Ragnar's return.

[thewidewideworld]

Their rooms are as Ragnar found them - clean but recently slept in, to the point that Athelstan's robe still hangs on the back of a chair.

Sinric is quick to tidy it, straightening the bed and hanging thing back where they belong with a servant's practiced hand.

"Let me run a bath for us." He smiles, brushing his hair back into a loose braid.

Comments

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"That is Athelstan's," Ragnar says. "I'm glad to know you were taking good care of him, and he was not alone."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric pauses to stand before Ragnar, resting a hand on his shoulder. "He has not been alone. Every moment he was here, I kept watch over him; sang him to his rest, made sure he ate, that his wounds were tended and his overstrained muscles cared for. I love Athelstan as I love you and will never fail him again."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"And we, in turn, both love you, Sinric," Ragnar says. "Not for what you do for us, but because you're you."

[thewidewideworld]

He smiles sweetly and pushes up on his toes to kiss the corner of Ragnar's lips. "As I love you both. My service is part of how I show my love. Now please, let me look after you." He guides Ragnar to a chair and starts carefully unbraiding the Earl's hair.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"I stink like a mink," Ragnar says, apologetically. "We didn't manage to bring the tub from Kattegat."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric giggles and combs the tangles out of Ragnar's mane. "I've never seen a mink as anything but fur, not least of all smelled one. You smell like a man who has been working hard and deserves a hot bath." He kneels at Ragnar's feet to help him off with his boots.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"They have a vile stink while alive," Ragnar says. "We sometimes trap them for their fur."

He grins.

"Oh, sorry!" he then says, genuinely dismayed, when the first boot comes off. "That is worse than a mink -- that reminds me of hoof rot."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric can't help but laugh. "I can only imagine but yes, you are very much in need of a bath. Perhaps a shower first so we can wash off the worst of the dirt and sweat before soaking in the bath?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"I wouldn't want to stink up the bath, or have gunk float on it," Ragnar says, "so that's best."

[thewidewideworld]

"Just so." He smiles and helps Ragnar out of the other boot, careful not to show any reaction to the smell.

He kneels up almost automatically to unlace Ragnar's pants, seemingly untroubled by the intimacy of his posture.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Right," Ragnar says. "Shower. You're not going to enjoy my prick in this state."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric's eyes suddenly glitters with a grin and the spark of desire.

He says nothing as he rises, helping Ragnar out of tunic and underthings, moving with a slightly cat-like eagerness now. "Shower then. I'll prepare the bath."

He sheds his own over layers, stripping down to a thin white linen shift that hugs his lithe form. He kneels on the edge of the great bath, running the taps and pouring in scented oils and salts.

His back is to Ragnar, showing off his shape.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar smiles at him, his eyes never quite leaving Sinric's alluring shape while he quickly soaping himself down and rinsing off the soap.

He makes sure he washes his hair as well, and soap his feet. While he does so, he bends over, wet hair sliding loosely over his back.

He's probably presenting quite the spectacle to Sinric as well.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric glances over his shoulder, eyes dark with desire as he enjoys Ragnar's muscled form.

Athelstan's needs have called for care and gentle handling and Sinric doesn't begrudge him that at all. But Sinric can't help but crave lusty need and the firm handling of a strong man.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar stands straight and turns around, looking appraisingly at Sinric while he soaps his chest and arms yet again.

There's a lot of grime on there. Also, the foam will enhance the look of his muscles.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric rises and sheds his shift to join Ragnar under the shower.

He takes the cloth with a soft smile and starts washing Ragnar, following the curves and lines of those muscles.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar smiles slowly and leans back in the shower, offering himself to the touch.

"I'm so much less smelly already," he says, reaching out to touch the tip of one of Sinric's nipples. "I can touch you again without besmirching your pale skin with sweat, soot, kiddie snot and goat shit."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric plays on washing him with a servant's thoroughness and detachment but it's all show, his hands smoothing very deliberately over the hard curves of Ragnar's body.

Until Ragnar touches him, then there's no way of hiding his desire. "Athelstan told me how you like to raise abandoned goat kids. Such a gentle heart under all this." He splays his hand over Ragnar's chiseled pecs, teasing a nipple in return.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar gives a little gasp at the touch, looking pleased.

"Goats are good animals," he says. "Content with much less than cows. A child can manage them, and baby goats are just about the sweetest creatures. Of course I make sure to raise them, at least the female ones."

[thewidewideworld]

"A wise farmer makes a fair leader." Sinric purrs, "And shows you are a good man." He pushes up on his tiptoes to kiss just above that nipple before moving behind Ragnar to wash his back.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar gives a deep, pleased sight that is just short of a purr. "Billy-goats stink worse than me just now," he says, trying to keep the conversation going despite sensual distractions tugging at his nether regions, "and are otherwise terribly contrary sods good for nothing but hopping on the she-goats, so you want to keep them at an absolute minimum. One per settlement is enough."

[thewidewideworld]

"Horny devils, are they?" Sinric answers, smoothing the cloth over Ragnar's rear and upper thighs, kneeding the hard flesh playfully.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Nothing but," Ragnar chuckles. "Worse than me."

He leans back into the touch, grinning. His own horniness is starting to show.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric purrs and massages Ragnar's rear with both hands, peppering kisses across his broad back.

Sure now Ragnar is mostly clean, Sinric struts past him to the bath, kneeling to check the water again.

He normally doesn't like to have people at his back but this is Ragnar and all his senses feel that and don't open themselves to fear. He glances over his shoulder, smiling invitingly.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar turns off the shower, shakes like a wet dog -- drops flying wide from his dripping hair -- and walks towards the tub.

"What a very nice prospect," he says, smiling at Sinric.