It was too much, the touch, the fear in Nick’s face. Todd put his glass down and walked purposefully across the room. Nick was his mate. Todd was bound by love, by Nick’s trust in Todd, and by ownership to protect him. It was plain to Todd. Nick was terrified of the chancellor. Whether it was because he saw something in the man no one else could or because of something that had happened between getting off the train and now, Todd had no idea. He sure as hell was going to find out.
When Nick’s eyes flicked up and met his for barely a second, Todd read the warning they contained. He stood rock still, clenched fists shoved into his pockets, forcing himself to breathe evenly until the chancellor moved away. Nick looked down, shuffled to the side, and turned away, gaze darting to the chancellor every few seconds. Todd took up a position nearer to the table Nick worked behind.
His blood ran hot. His lungs seemed to pull in sharp, heated air.
“Can I get you something, sir?” Nick moved closer. Nick’s eyes, smoldering and dark, met his for another mere second.
“Are you all right?” He pushed the words from between his lips in a harsh, gravelly whisper.
Todd watched out of the corner of his eye as Nick’s shoulders and neck relaxed. His hands loosened from around the plate he held. He flipped a rag over his shoulder. Glancing up for a second from under his bangs, Nick offered Todd a quick, incredibly sweet smile and a soft voice. “I am now.”
The sound tore at Todd’s heart, ripped through him like a hot spear. Lust, desire, and an overwhelming need to protect surged up from deep in his chest.
Todd wheeled away from the table and wound his fingers around Nick’s elbow. He nudged Nick away from the table and through the side door, hissing, “What did you see?”
“I-I’m not sure.” Nick didn’t object or even stall, moving smoothly at Todd’s side.
After catching sight of a sign saying Coatroom, Todd reached around Nick and shoved the door open. “We’ll talk about it later.” Todd kicked the door closed, locked it, grabbed Nick’s shoulders, and shoved him against the wall in one smooth movement.
Nick brought his arms up and dropped them on either side of Todd’s neck, grinned, and whispered, “Missed you.”
“Crap, I missed you, too.” Todd shoved both hands under Nick’s tunic and grazed his fingertips from Nick’s hips to his nipples. Blood pounded in his ears at the feeling of Nick’s flesh quivering and how his mate’s body shuddered. “This…off…now.” Todd’s hand skimmed to Nick’s shoulders, pushed outward, and pulled the tunic down. Sliding his tongue over Nick’s chest brand, he breathed against his mate’s skin, “When we’re in my quarters, this…thing…comes off. You have your own clothes to wear when the door is closed.”
“Yes, master.” Nick’s head fell back, offering Todd all the access he wanted.
Todd wanted so very much.
Growling low in his throat, Todd’s teeth skimmed Nick’s neck, pulling deep, wanton noises from Nick’s throat. Todd’s hands wound around, gripped Nick’s back hard, and pulled Nick flush against him. One hand moved up to Nick’s hair, grasped a handful, and yanked until his lips met Nick’s. Todd shoved his tongue into Nick’s mouth, owning, claiming, sucked on Nick’s tongue, then lips.
After jamming his knee between Nick’s legs and pressing up until Nick was panting and collapsing against him, Todd let go long enough to shove the pants from Nick’s hips. “I said off.”
“Todd…gimme a…” Nick hopped on one foot, trying to get the pants and underwear off. Finally, he simply grabbed a handful of the fabric and got his feet free. He tossed the pants to the side a few seconds before Todd spun him around to face the wall.
Todd hooked two fingers through the leather band around Nick’s wrist, shoved his hand up high, and pressed Nick between the wall and his chest. After catching Nick’s other hand, he used the leather bands to hold Nick’s wrists in one hand, pinned to the wall. He was breathing in time with the heaving of Nick’s chest. The sensation of Nick’s heart hammering inside his chest drove Todd. He was rock hard, frantic with lust, and he wanted.
After using one hand to tug his belt open and unzip his pants, Todd pulled his trousers down far enough he could get his cock free. He smeared the precum pooled in the slit over his cock, sucking in a deep, harsh breath. Todd kicked Nick’s legs slightly farther apart and pushed inside, inch by glorious inch, biting down on Nick’s shoulder as Nick’s heat closed around him.
Nick moaned. A deep noise that rumbled from his chest and reverberated against Todd, shoving his ass against Todd’s thighs. Todd pulled back and snapped his hips forward, grunting and sweating. He pulled out and slammed back in. He angled to hit Nick’s prostate. The panting, filthy noises Nick made drove Todd faster and faster, obliging Nick’s pleas of harder, more.
Todd ground into Nick, keeping him immobile against the wall, knowing how Nick’s dick rubbing against unforgiving drywall gave his mate no relief. Arm around Nick, Todd held him as tightly as possible. He slid his hand down to clamp around Nick’s thigh and press them together. Licking across Nick’s shoulders before biting down, he growled, “Mine.”
Todd’s entire body shuddered, and he fell apart, coming hard, spurting hot and unrelentingly into Nick. After sliding a hand up Nick’s long, trembling body, Todd curled his fingers around Nick’s neck. Nick’s head pressed back against Todd’s shoulder, Nick moaned and shuddered. Todd pushed against Nick’s windpipe with one hand. The other reached around and roughly grabbed Nick’s cock. Pulling, tugging, twisting, Todd’s grip tightened on Nick’s neck, not stopping until Nick was gasping for breath, struggling to fill his lungs.
“Come,” Todd hissed out, letting go of Nick’s neck and nearly losing his ability to stand when Nick clenched around him, entire body shaking, hot semen spilling in large spurts over Todd’s hand.
They stayed that way, Nick leaning against the wall and Todd pressed to his back, for a few minutes, coming back to themselves. Todd pulled out, stepped away, snatched the towel Nick had been carrying, and wiped them both down. He tucked himself in and zipped his pants. Nick quietly pulled his clothes back on. Glancing up, eyes twinkling, he grinned at Todd. “I was hoping you’d like this color.”
“I have to stay until nine. I’ll come to the dorms and get you after that.”
After stepping up to him, Nick laid a hand on Todd’s shoulder. “Todd?”
“Go on. I’ll be out in a minute.” Todd brushed away Nick’s bangs and kissed his forehead lightly. “I’ll be watching you. You’ll be safe.”
Nick smiled, sweet and tender. “I know. I’ve always known that.” He slipped quietly out the door.
At nine sharp, Todd left the cotillion and headed across the estate, nearly a full hour after Nick had left. He crossed the bridge, and hurried down the stairs to the slave dorms. The sky was clouding over, and in the distance there were rumblings of thunder. Todd wanted Nick back in his quarters, safe with him before the storm hit. Once inside the dorm, he stopped to get his bearings, wondering how to find Nick in here.
Wandering through the common lounge, Todd was obviously causing a bit of a stir. Unlike at the cotillion, here the slaves were more open. Several greeted him warmly, asking if he’d like a drink.
One woman ran her gaze and then her hand down the hard line of muscle under Todd’s suit jacket. He got a glimpse of Nick coming from a hallway, quirked an eyebrow, smiled, and stepped away from the woman.
“I thought you’d never get here.” Nick sort of growled the words, making the woman turn to him and step back from Todd.
Charming smile all over his face, Todd cocked his head to one side. “Thanks for the offer, but I think my card is full.” Todd reached beyond the woman and took Nick’s hand, urging him closer.
Nick suddenly ducked his head, blushed, and huffed a breath, which did nothing but make Todd’s heart pound faster. Nodding to the group, he said, “Good night,” pleasantly, and left, Nick in tow.
As they walked, the wind was picking up, and
the sky went from deep blue mottled with fluffy gray to an angry purple. Nick pressed to Todd’s side as they hurried across the bridge. When he started shivering, Todd dropped an arm over his shoulders and tugged him in closer, whispering, “S’okay, Nicky.”
Once inside the employee building, Todd led the way to his quarters. The scrape of Nick’s teeth against his neck and the way Nick’s warm tongue dragged across his jaw made Todd fumble with the lock to his door. They more tumbled into the room than entered it. Nick stepped back a few paces and began stripping off his clothes. Todd inhaled short, quick breaths and watched appreciatively as Nick’s cock lengthened, swelling dark and moist to curve up and along his belly.
Nick dropped to his knees, and inched over the thick carpet until he was right in front of Todd, gazing up. He laid both hands flat on Todd’s hips, either side of Todd’s engorged cock, and rubbed up and down a few times before nuzzling his cheek against Todd’s thigh. A deep, needy moan escaped Todd as he twined his fingers in Nick’s silky hair.
Nick’s fingers slipped under the hem of Todd’s trousers, massaging his leg. Nick dipped his head to the couch along one wall and glanced up hesitantly. “Please, sit there, it’ll be easier.”
Todd couldn’t do much more than nod stupidly and back up to the couch, transfixed by the sight of Nick crawling beside him. After kneeling in the V of Todd’s legs, Nick pulled one of Todd’s feet onto his thigh and removed the shoe and sock. He bent down to drop light kisses along the top of Todd’s foot before kneading the ball and arch with both hands. A minute later, Nick repeated the action on Todd’s other foot. Stroking through Nick’s hair, Todd was simply satisfied for now with watching his mate and enjoying the way muscle moved beneath enticing skin.
From their very first meeting, Todd had known how Nick loved—craved, even—being held and caressed. Todd had also come to learn that the higher Nick’s stress level, the more he sought out Todd’s touches. Nick’s hands skimmed over him. He pressed openmouthed kisses against Todd’s clothes and smiled with delight when Todd’s body arched into his hands.
After slithering up the length of Todd’s body until he was flush against Todd, waist to Todd’s groin, chest to Todd’s belly, Nick stretched and licked Todd’s neck and planted soft, submissive nips where his tongue had moistened seconds earlier. He rubbed his hand in circles on Todd’s stomach. Every few seconds, he’d look up, offering a shy, sweet smile with those dimples Todd loved.
“Nick.” Todd managed a rough whisper, tugging lightly on Nick’s hair so he could look at Nick’s face. “Earlier, I’m sorry…I missed you so much…I was out of line and—”
“I liked it.” The words tumbled out of Nick’s mouth, and he flushed pink. “Don’t apologize, nothing to apologize for.”
Todd blinked at Nick a few times. It took his befuddled mind several seconds to catch up.
Nick settled beside him on the couch, leaning close, Nick swirled his tongue over the shell of Todd’s ear. “When you get like that.” Nick slithered his tongue under Todd’s ear and brushed Todd’s jaw. “It makes me feel loved, protected, owned. It’s sexy.” Nick’s teeth grazed the line of Todd’s jaw. “It’s so comforting to know you know what we both need and want.” Nick inhaled sharply, then excited Todd all that much more with a more forceful nip that he licked over, using his entire tongue. “I’m not made of glass, Todd. Sometimes you treat me like I’ll break. I won’t, not ever, not with you.”
“You liked it?” Well, didn’t he just sound intelligent?
Nick nodded. His smile turned from sweet to sultry when Todd rumbled low in his throat and turned his lips up in a predatory grin.
“I like when you don’t hesitate and give me everything you have,” Nick said.
Before Nick had the chance to react further, Todd slid one arm around his waist, flipped him over Todd’s knees, and cracked his hand on Nick’s ass a few times, anticipation building when a handprint bloomed over Nick’s flesh. “Like that?”
Nick’s grunts turned to soft moans when his body lurched forward a few inches with each strike. He puffed out a breathless “Yes.” Nick twisted around to see his own butt, turned back to Todd, met his master’s gaze for a moment before kissing along Todd’s leg, panting against the fabric. “And I like the in-between, hot and tender all at once.”
Fingers gripping Nick’s arms, Todd pulled Nick up and between his legs. Todd slid a hand around Nick’s waist and across his shoulders and pressed Nick close, breathing warm air over his face and down his neck. “Like this?”
Nick nodded, turning to Todd.
Todd’s hand moved up, tangling in Nick’s hair before dropping again to Nick’s face and cupping it. Leaning in, he licked his tongue over Nick’s lips, the tip of Nick’s tongue just barely slipping through. Tilting back, breath ghosting over Nick’s face, Todd murmured, “Nick, I’m just not good at words…with—”
Nick chased his mouth. “Yes, you are.”
Todd pulled Nick back in, arms wrapped tight around Nick, and slipped his tongue between Nick’s soft lips, exploring, tasting, caressing Nick’s tongue. Backing off for a breath, he exhaled. “You seem to think you’re the only one in this relationship who is owned.”
Nick moaned into Todd’s mouth, and his hips rocked steadily against Todd’s leg. Todd bit Nick’s lower lip, pulling it between his teeth, and landed another sharp crack to Nick’s ass. “Bed…now, boy.”
Grinning brightly, Nick slid off Todd, sprinted across the room, and cannonballed onto the bed with a laugh. Stripping his clothes off as he crossed the room, Todd chuckled, lengthened his stride, and, flinging himself the last few feet, tackled Nick and pinned his mate to the bed. Rearing up onto his knees, hand around Nick’s waist, Todd yanked Nick up with him and pressed their mouths together. Nick dug his fingers into the flesh along the back of Todd’s shoulders. Todd’s weight shifted and eased Nick onto his back. Hands on either side of his neck, hovering over him, Todd drunk in the sight of him, brown strands of hair fanned out around his face, muscles ripped, sleek skin covered with a fine sheen of sweat. Everything about this young man ignited Todd from deep inside.
Todd caressed Nick with his fingers and tongue. Their bodies together, bucking and twisting against each other, Todd took Nick to the edge, eased him back, took him there again and again before sliding them together, taking Nick.
They cleaned up quickly with a towel Todd grabbed from the bathroom before winding together as Todd pulled the sheets over them. There was a remnant of the storm, distant rumbling of thunder that Todd saw Nick was just now noticing. Todd was quite proud of himself, having so well occupied Nick during the worst part of the wind and thunder. Tucked against Todd’s side, Nick wiggled around, pillowed his head on Todd’s chest, and sighed as he finally settled comfortably into Todd’s arms.
Sleep tugged at Todd. He was exhausted, and only in part because he’d had so little sleep the night before.
Nick twirled a fingertip over the hills and valleys of muscle on Todd’s chest and abs and whispered, “Hey, Todd?”
“Hmm?” Todd reminded himself for the zillionth time Nick was young and energetic.
“Think they’ll let you keep the suit?”
Rubbing Nick’s head, Todd laughed and squeezed him close and tight. “I love you.”
“Well, yeah. I love you, too.” Nick kissed Todd’s nipple. “So, think they will?”
Chapter 5
Todd rolled out of bed a few minutes after Nick had slipped off to the shower. He hung up his clothes from the previous night and folded Nick’s neatly on a chair near the bed. He pulled a clean pair of underwear and jogging pants on and headed into the kitchenette. Humming happily, he put on some coffee and made them a simple breakfast of toast and jam. They’d eat a proper meal later, but it was dangerous being seen together in either the employee or the slave dining hall when they weren’t supposed to know each other very well, so their meals would be separate for now, other than what Todd could fix over the cooktop in his quar
ters.
Nick wandered from the shower a few minutes later, stopped in the middle of the room, and sniffed the air like a gundog on a trail.
“Something wrong?” Todd asked casually.
Shaking his head, wet droplets taking flight off the ends of damp bangs, Nick said, “Nuh-uh.” He twisted his torso to look all around, leaning back a bit and eyeing the kitchen.
Todd swung onto one of the tall chairs in the breakfast nook, sipped his coffee, and asked, “Did you lose something?”
“No.” Nick sat in the opposite chair and leaned forward to look into Todd’s cup.
“I made some toast.” Smiling, Todd slid the plate resting in the middle of the table at Nick. “You going to put some clothes on? Because we have work to do on our case, and that sure as hell won’t happen with you parading around here naked.”
Nick blinked at him, grinned, and shrugged. “Maybe. You did say I had to take my clothes off in your quarters. I sort of like being naked.”
“I said take your government issued thing off and wear your own clothes,” Todd pointed out.
Nick pointed at Todd’s mug. “What’s in there?”
“Buddy, the coffee here…” Todd grinned when Nick’s mouth dropped open. He and Nick said together, “Sucks!” Laughing, Todd waved at the small coffeepot in the kitchenette. “I came prepared.”
Nick nearly destroyed the table and chair in his efforts to get to that coffeepot.
“I bought you some cream, too, in that little icebox.”
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