The Copper Horse #1 Fear (38 page)

"The zandy wouldn't get out on his own." Jack sighed and spread a blanket he was holding under his arm, covering Reuben's arms. "And Copper, you are a pet. He has all the right to treat you like one. This means you need to obey."

"I'd rather die than have everyone see me like this and laugh!" he cried, but he welcomed the warmth of the cloth. It was softer than any he had previously gotten here, pure fluff made into fabric. He was still shaking with stress and fear, his chest heaving in violent spasms as he struggled for air. "I might be a pet to a pervert, but I am a grown man and—" he paused for another desperate breath. "Don't you understand what it would mean? Everyone would know I let him fuck me!" He was too ashamed to even look at Jack now.

The boy knelt in front of him, trying to lock their eyes. "Nobody would recognize you, anyway. Why do you care?"

"I don't know who I could meet in those streets..." He sniffed, but it was too late, and he was sniveling all over himself and the blanket. As strange as it was, the soft fabric did make him feel safer, as if it could actually shield him from danger.

"With a mask?" Jack shook his head.

Those words finally made Reuben look up at his groom. "What mask?"

Jack dropped to his ass with a tired sigh. "Did you expect Master Erik to let his praised stallion breathe in all that street filth?"

Reuben sniffed again and shrugged. "I dunno. What does he care? He can get a new pet." He wanted to sound like he didn't care, but his voice broke and tears spilled down his cheeks again. It hurt too much to even think about it.

"Copper, how can you say such a thing? He knows how special you are." Jack embraced him again, his small frame providing unexpected comfort.

"I'm as plain as they come. He could get hundreds like me." Reuben wasn't fishing for compliments—it was a realization of how easily replaceable he was. The last two weeks had started him thinking that maybe there was a kind of attachment building between him and Erik, but now he knew he was being delusional.

"Copper, that's not true. He sent the last horse away because it wasn't... suitable. It's not as simple as you make it sound."

"Then why does he taunt me so? Only yesterday, he told me I could tell him if I didn't like something and then he put me here, the moment I refused to go out with him. How would he like his ass and cock seen by everyone in the street?"

Jack huffed. "Don't be ridiculous, Copper; it wouldn't be safe if you went out there naked."

Reuben blinked. "But... he never lets me wear much." Confused, he leaned closer to Jack, trying to absorb his warmth.

"Because you stay in the house, where it's warm enough for you not to get a cold."

"How would I know? He doesn't tell me anything! And he hit me... look!" Reuben curled his lip to draw attention to the blood around his mouth.

Jack swallowed, lowering his gaze. "He is sometimes short tempered, our master."

"I'm afraid of what will happen tomorrow," Reuben whispered. Maybe if he tried to forget where he was and focus on Jack's warm hug, things would get better.

"I'm going to tell you what's going to happen, Copper." Jack steadied his hands on Reuben's arms to look him straight in the eyes. "You are going to kiss the master's boots and hands, tell him how sorry you are, and it's all going to be just a bad dream."

Reuben shook his head vigorously. "No, I'm not sorry. It wasn't fair..."

"Doesn't matter. Tell him you are." Jack swallowed, slowly getting back on his feet.

"Don't go!" Reuben tried to grab his shirt with his teeth. Staying here alone until morning was the last thing he wanted.

Jack shook his head. "I'm sorry, Copper, but I have certain duties. Don't worry, it'll soon be morning." He gave Reuben a smile and reached into his pocket to retrieve a handful of hard candy.

"The morning is what I'm afraid of," Reuben muttered, but the sweets sparked his interest.

Jack put one in his mouth. "Just do as I say and it's gonna be bright."

Reuben had no energy to fight anymore, so he sucked on the candy and rested his head against the wall.

Chapter 18

At some point during the night, Reuben dozed off, curled into a ball beneath the fluffy blanket. When a sharp noise snatched him out of his slumber, it was already bright and sunny.

"Copper?"

His eyes instantly opened at the sound of Erik's voice, but he said nothing. Reuben's muscles were tensing up; he remembered yesterday all too well.

His master wore a thick, knee-length robe, embroidered with golden thread. He looked like he'd come here fresh out of bed, his eyes slightly puffy, hair in a frizz that created a halo effect in the bright sunlight. He moved closer with caution. "Copper?"

Reuben cowered in the corner, wishing he could hide his head under the blanket and forget all of this. He let out a weak moan.

Erik swallowed, slowly scooting to his side and putting a hand on his nape. The touch was like ice biting into his skin. "How are you today?"

"Horrible," Reuben whispered, but he knew better than to try and shy away from his master's fingers.

There was a long moment of silence, but Erik finally moved into an embrace, kissing him on the cheek. "How about I make you feel better?"

By fucking?

Reuben just nodded, resigned to take whatever was coming his way. He realized that he was expecting a much harsher attitude, more demands and yelling. Instead, Erik helped him up, and with an arm at the small of Reuben's back, he led him back into the house. He was being tender, understanding—he wanted to know what Reuben would have for breakfast, and this time Reuben could have whatever fatty thing he wanted.

Even though he knew it was a form of bribery, Reuben wasn't going to refuse scones with raisins, strawberry jam, and the thickest cream he had ever tasted. Erik personally cut the scones into small pieces so they would be easier to eat. Reuben remained cautious of his master, but he didn't say no to an ice cream dessert on top of the sweet breakfast. As silly as it was, the sugar rush did make him feel better, even if he had to take every single bite from his master's hands. For once, Erik shared the food with him, licking his fingers to get the clotted cream off. With their bellies full, they went back to Reuben's stable, where they had a bath already waiting for them.

After the chilly morning in the backyard, even Hans' silent presence couldn't upset Reuben as Erik helped him into the steaming water. Jack was nowhere to be found, which got him thinking that maybe he wasn't having a regular bath and that this was just an element of yet another one of his master's perverted ideas. To his surprise, the cuffs went off, and he was now completely unrestrained, except for the invincible power of Hans' freakishly strong arms, of course.

"Does that feel good, Copper?" Erik smiled at him and shed his heavy robe in one move, uncovering his pale body.

Reuben didn't want to stare, so he looked away. "I dunno," he muttered, and he really wasn't sure how he felt about having his arms free. Then again, if the question was about the water, it felt wonderful. Hot, smelling of honey and more calming than the blanket. He slowly gathered some of the water in his palms, washed his face, and stayed in this position until he felt small waves hitting him as Erik entered the tub. It took a lot of willpower to finally look up, his heart frozen in his chest. What was this lunatic mind-game Erik was playing?

For now, Erik splashed his face with the water, the scars at the sides of his lips twitching when he gave Reuben a smile. Then he sat down properly, dragging his feet over the sides of Reuben's calves.

Reuben looked away, shaking his head. He didn't want such intimacy after having his feelings so horribly betrayed. So now he was all playful?

"Would you like me to wash you?"

Reuben couldn't overlook how healthy his master's skin was, now shiny with wetness. He wanted to be washed, pampered and taken care of until his skin looked like that.

"Maybe." He sighed but didn't move an inch. A pleasant warmth twinkled in Erik's eyes as he moved closer, grabbing a thick sponge and a bar of soap.

"Would you like to return the favor afterward?"

"You not afraid I'd just wring your neck?" Reuben knew he shouldn't have said that, but the resentment was still too much of a burning scar. Hans edged closer to the tub, his small, watchful eyes narrowing.

Erik smiled as if he wasn't moved by the bold question. "He'd be there to take care of you even if you killed me."

"What do you want from me?" Reuben looked down at their feet in the water. Even after the sweet breakfast, the tension of yesterday hadn't dispersed. He poked his master's toe with his own.

Erik reached into the water, taking Reuben's foot out and gently cleaning its underside with the now soapy sponge. The sensation was bordering on ticklish. "What do you mean?"

"I know you want something." Reuben leaned with his back against the side of the tub, giving into the relaxing heat of the water's sweet scent. Erik's hands on him always felt good.

Erik exhaled, rubbing the crevice between Reuben's toes with his thumb. "I want us to be on good terms. I promise I will not strain you during our cart ride." He was missing the point, though. It wasn't fear of hard work that was absorbing Reuben's thoughts.

"Will I have a mask?"

Erik nodded, gently kneading his foot, nimble fingers pressing into his flesh.

"And you promise not to take it off?"

"If you behave," said Erik, slowly soaping up Reuben's calf.

"And I won't be out there naked?"

"We will have matching leathers." Erik flashed him a broad grin as he took care of Reuben's other foot.

That meant he'd be better protected than he'd ever been in London. "They are very tight." He finally looked up into Erik's eyes.

"Yours are going to be less constricting, as you need to move freely. Otherwise, they will be the same color, the same design." Erik dropped Reuben's leg into the water with a soft splash, and then got to his knees, drawing closer.

"Like a bigger, better you." The words rolled off Reuben's tongue, but he didn't mean to offend Erik. As much as he was upset about the day before, ultimately, he wanted them to be on good terms. To be caressed, well fed, clean, and do all those unspeakable things Erik enjoyed so freely. Oh, how he had loved their dirty deeds of yesterday. It had never even occurred to him that he could feel like that.

Erik broke out in laughter, his knees digging into the underside of Reuben's thighs as he used the sponge to wash Reuben's chest. "Just like that, yes. Beautiful and strong."

Reuben swallowed hard, his anger slowly melting away. "Master... please don't put me in that yard again." That was only half of what he would have liked to ask for. The other part was something he wasn't capable of pinpointing. 'Don't throw me away again'? 'Don't break me'?

Erik sighed, gently massaging his torso with the slick, wet sponge, tracing it lovingly over Reuben's nipples and belly. "If you promise to behave."

"I will try my best to please you," he whispered, ashamed to say those words out loud in Hans' presence. He now knew how little Erik's bodyguard thought of him, and it made his cheeks flush.

"I know." Erik leaned closer, pressing his lips to Reuben's for a chaste kiss. "You're a good pony."

"Why did you hit me then? I was scared." He sniffed, fighting back the tears. Those mood swings were too much.

Erik's face became serious, and he moved into a hug, both of them sliding deeper into the water. "I was—your rejection made me angry, Copper."

Reuben realized that with his hands free, he was able to reach out and return the hug like never before, so he did with a sigh. His master's body was so hot and firm, even if small. "I panicked. You didn't explain anything. I thought you wanted me to go out naked, for everyone to see my face."

"You should have trusted me." Erik put his cheek on Reuben's pec, facing away.

"Trusted you to do what?" he asked but didn't try to break the embrace. It felt far too good. "You have all sorts of strange ideas."

"That I wouldn't put you in harm's way. I wouldn't ever ask you for something you couldn't do." Erik raised his head, supporting his chin on Reuben's breastbone. He suddenly seemed very young with his angular features, large eyes and fair skin.

Reuben frowned. "That means you could send me out there to be seen naked and you would say horses don't have shame."

"They don't, but that's not the point. You need something to protect your precious... gems." Erik smiled, pursing his lips for a kiss.

Reuben sighed and licked one of the scars on the side of his mouth. "How did you get these?"

He felt Erik's body tense on top of him, but his face was as straight as ever. "Ah, I was attacked."

"You seem to have a lot of enemies." Reuben whispered, looking into his eyes, while pulling Erik into a closer embrace. It was strange to finally be allowed to hold him in this way, after such a long time in this house. Being able to wrap his arms around his master made him realize that Erik was, in fact, human. Flesh and bone like everyone else. And he was so much smaller than him, with slim hips and delicate bones. His body was beautifully proportional, all gorgeous skin and lean muscle beneath it. Reuben traced a small scar at the bottom of Erik's stomach with his fingers.