Love's Sweet Revenge

Verascon had been most pleased with the recovery of his-ahem-family jewels, and had gladly paid the King of Thieves his requested fee. Autolycus, in turn, was most pleased with being finished with business for the moment and having a hefty pouch of dinars weighing down his belt as a result, even after giving Joxer a fair cut of the profit. He had momentarily debated on the way back to Arta whether he'd do better taking the jewels and selling them to another bidder, but under close inspection, he'd estimated that they truly weren't worth anything near what Verascon had offered. So he felt satisfied with the deal, and could even feel a little pride at doing the "right thing" and the most profitable thing at the same time. And on top of that, Joxer was still happily at his side, pleased at not having caused any major trouble on their mission and apparently quite willing to stick around for a while longer.

Now was the time for Autolycus to set his plan for seduction into play. He'd had plenty of time to think about it on the journey back to the village and was most eager for the fun to begin. If Joxer was still depressed over the news about Xena and Gabby, he was hiding it pretty well. That gave Auto extra hope that by the end of the day, Joxer would be sharing his bed, thoughts of a particular young lady the furthest thing from his mind.

While Joxer was busy with a small but time-consuming errand the King of Thieves had sent him on, Auto rented a room above the village tavern for the night. He talked to the tavern's proprietor and for a well-worth-it fee, arranged for a "celebratory" dinner to be readied and sent to the room that evening at sunset. The finest vintage wine the tavern could spare would be theirs to enjoy along with the meal. Auto also made sure the room was appointed with the necessary accoutrements to create an intimate-but not, he hoped, intimidatingly so-environment: scented candles, fine silken sheets...all the luxuries that could be found. And mostly stolen, though since he had a little money to burn he had actually-novel a concept as it was-paid for some of them.

He got a haircut, had his mustache trimmed to symmetric perfection, and picked out some brand new and particularly flattering clothes before returning to the room. He felt good, he felt handsome and-from the looks some of the ladies had been giving him as he'd wandered through town-quite desirable, but he still felt worried. He was tense with nervous energy, especially after having spent the past two days barely able to think of anything except his companion. Now the time had come to finally act on his feelings, something he had to do before they threatened to consume him and drive him utterly mad.

A nice bath might help me relax, he decided, and so he ordered hot water for the tub, welcoming the steaming warmth when he settled into it shortly thereafter. He closed his eyes and sank down into the water, letting it soothe his tired and tense muscles. But it couldn't soothe his mind, where still all he could see and think about was Joxer. Gods, how he wanted that man! Wanted him more than he had ever wanted anything in his life. If his desire had not been so blinding, he no doubt would have questioned its origin-and why his opinion of Joxer had changed so radically in such a short period of time. But that was the power of the Gods: the ability to cloud mortals' minds as they chose. And whe cam came to clouding rational thought, lust was pretty much the logical mind's worst enemy.

Mentally playing out his planned seduction as he tried to unwind, he found he was getting hard just from the expectation, the wonderful images pouring forth in his mind. So much for relaxing, he sighed to himself. He slid one hand slowly down his body, down to relieve the building ache in his crotch. He wished he could save himself for the evening ahead but knew it would leave him too completely distracted if he didn't relieve some of the sexual tension he was feeling right now.

His cock was stiff and ready, and he bit down on his lip to suppress a moan as he wrapped his hand around the shaft and began pleasuring himself. He let his mind wander to thoughts of everything he wanted to do to Joxer, everything he hoped Joxer might do to him in return. He imagined Joxer's hand on his cock instead of his own, pumping him with those long, lovely fingers...then his mouth, those succulent lips, sucking him off with abandon...then Joxer beneath him, bare assed and face down on the bed, while Auto plunged fiercely down into his tight, hot hole...

Before he knew it, his whole body shuddered with the release of his pent-up desires, semen slickening his hand until it dissipated into the warm water around him. He released his grip on his cock as it began to soften in his hand, and he felt much better. Calmed and subdued after the quick fix yet still feeling eager for the "main event" to begin, Auto got out of the tub and dried off.

He dressed and fussed even more than usual over his appearance, and was definitely pleased with the results. "Autolycus, my friend, if anyone's got the goods to pull this off, it's you," he complemented himself. Glancing out the window and noticing the goldentinged light of late afternoon approaching, he finished up and headed out to meet Joxer downstairs.

* * * * *

"Wow..." Joxer gushed as they entered the room together a short while later. Dinner had been brought upstairs while they'd enjoyed a few ales in the tavern and Auto had explained what he had set up for the evening (sans the seduction, of course). "Do you live it up like this all the time, Auto? Geez, the warrior life never has perks like this. Usually with Xena you're lucky if you get to spend the night sleeping with Argo in a barn somewhere."

"Oh, I'm not always this extravagant, but we do have something to celebrate, don't we?" Auto insisted, feeling completely at his most charming. After pulling out a chair at the small dining table for Joxer, he lit two gently-perfumed candles and started to pour the fragrant red wine from the carafe into Joxer's glass. He also poured some for himself, then sat down across from the other man. His eyes sparkled like fine crystal as he lifted his glass and toasted, "To our first successful partnership." ...And may that partnership lead to many more...interesting...adventures in the near future, he added to himself.

Joxer was practically glowing as he met Auto's glass with a clink of his own, his normally pale cheeks flushed for once with pride and excitement. Auto smiled in return, seeing how Joxer was already practically eating out of his hands (Ooh, there was a dangerous thought...)

As they dove into the food, Auto couldn't help believing that this was going to be easier than he had dared to think...

* * * * *

The evening progressed exceedingly well. The dinner wasn't gourmet, but what could you expect from a small village tavern, after all. It was at least well cooked, and the meat tasted fresh, not gamey in the least. The wine had loosened up Auto enough to take off most of what remained of his nervousness, and Joxer seemed ready to take on the world, Auto having successfully fed his ego as well as his stomach quwellwell throughout the evening.

"We should go do soing ing to really celebrate, like, like...go to the gambling hall for a while!" Joxer enthused, but Auto merely shook his head in the negative.

"Gambling's only good for losing all those dinars we just earned, my friend-except when you're the one in charge of the game. But that's a lesson for another day." By this point, Auto had managed to maneuver them both away from the dining table and to the edge of the bed to finish the wine-not so difficult, as there was very little other furniture in the small room, and the chairs at the dining table were not particularly comfortable.

Joxer pickp thp the intended hint in Auto's words, and asked hopefully, "So, you mean, you don't mind me hanging around some more? 'Cause I was kind of thinking, maybe when Xena and Gabrielle get back, I should stop hanging around with them so much. I don't want to...well, I'm not sure how comfortable I'd be about it right now."

"Of course I don't mind, Joxer..." Auto wrapped a "friendly" arm around the other man's shoulders. "You can hang around with me as long as you want. Why should I mind?"

"Well, um...it's just...most people...well, Xena and Gabrielle are about the only ones who seem to not want to kill me when I'm around them for more than about...oh, ten minutes." Joxer frowned.

Such a cute little frown, Auto mused, wanting nothing more than to kiss it away. His pulse was quickening as he knew it was almost time to make his move. "Nonsense. Do you think I would've prepared all of this tonight if I wanted you to go away?"

"Oh. Yeah, I guess not." The frown was quickly gone. "So," Joxer continued cheerily, "if you don't want to go gambling tonight, what d'you want to do instead?"

Auto grinned. He'd just been served the perfect setup. Right on a plate.

"What do I want to do?" he repeated the question slowly, feeling the weight of Joxer's expectant but oh-so-innocent gaze upon him. "What I want to do, Joxer, more than anything else right now, is this..."

And with that, Autolycus pulled Joxer to him, planting his mouth quickly and firmly onto the other man's lips. Joxer stiffened in shock let let out a surprised whimper, but his response only added to Auto's desire. He'd expected and even hoped for a little fight. Joxer struggled under the unexpected advance, but Auto wouldn't release him, not now when he finally had him right where he wanted him.

Finally he forced himself to release his love's protesting mouth (though not his body, no-he wasn't going to give Joxer the chance to try to run away on him) and Joxer squeaked out, "What did you do that for?!"

"Isn't it obvious, Joxer? I want you. I love you. By the Gods, you are the sexiest man to ever walk upon this Earth," Autolycus sighed, aching for another chance to kiss those lips. Joxer was too shocked at this point to even move, his wide eyes locked on Auto like a cornered animal in a hunter's snare. "Please, don't reject me," Auto begged. "I may be the King of Thieves, but you, Joxer the Mighty, have stolen my heart." Tartarus, did I just say that?! Talk about corny lines...

"Me?! You're...you love me? Bbut...but..." Auto stopped Joxer's protests with another kiss, this time catching the other man open-mouthed, mid-exclamation. His tongue probed forward, savoring the warm, sweet depths of Joxer's mouth. And gradually, he noticed, Joxer's defenses began to melt away with his persistence. Those muscles that had gone so taught in protest under his groping hands started to relax. Joxer's lips began to respond to Auto's urgings. His tongue even met Auto's briefly, the touch eliciting a moan from both men. Quickly, Joxer pulled away, gasping for air, clearly shocked at his own behavior as well as that of his companion.

"I...I don't understand..." Joxer said, shaking his head. "Why do you want me?"

"Because, silly, you're handsome, charming, brave, ssssexy..." Auto's finger traced down Joxer's neck teasingly as he drew out that last word.

"I am?" Joxer asked, looking questioningly into Auto's eyes. "No one...nobody's ever told me that before."

"Then the world is full of fools, if they can't see what I do. I think you are all of the above. Please, I want to make love to you...Please, Joxer, my love, I'd do anything for you..."

Instead of Joxer's mouth, this time he dove for his neck, that long, so erotically graceful neck. Joxer arched back in surprised delight, gasping, "Auto...oh... oooooh...!" as his hands reached for the thief's back for support.

Yes, now we're getting somewhere, Auto sighed, his mouth continuing to taste and caress the soft skin of the other man's neck, moving up slowly now, back to his mouth...that mouth that now accepted him eagerly.

Oh Gods, the taste was so sweet. Like nectar, like Ambrosia. Auto's hard cock pulsed with the need for release; his desire was so strong he was certain he'd pass out from sensory overload at any moment. But yet again, Joxer started resisting him as he started trying to work his hands under the warrior's clothing. "Wait... wait a second...please..." Joxer gasped.

With the last of his willpower, Auto paused, easing himself slightly off his love. He wanted him, but he didn't want to risk losing him because he moved too quickly and scared him off.

Joxer's face was flushed with desire, but his eyes still betrayed his uncertainty. "Auto, I've never...not with a...a man...I don't know how I feel about this. I mean, you-you're certainly a goodlooking, I mean... oh, Hades, I don't know what I mean," Joxer finished in exasperation, turning away in embarrassment.

"It's okay, Joxer...I'm sorry. You just...being this close to you, I couldn't help myself any longer. Would it help any if I told you I've never felt like this about a man before either?" Auto laughed nervously. "I don't think I've ever felt this way about anyone before. But I'm willing to give it a try. And I bet I can make you feel...real good...just give me a chance. Don't tell me you didn't just enjoy that kiss." He started creeping back towards the other man, his mouth settling close to Joxer's ear. He blew gently upon it and murmured, "I heard you moaning when I touched you..." He smiled when Joxer's body trembled as his lips eversolightly brushed the ear..."I see the way you're responding to me now..." He teased the tender lobe, teeth gently bruising the skin, causing Joxer to whimper in agony..."Just give in and let it happen..."

Joxer turned his mouth to meet Auto's, giving his wordless acceptance of the offer. This time the kiss went on endlessly and was returned without restraint. When Joxer grasped at Auto's body to pull him close, the thief wanted to cry out in joy, knowing that he'd won the first battle of the evening. "Mmm...yes...oh yes..." he sighed, his hands sliding under Joxer's vest, under his shirt, finding the cool, soft skin awaiting his attention. While his mouth refused to leave Joxer's, his fingers struggled to untie the leather strips of his love's vest, tossing it aside, then began on the shirt. Soon Joxer was barechested in his arms and Auto's senses reeled, the feeling of the taught muscles-the feeling of this man in his arms, so strong, so desirable, almost too much to bear.

Skin like china, so pale and perfect... Auto's mouth trailed down to one bare shoulder, nibbling hungrily at it, enjoying Joxer's every soft sigh and cry of surprised delight, the long fingers digging firmly and almost painfully into his own back.

He pushed Joxer down onto his back and straddled him, sitting up on top of his thighs so he could savor the sight of his love beneath him. Joxer gazed up at him, his chest flushed and heaving, his brown eyes bright and wide with nervous anticipation. Feeling the weight of Joxer's stare, Auto removed his own vest and blouse, but slowly, teasingly, seeing and enjoying the effect his "show" was having on Joxer. Finally undressed from the waist up, Auto coaxed softly, "Touch me, Joxer. I want to feel your hands on me."

Joxer reached up eagerly to touch Auto's shoulders, the callused fingertips feeling wonderfully rough on his bare skin. "I wish I had a body like yours..." Joxer sighed.

"You do...my body is yours now...to do whatever you want with. Mmm...yeah, like that..." Auto arched back as the tentative fingers ran across his chest, down over his nipples. Joxer paused, tracing back over those pinpoints of pleasure that stiffened under his gentle touch.

"Oh Jox..." Auto moaned, lowering himself onto his love's body, pressing bare flesh to bare flesh for the first time. Entwining and wrapping together with arms and legs, they kissed again with a force that left Auto gasping for breath when his mouth was finally released. Joxer barely gave him a chance to let out his first deep breath of air, then he was grabbing him for another kiss, his tongue probing the other man's mouth hungrily. It was almost hard to believe that this was the same man who'd been so taken aback by Auto's advances only minutes before.

He could feel the hardness announcing its presence between Joxer's legs and he loved the way it felt, rubbing against his own erection as they pressed together, as if trying to meld together into one body. Auto's hands reached down to cup and squeeze Joxer's wonderfully firm ass, pushing him even harder up against his own body. "You feel so good...oh baby..."

Joxer gave no protest as Auto's hands moved around, finding the laces that held the tight trousers in place. Instead, he simply lay back and begged, "Please...I'm gonna burst if you don't get me out of these..."

It wasn't actually that far from an overstatement, for Auto could see just how tightly the leather was stretched over Joxer's crotch. He ran his hand down the length of the bulge hidden within and Joxer let out a deep moan, his head dropping back onto the pillow as he cried out for mercy.

Auto decided not to torture the poor baby any longer and to give him just what he wanted. He had the laces undone and started sliding the tight pants down Joxer's slim hips, then off over his feet, managing to suppress a giggle at the sight of the cherryandbanana colored shorts Joxer wore underneath. He'd forgotten about those, having seen them only once before when Joxer had been hanging from them, thanks to a Jett-induced weggie. He kept from giggling by pressing his mouth against Joxer's tender inner thigh, placing a line of kisses and playful bites up it to his crotch, just to the edge of the shorts. Joxer's cries were growing louder, his body shuddering under each and every intimate touch. The front of his shorts were damp with precum, and Auto couldn't help but slide up and press his mouth against the wet spot, exhaling his warm breath onto the bulge that was waiting for his attentions beneath the fabric.

"Oh Gods...oh...Auto!" was all Joxer could keep moaning, louder and louder. Damn, the neighbors sure aren't gonna have any doubts about what's going on in this room tonight, Auto thought to himself, considering Joxer's rather vocal tendencies. Not that he minded, for it was only making him more turned on, if that was humanly possible.

Finally he couldn't play games any longer. He needed Joxer's cock now. His hands slid up Joxer's thighs, up to his stomach then down again, catching the waistband of the shorts and pulling them down with one smooth movement. His love's sex sprang to attention once freed from confinement, and Auto savored the sight of it in all its stiff beauty. He briefly paused to finish getting himself undressed before granting himself the prize of being able to taste Joxer's cock.

The young man yelped loudly and clutched the bedsheets as Auto began sucking him with an almost desperate fervor. Though inexperienced at this particular form of sexplay, he got the impression Joxer was sufficiently pleased with his technique. It was a little trickier than he'd imagined, but as he gazed up and watched Joxer's reactions, he relaxed and began to savor the experience. His own sex ached for release, but that could wait until he had finished doing his best for Joxer.

His hands slid beneath Joxer's ass, cupping the firm cheeks and lifting him gently off the bed and further into his mouth. The taste was salty and musky and so very good, he couldn't get enough of it, or the way the cock throbbed against his tongue...He wouldn't let go, not as Joxer's moans became completely incoherent, not as he began to shake and buck against him. Not until the hard cock rewarded him with Joxer's seed spilling forth into his mouth, dribbling out when he could not swallow it all down fast enough.

"Auto..." Joxer sighed dreamily, "Auto, Auto..." His body was completely limp and sweatdrenched and it all felt delectable to the thief as he finally released the softening organ, sliding his way back up against Joxer. The warrior's warm brown eyes lit upon his face, his expression one of complete rapture, of being utterly satisfied and spent.

He looks more beautiful than ever, Auto sighed to himself as he kissed one cheek, then the other, then left a trail of wet kisses down Joxer's beautiful, long nose. He rested his head on the other man's shoulder and confessed, "You don't know how much I've wanted to do that. I swear, it's practically all I've been able to think about for days."

"I had no idea...that you wanted me. And that it could be so...wow..." was all Joxer could say. His hand traced lazily against the back of Auto's shoulders, through his hair, spreading fiery desire through the thief with each movement. He knew his love needed a moment to recover his senses, but Auto could barely stand it any longer. He gently picked Joxer's hand up off his shoulder and moved it down his own body, directing it towards his hard cock, where it could better serve his needs. Joxer took the hint and wrapped those long delicate fingers of his around his friend's erection. It was just the way Auto had imagined it would feel in his fantasies and he shivered uncontrollably. Joxer's first strokes was unsure, cautious, but Auto lifted his head to smile encouragingly.

"Is that good?" Joxer asked, uncertain.

"Anything you do to me is good," Auto answered, clutching Joxer tighter as the hand began working him more efficiently. "Oh yeah, Jox, that's... just right..."

After continuing in this manner for a while, gradually growing more assured in his actions, Joxer asked softly, "Do you want me to do...what you did... to me?"

More than anything in the world, Auto thought, though with admirable restraint he instead said, "Only if you want to, m'love...mmm...only if you want to."

"I want to make you happy. The way you've made me feel tonight," Joxer murmured, his lips pressing against Auto's forehead, then moving southward in a slow trail of kisses as his hand released Auto's cock and he slowly drifted his way down the other man's body. Kisses dampened Auto's chest, then the top of his stomach...he lay back against the bed with a long sigh as Joxer's light kisses continued to move lower, his chin finally nuzzling against the tip of Auto's burning hot erection.

Joxer finally lowered his head further, and after a short p too took his first taste, a tentative lick around the tip of Auto's cock. He paused again, then swirled his tongue around the tip once more, causing Auto to groan in pleasure. Gradually, he built up his courage, letting his tongue taste and lap up and back down the length of the shaft repeatedly. Then he finally went back to the tip and opened his mouth around it, gently encasing it with his lips as he sucked down hard for the first time.

"Oh, that's it...oh, Holy Hera!" Auto swore, the shock of how good it felt almost sending him spiraling into an orgasm before Joxer had even begun. Clutching desperately at the bedsheets, he wanted to last, wanted to savor this moment as long as he could, but he couldn't get control of his cascading excitement. Like a tidal wave, the orgasm crashed through his body after Joxer had barely begun a steady rhythm of sucking. He had expected Joxer to let go, but he didn't, not until Auto stopped shaking from the tumultuous aftershocks, not until he'd finished lapping up every last droplet that Auto had to give him.

"Didn't realize...I was...so tasty," Auto joked. It was the best his fried brain could come up with as Joxer returned to his arms, the two men collapsing together in exhaustion.

"You came for me. I wanted to savor that, so I'd never forget it," Joxer sighed.

"Jox..." Auto was happier in that moment than he'd ever believed was humanly possible. Shaking his head, he remarked, "You know, you're too good for a bad boy like me."

"You forget, I'm a coldblooded killer...a warrior with hands meant for destruction and chaos," Joxer growled into Auto's ear, though it was more playful in tone than his usual boasts of prowess.

"Mmm hmm, well, I'll have to remember that, killer. I'll need to be careful not to get on your bad side..." Auto teased back, "Though from where I'm at right now, all I see are good sides...very good sides... an even nicer back...and better still..."

"Auto..." Joxer just shook his head against Auto's chest, "I still don't believe this is happening... that it has happened..."

"Believe it," Auto reassured him, "and tell me, isn't this better than pining after that little girl Gabrielle? Do you think she can satisfy you like I can?"

Joxer was silent for a moment before answering. "It doesn't matter. I know now that it's never going to happen between me and Gabrielle anyway. She loves Xena. She only...tolerates me. I think I knew that before you told me, I've just tried to deny it. I couldn't let go of her..." he paused, lifting his head to look into Auto's eyes, "...until now." He grinned, and added, "You know what, Auto? When we saw that star last night, I prayed that I would find someone who could love me, the way you said Xena and Gabrielle loved each other. I never imagined it would be you."

"Well, I prayed that this would happen, too. So it looks like the Gods are with us on this one, Jox," Auto said with a contented sigh, pulling his love up for another kiss.

If only he knew how true his words really were...

* * * * *