Warning: this story has been used for slashing purposes, don't like, then go away (please).
I don't own Merlin or anything related to Merlin. If I was making money of this stuff, I WOULD own Merlin.
Maybe some of you have read this on Livejournal already...so if it seems familiar to you, there is probably a reason.
You can yell at me for spelling, grammar, etc. if you would like (be gentle).
Feedback gives my life meaning.
Enjoy!

In Heat

Though they were protected from the hot sun beneath the shady tree where they sat, there was still no breeze, and the air was stifling. Merlin closed his eyes and stretched out in the grass, hoping, praying for even the tiniest whisper of wind. His hair was sticking to his forehead, his shirt to his chest. He pulled the scarf from around his neck, hoping to cool himself a little.

He could hear Gwen and Morgana giggling a short distance away, splashing in the water of the lake. It had been their idea that they all come down to the lake, complaining of the heat, and reminding Arthur and him that they could hardly go to the lake unescorted. They had been more than happy to strip down to their shifts and jump into the cool water.

"We might as well go in." Arthur said suddenly. Merlin sat up and opened his eye just in time to see Arthur pull his shirt over his head. This wasn't helping Merlin to cool off. He averted his eyes, hoping that Arthur would think his red face was simply from the heat of the afternoon.

"I-I think, I'll just stay on the shore." he mumbled. "Besides, I don't want to get my things wet." he stated. Arthur jumped into the water, and came up with water rivulets trailing down his muscular chest. Merlin's mouth went dry, and he found himself fighting the urge to rush towards Arthur and quench his thirst by licking the droplets rolling off the prince's skin.

"Then take them off, you'll roast if you stay on the shore." Arthur said matter-of-factly, running his hand through his sopping hair.

"Just take my clothes off?" Merlin laughed, or at least he tried to. It wasn't that he was especially self-conscience, but more that he did not feel the need to expose the thing that was now straining to escape from his pants. He stretched out again (keeping one leg up to lessen the pressure on his erection as well as hide it) and closed his eyes once again, trying to feign indifference.

"Yes. Why not?" Something wet slapped over Merlin's face, covering his nose and mouth, threatening to suffocate him. He sat up with a jerk, pulling the offending object off his head. Fabric, the water seeping from it and cooling Merlin' hands. Not just any fabric; Arthur's pants.

"Put those in the sun so they will dry." Arthur ordered. Merlin obeyed, laying them out where they would dry quickly. He fought with himself, his eyes kept wanting to travel over to where Arthur was, but his brain kept listing all the reasons he shouldn't. Surely just a little peek couldn't hurt…

"In. Now." came the command, and he turned to look at Arthur. Merlin stared at him, realizing quickly that his mouth was hanging agape. Arthur wasn't in as deep as before, and Merlin could see the hollow between his hipbones. If only Arthur would move just another couple of steps towards the shore…"Merlin." his tone was dangerous. "You don't want me to have to come out of here." Merlin couldn't help but notice how husky his voice was, how seductive.

The water did look tempting, and he did not have the strength to resist Arthur's command. He pulled his shirt over his head. The began to lower his pants. He could go in with the pants on, but he knew he would be mocked mercilessly for it. He just needed a way to get into the lake without Arthur noticing how hard he was. He quickly formulated a plan, with his back turned, kicking the pants off his ankles he asked "Where are Lady Morgana and Guinevere?" he could no longer hear them playing in the water.

"I say them walking in the woods a minute ago, I'm sure they are fine." Merlin was dashing towards the water as soon as he heard Arthur's voice, assuming he would be looking towards the women had been. Just steps away from the water he froze, Arthur hadn't been looking away, in fact, he was looking directly at Merlin. His eyes raked over his body, lingering longer at the area that was begging for attention. Merlin shivered, unable to move away from Arthur's gaze. Their eyes met, and Merlin could have sworn he saw a ghost of a smile on Arthur's lips, gone almost before it had ever arrived.

He clambered into the lake before Arthur had a chance to say anything. The water was relieving, washing the sweat off his body. He ducked under and swam a few strokes out, needing to get further away from Arthur. He surfaced, and wiped water out of his eyes, peering around to see where the other man was. Then he felt something wrap around his ankle, and he was pulled under the water again. He panicked, flailing his limbs, and fighting for breath. Then he was above again, sputtering, and coughing up water. Arthur.

"Merlin, surely you didn't think you could breath underwater." Arthur laughed, patting him hard on the back, encouraging him to get all the water up.

"I will try to remember that the next time somebody is trying to drown me." he gasped.

"O, come off it, just a bit of fun. Besides, you landed a good punch on me, and you almost landed a fatal kick. You were hardly helpless."

"A fatal kick? How on earth could-o." Merlin felt himself blushing as he realized he had almost kicked the prince in his royal jewels.

"Yes, well, be more careful next time."

"Have Lady Morgana and Guinevere come back yet?" Merlin said in an attempt to change the subject. Arthur shook his head. "What could they be up to?"

"Don't be daft, Merlin, what do you think they are up to?" he said exasperatedly. Merlin peered at him, trying to decipher what he meant. "You don't know, do you?" Arthur said "Morgana and Gwen, how could you not know?"

"Know what?"

"They…they like each other. I wouldn't be all that surprised if they said they were in love."

"O, I-I had no idea."

"Yes, well, it isn't quite something you would want everyone to know, now is it? I have heard it is not uncommon though, a relationship of sorts between servant and master."

"Each to their own, I suppose." Merlin muttered.

"Each to their own servant?" chuckled Arthur. Merlin tried to summon up his most terrifying glare, but it fell apart as soon as his eyes moved to Arthur's handsome face. "Don't take it so seriously, Merlin. Besides, I'm not blind, I saw Little Merlin, or whatever you call it. He was not pretending he was not attracted to me."

"Little Merlin? Are you insane?" Merlin half-laughed, unsure of what else he could do in this situation.

"Well, how am I to know? We have never been properly introduced. " Arthur stated. "Allow me to remedy this, so I will not be calling anyone by the improper name, it is most unbecoming of me." Merlin gasped as he felt Arthur's hand run up his thigh and grasp his erection.

"A-Arthur."

"Not bad, Merlin, for someone of your stature. I suppose that's why you never filled out quite right. Now, allow me to introduce you to somebody." he grabbed his servants wrist and dragged his hand downward. Merlin temporarily resisted, but his conscience didn't stand a chance. He wrapped his fingers around the girth, squeezing lightly, starting a very small stroking motion.

He looked at Arthur, wanting to see if there was some form of protest to be seen on his face. If he had to stop, it was better he found out now while he would still be able. However, he instead met slightly glazed eyes. Arthur drew in a ragged breath, and ran the tip of his tongue over his bottom lip. Merlin leaned in towards him, but catching himself before he could capture his lips. His eyes flicked up to Arthur's for a moment, both of them noting the level of desire they could see in the other, before Arthur closed the distance between them, and settled his lips firmly against Merlin's.

Merlin was certain he had never felt like this before. He had kissed a girl or two back in his home town, and there had been that kiss with Gwen, They had all been lovely experiences, but this, this was something else entirely.

When he felt Arthur's tongue swipe at his lips, trying to push between them, Merlin swore he felt his heart skip a beat. He opened his mouth and their tongues waged friendly wars, stabbing, and stroking, and tumbling over each other. His hand still stroked Arthur's cock, more confidently now, and Arthur moaned into his mouth. Arthur's hands were roaming over his servants body, caressing, and arousing him . His hands cupped Merlin's ass, and his fingers dug into the skin, causing Merlin to squeak in a way he wish he hadn't.

Arthur broke away first. "Let's move closer to shore, I can't have you drowning because you can't keep your head above the water." Merlin hadn't even noticed how far out the had been. Though he was loath to separate himself from the other man, he knew drowning would do him no good, and he wasn't sure if he would be able to keep himself afloat too much longer if Arthur continued to look at him the way he was. They raced towards the shore, going to water shallow enough for them to sit on the sandy bottom and the water barely covering the tops of their thighs. Shallow enough that one would be able to lie back in the water.

They sat turned slightly towards each other for a moment, waiting to see who would make the next move. Arthur's hand came up to push back Merlin's hair, the water dripping off the tips of his fingers and onto the dark-haired man's face and rolling downwards. Arthur leaned forward to lick a drop off the tip of Merlin's nose, then one that had settled just below his right eye. Merlin lifted his face, silently begging for another kiss. Arthur sucked his bottom lip into his mouth, and Merlin moaned. His hand reached over to the prince's cock, resuming its caress.

"Lie back." Arthur murmured, pushing lightly on Merlin's shoulders. He permitted himself to be pressed back into the water and sand. His hands reached up and pulled Arthur's mouth back towards his. As they kissed Merlin felt Arthur's hand cup his balls for a moment before going down further, and brushing against the tight opening there. Merlin gasped and tried to force himself harder against the hand. Arthur smiled against his mouth and drilled a finger deep into Merlin's ass, causing him to sigh happily. It was one of the strangest things he had ever felt, but also one of the most amazing. Arthur's fingers curled slightly inside him, and pleasure struck him like lightening.

He had a sudden urge to show Arthur just what he was feeling. He forced the prince to lay atop his own body, pressing him delightfully deeper into the sandy lake bottom. His hand stroked his ass for a minute before he thrust his own finger into Arthur. He tried to find that same spot in Arthur, the spot that made him see stars before his eyes. He knew when he had found it, because the man groaned and rutted against him, their erections rubbing together in an entirely pleasant manner.

"More, please, Merlin." he asked hoarsely. Merlin smiled and touched that wonderful spot again, watching Arthur's face contort as the wave of pleasure washed through his body. "O god, please, please, don't make me beg."

"A little late, I think." Merlin laughed. He was quite enjoying himself, it was so seldom he saw the prince in such a state. He stroked his finger in and out slowly, letting a second finger join the first, stopping periodically to rub the spot inside him.

"Merlin." he pleaded "Please." Arthur's hand went between them to grasp at Merlin's erection, his fingers rubbing over the head, trying to tempt him into giving the answer he wanted to hear. "Please, now." he kissed him, just a quick peck. "Your fingers aren't going to be enough."

"Are you sure you want-I always imagined-"He stopped dead, realizing what he was saying. Arthur looked at him with a smirk

"Always? Well, I can't say I am much better. But we can talk about that later. I'm not sane enough not to force you, so we had better get on with this quickly."

"Alright, turn over." Arthur flipped over quickly, and Merlin settled himself between his slightly parted legs. He muttered a spell beneath his breath, so that Arthur would experience little pain. If Arthur noticed, he didn't mention it. He positioned himself carefully, rubbing the head around the hole for a minute, smiling when he felt Arthur push up against him. He started to push in, moving at a snail's place, he couldn't bear the thought of hurting Arthur, at least not too badly. Even with all the precautions, Arthur's body was still tense, and Merlin could tell he wasn't really enjoying himself at this point.

"Arthur," he murmured into his ear "I can st-"

"No!" Arthur interrupted. "Don't even think about it. All of it, I want it all in me." Merlin slipped a hand beneath him to touch his ever-so-slightly softened cock. In no time he had it harder than ever, and he could feel the man's body beginning to relax. He pushed in fully, and held himself there, amazed by the heat and the feel of the tight muscles all around him. Arthur sighed and wiggled his butt contentedly.

"How's that, then?" Merlin whispered in a rather lascivious tone. He let his tongue explore the shell of Arthur's ear, biting softly at the lobe.

"Yes, good." panted the man beneath him. "God, you feel huge." Merlin lowered his head slightly, and started to nibble his way down Arthur's throat. He rolled his hips, trying to touch that magic area inside once again. Arthur moaned. "Hurry, I don't know how long I can last."

Merlin drew himself out slowly, not ready to be rushed by Arthur. Let him beg for a while longer, it didn't bother him. He moved agonizingly slow, but Arthur's moans of pleasure made it well worth it. He knew it wouldn't be long for him either, now that he was finally finding the relief he had wanted for so long. They set up a brilliant counter-motion, thrusting against each other in a way that pulled groans from both. Merlin could see Arthur's fingers digging into the sand. Merlin could feel an end coming rushing up quickly, he changed the angle of his thrusts so he would brush against Arthur's spot with his every movement. Their motions grew faster and more frantic, starting to lose the rhythm they had created. Merlin's hand tightened around Arthur's cock, desperate to bring the other man off.

"Arthur, I-I'm going to-"

"O god, Merlin." they panted out in unison. Only a second after Merlin began pumping his seed deep into Arthur, he felt the muscles contracting around him as the man thrust into his hand.

Merlin collapsed on top of Arthur, still inside him. The water cooled their heated bodies, bringing them gently down from their post-orgasmic bliss. Arthur had to prop his head up on his arms so that he did not drown, but he didn't complain about having Merlin's full weight on him. Waves lapped at them gently, soothingly.

"A breeze has come up." Arthur noted.

"Finally." Merlin replied. Remembering why they had come here in the first place. He reluctantly rolled off Arthur's body, but lay close next to him, lifting his head for a kiss. It wasn't quite as heated as the ones before this, but it wasn't very long before they felt the passion returning in it. It was a very good thing it was cool in the water. Perhaps this time it would be more like Merlin had always pictured.