Thane stretched as he listened to the sound of rain still falling outside. He looked up when something lightly struck his naked body in several places. Rain. It was beginning to seep through the ceiling precariously constructed by nature.

     "It might be best if you get up," Leighton said from a few feet away. "I don't think it's going to hold for long."

     Thane turned to find him at the table piling fresh food onto their plates. He began to sit up and groaned at the stiffness in his back.

     "Not the most comfortable bed, but at least we had good company," Leighton smiled as he brought a plate to Thane. "Eat. I'll have some in a bit."

     As Thane lifted a biscuit to his mouth, he watched Leighton climb in bed behind him. He was about to ask what he was doing until he felt Leighton's warm hands on his shoulders.

     Leighton brushed Thane's hair to the front so he could reach his back and shoulders better. He pressed his thumbs and palms against him to massage the achiness away.

     "You don't have to do that," Thane told him over a bite of sausage, but he did nothing to stop him.

     "You can do me next," Leighton bargained. "I looked out at that tub you were talking about. It's completely full and the water is warm from the hot night and morning sun. We can bathe when you're ready."

     "We?" Thane repeated with a mouthful of food.

     He reached toward the table and brought back a cup of water to wash it all down.

     "It's a big tub," chuckled Leighton. "Haven't you ever bathed with someone? Or will I be the first for that, too," he whispered as he leaned against Thane's ear.

     Thane quickly set the plate and cup onto the table and swung around to push Leighton onto the bed.

     "Are you already teasing me so early in the morning?" he growled.

     Before Leighton could answer, Thane had filled his mouth with his tongue. Leighton groaned against his lips and drank down the taste of sausage and buttered bread.

     Thane broke off his kiss and planted more kisses along Leighton's cheek and jawline. He fought back the feeling of dread that kept trying to ruin what little time he had left with Leighton. He wrapped his arms around him and held him close as he buried his face into his thick blonde mane.

     "Women must really love you," Leighton said softly as they embraced. "You're so affectionate."

     Thane pulled away and looked down into Leighton's eyes. They reflected the slivers of sunlight peering in and brightening the blue that already seemed to glow.

     "Do you not like it?" he asked worriedly.

     Leighton nodded his head as he twisted Thane's hair at the back. "I do. I've never been shown such tenderness," he admitted quietly. "You're spoiling me."

     Thane swallowed at the shimmer in the corner of Leighton's eyes. He gave him a quick kiss on the lips and moved away to stand.

     "We should bathe," he announced as he jumped to his feet. "We haven't much time to set out again."

     Leighton rose slowly from the bed and followed Thane through the back door of the cabin with a heaviness weighing him down. It seemed to him that all Thane cared about was doing his duty. Had he even considered what it meant this time?

     "Thane," he said softly as he watched him climb into the tall basin.

     "The water is quite warm," Thane marveled. He grunted as his muscles began to loosen beneath the surface. "Join me," he said with his eyes closed and his head tilted back.

     Leighton took a shaky breath and climbed in to sit on the other side. He washed himself clean of their lovemaking as well as the dirt and grime from the cabin.

     Thane looked over as Leighton lifted his head from the water after having washed his hair. He watched him laugh at the leaves suddenly falling around them. Had the thief considered what lay at the end of the road for him? Was he not as bothered?

     He sighed deeply as he began to scrub himself clean.

     "Let me," Leighton said and quickly moved behind Thane.

     He washed Thane from head to toe and used a ladle that had been hanging from the tub to wash Thane's hair.

     "It will be nice to get to the next village and find a proper inn," Leighton mused. "We'll have a soft clean bed, a bath with hot water and scented oils, and all the food our stomachs can fit!"

     Thane tried to smile as Leighton laughed at the thought. He paid attention as Leighton slid has arms around his shoulders and pressed his body against his back.

     "Make love to me, Thane," he whispered into his ear. "Please. Nothing adventurous or exciting. Just ... make love to me."

     Thane swallowed as he heard the strain in Leighton's voice. Yes, Leighton knew very well what lay ahead. He was trying to hide his sadness and fear.

     He nodded and brought Leighton around to sit on his lap. Leighton's eyes widened a bit at the unfamiliarity of straddling someone so intimately.

     "I'll go easy," Thane promised as he moved his hardened cock toward Leighton's ass.

     Leighton gasped as he felt the bulge pressing into his opening. He whimpered as it suddenly pushed up inside.

     Thane waited for him to adjust to the different position. He had been with women enough to know this way was always difficult at first. He'd discovered since this relationship began with Leighton that there were many similarities, not excluding the need of the receiver to feel cared for and their feelings considered. He supposed it was only fair to cater to such whims since they were the ones taking in his girth and suffering through the initial pain and discomfort.

     Unlike the others, however, was this feeling that had been building within Thane's heart for Leighton. It wasn't only physical desire the thief had stirred. He had always cared deeply for Leighton, though he had to hide it because of his duty.

     As he slid deeply inside Leighton, he watched his expression closely. When the worried, uncomfortable expression turned into relief and pleasure, he began to move his cock in and out, taking his time to help him get used to it.

     What had transpired between them in only the course of a few days was certainly void of any effort to hide a damn thing. All the feelings he had pushed down had manifested in every thrust of his cock. Holding Leighton and falling asleep with him in his arms suddenly seemed so natural, and he couldn't remember a time when anything else made him feel like himself.

     "Thane?"

     Leighton's voice brought Thane back to what they were doing, and he stroked his back as he continued to move inside of him.

     "Yes, little fox," he said softly.

     "You seemed miles away," Leighton told him as he caressed his cheek.

     Thane caressed Leighton's back and stroked his hips as he held them to move even deeper inside.

     He shook his head. "I was just enjoying this. Every minute with you has been a pleasure I never imagined."

     He pulled Leighton's mouth down to his and sped up his thrusts, but only a little. He wanted to take his time, make it last just a bit longer. Once they reached the next village, the capital was only a few hours away.

     A shudder fell over him and he held Leighton tightly. He cleared his throat and forced the stark reality to leave his mind so he could enjoy at least this much.

     "Make love to me all morning," Leighton whispered against Thane's cheek. "Make it last for as long as we can."

     Thane held onto Leighton's waist as he brought him backward into the water. He rested Leighton's head and shoulders against the side of the tub and began to slowly thrust into him from above.

     The water sloshed all around them, pouring over the sides as they began moving at a faster pace.

     Leighton moaned loudly each time Thane's cock entered, barely having time to trail off when he pulled out as his cock that was immediately pushed back in. He reached down and stroked himself as Thane filled him over and over.

     Thane gripped his ass and pushed himself in deeply with a loud groan. His cock grew thicker through his orgasmic throbbing, and Leighton moaned louder as his own orgasm spewed through the water.

     As Thane held onto the rim of the tub for support, Leighton reached around him and held him close.

     "Let's stay here, Thane," he said in a mournful plea.