Chapter Text
That was the last of their things. Marcus set the vase down on its pedestal and sighed in relief, turning around towards his new hall.
The estate was smaller, but there were only about five people living in it- himself, Set and three servants. So for that , it felt rather big. The gardens were being landscaped, and they had the good fortune of having a stream run nearby to provide fresh water. It had been a very good deal; Marcus was sure that, without Vinicius, they wouldn't have gotten it.
Joyful, he walked outside while he stretched. The place felt a bit barren yet, but they'd work on that. He went to check on Set, who was in charge of the studio and the library.
"Need help?" he offered, not before he snuck behind his partner for a kiss.
Set smiled at the kiss. He was almost done with the library, and just needed to organize the bookshelf dedicated to Marcus's writings. "I'm almost done. I was actually about to go looking for you— Do you want these sorted chronologically, or alphabetically? If chronologically, date of start or date of completion?"
"Chronologically, date of start is good. Thank you, love" Marcus smiled, standing next to Set to help him with the bookshelf.
"The second edition of the poems is nearly done" he observed. "Let's take a break tonight".
Set began to sort the books and smiled when he heard that. "Great! I was starting to feel the soldiers were returning to normal already," he chuckled. "And we don't want that, Wonderboy!"
"I love when you call me that". Marcus ran his fingers over the spines of the books and stopped at one, tapping on it. "I liked this one, particularly. The fairly recent one. Though I fear your presence in my life is making my poems insufferably positive".
Set cackled. "Sometimes people need that positivity. Let's face it, everyone could benefit from having a me in their lives," Set said with airs of grandiose. "Luckily for you, you're the only one that's getting a me."
"Careful. You'll get me bragging about it" Marcus murmurs, with a wide smile, as he read over some poems and then returned the book.
It was true, and it had been about a month, but Marcus still couldn't fully believe it. He'd been very affectionate with Set since the beginning of their relationship, but he still felt like he wanted more.
As soon as they were done, the officer wrapped an arm around Set's waist and pulled him into a kiss.
Set smiled into the kiss and latched his arms around Marcus's neck, pulling him closer. He sighed through his nose, content in finding warmth against Marcus's body.
Marcus broke the kiss to take his lips down Set's neck, enthusiastic.
"Hold onto me" he says right before he picks Set up to carry him in his arms bridal style. He's strong enough to do so, despite Set's height.
Without giving his lover time to protest, he takes him into their bedroom next door.
Set squeaks and clings to him when Marcus lifts him up, then laughs. "Sometimes I forget how strong you are, when you're so soft with me all the time!" He leaves kisses on his cheek and neck and shoulder while he's being carried.
Marcus set his lover down in the bed and laid next to him, covering him in kisses. The wind closed the door quietly, and their curtains were drawn. This soft sunset light was enough for them.
He began giving Set more kisses in the neck, enamored by his scent. He wanted to be even closer to his partner. They hadn't gotten a chance before.
Set's laughter dissolved into pleased sighs as he let his partner shower him in kisses. He'd been looking forward to this, but he also had a few ideas. His hand clutched onto Marcus's robes and pulled on them, like he was trying to get them off but waiting for permission.
Marcus muffled a laugh in Set's skin, and undid the knot that held the robes up. They slid down his body with ease, as his hands went looking under his lover's clothes. He caressed everywhere he could touch. He'd written so many poems about this moment, about this body and those eyes, and back then he didn't know he'd been dreaming about Set all along. Now, that was clear.
Set licked his lips when he saw more of Marcus's skin, hungry. His hands ran down his sides and his thumbs briefly flicked his nipples, before he ducked in and began kissing and licking down his chest. "Mmh... can I leave marks?"
The officer let out a sigh at the nipples, and stretched his neck to give Set space.
"As you wish... A mark from you is a blessing" he replies, playful, digging his fingers softly on Set's flesh.
"A poet even in bed, what a charmer!" Set laughed and nibbled at the side of his neck. He kept his teeth at bay for a second, and then bit and sucked. He kept a careful eye on Marcus to sense his reactions, if it got too painful, but by the end of it he left a nice reddish-purple spot. It looked delicious, and he immediately dove in for another one on his collarbone.
Marcus had never felt a kiss like that. It had a sting to it. Like an arrow, one he willingly took to the neck if it meant having Set close.
"Ah-! What...? How does it look?" he murmurs, caressing his lover's hair.
Set finished another one under his sternum and grinned up at him. "See for yourself." Set separated himself from him and put his hands around Marcus's hips, to let him see the (unfinished) trail of marks he left down his chest.
The officer whistled softly in admiration, and stole a kiss from Set's lips. A loving kiss.
"Here... Come to me" he smiled, letting his own hands trail down Set and up his chest to feel over the nipples. His father had once talked to him about how to handle that area. Those conversations were proving useful now that he was with Set.
Set sighed and arched his back into the touch, then let his own robes slide down to his hips. He could let Marcus have a little fun before he got started with the little something he had in mind.
"Allow me?" Marcus asked, gallant, before running his mouth down Set's neck and chest. He didn't bite or leave marks, but passionate kisses that he distributed all over before reaching the nipples.
What he had to do was, if he recalled correctly, lick. And that he did. The texture tasted sweet in his mouth, something he'd never experienced.
Set bit his lip and let out a breathy little moan of pleasure. He let himself go and wrapped his arms around Marcus's head, encouraging him to go closer, harder.
Marcus obeyed his lover's signals. He started nibbling on the nipples, alternating between them and sucking on them too. It was enjoyable once one got the hang of it. Besides, the reactions from Set kept him going.
Set let out whimpers every time Marcus sucked particularly strong, or bit particularly hard. It did wonderful things to his groin. But he couldn't get distracted. He wanted to show Marcus something he'd heard Romans tragically lack. He gently pushed his partner onto his back and sat on his legs, resuming his way kissing down his chest and stomach.
"Oh, your turn? Alright". Marcus put his hands behind his head, leaning back to relax. The way Set had reacted to that put him in the mood instantly, even more. He was willing to let him try anything. Knowing Set, Marcus would be very surprised.
Set grinned left a couple more marks down his belly, then his face hovered in front of his groin, only a thin piece of fabric separating him from his goal. He licked on top of the fabric and looked up at Marcus, as a way of asking permission.
It was already suspicious having Set so close to his groin, but when he felt the lick Marcus let out an exclamation. He immediately propped himself up to look at Set, wide-eyed and inquisitive.
"What are you-? That's dirty!"
"Is it?" Set said in a skeptical tone and grinned. "Did you not bathe this morning with me?" He let his face fall close to his groin so Marcus could feel his warm breath, but didn't lick again. "I'll stop if you want to— but where's your curiosity?"
"I- But- ah..." Marcus felt his arousal fly off the roof with such a simple gesture. Set was a diabolical creature, no doubt. "I've never heard of something like that, Set, but... I trust you".
Set grinned diabolically and pulled down the fabric in one swift pull. Faced with Marcus's full hardness, he almost could have drooled, but instead he licked a long stripe up the shaft while fondling his balls.
A sound he didn't know escaped Marcus, as his body shivered under the new sensation of Set's mouth being there. Who would've thought of something like it? Was it an Egyptian thing to do? And they seemed so serious and tame.
Without finding words, one of his hands flew desperate to hold Set's hand.
Set squeezed Marcus’s hand reassuringly and licked once again, but that wasn’t all. When he reached the head, he took it into his mouth, then hollowed out his cheeks and plunged down until the head hit the back of his throat.
The space inside Set's mouth was incredibly warm, soft and moist. Marcus let out soft moans as his mind adapted to the feeling, curling his toes. How could this feel so good, and yet the Romans never did any of this? Perhaps it was the hygiene factor, but as Set had said, they were clean.
Set pulled back until his member was almost free, then dipped down again. Squeezing Marcus’s hand with his left while massaging his balls and what he couldn’t reach of the base with his right, he settled into a slow, yet firm pace.
"Set... Set...!" Marcus gasped his lover's name, not wanting him to stop but to show appreciation. Being by himself had never felt this good. He caressed his lover's hand with his thumb, affectionate. He was glad he'd waited to do this with someone he loved.
Set hummed around him, as if saying “yes?”, and gradually picked up the pace, bobbing his head up and down. Sometimes he’d try to take him all in, making himself gag, but that was alright. Though he did have a gag reflex, he knew how to handle it.
"Feels so- it's... Ahh..." Marcus found himself losing it. He knew that soon he'd be close, and waited until it became almost unbearable to squeeze Set's hand to try and let him know. It was harder to shape words.
"Almost- Set, move-!"
Oh, Set moved, but maybe not in the way Marcus expected. He pulled back his head so that he was bobbing on about half of Marcus’s member, and quickly stroked the rest with his hand. That way he could swallow, but not choke.
Marcus wanted to get himself out of the way, to avoid exactly what Set made happen ; when he came, he came all in his lover's mouth. It wasn't sudden, he knew it was coming, and yet the moment went fast and he trembled in delight from it.
He hoped the servants couldn't hear him moaning.
Set licked up whatever he missed, lifted himself off Marcus, and swallowed. He licked his lips and smiled. “How was that, Wonderboy?”
Marcus was regaining his breath at the question. He looked down at Set with a bright smile. "How was that?! That was amazing!!"
Set grinned wider. “Told ya.” He went back up and leaned his face close. “You taste salty,” he said, as a way of reminding him what he just had in his mouth in case he didn’t want to kiss him.
Marcus smiles, flushing, and handed Set a jug of water he kept by the bed. "I don't want to find out" he laughed.
Set stuck out his tongue and downed about half of the jug. “Now can I kiss you?” he smiled, trying to ignore the hardness in his robes. This was a romantic moment, dang it.
Marcus sat up to give his lover a deep kiss. In the meantime, he ran his hands down to between Set's legs. He wasn't as bold as Set, perhaps, but he was loving and careful. His touch barely grazed Set's erection, tracing the shaft with his fingers.
Set let himself melt into the kiss, and moaned at Marcus's gentle touch. He bucked his hips in a desperate attempt to reach more of him.
With a few drops of olive oil, Marcus made his hands smoother and wrapped them both around his lover's crotch. One hand caressed the shaft, the other cupped and massaged his balls. Gentle, he slid in touches nearing Set's entrance but not directly touching it.
Set sighed and buried his hands in Marcus's hair, pulling his face closer to him. He knew better than to be scared or apprehensive, he'd done this a couple of times... Just not with someone he loved so dearly. The sensations increased by a hundredfold. "Mmh, Marcus..." he breathed.
Gently, the officer had Set lay down without breaking contact with him. As his hand strokes his lover with a good pace, he slides two fingers down to press them against the entrance. He could feel Set's breathing and heat as if it was his own, he knew he was enjoying this, but to ensure it he leaned to kiss Set gently first on the lips and then down the chest.
He'd make this the best experience possible for the both of them. Every time they laid together, Marcus would do his best for Set. He hoped this shower Set just how much the officer cherished him.
Set moaned into the kiss and held Marcus's head as he trailed down his chest. "Gods, Marcus, you're... You're perfect..." he breathed, giving himself completely to his lover. He'd never felt this good, this loved, this safe.
"I can reach for perfection when I'm with you" Marcus replies amidst kissing. He massages the sides of Set's entrance without pushing in yet, and rubbed the head of his dick with his thumb in small circles. When he'd done this for a while, then he started softly pushing his finger in. Without entering completely, he twirled it around to have Set loosen up slowly.
Set had never liked this part. The whole process had always felt invasive to him, but the climax was usually nice. But now, this invasion was somehow incredibly arousing. Marcus was giving him sensations he'd never thought he'd feel, so instead of tensing up at his touch, he felt himself melt and relax.
Ah, it seemed he was doing it right. Marcus continued giving Set's crotch attention, as his father had told him that it was important to distract the body for the preparation process. Slowly, his finger started going deeper.
"Let me know if you want me to change anything" he asked, eyes on his partner's features. The faces Set was making were getting him erect all over again.
"You just— ah, keep going," he moaned. Even though Marcus hadn't even gotten to his prostate yet, Set found himself moving his hips towards him.
Marcus heeded Set's words, and slowly but surely had one finger in after a while of careful stimulation. He searched with it until he found a spot that must've been the prostate, and brushed against it tentatively.
Set nearly screamed, had he not bitten his hand. Usually he was lucky to get his prostate stimulated near the end of sex, but now... It was so good, he could've cried. "M— More, Marcus, please—!"
Ah, he was liking it. Marcus smiled on excitement and now pushed a finger against his lover's prostate, massaging it. He'd never imagined it would feel like this for anyone. It made him want to try it, too, maybe on their second go at it.
Set spasmed with every push, every thrust of his lover's fingers, but he was dangerously close to orgasm and still wanted to feel Marcus inside of him. "Marc— Marcus, I'm— Stop, stop I'm gonna—" On the other hand, he was pretty sure he could keep going.
As soon as Marcus was told to stop, he slowed his pace to a halt and moved his finger away.
"You're right... We shouldn't be hasty" he replied, enamored, and pushes in a second finger. He'd have to prepare Set well for him to take Marcus inside. The officer was looking forward to that moment of union between the two, but he couldn't be impatient when it came to Set's comfort.
Set was slightly disappointed when he came down from his unfulfilled orgasm, but infinitely pleased that he could keep going. "Take— all the time you need, Marcus," he gasped, taking in the second finger without a problem. Being so teasingly close to his climax and then not was... exhilarating.
Set was taking it with ease. Marcus imagined it must be easier for him since he'd had experience, but he still moved his fingers in and out carefully. When he felt the muscle around him loosen up, then he massaged the prostate again. He pressed the two fingers against it and rubbed, while his other hand took Set's member again and stroked it squeezing lightly. He was lost in the way Set was responding, following his movements with his eyes as if hypnotized.
Set's moaning became progressively louder again. One hand went to Marcus's head, the other to cover his mouth. His hips bucked wildly.
Completely in love, Marcus leaned on his lover's touch. Even though he was the one doing Set, he felt completely at his lover's mercy since every gesture and sound Set made had Marcus enraptured. He felt he could write a thousand poems about this.
"My love, you're a god on Earth" he murmured, lovingly. His pace grew quicker. He wanted to see the face of his Set as he came.
It didn't take long. Set's breathing grew erratic, and his bite on his hand became more painful. "Marcus— Marcus, I'll—" Set came with a higher-pitched moan, eyebrows knit together, eyes closed, legs thrashing, hips thrusting rhythmically onto his lover's touch.
A sight so beautiful as that one, Marcus was sure, could make any man fall for Set. He stopped thrusting his fingers in and hugged Set by the neck, kissing him passionately as he positioned himself against his loosened entrance. He couldn't be patient and contain himself any more, now that he'd seen Set come all over his chest.
Set barely even had time to breathe when Marcus was kissing him and positioning himself. He needed a break, time to cool down, but... There was something thrilling about not stopping. "Come— Come closer— Come in, Marcus, please—" he gasped, still reeling from his orgasm, kissing everywhere he could reach.
Drawn in by Set's words, Marcus oiled himself hastily and went in. He had to slow down, biting back a gasp that turned into moaning. Despite having loosened Set up, the tightness was there and it felt like an embrace. He felt his arms tremble slightly around his lover, but he didn't stop.
Set's tone pitched higher with every movement. "Gods— Gods, Marcus— Marcus, you're so good— It's too much— Too— Keep going, keep—"
Marcus couldn't help but keep moving. The swaying of his hips grew faster on a steady pace, and he felt himself hit against Set's prostate every time. The scent, the sounds, they made him lose control of himself. All he felt was love for Set.
Set was... beginning to lose track of things. Where he was. What time it was. All he knew was Marcus, and Marcus was giving him too many sensations at once. He didn't even realize the tears that flowed down his cheeks. He clutched onto his lover with everything, from his legs to his arms to his nails, and called out his name like a prayer.
Perhaps it was the way Set was clinging to him that finally pushed Marcus over the edge. To know someone existed that would never leave him or judge him, someone who supported him and looked after him; the realization hit him in that moment, and he was filled with overwhelming love. With a stronger moan, he came before he had time to separate himself from Set.
The sensation of being filled up wasn't as powerful for Set as the sound Marcus made when he came, which, with a well-timed thrust to his prostate, sent him over the edge again. Set didn't know if he screamed or if the sound was lost in his throat, but he clutched Marcus closer, tighter, no matter how dirty or sweaty they were.
For a few seconds, the world wiped off and everything was their bodies. The connection Marcus felt was divine. There were no other words to describe such a deep bond, and this was probably mostly his romantic self speaking, but in their world it was as if the Gods had chosen them to be together.
He slid off Set with a whimper, let himself fall next to his lover to seek his lips in a soft kiss. No words were needed, there'd be time for that later.
Set couldn't form words for a good few minutes after Marcus pulled out of him, but his trembling lips frantically searched for his partner's while his mind was in a haze.
"... I love you" were Marcus' first words after he regained his breath, still in the middle of a deep kiss. He felt like his soul had been taken to Olympus and back, and yet his heart felt itself brush with the divine whenever Set's soft lips met his own.
The reality of that love made Marcus tear up, and though he tried to calm himself down, he was too joyful to stop.
"I... I lo...ve you... too," Set managed, words sluggish, and when his eyes focused he saw Marcus in tears. But then he realized those were tears of joy. Set wiped his own tears, smiled, held Marcus's face in his hands, and pulled him in for a kiss.