The Copper Horse #2 Pride (22 page)

The apprentice
let his head fall, and he pulled back, eyeing them with caution
before turning on his heel and disappearing from sight.

“What a cunt,”
spat Erik, kneeling next to Reuben to take the bit out of his
mouth.

“Sorry sir.
Stupid boy doesn’t know any better,” the blacksmith said, wrapping
the blanket around Reuben’s shoulders.

“It hurts when
anything moves in there.” Reuben sniffed and looked up at Erik. He
guessed this was the end of ‘horse day’.

Erik chewed on
his lip and stroked Reuben’s head before pulling him into a tight
embrace. He didn’t seem angry about having his fun spoiled.

“I’m so sorry,
darling. I pushed you too hard on your first day with the
hooves.”

“No, it was me
who ran away like an idiot.” Reuben sighed and bit his lip at
another pang of pain. It spread up his leg like fire consuming a
house made of wood.  

Erik took hold
of Reuben’s chin and looked into his eyes, very serious. “It is my
responsibility to take care of you. And I’m afraid I’ll have to
take off your shoes now.”

“Suppose they
need a cleaning anyway.” Reuben gave Erik a small smile.

“The carriage
is here, sir. Can I help in any way?” The apprentice ran into the
stables, completely out of breath. The power of Erik’s name alone
was incredible. Most people bent to his will even without a shadow
of a threat, and Reuben wasn’t certain whether he should be scared
or proud to have such a powerful master.

“Yes, please,
take off his shoes. Be very gentle, he is a prized stallion,” said
Erik, pressing a soft kiss to Reuben’s forehead.

Reuben smiled into his
pillow and cuddled up in a goose down comforter. He felt warm all
over, and with a bag of ice on the injured joint, he didn’t even
feel that much pain anymore. Erik had a doctor, a real one, come
over and take a look at it. Fortunately, Reuben’s ankle wasn’t
broken, just sprained, which meant he was bound to recover in time
for Erik’s birthday party. He had trouble walking, but he could
probably limp around soon. Erik didn’t let him move more than
necessary, though, and ordered the servants to bring a magnificent
bed to Reuben’s stable. He was like a precious gem in a
velvet-lined box. Erik checked on him himself or sent someone over
every hour or so. Reuben even got his food without having to leave
the soft covers. It was heaven.

Shackled with only one
wrist cuff on a long chain, Reuben was as free to move around as
ever but ended up just reveling in that knowledge not actually
using his liberty. Staying in bed was a lot more comfortable. And
less painful. He missed being useful but supposed that everyone
deserved a break every now and then. Still, Reuben would prefer to
spend that time with Erik, not just Jack or any other servant.
Since his groom still had extra chores in the kitchen, Reuben was
often stuck with John. The footman wasn’t half as friendly or
talkative as Jack. He would usually come round and read a book for
hours, not sparing Reuben much attention. During times like this,
it was hard not to miss Erik, even if Reuben did understand his
master had important matters to attend to.

A sudden bang made
Reuben sit up straight. His eyes flew wide open when he saw Erik
enter the stable, followed by two bulky men and... a desk.

“Be careful with
that!” Erik frowned at one of the men whose grip on the furniture
slipped.

“Master?” Reuben
pulled up the comforter when it slipped down to his hips. Erik had
seen him naked every day, but somehow the covers had given Reuben
back his sense of modesty.

Erik looked back at
him, and his face lit up like sunshine. “Copper, how are you
feeling?” He rushed toward the bed, forgetting his helpers and the
burden they carried.

“Every day is better,
Master.” Reuben smiled back at him, his stomach already giddy.

“Where would you like
the desk, sir?” asked one of the servants with a huff.

Erik waved his hand,
pointing to somewhere behind his back, his eyes never leaving
Reuben. “By the bed.”

“Master, you will be
working here?” Reuben lay back, running his fingers through his
hair. The sides were growing back quickly, so he would probably be
getting a shave soon.

Erik nodded and sat
down on the mattress next to him, only to kick off his shoes and
settle himself in Reuben’s lap. “I’ve missed the clopping of your
hooves, love.”

“I’m not afraid to try
again in a few days.” Reuben slowly moved his hand to Erik’s arm.
He wasn’t sure whether his master would like that, since Reuben’s
hands were usually tied, but Erik leaned in to the caress with a
sigh.

“Don’t rush it. We’ll
only give it another go when the doctor grants his permission.” He
cupped Reuben’s cheek and nuzzled his neck. “In the meantime we
could settle for your forelegs in hooves. What do you think?”

“Do you mean these?”
Reuben clenched his hands into fists and raised them to his chest
level, pretending they were hooves. He’d do a lot for Erik’s
attention. It seemed to work, as his master’s eyes sparkled.

“There they are.”

Reuben’s heart leapt
when the blond head came closer, and he felt smooth lips pressing
two delicate kisses on each of his fists.

“You’ve been very busy
lately, Master. Is everything all right with your work?” Reuben
leaned in to give his cheek a peck. The servants placed the desk
close to the bed and stood there motionless, awaiting further
orders.

Erik sighed and waved
them off before reaching into a pouch he wore by his belt. As it
turned out, the pouch held Reuben’s hoof mittens.

“There’s a commotion
in London. People are talking about revolution.” Erik’s eyes darted
up at Reuben. “Does the name Gregorovich ring a bell?”

“I have heard about
him, yes. Leader of the Humanists.” Reuben nodded, only now
realizing how sheltered he was in this house, away from any worries
of the outside world.

Erik nodded and
slipped one of the hooves on Reuben’s hand, quickly buckling it all
the way up. Above his arm, Reuben saw Hans’ disdainful gaze, but
the bodyguard left the room along with John and the other
servants.

“He’s sabotaging our
business, and my brother’s going mad because of it.” Erik shook his
head. “Which means more work for me.”

“Why would he do that?
Don’t you provide food for London, Master?” Reuben nuzzled his
cheek.

Erik’s brows shot up,
and he chuckled. “So does Gregorovich. Why, do you think he’s
jealous of our honey?”

“Oh, I see. But what
about the revolution? It shouldn’t affect us in Bylondon, right?”
he asked as Erik put on the other hoof. It seemed that just having
them on got him closer to sex. This would only be the second time
in his life doing it in a bed after that one time in Erik’s
bedroom.

Erik shrugged and
reached through the mesh headboard to return with two leather
straps that he used to secure Reuben’s hands to the bed frame. They
were long enough to allow some movement but wouldn’t let Reuben use
the hard hooves as an effective weapon.

“The Humanists won’t
settle for London alone, darling. They intend to take over all of
Britain.”

“I heard that they
want a war on the undead. That they’d pull men into an army?”
Reuben heard gossip from the servants, but Erik would probably know
better.

Erik burst out
laughing. “And wouldn’t you make a fine war horse?” Now that Reuben
had no way to harm him, Erik leaned in to a tight hug, snaking his
arms around his pet’s waist.

Reuben tried to push
down the comforter with his good leg, to invite Erik underneath.
“No, Master. I don’t want to fight zombies. They scare me.”

Erik snorted but only
pulled the covers down low enough to expose Reuben’s crotch. The
cool air instantly made goose bumps spread all over Reuben’s skin,
even more so when Erik leaned close and cupped his private parts
with his warm hand. “Of course they do, darling. I will not allow
anyone to waste you in the battlefield.”

“So the Humanists a
threat to your family, Master?” Reuben knew Erik was competent at
his job, but still worried about what could happen if the world
around them collapsed.

Erik nodded, squeezing
Reuben’s still-soft cock. “They are, and that is why we need to get
rid of them.”

Reuben sighed and
looked down to his hand. “What about this doctor? I heard he’s
found a cure for the Plague. Do you think it’s possible,
Master?”

Erik cocked his head,
squinting. The tugging on Reuben’s prick became even more intense,
waking it to life “Ferris Deverell?”

Reuben tried to focus
on the conversation and pushed at Erik’s arm with his hoof. “That
could be his name.”

Erik groaned and
lapped at Reuben’s mouth. His tongue was so hot and silky Reuben’s
mind immediately pictured it on his cock. “You only know him
because he’s Percy Preston’s new role, don’t you?”

“N-no!” Reuben avoided
Erik’s gaze, ashamed. “I did hear about the role, but apparently
Gregorovich talked about it at some gathering in London.”

Erik stared at him
with those strangely intense eyes, never breaking eye contact even
when Reuben’s cock twitched in his grasp. “I think it’s just bait
for the masses.”

“I wouldn’t want you
to be in a war, Master.” Reuben took a deep breath, hypnotized by
Erik’s eyes. That was all it took for him to become unbearably
excited, but he didn’t even have to plead for Erik to suck him. His
master ducked toward Reuben’s crotch without a word and enveloped
him in velvet heat.

It was the best
medicine Reuben could imagine, a good long blowjob, caresses on his
stomach and thighs until he came. Erik even sucked on his balls
with lots of loud, delightful sounds. Reuben felt adored and cared
for. When Erik was done with him, they laid in the covers, all
sweaty and breathless. And Reuben didn’t even have to return the
favor, since Erik insisted he shouldn’t overexert himself. His
master tossed off on Reuben’s stomach and collapsed against his
side with a dreamy smile stretching his scarred lips. The marks
didn’t make him look any less handsome, though.

“That was... thank
you,” Reuben whispered, sorry that he couldn’t properly hug
him.

Erik yawned. “My
pleasure, Copper.”  He brushed his lips against one of the
hooves again before pressing a kiss to Reuben’s mouth. Now that
they’d both climaxed, the atmosphere became lazy and sweet.

Reuben smiled into the
caress and nudged Erik’s shoulder blade with his hoof. Erik
chuckled, withdrawing just enough to bump his forehead against
Reuben’s.

“I love it when you
get all horsey.”

“You’re such a
pervert,” Reuben said and nudged him with his nose.

Erik wiggled his
eyebrows with a smug smile. “It takes a pervert to be this good at
blowing cock.” He leaned closer, as if he were aiming for another
kiss, but there was a loud knock on the door, and he slouched over
Reuben’s chest. “Oh, fuck me.”

Reuben smirked but
didn’t say a thing when they heard the butler’s voice from behind
the door. “May I enter, sir?”

Erik rolled his eyes
at Reuben and leaned against the headboard next to him. “You may if
you must.”

Mister Evans entered
and didn’t even blink at the position he found his master in. “Sir,
a mister Oliver Sheppard is here to see you. He has an appointment,
and since this is the temporary office...”

“Do bring him in.”
Erick tucked his cock back into his pants, released Reuben’s hands,
and crawled off the bed only to end up in a chair behind his desk.
“Are you hungry?” He looked at the bed.

“Yes, Master,” Reuben
said and pulled the comforter over himself with his hooves. It was
less efficient than it could have been, but Reuben did it for
Erik’s entertainment.

The butler came back,
followed by a roundish man with a bush of fluffy white hair, who
looked distressed at best, his cheeks red and eyes puffy. Mister
Evans introduced him and moved back to the door, as Hans approached
the guest and did a quick check for weapons. Mister Sheppard kept
his eyes on Erik, all fidgety. Erik scrutinized him with a bored
expression, but eventually gestured for him to come closer.

“Speak.”

The man took a deep
breath. “Sir, I have come to speak about my son, Victor.” He had to
take another gasp of air before he could go on. “I don’t know in
what kind of trouble he’s gotten himself into, but I will do
anything to help him out. It’s been four days since he’s gone
missing.”

Reuben watched
Sheppard from under the covers in silence. His father would never
risk coming to see someone as dangerous as Erik in order to find
him. Suddenly, he felt very jealous of this Victor, wherever he
was.

Erik leaned back in
his chair and opened the drawer, fishing out a small pot of honey.
“Why do you think I’m the person to help you?”

Sheppard licked his
lips. “I... sir, I heard he had some sort of misunderstanding with
your brother, Frey Dal.”

Erik leaned over the
desk, his eyes narrowing with interest. “Your son’s the singer who
wanted to taste my brother’s cock?”

Mister Sheppard dried
his forehead with a handkerchief. His face had been red before, but
now it went purple. “That... could have been the case. I thought
that maybe—with all due respect—considering your own inclination,
sir... you could help?” The man’s hands were shaking so badly
Reuben wanted to pat him on the back.

“Well, excuse me,
Mister Sheppard.” Erik popped the honeypot open and dove in with a
small spoon. “I wouldn’t get on my knees for a man I don’t know.”
His tone was borderline offended.

“Sir, he’s young.
Doesn’t know any better. I don’t know what he was thinking. There
must be some kind of reasonable explanation for this
misunderstanding.”