At His Throat, a Promise (4 page)

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AT HIS THROAT, A PROMISE

He longed to get out of his itchy slave sheath, but he didn"t know if Harte would be coming back. He hadn"t said goodnight, but that didn"t really mean anything.

Ellis was sitting uncertainly on the edge of his bed when his door burst open.

“Shit!” Harte swore under his breath when the door slammed against the wall. He froze, and Ellis guessed he was waiting for remonstration. When none came, he smiled and bounded over to the bed. He tossed two slave sheaths at Ellis, who noted the quality was much better than his own.

“Master says he"ll put in an order for more tomorrow once you"re measured. Those will be too short because you"re taller than me. I guess… you"ll just have to sleep naked.” He grinned wickedly and threw himself at Ellis, who fell against the bed with a squirming body on top of him.

“What are you doing?” he gasped as Harte yanked at the hem of his sheath.

“You heard what Master said. We"re to enjoy ourselves.”

“I thought he meant… ”

Harte"s eager fingers paused. “What?”

“You know… only as a… last resort or something.” Climbing into the middle of the huge bed, Harte tilted his head like a puppy and looked at Ellis. “You mean, fuck each other so we don"t pester him or something?”

Ellis shrugged.

“No, no, no,” he drawled. He very slowly lifted his garment over his head, revealing tanned limbs and a smooth, nearly hairless body. A thin trail of hair beneath his navel led to the nest of curls at his groin; Ellis tried not to stare. “See, he pretty much got you for me. That sort of makes you mine, don"t you think?” 24

AT HIS THROAT, A PROMISE

Ellis thought that kind of thinking was very dangerous, but Harte"s golden body was distracting him.

“And he always lets me play with my toys whenever I want,” Harte continued. He moved closer to Ellis and slowly drew his sheath off, tossing it over the bed before he lay down on his back.

“Come here,” he whispered.

Obediently, Ellis moved beside Harte, as close as he could get without touching. But Harte had no such qualms and ran his hand up Ellis"s side. His blue eyes lit up when he saw Ellis"s cock cage.

“Oh, I think you"ll be very pleasing to Master,” he said mysteriously. Nimble fingers slid the silver encirclement off, and Ellis groaned at the sudden desperate need that he only just pulled back. His cock ached from its entrapment, but it wasn"t entirely unpleasant. Harte put the ringed cage in a drawer in the bedside table. “Do you wear that every day?”

“Of course not,” Ellis said. “Only when I think I… might need to.”

“Don"t want to seem too eager, hmm?”

“I just wanted to make sure my desires are known only to me.” A slave who can hide his needs and wants was a slave with the upper hand.

“You"re very pale,” he noted. “And thin. Master always says I"m too thin; do you think so?” He stretched his arms over his head and arched his back.

“No,” Ellis said quietly. His fingers itched to touch.

“I think you"re more Master"s type, really,” Harte mused, though he didn"t seem at all perturbed. “All his previous slaves were tall and dark-haired like you. Mostly tan, though. He didn"t want to be my master, you know.” But he didn"t elaborate on this interesting point. “I think he"ll really like you. I"ve never seen eyes 25

AT HIS THROAT, A PROMISE

like yours.”

Ellis frowned. Three people had mentioned his eyes today, but never in his life had anyone else.

Harte pushed him onto his back. “You don"t think you"re good-looking, do you?”

Ellis didn"t answer, but Harte took that as answer enough.

“It"s okay, I never used to either.”

That was astonishing because Harte had the face of an angel and the perfect slave"s body. Ellis would have killed—quite possibly literally—to be so small and sweet of face.

Harte straddled his lower body, and they both gasped when their cocks came into contact, but Harte was still talking. “Your hair"s not even brown like Master"s, it"s
black
. That"s really cool.

And the grey of your eyes is so light you almost can"t see from far away. It"s like there"s no colour on you. Just black and white.” Then Harte kissed him, a quick, chaste kiss just beside his mouth.

“Except your lips,” he said quietly, his eyes a little darker than before. “Your lips are pink.”

Ellis licked said lips and Harte lowered his face again. He kissed along Ellis"s jaw and down his neck, nipping a little but not enough to leave marks. Ellis suspected that wouldn"t be allowed.

Then Harte"s mouth was on his nipple, and Ellis arched into the touch. His hands clenched on the red bedclothes as he fought not to grab at Harte.

“You can touch me,” whispered Harte. “Just remember the rules.”

And with that he ground their cocks together, gripping them both tightly. Ellis ran trembling hands up Harte"s thighs and grabbed his hips. A moment later, Harte swore and jumped off the bed. He was out the door in a flash while Ellis was still trying to 26

AT HIS THROAT, A PROMISE

keep his grip on him.

He sat up, wondering what he"d done to make the other slave run away. But Harte was back in a second, jumping into the bed and sprawling across Ellis, whose cock jumped at the harsh contact.

“Sorry,” Harte said quickly. “Had to get the lubricant. Doubt you have any in here.” And with that he squirted a small amount into his hands and pressed their pricks together again. He moaned and let his head fall back, and Ellis could only watch. He thrust up gently from beneath, but Harte was doing most of the work, rocking over him and stroking their cocks in tandem.

Ellis had never done anything like this with another slave. The power balance made him feel more free and made his actions less contrived. He didn"t have to worry about punishment if he was displeasing or a beating just for fun. He only had to enjoy the movements, let himself go.

Harte seemed to feel the same way. His face was the picture of abandon as he ground their bodies together. He made a whimpering noise before falling forward onto Ellis"s chest and biting down quite insistently on his neck. Ellis could feel Harte coming, feel his cock spurting alongside his. Harte"s movements stopped as he came, but a moment later he rallied and sat up, stroking Ellis"s cock expertly.

“You"re going to come for me, aren"t you?” Harte whispered, biting his lip and watching his hand fly over Ellis"s cock. “Come all over both of us?”

Unaccustomed to such talk, which was unheard of in a slave, Ellis came unexpectedly, arching up and clamping down on his cries. Harte"s hand worked him until there was nothing left, and he fell flat against the bed, panting.

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AT HIS THROAT, A PROMISE

Harte curled up beside him so they were facing each other. He gently pushed the hair from Ellis"s eyes and smiled.

Without thinking, Ellis leaned forward and brushed their lips together—barely a kiss, barely anything at all, but Harte once again jumped from the bed. He stared at Ellis with a disappointed look, and Ellis"s stomach sank.

“Ellis, no,” he said, picking up and donning his sheath.

“I"m sorry,” Ellis blurted, hating that he"d fucked up already. “I didn"t mean—”

But Harte just gave him a sad smile and left the room, whispering “goodnight” at the door.

The happiness that had been hiding away in his heart ever since William had said they were taking him home dissolved into bitter disappointment. He always ruined anything good.

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AT HIS THROAT, A PROMISE

Ellis was awake and alert the moment a body crashed onto his bed. His mind fought to catch up with his eyes, and he shook off sleep like the well-trained slave he was.

“Good morning!” Harte cried, eyes impossibly bright for the ungodly hour.

“Is something the matter?” Ellis croaked. It wasn"t even light out yet. There was no reason for the best sleep he"d had in years to be interrupted.

“No, I just thought I"d wake you up before you get in trouble.”

“Why would I get in trouble? It"s not nearly time to get up.” Harte sighed and turned onto his back on Ellis"s bed. “Yeah, I know. Sorry. I just couldn"t sleep.”

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AT HIS THROAT, A PROMISE

Ellis bit his lip. Harte seemed like he was going to pretend Ellis"s kiss hadn"t happened, but Ellis didn"t want that.

“I"m really sorry about last night. The kiss.” Harte rolled onto his side and pulled Ellis down so they were facing each other. “That"s part of why I came here,” he admitted.

“I told Master. I had to. I didn"t do it to get you into trouble, it"s just… I don"t lie to him, and I don"t keep secrets from him.” Ellis tried not to let his fear and heartbreak show on his face.

On his first day he"d managed to mess everything up. There was no way William would keep him now, not when he was such a risk.

“Of course you told him, I don"t blame you for that,” Ellis said honestly.

“Anyway, Master says he"ll talk to you, but that you"re not to worry, all right? And when Master says that, he means it. He isn"t the type to tell you don"t worry and then spring a punishment on you.”

“Really?” Ellis couldn"t keep the relief from his voice. “I don"t want to leave just yet.”

“Oh!” Harte tugged Ellis into his arms. “You"re not going to!

You don"t have to leave for a while, not until Master finds you the best match. We"re going to have so much fun together. Did you know Master"s never had a second slave? I don"t know how all the others didn"t get bored or lonely. I do, sometimes. And it probably drives Master crazy, because when he comes home, I won"t leave him alone.”

Ellis laughed—what else could he do? Harte was different from anyone he"d ever met.

“Anyway, we"re up, so we might as well have our shower and then we can surprise Master with how eager we are!” 30

AT HIS THROAT, A PROMISE

“I don"t have any shower things,” Ellis said. He"d used the bathroom in the middle of the night and noticed its lack of supplies.

“I brought mine!” Harte pointed at a small canvas bag filled with bottles and other accoutrements.

“Okay, thanks. I"ll wait, then.” Ellis adjusted the too-small slave sheath and got out of bed. Where on Harte the garment came to just above his knees, on Ellis it was mid-thigh and indecent.

“That makes no sense.” Harte grabbed the shower bag and Ellis"s hand and walked toward the bathroom. Ellis wondered if he"d be spending most of his time here being dragged around by Harte. He didn"t really mind. “Master will be pleased if we save time and water, trust me.”

Not really having a choice, Ellis did as Harte said. Harte started the water in the tiled shower and quickly threw off his sleeping sheath. Ellis did the same, feeling unaccountably shy. Nudity was something every slave was used to, but after the night before he still felt a little on edge.

Harte ducked under the spray, his light blond hair turning darker with the water. Ellis stepped in slowly, taking care not to come too close to Harte, who seemed to have other ideas—he slid his arms around Ellis"s waist and just… held him. Ellis kept the water from Harte"s eyes and ran a hand up and down his back.

“I"m glad you"re here,” Harte mumbled, looking up under the shield of Ellis"s hand.

“Me, too.”

Harte squirmed a little, looking uncertain. Then he asked, “Do you want me?”

“Right now?”

Harte nodded. “There"s time, and Master won"t be able to tend 31

AT HIS THROAT, A PROMISE

to either of us before he leaves, so… ”

Ellis felt a shiver of trepidation at the thought of William
tending
to him. It wasn"t that he seemed like a brutal master—he was just a little cold. He wondered if William would kiss him on the lips. It would be strange to have sex and never kiss anyone…

“I want to, but maybe we shouldn"t. I don"t want to make Sir even angrier with me. Maybe it would be better if I kept my attentions to him so he doesn"t think I"m trying to… ” Ellis trailed off, not entirely certain what he was trying to say.

“He doesn"t think you"re trying to get me to break the rules or anything, Ellis. It"s a hard rule for a slave in a new circumstance. I probably should have given you more time before… mauling you like that.”

It was the most serious Ellis had seen the other slave. “It was just… You"re really beautiful.”

Harte"s cheeks pinked, and Ellis wondered why it hadn"t been trained out of him. Masters liked their slaves to blush on demand, not to have actual modesty. Or maybe Harte was just reacting how he thought Ellis wanted him to?

“You"re beautiful, too, and more so because you don"t know it.

Now stop thinking so much and tell me if you want me to get you off. It might make you less nervous about facing Master.” Ellis didn"t really have to think. “Yes,” he whispered.

Harte"s grin was worth all his hesitation. He immediately backed Ellis against the shower wall and began stroking his half-hard cock. Ellis almost cried out in surprise at the immediate and unforgiving assault, but the rhythm was sweet and Harte knew just what to do.

Ellis absently noticed that Harte was rubbing himself on Ellis"s thigh, and he moved to take his cock in hand. Matching Harte"s 32

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strokes, marvelling at the enticing way Harte pushed into his hand, Ellis could barely think for the sensation.

Then Harte was biting and nipping at his jaw and neck in a way Ellis was beginning to see Harte was very fond of, and at a particularly fierce bite, Ellis cried out and came. His hand stuttered to a stop on Harte"s cock, but he didn"t seem to mind.

When Ellis recovered, Harte whispered, “Finger me.” His cock gave an interested twitch but remained quiescent.

“What?”

Harte was slowly stroking his cock and looking up at Ellis with huge, dark eyes. “Please, I"ll come so hard.” Pulling Harte against his body, Ellis trailed light fingers over his spine and into his crack. He spread Harte with his other hand and lightly touched his hole.