The Copper Horse #1 Fear (30 page)

"I... I am, Master Erik. Please don't be mad at me!"

Erik opened the dispenser with his ring and took something out, finally lying down to rest next to Reuben.

"I'm not," he said, offering Reuben the contents of his hand.

"You don't hate me?" Reuben asked, looking at a little chocolate praline in the middle of Erik's open palm. What if it was some cruel joke?

Erik exhaled, gently pressing the sweet against his mouth. "Of course not. I was just angry that you disrespected me."

"But you provoked me." Reuben quickly took the chocolate and sucked on it. The taste was so amazing he just reclined in the hay, finally letting his aching muscles relax.

"No, I asked you nicely to lick your come off my face, and you didn't."

"I was embarrassed." Reuben looked away, still savoring the luxurious taste. He hoped he would feel it for long minutes after the praline melted.

"You shouldn't be." Erik leaned in to playfully lick the shell of his ear, his hand resting on the inner side of Reuben's thigh.

Reuben wasn't sure if it was comfort, or familiarity of the touch, but his body was waking up to pleasure again. "But I am... It's a filthy thing to do with a man." He frowned when saw Erik's face relax into a wide grin.

"Might be, but it feels so good." He kissed Reuben's lips again.

"And you wouldn't rather have a horse-woman-thing?" Reuben asked, peeking out at him from below his mane. The thought alone made him strangely insecure.

"No, never had any interest in mares." Erik leaned in to suck in his bottom lip.

Reuben really didn't know what to do about this man. It would have been different if Erik treated him like any other animal, except for the fucking, but with these conversations his master kept initiating, he didn't know what to think anymore.

"Come on, Copper, I can see you're open to play." Erik gently lapped at the underside of his jaw.

"Why in God's name would you think so?" Reuben snapped, even though the touch made him shiver. It was so tender and non-threatening. Reuben's heart was starting to melt like the chocolate in his mouth which, he had to admit, was delicious. Just like Erik.

"Let's just have fun, shall we?" Erik pulled him down into the soft hay, flashing him a contented smile.

Reuben sighed and flopped on the hot body beneath him. He couldn't deny the stir in his groin as their skin met.

"Ah, you're so heavy, Copper!" Erik arched beneath him, as if testing whether or not he could lift his body. He seemed oddly happy that he couldn't.

"I'm sorry," Reuben muttered, unsure of what else to say.

"That's a good thing, silly!" Erik licked his lips with a groan.

"It is? I'm not squashing you?" Reuben frowned. He really didn't get this man.

Erik rolled his eyes in response. "Well you're a stallion, not some foal."

"It's up to you." He just shook his head, though it was clear Erik's words were a compliment.

"So, why don't we fool around now?" Erik suggested, running his fingers down Reuben's sides.

"Uhm..." He was at loss. Taking his time with someone was something he was still adjusting to. "Like this?" Reuben started rocking his body back and forth, slowly rubbing his growing erection against Erik's skin. It all felt so awkward, especially that, without being able to use his hands, he was bound to move like some fat maggot. He couldn't understand the appeal.

"Ah yes..." Erik smiled at him, teeth gnawing at his own bottom lip. "And when I kiss your body, does that feel good?"

"I—I don't know... I'd rather not speak of those things." It was like having a tooth pulled. Painful and uncomfortable. He hid his face in the hay by Erik's neck.

"Well, I do enjoy being kissed quite a lot." Erik blew some air into his ear, making him curl his toes in unexpected pleasure.

How could this man speak of it so lightly? Did no one ever taunt him for having such urges? Whatever the truth was, Reuben decided to give his master whatever he wanted, so he slowly turned his face to kiss Erik's cheek and felt the muscles around his mouth twitch with a smile. "More, Copper."

It was hard to be so affectionate, especially to someone who claimed to 'own' him, but Reuben was not going to end up on that trestle thing again, so he peppered small kisses down Erik's jaw. One thing he couldn't deny though: Erik's skin did taste and smell delicious. Shameless as he was, Erik not only submitted to Reuben's ministrations but also caressed him in return. His hands skillfully kneaded Reuben's tight back muscles, progressing further down. It only made Reuben more nervous, and he could feel the plug shifting in him at the thought of approaching hands. He didn't really know how to react, so he kept on kissing. Within minutes, Erik panted under him, his mouth slack with pleasure. "That's it, keep going!" he urged with a roll of his hips.

"Do you want to spill? I'm sorry, Master Erik, I don't understand," Reuben whined, too nervous to look up.

"Not yet." Erik was breathless when he shoved at his arms. "Lie down, I'll show you."

Reuben sighed and had no choice but to roll onto his back. He just didn't get it. Fucking, he could understand, even the crazy horse shit. But this?

Erik rolled on top of him, their stiff cocks brushing against each other. Reuben panted at the touch, too uncomfortable with the idea of 'fooling around' to just go with it. His master chuckled.

"You look so ravishing in that halter. And those ears..." He licked at Reuben's actual ear, but it was clear he meant the leather ones on top of Reuben's head.

"I look like an idiot," Reuben muttered before he could bite his tongue.

"Not in my eyes." Erik gave Reuben a small smile and then gently traced his lips with his tongue. The touch sent shivers down Reuben's spine, but the excitement was overshadowed by worry. He'd rather just be bent over and fucked or have a cock shoved down his throat, because then he'd at least knew where he stood.

Their hips moved in unison, and he couldn't help getting hotter. A moan left his lips as he reached out for a kiss, finally catching a glimpse of Erik's eyes. The two-colored gaze was a bit hazy, but Erik opened up for Reuben, eagerly sucking on his tongue.

Reuben couldn't take his eyes off Erik's long lashes, and he slowly became petrified. Was he to become as immoral as his new owner? He knew better than to trust that 'it feels good' shit. Bread with woodchips also tasted good. And then you got sick.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, Erik pulled on the plug in Reuben's ass, moving it around.

"Oh, God! Fuck!" His eyes flew open and so did his thighs, before his mind even kicked in to stop them. Through the blur of intense pleasure, he saw Erik's knowing smile.

"On all fours, Copper."

Reuben hesitated, but it wasn't as if he had any choice, right? Erik was his master, could even kill him and no one would care or know. His breath became ragged as he turned onto his stomach. With his hands fastened to his thighs, he couldn't actually go 'on all fours', so he buried his face in the hay, relieved it wouldn't be seen. He pulled up his knees, exposing the plugged ass.
'On all fours'
. Every time he repeated those words in his mind, they made him shiver with desire.

The plug popped out of his tender ass with a slurpy sound, and Erik gently smacked his rear with a hiss. "It's so open."

Reuben's hands turned into fists as he pushed his face further into the dried grass. He actually missed the gag. All of his rational knowledge screamed that he should be fighting this, but the truth was he didn't want to. Did this mean he was stupid? He certainly felt that way when Erik's thick cock thrust inside, driving all coherent thought away. He was shivering and mewling, desperate to get more of that prick inside.

He curled his toes and bucked his hips, as if he wanted to push him off, just to end up pulled in closer. All he could smell was the fresh hay, the scent rich and strangely homely. At this moment, he could actually understand why Erik found it so appealing.

He arched his back, curling his head even lower under his body and couldn't help but open his eyes again to look at his own hard dick, throbbing between his legs and get a glimpse of Erik fucking him from behind. The muscles in his master's thighs tensed when he moved, over and over, his cock pistoning out of Reuben as if they were a machine. So quick, so forceful, with nothing to stop him.

Reuben moaned into the hay, and he ended up getting some into his mouth, but didn't care. His body flexed around the hard cock, and he delighted in the shameless fucking. His own prick kept twitching as if a spark was being sent to it with every slap of the slim hips against ass. And when Erik's hand curled around his cock, the senseless pleasure became too hard to bear. He squealed like an animal, thrusting into the touch and struggling to catch his breath. He came, thrashing under his master's body, unable to help himself. It was too intense, too good to resist. His legs gave up under him, spreading up to the point where he lay in a frog-like position under Erik, who was still plundering his throbbing hole, his sweat dripping to Reuben's back.

He couldn't even think anymore. Human, horse, master, slave, it didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was the heat, the excitement, the smell of a sweaty man. It was a good thing that Erik couldn't see the smile he buried deep in the hay, and there was no need to be self-conscious.

When Erik finally collapsed on top of Reuben, they were both a heap of spent flesh.

"Yes," was all that Erik managed, his arms tight around Reuben's neck. Reuben couldn't even be bothered to ask what the 'yes' was about, though he did slowly lift the other man on his hips, even if just for a moment. It was just so grand to be under him.

"Fuck." Erik slid off him and fell into the hay, his chest heaving.

Reuben slowly turned his face to him, trying to force it into an expressionless mask, though he knew he was definitely flushed. But anyone would be, right?

Their eyes met and Erik let out a laugh, lazily leaning in for a kiss. "I knew you would be a perfect addition to my stable."

A question hit Reuben all of a sudden. "Why did you pick me?"

Erik swallowed, stroking his back with a rather heavy hand. "You are so pretty."

Reuben fought back a smile. "I've been called many things. But 'pretty'?" He cocked an eyebrow.

"Not everyone has an eye for it!" Erik grinned now, completely spent.

Reuben snorted. "Not everyone likes to fuck horses."

"I just fuck two-legged ones!" Erik objected and pulled him closer. Reuben hesitated, but he eventually gave in to it, pushing his face into Erik's neck. He felt strangely safe there, surrounded by the familiar scent and with Erik's silky hair tickling him.

And then, as they lay in the afterglow, close as a pair of lovers, Erik whispered, "I will make a champion out of you."

Reuben didn't know what it meant yet, but it couldn't be bad to be a
champion
.

Chapter 14

Reuben was soaking in hot water after another day of work in the garden. He felt good. He knew it was a bit silly that he was so proud of being useful to a man who forced him into submission. He could get used to this kind of life: he slept late, ate great food, and his master adored him, never withholding him praise. Erik seldom took him to the breakfast room, and today Reuben hadn't seen him at all, which left him wondering if his master was home at all.

"Jack, can I ask you something?" He closed his eyes to indulge in the pleasure even more. The water smelled of fresh flowers, and it was the same temperature as his body. He felt otherworldly, all aches of the day gone and forgotten.

"Of course, Copper, by all means," answered the boy, who sat on a stool by the tub and tended to Reuben's fingernails.

"How did Erik treat his other horses? Did he beat them?" He let his head fall back and looked up into Jack's big eyes. He'd asked him similar questions on his first day here, but now he wasn't asking out of fear. He wanted to know more about Erik.

The groom cleared his throat, his fingers freezing for a moment. There was a deep frown between his brows, which Copper already knew meant he would be manipulating the truth.

"I told you, he's not a cruel man."

"Well, he doesn't have all those torture devices for nothing, right?"

Jack swallowed, continuing to polish Reuben's nails, or as Erik referred to them, his hooves. "Well, he does use them if he has to. I admit this happened a lot with Chestnut." The tone of his voice dropped as he added that.

"What about the one he—you know, put down," Reuben whispered. "What could he possibly have done?"

"He attacked the master." Jack's eyes darted downwards to Reuben's nails, as if they were the most interesting thing he's seen in a long time. "Never ever do that." He drew in a shaky breath, as if the memory still made him cringe.

"Jack, I have another question." Reuben played with the rose petals floating in the water. Who knew wasting flowers could make life so much fun? "We are friends, right?" He gave him a wide smile.

The groom looked up at him, hesitation clear in his eyes, but eventually he nodded. "I hope so."