The Duke of Tremont

Chapter 25

Author’s note: Much thanks to Sterling Dragonfly for her wonderful editing!

*********************************************************

Justin swatted lazily at a fly as he, Timothy and Hunter lounged on camp stools in front of the two young princes’ tent. It had been a week since Jonathan’s army had marched out of Lofton and three days since they had arrived at the Westlake border. There had been not a single sign of Duke Sapperstein’s army and the boys, who were anxious and even a bit excited for their first taste of battle, were bored.

“Do you suppose they’ve decided not to fight?” Timothy spoke as he poured a cup of water over his head, trying to stay cool in the heat.

“Not likely,” answered Hunter, who was absently fingering the locket Molly had given him. “I think they are playing with us; trying to take us off our guard.”

Justin smiled at Hunter’s actions, having pulled the boy aside during the trip here and given his blessing regarding his younger sister. Of course he had also given him the prerequisite warning to cause the younger boy bodily harm if he hurt Molly in any way. Hunter had readily agreed and the boys' friendship was only strengthened by the bond. “I agree with Hunter,” Justin finally spoke, “but the duke is a fool if he thinks he can outwit Brian or your father.”

“Well, I must agree that Duke Sapperstein is a fool, though I’m not so sure about the part about outwitting Brian and I.” Jonathan had approached the group and smiled down at the threesome as he placed a gentle hand on Justin’s shoulder, giving it an affectionate squeeze.

“Father, you know he is no match for you,” Hunter responded.

Jonathan laughed. “Your faith in us is greatly appreciated. Now, how would you boys like to make rounds around the camp with me and help keep moral up amongst the men?”

All three stood up quickly, anxious for something to do. “Yes, father.”

“Actually, Justin,” Jonathan spoke to the blond, “Brian would like you to meet him back at your tent.”

Timothy and Hunter snickered a bit and Justin turned red. “Oh, all right. Thank you, Your Highness.”

“You’re very welcome,” responded Jonathan with a friendly smile. He took his two giggling sons by the back of the neck and led them away. “Come, you two. Perhaps we should all have a talk about propriety on our way, hmm?”

“Please, not that, Father.”

Justin smiled at Hunter’s plea and turned on his heel, making his way over to the large tent that he and Brian shared.

He was surprised to find himself pulled into a pair of strong arms as soon he was through the flaps that covered the entrance. “I’ve missed you,” whispered a husky voice in his ear.

“It has been at two whole hours since we last saw each other, My Lord,” Justin replied playfully as he reached up to give Brian a sound kiss on the lips.

“Two hours too long,” responded Brian with a small grin, as he began trailing kisses on Justin’s jaw.

Justin stepped away from his lover. “Brian, it’s the middle of the afternoon.” Justin looked down, “ and you know how I feel about this.”

Brian grunted in frustration. “Justin, no one cares if we are making love. Do you think we’re the only ones here that are doing it?”

“I know,” Justin explained, as his blush grew brighter. “It’s just that the tent walls are so thin and it’s hard for me to relax if I know people are listening.

Well, that was certainly true enough. The one time Brian had actually gotten him to try a few nights ago, Justin had been so worried about how much noise they were making, he had killed the mood completely. It astonished him that a man who was usually so adventurous in bed could be so completely modest when it came to this. It also didn’t help that the camp cots weren’t exactly made for sex.

Brian ran a hand through his hair and then grabbed Justin’s hand, pulling him out of the tent. “Let’s go.” Brian called for James to have their horses saddled.

“Where are we going?” Justin asked as Brian pulled him to the makeshift corral that was set up for the army’s horses.

“We are going to find a spot where we can be completely alone and I am going to have my way with you.”

“Brian!” Justin exclaimed in shock, but as he thought more about it, the idea definitely was starting to grow on him. “Are you sure that it’s safe for us to leave by ourselves?”

“Justin, we have not seen anyone out here except our own men for days. Frankly, if I don’t have you soon, I won’t be able to vouch for anyone’s safety.”

Justin snorted and thanked the young groom who had handed him the reins to his horse. As he was mounting her, an idea dawned on him. “Brian, I know just the place!” he exclaimed.

Brian turned on his own mount to smile at Justin. “That’s the spirit, Sunshine. I knew you’d come around. Lead the way.”

Justin rode past Brian with a sly smile and the older man groaned as he followed, silently willing his cock to go down until he could at least get off this damned horse.

*********************************************************

“Justin, this is beautiful,” Brian spoke in awe as they dismounted and he scanned the place to which his lover had led them.

Justin had taken them along the creek that they had camped beside, hoping that he could remember how to get to the place of which he was thinking. The spot for which he had been looking had ended up being only about a mile away from camp. He had sighed in relief when he recognized the boulder and turned them into the clearing in which they were now standing. Justin led the horses to a spot where they could graze as Brian inspected the natural pool the creek had created. They were in a dense grove of trees that completely hid them from the trail on which they had been riding.

When Justin returned from the horses, he smiled at Brian, who was already half undressed. “Uncle Patrick used to bring us here in the summer when we were children. It was the perfect spot to camp when the weather was warm.” Justin began to remove his own clothing as he approached his lover.

“Well, now it is the perfect spot for other activities,” Brian replied as he stepped out of the last of his clothing and moved to help Justin. When Justin was naked as well, Brian lifted him in his powerful arms and Justin wrapped his legs around his waist. Soon Brian was walking both of them into the pool. “This feels wonderful,” he sighed as the water covered their waists.

“Careful, there’s a drop…” Justin’s sentence was cut off as both men were plunged under water. Brian let go of Justin and they both popped up to the surface sputtering. Justin shook his head and wiped his face as he treaded water. “There’s a drop off here,” he continued, smiling at Brian.

“So I noticed,” Brian smiled back. “Come here,” he motioned Justin back into his arms.

“Yes, My Lord,” Justin answered as he wrapped his legs around Brian once again. This time, their lips met in a passionate kiss, Brian’s tongue plunging into Justin’s mouth, and they stayed that way for a long while, simply enjoying the contact.

Justin shifted, their cocks brushed together and they both moaned. “Justin, I need you,” Brian gasped as he grabbed Justin’s ass and pulled him in closer. He moved them back over to the ledge so he could stand again, not wanting to try to keep both of them afloat while they made love.

“Yes, Brian, take me. Hurry,” Justin panted as Brian quickly moved two fingers to Justin’s hole and gently maneuvered them inside. Justin could only moan at the sensation as he buried his face into Brian’s neck. Soon Brian added a third finger, causing Justin to bite his neck in response. Justin ran his tongue over the bite mark and then rasped into Brian’s ear, “Now, My Lord, take me now!”

Brian did not argue, as he removed his fingers and positioned Justin over his throbbing cock while Justin held it into position. He pulled Justin down onto him. “God, Justin, so tight, feels so good.”

Their lips met again as their bodies moved in unison, causing great ripples in the pool. The weightlessness they felt in the water adding a new excitement to their lovemaking. After a few more thrusts, Brian felt Justin begin to tense and he quickly reached between them to lovingly stroke his cock. It was not long before Justin went rigid and Brian felt a burst of warmth against his stomach. Justin clung to Brian as he thrust twice more before reaching his own climax.

Justin’s head remained on Brian’s shoulder and Brian stroked his hair. “That was just what I needed,” he spoke softly.

Justin pulled his head up to look into Brian’s eyes. “You are always what I need Brian.”

Brian kissed him softly, then let go of him as he swam away out into the deep water while Justin followed. They both swam lazily for awhile, enjoying the cool water on their heated skin. It was not long before they made their way to each other for round two.

*********************************************************

Hours later, Justin awoke next to Brian in the patch of grass they had lain upon to dry off. He looked to the sky and noted that the sun would soon be on its way down. “Brian,” he called as he shook his lover, “Brian, we need to go back. We must have fallen asleep.”

Brian rubbed his eyes and rolled over. “What?”

Justin smiled as he noted how Brian’s hair had dried, sticking up all over his head. He stopped himself from pulling the other man to his body, knowing if they got started again, they would never make it back. “We fell asleep and the sun will be going down soon. We need to get back to camp.”

Brian sat up quickly. “I can’t believe we fell asleep. The others will be worried.”

Justin nodded as he stood and pulled Brian up as well. They silently looked for their clothes and got dressed, sharing quick glances and sated smiles.

It was not long before they were on the trail leading them back to camp. Justin was riding in front on the narrow path, thinking that he should ask Brian if there were any swimming holes near Lofton. It was definitely something he wanted to pursue with the man once they were safely back home.

Suddenly Justin heard Brian call his name sharply and he noticed a band of men who seemed to appear out of the trees. His horse’s bridle was grabbed and he was dragged from his saddle before he could even touch the sword at his side. From the sounds of the scuffle behind him, he knew Brian was in the same situation.

“Well, well,” said a familiar voice, “who do we have here?”

Justin was turned by the men holding him and suddenly he was face to face with Christopher Hobbs. “Let me go, you murdering scum!” Justin spat out.

The other men had finally subdued Brian and dragged him over as well. “Oh my, this was quite a good day of hunting, wasn’t it, boys?” Chris asked the other men. “It seems our patience has paid off." He turned his attention to Brian. “Good evening, Prince Brian,” he inclined his head, then turned to Justin, “Lord Justin.”

Brian glanced at Justin then back at Christopher. “It hardly seems a good evening from our viewpoint does it? What do you want of us young Christopher?”

“You will kindly use my correct title when addressing me. Remember I am Earl Christopher of Westlake now,” he replied as he smiled at Justin.

“Liar! You filthy, murdering liar!” Justin yelled as he struggled against his attackers. “You killed my mother, you bastard!”

“Someone, please shut him up!” exclaimed Christopher, “I can’t hear myself think with all that noise.”

One of the men landed a solid blow to Justin’s jaw and his knees gave out in surprise as his head lolled a bit.

“Justin!” Brian called out frantically.

“Now, now, Your Highness, don’t get all worked up. He will be fine. I’m sure you don’t want the same to happen to you.”

“What will you do with us?” Brian forced himself to turn away from Justin and focus on their captor.

“Surely you are smart enough to know that you will make a very valuable prisoner. I’m going to take you to your dear sister and brother-in-law. I’m sure she will be ecstatic to be reunited with her baby brother.”

Brian snorted. “I’m sure,” he replied acidly, “and what of Justin?”

Christopher studied Justin for a moment, who seemed to be able to focus once again, though he remained silent. “The boy is really of no use to us anymore. I believe I shall let him return to your pathetic army and let him deliver the news of your capture to your dear brother.”

“No!” Justin cried out. “I won’t leave him. Brian, I won’t leave you alone with them.”

He turned his blue eyes to his lover, but Brian only shook his head sadly. “Go, Justin. I won’t have you in danger because of me. You must get word to Jonathan.”

Justin struggled again as he was pushed back onto his horse. Brian’s captors drove their point home to Justin as one of them held a blade to Brian’s throat. “No, Brian! No!” He sent a desperate plea along their link, but Brian only sent back a resigned feeling of love and then cut it off. Justin sobbed as he wheeled his horse and took off down the path at breakneck speed, determined to come back with help. “I will save you,” he called back. We will save you, Brian!”

Brian’s shoulders slumped as his hands were tied in front of him and he was hoisted into the saddle of his own horse. He watched dejectedly at the cloud of dust that was his lover.

“Come,” Christopher sneered, “I am very much looking forward to this little family reunion.”

Brian’s heart sank as his horse was led away.

*********************************************************

Thirty minutes later, a filthy and exhausted Justin pounded up to the camp. He rode madly in the direction of Jonathan’s tent, where the king, his sons, Bishop Vic, Michael and Ben were huddled in a group, along with various other members of the guard.

“Justin!” Jonathan exclaimed, as the boy halted his horse and vaulted off. “We were just going to send out a search party. Where in the blazes did you go?” Jonathan looked around. “Where is my brother?”

“Taken,” Justin rasped out through his swollen face and dry throat, “Brian was taken.”

“How? By who?” asked Jonathan in horror. When Justin did not answer right away, Jonathan grabbed the front of his shirt. “Who took him, Justin?”

Justin looked at the king with tears in his eyes. “It was Christopher Hobbs and Duke Saperstein’s men.”

The others gasped and Jonathan stared at his brother’s young lover. “Why in God’s name were the two of you off by yourselves?”

“B…Brian wanted to find a spot where we could be alone. I…I took him to a place I knew about and they captured us on the way back.” By the time he finished speaking, Justin was pale and trembling.

Fear seized Jonathan and he shook Justin where he was still holding onto his tunic. “Damn you both for your stupidity!” he shouted as he continued to take his frustrations out on the young man. “Do you know what they will do to him? Have you forgotten what they did to your mother?”

Justin blanched as a strangled sob escaped his lips and Bishop Vic moved in quickly to intervene. “Your Majesty, stop!” He moved in and laid a hand where Jonathan was still gripping Justin. “Look what you are doing,” Vic spoke again softly.

Jonathan stopped and stared down at the sobbing, quivering form before him. He quickly pulled Justin into his arms in a tender embrace. “Forgive me,” he spoke into his hair, “I’m sorry, Justin.”

“Brian,” was all Justin could utter miserably, as his legs gave out and he began to sink out of Jonathan’s grasp.

Jonathan easily swung the lighter man up into his arms, “Hunter, get Mel. I think he’s in shock.”

“Yes, Father.” He took off at a run.

Jonathan addressed the other men, “Vic, Michael, help me get him settled with Mel and then I want to meet with my advisors.”

The three men made their way to Justin’s tent as Ben moved off to assemble Jonathan’s advisors in the King’s tent.

Jonathan shifted Justin in his arms a bit and the young man buried his face in his neck. “I can’t feel Brian,” he muttered softly.

“We’ll find him,” Jonathan answered gently, his heart sinking at Justin’s words. “We’ll find him.”

Return to The Duke of Tremont