Work Text:
The wind blows gently through the trees, carrying the melody of a guitar, a few stray notes, gentle and halting, plucked slowly, like someone’s figuring out where each finger belongs. You pause mid-step, and follow the new path appearing in front of you, drawn by the sound and the soft murmur of a voice you know too well.
Arthur.
You move closer, quiet as can be, peering through the trees just past the edge of camp, making sure you will stay out of sight, afraid to disrupt the scene taking place before you. There he is, sitting on a stump with Jack perched beside him, little legs swinging as Arthur leans close, his thick fingers guiding Jack’s small hands on the guitar.
“That’s it” Arthur says. “Try again. Remember, just one string at a time. Don’t rush it.”
Jack’s attempt to make the guitar sing is very careful, hesitant even, but Arthur encourages him and the little boy soon gets a few more notes in the right tune.
You stay hidden behind the tree, arms crossed on your chest, watching Jack tilting up his face towards Arthur, surprised by his sudden ability to make it sound nice. Your heart swells. He’s so soft with him. So good. But your eyes don’t miss the outlaw’s fingers moving on the guitar’s neck, making up for the inevitable clumsiness of the little beginner. Almost imperceptible.
Arthur’s head turns slightly in your direction, his eyes spotting you instantly behind the bushes. You freeze, feeling silly for getting caught. He gives you a little smile, and you leave your hiding place, fixing your hair nervously as you walk down the path. The music is getting louder now, Jack’s focus unfaltering despite your approach. He is growing confident. You stop right behind them, your hand finding its place on Arthur’s shoulder, signaling your presence. A few more notes, and Arthur’s hand hits the soundhole sharply, signaling the end of the lesson.
"That's enough for today, boy. Go tell your ma what you learned."
“Thank you uncle Arthur” Jack exclaims, already jumping off the trunk and running up the hill, giving you a proud smile as he goes.
Arthur rises slowly, brushing his hands on his thighs.
"Didn't know you played." You say, curious.
"My pa taught me. Long time ago. Just basics." Arthur exhales, walking back towards camp with you by his side.
"You never play for us." you pout, linking your arm with his.
"Don't like drawing attention." He draws his hat lower on his head as if trying to prove a point.
But you don’t let him hide for too long, lowering yourself to look at his handsome face.
"Funny, you sure got mine." You whisper, before kissing his stubbled cheek.
That earns a snort. His lip lifts, eyes flicking sideways to you with quiet amusement. He blushes as his arm circles your waist, leading you on the main path, the laughers from the gang members gathered around the fire reaching your ears. But you are already planning to skip any social event for tonight. You push Arthur gently to the side, redirecting your steps toward your tent.
“Where are you going?” He stops, trying to decipher the mischievous expression on your face.
You don’t answer, you just smile and grab the guitar before walking again. Arthur follows you closely, hand resting on your lower back, eyes hungrily roaming your silhouette and the way that dress is hugging your waist is suddenly making him feel hot… You slide inside the tent, but before Arthur can get in, Uncle appears out of nowhere, his voice indicating he has already been drinking more than enough for tonight. Arthur stops in the middle of the way, half his body inside of the tent, eager to put an end to this and discover what you are up to.
“Arthur!” Uncle reaches the front of the tent, red face shiny, greeting the unfazed outlaw.
“What do you need?” Arthur asks in a sigh, peering above his shoulder just in time to witness you taking off your shawl…
“Arthur! I am about to fleece all of Marston’s money… he doesn’t believe I am a better player than he is…thought you could…” he explains, out of breath.
“Not now old man” Arthur dismisses the intruder before closing the flaps in a harsh movement, not even bothering looking back at him, too focused on the pretty smile you give him as you wait right in front of the bed.
“I thought you might agree to give me a little lesson…” you eye the instrument in your hand.
“Nah I don’t really know how to teach.” Arthur declines, taking his hat off his head.
“You just did. With Jack.” You strum haphazardly on the guitar trying to make him change his mind.
“That was different.” He says as he takes a seat on the old mattress.
“Why? 'Cause I ain't seven and you know you can’t boss me around?” You tilt your head, grinning.
Arthur ponders your request for a moment, wondering why you are suddenly interested in playing music. He wants to resist, to say something self-deprecating, maybe dodge the moment. But your smile does something to him, the way your playful eyes are scanning his face with a glint of desire hidden beneath their pretty color… that has him surrendering.
"Alright then. Come here." He smirks.
You carefully settle yourself in his lap.
“You good?” Arthur asks, setting the guitar onto your thighs.
You nod and his arms slide around you, rough palms cradling yours as he places your fingers on the frets. The guitar hums between you both as he helps you strum, low and slow.
"That's it...my girl… just like that..." His voice is soft. Every words raising goosebumps on your skin.
“Arthur…” you giggle, suddenly too distracted.
“Shhh shh… keep playing girl, you are doing so good” he whispers.
You try to keep your hand from shaking at the praise but the heat suddenly becomes unbearable for you, and your fingers tremble on the guitar. It’s too late, you pinch the wrong string.
“Sorry…” you apologize with a sigh, using the small moment of respite to calm your breathing.
“It’s okay, try again” Arthur says as he pulls you closer to his chest, repositioning his arms around you.
His warm hand places your smaller one back on the guitar, and he gives you a nod. You close your eyes, and go again, a little more confident, despite Arthur’s warm breath down the side of your neck.
“Can I try alone this time?” You ask, and Arthur doesn’t protest, keeping his hands off the instrument, finding your waist instead.
He brushes your sides slowly as you play a different tune now… something more… complicated. Definitely not for a beginner. It looks like you don’t need his assistance at all, the notes flowing effortlessly. Arthur stops his movements, suddenly realizing what’s going on.
"You little liar. You already know how to play."
You laugh softly, and interrupt your song to look up at him.
"Well, I just wanted a private lesson…from you." You press the tip of your finger on his chest.
"Could've just asked, darlin. Now don’t be shy, play me something else." He demands, his hand wrapping around your hand, redirecting you to the guitar.
“Okay” you smile, and shift slightly, adjusting your position on his lap.
You tense when you feel how hard he’s getting beneath you. The realization makes your breath hitch. You try to focus back on the guitar, try to follow his instruction, but you can’t help moving just a little again. Just enough .
Arthur groans, a low sound in his throat. Your hands falter as you hear it.
“Arthur… I can’t.” You drop your hands off the instrument, but Arthur stops you.
“Wanted this, didn’t you?” he murmurs. “Watchin’ me play, thinkin’ all them dirty thoughts...” Arthur hums against your neck, the vibration of it sends another wave of heat rolling down your body.
You have to bite back a moan, tilting your neck to the side in an attempt to focus again. But Arthur’s eyes flick to the exposed skin on display. He is getting lost in the proximity of your body. Letting go of your arms, he lets his free hand brush the skin of your shoulder, his face nuzzling in the side of your neck, his nose tracing a path, followed by his lips pressing soft kisses there. His hand slips underneath your dress and slides up your belly, palm splayed across your ribs, and you can’t stop squirming now.
“Arthur—”
“You play a note and I’ll let you move. One note.”
You can't help but keep rocking your hips again. His hand travels down your side, fingers trailing up the inside of your thigh with slow, deliberate strokes. The calloused pads grazing over your sensitive skin sends shivers down your spine. Your breath hitches, and your fingers tighten on the neck of the guitar like it can ground you.
“You wanted a lesson, right ? So keep playin’.” He orders, voice making you shiver.
You nod, barely able to breathe, let alone form words. Your body melts into his, but he doesn’t move right away. Just holds his hand there, cupping you through the damp fabric like he’s trying to memorize you. He kisses your temple as you try to strum, but your hands are shaking, a thrill of pleasure coursing through your body as he touches you over your bloomers.
"You’re soaked, sweetheart, all that for me?" He teases as his hand pushes higher until he finds the edge of the fabric. Then, finally, he slips under. Two thick fingers glide through your folds, parting them gently, and you whimper at the contact. He groans against your skin, like the feel of you has knocked the air from his lungs.
"Goddamn..." he mutters. “Can’t believe you sat here playin’ innocent.”
You try to grind down into his hand, desperate for friction, but Arthur tightens the arm around your waist, keeping you steady in his lap.
"Patience now, girl. You wanted a lesson. I’m givin’ you one."
And then his fingers slide in. First one, long and slow, curling up into that sweet spot that has you gasping, the other hand still resting on your waist, grounding you as you tremble in his lap. You cling to the guitar, fingers twitching over the frets, but the notes don’t come anymore. Just the sound of your uneven breaths and Arthur’s quiet, filthy praise.
“That’s it… open up for me, jus’ like that…”
He adds a second thick finger, stretching you even more. You clench around him, drawing a hiss from his lips.
“So tight… you’re squeezin’ me already, baby.”
You can’t take it anymore, you let the guitar slide down your legs to the ground with a loud thud.
Arthur grins, proud and ravenous, watching you come undone just from his fingers. His thumb brushes your clit with slow circles.
Your head falls back, resting on his shoulder. "Arthur… please…”
“Please what, sugar?” he rasps, still working you open with perfect precision, fingers pumping deep and slow, thumb teasing just enough to make you beg.
“Need more,” you gasp. “Need you.”
He pulls his fingers out, and before you can whine at the loss, he brings them to his lips and licks them clean, never breaking eye contact.
“You taste better than any good meal I ever had.”
Arthur’s hands find your waist, helping you off his lap and turning you around so you can face him. You don’t waste any time, mouth crashing against his as you lower yourself down on his lap again. You kiss him deeply, hands lost in his hair, as Arthur lifts you slightly, guiding you up with one hand while the other pulls at the front of his pants, freeing himself. You don’t dare look down, too caught in the moment, too warm, thighs shaking in anticipation. You hastily get rid of your dress, leaving you in nothing but your thin chemise.
Arthur helps you down on his lap again, one hand sliding underneath your robe, caressing your back gently as he notches himself at your entrance. When you feel the tip of his cock pushing in your wet cunt, you freeze, heart racing.
"Arthur," you whisper, but he hushes you with a kiss to your jaw, low and tender.
You sink down on him slowly, inch by inch, guided by his hands on your hips until he’s seated deep, filling you to the hilt. He doesn’t move, just holds you there, the pressure unbearable in the best way. You pulse around him, thighs clenching, jaw slack.
“Thaaat’s it,” he growls into your neck. “Look at you being so pretty and full of me”
“Been thinking about this all day.” you whisper as you start riding him, desperate to go a little faster, to reach the promised release.
“Don’t rush darlin’”Arthur groans, gravel-thick and low in your ear, his hands finding the dip of your hips again, immobilizing you.
“Oh Arthur please… need you to move”
“So damn needy…How were you so patient sitting on my lap earlier hmmm? Didn’t say a damn thing,” he smiles against your lips as he kisses you.
“Well my patience just reached its limit,” you pant, feeling his hold on your hips lighten as his fingers brush your lower back gently, encouraging you to move again.
You start with slow, grinding motions, hips circling as you seat yourself deeper, Arthur’s head falls back with a deep, throaty moan.
“You drive me damn near crazy, struttin’ around in that dress, makin’ me watch you all day.” He confesses as he cups your breast through the fabric of your chemise, his thumb brushing your hardened nipple.
You arch into his touch, biting your lip as the combination of pleasure and praise sinks into your bones.
“Always knew you were trouble,” he adds, tugging the neckline down enough to take your breast in his mouth, sucking gently, tongue swirling around your nipple until you cry out.
Your fingers dig into his shoulders. “Arthur—fuck—need more.”
“You’ll get more, baby, I got you.”His hand slides down your back, settling on your ass, helping you ride him harder now, each thrust pulling a desperate moan from your lips. “You feel that? How deep you take me?” His hand grips your thigh, and he rolls his hips slowly, hitting a deeper spot inside of you.
You moan his name, your head falling forward, forehead resting against his. Your breath mingles with his, both of you gasping, tethered to each other by sweat and need.
“Never felt like this,” you whisper, “Never been this full, this — fuck.”
He hums, his lips brushing yours. “Ain’t nobody ever gonna touch you like this again. No one. You’re mine.”
You nod frantically, moaning into his mouth as he picks up the pace, his cock driving into you with purpose now, every thrust making your vision blur.
“Tha’s it. Take what you need. Good girl…”
You’re so close, trembling in his lap, and he knows it. One hand comes between you, thumb finding your clit, rubbing tight, perfect circles.
“Arthur, oh god, please—”
“That’s it, let go for me.”
And you do, shattering around him with a cry muffled by his shoulder, your entire body shaking with release. Arthur curses under his breath, holding you tight as he follows you over the edge. His rhythm stutters, hips jerking up into you as he spills deep inside with a low, breathless groan. His forehead drops to your shoulder, both of you are panting, sweat-slicked and trembling. He stays inside you, his arms wrap tight around your waist like he can’t bear to let you go.
After a moment of stillness, he presses a kiss to your neck and murmurs against your skin. “Reckon it ain't smart... takin’ the risk to bring a kid into this life.” He sighs, still buried inside you as his hands roam lazily over your sides. “But god, I’d give anything to see you carryin' mine.”
You shiver at his words, heart thudding, still too wrecked to reply.
“You'd make a hell of a mother, y'know that?” he whispers. “Bet you'd look so goddamn beautiful all full with me.”
You close your eyes, overwhelmed, your fingers begin to thread through his hair.
“Maybe one day,” he says quietly, like a promise. “One day when things ain't like this.”
He kisses your temple, slow and reverent, his hands tracing the curve of your hip, feeling every flutter and aftershock inside you. You stay like that, tangled and warm, his cock still inside you, his breath soft against your cheek. And for a moment, there's no gang, no guns, no danger, just this. Just him . Just the possibility of something more.