13

Ianto was hot, sweaty and covered in dust. He released his horse to the holding field where she immediately ran for what appeared to be a water trough, dunking her entire head in it as the water sizzled and steam rose. Ianto laughed as he waited for her to cool off enough to hose her down without the water evaporating as it touched her skin. Once he was happy that she was cleaned once more and cooled, he went to see to himself.

He entered the stables and went to a side room that was clearly the wet room for the stable hands. He chose some common-share clothes that were stacked on shelves for emergencies then headed to the showers where he disrobed and stepped into the coldest water he could possibly ask for.

It was divine.

With Rhys at the door he knew he was safe to take his time and enjoy the bathing so he did… washing his hair and humming softly before breaking in to song that Rhys joined in with.

Lovely man that.

Ianto then started to let the water cover his face and he stopped singing, as did Rhys. It was not until he turned that he saw Jack. Jack who had come looking for him after that display of loveliness for the visiting nation who now wanted to know all about Fire Mounts and had agreed to purchase four from the herd in the Royal stables.

Jack stood looking at the creature under the spray of water.

Ianto had turned the shower to the maximum so it was as a waterfall, cascading down over his lean muscle and for the first time Jack saw the scaring from something so old that the scars were like part of his genetic makeup.

"I was ten" Ianto said as he stared back "three men died to try and save us… in the end… I was the one to save five more who had fallen trying to get to my father and I. I protected him with everything I had while also pushing the attacking pack back. It was the first time I knew physical pain. The first time my father saw that the Old Blood in me was fierce and that I had been training with the guards behind his back … and also the first time my mother openly showed her dislike for me to others."

"Do they hinder you in any way now?" Jack asked stepping forward to touch him and for the first time in his entire life, Ianto felt no desire to pull away from another person. Jack's fingers seemed familiar somehow. "Deep. Wow… soft."

"Yeah, this one here by the elbow was to the bone." Ianto turned his arm slightly "But I survived. I heal quickly, as is the way with my kind. At first it was hard but I adapted. This arm does not have the same extension as the other but unless you study me carefully, you would never know. I am careful not to let an opponent see that, so I keep this arm slightly bent and tucked in as well. They think it is just my fighting style."

"You were well trained?" Jack asked as his hand closed over Ianto's wrist now, again not in any sort of uncomfortable way.

"I am Old Blood. I am highly sought after for my DNA. Even with a security crew, I needed to defend myself. I was seventeen when they came for me. The entire crew gone… well… except for the one who was just singing with me. Rhys stuck to my back and we moved through the attackers like knife through butter. They discovered the hard way that I am not as delicate as I appear." Ianto whispered, their noses almost touching.

"A good defense mechanism. Feigning weakness" Jack said, then before either of them could respond, Jack kissed him.

"Your highness, you are getting wet" Ianto whispered.

"Your highness… you are getting hard" Jack replied.

Ianto grinned.

Ah. There. A slip. He knew damned well. He probably knew all along that he was bonded to a fellow prince. Had to, the Old Blood unmistakable. Jack clearly had good tutors who no doubt taught him what to look for, how to react and above all … what it means.

Cheeky bugger.

Ianto leaned in and took another kiss, deepening it as the water stated to feel warmer. Jack moaned as he stepped under the spray and let Ianto's hands slide over him, down to his trousers where a little fumbling before the heavy fabric simply… fell off. Oops. Right? Oh my. Ianto's mouth moved into a smile and Jack felt it against his own as they continued to kiss languidly, those hands… jumping fregglets… those hands. Jack's head fell back and he cried out as he came. Loudly, messily and surprisingly, his knees buckling as Ianto slammed against him to hold him to the wall, still kissing and nuzzling as Jack bucked against him.

"And now… it seems we are both dirty again" Ianto sighed with a fake eye roll and Jack registered the cum against his stomach where Ianto had bucked back.

Really?

Oh.

Nice.

Very nice ta.