed with purpose to drag Marcus from his work and focus on the slope of Esca's back, the spray of freckles across his shoulder. Marcus knew every part of him, from the frantic exploration atop a horse blanket in the hills of the North to the slow, fire-drenched coupling of their first days in their bothy, on their land, their home.
And yet, the man could catch him with no more than a flash of skin and a knowing look; Marcus shook his head free of lust and turned to his task again. He felt the late afternoon sun working on his back, brief respites as clouds passed overhead; he smelled the richness of fresh-turned earth; he felt a prickle on the back of his neck that meant Esca had turned his attention away from his work, and hid a smile of his own.
Re: Like the Tide, 2/?templemarkerJuly 24 2011, 21:34:40 UTC
This is wonderful. It's so rich with detail and gives you such a real sense of their life together. I hope you'll write more, but if not, this is snippet is fantastic and stands alone beautifully.
With a seemingly careless motion, Marcus stripped the tunic from his own back and threw it atop Esca's own, earning him an approving look and the quick dart of Esca's tongue around the bow of his lips. Marcus didn't remove his shoes, however; no Roman went unshod on his own land. Sighing, but smiling, he picked up his tool and began to till again. They needed to keep finish this work today, if they were to have a day of rest tomorrow.
Esca, tireless, hacked away himself, pulling at weeds and digging into the dark supple soil with his brown hands. Marcus couldn't help but watch a bead of sweat drag along the column of Esca's spine, slowly following down. It was as if Esca knew Marcus was looking at him, as if he bent and flexed with purpose to drag Marcus from his work and focus on the slope of Esca's back, the spray of freckles across his shoulder. Marcus knew every part of him, from the frantic exploration atop a horse blanket in the hills of the North to the slow, fire-drenched coupling of their first days in their bothy, on their land, their home.
And yet, the man could catch him with no more than a flash of skin and a knowing look; Marcus shook his head free of lust and turned to his task again. He felt the late afternoon sun working on his back, brief respites as clouds passed overhead; he smelled the richness of fresh-turned earth; he felt a prickle on the back of his neck that meant Esca had turned his attention away from his work, and hid a smile of his own.
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Also, would you mind reposting this part as a reply to part 1? That way when I link to it in the masterlist, all the parts will show up. Thanks!
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In the past I've threaded wips like this off the original prompt for ease of reading. If you'd prefer it, though, I can repost.
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Okay, you don't have to repost--I'll just link to it from the prompt. Looking forward to more :)
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