Huge Ajax's Arc

Chapter 137 of 619

Ajax kept working the north wall while the two men sat across the fire. He set another stone, then a course cap. When he looked up again, Marco was on his feet. Asher stood with him. Marco spoke low. Asher nodded once and started toward the path that ran behind the storage shed, away from the crew's sightline. Marco went after Asher and the two of them cut behind the shed, out of sight of the wall crew, the mason, and the hired men hauling stone from the cart. Behind the shed the ground dropped into a hollow of sea grass. Asher stopped there and turned. Marco walked up close enough that their chests almost touched. "You sure," Asher said. "Yes," Marco said. Asher reached for Marco's shirt and pulled him close. Marco drew Asher in by the front of his shirt, and the two of them shared a hard kiss. Marco pushed him a step back into the grass and Asher's hands ran up Marco's ribs and into his hair. They stayed like that a long minute, hands and kisses and no words. Marco pulled back once to look at him. Asher's chain hung against his sweat. Marco touched it with two fingers, then kissed him again. When they stopped, both breathing hard, Asher pressed his forehead to Marco's. Marco flexed his biceps hard as Asher felt them. They came back clothed around the shed side by side. Five days to the gate. Two of his sworn men had chosen each other, and the wall kept rising.