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Merlin rubs his lips, but it does nothing against the itching. Every winter his lips dry out and it’s driving him mad. Sighing, he grabs the basket from the pantry. The trader ships moored yesterday and Gaius needs some of the herbs and wines they’ll be selling today. He pulls one of Gaius’s heavy winter cloaks from a hook next to the door and sets out to the lower city.
He loves the market when a new ship comes in. The town square is bustling with people, the noise of haggling, offering goods is loud and cheerful. Merlin walks past stalls, displaying exquisite and colourful fabrics, stalls with oddly shaped pottery and barrels of oils and orange and red fruits. Merlin licks his lips and rubs them again as he stops at a stall with dried herbs and red wines. He haggles for his order and when they agree on a price he packs it away and wanders further down the square. He walks past a group of scantily dressed women, they’re wearing long flow y skirts with long sleeved tunics and colourful shawls draped over their shoulders, their lips are painted a deep red which is a stark contrast compared to their dark hair. One of them, a beautiful woman with rich dark brown curls framing her face, steps up and traces a finger down his arm, “Good time?” she asks him with a heavy accent
Merlin suddenly realises they are prostitutes, “Oh no, thank you but no.” He tells her with a smile.
She smiles back and shrugs, he nods awkwardly and rubs his lips again. Another woman steps forward and hands him a small jar, she opens it and points to his lips and back to the jar. Merlin frowns and looks into the jar, there’s a dark red paste in it he points to it, “This goes on my lips?”
“Yes.” She says, “Helps with dry.”
“Thank you!”
She nods and then she says something to the rest of the group, they all laugh but it doesn’t feel malicious so he just smiles and bows his head.
After he deposits his buys he goes to clean Arthur’s room, luckily he can take his time because Arthur is meeting with the traders. Camelot is looking to establish a trade route with them and if all goes well there’ll be a feast tonight.
He starts with collecting the laundry before moving on to clean the table and floor. When he finishes with the floor he hurries down to the laundry room. As he passes the kitchen he runs into Leon, “Hey! How did the negotiations go?”
“We’re having a banquet tonight and the king wants you in formal attire in honour of our guests.” Leon tells him with a glint in his eyes and a smirk pulling at his lips.
Merlin groans but then he smiles, “I never saw you. So I don’t know anything.”
“Ah, but our king is something of a seer and he foresaw that you’d try to duck out of wearing it and he’s having all your clothes confiscated as we speak. Your new clothes will be in his majesty’s room, waiting for you.” Leon is full out smirking now.
Merlin narrows his eyes and stomps off without saying goodbye. The nerve of that prat. He dumps the laundry with Lea and rushes back to his rooms, only to find that Arthur really did have his clothes removed. He looks at Gaius’s room and contemplates borrowing a robe but knows he’ll not get away with it. So he sets out to Arthur’s rooms again, already dreading what he’s going to find.
*
It’s worse than he thought, there’s a white skirt laid out on the bed with a white tunic, embroidered with gold stitching and a hat of some sort with long colourful feathers sticking out of the centre. Merlin shakes his head, no. He’s not wearing that. He stares at it for a long time before he sighs, it’s too cold for the stocks.
He loses his clothes and gives himself a quick but thorough scrub down before he turns to the clothes on the bed. He pulls on his brais and fastens them, he sighs again but picks up the skirt and steps into it. They fall down to his knees and he twirls once, they don’t really flow but they do stay put. The tunic is rather short and it shows a sliver of his skin but it has long sleeves so he’ll be okay. The hat is ridiculous and he plans to lose it as soon as possible, or maybe pretend that it just wasn’t delivered. He licks his lips again, damn dryness. Remembering the jar from that morning he picks up his vest and feels around in his pocket. He pulls out the jar and opens it, he dips his finger in and dabs it onto his lips, it’s sticky and soft at the same time. Walking over to the table he picks up a silver platter, the paint makes his skin paler and his hair seems darker. He feels dainty and somehow very feminine but the itching is already gone so he shrugs it off.
He pockets the jar in the tiny, stitched pocket on his skirt before he deems himself ready. When he opens the door he startles because Arthur is standing in front of it, “Come to make sure your ridiculous order is followed.” He asks before adding, “My lord.” as an afterthought.
Arthur’s eyes are wide and his mouth is hanging open as he scans Merlin’s outfit. His mouth snaps shut and he pushes Merlin back into the room, “Right. No. you’re not going out like that.”
Merlin gapes at him, “What? May I remind you that you picked this! I didn’t even want to wear it!”
Arthur sighs, “Just pick something from the closet please and wash your face.” He tells Merlin without even looking at him.
“No.” Merlin says and folds his arms over his chest.
“What do you mean no, I am your king and I’m telling you to change clothes.” Merlin lifts his chin and Arthur narrows his eyes at him, “Now, Merlin.”
“No.” He turns back to the door, fully intent to leave but as soon as he opens it, it’s slammed shut. When he turns around, Arthur is there, boxing him in against the door.
“Do you know what this,” Arthur leans in and smears his thumb over Merlin’s lips, “means?” Merlin shakes his head and Arthur continues, “No? It means you can be bought. For pleasure. Are you a whore, Merlin? Hmm?”
Merlin purses his lips, “It helps with the dryness and why do you care? Maybe I want to be bought!” He regrets his big mouth immediately because Arthur never, ever backs down from a challenge.
Arthur pushes in close, his knee presses in between Merlin’s legs and his forearms frame his head, “Name your price then.”
Merlin’s knees go weak and his heart is thundering in his chest but he’s not going to back down, “You can’t afford me.”
“On the contrary, I think I am the only one who can afford you.” Arthur tells him with a dangerous glint in his eyes.
Merlin closes his eyes, taking a deep breath and decides to just go for it. Arthur clearly wants him and Merlin has wanted Arthur for years so if this was his chance then fuck it. He grips Arthur’s hips, turns him around and presses him against the door. He locks eyes with Arthur and slowly leans up to kiss him, giving him time to deflect if he doesn’t want it. When their lips touch Arthur doesn’t respond and just as he’s about to give up, Arthur pushes back and deepens the kiss. It’s soft and slow, the feeling of the lipstick sticky and foreign on his lips. Merlin loses himself in the kiss and by the time they break apart Merlin has a hand under Arthur’s shirt, splayed over his pecs. He lets his thumb brush over a hard nipple, earning him a shiver. He smirks into the kiss and bites hard at Arthur’s bottom lip, which gets him a hip buck. He trails his mouth over Arthur’s jawline, nipping lightly at his earlobe before soothing it with his tongue.
“Merlin,” Arthur whines, tugging him closer, grinding their hips together.
Merlin draws back and licks his bottom lip. Arthur groans and leans in again. Kissing him breathless before pulling back, “Look at what you did, smushed the paint right off. Do you have more?”
“What I did? You kissed me back!” He says indignantly but then he sees Arthur’s grin. He hits Arthur’s shoulder with his fist, “Prat.” He fishes the tiny jar out of his pocket and holds it up to Arthur.
Arthur snatches it out of his hand and opens it, pressing his thumb into the paste before he rubs it across Merlin’s lips. Merlin smacks his lips together before running his tongue over them. Arthur’s eyes are focused on Merlin’s mouth as he slowly contours his lips with his index finger, rubbing away the smudges at the corner. Arthur drags Merlin closer and he can feel his cock pressing against his hip.
"What do you want?" Merlin asks him with a sly smile.
"Your mouth." Arthur tells him as he licks his own lips.
Merlin smiles and pecks Arthur’s lips lightly before he drops to his knees. He tugs at the lacing holding his breeches up and grins when Arthur sucks in a breath as they come undone. Arthur’s cock is a thing of beauty, thick, long, with a slight curve to the left and already leaking. He takes the cock into his hand, swiping his thumb over the head before he gives it a languid pump. He grips the base and presses a wet kiss to the tip, flicking his tongue into the slit for a brief second before he closes his lips around the head. He slowly starts sucking and licking, taking in more and more until he reaches his own fist.
He feels one of Arthur’s hands settle on the back of head and looks up, “Show me how far you can take it.” Arthur asks softly as he traces Merlin’s cheekbone with his thumb.
Merlin relaxes his jaw, folds his tongue around Arthur’s cock and lets it slide further back until it hits the back of his throat. He swallows around the head and relishes in the broken moan it draws from Arthur.
“Fuck, Merlin. I can’t believe you ..” Arthur says above him and Merlin peers up at him as he pulls back slowly. Arthur's eyes are near black in the flickering candle light and he’s flushed down to his chest. Merlin breaths in through his nose and presses forward again, Arthur’s fingers tighten in his hair, “Fuck.” Arthur shudders and tugs at Merlin’s hair, “ Merlin .”
Merlin pulls back and tongues the slit before he swirls his tongue around the head.
"Merlin," Arthur says again, sharply this time.
Merlin draws away completely, blinking up at Arthur with his lips slightly parted. "Yes, Arthur?" He asks, his voice hoarse and slightly out of breath.
"Fuck," Arthur mutters and Merlin squeaks as he’s dragged up into a hot and heady kiss.
Merlin moans quietly into the kiss when Arthur trails his hands down his sides, tugging the white skirt up and pulling the laces of his brais. He shivers when they slide down his legs and Arthur’s fingers finally brush over his skin. Arthur’s warm hands settle on his arse before he lifts Merlin up. Merlin gasps and breaks the kiss as he wraps his legs around Arthur's waist.
Luckily the bed is just a few short steps away and within moments Merlin is on the bed with Arthur kneeling between his spread legs. Arthur runs his fingers over the inside of Merlin's thigh and his muscles spasm involuntary. Arthur huffs out a laugh, “So eager.”
Merlin lets the tip of tongue trace his lips, “Hmm and what are you going to do about it, my king ?” He asks and smirks when Arthur’s eyes darken with lust.
Arthur leans down, placing a soft kiss on the inside of Merlin’s knee before he licks and nips his way down, following the path of his fingers with his mouth. Merlin’s breath hitches when he presses a kiss to the head of his leaking cock, “Fuck, Arthur! ”
Arthur is smiling as he draws back, “Can I?”
Merlin shakily breaths in, closing his eyes for a second before he nods, “Yes. Anything. Everything.”
Arthur sits up, leans in and gives him a lingering kiss before he leans back. Merlin hisses when slick fingers wrap around his cock. Arthur jacks him once before he moves lower, briefly fondling Merlin’s balls before he rubs the tip of his finger over the rim of his hole. He moans and arches off the bed when Arthur pushes his finger past the tight muscle. After a few minutes of languid fingering, Arthur pours some more oil and then adds another finger. It doesn’t take long before Merlin is more than ready to move on to something bigger, “Please, Arthur. I’m ready. Come on.”
“Patience is a virtue, my darling.” Arthur says as he continues to drive Merlin crazy with his fingers.
Merlin narrows his eyes, “Fuck patience.” He tells Arthur as he places his foot against his shoulder and pushes him back. Arthur moves with him as Merlin forces him onto his back and sits himself down on top of him. He leans in and kisses Arthur as he lifts himself up. He deepens the kiss while he reaches back to take a hold of Arthur’s cock. Merlin swallows Arthur’s shocked yell as he sits down onto his cock, masking his own gasp as he takes all of Arthur in one smooth slide.
Merlin breaks the kiss and sits up, breathing heavily and trying to relax his muscles. Arthur’s hands are warm on his hips, squeezing rhythmically while he tries to catch his breath.
After a few seconds the burn fades and he experimentally rolls his hips once, twice before he shifts and does it again. He looks down at Arthur, “Tell me what you want.”
“I need you to move,” Arthur says as he bucks his hips up.
Merlin clamps his thighs together, halting all movement, “That’s not what I asked you.” Merlin says as he rolls his hips again.
Arthur reaches up and rubs his thumb over Merlin’s bottom lip, “I want to wreck you up even more, you’re so fucking pretty like this.”
Merlin grinds down, “You mean when I look like a girl?”
“No,” Arthur growls out, he wraps his hands around Merlin’s waist and lifts him up and off his cock, he pushes him onto all fours and slides his cock back in to hilt, “I mean when you look like you're mine.” He tells him with a smack on his arse as he starts thrusting.
Merlin moans loudly as Arthur rocks into him hard and deep, “Fuck. Oh, mmm, yes. Please. more.” He realises he’s babbling but he can’t control his mouth, “Yessss.” He moans on a particularly hard thrust. It’s good, so good but he needs more, harder, deeper, faster. He twists his head, looking at Arthur over his shoulder, “Come on, harder. Put your fucking back into it, wreck me.”
“Oh, I’ll wreck you, all right.” Arthur grounds out as he places a hand in between Merlin’s shoulder blades, forcing him down onto the bed.
Merlin drops onto his forearms, face pressed into the sheets, the new angle has him seeing stars. Arthur sets a hard, punishing pace, pushing Merlin forward on the bed. He scrambles to stay put, fisting the sheets and bracing his frame, Arthur groans and his fingers tighten on Merlin’s hips, rhythm never faltering. Merlin’s breath hitches as Arthur starts pulling him back onto his cock, somehow managing to slide in even deeper. He can’t help the whine that escapes him as a liquid heat pools low in his belly and fire licks up his spine.
After a few long minutes Arthur shifts and suddenly the fire explodes into a million sparks, he clenches around the thick cock as he spills over the sheets beneath him. Arthur rolls his hips, moaning Merlin’s name as he drags him up against his chest. Merlin whines low in his throat as Arthur pushes in, impossibly deep, before he stills. Seconds later he feels Arthur’s cock pulse inside of him and he shivers as he tries to catch his breath.
Arthur kisses his shoulder, slowly trailing his way up, nipping and pecking tiny kisses into his skin. He lightly bites at the junction between his neck and shoulder and grunts when Merlin clenches down again. After a few more moments Merlin collapses forward, taking Arthur with him. He presses his face into the clean linen and sighs. They stay like that for a long while, Arthur’s head resting between Merlin’s shoulder blades and his hands trailing down his sides as they slowly come down from their high.
Eventually Arthur draws back, carefully pulling out and shifting to lay down besides Merlin. After a few minutes of silent cuddling Arthur sits up, “We need to get going, they’re not going to start the feast without me.”
“Mm yeah, okay, in a second.” Merlin says into the pillow.
Arthur huffs out a laugh and slaps Merlin’s arse, “No, now. Come on.”
Merlin groans as he sits up and feels Arthur’s spend trickle out of him. He clenches his muscles and walks over to the basin to clean up. Arthur is picking through his closet and comes over with simple black trousers and a red shirt with golden embroidery. They dress quietly and Merlin starts to wonder if he made a mistake but then Arthur turns to him and holds up a cloth. He carefully wipes down Merlin’s lips, “Let’s keep the paint for private use and I’ll get you some beeswax for your lips tomorrow.”
Merlin nods, still uncertain, “Okay. Yeah, sure.”
Arthur leans in and claims Merlin’s mouth in a kiss full of promises and Merlin sighs into it. When they part, Arthur tilts his head, “Maybe tell Gaius I’ll be needing your service tonight and you won’t be coming to your room.”
“Yeah, I’ll do that.” Merlin says quietly.
“Good, let's go.” Arthur nods and turns towards the door.
Merlin stops Arthur with a hand on his arm, “Arthur?”
“Yes, Merlin?”
“Uhm, are we .. is this? I mean ..” He stumbles over his words.
Arthur laughs before he answers, “Yes, we are and yes, this is .. Definitely.”
Merlin smiles, “Okay then.”
Arthur shakes his head and opens the door, “Don’t forget your hat.”
Merlin stops in his tracks, “What? No! I’m not wearing that monstrosity!”
“Come on, move it. They’re waiting for us.” Arthur says as he exits the room.
“Arthur!” Merlin yells after him but he grabs the offensive hat before he follows Arthur down the corridor.
Fin