Title: Escape was not his plan
Rating: PG
Pairing/s: Merlin/Arthur
Character/s: Merlin, Arthur
Summary: Horse-play was one word for it. Getting manhandled was another. Merlin didn't mind either one.


Arthur's shirt harsh against Merlin's face, beneath, he felt the hard pull of princely muscles. Rough, ruthless, a sword-solid arm tightened around Merlin's neck. In his hair was the wild scrap of knuckles.

Arthur was an arse, too boisterous by half, always pulling Merlin close, strong-arming him onto the floor, laughing as he did so. Arthur didn't know his own strength. At times, Merlin left with bruises, yellow-green-purple, scattered across his skin.

But other times, Arthur's touch sent him soaring up, breathless with want.

Merlin could escape Arthur's rough-housing, but why would he when it led to so much more?