Traveler 9
Journey
by Gillian
August 1421 S.R
"I have a bath drawn, Sam," Frodo called from the bathroom.
"Oh, taa," Sam called gratefully, unbuttoning his sweaty work shirt as he walked down the hall. It had been a long hot afternoon in the garden and the new orchard, and Frodo had carried Fael inside an hour before to check on Bilbo and get dinner started. Shirt gaping and hands already looping braces off his shoulders Sam entered the bathroom and stopped short. Frodo was wrapped in a towel bending over the dresser and unfastening Fael's nappy.
"I thought we'd all bathe together to save time," he said, lifting the baby up and patting his dimpled bottom. "Hop in and I'll hand him to you?"
They'd both taken Fael into the bath with them before, but never all three together and Sam considered it for a moment while he automatically unbuttoned his breeches. The bath was plenty big enough he supposed.
"All right," he agreed, kicking his clothes aside and stepping into the tub. The water was just the right heat and he relaxed back into it with a pleasurable sigh, feeling the aches in his over used muscles throb and stretch.
"Don't go to sleep yet," Frodo warned and Sam opened his eyes and lifted his hands for Fael.
"Small chance of that," Sam retorted, holding the sturdy baby under his arms and lowering him gently into the water to rest on his father's knee. Fael squealed and wriggled his pleasure.
"Are you too tired?" Frodo said anxiously, climbing in opposite and spreading his legs on either side of Sam. It was a cosy fit and Sam suddenly became aware of a wet naked Frodo sitting pressed opposite him. He just as quickly dismissed those thoughts as Fael wriggled and giggled his pleasure.
"I saw that," Frodo teased, picking the soap out of the dish and wetting the flannel.
"Proves I'm not too tired," Sam shot back comfortably and Frodo chuckled. "This was a good idea, love. Let's try it again another time when it's just the two of us, hmm?"
Frodo pinkened, then hid his blush under the wet soapy flannel. "I'll wash first, then hold the baby while you wash."
"Hold the baby?" Sam said into Fael's wide delighted eyes. "How about I play with the baby, hey? How's that sound, my sunshine?"
Fael splashed the water with both hands, sputtering in surprise as he soaked himself. His fathers laughed and after a moment he did too, gurgling and splashing again.
"Ack, it's a sea monster!" Sam exclaimed, steadying Fael on his knees with one hand and using the other to scoop some water up. "Take that!" he said, tossing the handful on the baby's shoulders. "And that!"
Fael splashed back and soon there was an inch of water on the tile floor and Sam's honey curls were dripping wet.
"Don't get him too excited," Frodo warned, deftly applying the flannel and soap to himself. "I've fed him already and was hoping to put him down with his bottle after the bath."
"An early night?" Sam said, cuddling the slippery baby to his broad chest and shaking dripping curls on his face. Fael squealed and tried to grab his father's hair but Sam eluded him and started blowing raspberry kisses on his cheeks and round tummy.
"Oh, Sam," Frodo chided. "Hand him here and wash yourself." He accepted the baby and sat him on one knee. "I said I want him calm, not over excited."
"We were just playing," Sam said reasonably, grabbing a flannel and soap and getting to work. Meanwhile Frodo began to wash Fael with his flannel, smoothing the warm water over him in calming strokes. "This is fine, isn't it?' Sam said happily. "We should do this more often."
For some reason Frodo pinkened again and wouldn't meet Sam's curious eye. The hobbit just dismissed it and finished his wash.
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"Rabbit stew?" Sam said, sniffing pleasurably as he sat down to table. "My favourite!"
"Tom bought a brace around yesterday, I hid them for a surprise. Here." He handed Sam Fael's bottle and busied himself at the stove. Sam took the glass bottle, not even having to coax Fael as the baby's plump little hands eagerly reached for it.
"Well, it's a nice surprise," Sam said slowly, tilting his head and trying to catch Frodo's eye again as he bustled between stove and table. "Frodo?"
"Bilbo had his plate while I fed Fael," Frodo was saying. "He said he fancied an early night too."
A light began to dawn and Sam looked down at Fael contentedly draining his bottle, then back up to Frodo's averted face. "My favourite dinner," he mused. "Nice hot bath, early night for Bilbo..." He cast Frodo a teasing glance. "Am I being seduced, love?"
Frodo stilled, bent over the pot in the middle of the table, then he looked up through his fringe of umber curls and smiled, slightly.
"Only if you want to be."
Sam's heartbeat began to speed up at that look, soft and warm and inviting all at once. But not demanding, not urgent. Gentle, but strong, like Frodo himself. Sam wondered if Frodo knew what he could do to him, with just that look.
"Sounds like a fine plan," Sam managed, surprised to hear his voice was hoarse. He cleared his throat as Frodo smiled a little more widely then sat down at the table opposite.
"Fael's sticking to his part of the plan," he murmured, and looking down Sam saw soft little starfish hands growing lax around the bottle, and wide blue eyes slitted and drowsy as the strong suckling gentled to a sleepy pull.
"Another minute and I'll lay him down," Sam whispered. He looked up at Frodo, still hearing the excited pound of his own heartbeat in his ears. "Tonight, love?"
Frodo's heart was in his own eyes. "Please," he whispered.
Just that pleading little demand set fire to Sam and he looked helplessly at the huge steaming pot of his favourite meal. "Will that keep for a while, d'you think?"
Frodo already had the lid in his hands. "Rabbit stew is famously better for sitting a spell," he declared shakily. Then he was at the door and Sam carefully stood, anxious not to waken the dozing babe.
In their bedroom Frodo was pulling back the covers on Fael's crib and Sam's breath grew even shorter at the picture he made wrapped in his warm dressing gown, hair still a little damp at the temples, skin glowing and fresh from his bath. And from excitement, Sam realised as his sensitive nose caught a whiff of his love as he laid the baby in his cradle.
"Time to use your wonderful new screen," Frodo murmured as he drew it across.
Sam had to blush. He'd only built the thing after Frodo's promise to take him and he remembered Frodo's helpless laughter as he'd sheepishly presented it for his inspection. But it was a fine piece of work too, Sam admitted, even if he was admiring his own work.
Frodo was waiting by the bed and Sam took a step closer, a little nervousness mixed in with his anticipation. He wanted this, oh how he wanted it. But the last weeks Fael had been teething and they had been tired and the days had just slipped past. How glad he was that Frodo had taken the decision into his hands!
With a sigh Frodo was wrapping arms around him and Sam melted as he always did at the touch. It seemed so natural, so right, this wonder of their love. To come together like this seemed so obvious now Sam wondered that he had gone so much of his life without even thinking about it.
"Come to bed, love," Frodo murmured. "There's something I want to show you."
Thinking he knew what Frodo meant Sam let himself be lead, watching the other hobbit extinguish the lamps one by one until there were only the two burning, the tiny one by Fael's crib, illuminating the fine carved screen, and the one by their bed. Sam felt Frodo stop and let himself be urged onto the bed. Nerves and excitement jangling in equal measure Sam climbed between the crisp sheets and scooted over.
"I remember hearing about something ages ago," Frodo whispered lowly, cuddling up to Sam's side, one hand smoothing over his broad chest. "And it made me curious at the time. But I quite forgot it I think, as the years passed. It's only lately I've been thinking on it again, and wondering... Sam...?"
Wondering why Frodo was talking when all he wanted now were kisses, Sam snuggled closer and hummed. "Hm?"
"Stop me if I do something you don't like, all right?"
Here it comes, Sam thought, hands gripping at Frodo for a moment. He forced himself to relax. This was going to be good, he knew it. This was Frodo next to him now, Frodo who would soon be on top of him, inside him... It would be very very good.
But Frodo wasn't in any hurry to climb on top of Sam. Instead he stroked Sam's chin with his fingers then turned his head, smiling softly into Sam's eyes, before leaning forward for a kiss. Happy to oblige Sam met the kiss eagerly, closing his eyes as Frodo took the lead, tongue softly rasping, head angling and pressing him back into the pillow.
How different it felt, Sam marveled drowsily, to be the kissed rather than the kisser. How sensual and wonderful to lay back and let Frodo nip gently at his lips, stroke kisses down his chin, suckle briefly at his neck.
"Oh, Frodo," he murmured, feeling his senses spinning and his head all over the place. He wanted to find words, to tell Frodo how good this was, how right, but when Frodo lifted his head and asked him in a murmur if he was all right Sam could only nod and tug Frodo's lips back to that spot on his neck, yes, that was it, right there.
His robe was being gently parted and Sam automatically shifted. He hadn't even realised he was still wrapped in it! Now Frodo's talented mouth was skimming his chest and Sam's nipples began to throb in anticipation. Sometimes Frodo had kissed or stroked him there in the past but somehow his body just knew that tonight it would be different, and sure enough after just the lightest kiss Frodo's mouth was touching him there, licking him there, suckling, just hard enough there to make him arch.
Who would have known that part of him was so sensitive? Sam tangled his fingers in Frodo's curls and tugged those lips over to his neglected nipple and Frodo was laughing softly against him for a moment, even the puffs of his breath enough to harden the small nub and make it throb.
Other parts of Sam were hardening too and suddenly he was impatient for more. Once he might have been too shy to ask but now it was more like a demand as he tugged not so gently on tumbled curls and lifted his head to press a hard kiss on swollen lips.
"More," he half growled and now the soft and gentle touches made way for a firmer grip as Frodo pulled away from gripping hands and bent back over Sam's body, those maddening lips now on his breast, his belly, that white sensitive crease at the top of his leg.
He wanted Frodo's hand on him, Frodo's weight on him, Frodo's body pressing him into the mattress providing that delicious friction that would escalate this pleasure and bring it to its crescendo.
But instead he got one moment of frustrating emptiness as Frodo pulled away from him... And then white hot heat around the hardness that had him arching again, eyes flying open in disbelief.
"Frodo!" he exclaimed hoarsely, but this time Frodo didn't pull back and ask him if he was all right. This time Frodo's head bobbed and his burning mouth took Sam deeper and then there were no more words as Sam pushed his head back into the pillow and gave into the greatest pleasure he had ever known.
It felt like forever although it was actually an embarrassingly short time before Sam was convulsing and Frodo was again kissing his way over Sam's body, making his way back to his lips. Sam's eyes felt like they were rolling back into his head and that he was beyond even one coherent word, let alone an actual movement. Then Frodo pressed their lips together and Sam tasted himself there. With a gasp he found the strength to move, wrapping both arms around his lover and dragging him close.
"You... I... it..." Sam managed. "Why?"
"Why what?" Frodo murmured ardently, pressing kisses to his lips and jaw.
Sam tried to gather his thoughts, Frodo was hot and hard against him, his own body was languid and lax, his hands still heavy where they stroked Frodo's back. "Why did you wait so long?" was all he could think of to say in the end.
Frodo huffed another chuckle, his hands skimming down Sam's body in a way that made the hobbit's eyes open wide. "I wanted you all nice and relaxed," he whispered.
Sam spread his legs and shifted down a bit, his body instinctively knowing what to do. "Then do it, love," he said tenderly. "For if I was any more relaxed I'd melt right into this bed."
Hands shaking Frodo caught Sam's sturdy thighs and pressed them back, his eyes wildly excited in the dimness.
"Stop me if I hurt you," he warned, pressing against Sam, but Sam couldn't and wouldn't have stopped him for the world. Despite his relaxed state there was some little pain along with the pressure, but Frodo went slowly, his breath hitching with every stop, his fine pale skin flushed and simmering.
"Oh, Sam," he moaned at last when he was settled deep within in him.
Sam's hand stroked up Frodo's sides, feeling the delicious pressure and the tender weight of Frodo pressing him down. He was full of Frodo, and the very thought was almost as exciting as the act. Frodo was quivering above him and Sam gripped him hard and drew him down.
"Do it," he begged and Frodo needed no more encouragement than that.
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Midnight found them cross legged on the bedroom rug, devouring bowls of Frodo's fine rabbit stew.
"Are you sure you're all right, Sam?" Frodo asked half anxiously as Sam shifted a little.
"You should know," Sam reminded him. "You've been where I am now more'n once. How was it for you?"
"A little tender," Frodo admitted. "But not enough to be called painful. It gets easier," he volunteered, then looked self conscious. "That is, if you want to do it again."
"I do," Sam confirmed instantly. "Right now if I thought either of us was up to it."
Frodo grinned in relief and helped himself to another ladle full of stew. "I can't believe I was so nervous," he said cheerfully.
"And I," Sam said, raising his eyebrows meaningfully. "Can't believe you knew how to do something like that all this time and didn't try it before."
"I didn't know how to do it!" Frodo denied. "I just heard about it, that's all."
"From where?"
Frodo shrugged, mouth full. "No idea," he managed. "It was ages ago." He shot Sam a teasing glance. "I'd quite forgotten it until recently. Then once I started thinking about it I couldn't get it off my mind."
"I don't think I'll be getting it off my mind any time soon either." Sam nudged Frodo's shoulder and the other hobbit blushed a little. Sam leaned closer. "I can't wait to try it for myself," he murmured and Frodo blushed even harder and nudged him back.
"Me either," he confided.
"You know," Sam said pensively. "Not so long ago I'd have said I knew everything about you and me, and yet here we are still learnin' new things about each other. "D'you think it will always be like that?"
"I expect so," Frodo said comfortably. "I know you as well as I know myself, love, but you're a constant surprise and amazement to me!"
"I am?" said Sam, astonished. "Me?"
Frodo snorted, covering his mouth to stifle his laughter and casting a look at the cradle where Fael still lay sleeping sweetly. "Of course you," he chuckled quietly. "Who else?"
"I'm not the one hiding his light under a bushel," Sam pointed out, nodding back towards their tumbled bed clothes.
"No?" Frodo said archly. "Dragging me off to be healed whether I liked it or not?"
"Well," Sam began, but Frodo wasn't nearly done.
"Standing up to Lord Elrond and a famous healer like Nestadren?"
"I wouldn't say I stood up to them," Sam said uncomfortably. "I might have pointed out a few things-"
"Facing wild elves with naught but a stone in your hand."
"Oh, well-"
Frodo scooted an inch or so closer and wrapped his arm around Sam's sturdy waist.
"Loving me," he said in a whisper and Sam was silenced.
"Every day you surprise me, love," Frodo said, laying his head on Sam's shoulder and feeling Sam's cheek rest on his crown. He half closed his eyes, contentment flooding him. "Every day I love you more."
"No more'n I love you, my dearest Frodo," Sam said thickly. "Which doubtless should of surprised me, but never ever did."
Frodo smiled sleepily, thinking they should probably move to their bed but too full with rabbit stew and love to bother. It seemed Sam was of the same mind, they snuggled close in their cosy little room with their baby snoring softly a few feet away, and watched the moonlight shadows move slowly across the floor.
And looked forward to all the surprises ahead.
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