Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the situations all characters kind themselves in.

Battle of Bodies

"Me?" Arthur kept his face blank while inside his mind shifted gears, knowing instinctively who was looking for him. If this person was after him because of his job they would have never approached Eames about him and it wasn't as Excalibur for the same reason. Which meant that whoever was after him, was after him as Arthur Gordon-Levitt. The old man was at it again.

And looking up at the man in front of him, seeing the worry the Englishman was trying to hide, Arthur felt the familiar anger and hate well up inside of him for the man who haunted him still. Pushing it back with equal familiarity and skill the point man kept his face calm as he reached up to frame the other man's face between his hands. "You've been worried for nothing, but it's still sweet." And leaning in Arthur pressed his lips against the other man's, deliberately putting heat behind the kiss in the hopes of distracting the forger. For good measure he did the thing with his tongue that made Eames turn to putty, since the forger was obviously upset about the situation.

Oh man, the tongue thing, Eames thought as he groaned low in his throat, sliding his hands up Arthur's chest to his shoulders, just in case his knees gave out. Which they tended to do when the man did the tongue thing.

And not being an idiot the forger knew better than to think the man hadn't pulled out the tongue thing without reason. He was being distracted. And while he enjoyed the attempt, he was unfortunately required to end the tongue play for the moment.

Pulling back with another groan Eames stared up at the man. "Who's after you? You know, right?"

"Nobody you need to worry about."

"This person hired Dutch, yes we need to be worried. You do realize that his team is one of the best not because they have Dom's creativity or your brain power, but because they don't waste much time finessing the information out of the targets. You don't give up the information right away and they will torture it out of you in the dream. And with the time difference…we have reason to worry. And don't you dare say it's your problem and not mine…I will punish you."

"You're presupposing I don't like when you punish me."

Eames's lips twitched in spite of himself. "I've really been a bad influence on you, Darling. And you know what big words do to me, which is why you're using them while filling my head with delicious images of you tied to the bed while I make you squirm and beg for mercy." Brushing his lips against Arthur's Eames looked deep into the other man's eyes. "A name, Arthur. Now."

Arthur couldn't help but squirm a little under the hot look Eames was giving him, which was probably deliberate on his lover's part. He wasn't about to bend on this though, he wanted to keep Eames as far away from his pursuers as possible.

"Look, Eames, this isn't important, nothing will happen. This will be the seventh team he's sent after me. Obviously they haven't been remotely successful in their endeavors."

"The eighth, Darling. Dutch will be the eighth."

Blinking in surprise the news was enough to distract Arthur from the hands Eames was stroking over his ass in his own attempt to manipulate. "Eight? There were eight? He hired a team so incompetent they didn't even register on any of my databases and fail safes? That's not like him. He can afford the best. Are you sure?"

"Or maybe they were better than you and that's why you didn't know." Eames countered, squeezing the ass he was so fond of. "Ever think of that?"

A look of insult crossed the point man's face. "There are very few people who are as good as me, much less better. And if they were that good, they would have followed the breadcrumbs I left that would have led them to believe I was killed in a car accident three years ago. I went to a great deal of effort there and as far as I know no researcher has ever gotten that far which is just pathetic really. And I worked hard to make in believable and documented too. I even used a car crash because he always said that's how I'd die if I didn't stop driving sports cars."

Eames didn't know which surprised him more. That Arthur had faked his own death, or that the man had once driven sports cars. "You still aren't telling me who HE is, Darling."

"Because you don't need to know who he is." Arthur shot back coldly, forcing himself to soften his tone as he nuzzled his face against Eames', reestablishing their connection as he struggled to fix things. "This will be over within the week. Eames. I'll just give you the information that Dutch wants as Excalibur and you can pass on my untimely demise to him. He'll pass it on to his employer and things will not only go back to normal, but Dutch and his team should be the last team ever hired to try and find me. It will kill two birds with one stone."

Realizing Arthur really wasn't going to clue him in Eames swore in frustration. "Dammit, Arthur!"

Biting back some cursing of his own Arthur took a step back so that he could properly stare Eames hard in the eye. "I'm asking you to trust me on this. I'm telling you to drop it."

"Or else?"

"Or else you can sleep on the couch."

Reading the situation correctly Eames struggled to throttle back too, cursing the man's private nature, especially where his past was concerned. "Why do you get the bed, exactly?" He drawled out, forcing himself to breathe and relax his stance for both their sakes. He wasn't going to drop the topic completely, but he wasn't going to be able to protect his man if Arthur was pissed at him. So he'd bend for the moment, but just for the time being, Eames silently swore to the both of them.

"My legs are longer. You can comfortably stretch out on the couch." Arthur pointed out, relaxing his stance as well. He knew better than to think his lover would drop the matter completely, but he would find a way to keep Eames out of his past. And on that note the point man took the step back so that they were against each other. "But I'd rather stretch out with you on our bed tonight."

"I'd rather that too." Wrapping his arms around Arthur Eames pressed his lips back against the point man's, kissing him hard before pulling back slightly. "Let's go to bed."

)

Together the two men picked up their guns and headed for the bedroom, their walks in time with each others' strides after years of practice. Both stowed their respective weaponry on their nightstands, wanting the guns in easy reach, just in case. Arthur knew better than to ask if he could go down to check on how things were going on the main level after the make up sex, he wasn't going anywhere without Eames for at least a week. He wasn't stupid after all, he knew the man was now on protection detail whether he liked it or not. And he would allow it if it meant the questions ended, Arthur decided. He'd have to suck that up, just like Eames had to suck up the lack of forthcoming information.

They would both be adults about this.

While Arthur pushed back their covers Eames stripped off his wrinkled clothes, knowing better than to discard them on the floor for Arthur to comment on later. Discarded clothes in hand the forger stashed the clothes in the hamper before walking back towards the bed, unable not to smile genuinely at the sight of his very naked lover stretched out on their bed, waiting for him with the covered raised. Sliding onto the bed and under the covers Eames crawled over and on top of the point man, head lowering to capture Arthur's lips once more.

Arthur's mouth was hot and inviting, the man's long, strong fingers coming up to slide over Eames's back, stroking the man's dusty gold skin as he sought to awaken nerve endings and needs. The point man shuddered under the skill of Eames mouth and tongue, murmuring his pleasure as he returned the contact with equal skill and desire.

When Eames broke the kisses off he immediately turned to Arthur's neck, feasting his way upward to nibble on the point man's ear, knowing that to be one of Arthur's own weaknesses. Smiling at the way Arthur squirmed and dug his nails in Eames lovingly traced the man's right ear with his tongue, breathing on the wet skin for contrast.

Grinding his hips up against the forger's in slow, rhythmic thrusts Arthur slid his hands down and around so that he could ever so slowly stroke the man's nipples with his thumbs, keeping the pressure light and teasing.

Groaning his approval Eames nipped the side of the man's neck hard, sucking there as he savored the taste of his man's skin and salt. Arthur wasn't a fan of hickies that weren't easily covered up, but tomorrow he was just going to have to deal. Tonight he intended to thoroughly remark the man's body as his property. His treasure he would share with no one. He would let no one take from him, Eames thought as he moved down the other man's body, tongue laving over one of Arthur's nipples with scrapping, drawn out licks. He hadn't bothered to shave earlier, there would be whisker burns in some very interesting places tomorrow too, the forger thought rakishly, deliberately rubbing his whiskered cheeks against the already sensitized nipple.

"Oh, God, do that again." Arthur moaned out, loving the rough caress.

And those moaned words increased in volume and need minutes later when Eames got done tormenting the man's torso and moved lower to nuzzle his face against the younger man's inner thighs, turning his head to swipe at the man's straining erection with his teasing tongue.

Crying out the man's name Arthur could feel his control starting to snap. It always happened when he was with this man like this. The man seduced him every time, mind and body so that all he could think about was more, more, more. More until they were both too exhausted to move.

And even then they often found the stamina some how to keep going, Arthur thought wickedly as his back bowed instinctively, the sensations too much for him to do otherwise. The pleasure was building and building, a tidal wave that was increasing in power and strength with every swipe of Eames's now very misbehaving tongue. God, what the man did to him.

Wanting to come with the man Eames worked his way back up the man's sweaty chest, lapping up the salty taste with pleasure while Arthur's demands rang in his ears. Arthur really was such a bossy bit of goods, Eames thought fondly as he finally made his way back up so that they were once again eye to eye, Arthur's almost black with passion.

"Take me now or I'll have you on your back in seconds." Arthur ordered as he reached up to pull Eames's down for a starving, wild kiss while he opened his legs further to allow the forger to settle more completely against him.

And knowing from experience that the man would do precisely that Eames slid his arms under Arthur's legs, resting them against the vee of his elbows as he widened Arthur even further, slowly easing inside of his lover to draw it out.

Not about to wait Arthur shifted, taking him in deep with a cry of pleasure at the feel of his partner, so hot and hard inside of him, pulsing with need while his own body contracted with those same demands.

"Arthur. Darling." Biting down hard on his lip Eames groaned at the feel of his man, so hot and ready fore him, muscles fighting to keep him locked deep inside him. Panting hard as he whispered his endearment for his lover Eames began to thrust, Arthur's hips moving to take him and stroke his length.

Breathing harsh, bodies hot and gleaming, the two men moved together to keep as connected as possible, Arthur's hands moving over the form covering his own, fingers digging into flexing, corded muscles as he gave himself over to his skilled lover, the act driving all thoughts from his head.

Eames's whispered words changed to a shout of triumph as his body froze and than jerked, coming warm and liquid inside of his man, continuing the thrusts even as he rode out his own climax until Arthur followed him into the mind shattering climax.

Letting go of the other man's legs Eames slumped against the point man, burying his face against the side of Arthur's sweaty neck as he struggled to regain his breath. From past experience he knew the other man could easily handle his weight, or at least handle it until the sex glow had dimmed enough that the man remembered the importance of unhindered breathing, Eames thought wryly, smiling tiredly as he closed his eyes in lazy fulfillment.

When his weight got to be too much Arthur shifted them over and onto their sides, absently reaching down to draw the covers over their hips. Lips curved into a pleased smile Arthur opened one eye when he felt something making its way up his leg. "The cats." He murmured, knowing that where one was the other wasn't far behind. Merry was probably at one of their backs, waiting to exercise his claws. The point man was just thankful the blankets would offer some protection by the time Pippin got to his thigh.

Chuckling lightly at the warning it wasn't long before Eames felt something warm and furry pressed up against the back of his neck, Merry starting to purr like a well tuned engine as he curled up there while his brother got comfy on Arthur's hip.

"They missed you."

"They missed the heat we give off." Eames countered dryly, making a small sound of pleasure when Arthur's hand began to stroke his back under the covers. "I take it you missed me too, Darling."

"You are an excellent heat source." Arthur agreed with a tinge of amusement, giving a mangled yelp when Eames's hand slid low to give his butt a teasing pinch, then rub. "Was that really necessary?"

"Want me to kiss it better later?"

"I'll get back to you on that." Was the point man's purred response.

)

The next day Eames awoke first, mildly surprised to find them still cuddled up against each other. Not their usual sleeping position. Well, not their usual position unless marathon sex was involved, Eames thought with a lazy grin, eyes open and whole body awake thanks to his military training. Arthur normally slept on his side, but he had always preferred his back whenever possible. Not that he was complaining of course, he could get used to waking up like this.

Breathing in their combined scents Eames's eyes lowered to half mast as he absorbed the warmth of the other man's body and the arm Arthur had wrapped possessively around his torso. Nice. Disengaging himself only slightly after several moments Eames shifted up so that his head was level with Arthur's, studying the other man's face in sleep. Most people looked younger when they slept, more relaxed and innocent. Arthur never did though. Occasionally emotion would cross the cute/handsome face, but the word that usually sprang to his mind to describe the point man's sleeping face was calm. Like nothing and no one could penetrate his cool control.

Reaching out to stroke the man's cheek with his calloused fingers Eames's thoughts returned to the situation at hand. Who was after Arthur and why? A job gone bad? That didn't seem likely since if that were the case Dutch would be after Cobbs as well. Arthur had been recruited by Dom, his lover had never worked a dream job without the other man. Couldn't be a computer job gone bad either, because Dutch had asked for help from Arthur's online persona. That left personal. Someone Arthur knew well enough to call 'old man' in that tone of voice wanted his lover captured and his dreams entered. What information did Arthur have in that vault he called a brain? Why didn't Arthur just give up the information if that were the case to save himself the hassle?

The 'old man' wasn't his lover's father, Arthur had let it slip once that the man had died when he was twelve. Step father perhaps? Grandfather? Uncle? Closing his eyes in concentration Eames carefully recalled all the little tidbits Arthur had let slip over the years. He was an only child, mother had remarried when he was fourteen, paternal parents dismissed as idle partiers, maternal grandparents…never discussed, but the sense had been gotten that Arthur didn't care for them. Arthur had never mentioned aunts, uncles or cousins.

What was really annoying was that Arthur knew everything there was to know about him, Eames thought in annoyance. The man didn't work with anyone he hadn't thoroughly researched. The man had said as much when he'd made a crack after their first job that he was surprised a goody two shoes like him would have sex with a virtual stranger. So Arthur knew that he was an only child too, the son of a blackjack dealer and a gambler whose name his mother couldn't remember. He had taken Arthur to England to meet his mum, her parents and his mates several times. He, on the other hand, had never met anyone who was significant in Arthur's life except for Dom, which had been the result of work and not a 'this is the guy I'm seeing' gesture.

"What are you thinking about so hard?"

Opening his eyes again to see Arthur watching him Eames worked up a rakish, carefree grin. "How much I love morning sex. Fancy a go?"