![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
simeon_josueWas this the result he’d hoped for? Josué could no longer say. The reality of Simeon bending above him, kissing him willingly—hungrily even—was enough to make all rational thought flee.
He’d explored every inch of Simeon’s body, but the abandon with which Simeon kissed him was new. There were no chains to hold him here, now that for once, it was Simeon who was in charge.
Simeon’s plan to deny the truth of Josué’s words had spectacularly failed, but Josué was too busy enjoying every single moment of Simeon’s overwhelmed hunger to gloat.
There were better things than gloating, after all—like the feeling of Simeon’s body against him and Simeon’s hard, large cock pressing against his trousers.
Josué freed them both, fingers shaking from impatience. He’d half feared that Simeon would come to his senses at this point and run again, but even though Simeon drew back a little, panting against his mouth, the sensation of hot skin against skin dragged a moan out of him.
Josué slung his arm around Simeon’s back, holding them together, and that was all the encouragement Simeon needed to grind against him. They rubbed against each other as Simeon moaned helplessly into his mouth, and Josué allowed his hand to slide lower, grabbing a handful of Simeon’s glorious backside and squeezing in encouragement.
Simeon was driven by instinct alone, with no thought for finesse, but the awkwardness of it made it even sweeter.
This was how it would have been if Josué had been smart enough to take Simeon into his bed, back when he’d been a recruit. This was how eager Simeon would have been if Josué had given him a taste of pleasure.
He couldn’t undo his negligence back then, but he could enjoy this moment, taking all Simeon offered—letting Simeon choose his own path. A path that would lead him back to Josué; there was no doubt about that in his mind now.
It was over all too quickly. Josué didn’t try to make it last; he didn’t think Simeon would be capable of it, and so they came within moments of each other. The sensation of Simeon’s strong body shaking in his arms was just as thrilling as it had always been, even with Simeon using his strength to press Josué back into the ground.
Josué didn’t release him, even after they had spilled against each other. The arm that had traveled down to Simeon’s backside now lightly came to rest across his back once more, although Josué doubted that he’d be able to hold Simeon in place against his will.
Fortunately, for now Simeon seemed too shocked to stir. He’d collapsed on top of Josué, his breath coming hard and fast against Josué’s cheek. When Josué turned his head a little, Simeon allowed himself to be kissed once more, his mouth parting eagerly for Josué before he finally seemed to remember what had come to pass.
Josué could feel Simeon’s body stiffen the moment the realization happened. Even the weight of Josué’s arm was no longer enough to hold Simeon back. Heat had risen to Simeon’s face, and he moved back, awkwardly averting his eyes as he cast around for a flannel to clean them off.
Josué took pity on him at last and pulled a handkerchief from his pocket to offer it to him. Simeon cleaned himself off without looking at him, and Josué found it impossible to hold back the smile tugging on his lips.
He knew Simeon would think that he was mocking him again, but that wasn’t why he was smiling. Josué hadn’t enjoyed himself so much in quite a while. And now they both knew the truth, even if Simeon refused to acknowledge it. Simeon could no longer pretend that Josué meant nothing to him.
By the time Tobie came back inside, they’d cleaned themselves up and had retreated to their respective sheepskins, not talking. The presence of the boy made it harder to acknowledge what had happen. Josué knew that if he brought it up in front of the scout, he’d undo any progress he’d made—as tempting as it was to provoke Simeon until his eyes were flashing once more.
But for now it was enough to know that Simeon was his, no matter what Simeon had tried to tell himself.
They slept—not curled against each other as Josué would have preferred, but the low fire was enough to keep them from freezing. In the morning, Tobie went out early to make certain that no spies had scaled the mountain under cover of night, and Simeon quietly packed what supplies they’d take with them, ignoring Josué.
Josué watched him for a moment, then went to help, rolling up the sheepskins and securing them with ropes so they could carry them. Simeon eyed him, but again didn’t speak. Josué took it to mean that he’d rolled the furs up to Simeon’s satisfaction.
“What route are we taking today?” Josué said at last.
“We’ll follow this path for a while further along the mountain,” Simeon said. “No climbing, but the path will get very narrow.”
Josué smiled at him. “At least you already know I’m not scared of heights.”
Simeon glanced at him, but didn’t smile back. “We’ll pass a waterfall on our way down. Then we go up another ridge. When we come down it eventually, we’ll be on the path your company will have taken. Unless something happened, we shouldn’t be more than a day behind by that point—perhaps less.”
“As long as they don’t run into Gabrada first...”
Now, at last, Simeon turned to give him his full attention. He still wasn’t smiling, but he also no longer seemed quite as uncomfortable around Josué.
“They won’t,” he said. “Not those men we saw, at least. They can’t travel as fast as we did without one of us to guide them.”
“Those spies knew enough of your mountains to make it all the way here,” Josué pointed out.
Simeon shrugged. “There’s the occasional trader or pilgrim. Or perhaps they sent out their own spies, looking for a way over the mountains that’s not the southern pass the traders use. Anyone can make their way through our vales if they’re determined. It doesn’t mean they know the best ways of travel. Had they known them, they would have run into your company days ago. Your missive tells us that they missed them.”
Josué inclined his head. “True. Still, it fills me with unease to have them here. The plan was—”
“Don’t worry too much about them,” Simeon said. “If they accidentally found the path your company took and followed it, our men would know. You’re not the only ones keeping a watch.”
“It would only take one man to survive such an encounter and flee with the news,” Josué murmured, but then forced himself to let go of those fears. He had no way to influence the events that might play out elsewhere in the mountains right now.
He had one task only—and that was to deliver his information to the colonel as quickly as possible.
For a while, they continued further onward, the ascent steep and arduous with their supplies weighing them down. Soon, just as Simeon had promised, the way became more dangerous. For a stretch they were forced to walk along a narrow ledge next to a precipice. The path was just wide enough for a man—a goat might have run along it, but it would have been impossible to cross here with the ponies.
The clouds had lifted, giving them a good view of the mountain slopes spreading beneath. They kept an eye on their surroundings, but couldn’t see any movement. It didn’t mean much, but Josué clung to the hope that Simeon was right and that the men from Gabrada had not yet discovered that they’d been observed.
After they left the steep cliff behind, Josué breathed more easily. It was true that he wasn’t afraid of heights, but it was also hard to forget the fall. He’d spent rather too much time lately dangling from cliffs and wasn’t keen on repeating the experience.
Simeon too seemed relieved once they’d left the dangerous stretch of mountain behind.
“Not far now to the waterfall,” Simeon said. For the first time this day, Josué could see a smile on his face. “If I remember right, you were asking about a bath?”
“Not in one of your glacier pools,” Josué said, and Simeon laughed in response.
The sound made Josué smile. He preferred Simeon like this. Despite everything that had happened, he was glad that he’d had this opportunity to see Simeon at ease, confident in his abilities to traverse these mountains. He’d enjoyed Simeon in chains as well, helpless and uncertain—but that had never been meant to last. Josué’s hope had always been that one day, Simeon might willingly walk by his side just like this, a valuable asset.
And he was—although there was still work to be done when it came to his reluctance to surrender. Still, an important step had been taken. Who knew what choice Simeon would make when they were reunited with Archambeau’s men.
They reached the promised waterfall in the late morning. Water came cascading down from above, rushing down the side of a cliff with a loud roar and filling a pool with white water. Simeon made them rest by the pool for a while, and when Josué dipped his hands into the water to drink, he found that it was cold enough to make his teeth hurt.
Regardless, he used the chance to splash water into his face, shivering through his cursory wash while Simeon watched. He looked reluctantly amused—at least until Josué splashed icy water at him.
“Behave,” Simeon said. “Or maybe this time you’ll be the one who ends up in the pool.”
“I’m sure you’d rescue me,” Josué said, smiling innocently at Simeon. “Wouldn’t you?”
“Ha.” Simeon leaned forward quickly, and before he could retreat, Josué found himself splashed with the freezing water in turn.
Laughing, Josué shook his head, water droplets scattering everywhere. “I would still like a bath. But perhaps it can wait until we have time to heat the water first.”
“What makes you think I’ll be there for that?” Simeon said.
Josué shrugged. “Merely the fact that I’d like you to be there for it. Nothing wrong with that, is there?”
“As long as you’re aware that your little fantasies won’t come true.”
“Ah, but some of them already did,” Josué said softly, gazing at Simeon and remembering the way Simeon had pushed him down and kissed him.
After a moment, Simeon averted his eyes, his cheeks heating. He hastily stood.
“We should go on. Come. Another climb awaits.”
Two hours later, they had made it across another ridge, this one narrow and steep. The climb had been exhausting, but the descent was even worse. Loose rocks beneath their feet made every step a dangerous endeavor, and once they finally left that incline behind, the path turned narrow again, just as Simeon had warned. This time, at least, there was no precipice to the side of the path—merely a very steep slope with large boulders that would stop a fall, should they slip.
Even so, Josué had no intention to go tumbling down that incline. He’d already seen more of the mountains than he liked and was content to follow Simeon—for now, at least. They’d see what would happen once they caught up with the company they were following.
It was afternoon by the time Simeon announced that now they were on the path Archambeau and his men had taken.
“I would guess that we are half a day behind them. If nothing happened…”
Josué merely nodded. They hadn’t run into any of Simeon’s friends so far—if Allard was sending out scouts, it was to scout the way ahead and not the path behind them. Even with Archambeau’s caution, the worry was that there might be spies from Gabrada before them, when in truth, the danger of an attack from the rear was now very high.
“We’re faster than the men we saw in that valley,” Simeon said. “Even if they somehow found the path your men took, they’d be a full day behind us.”
“What about the path you took us on?”
Simeon shook his head. “Not unless there’s one of our men among them.”
“It’s possible,” Josué said quietly and gazed at the peaks ahead.
He could see that they were close to the border now. The mountains ahead did not loom quite as large as the ones behind them, and the valleys he could see were green, offering good grazing not just for goats. Pools of water glistened here and there like blue jewels in the distance.
“I don’t believe it,” Simeon said. “I’d wager that some trader sold them his secrets. They come into the mountains, sometimes—never very far. We would not share our secrets with an outsider like that. But they might have learned enough over the years to draw a map and sell it to a spy.”
“And know enough to send men into these mountains at this exact moment? No.” Josué shook his head. “These men are here because of us. There’s no doubt about that.”
“There are other ways such secrets can be sold,” Simeon said softly. “Other spies with better access to secrets. A messenger who was caught, perhaps—or a spy at court.”
“Perhaps,” Josué said. “In the end, how it happened is for other men to deal with. For now, we have our own mission.”
“Your mission,” Simeon said, but led the way regardless.
Whether he liked it or not—whether he’d admit to it or not—it had become Simeon’s mission, too. They were in this together.
*
Tobie, their young scout, had once again gone ahead as the sun rapidly sunk towards the horizon. Simeon had already warned Josué that they’d find none of the convenient hiding places tonight, but it was all the same to Josué, who was used to bedding down wherever he was led. No matter what Simeon believed, Josué hadn’t always had the luxury of a private tent and an orderly to take care of him.
“We’re still on their trail,” Tobie reported when he circled back to them at last, the sky already tinted red and orange. “I found the spot where they must have made camp in the afternoon.”
“Just a few hours ahead of us then,” Simeon said. “As I promised. We should reach them tomorrow by noon.”
Josué nodded. He still wondered whether it might not be better to press on ahead through the night—but it was Simeon who knew the terrain well, and Josué was inclined to follow his advice. In any case, the Gabradians they’d surprised would be even slower than they were. There’d be no danger from them.
As long as Gabrada didn’t have a surprise waiting for them at the border...
“Found a spring,” Tobie said. “Little thicket of bushes to keep us from view. Rocks to keep away the wind.”
“Lead us,” Simeon said.
Half an hour later, they sat gathered around a small fire, another of the simple stews of dried grain and salted meat bubbling over the flame. It was simple fare, but welcome after a long day of walking—and so was the warmth.
“I will keep watch for a while,” Tobie said, and then silently vanished into the darkness—whether to truly do as he said, or report to some of the mountain men’s spies, Josué couldn’t say, and in truth he didn’t care.
“Tomorrow this will come to an end.” Simeon rolled out his fur in a little hollow behind a boulder of rock to protect him from the wind.
“You must look forward to that,” Josué said and nonchalantly spread his fur out right next to Simeon’s.
Simeon raised his head to give him a tired look. “You must be mad if you think that I will—”
Without giving him time to finish the sentence, Josué reached out and took Simeon’s face into his hands, and then he kissed him.
As he’d thought, there was no protest. For a moment, Simeon held himself stiffly, as if to push him away at any moment—but the hands that came to rest on Josué’s arms were shaking, and Simeon’s lips parted for his tongue with a little gasp.
“Not mad,” Josué murmured when he drew back. “Just aware that if you leave the mountains tomorrow, this is our last night. Whatever we do—it won’t matter.”
“Whatever you do, you mean,” Simeon muttered, but he still hadn’t pushed Josué away.
Simeon remained motionless, and Josué waited, forcing himself to ignore the aching throb of his cock. If Simeon gave in now, he’d have everything he’d wanted....
And then, with a shaky breath, Simeon leaned over him once more, his mouth on Josué’s as he pressed him back to the ground.
Josué let him pick his own pace, his body thrumming with the satisfaction of having won. He’d always been right. He’d wanted Simeon to be his from the moment he’d seen him, and now, at last—
Simeon moaned when Josué slid his tongue into his mouth, and the sound fanned the heat coursing through his veins to new heights.
After a moment, Simeon’s hand began to trail down his chest, slowly and a little hesitantly, but there was no doubt about where it was heading. When it finally slipped into his trousers and found him hard, Josué gasped and bucked eagerly into Simeon’s grip.
Simeon was panting against his lips now, the kiss more urgent as his fingers smeared the wetness he’d found all over the tip of Josué’s cock. Then he went back to stroking him until Josué found himself thrusting up into the tight grip of his fingers, moaning into Simeon’s mouth as he balanced on the edge of release—
All of a sudden, Simeon’s hand was gone. The strong, warm body that had pushed him down had moved back.
When Josué opened his eyes in confusion, his cock still throbbing painfully with frustrated need, he’d found that Simeon had moved out of reach and was now watching him. Simeon’s lips were swollen, his breath still coming fast—but his chin was raised and his eyes hard as he stared down at him.
“You want this very badly,” Simeon said. “You’re the one who needs this—not me. I want you to remember that when I’m gone.”
Josué exhaled, then rolled to his side with a soft groan. “Don’t be such a spoilsport. Last night, remember? I’d make it good for you—you know how good it will feel.”
Simeon scoffed. “And I know how miserable I’ll feel afterward. Don’t try your luck. It’s bad enough I keep rescuing you when I should just let you die and put an end to this—but I’m not your toy to jerk around however you please. You can think about that tonight.”
With a little nod at where Josué’s swollen cock was now indecently stretching his trousers, Simeon turned away from him to pointedly roll himself up in his sheepskin, making certain to put as much space between them as possible.
Josué stared at Simeon for a long while, hoping he’d changed his mind, but at last he rolled onto his back and sighed deeply. “Maybe I deserved that, but don’t think I didn’t feel how hard you were. How hard you must be right now. I wasn’t lying—I would’ve made it good for you tonight.”
Simeon made another disbelieving sound but didn’t turn back to face him.
With another sigh, Josué slid his own hand into his trousers. “Going to be thinking of you anyway when I come,” he said. “I never denied that I want you.”
The touch of his own hand wasn’t as satisfying as Simeon’s had been, but he stroked himself regardless. It didn’t seem likely that Simeon would change his mind anytime soon, as much as Josué had hoped to make this night a pleasurable memory for them both.
Still, as much as Simeon seemed convinced that after tomorrow, they’d never see each other again, Josué wasn’t so certain of that. A part of Simeon wanted him. He’d seen the proof of that yesterday, and no matter how angry Simeon might be at himself for that display now, he couldn’t take it back.
Josué came quickly, thinking of how tight Simeon had been around him and of the sounds he’d made that first time. He didn’t bother to hide what he was doing, and Simeon’s shoulders tensed, although he didn’t move.
When Josué had finished cleaning himself up, Simeon was still resting next to him, silent and tense—no doubt aroused himself. He’d have go to sleep unsatisfied tonight, but Josué doubted that Simeon would like it if he pointed out that Simeon only had himself to blame for that.
*
“Last day,” Josué said when they rose in the morning.
Simeon gave him another unfriendly look and proceeded to ignored him, heating the last of yesterday’s stew to serve as their breakfast.
The small bag of supplies they’d brought was empty now, Josué noted. By noon, they should have caught up with Archambeau’s men. By noon, he might be feasting on Bibeau’s eggs or a roasted partridge.
“Come on,” Simeon said and hurriedly gathered up their furs. “The sooner we leave, the sooner I’ll be rid of you.”
“You know you’ll miss me.” Josué shouldered his own sheepskin with a smile. “Doesn’t have to be like that, though. There’ll always be a place for you with my men. Think about it while we walk. Without you, I wouldn’t be able to carry that missive to the colonel. You’d be certain to receive—”
“I don’t want any of it,” Simeon said curtly, then strode away from the rocks behind which they’d sheltered for the night.
Young Tobie, who’d so far made certain to keep out of their way during the journey, snickered softly before he followed him. After a moment, Josué had no choice but to follow as well.
This time, it was obvious that they were on the company’s trail and had almost caught up. Even if the men tried to move without drawing attention, it was impossible to disguise the tracks left by the passage of men and the train of pack animals. Here and there, hoof prints were visible where the ground was soft. After two hour of walking, they passed the spot where the company must have made camp the night before.
Josué’s mood immediately improved. Simeon might have refused to spend their final night with him, but within two more hours he’d be able to hand his missive to the colonel, with the enemy soldiers still at least a day behind them.
He turned his head again to watch Simeon and found him withdrawn, his eyes on the ground they were traversing. Was he mulling over Josué’s offer?
It was a good offer. It would be foolish to refuse. At this moment, Simeon could return with Josué in triumph. All past misdeeds would be forgotten. If Simeon made it through this mission, he could truly begin anew. He’d no longer have to fear that one day, he might run into another officer of his old company again.
He’d explored every inch of Simeon’s body, but the abandon with which Simeon kissed him was new. There were no chains to hold him here, now that for once, it was Simeon who was in charge.
Simeon’s plan to deny the truth of Josué’s words had spectacularly failed, but Josué was too busy enjoying every single moment of Simeon’s overwhelmed hunger to gloat.
There were better things than gloating, after all—like the feeling of Simeon’s body against him and Simeon’s hard, large cock pressing against his trousers.
Josué freed them both, fingers shaking from impatience. He’d half feared that Simeon would come to his senses at this point and run again, but even though Simeon drew back a little, panting against his mouth, the sensation of hot skin against skin dragged a moan out of him.
Josué slung his arm around Simeon’s back, holding them together, and that was all the encouragement Simeon needed to grind against him. They rubbed against each other as Simeon moaned helplessly into his mouth, and Josué allowed his hand to slide lower, grabbing a handful of Simeon’s glorious backside and squeezing in encouragement.
Simeon was driven by instinct alone, with no thought for finesse, but the awkwardness of it made it even sweeter.
This was how it would have been if Josué had been smart enough to take Simeon into his bed, back when he’d been a recruit. This was how eager Simeon would have been if Josué had given him a taste of pleasure.
He couldn’t undo his negligence back then, but he could enjoy this moment, taking all Simeon offered—letting Simeon choose his own path. A path that would lead him back to Josué; there was no doubt about that in his mind now.
It was over all too quickly. Josué didn’t try to make it last; he didn’t think Simeon would be capable of it, and so they came within moments of each other. The sensation of Simeon’s strong body shaking in his arms was just as thrilling as it had always been, even with Simeon using his strength to press Josué back into the ground.
Josué didn’t release him, even after they had spilled against each other. The arm that had traveled down to Simeon’s backside now lightly came to rest across his back once more, although Josué doubted that he’d be able to hold Simeon in place against his will.
Fortunately, for now Simeon seemed too shocked to stir. He’d collapsed on top of Josué, his breath coming hard and fast against Josué’s cheek. When Josué turned his head a little, Simeon allowed himself to be kissed once more, his mouth parting eagerly for Josué before he finally seemed to remember what had come to pass.
Josué could feel Simeon’s body stiffen the moment the realization happened. Even the weight of Josué’s arm was no longer enough to hold Simeon back. Heat had risen to Simeon’s face, and he moved back, awkwardly averting his eyes as he cast around for a flannel to clean them off.
Josué took pity on him at last and pulled a handkerchief from his pocket to offer it to him. Simeon cleaned himself off without looking at him, and Josué found it impossible to hold back the smile tugging on his lips.
He knew Simeon would think that he was mocking him again, but that wasn’t why he was smiling. Josué hadn’t enjoyed himself so much in quite a while. And now they both knew the truth, even if Simeon refused to acknowledge it. Simeon could no longer pretend that Josué meant nothing to him.
By the time Tobie came back inside, they’d cleaned themselves up and had retreated to their respective sheepskins, not talking. The presence of the boy made it harder to acknowledge what had happen. Josué knew that if he brought it up in front of the scout, he’d undo any progress he’d made—as tempting as it was to provoke Simeon until his eyes were flashing once more.
But for now it was enough to know that Simeon was his, no matter what Simeon had tried to tell himself.
They slept—not curled against each other as Josué would have preferred, but the low fire was enough to keep them from freezing. In the morning, Tobie went out early to make certain that no spies had scaled the mountain under cover of night, and Simeon quietly packed what supplies they’d take with them, ignoring Josué.
Josué watched him for a moment, then went to help, rolling up the sheepskins and securing them with ropes so they could carry them. Simeon eyed him, but again didn’t speak. Josué took it to mean that he’d rolled the furs up to Simeon’s satisfaction.
“What route are we taking today?” Josué said at last.
“We’ll follow this path for a while further along the mountain,” Simeon said. “No climbing, but the path will get very narrow.”
Josué smiled at him. “At least you already know I’m not scared of heights.”
Simeon glanced at him, but didn’t smile back. “We’ll pass a waterfall on our way down. Then we go up another ridge. When we come down it eventually, we’ll be on the path your company will have taken. Unless something happened, we shouldn’t be more than a day behind by that point—perhaps less.”
“As long as they don’t run into Gabrada first...”
Now, at last, Simeon turned to give him his full attention. He still wasn’t smiling, but he also no longer seemed quite as uncomfortable around Josué.
“They won’t,” he said. “Not those men we saw, at least. They can’t travel as fast as we did without one of us to guide them.”
“Those spies knew enough of your mountains to make it all the way here,” Josué pointed out.
Simeon shrugged. “There’s the occasional trader or pilgrim. Or perhaps they sent out their own spies, looking for a way over the mountains that’s not the southern pass the traders use. Anyone can make their way through our vales if they’re determined. It doesn’t mean they know the best ways of travel. Had they known them, they would have run into your company days ago. Your missive tells us that they missed them.”
Josué inclined his head. “True. Still, it fills me with unease to have them here. The plan was—”
“Don’t worry too much about them,” Simeon said. “If they accidentally found the path your company took and followed it, our men would know. You’re not the only ones keeping a watch.”
“It would only take one man to survive such an encounter and flee with the news,” Josué murmured, but then forced himself to let go of those fears. He had no way to influence the events that might play out elsewhere in the mountains right now.
He had one task only—and that was to deliver his information to the colonel as quickly as possible.
For a while, they continued further onward, the ascent steep and arduous with their supplies weighing them down. Soon, just as Simeon had promised, the way became more dangerous. For a stretch they were forced to walk along a narrow ledge next to a precipice. The path was just wide enough for a man—a goat might have run along it, but it would have been impossible to cross here with the ponies.
The clouds had lifted, giving them a good view of the mountain slopes spreading beneath. They kept an eye on their surroundings, but couldn’t see any movement. It didn’t mean much, but Josué clung to the hope that Simeon was right and that the men from Gabrada had not yet discovered that they’d been observed.
After they left the steep cliff behind, Josué breathed more easily. It was true that he wasn’t afraid of heights, but it was also hard to forget the fall. He’d spent rather too much time lately dangling from cliffs and wasn’t keen on repeating the experience.
Simeon too seemed relieved once they’d left the dangerous stretch of mountain behind.
“Not far now to the waterfall,” Simeon said. For the first time this day, Josué could see a smile on his face. “If I remember right, you were asking about a bath?”
“Not in one of your glacier pools,” Josué said, and Simeon laughed in response.
The sound made Josué smile. He preferred Simeon like this. Despite everything that had happened, he was glad that he’d had this opportunity to see Simeon at ease, confident in his abilities to traverse these mountains. He’d enjoyed Simeon in chains as well, helpless and uncertain—but that had never been meant to last. Josué’s hope had always been that one day, Simeon might willingly walk by his side just like this, a valuable asset.
And he was—although there was still work to be done when it came to his reluctance to surrender. Still, an important step had been taken. Who knew what choice Simeon would make when they were reunited with Archambeau’s men.
They reached the promised waterfall in the late morning. Water came cascading down from above, rushing down the side of a cliff with a loud roar and filling a pool with white water. Simeon made them rest by the pool for a while, and when Josué dipped his hands into the water to drink, he found that it was cold enough to make his teeth hurt.
Regardless, he used the chance to splash water into his face, shivering through his cursory wash while Simeon watched. He looked reluctantly amused—at least until Josué splashed icy water at him.
“Behave,” Simeon said. “Or maybe this time you’ll be the one who ends up in the pool.”
“I’m sure you’d rescue me,” Josué said, smiling innocently at Simeon. “Wouldn’t you?”
“Ha.” Simeon leaned forward quickly, and before he could retreat, Josué found himself splashed with the freezing water in turn.
Laughing, Josué shook his head, water droplets scattering everywhere. “I would still like a bath. But perhaps it can wait until we have time to heat the water first.”
“What makes you think I’ll be there for that?” Simeon said.
Josué shrugged. “Merely the fact that I’d like you to be there for it. Nothing wrong with that, is there?”
“As long as you’re aware that your little fantasies won’t come true.”
“Ah, but some of them already did,” Josué said softly, gazing at Simeon and remembering the way Simeon had pushed him down and kissed him.
After a moment, Simeon averted his eyes, his cheeks heating. He hastily stood.
“We should go on. Come. Another climb awaits.”
Two hours later, they had made it across another ridge, this one narrow and steep. The climb had been exhausting, but the descent was even worse. Loose rocks beneath their feet made every step a dangerous endeavor, and once they finally left that incline behind, the path turned narrow again, just as Simeon had warned. This time, at least, there was no precipice to the side of the path—merely a very steep slope with large boulders that would stop a fall, should they slip.
Even so, Josué had no intention to go tumbling down that incline. He’d already seen more of the mountains than he liked and was content to follow Simeon—for now, at least. They’d see what would happen once they caught up with the company they were following.
It was afternoon by the time Simeon announced that now they were on the path Archambeau and his men had taken.
“I would guess that we are half a day behind them. If nothing happened…”
Josué merely nodded. They hadn’t run into any of Simeon’s friends so far—if Allard was sending out scouts, it was to scout the way ahead and not the path behind them. Even with Archambeau’s caution, the worry was that there might be spies from Gabrada before them, when in truth, the danger of an attack from the rear was now very high.
“We’re faster than the men we saw in that valley,” Simeon said. “Even if they somehow found the path your men took, they’d be a full day behind us.”
“What about the path you took us on?”
Simeon shook his head. “Not unless there’s one of our men among them.”
“It’s possible,” Josué said quietly and gazed at the peaks ahead.
He could see that they were close to the border now. The mountains ahead did not loom quite as large as the ones behind them, and the valleys he could see were green, offering good grazing not just for goats. Pools of water glistened here and there like blue jewels in the distance.
“I don’t believe it,” Simeon said. “I’d wager that some trader sold them his secrets. They come into the mountains, sometimes—never very far. We would not share our secrets with an outsider like that. But they might have learned enough over the years to draw a map and sell it to a spy.”
“And know enough to send men into these mountains at this exact moment? No.” Josué shook his head. “These men are here because of us. There’s no doubt about that.”
“There are other ways such secrets can be sold,” Simeon said softly. “Other spies with better access to secrets. A messenger who was caught, perhaps—or a spy at court.”
“Perhaps,” Josué said. “In the end, how it happened is for other men to deal with. For now, we have our own mission.”
“Your mission,” Simeon said, but led the way regardless.
Whether he liked it or not—whether he’d admit to it or not—it had become Simeon’s mission, too. They were in this together.
*
Tobie, their young scout, had once again gone ahead as the sun rapidly sunk towards the horizon. Simeon had already warned Josué that they’d find none of the convenient hiding places tonight, but it was all the same to Josué, who was used to bedding down wherever he was led. No matter what Simeon believed, Josué hadn’t always had the luxury of a private tent and an orderly to take care of him.
“We’re still on their trail,” Tobie reported when he circled back to them at last, the sky already tinted red and orange. “I found the spot where they must have made camp in the afternoon.”
“Just a few hours ahead of us then,” Simeon said. “As I promised. We should reach them tomorrow by noon.”
Josué nodded. He still wondered whether it might not be better to press on ahead through the night—but it was Simeon who knew the terrain well, and Josué was inclined to follow his advice. In any case, the Gabradians they’d surprised would be even slower than they were. There’d be no danger from them.
As long as Gabrada didn’t have a surprise waiting for them at the border...
“Found a spring,” Tobie said. “Little thicket of bushes to keep us from view. Rocks to keep away the wind.”
“Lead us,” Simeon said.
Half an hour later, they sat gathered around a small fire, another of the simple stews of dried grain and salted meat bubbling over the flame. It was simple fare, but welcome after a long day of walking—and so was the warmth.
“I will keep watch for a while,” Tobie said, and then silently vanished into the darkness—whether to truly do as he said, or report to some of the mountain men’s spies, Josué couldn’t say, and in truth he didn’t care.
“Tomorrow this will come to an end.” Simeon rolled out his fur in a little hollow behind a boulder of rock to protect him from the wind.
“You must look forward to that,” Josué said and nonchalantly spread his fur out right next to Simeon’s.
Simeon raised his head to give him a tired look. “You must be mad if you think that I will—”
Without giving him time to finish the sentence, Josué reached out and took Simeon’s face into his hands, and then he kissed him.
As he’d thought, there was no protest. For a moment, Simeon held himself stiffly, as if to push him away at any moment—but the hands that came to rest on Josué’s arms were shaking, and Simeon’s lips parted for his tongue with a little gasp.
“Not mad,” Josué murmured when he drew back. “Just aware that if you leave the mountains tomorrow, this is our last night. Whatever we do—it won’t matter.”
“Whatever you do, you mean,” Simeon muttered, but he still hadn’t pushed Josué away.
Simeon remained motionless, and Josué waited, forcing himself to ignore the aching throb of his cock. If Simeon gave in now, he’d have everything he’d wanted....
And then, with a shaky breath, Simeon leaned over him once more, his mouth on Josué’s as he pressed him back to the ground.
Josué let him pick his own pace, his body thrumming with the satisfaction of having won. He’d always been right. He’d wanted Simeon to be his from the moment he’d seen him, and now, at last—
Simeon moaned when Josué slid his tongue into his mouth, and the sound fanned the heat coursing through his veins to new heights.
After a moment, Simeon’s hand began to trail down his chest, slowly and a little hesitantly, but there was no doubt about where it was heading. When it finally slipped into his trousers and found him hard, Josué gasped and bucked eagerly into Simeon’s grip.
Simeon was panting against his lips now, the kiss more urgent as his fingers smeared the wetness he’d found all over the tip of Josué’s cock. Then he went back to stroking him until Josué found himself thrusting up into the tight grip of his fingers, moaning into Simeon’s mouth as he balanced on the edge of release—
All of a sudden, Simeon’s hand was gone. The strong, warm body that had pushed him down had moved back.
When Josué opened his eyes in confusion, his cock still throbbing painfully with frustrated need, he’d found that Simeon had moved out of reach and was now watching him. Simeon’s lips were swollen, his breath still coming fast—but his chin was raised and his eyes hard as he stared down at him.
“You want this very badly,” Simeon said. “You’re the one who needs this—not me. I want you to remember that when I’m gone.”
Josué exhaled, then rolled to his side with a soft groan. “Don’t be such a spoilsport. Last night, remember? I’d make it good for you—you know how good it will feel.”
Simeon scoffed. “And I know how miserable I’ll feel afterward. Don’t try your luck. It’s bad enough I keep rescuing you when I should just let you die and put an end to this—but I’m not your toy to jerk around however you please. You can think about that tonight.”
With a little nod at where Josué’s swollen cock was now indecently stretching his trousers, Simeon turned away from him to pointedly roll himself up in his sheepskin, making certain to put as much space between them as possible.
Josué stared at Simeon for a long while, hoping he’d changed his mind, but at last he rolled onto his back and sighed deeply. “Maybe I deserved that, but don’t think I didn’t feel how hard you were. How hard you must be right now. I wasn’t lying—I would’ve made it good for you tonight.”
Simeon made another disbelieving sound but didn’t turn back to face him.
With another sigh, Josué slid his own hand into his trousers. “Going to be thinking of you anyway when I come,” he said. “I never denied that I want you.”
The touch of his own hand wasn’t as satisfying as Simeon’s had been, but he stroked himself regardless. It didn’t seem likely that Simeon would change his mind anytime soon, as much as Josué had hoped to make this night a pleasurable memory for them both.
Still, as much as Simeon seemed convinced that after tomorrow, they’d never see each other again, Josué wasn’t so certain of that. A part of Simeon wanted him. He’d seen the proof of that yesterday, and no matter how angry Simeon might be at himself for that display now, he couldn’t take it back.
Josué came quickly, thinking of how tight Simeon had been around him and of the sounds he’d made that first time. He didn’t bother to hide what he was doing, and Simeon’s shoulders tensed, although he didn’t move.
When Josué had finished cleaning himself up, Simeon was still resting next to him, silent and tense—no doubt aroused himself. He’d have go to sleep unsatisfied tonight, but Josué doubted that Simeon would like it if he pointed out that Simeon only had himself to blame for that.
*
“Last day,” Josué said when they rose in the morning.
Simeon gave him another unfriendly look and proceeded to ignored him, heating the last of yesterday’s stew to serve as their breakfast.
The small bag of supplies they’d brought was empty now, Josué noted. By noon, they should have caught up with Archambeau’s men. By noon, he might be feasting on Bibeau’s eggs or a roasted partridge.
“Come on,” Simeon said and hurriedly gathered up their furs. “The sooner we leave, the sooner I’ll be rid of you.”
“You know you’ll miss me.” Josué shouldered his own sheepskin with a smile. “Doesn’t have to be like that, though. There’ll always be a place for you with my men. Think about it while we walk. Without you, I wouldn’t be able to carry that missive to the colonel. You’d be certain to receive—”
“I don’t want any of it,” Simeon said curtly, then strode away from the rocks behind which they’d sheltered for the night.
Young Tobie, who’d so far made certain to keep out of their way during the journey, snickered softly before he followed him. After a moment, Josué had no choice but to follow as well.
This time, it was obvious that they were on the company’s trail and had almost caught up. Even if the men tried to move without drawing attention, it was impossible to disguise the tracks left by the passage of men and the train of pack animals. Here and there, hoof prints were visible where the ground was soft. After two hour of walking, they passed the spot where the company must have made camp the night before.
Josué’s mood immediately improved. Simeon might have refused to spend their final night with him, but within two more hours he’d be able to hand his missive to the colonel, with the enemy soldiers still at least a day behind them.
He turned his head again to watch Simeon and found him withdrawn, his eyes on the ground they were traversing. Was he mulling over Josué’s offer?
It was a good offer. It would be foolish to refuse. At this moment, Simeon could return with Josué in triumph. All past misdeeds would be forgotten. If Simeon made it through this mission, he could truly begin anew. He’d no longer have to fear that one day, he might run into another officer of his old company again.
