Slave of My Heart

Part 1: Claiming

Author's Notes: There are several warnings below, so if nothing
bothers you, you may want to just go on to the story. This story
takes place in an Alternate Universe where Ancient Greek
philosophies dominate religion, making the practice of
homosexuality more acceptable than under the influence of Judeo-
Christian religions. In the Ancient Greek culture, it was not
uncommon for a man to marry a woman to produce offspring and take
younger male lovers outside the marriage bed for both mental and
physical stimulation. As far as the political climate is
concerned, this story takes place in a Medieval era, roughly
equivalent to England in the late 12th century. Also, the
characters are 20 years younger than in the series (otherwise at
Walter's age on the series he'd be dead or a great-grandfather).

Warnings: 1) This story involves a true Master/slave
relationship, and not a consensual BDSM relationship. Think of
the "Chains" universe as role-playing "fun" and this as the real
thing. 2) Whatever you think of corporeal punishment in our
modern times, there was no debate at all back then. A man had the
power of life or death over his servants and his family. Slaves
had absolutely no rights and could be killed without penalty
whereas, theoretically, a serf belonged to the land and therefore
was to be preserved to be passed down to a man's heirs. 3) This
story contains corporeal punishment for infractions determined by
the master and over which the slave has no power of consent.
Therefore, you may consider the punishment as well as the sex to
be non-consensual. However, I do not write rape stories and both
the punishment and the sex takes place within a relationship that
is, ultimately, a loving one.

Slave of My Heart: Part 1 - Claimed

Chapter One

Walter

I don't know what made me go to the slave auction that day. I had
no need of more household slaves and I had long ago given up the
hope of finding a personal slave to meet my exacting needs.
Perhaps it was just that I was in town, or that my host was
attending, or perhaps it was the Gods taking a hand in my fate.
Lately I am inclined toward the latter, although I have never
been a particularly religious man. Perhaps, just perhaps, I
should stop by the Temple the next time I'm in Town and make an
Offering of Thanks - it certainly couldn't hurt and I have much
to be thankful for these days.

In any event, when my host announced that he was off to the
auction I agreed to accompany him. And so we found ourselves
strolling through the stalls, Reginald looking carefully over the
merchandise offered while I glanced about seeing nothing new,
nothing special, nothing worthy of my attention.

And then I saw Him.

He was standing in the middle of a string of young men all in
their late teens but, unlike the other boys, he was looking
around him with interest and curiosity. His eyes met mine and I
could see that they were that peculiar shade that changes color
with mood and lighting, beautiful eyes framed by dark lashes. He
returned my gaze steadily, a slight smile playing on his mouth,
and I could see the intelligence and humor shining out of those
eyes. I let my eyes travel briefly over his face noting the fine
bone structure, the full bottom lip, the slight imperfection of
the nose that marked one with noble birth, and I saw a slight
blush stain his cheeks at my examination. This was no ordinary
boy. What in the hell was a boy like that doing here, I wondered,
a common slave on the auction block?

"Eyes down, boy!" A sharp crack of the crop across his back and
the young man hastily dropped his eyes. I drew closer,
mesmerized.

"You!" I called to the merchant. "What is the story on this boy?"

The slave merchant recognized me at a glance and bowed deeply.
"Honored lord, this boy is being offered as a slave for seven
years to pay for his family's crimes. He has no slave experience
although he has been educated." He shrugged dismissively but that
intrigued me even more. I stepped closer to the young man,
studying him carefully. He was tall, just a few inches shorter
than myself. His slender body revealed by his bare chest was trim
although it was obvious that he was unaccustomed to hard physical
work. The swell within his breeches seemed to indicate an
adequate endowment there as well.

"You, boy, what is your name?"

"Fox." As the slave merchant raised his crop, he added, hastily,
"sir."

"Your family?"

"My parents are dead, sir." There was a shadow on that face but
the eyes remained fixed on the ground.

"How old are you, boy?"

"Eighteen, sir."

Reginald joined me. "Walter, you can't be serious! Do you know
how much trouble it will be to take on an indentured boy? And one
this old with no experience? You're asking for trouble!"

"You're right, Reggie," I said with a sigh and was turning away
when a deep, mocking voice caught my attention.

"Hello, Lord Walter. I didn't expect to see you here."

I took a deep breath and managed to put on a polite smile before
I turned around. "Hello, John. I'm surprised to see you here as
well. I thought you generally obtained your slaves in other
ways."

Sir John Smythe's eyes narrowed but he merely drew in another
breath from one of those tobacco sticks that the Court had lately
begun to favor. His eyes flicked to the line of slaves behind us,
casually studying them. "Well, what have we got here?" He stopped
in front of Fox, reaching out to force his chin up. I could see
the young man's eyes widen and his body stiffened. "Not so proud
are we now, Fox? What do you think, Alex - should I buy you a new
toy?" I glanced over at the slave following John, another of the
beautiful young men that John always had around him, and saw a
cruel light in the green eyes. Fox saw it, too, and swallowed
hard.

A liveried servant ran up. "Sir John, the King requests your
attendance immediately."

"Coming." John released Fox's chin, tapping his cheek with mock
affection. "I'll be back, Fox." He strode off in the wake of the
servant followed by the beautiful Alex.

"Come on, Walter," Reggie said and I turned to follow him.

"Sir," came a soft voice behind me. "Please."

I turned back to find those chameleon eyes on me, beseechingly. I
hesitated, touched by that appeal.

"Are you crazy, Walter?" Reginald hissed. "You know better than
to get between Sir John and his - pleasures. He clearly has his
eye on this boy."

"I'm not afraid of John," I said quietly. "We've seen favorites
come and go. John is just another."

"He's more powerful than the others and he is ruthless."

"So am I." Reginald flinched at the steel in my voice but he did
not disagree. I had been the King's Marshal for ten years and had
put down two rebellions during that time. I had no doubt that
this upstart John would not be pleased at my interference, but I
also knew that my half-brother's devotion to me was stronger than
his passing fancy for any favorite.

I turned back to the young man who had once more dropped his eyes
to the ground. "So, Fox," I said, my voice deliberately harsh,
"you would prefer me over Sir John? You are a fool - you would do
far better to court a merchant who would set you up as his
bookkeeper. If I took you on, boy, you would be my personal
slave. You would bathe me, dress me, care for my wardrobe and my
rooms, serve my meals and warm my bed. I would be within my
rights to whip you for any reason - or no reason except my own
gratification. For seven years I would own you body and soul, and
I would get my money's worth out of both. Do you understand me,
boy?"

In reply, the young man dropped to his knees and kissed the tip
of my boots. He did it with a natural grace that fired my blood -
by the Gods, what I could do with such a talent! I turned to the
merchant.

"Done. Wrap him up - I will take him with me."

Fox

And so I became the property of Lord Walter, King's Marshal,
half-brother to the king and easily the most powerful person in
the land.

I had seen him before, from a distance, and had heard my father
talk about him in admiring tones. When the King's father had died
ten years before, the new king had been a boy of only ten years.
Lord Walter had been a young man of twenty but already
acknowledged the finest fighter in the land, undefeated at the
joust or in battle. He had rallied the support of the lords of
the land behind his younger half-brother, securing the boy's
place on the throne when he could have easily taken the throne
himself. Bastardy has never been a deterrent to ambition, and a
king's bastard can have more power than most.

My own family had been of the minor nobility and I had spent my
years until now in blissful ignorance of the real world. Living
in my family's modest townhouse with my younger sister, educated
by a string of tutors, then sent to University with the
expectation that I would follow my father's footsteps into
service at Court, one of the Clerks that kept the legal,
financial and judicial systems of the kingdom going. Until a
month ago. Until the night when Sir John's flunkies burst into
our home, arresting my father on High Treason, taking my family
into custody. I had later learned that my mother's weak heart had
given out from the shock, that my father had been executed, and
that I was to be sold into slavery to pay for my father's
"crimes". Of my sister's fate I had no word, although I assumed
that she had likewise been sold.

And that is how I found myself standing shackled to a line of
other young men on that summer day when Lord Walter walked into
my life.

I had never been to a slave auction and certainly never as a
participant, and I found myself looking around with interest. The
pennants fluttering in the breeze, the colorful garb of the
passers-by, the variety of human flesh offered for sale at the
booths around me - all of it was new and exciting. After three
long weeks in first a prison cell and then a slave pen, the fresh
air and the scents on the breeze were enough to lift my spirits.
Even the prospect that I was to be sold into slavery could not
dim my spirits -in a way it was an adventure, and I had had
little adventure in my life to this point. I knew my skills and
education were greater than the common slave's and fully expected
to be sold into "indentured servitude" to some merchant, to spend
the next seven years chained to a desk in some dingy office so I
had little personal fear.

And then I saw Him.

He stood out from the crowd, and not just because of his height.
Standing there, his hands on his hips, surveying the passing
crowd and the merchandise, he radiated power and authority. He
was not beautiful but there was something in that stern, strong
face that was beyond mere beauty. I stared, mesmerized, unable to
tear my eyes away. Lord Walter. The King's Marshal.

As if he felt my eyes on him, he turned his head slightly and his
eyes met mine. Brown eyes, deep and dark, and they widened
slightly in surprise. I could feel myself smiling back,
acknowledging him, even as I felt his eyes curiously examine my
face. I drew a breath, feeling a spark of hope inside. What if -
what if he were to purchase me? Surely such a powerful man had
need of a clerk, a secretary - although, no doubt, such a man had
no need to purchase such talents. Such a man had no need to
purchase anything, not even a warm body for his bed. The thought
arose unbidden, and I felt myself flush at the sudden arousal
that filled my body. Although I had tumbled a few willing girls
while at University, I had never had such feelings for a man
before this.

"Eyes down, boy!" The sudden crack of the slave merchant's whip
across my back recalled my attention and I winced, dropping my
eyes to stare at the ground. I was embarrassed to have been
caught staring, more mortified by that than by my half-nakedness
as I stood there.

Amazingly, he came closer, calling to the merchant and asking for
information on me. Hope flared again. And then he was standing in
front of me, studying me, examining my body carefully.
Desperately I willed my arousal away and kept my eyes on the
ground.

"You, boy, what is your name?"

"Fox." Aware of movement behind me, I hastily added, "sir."

"Your family?"

"My parents are dead, sir." There was a sudden lump in my throat
but I swallowed it down.

"How old are you, boy?"

"Eighteen, sir."

There was movement beside Lord Walter and his companion was
arguing with him, then they were moving away. Unbidden, I felt
tears coming to my eyes. Then another voice, a hated and familiar
voice, rang out through the crowd and I stiffened.

"Hello, Lord Walter. I didn't expect to see you here."

Lord Walter was turning back, replying coolly, and I was amazed
to hear the calmness of that voice. He wasn't afraid of Sir John.
Everyone was afraid of Sir John - my father had turned white at
the mention of his name - but Lord Walter's voice was cool,
contemptuous, even. Then I felt eyes on me again, and I closed my
eyes, willing myself to become invisible.

"Well, what have we got here?"

Cruel fingers pinched my chin, forcing my head up. I felt my eyes
widen in fear and loathing as they met his, saw the amusement in
Sir John's eyes as he studied me. "Not so proud are we now, Fox?
What do you think, Alex - should I buy you a new toy?" There was
movement behind him but I didn't need to look. I was well aware
to whom he was referring: the dark-haired man, one of those who
had dragged me off to prison. The man who had haunted my dreams
and made me wake up in terror at any sound, certain that he had
come back to finish the rape that his eyes had promised. I could
feel myself shaking, terror chilling my soul. Please, please, not
him. Not Sir John.

A liveried servant ran up. "Sir John, the King requests your
attendance immediately."

Thank you, Lady! I thought fervently. Reprieved.

"Coming." Sir John released my chin, slapping my cheek gently.
"I'll be back, Fox."

Those words sunk into me, filling me with despair. Not a
permanent reprieve, then; just a respite before my doom would be
sealed. And Lord Walter was turning away, too, leaving me to a
horrible fate.

There was one last chance. "Sir," I said and put every ounce of
feeling in my voice and silently muttered every prayer that I
knew. "Please." And, praise be, he was turning back and those
dark eyes were studying me again.

"Are you crazy, Walter?" his friend hissed. "You know better than
to get between John and his - pleasures. He clearly has his eye
on this boy."

"I'm not afraid of John."

No, Lord Walter wasn't afraid of anyone - how could he be? There
couldn't be anyone stronger, more capable, in the world. I longed
to be pulled into those strong arms, sheltered under his
protection, the only place safe from Sir John.

"So, Fox," he said, his voice deep and harsh, and the sound of my
name on his lips made my bones melt and my cock jump to
attention. "You would prefer me over Sir John? You are a fool -
you would do far better to court a merchant who would set you up
as his bookkeeper. If I took you on, boy, you would be my
personal slave. You would bathe me, dress me, care for my
wardrobe and my rooms, serve my meals and warm my bed. I would be
within my rights to whip you for any reason - or no reason except
my own gratification. For seven years I would own you body and
soul, and I would get my money's worth out of both. Do you
understand me, boy?"

Did I understand? Yes, I all too clearly understood that somehow
the Gods had smiled on me. No merchant's counting house, no
lawyer's chambers, no humdrum existence for seven long, boring
years. Safe from Sir John, from his eyes and his hands. I felt an
overwhelming rush of desire to serve this man and an equally
overwhelming need to prove it. I dropped to my knees before him,
lowered my head, and fervently kissed his boots. Command me,
master. Whip me, take me, I am yours.

"Done. Wrap him up - I will take him with me."

I looked up at him then, smiling in relief, and met a smiling
look in return. All that and a sense of humor, too. And for the
first time in that long and unhappy month I felt the warmth of
happiness inside.

Chapter Two

Walter

Reginald studied my purchase with a mixture of amusement and
disgust. "By the Lady, it is a filthy and smelly wretch that you
have purchased. And that size - you'll never be able to keep him
in clothes, Walter."

"That's the least of my worries, Reggie," I said in amusement.
"The smell, however, is a good point. He needs a bath and a shave
at the very least." I tugged at the chain secured to his collar.
"Come, Fox."

The young man followed me obediently and quietly, although I
could tell from the movement of the chain in my hand that he
turned his head from side to side as we walked. A proper slave
keeps his eyes fixed on his master's feet as he follows him but I
was inclined to be indulgent for the moment. Time enough to train
my new possession when I got him home. And suddenly I was
impatient for my own home, to be away from the town and ride on
my own land, Fox at my side. I wondered if he could ride.
Unbidden, pictures of another kind of riding sprung to my mind
and I pushed those down as well. Time enough for all that later.

We arrived at Reginald's townhouse and servants ran to remove our
cloaks. Reginald turned the young pair he had purchased over to
his steward and I put Fox into his hands as well. The young man
looked at me in sudden apprehension and I touched his cheek
reassuringly.

"It's all right, Fox. You're safe here with me." I spoke
instinctively and I saw the fear leave his face as he nodded,
then he followed the steward. I watched my new possession
disappear into the servant's hall, then turned back to Reggie to
find that he was grinning at me.

"Walter, for the first time since I've known you, I believe that
you have taken leave of your senses. That boy is trouble with a
capital T."

"Perhaps. But you know how I like a challenge."

"There's challenges and then there is sheer lunacy." Reginald
studied me across the table. "What's wrong, Walter?"

I sighed. "I don't know. I feel - old. And tired. And lonely."

"You need to get married again."

I snorted. "No, thank you, once was quite enough. And besides,
you know my preferences lie elsewhere."

"A man needs sons to inherit his lands after he is gone."

"What inheritance? I'm a bastard, Reggie. A king's bastard but a
bastard no less. Everything I have I owe to the King."

"Your half-brother adores you and would give you anything you
wished. Even a title and inheritable lands."

"Precisely why I don't ask for anything. Jeffrey has enough
leeches hanging onto his purse." I took a deep swallow of my
wine. "I am content with the lands I hold for him. Speaking of
which - "

"You'll be leaving tomorrow." Reggie grinned at my look of
surprise. "What, you think I don't know you after all these
years, old friend? I'm surprised that you've idled this long. You
must be getting soft, old man."

"I'll show you soft," I growled at him good-naturedly.

"Seriously, Walter, it would be best if you got your new
possession safely home before Sir John decides to take him away."

I nodded. "My thoughts exactly - " I paused as the steward comes
to stand before me.

"Your pardon, my lord, but we are having a slight problem with
your new slave."

Reginald grinned over at me. "Told you," he said smugly.

I glared at him and rose to my feet. "I'll be back shortly." I
followed the steward toward the servant's quarters and, as we
approached, could hear my new possession's voice raised in anger
although I couldn't distinguish the words. I paused at the
doorway, gesturing for the steward to move out of the way, and
took a deep breath before throwing open the door. "What in the
name of the seven hells is going on here?"

It had the desired effect on nearly everyone in the room. Before
my eyes, bodies flung themselves on their bellies, covering their
heads with their arms and even the steward clutched the wall,
eyes wide. All but my primary target. Fox stood in the middle of
the room, gloriously naked and, although his eyes were wide with
surprise, he stood his ground. My mouth twitched a little in
amusement, unsure if the man was that brave or just unaware of
the storm that was about to break over him. I turned a narrowed
glance at the steward.

"Well?"

"Sir, he refuses to be shaved."

I turned my attention back to Fox and let the suppressed anger
crackle in my eyes. There - a convulsive swallow. This was going
to be fun. I stalked toward Fox and saw the young man
automatically back up as slaves scattered out of our path until
he ran up against a wall. "Is there a problem here, Fox?" I
asked, my voice deadly quiet.

"Sir - " His voice squeaked and he cleared his throat and tried
again. "Sir, they want to shave my body."

"Of course."

"All of it?" The indignation in his voice was amusing but I
refused to let him see that.

"All of it."

"But, sir - " There was a young man's pride and indignation in
that voice, both of which had no place in his new life, and it
was time to make that abundantly clear.

"Are you forgetting your place?" I asked, pushing him inexorably
down toward the floor until he was kneeling. "My boot, Fox. You
did that nicely enough in public." Fox flattened himself and
kissed my boots. "Good. Now you will be shaved and there will be
no further discussion on the subject. Am I understood?"

"Yes, sir." The voice was quiet. "Sorry, sir."

I gestured to the steward. "Please proceed. And when you are
finished, bring him to me in the main room. Naked."  Fox's head
jerked up at that and he opened his mouth to protest but
something in my face must have told him that it was useless. He
shut his mouth and lowered his head again. Satisfied, I returned
to Reginald and picked up my goblet.

Reginald's lips twitched and he signaled for my goblet to be
refilled. "Problem solved?"

"For now." I smiled as I drank. "And I was right - he's going to
be a challenge. Just what I like."

Fox

They shaved me. All the hair - gone. All of it – except for the
hair on my head. I had thought that there was nothing more
humiliating than being sold like a piece of property, no matter
how much I admired my new "master". I was wrong. It was bad
enough to have my chest and underarms shaved clean - not that I
had much chest hair to begin with - but then they shaved my
genitals. I held my breath and sweated when they shaved my
testicles and then, greatest humiliation of all, they bent me
over and shaved my asshole. If I had been unsure of my standing
in Lord Walter's household before now, this alone confirmed it. I
was his slave, his boy.

More humiliation lay in store. The soap was rinsed off my body, I
was toweled off, and then led into the main part of the house,
naked as the day I was born. I was so embarrassed that I couldn't
look up from the ground, certain that I was the object of
derisive stares, feeling my face hot and flushed.

"Ah, here's Fox."

That voice, that loved and hated voice, and those boots in front
of me. I didn't need instructions; I knew what I was supposed to
do, what I needed to do. I knelt before him, bent over and kissed
his boots.

"That's a good boy." The voice was warm with approval and a
gentle hand stroked my hair. I ventured to look upward and found
warm brown eyes smiling down at me. "Stand up and let me have a
look at you."

I flushed and bowed my head. "Sir - I - I can't."

He bent over and murmured against my ear, "Embarrassed, Fox?
Ashamed to be seen naked?"

"Yes, sir."

"You are forgetting something, Fox. Your body doesn't belong to
you anymore - it belongs to me. If it pleases me to see your body
naked than it should please you. Now, stand up."

I stood up, still flushed but fixing my eyes on him and willing
everyone else to disappear from my awareness. Lord Walter
examined me carefully, running a hand over my chest and lifting
my balls, appearing to be satisfied.

"Beautiful, Fox," he said softly.

"Careful, Walter," said his friend. "You’ll be turning his head
and ending up with a vain slave boy."

"I don’t think so," my owner said, studying me with a half-smile.
"I doubt that vanity is one of Fox’s sins. Rather the reverse.
All right, boy. Return to my chamber and wait for me there."

"Yes, sir," I said quietly and turned to follow the steward.

"Fox."

I turned back, startled at the sharp tone. "Sir?"

"Never turn your back to your master, Fox, without my express
orders."

I flushed, embarrassed. "Sorry, sir." I backed away, trying to
judge with my peripheral vision so that I wouldn’t trip over a
stool or bump into anyone, until I reached the doorway, then
hurried after the steward.

Chapter Three

Walter

Fox was waiting when I entered the room, nervously pacing back
and forth, and he looked up with a combination of relief and
dread that I found strangely endearing. I sat down on the bed and
held out my foot. He quickly moved to kneel and removed first one
boot and then the other.

"They will need to be cleaned before I dress in the morning," I
said as he carried them over to the wardrobe. "Bring that bedgown
over here and undress me."

"Yes, sir." As he unbuckled my belt and started to take it to the
wardrobe I said, "Leave it on the bed. I'll be needing it." I
felt his eyes jerk up to my face but ignored him until he had
completed undressing me and helped me into the bedrobe.

"Every night you will undress me and bathe me before bed. We'll
forgo the bath tonight, but in future you will prepare for it.
After my bath we will handle your punishment for the day."

"Punishment, sir?" The voice was weak.

"Punishment, Fox. For every time you fail to perform a task and
have to be reminded or perform a task badly you will receive one
stroke. For every time you question my orders you will receive
two strokes. Direct disobedience will merit three strokes per
incidence. I will expect you to keep track of your punishment
strokes and tell me what you have coming. I shall also be keeping
track and, should you fail to give me the correct number, your
stroke count will be added to mine. Am I understood?"

"Yes, sir." The voice was so wispy that I thought he might faint
on me.

"Now, you have belonged to me for less than half a day and you
already have punishment coming to you. What do you deserve to be
punished for, Fox?"

He cleared his throat, trying to pull his wits together. "Um -
the shaving thing. Refusing to be shaved and then arguing with
you about it. And then - in the dining room -when I didn’t want
to stand at first. Seven strokes, sir?"

I was inclined to forgive his reluctance to be on public display,
but I was impressed by his scrupulousness in owning his faults.
It had been such a long time since I had dealt with a truly
honest person that I had almost forgotten what it was like. "Very
well. Seven strokes. Bend over the bed." He quietly obeyed me and
I took a moment to study the smooth, unmarked skin in front of
me. Such a beautiful young man, such a firm ass, and I wondered
if he was a virgin. I intended to find that out for myself before
too long but first things first - he was awaiting punishment and
it was cruel to make him wait any longer. I picked up my belt,
wrapped it twice around my fist until it was the length I wanted,
and then lifted it. Seven strokes, and I counted them aloud as I
slowly measured them out. His body jerked as each stroke of the
belt met his ass and he clenched the bedcover tightly in his
fists but he was silent. I wondered who taught him to be so quiet
when being whipped but that, too, was a matter for another time.
The last stroke, and his forehead slumped down against the
mattress as a silent shudder wracked his body. I gently rubbed
his back, feeling him tense under my hand.

"All over, Fox," I said gently.

"Yes, sir," he said weakly and attempted to get up but my hand
still held him down. I could feel him tense again and sensed that
he was wondering what I had in store for him next. I settled on
the bed next to him, turning him over onto his back. Those
chameleon eyes, vulnerable and fearful, met mine. I smiled.

"Relax." I caressed his face gently, lifted his head and slid
over so that his head rested on my lap. My hand moved down his
chest, caressing his smooth skin. "You are very beautiful, my fox
cub. Such soft, sweet skin." I could feel the trembling of his
body under my hand and I leaned over to brush my lips against
his. "What, Fox?" I asked very gently.

"I – I don’t know what you want of me now, sir."

"I want you to relax while I acquaint myself with my new
possession." I continued to caress his skin, toying with his
nipples, watching the shifting light in his eyes. "After your
punishment, if I feel so inclined, we will have sex. There may be
other times that I will wish to use your body as well, but you
should always expect it at night. If you please me, then you
shall be permitted to sleep in the bed with me. If you displease
me, you will sleep on the floor. If you continuously displease
me, I shall send you to the barracks to entertain my soldiers and
buy another bedwarmer. Am I understood?"

"Sir," Fox was flushing scarlet now. "I - I've never - I don't
know how - "

"Are you a virgin, Fox?"

He was embarrassed and I found it endearing. "I've been with a
few girls but no men."

"And in prison and the slave pens? None of the guards touched
you?" He shook his head and I thought I understood -John had
undoubtedly given strict orders that this delectable young man
was to be reserved for him. I was amused at the thought that all
John’s care had been for my benefit and I leaned over to kiss him
gently again. "Good. Then you have no bad habits to break. I
shall teach you how to please me, Fox, and I shall never fault
you for lack of knowledge or skill -only for insufficient
enthusiasm."

I let my hand move down to his cock, gently stroking it, and felt
his response with satisfaction. Although I wanted that beautiful
body beneath mine, hungered to feel myself buried deep within his
sweet, tight ass, I was no green boy unable to control my
appetite. I wanted him for more than one night and I wanted him
hot and eager for my touch, a willing slut for my body. I was
more than willing to move slowly in order to achieve my prize.
Tonight I would give him pleasure.

I took his cock in my hand and stroked slowly up and down. He
sighed a little and those dark lashes fluttered shut. The tip of
his tongue came out to moisten his lips and I smiled. What a
little hedonist he was! So sensitive and sensual, ready to
surrender himself to pleasure. With a little skillful handling,
he would be the most desirable bed partner I had known in longer
than I cared to remember. Fluid was already flowing from the slit
and I thought that it had been a long time since he had taken any
pleasure. I tightened my grip and increased my stroking; he
moaned and wriggled slightly in my lap, and I bent my head to
softly kiss him. His lips clung to mine, and they tasted so sweet
that I let myself drink of them. I could feel the tension in his
body increase and I leaned over to murmur in his ear, "Come, my
beautiful fox cub. I want you to come." He gasped, and then he
was coming hard under my hand and crying out with the pleasure of
it. I smiled again; yes, I had chosen well when I had bought this
young man.

He lay there panting for a long moment, his face flushed and his
lips swollen from kissing. His eyes slowly opened and I could see
that they were very green and full of wonder. "Why did you do
that?"

"Because I can." I smiled. "There are two things and only two
things that you have to remember, Fox. I am the source of all
your pain and I am the source of all your pleasure. It is your
behavior that will determine which you receive from me. Do you
understand me, Fox?"

"Yes, sir – and thank you."

The simple and sincere gratitude in his voice and eyes was almost
enough to unman me and I said, gruffly, "Enough of that, boy. Get
to bed. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. Speaking of
which - do you know how to ride?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good." I stood up and pulled back the covers as he slipped out
of the bed and started to curl up on the floor. "Up here, boy."
He looked surprised and I smiled as I ruffled his hair. "You did
very well for your first day. You may sleep in the bed tonight."

"Thank you, sir." He slipped under the covers and slid to the far
side of the bed.

I removed my robe and slid between the sheets, wincing a little
at the cold. Tomorrow I must remind Fox to warm the sheets.
Tomorrow we would be home, I thought with a smile. I closed my
eyes and fell into an easy sleep, dreaming of home and my own bed
and a warm fox cub making it a cozy nest.

Fox

Will I ever understand the man?

He lies on the other side of the bed, sound asleep, and I can see
the strong planes of his face in the flickering firelight. And I
lie here, exhausted in body but not mind, watching him sleep. My
ass is sore and bears the marks from his belt. My cock is flaccid
and satisfied from his skillful handling. Pain and pleasure,
pleasure and pain. Which is the true measure of the man? Or are
they both sides of his true self? I was prepared for the
harshness but not for the softness, and it is that which will
undo me. Does he know it? I feel as if, somehow, he does. And I
find it impossible to believe that twenty-four hours ago this man
knew nothing of me and I knew little of him and now I am in his
bed and, moreover, happy to be there. Of course, I tell myself
reasonably, I had no choice in the matter and it is far, far
better to be here than in Sir John's clutches. I shudder.

"Fox, if you don't close your eyes and go to sleep, I shall beat
you again and send you to sleep on the floor."

How did he do that? I look at him carefully but his eyes remain
closed. I decide not to test the man - for now, at any rate - and
close my eyes. A strong arm comes across the bed and I find
myself tucked up against a hard warm body. I smile, breathe a
sigh of contentment, and let myself drift into sleep.

Chapter Four

Walter

 I awakened to the unfamiliar but not unwelcome feeling of warmth
from a long, lean body pressed against my side and I was aware
that a smile had crossed my face. Fox. The young man was wrapped
around me as if taking refuge in my greater warmth, and the
combination of the innocence and trustfulness of his action
threatened to unman me again. The steady heat from his seal-soft
skin raised another kind of heat within me; if it weren’t for my
resolution, I would roll him over and take him right now. I
sighed and exerted my willpower to conquer my baser inclinations,
reminding myself that the pleasure will be all the greater for
waiting. However, if I am to keep my resolution, I must get us
both out of this bed.

I sat up and slid out of Fox’s arms, then bent over to shake him.
"Fox, wake up."

He blinked and, for a moment, looked confused by his
surroundings. Another blink, and then he was smiling at me so
softly and sweetly that I could barely restrain myself from
flinging myself on him and fucking him senseless. I sighed and
turned away, getting out of bed.

"We’ve got a long way to travel today."

Fox slid out of bed and brought me the chamber pot, then a basin
of water and a towel and I found that both helped to wake me up
and lessen my ardor. He fetched my riding clothes and assisted me
into them, then settled down to clean my boots while I broke my
fast. I watched the faint morning light play on his bent head and
saw him shiver a little in the cool morning air. Clothes, I
thought; I must do something about clothes for him. For a moment
I regretted my decision to leave immediately, but I could always
have my sewing women outfit him and I found myself feeling even
more territorial today. I will have him in my home and in my bed,
and the sooner the better. In the meantime… I went to my trunk
and hunted for a few minutes, producing an old tunic and breeches
that would fit him without being overly loose. Footwear would be
more difficult – his feet are longer and narrower than mine – and
in the end decided that a pair of soft-shoes would have to do for
now. At least they wouldn’t rub his feet raw, and it wasn’t as if
he’d be walking today.

I set the clothes down beside him and he looked up, puzzled. I
grinned. "For you, Fox. Although I admire your current condition,
you will be much more comfortable traveling suitably dressed."

He grinned back at me and I could see a hint of mischief in that
grin. "What a relief, sir."

I cuffed him gently. "Insolent cub. Are my boots ready?" He
nodded and pulled them on for me. "I’m going to see to the horses
and the wagon. Dress yourself and then pack. We leave within the
hour."

Fox

As soon as my master left, I scrambled into the clothes he left
me. It had been a long time since I had anything clean to wear
and I reveled in the feel of clean fabric against my skin. I
fancied that a bit of his scent clung to the clothes and rubbed
my face briefly against the sleeve, feeling a little foolish as I
did so. Then I set about packing up his belongings, not an
onerous task for the man appeared to be incredibly neat by
nature. There were a few garments to be packed back into the
trunk, some bagged for the laundress, and some personal
possessions to be packed into saddlebags.

On the table by the bed was a slender bound book of verses and I
picked it up with reverent hands. I had seen and touched these
before at University and, suddenly, the wave of longing for my
old life was so intense that I wanted to cry and scream and bang
my head against the wall until the blood clouded my eyes and my
memory.

He came into the room and I dropped the book on the bed, turning
hastily toward the window and the bags there. "Ready, Fox?"

"Yes, sir." I picked up the bags and slipped out the door, my
face averted from his sharp gaze, and followed the men carrying
the trunk.

Walter

He had been crying. I could see the red eyes in that face averted
from mine and, for a moment, I was filled with an unreasonable
anger. Insolent cub, how dare he weep and mope about when I have
risked my future to secure him? He slipped from the room and I
let him go, wordlessly, trying to control the shaking. Fool that
I am, letting a pretty face and pretty manners blind me.

And then I saw the book on the bed and the shining drop on its
cover. I picked it up and smoothed the moisture away, touched my
finger to my lips. Salty. So it was this that he was weeping over
– a book. I frowned as I looked at the cover, wondering what
would have set him off. Then, in a moment of sudden clarity, I
saw Fox as he must have been before Sir John wrecked his life: an
eager lad, chattering with his tutors, soaking up knowledge the
way a plant soaks up nourishment from the earth. And now, a
slave, dependent on a master for food, shelter, even the clothes
he wore. I was suddenly ashamed of my anger. I, risking my
future? What right have I to be angered when he has no future but
what I allow him?

I slowly went down to the courtyard where my trunk and the
supplies I purchased were being loaded into the wagons. Fox
handed some bags up with one hand, my saddlebag in his other, and
I crossed to join him. Wordlessly, I took the bag and unfastened
a panel to put the book inside, and I could feel his eyes on me.
I gripped his shoulder and said, gruffly, "It will come out all
right in the end, boy."

I could see him swallow hard, heard him murmur, "Thank you, sir,"
and then I squeezed his shoulder again and moved on to talk to
the Amazon who was captain of my soldiers. The Captain inclined
her head to me as I approached, turning away from her troops to
give me her full attention.

"We are ready, Lord Walter."

"Good. You have a horse for the boy to ride?"

"Yes, my lord."

I could see that she was curious – slaves ride with the baggage
cart, not mounted on horseback – and I wanted to emphasize Fox’s
place in my household. "Captain, you should consider Fox to be my
most important possession. His life and well-being should be
second only to mine in your thoughts."

"Yes, my lord."

"He is noble-born, not a peasant’s brat. And it is possible –
unlikely, but possible – that the man responsible for his
family’s downfall will try to snatch him from me. That is one
reason why we are leaving town so soon, before our original
plans. Do you understand me, Captain?"

"Yes, my lord. I shall see that he is well-protected."

I nodded in satisfaction and mounted my horse. Behind me I could
hear the troops mounting up, then the Captain was leading our
party out of the town. Toward home.

Fox

Footsteps approached me as I finished securing Lord Walter’s
possessions, and I glanced over my shoulder warily, then my eyes
widened in surprise. Facing me was a tall young woman in
soldier's armor, near my own height but of muscular build. A
fringe of red hair showed under her helmet and her blue eyes
studied me in an appraising manner. An Amazon, I thought in
amazement.

"Fox? I’m Captain Dana Scully. I have your horse ready, and his
lordship is eager to depart."

I looked over and saw Lord Walter swing up easily onto the back
of a large black destrier, easily controlling its nervous
movements as it pranced and swung about in place. On horseback,
he looked twice as big as life and I was awed and not a little
frightened at the thought of belonging to such a powerful being.
Then I clenched my jaw and drew myself up to my full height - I
might not be as strong as Lord Walter but I was no puny weakling.

I turned towards Captain Scully and said, firmly, "I'm ready."

I could see the amusement on her face, as if she had read my
thoughts, but she said nothing. She gave me a leg-up and settled
my stirrups, and I could see her appraising my riding ability. I
had few qualms for I have ridden since I was little although it
had been over a month since I was in the saddle. I thought
ruefully that I would be stiff and sore at the end of this day’s
ride, and the thought reminded me that Lord Walter may wish to do
another kind of riding when we reached his home. I could feel my
face flushing at the thought, but the Captain just nodded and
went to mount her own horse. I found myself at the center of a
ring of horseman as we rode through the town and wondered if this
guard was for my protection or to keep me from running away.
Unnecessary, I thought – I have no where else to go.

Reality hit me then and tears blinded me as I followed my escort
out of the main gate. In a few short hours I would be far away
from the town where I was born, and I did not know if I would
ever return.

Chapter 5

Walter

We rode out of the city without incident and took the main road
north. Once free of my first worry, that Sir John would engage my
troops within the city where there was little fighting room, I
let myself relax. I was being overly paranoid, I told myself. Fox
was only a slave and surely even Sir John would not risk
alienating himself from my brother's affections by a direct
attack on me. More likely, Sir John would vent his anger on his
unfortunate servants when he learned that Fox had slipped out of
his hands and would seek an alternate way to bring the young man
into his possession. An offer to purchase the slave from me,
perhaps. Yes, that seemed the most likely course that the other
man would take.

A burst of laughter from the back of the troop brought me out of
my thoughts and I realized that many miles had passed while I was
locked inside myself. I glanced back towards the sound and saw
Fox at the center of a knot of riders. I signaled for Captain
Scully and, in a few minutes, the young Captain joined me.

"Your men sound in good spirits, Captain."

Captain Scully grinned. "It's the lad, sir. He's been telling us
stories of his school days and singing." She chuckled. "The lad
has a wider knowledge of bawdy songs than one would expect from
one of his years."

"He's eighteen," I murmured. "Hardly an infant." At eighteen I
had been married for a year and put in command of my first
regiment.

"From his stories, it appears that the lad has a genius for
getting into trouble. I don't envy you, sir. He's going to be a
handful."

Another burst of laughter, and I found my teeth clenching in an
effort to rein in the flare of jealousy. "Send him up here to
ride with me. I could use the distraction myself."

Captain Scully saluted and wheeled her horse around. A few
minutes later, Fox's horse pulled alongside mine and he smiled at
me.

"You wanted me, Master?"

I found my ire disappearing under the influence of that smile. "I
grow tired of my own thoughts. Captain Scully tells me that
you've been amusing her men."

Fox looked at me warily and I supposed that I hadn't been able to
completely suppress my jealousy. "They were just trying to be
friendly, sir."

"As long as they are not too friendly, Fox." I smiled at him and
reached out to ruffle his hair. "Entertain me, brat."

"Of course, sir. What would you prefer - a story or a song?"

"Start with a story - one of your University adventures. I have a
feeling that I need to be prepared." As he looked over at me with
wide, innocent eyes, I fought down the urge to grin. "And don't
give me any of your innocent looks. I know trouble when I see it
and you, my fox cub, are pure trouble."

Fox grinned over at me. "Speaking of cubs, sir, there was this
teacher I had once. He was a prime example of how money and
influence can triumph over the educational system - couldn't pour
piss out of his boots with instructions on the heel. He insisted
on arguing with me over documented evidence of existence beyond
this Plane of Existence -" At Walter's puzzled look, he added,
helpfully, "Ghosts, sir. He insisted that such things are
nonsense, imaginings of disordered minds and the foolish dreaming
of peasants. When I expressed a difference of opinion, he
ridiculed me in front of the entire class."

I observed the tightly pressed lips and could well imagine the
humiliation he had felt. "What did you do?"

Fox hesitated, then gave me that endearing grin again. "Well,
there was a traveling circus in town at the time. One of the
Fellows slipped me and a - um - friend into the Dorm where the
junior teachers slept. The man made the whole College come
running when he woke to find a tame bear cub licking honey off
his toes. I believe that his nightclothes and bed also required
changing after that."

I burst out laughing, well imagining that scene. "By the Gods,
Fox! You are a scamp! What happened after that?"

"He complained to the Dean, wanted me caned within an inch of my
life. But the Dean was a splendid fellow - and I suspect he
disliked the man as well. Oh, he reamed me a new one and sent me
down for the remainder of the Term, but when I came back the next
Term I found that the idiot teacher had been dismissed." A look
of intense satisfaction crossed that expressive face and I filed
another piece of information about my new possession.

"And your parents? What did they do?"

He shrugged. "My father would have beaten me, I suppose, but my
mother kept me out of his way until the new term started. And he
was always busy at Court." A sad, wistful look crossed his face
and I recalled his brief statement that his parents were dead.

"Well, you won't find any women's skirts to hide behind in my
home," I commented dryly, and was pleased to see a flash of
indignation cross his face.

"I don’t hide behind women's skirts, sir! I'll take any
punishment that I have coming to me!" He colored suddenly, as if
worried that his outburst would anger me, but I merely nodded and
he added, quietly, "My parents were having -problems. And my
mother was in ill health since the birth of my sister. It upset
her when my father and I had - disagreements."

"What happened to the rest of your family, Fox?" I asked gently.

He stared off into the distance, his jaw muscles tight. "They
broke into our house late one night with a decree from the King
naming my father as a traitor. Sir John's men. We were all taken
away. I learned later that my mother collapsed and died that
night. My father was executed a few days later. You know what
happened to me." He swallowed hard. "I never heard what happened
to Samantha. I suppose that she was sold as well." He gave me a
hesitant, sideways look. "Sir - do you think - "

I nodded. "Write out a description of your sister - her age,
appearance, the date she was taken - when we get home and I'll
see what I can find out."

A sudden smile crossed his face, and it was like the sun coming
out from behind a cloud. "Thank you, sir!"

I returned the smile, relieved to see the sadness lift from his
face. "My pleasure, Fox. And now - how about a song to lighten
our spirits?"

"Of course, sir!" Fox began singing an amusing ballad about a
young minstrel's improbable and erotic travels in a light, clear
tenor. I smiled and listened with one ear, laughing at the
appropriate places. But, inside, my heart was chilled by the
thought of what Sir John was capable of doing, and my mind was
filled with worry about the fate of not only young Fox, but of my
brother and the Kingdom I was sworn to protect.

Fox

I passed that morning in a more lighthearted spirit than I could
recall since the day that my life had changed. Lord Walter had
said that he would help find Samantha, and I knew that there was
little that he wouldn't be able to accomplish. He kept me at his
side for most of the morning, and I found that I enjoyed making
him smile and laugh. The man looked like he had experienced
little of either lately, and I was determined to learn more about
my new master. I told myself that it was only prudent, that a
slave should know everything he could about his master, and had
best be able to interpret his moods if he was to keep his skin
intact. In truth, though, I was already starting to fall in love
with him.

We halted at mid-day to rest the horses and eat, and I was
grateful for the break from riding. I could already feel my
muscles protesting at their ill treatment after many long days of
forced inactivity and I attempted to work out some of the kinks
before collapsing on the ground under a tree.

There was movement in the grass and a body settled beside me. I
looked up to see Captain Scully offering me food from her
saddlebag and accepted with thanks, casting my glance around
without finding my quarry.

"He's walked up to the top of the rise," Captain Scully said,
gesturing, and I looked in the direction that she pointed. "I
think Lord Walter is eager to be at home."

I could feel speculative eyes on my face and focused on ripping a
piece off the load of bread she offered me, then looked over to
see that one of the guards was removing the saddle from Lord
Walter's horse and placing it on another of the fine destriers
among the spare horses.

"Is something wrong with Lord Walter's horse?" I asked.

"No; his lordship always changes horses when we stop during long
journeys. It would not be wise to be caught on a tired horse if
we were set upon by enemies."

"Do you expect trouble?" I asked, a little anxious, noticing that
the Captain had also posted two guards while the others rested
and ate.

"I always expect trouble," Captain Scully said coolly, "And I am
rarely disappointed."

"I've never met an Amazon before," I said, studying the tall
redhead as she removed her helmet and settled more comfortably on
the ground. "I didn't know that there were any in this land."

She shrugged. "There aren't many. I was brought here as a child
after the late King's fleet destroyed the slaver's ship that I
was on. They would have sent me home but my parents were dead and
I didn't know where my home was, so the King gave me into Lord
Walter's care. I became a page in his household; the steward and
his wife became my second parents and Lord Walter saw that I was
trained in arms. When I was old enough, I joined his guard and
eventually became captain."

"Your sense of devotion is remarkable."

"I would give my life for Lord Walter." Her deep voice was
matter-of-fact but there was an underlying tone of pure steel.
Anyone would think twice about crossing swords with her.

"What is it like - his home, I mean?"

Captain Scully shrugged. "The fortifications are well-designed
and it's situated above a cliff on one side, so it's easy to
defend."

"Spoken like a soldier," I teased. "What about the castle itself?
Large? Small? Cold and drafty? And the estate - large or small?"

The Captain appeared to consider this and said, slowly, "The
fortifications are medium-sized, and the lord's house itself is
medium-sized, I suppose. More comfortable than some I've seen,
and there's one of those Roman contraptions to run water from an
underground hot spring to a bathing chamber. I hear that the late
king had it specially built for Lord Walter's mother - she was in
fragile health most of her life and died young."

"Lord Walter was born here?"

The Captain nodded. "Lived here all his life, from what I
understand. Of course, the estate belongs to the King but Lord
Walter manages it for him. I don't think he's really happy
anywhere else."

I eyed the figure standing on the hilltop looking off into the
distance and asked, casually, "Did Lord Walter's wife like it
here?"

Captain Scully eyed me again. "You ask a lot of questions for a
slave."

I shrugged. "It's best to learn everything I can so that I don't
do or say anything to offend the master. Does he ever talk about
her?"

The Captain studied the apple in her hand and said, slowly, "No,
he never talks about her. It was a match arranged between the
late King and Lady Sharon's father, and it was a mistake from the
start. Lady Sharon hated it here - she refused to come back here
after her first visit. She preferred the excitement of Town and
the intrigue of the Court. They spent much of their marriage
apart, Lady Sharon in Town and Lord Walter here, although he went
to her as soon as word came of the accident."

"Accident?"

"She was thrown from her horse and struck her head. She appeared
to be all right, even laughed about it, but later on she got
sleepy and they couldn't wake her. Then she was gone."

I nodded - I had read of such things while at the University.
"How did Lord Walter take it?"

The Captain sighed. "I think he felt guilty about it although
there was nothing he could have done. And I think he was relieved
as well. His heart was never in it although I think he tried for
his father's sake. But his preferences were always elsewhere."

I felt the sideways glance and flushed slightly. "Surely the King
didn't disapprove? The Priests tell us that everyone is capable
of desiring both sexes and that there is nothing shameful in the
expression of that desire. It is well-known that the late King
had several male lovers, and his grandfather had a male consort
after his Queen died."

"Ah, but they took wives to give them heirs. The late King
thought that Lord Walter should marry to produce heirs and seek
his preferred pleasures outside the marriage bed, in the
traditional manner."

"And did he?"

"I don't think that it would be appropriate for me to say
anything further on this matter." She started to rise and I put
out my hand quickly to stop her.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you or embarrass you, and I'm
not trying to pry. It's just - this whole situation is new to me.
I feel like I'm walking in the dark without a torch." I removed
my hand but said, softly, "Please stay."

The Captain stared at me silently for a long moment. "You are
trying to pry, but I suppose that it is understandable. I was a
slave once myself, and if the Gods hadn't intervened, I might
have been in a similar situation." Blue eyes studied me again,
and a faint smile quirked her lips. "Perhaps it is just as well
that I am not attracted to men, for I can see that it would be
easy to fall for you, Milord Fox, and I imagine Lord Walter would
have my head for that."

"Then perhaps we can be friends. It has been a long time since
I've had a true friend."

If the Captain saw anything peculiar in the suggestion of
friendship between the Captain of the Guards and a slave-boy, she
didn't say so. Instead, that faint smile quirked her lips again.
"I would like that, Fox." Then she rose and began the process of
stirring her troops from their rest.

I spent most of the afternoon deep in thought as we rode. Lord
Walter rose at the head of the troop accompanied by the Captain
and, by their expressions and gestures, they were discussing the
relative merits of the various routes to our destination. I rode
in the middle of the troop this time, and the Captain must have
warned her men about being too friendly towards me because their
attitude was cautiously polite. Ah, well, I thought; it wasn't
the first time. In the meantime, I let my thoughts wander and
wasn't too concerned that they tended to focus on the enigma that
was my master.

We stopped for another break in the late afternoon, and I felt my
legs trembling as I stood on solid ground again. A little
stretching was all I could manage before I sank to the ground
with a groan, lying flat on my back. I refused offers of food
although I gratefully accepted a skin of watered wine and drank
thirstily. I wondered how much longer we would have to travel and
groaned at the thought of climbing back into the saddle.

Propping myself up on my elbows, I studied the men scattered
around in various states of repose. I noted that two men walked
or stood on the fringes of the resting group again, alert for any
sign of danger, and grinned as I thought that the Captain was not
taking any chances. Another man was saddling a fresh mount from
the string of war-horses. I glanced around for the Captain and
saw that she was talking to Lord Walter again and, more to the
point, they were both looking at me. I dropped my head back on
the ground and swore under my breath. I knew that they had seen
my shaky dismount and were debating what was to be done with me.
Images of being sent back to ride with the baggage cart, or left
here with guards till the cart caught up, rose to mind.

There was movement around me and I realized that the troop was
mounting again. I pushed myself to my feet, biting my tongue to
keep a groan from escaping, and moved toward my horse.

"Fox, you'll be riding with me," Walter said, striding over to
where I stood trying to summon the energy to put my foot in the
stirrup. Captain Scully led over the freshly saddled mount, a
blank expression on her face.

I looked at Lord Walter suspiciously. "I'm fine. I can ride by
myself."

"Perhaps so, but I wish to talk with you privately, and it will
best be served by having you sit before me."

"Besides which," Captain Scully added, "I believe that your mount
has picked up a stone and we have no spares safe for you to
ride."

I frowned at both of them, recognizing that I was being managed
but I could hardly call either of them a liar - not unless I
wanted to risk an encounter with that belt again. I sighed. "Very
well."

Lord Walter mounted. I put my foot on his and he held down his
hand to pull me up easily to sit astride before him, then wrapped
an arm around my waist to secure me close against him while the
other hand took up the reins. I could feel myself flushing at the
intimate closeness of our positions; I had never been this close
to another man before, even last night, and I could feel his heat
all the way down my back. A different kind of heat flashed
through my groin and I bit back a groan, hoping that he wouldn't
discover what his nearness was doing to me. A soft chuckle in my
ear told me that my hopes were in vain.

"Very flattering, cub. If we were alone, I might do something
about that but you'll have to wait till we get home."

The troop started off again and I welcomed the cooling breeze
that fanned my flushed face. "How long before we reach your
home?"

"We've got several more hours of travel still. Relax - rest.
You've had a busy couple of days."

His voice was low and soothing against my ear and I fought the
urge to close my eyes. "I'm not tired," I said steadily. "Tell me
about your home."

He was silent, and I turned my head to look at his face, worried
that I might have offended him. I was surprised to find a soft
smile on his face, his eyes focused elsewhere. "There's a place
on the hills above the castle. It's a steep climb, but when you
get there you can look out over the land below: the forest, the
river, the fields. From there, the castle looks like a child's
toy, as if you could reach out and pick it up and put it in your
pocket." He paused and looked down at my face and smiled. "I'll
take you to that place someday and you'll understand."

"I'd like that," I said softly.

"Good," he said, his face and voice returning to normal. "Now
close your eyes and rest."

I turned my head back to look forward, hiding the smile on my
face. "Yes, Master." And, between the wine and my own fatigue, I
slept.

Chapter 6

Walter

Dark was falling by the time our weary horses crossed the
drawbridge and passed under the portcullis. Stableboys ran
forward to our horses' heads and around me I heard my weary
troops dismount. Captain Scully was at my stirrup, calling
forward two soldiers to relieve me of my sleeping burden. Fox
hardly stirred when he was transferred and I gestured for them to
take him toward the manor house. I dismounted and rubbed my stiff
arm; the lad may be slender but he had been a dead weight against
my shoulder for the past two hours.

"Good work, Captain," I said, clapping her on the shoulder.
"Extra rations for your troop tonight and I think a ration of
spirits."

She smiled at me widely. "The men will appreciate that, my lord.
Thank you."

I nodded and moved on toward the manor in the wake of my sleeping
companion. William, my steward, hurried down the steps with a
smile on his face and torchbearers in his wake.

"My lord, it is good to see you! You've been gone a long time."

"Too long," I agreed, looking around me in satisfaction. "It is
good to be home."

William looked curiously at the burden the soldiers carried. "Did
you find him on the road? Was the lad injured?"

"No, he is merely exhausted. His name is Fox and he belongs to
me. I bought him at the slave market."

William's eyes widened in surprise but he said nothing, turning
toward one of the pages. "Take him to my lord's chamber."

"See that he is settled for the night - I doubt that he will
wake. He is unaccustomed to travel." William nodded. "Any matters
of import to be handled?"

"Nothing that can't wait till morning, my lord. Not that I expect
you'll pay me any heed on that matter. Should I have supper
brought to your office?"

I smiled. "You know me too well, William. Yes, that would be
good." William sent another page off in search of his wife as we
entered the manor, then headed off towards my chamber as I turned
toward my office. I pulled off my riding gloves and settled
behind my desk with a contented sigh. It was good to be home.

I was sorting through the scrolls and documents on my desk when
my housekeeper entered, beaming from ear to ear and bearing a
tray. "Lord Walter, it's so good to have you home again. Though
the Gods know that you shouldn't be messing about with business
when you've just got home - not that you'll listen to me."

"Don't fuss, Maggie," I said with a frown as I waved for her to
set the tray on a side-table instead of on my papers. "You'll
have a new target for your mothering skills. I've brought home
another stray."

"Another child, my lord?"

"Hardly. Fox is eighteen, though he does tend to appear a bit
younger." I picked up the mug from the tray and drained half of
it.

"And not an ounce of fat on him, by what I can see," William
added, entering the office.

"Maggie'll soon fix that. Is he settled?"

"Sleeping like a babe. I took the liberty of removing his shirt
and shoes so he could rest more comfortably." I nodded in thanks,
occupied as I was in swallowing a hunk of bread and cheese. "Lord
Walter bought him in the slave market," he informed his spouse in
a carefully bland voice.

Maggie frowned at me. "And just why would you be buying a slave
boy in a common market, my lord?"

My mouth was still occupied so I merely raised an eyebrow at her
while her husband helpfully informed her, "The boy is in Lord
Walter's bed."

"A common slave boy?"

"There is nothing 'common' about Fox," I informed her dryly. "His
father was a Clerk at Court before he was accused of treason and
the family imprisoned. Fox is well-born and something special.
And you are not to be making a pet of him, Maggie," I said
sternly. "The boy is having a hard enough time adjusting to his
new life without you spoiling him."

"A high-spirited lad?"

I snorted. "To say the least." I pushed away the tray and rose to
my feet. "Well, I expect that these will keep. I'm going to bed.
William, we'll handle these matters in the morning. Notify my
bailiff that I'll want to ride the estate the day after
tomorrow."

"Very good, my lord."

I started down the corridor towards my chamber but not before I
heard the exchange behind me.

Softly - "He left the papers till morning. He's never done that
before."

Questioning - "Do you think this is the one?"

"Who knows? Perhaps."

And I smiled to myself as I walked. Yes. Perhaps. This just might
be the one.

Fox

I woke mid-morning to an empty bed, although the indentation next
to me proved that I had had a companion during my slumbers. I sat
up and looked around the unfamiliar room and wondered where I was
and how I had gotten there. The answers seemed simple enough - I
must be in Lord Walter's home and this was more than likely his
bed.

My body was urgently reminding me that there were matters that
needed to be taken care of and I located the necessary
facilities, then stripped off my breeches and quickly washed in
cold water. Chilled but awake, I dressed again - the same clothes
as yesterday and somewhat the worse for wear, but I had no
others. Then I looked around the room, trying to determine what I
should do next. My stomach was growling and I was aware that I
had missed at least two meals if not more, but I could hardly go
roaming around the castle without my master's permission. I
straightened the bed and picked up the discarded clothing,
setting them aside for the laundress, then unpacked the
saddlebags lying across one of the chairs. The book of poetry was
there and, after a moment of hesitation, I curled up in a chair
and opened it.

I was deeply absorbed in reading when a knock came on the door.
Guiltily, I dropped the book onto the chair and called out,
"Come!" then realized that it was hardly appropriate for a slave
to be giving orders and I started towards the door.

A stocky, pleasant-faced, older man stood in the doorway and he
smiled at me. "Good morning, Fox. I'm William, Lord Walter's
steward. He asked me to bring you to his office, if you were
awake. Follow me."

I followed in his wake, casting curious eyes around me as I tried
to get my bearings. Evidently Lord Walter's chambers ran along
the entire East Side of the house. As we turned left around a
corner, I could see the Great Hall through an archway to my left
and the entry hall to my right. William continued forward and
stopped at a doorway along the west corridor, tapping on the door
before opening it and entering.

Lord Walter looked up as we entered. "Ah, good! Fox, take a seat
over there - I have need of your copying skills." I obediently
sat down at the small clerk's desk in the corner, checking the
shelf for supplies. He brought over a scrap of parchment with a
hasty scrawl on it. "This is a summons for my castellans. I need
five copies in a fair hand. Do the first and let me see it before
you start on the rest."

I nodded and dutifully set to work, ruefully reflecting that I
had become a clerk after all. The first copy was approved and I
set to work on the rest. As I worked, I became aware that my
empty stomach was once more protesting its ill treatment. I
wrapped an arm around my stomach in an effort to muffle the sound
and concentrated on my work.

Lord Walter was discussing a legal ruling regarding sheep that
had strayed onto another crofter's lands with William and he
paused to make a note. Into the sudden silence, my stomach
decided to make its presence known again. Loudly. Walter's head
jerked up and he looked around with a frown.

"What was that?"

William coughed slightly. "I believe it was Fox's stomach, my
lord."

Walter turned and fixed that frown on me. "Fox, was that you?"

"Um - yes, my lord."

"When did you last eat?"

"Yesterday. At the first stop, sir."

Walter gave an exasperated sigh and threw his pen down on his
desk. "And why didn't you eat when you awakened this morning?
There was bread and fruit on the table in my chamber."

"That was your food, Master," I said quietly.

"By all the - " Walter broke off his oath and rubbed his hand
across his eyes. "Fox, you have my permission to eat and drink
anything in my chambers. Are we clear on that?"

"Yes, sir. Should I return there?"

"From the sound of that growl, it will hardly be satisfied with
bread. William, take Fox out to the kitchens and have Maggie feed
him. You can finish the scrolls after that, Fox."

"Yes, sir."

I followed William out of the room and saw him look over at me
with a grin. "You're a right handful, aren't you, Fox?" Evidently
no reply was expected to that remark. "The kitchen is this way.
Maggie - that's my wife - is the housekeeper here and she'll see
that Cook finds you something hot and filling." That sounded
wonderful and my stomach agreed, and William chuckled again.

"Have you worked for Lord Walter for long?" I asked as he led me
out the back of the hall and across the kitchen gardens.

William nodded. "I've been with his lordship all his life, and
I've been steward here since he took over the management when he
was a lad younger than you. He's a good man - a bit short-
tempered at times and rough with his tongue." He chuckled.
"Although there should be less of that now, and there's plenty as
will be glad that you've come here, lad."

Wonderful. Just what I needed to boost my self-confidence -the
knowledge that the entire estate was counting on my sexual
prowess to keep Lord Walter satisfied and off their backs.

We entered the kitchens and William called out to a small, dark-
haired woman who was checking the contents of a barrel in a
storeroom with a frown. She crossed to us, wiping her hands on
her apron, and looked me over in quick appraisal.

"Well, you must be his lordship's Fox."

"Lord Walter would like you to find young Fox something to eat.
It seems the lad has missed several meals and his stomach is
sorely troubling him over it."

Maggie beamed at me as if learning that I was hungry was the best
news she had ever heard. "We'll set you to rights, lad. Go on
back to his lordship, Bill. I'll bring the young man back to his
office when he's done eating." William nodded and hurried off
with a reassuring smile at me, and Maggie looked me over again.
"My stars, lad, you're nothing but skin and bone! Where have you
been that you got so thin?"

"Prison," I said dryly.

Maggie made clucking noises and muttered something about "putting
decent young lads in prison" as she settled me at a trestle table
and called out orders to the kitchen staff. Two giggling servant
wenches brought over a plate of broken meats, a loaf of bread,
and a mug of beer, setting them on the table before me and trying
to flirt with me until I was red with embarrassment.

"Off with you light-skirts!" Maggie ordered, seeing my
embarrassment. "He belongs to His Lordship and is not for common
trollops like you!" She settled across the table from me and
gestured at the plate before me. "Well, go on, boy! It's not much
but it should fill your stomach till dinner."

Not much? Compared to what I'd eaten over the past month, this
was a feast and I set upon it like a ravenous animal. Maggie kept
me company with an endless stream of small talk about the estate
and its inhabitants until, by the end of the meal, I felt I knew
the denizens of the manor intimately. Maggie surveyed my clean
plate with beaming approval and took my mug to refill it,
returning with a small tart in the other hand.

"Fresh out of the oven and filled to bursting with blackberries,"
she announced, setting it down with a wink. "I doubt that anyone
will notice that one tart has gone missing."

I didn't protest, not even once, before that tart and I became
one. It had been so long since I had tasted anything so good and
she beamed at me again when I told her that.

"I don't hold by fancy dishes here, not as some prefer," she
announced with a sniff, and I had a feeling that she was
referring to the late mistress, "but you'll get good, solid,
nourishing food at my table. We'll have flesh on those bones of
yours by winter."

"Thank you, ma'am. You're being very good to me."

"Such a well-mannered lad - his lordship said there was nothing
common about you and he was right."

I flushed a little at that, then began to think that Lord Walter
would be expecting me back to finish the scrolls. Another thought
occurred to me. "When does Lord Walter eat luncheon? Surely it is
past time."

Maggie shook her head in amusement. "He'll send for a tray when
he gets hungry -although like as not he's so buried in his papers
that he won't notice till dinner. Aye, and growl about it like a
wounded bear."

"I'll take his lunch to him," I offered. "I've got to finish my
work anyway."

Maggie gave me a look that I couldn't read, then laughed softly.
"Aye, lad. I believe you'll have him eating out of your hand in a
month." She stood and, in a matter of minutes, handed me a tray
laden with a roasted bird among other things, and then she hefted
a pitcher and led the way.

Lord Walter looked up as I entered with the tray, followed by
Maggie, and growled, "Maggie, I didn't ask for luncheon. I'm too
busy right now to stop."

"Don’t blame Dame Margaret. It was my idea. You haven't eaten and
it's past time." I stood in front of the desk, my eyes fixed on
the tray in my hands, but I could feel the glare that he directed
at me.

"Fox, you appear to have forgotten who is in charge here," he
growled.

"You are, Master," I said, moving toward the side table. "Shall I
set the tray down here, sir?"

"You - oh hell - just set it down anywhere!"

I carefully set the tray down and turned back to him with my head
bowed. "Shall I finish the scrolls, sir?"

"Oh for the Gods' sake - Maggie, take him out of here! The brat
needs new clothing - get your women working on it."

Remembering an earlier lesson, I backed my way toward the door.
It was only when I was in the hallway that I gave into the
shaking and leaned weakly against the wall. Lord Walter would no
doubt beat me for my audacity later.

A low chuckle caught my attention, and I looked over at Maggie in
stunned surprise.

"Did I say a month? I give him two weeks at most!" She tugged at
my sleeve, laughing again at the look on my face. "Come on, lad.
Let's see about getting you some new clothes."

Chapter 7

Walter

I looked over at William to find him grinning at me and glared.
"And what are you smiling about, idiot?"

"You, my lord. You just chastised the lad for neglecting to eat
and he turned around and caught you at it. It's about time that
you had someone to look after you."

"I didn't buy him to be a nursery-maid," I growled. "I bought him
to warm my bed and serve as my clerk."

William walked over to the desk where Fox had completed two more
of the scrolls, examining them. "He has a fine hand, my lord.
Unusual to find in a slave."

I set down my pen and frowned. "His father was a Clerk at Court.
He was accused of treason and the family - well you know what
happens to the family of traitors. His parents are dead, his
sister gone. The boy himself was at University before this
happened."

"An educated lad hardly makes a good bedwarmer, my lord."

"In any case, that is my concern and not yours, William."

"Certainly, my lord. I just hope that you don't set your heart on
this boy returning your affection."

"My affection - are you daft? He's a slave, not my lover or
consort."

"Just as long as you remember that, my lord."

I was sitting there at my desk, brooding about his words, when
Maggie entered to fetch the tray.

"Your Fox is with the tailors, my lord. They're fitting a tunic
and breeches to him now, and they'll have two sets of clothing
ready by the morning and the rest within a few days. And the
bootmaker has taken his measurement but it'll be a week before
the boots are ready. He'll need a decent cloak before winter,
too. I'll have to send into the village for heavy woolens - or
would you prefer fur?"

"He's a slave boy, Maggie, not a child's doll to be dressed up."

"Aye, and that's something I don't understand. Fox told me about
his family but I don't understand why you bought him."

"If I hadn't, Sir John Smythe would have bought him. And I have
the feeling that Sir John triggered the events that led to the
accusation against his father."

"Dear Lady!" Even here, rumors of Sir John's unnatural influences
and tastes were beginning to spread. "But surely you could free
him, keep him here as a clerk."

"I have no power to free him. It was the King's writ that
imprisoned and enslaved him, and only the King can release him."

"I see." Maggie slowly walked toward the door with the tray.
"It's been a long time since you had anyone here to share your
bed."

I eyed her with a frown, certain that this was leading somewhere.
"Yes, it has been."

"Why Fox?"

"Because I own him and want him. What is this about, Maggie?
You've never questioned my preferences before now."

"It's just - he's such a young and innocent lad."

I growled and wondered why everyone persisted in viewing me as a
debaucher of the young. "He is eighteen, Maggie and, although he
is a virgin with men, he has tumbled more than one girl at
University. Hell, at eighteen I was a married man and would have
been a father if Sharon had been fertile."

Maggie sighed. "Yes, my lord. If you wish to change before
dinner, you had best do so."

I growled, irritated at my staff's insistence in meddling in my
affairs, and picked up my pen again. I didn't have time to change
- didn't really have time for dinner; I had not gotten everything
done that I needed to, and I was going to be away from the castle
for two days. An hour later, I had made a sizable dent in the
work before me when there was a knock on the door and Fox
entered.

"Dinner, my lord."

"Coming," I said absently, then something registered and I called
out, "Fox!" He came back in and I grinned. "New clothes?"

He looked down at the green tunic and brown breeches and grinned
back at me. "Better? A little less like socks on a rooster?"

I capped my pen and rose, joining him at the door. "Much better."

The Hall was humming with talk and laughter when I entered, and I
felt myself relax. I liked being here, among my people, so many
of them familiar to me for years. I stopped to exchange a
greeting with one, to congratulate another on the birth of his
first child, aware of Fox following on my heels and the curious
glances cast at him. I took my place at the High Table alone, a
usual occurrence since I did not encourage visitors, and Fox
brought me a bowl of water for washing my hands and a towel to
dry them. The pages brought out the platters of meat and
vegetables, and I found that I had a healthy appetite after all.
I saw Captain Scully enter the Hall, stopping to speak to a few
of her men, before taking her seat at the table with her foster
parents. I saw her glance in my direction and then past me
briefly, and I glanced over my shoulder to see that Fox had taken
his place along the wall behind me.

"Fox," I called and he came forward to my side, kneeling.

"Master?"

"I'm bored with my own company. Sit. Entertain me." He hesitated,
surprised, and I called over one of the pages. "A plate and cup
for the boy. Talking is thirsty work."

I was aware of the looks being exchanged in the hall as Fox
settled into the seat at my right hand, muttering a polite thanks
to the page as he set out a plate and cup. I gestured for the
page to fill Fox's wineglass and I carved a slice of beef from
the platter, forking it onto his plate along with a selection of
vegetables.

"So, Fox, tell me what you think of your new home so far." I
pulled his plate closer to me so that I could cut the meat since
he didn't have an eating knife, then decided that this would be a
good lesson for both young Fox and my well-meaning-but-
interfering staff. I speared a piece of the meat and held it up
for Fox to eat. Hesitantly, he opened his mouth and pulled the
tidbit off the fork, chewing it carefully.

"It's different from what I'm used to - but very nice," he added
hastily. I held up another morsel. From his flushed face, I could
tell that he was embarrassed to be fed like this but he would get
used to it - and I could have commanded that he kneel beside my
chair while I fed him.

"Different - how so?"

"We lived in a house in Town since I was a child, so that Father
could be near the Court. It was a large house as such things go
in town, with a small garden in the back, but nowhere near as
large as this. And, of course, we didn't have a fortress
surrounding us." He frowned at the piece of carrot that I held up
to his lips. "I don't like carrots."

"I don't recall asking you what you liked." Reluctantly, he
opened his mouth again and accepted the forkful of the hated
vegetable, reaching for his goblet as soon as he had swallowed. I
continued to feed him in between prompting him to talk and there
were no further protests. I smiled - Fox was a quick learner, I
thought, although I had no doubt that we would continue to have
tussles of will. As a reward, I picked up a fruit tart in my
fingers and held it up to his mouth. His eyes lit up and he
carefully ate the sweet out of my fingers. The sight of those
sharp white teeth made me wonder how they would feel on my skin
and I felt a flash of heat run through my body.

"You missed some," I murmured, leaning over to lick a trail of
berry juice off his full lower lip.

I felt his sharp intake of breath. "Master, they are watching
us," he murmured as I released his mouth.

"Good. I don't want there to be any doubt that you belong to me."
I held my fingers up to his mouth. "Clean them." Obediently, he
licked the crumbs and berry juice off each finger then, to my
surprise, sucked each digit into his mouth for a more thorough
cleaning. His eyes flickered up to mine briefly, and I caught
fire at the intense look in those chameleon-green depths. I
leaned closer to him, murmuring in his ear, "You have the soul of
a courtesan, my Fox. So hot, so eager for me. I could take you
right here, on this table, and you wouldn't care who was
watching. Can you see that, my sweet slave? Your naked chest
pressed against this hard table while I filled that hot, tight
ass again and again, pounding into you until you came screaming
my name." I heard the groan that escaped from him and brushed my
fingers over his groin. "Yes, you like that, don't you? You are
already hard and eager for me."

Fox released the fingers that he had been sucking and opened the
eyes that he had squeezed shut while I talked. "Please, Master,"
he murmured, his eyes hot and begging.

I chuckled and brushed my fingers over his lips and down his
cheek. "Bedtime, Fox." I rose from the table and gestured to
William to resume his place when he would have come to my side.
"Don't interrupt your meal, William. I shall be turning in for
the night."

"Yes, my lord," he said and his eyes flicked over to where Fox
stood. "Your bailiff will be ready in the morning."

"Good. Come, Fox."

Once we were in my chamber, Fox quickly undressed me and helped
me into my bedrobe, then followed me down the hallway to the
bathing chamber. I slipped off my robe and eased into the water,
unable to prevent the blissful sigh that escaped from me as the
warm water eased the tensions of the past month away. I opened my
eyes and looked over at Fox.

"Join me, boy."

He readily stripped off his clothes and slid into the water,
reminding me a little of the sleek water creatures that I had
seen off the northern coast. The surprise on his face at the
warmth of the water made me laugh.

"The water comes from a warm underground spring. The Romans
discovered it and built a palace here and over time the various
owners have added the fortifications and the manor house. The
mineral water was the only thing that could soothe my mother's
aching bones and joints during her last years."

"It feels good," Fox admitted.

"That's not the only thing that feels good," I said, and pulled
the slave over to straddle my lap. "Your skin feels as smooth as
a seal, except where the hair is growing out. I will shave you
again after our bath."

I stifled the protest with my mouth, and he responded with a
tentative eagerness to my kisses. I coaxed his mouth open,
drinking again of that sweet warmth, relishing the delicious
shiver that ran through him as I slowly explored his mouth. One
hand held his head in place while the other gently caressed his
back but I attempted no further explorations with my hands,
concentrating on our kisses. I intended to take this seduction
very slowly.

I released his mouth and let my lips travel over his face: the
slight youthful stubble of his cheeks, the sleek warmth of skin
over fine bone of his temples, the closed eyes, the line of his
nose which made his face distinctive instead of merely pretty. My
mouth moved back to his and he opened to me without hesitation
this time, eagerly welcoming me back. My cock began to harden and
move against his, and I heard him breathe in sharply, startled
and aroused at the same time.

"Time to take this elsewhere."

He dried me carefully and helped me into my robe, then I fetched
the shaving supplies and removed the light stubble re-emerging
over his body. He flushed in embarrassment as I shaved his
genitals but I ignored him - in time, he would become accustomed
to this. I ordered him back into the pool to rinse, then ran my
hand over his skin to check that nothing had been missed,
enjoying the slick feeling under my fingers. I had had male
lovers before, some with even more hair than me, and had enjoyed
the feel of their hair against my skin but there was something
exotic about this absolute nakedness.

Once Fox had dried off, we returned to my chamber and I settled
down in my chair in front of the fire. Something hard poked at my
thigh, and I found the slender book I had been reading at
Reggie's tucked in the cushions. I pulled it out and looked at
it, puzzled at how it had gotten there, then glanced over at Fox
as he moved around the room, putting away my clothes and
straightening the room. Of course - he must have found it when he
was unpacking my saddlebag and had been indulging in a little
reading. I set the book on the table and resolved to talk with
Fox about that later.

Fox came over to kneel in front of me, my belt in his hands, and
I felt a rush of pride that he had remembered my instructions
from two days past even though he was obviously reluctant to
submit to this.

"All right, Fox. We have two days to cover since you were too
tired last night for us to attend to this. What are your
transgressions?"

He took a deep breath and I waited, curious as to what Fox would
feel were his failings. I was unaware of any major faults,
although there had been token protests on a number of items.

"I didn't finish the scrolls that you ordered me to copy -that's
one. Then I argued with you about changing horses, and shaving -
oh, and those carrots. That's two each. And your lunch - I forced
that upon you which I had no right to do, which I suppose is
being disobedient and that's three. Ten total." His hands holding
the belt trembled slightly but his voice was firm and steady.

"It occurs to me, Fox, that you are going to be overly hard on
yourself. I hadn't thought of that - most slaves try to avoid
punishment for their actions."

His head jerked up, his eyes meeting mine, confused. "Master? I
don't understand."

"I told you to leave the scrolls for later, so there will be no
punishment for that. As to your 'arguing' - as I recall in each
of those instances, you voiced a brief protest and, when I
insisted, you acquiesced. That is permissible, therefore, there
will be no punishment for those items. Although I will no longer
accept any protest about shaving. You know that I require that of
you and there will be no further comments allowed. Now, about the
final item." I leaned over and cupped Fox's chin with my hand.
"How can I possibly find fault with your wanting to take care of
me? I am touched that you would think to do such a thing. You
expressed more concern over my well-being than you took for
yourself, and that is the only real fault I have to find with
you."

"Sir?"

"I will not have you missing any more meals, Fox. You are already
undernourished from your ordeal, and I will not have you
jeopardize your health. And what good to me is a slave who is
fainting from hunger? Furthermore, I do not wish to be
interrupted while working or making love by your protesting
stomach. So I will add this to the list of punishable offenses.
From now on, you will receive one stroke for every meal that you
miss unless you have a very good excuse, and you will get one
stroke tonight as a reminder of this. Am I understood, Fox?"

"Yes, Master," he said faintly, looking at the ground. "So that
is eleven total?"

"I just said 'one', Fox."

"But you said that if my count and yours differed that I would
receive both combined."

I bit back my exasperation. "That is only if your count is lower
than mine, boy. If I choose to give you less strokes than you
think you deserve, you won't be penalized for it."

He looked greatly relieved. "Thank you, sir. Where do you want
me?"

I pointed toward a bench over to the side. It was uncomfortably
hard, of the right height, and had cross braces underneath where
he could hold on. "Over that."

Fox nodded and moved into position, bent over the bench with his
head nearly touching the floor on the other side and his bottom
raised. I readied myself to administer the whipping then recalled
something that I had wanted to discuss. "One moment, Fox. The
last time I whipped you, you made no sound. Is that how you were
taught to receive punishment?"

I could see his hair brush the floor as he nodded. "My father -
if I made a sound, he would whip me twice as hard."

I rested one hand reassuringly on his back. "I won't do that,
boy. I prefer to know that the punishment is making some
impression on you, so you may cry or scream or make any noise you
wish. If you remain silent, I may think that I am not striking
hard enough. On the other hand, I do know the difference between
a genuine reaction and playacting, so don't expect that carrying-
on as if you were dying will lighten your punishment." His body
jerked at that and I saw his head nod again. "All right, Fox.
Only one stroke tonight."

He gripped the cross-brace and I could see his whole body tense.
I ran my hand over his back for a moment, steadying him, then
raised my hand and administered one sharp blow across both cheeks
where he would feel it in the morning. I felt the startled whoosh
of breath, the choked off sound, and caressed his back again.
"All over, boy. You may get up."

Fox stood, took the belt from me, and hung it up in the wardrobe,
then returned to stand in front of me, eyeing me uncertainly. I
smiled and touched his face gently, stroking his cheek. "And now,
my Fox, I am going to claim you for my own." I could feel the
slight tremble in his body. "You have nothing to fear, my sweet
one. I'll take care to give you the most pleasure and the least
pain possible."

"Thank you, Master."

I pulled him into my arms, my mouth seeking his. Fox's mouth was
hot against mine, his body warm and pliant, and I fell into that
warmth willingly. I caressed his back with my hands, ran my hands
over his firm ass, and bent my head to tongue one of those
tempting nipples, loving the groan that escaped from his lips.

"Gods…master…please…"

That begging voice sent fire straight to my cock and I pushed him
down onto the bed, pinning his body beneath mine as I continued
teasing his nipples. He continued to make helpless noises, his
hands clutching at the covers, as my mouth moved down over his
belly towards the rising evidence of his arousal.

A sudden pounding on the door made me swear and I raised my head
to glare at the door. "It had better be damned important!"

"Lord Walter, it's an urgent matter." It was Captain Scully's
voice. "The baggage train was attacked."

"What?" I sat up and ran my hand over my head, then looked back
at Fox, lying flushed and panting and naked on my bed. I sighed -
duty came first. I pulled the sheet over Fox, pulled my bedgown
back on, and went to open the door. "Come in, Captain." Captain
Scully entered, carefully averting her eyes from the bed where
Fox was still sprawled, half-covered by the sheet, trying to
catch his breath. "What is the situation?"

"I sent fresh guards out this morning to relieve the guards with
the baggage carts. One of the guards has just returned with the
report that the baggage carts and their escort had been attacked,
the guards killed so there is no way to identify the attackers.
By the looks of it, several of their men were hurt or killed but
they took the bodies with them."

I frowned. "Unusual behavior for thieves. What did they take?"

"Nothing, sir."

I stared at the Amazon. "Nothing?"

"No, sir. They tore apart the wagon - goods were strewn
everywhere - but nothing appeared to be missing."

"Why in hell would thieves attack an escorted baggage train and
then not take anything - " I stopped and turned to look at the
figure now sitting quietly on the bed.

"My thoughts exactly, sir." Captain Scully stared into the fire,
obviously reluctant to continue. "Slaves generally ride with the
baggage. It appears you were right to be concerned about his
safety, sir."

I looked back at the young captain and started to speak but a
tight, flat voice interrupted me.

"How many?"

We both turned to look at the bed. Fox was sitting up against the
headboard, his arms wrapped around his legs, his face absolutely
white. "How many?" he repeated. "How many did they kill?"

Captain Scully looked back at me, her face clearly asking if she
should answer. I shook my head at the Captain and Fox launched
himself off the bed, unconcerned about his nakedness, eyes
blazing in that pale face as he confronted the Captain.

"Damn it, I asked you how many!" There was a ring of authority in
that voice, an echo of the man he had been just a month prior, a
man accustomed to having his orders obeyed. Before I could speak,
the Captain automatically responded to that voice.

"Eight guards, sir. Plus the two drivers."

If possible, Fox's face went even whiter. "Ten. Ten people killed
because of me."

"That will be all, Captain," I said firmly. "Take a detail out in
the morning. Escort the train back. And see that the dead are
brought back to receive proper burial. I'll talk with William and
make sure that their families are cared for."

Captain Scully nodded and hastily left the room while Fox turned
desperate eyes toward me. "You've got to send me back."

"I have no intention of doing that."

"Sir John is behind this, and he'll stop at nothing to get me -
surely you can see that!"

"Of course. But I don't intend to let him have you. You belong to
me and you will remain with me."

Fox's eyes blazed at me. "You knew that this might happen! That's
why you had me ride with you instead of with the baggage! Those
people are dead because of me - and you could have prevented it!"

He swung at me, wildly, and I ducked his blow and pinned him
against my body, my arm holding him immobilized in a headlock,
his back against my chest. "That'll be enough of that!" I growled
in his ear. He struggled ineffectively, his body still too weak
from his past ordeal to put up much of a fight, then sagged
against me. "Are we done with this, Fox?"

"Yes, sir," he murmured, his eyes closed.

I eased my hold on him but didn't completely release him - I
thought that he would likely collapse if I did. "Fox," I said
gently in his ear, "if you give yourself up to Sir John, it will
not bring the dead back to life. This was his doing, not yours.
You are not to blame."

A sob wracked the slender body and I swung him up into my arms,
settling into the chair by the fire with him on my lap. He buried
his face against my nightshirt and, for the first time since I
had met him, wept in my arms.

Fox

All the tears that had been held back over the past horrible
month spilt over. I wept for my dead parents, for my missing
sister. I wept for the guards and the drivers. And I wept for
myself, for a life lost and innocence destroyed. And while I
wept, warm, strong arms held me close while a gentle hand rubbed
my back and a soft voice murmured in my ear. I don't know what he
said - I was too lost in my own grief to absorb the words -but
the meaning was clear. I was here, I was safe, I was cared for, I
belonged to him. I belonged here. I drew comfort from that, from
the large, warm body cradling me, and slipped into exhausted
slumber.

I awoke the next morning in bed, alone. Again. Really, I thought
with amusement, this was getting to be a habit. I rolled over in
the bed, stretching out, and found my face pressed against a
pillow - his pillow - with his scent still clinging to it. I sat
up, hugging it to my chest, and breathed deeply, then grinned to
myself. I was acting like a lovesick idiot.

There was a rap at the door and I hastily released the pillow.
"Come!"

A servant girl opened the door and Maggie entered with a tray,
beaming at me. "So you are awake now? Lord Walter asked me to
make sure you ate this morning." She set the tray down over by
the fireplace and poked up the fire; autumn was setting in and
the mornings were becoming quite chilly. I quickly slipped on my
discarded breeches, glad for the fire's warmth as I settled down
to eat my breakfast. Behind me, I could hear the maidservant
stripping and remaking the bed, bundling up the sheets and the
dirty clothes I had set aside before leaving the room.

"Where is Lord Walter?" I asked around a mouthful of food. "Is he
in his study already?"

Maggie was sorting through a pile of cloth that the maidservant
had set down and she shook her head. "Lord Walter's gone out
riding the grounds with his bailiff. He won't return till
tomorrow evening."

"Oh," I said, disappointed.

"William will be fetching you after breakfast to finish some copy
work for Lord Walter. In the meantime, here are some of the new
clothes that have been finished and you might wish to bathe. Have
you seen the bathing chamber yet?"

I nodded. "Lord Walter showed it to me last evening."

"Good. Take your time, and when you are ready you will find
William in Lord Walter's office." She patted my cheek and bustled
off.

I quickly finished my meal and stripped off my clothes, then made
my way to the bathing chamber, sinking down into the warm water
blissfully. For a long time I was content to drift and let the
warmth sink into my muscles. I was still a little stiff from our
long journey but not as bad as the previous day. Then I
remembered that Lord Walter had left work for me and would not be
pleased by his slave idling away his time. I sat up and washed
quickly, then wrapped a towel around my body and returned to Lord
Walter's chamber.

There were two sets of clothes on the bed and I chose a tunic and
breeches in shades of blue, dressing quickly while reveling in
the thought of new clothes after so long, something I had taken
for granted before my imprisonment. My boots would not be ready
for another week, so I slipped the soft-shoes back on my feet and
went in search of William.

 He looked up with a smile as I entered the office. "You look
much better this morning, young Fox. Amazing what a few hot meals
and clean clothes will do, isn't it?"

I agreed and started towards the little desk, but William stopped
me. "Before you settle down, his lordship wanted me to give you a
complete tour, including the manor and the castle itself. He may
need to send you on errands and you'll need to know where
everything is. Then he has those summons for you to finish and a
letter that he drafted to the local merchants' guild that he'd
like you to copy out in a fair hand. That should keep you
occupied for today. You'll be taking your meals in here or in his
lordship's chamber, not in the Hall." I nodded. "Good. Then let's
go over the outside first."

We spent the better part of the morning going over the castle. I
had never been inside such a one before, and it was like a small
village within the sheltering walls of the castle. There were the
kitchens with their gardens, the stables, barns and storage
buildings, a small shrine, mews and a kennel. William introduced
me to the blacksmith and the dogboy, the head groom and the
stable boys, the master falconer and the cook. He pointed out the
soldiers' barracks, which were in part of the outer keep, and
took me into the armory where he introduced me to the Sergeant-
at-Arms, Jerry Lamana, who was also the Captain's deputy.

"You're not to go near the soldiers' barracks, Fox; if Lord
Walter sends you on an errand there, you are to find the Captain
or Sergeant Lamana or, if you can't find one of them, send a page
to find them." At my inquiring look he said, with a smile,
"They're a rough lot, Fox, uneducated and simple men. I doubt
that they'd lay a finger on you - not with you being under his
lordship's protection - but men in their cups will act without
thinking. Better safe than sorry. Lord Walter said that you're to
consider that a punishable offense."

I nodded and followed him back into the manor house as he said,
"Before the manor was built, the castellan and his family lived
in that keep," and he pointed out a sturdy keep behind the hall.
"Not the most comfortable of places, but safe and that's where
you'll go if the castle should come under attack. Even if the
outer walls are breached, we could hold off attackers from there
till rescue came. That's where we accommodate most guests -not
that we have many since Lord Walter chooses not to entertain.
There's also guest chambers on the second floor of the manor, as
well as my chamber and the Captain's."

"I understand that the late king built this house."

William nodded. "Before that, there was just the Roman bathhouse
on this spot, where the spring came to the surface. But Lord
Walter's mother couldn't abide the cold of the keep -even as a
young woman she had the joint sickness - so he built this house
for her. That's why the lord's chambers are on the first floor
instead of the second - so she wouldn't have to climb stairs."

"He must have loved her a great deal."

"He did," William said quietly. "Do you know the story?" I shook
my head. "She was dedicated to the Lady by her parents when she
was a child and sent to the Isle of Maidens to take the Veil in
the Lady's service. One day, the Maidens came to the mainland to
gather herbs for their healing. The King rode by and caught sight
of Lady Anne. I've heard that when their eyes met it was like
magic. She put down the herbs she had been gathering, walked over
to him, and he lifted her into the saddle before him without
either saying a word. There was no need. Their eyes had already
spoken.

"The priests forbade them to marry because she was dedicated to
the Lady, and they said that the joint sickness she developed was
punishment from the Gods. They didn't seem to care; King Stephen
brought her here and they were blissfully happy together and a
year later Lord Walter was born. When she became ill, he built
this house for her and he was faithful to her for ten years until
her death. He only married the Queen at the insistence of the
Council that he provide a legitimate heir, although I think he
hoped to convince them to accept Lord Walter. The priests would
not consecrate him as heir; there is no love lost between Lord
Walter and the High Priest because of his mother. But his
lordship is happiest here - he would not have wanted to be king."

William finished showing me the second floor of the manor,
pointing out his chamber and the Captain's in case I needed to
bring a message during the night, then we went back down to the
main floor. "There's one more room that his lordship wanted me to
show you. He wanted me to save it for last." He walked past Lord
Walter's office and opened a door, gesturing for me to enter. I
did so, then halted in amazement.

I stood in the middle of a room about half again as big as the
office. A fireplace burned at one end with a couple chairs drawn
up before it. A long table littered with maps stood to one side,
along with an inlaid scale model of the kingdom with flags
marking the defensive castles. But it was the far wall that
caught my attention: between two floor-to-ceiling windows stood
shelf after shelf of books. The scent of leather and fine paper
filled the air.

"Lord Walter left a letter for you on the table," William said.
"I'll have your lunch brought here shortly."

I heard the door close behind me but I barely noticed. On numb
feet, I moved forward and picked up the letter, blinking to bring
it into focus.

Fox - You will be able to make good use of this library as I
expect you to continue your studies. I have requested a copy of
your transcript and, upon my return, we will set up a program of
study for you to pursue outside of your regular duties. I doubt
that you will find documented studies verifying other Planes of
Existence among these books, but I am sure that I will be able to
procure any legitimate resources that you require for your
studies. W.

I blinked my eyes rapidly to prevent tears from spilling onto the
precious parchment and carefully folded it, tucking it into my
pouch. Then I gave into the library's siren call and ran
caressing hands over the spines of the books, lovingly touching
old friends and rejoicing over new acquaintances to be made. And,
as I fell asleep that night tucked around a volume of Plato's
Dialogs, I dreamed of brown eyes meeting mine across an open
marketplace and of magic.

Chapter 8

Walter

Darkness was falling as I crossed under the portcullis and
entered the courtyard with my bailiff and the small troop of
guards that had accompanied us. I sent them off towards their
long-delayed meals and entered the manor, stripping off my gloves
as I did so. I hesitated in the entryway, then turned to my right
and headed towards the library. As I opened the door, I caught
firelight glinting off brown hair and smiled.

"I thought I would find you here."

There was the sound of a heavy tome hitting the floor and then a
slender figure was throwing himself into my arms and pressing
kisses over my face in between thanks and impossible declarations
of devotion and obedience. I laughed and returned a kiss that had
managed to land on my lips, then gently removed the arms that
threatened to strangle me.

"Slowly, Fox, slowly. And breathe before you pass out."

Fox laughed and released me. "Sorry, Master. I've been saving up
everything that I wanted to say and it just came out at once.
Have you eaten yet or did you just arrive?"

"Just arrived and, yes, I'm hungry but I'd like to get clean
first."

"Of course, sir."

Fox took a moment to bank the fire and carefully place the volume
he'd been reading on the desk, then he led the way to the bathing
chamber where he quickly stripped me. After I slid into the water
with a grateful sigh, he murmured that he'd be back in a few
minutes and slipped out with my dirty clothes. I closed my eyes
and just let myself drift, and it seemed only moments later that
Fox returned with my bedgown over one arm and balancing a tray
with the other. He set the tray down next the bathing pool and
shed his own clothes, then slipped into the water and began
carefully washing my body. I watched his face as he concentrated
on his task.

"So what did you do while I was gone?"

"I went with William on a tour of the castle and he gave me your
instructions about the barracks." Mischievous grey-green eyes
flicked up at him before returning to their task. "And I hear and
obey, Master."

"Impertinent imp," I growled mockingly, reaching around to pinch
a bare ass cheek. He laughed at that and squirmed out of reach.
Considering that the last time I had seen him awake he had been
in tears, I was pleased at the change. "What else?"

"I finished the scrolls and letters, and William went over them
so they are just awaiting your seal. I ate three meals today and
three meals yesterday, and Maggie can vouch that I cleaned my
plate. I stayed out of trouble and began reading Plato's Dialogs.
Did you know that he wrote about a lost island called Atlantis
that was supposed to be a perfect society? He briefly mentions it
in 'Timaeus', which I've read, but describes it in detail in
'Critias' - I hadn't been able to get my hands on that one till I
found it in your library. It seems that this Atlantis was
possibly settled by beings from another world and mysteriously
destroyed - "

"Fox," I interrupted. "Another time, please."

Fox flushed. "Sorry, Master. Sometimes I get a little carried
away."

I chuckled. "I can see that." I caressed a soft cheek
affectionately, then again in surprise and ran a hand over his
chest. "You shaved."

He nodded, flushing and ducking his head in embarrassment. "You -
um - weren't here to do it last night and I know that you like me
to be smooth so I did it myself. I had a little trouble in some
areas but overall - "

He had no chance to finish as I pulled him close and kissed him
soundly. When I let him go again, he grinned and said, "Well, if
I had known you were going to kiss me like that every time I
shave, I wouldn't have objected in the first place."

"Impudence," I said and settled him so that he straddled my lap.
"I can see that I'm going to have to keep my eye on you if you're
going to get so saucy when I'm gone just two days."

"I like the sound of that," Fox said, then reached for the tray
beside my head. He held a tidbit of meat before my lips and his
eyes twinkled at me. "My turn to feed you, Master."

"Definitely getting out of hand," I growled but opened my mouth
and let him feed me. I nipped at his fingers and he drew them
back with a laugh. He finished feeding me, then hauled me out of
the pool and back to my chamber where, to my surprise, he settled
me on the bed and began massaging my back. I relished the warm
weight of his body as he straddled my buttocks and marveled at
the strength of those clever fingers as he worked out all the
knots and tension from two days in the saddle and a night lying
on the hard ground. I felt my eyes drift closed under his loving
ministration and let myself slide into sleep.

Fox

By the time I realized that my massage wasn't only relaxing his
muscles but was putting him to sleep it was too late. Lord Walter
was deep in slumber and not even a nibble on an earlobe or a
murmur in his ear could wake him. I sat back on my heels,
frustrated beyond belief, and gave up. Another night of celibacy.
I realized in amusement that it had been almost a week since Lord
Walter had bought me and I was still a virgin. And it looked like
that wasn't going to change anytime soon.

I got out of bed and dressed in my discarded clothes, then set
about sorting Lord Walter's clothing. His tunic and breeches went
into the pile for the laundress but he had worn a heavy padded
garment over top his clothes that felt like it had plates
stitched into it and I had no idea what to do with it. I slipped
out of the room with it and padded upstairs to the Captain's
room, tapping lightly on her door. A moment later, she opened it
and looked at me in surprise.

"Milord Fox?"

I held up the garment. "This is Lord Walter's and I have no idea
what to do with it."

She laughed and shook her head. "One moment." I waited in the
doorway while she disappeared into her room and returned a moment
later with her boots on. "Follow me, Fox."

The Captain led me across the courtyard to the armory and pointed
toward a padded form that looked like a tailor's dummy. "Put it
on that. In the morning I'll show you how to clean it and check
for tears and missing plates."

"Thanks," I said and she nodded, suppressing a yawn. I recalled
that she had just returned that day as well, escorting the
remains of the baggage carts and the bodies of men that she had
commanded. "I'm sorry - you must be exhausted."

"I'm fine." She looked at me sideways as we returned to the
manor. "How about you, Fox? Are you settling in okay?"

I shrugged. "As well as can be expected. I'm glad that Lord
Walter is back."

"You like him, don't you?"

The question could have been phrased in a way that would have
been suggestive or lewd or disgusted, but Captain Scully said it
almost rhetorically, answering her own question. I nodded.

"Yes. He's been fair in his treatment of me - more than fair," I
added, recalling the library. "He's indulged me in a way that no
other master would have, been patient with my mistakes. I think
he could be very harsh if I disobeyed him, but he's also been
kind."

"And you don't mind about the sex?"

I flushed a little but gave her a rueful grin. "Well, actually,
there hasn’t been any. Between traveling and -and everything. But
no, I don't think I'll mind about the sex." I looked at her
curiously. "Have you ever - ?"

"I'm not attracted to men."

"Oh." I wanted to ask about the other option but figured that I
was rather fond of all my body parts and the Captain didn't seem
the type to share girlish confessions. I grinned at the thought
of Captain Scully doing anything "girlish". "Well, good-night and
thanks."

She nodded and headed up the stairs to her chamber and I went
back to the library to fetch my book, then returned to Lord
Walter's bedchamber.

He was sleeping soundly, snoring slightly, and I grinned at that
as I pulled the sheet up over his body. Then I settled down with
my book on the nest that I had made next to the fireplace and
read until the dancing flames lulled me off to sleep.

Chapter 9

Walter

I woke to the realization of bright sunlight outside my chamber
window, a comfortable bed under my back, and the thought that I
was getting too old for roughing it out under the stars. Then I
smiled as evidence indicated that, although my bones may think
I'm old, other parts of my body were feeling very young and full
of life. I reached out expectantly for a warm body but my
questing hands came up empty. I sat up abruptly and looked
around, but there was no indication that there had been anyone
sleeping next to me. Had it been a dream, then? My heart sank at
the thought, and then a murmured sound from the floor caught my
attention. I glanced over at the fireplace and found my slave boy
curled up there, clutching a pillow and muttering in his sleep.
From what I could tell, the dreams weren't pleasant and when he
murmured, "Samantha," I had the feeling that he was reliving his
family's arrest.

I slipped out of bed and approached him carefully, knowing full
well the dangers of waking those experiencing nightmares. "Fox,"
I said quietly. "Wake up, Fox. It's only a dream."

He stirred and a bleary eye blinked at me. "Sorry, Master. Did I
wake you?"

I shook my head and reached out to caress his hair. "No. It was
being alone in the bed that awakened me. Why are you sleeping
down here instead of in my bed?"

He looked at me soberly. "The first night you said that if I
pleased you I could sleep in the bed but otherwise I was to sleep
on the floor. Since I wasn't able to please you last night, or
the night you were gone, I slept down here."

I closed my eyes and shook my head, then gave my too-obedient
slave a rueful grin. "So I did. Well, I'm going to change that
rule. From now on, you sleep in my bed -whether I am here or not
- unless I specifically send you to sleep on the floor.
Understood?" He nodded and smiled at me, and I realized how much
I had missed that smile in just two days. I leaned closer to kiss
him.

There was a loud knock on the door. "Breakfast, my lord."

I swore under my breath and stood up, stomping into the latrine
to relieve myself and splash cold water on my face. Fox had my
clothes waiting when I returned to the main room and helped me
dress, then served my breakfast before he settled down in front
of the fire again and started on his own breakfast. Neither of us
talked as we ate; Fox appearing deep in thought while I was just
irritated with the way my morning had begun.

I set my empty plate back on the tray. Fox got up and took the
tray to the door, setting it down outside and then looking over
at me hesitantly. "Master?"

I sighed. "Yes, Fox?"

"I asked Dame Maggie to tell William that you'd be in the office
after luncheon, that you needed this morning to - to rest." I
turned my head to look at him and felt a grin cross my face. "I
hope that you're not angry."

I rose from my chair and prowled toward him. "That depends on
what you had planned for this morning, my Fox."

"I thought that I would make sure that you were adequately
rested, Master."

"I think that sounds like an excellent idea."

I tossed him onto the bed and followed him down. I pinned his
body beneath mine and felt the willing response, his mouth
opening under mine as his hands came around me to hold me tighter
against his body. I settled between his legs, feeling him spread
them wider to accommodate me. I rocked my hips slowly, feeling
the heat and hardness swelling inside the confines of his
breeches as our groins rubbed together. My mouth swallowed his
groan, and he returned my kisses with an intensity that drove any
thoughts out of my mind but one - I had to have him and I had to
have him now. I broke free from his mouth and my lips traveled
across his face, mapping every contour, before moving down to his
neck. He arched against my body, gasping, as I fastened my teeth
on the spot where his neck met his shoulder.

"You like that?"

"Oh God, yes!" His hands plucked at my tunic, trying to find
their way underneath to the skin. "More…please…"

I lifted my body slightly off his, just enough so that I could
slide my hand between us and into his breeches. He gasped and
then groaned as my hand took possession of his cock, and I could
feel the heat and the swelling. He rocked against my hand,
desperate to provide more friction. "You like that, too, don't
you, boy? You like the feeling of my hands on your body, my mouth
on your skin. Like knowing that you belong to me, that every inch
of your body is mine to play with, to touch, to caress, to kiss."

"Yesss…please…please…make me all yours, Master." He was nearly
sobbing now, humping against me in an effort to bring himself
off, and I moved my hand down to tug his balls away from his
body.

"Not yet," I said as he swore in frustration at the denial of his
pleasure. "I intend to make this last a long, long time. By the
time I let you come, you will be begging me for release." He
groaned at that, licking those incredible lips, and I wanted to
dive into them again. But first I needed to remove our clothes. I
pushed myself up onto my knees and unfastened my belt, throwing
it over on the floor, then unlaced my tunic so that I could pull
it over my head. Fox's eyes were on me, hot eyes that could draw
my soul out of my body. I leaned back down to secure another kiss
-

A sharp knock on the door startled both of us and I swore, out
loud and in colorful words. "What do you want?" I shouted at the
door.

William's voice, quiet and apologetic, came through the solid
door. "I'm sorry, my lord, but there is a messenger from the
King. He says that he has an extremely important message for you
and insists on speaking to you immediately."

Underneath me, I could feel Fox's body shaking and I realized
that he was laughing helplessly. I pushed myself back up to my
knees and looked down at him, lying there on my bed, still
incredibly aroused and shaking in helpless mirth. Frustrated as I
was, I had to smile.

"Fox, I am starting to get the feeling that the Gods themselves
are intervening to protect your virginity."

"With all due respect to the Gods, sir, I wish They would mind
Their own business." The frustration in his voice nearly equaled
my own.

I chuckled and caressed his cheek. "Well, I had best go see what
this summons is about. At this point, I wouldn't put it past Them
to instigate a war to separate us." Fox got up, fetching my belt
from the floor while I readjusted my tunic, his face troubled. "I
am teasing, boy. The land is at peace and I'm sure that the Gods
have other things to occupy Their time." I pulled him close,
capturing his mouth for another kiss. "And I will have you soon,
my sweet slave. If I have to lock every damn person here in the
dungeon in order to secure some privacy."

I released him and went to the door, throwing it open. William
was waiting in the hall and I saw his eyes flick toward Fox, as
if reassuring himself that the boy was okay. A sudden unwelcome
thought intruded - maybe it was not the Gods but my own personal
staff who were interfering with my plans for Fox. Clearly William
and Maggie were wrapped around his little finger as well as
Captain Scully - not that I blamed the boy. His willingness, his
pleasure at my touch, his frustration at the interruption could
not have been forged -he simply did not have the ability to fake
that. I frowned and decided that this dissension among my staff
would have to be swiftly dealt with -unless I wanted to suffer
permanent frustration.

"Fox, come with me. I may need you to take notes or draft a
response." Fox nodded, straightening his clothes as he joined me.
"William, show the messenger to my study."

I settled in my chair in the study and watched Fox settle down at
the scribe's table over to the side. His face had settled into
its customary bland mask as he set out his papers and uncorked
the ink, checking the points on his pens.

The messenger was vaguely familiar to me, one I had seen at
Court, so any thoughts that this was a faked message faded.
Still, I examined the seal carefully for signs that it had been
lifted by a hot knife or tampered with. There were none. I broke
the seal and opened the scroll, reading through it quickly. Then
I frowned and read it again, slowly.

Walt,

I was distressed to learn today that you had left without even
bidding me good-bye. That is so unlike you, brother, that I
feared that you might be unwell. I anxiously await reassurances
that you have not caught one of those fevers that the lower
classes are so prone to.

Speaking of which, my dear friend, Sir John, has become tiresome
on the subject of a slave boy that you purchased at the market. I
can certainly understand the "boy" part, but a slave? Seriously,
Walter, when have you ever needed to purchase such comforts?
Although, I suppose, the idea of a living soul dependent on one
could be rather delicious, and one could certainly indulge
unusual pleasures with such a creature. In any event, it is
certain that Sir John has his heart set on this creature and has
offered very generously to purchase him for three times what he
cost you, even if he is no longer a virgin. (If it is true that
he was a virgin, then I begin to understand your actions. Such a
one is surely a rare find among slaves). In any event, Sir John
would also be willing to exchange this Wolf or whatever he is
called for one of his slaves. He assures me that the boy you
purchased is a difficult creature, half-wild and untamed, and
unworthy of your attention. Sir John has several slaves that have
been trained to perfection and know infinite ways to provide
exquisite pleasure - he is even willing to let you sample their
wares before you make your decision once you come back to town
with this Bear person.

Do come back, dear brother. I miss you dreadfully. I don't know
why it is, but I never think as clearly as when you are around me
to give your advice.

Love, Jeff

I rolled up the scroll and tapped it against my thigh, thinking
quickly. So Sir John was trying to drag Jeffrey into this, was
he? And that offer - as if I would want to take one of Sir John's
discards in exchange for Fox, much less welcome a spy into my
household.

I turned my attention back to the messenger. "What is your name,
lad?"

"Michael, sir."

"William, see that Michael is accommodated with a room and a bath
and fresh clothes. I imagine that he is hungry and tired as
well." I smiled blandly back at the messenger who, for all his
youth, was possibly another spy of John's. "By the time you have
dined and rested, I will have a reply to take back to my
brother."

Once the messenger had left, I turned to the man sitting silently
to the side, waiting for instructions.

"Fox, draft a reply to my brother as follows. Tell him that I
thank him for his concerns over my health but that matters of
estate took me away from Court. It is the harvest season and it
is critical that I am here on his lands to secure a bountiful
harvest for his table. And, in regard to the matter of the slave,
tell him that I regret Sir John's feelings of loss but that it
is, after all, just another slave boy and that he can pick up
another pretty specimen. Regarding Sir John's offer to exchange
the boy for one of his own trained slave-boys, tell him that I
appreciate the gesture but that I much prefer to train my own
slaves to my own tastes and that I am not finding the boy to be
troublesome at all. Let me see the draft when you're finished."
Fox nodded and bent his head over his desk, and I signed the
documents waiting for my signature, then settled back with my
thoughts.

A short time later, a soft voice interrupted my thoughts.
"Master? I have that draft ready."

I took the paper handed to me and read over it carefully, noting
that Fox had a good way of phrasing his sentences. One sentence
made me look over at him, eyebrow raised. "You've written here
that 'I look forward with pleasure to returning to Court for the
occasion of your birthday - ' I didn't say that."

"I know, sir, but I thought that it might reassure him. You do
intend to be there for his birthday, don't you?"

"Of course - and Jeffrey knows that I've been there every year."

"Yes, sir, but it doesn't hurt to remind him of that so he
doesn't think you've deserted him. From what my father said, the
King is often insecure and requires reassurance."

I studied the young man and nodded. "You're right, Fox. Thank
you." I handed the paper back to him. "No corrections. Write that
out and I'll sign it."

While Fox worked, I went in search of my household staff. Time to
have a serious talk with them.

Maggie and William appeared to be in a deep discussion with their
foster daughter when I found them in the kitchen gardens. They
looked up at me with wary and slightly guilty expressions.

"Ah, just the ones I was hoping to find. Captain Scully, did you
have any problem bringing the wagons back home?"

"No, Lord Walter. The burial detail finished this morning, and
the priest from the village is coming this afternoon to perform
the ceremony. Will you be attending?"

"No," Walter said shortly. "The priest will not welcome my
presence. I rely on you to represent me, Scully. William, are
their families provided for?"

"Yes, my lord. Most of the men were single and their parents were
either deceased or have other children to care for them. I have
distributed the customary death compensation to the parents who
had no other support. One man was married and I have made
arrangements for his widow to be returned to her parents."

"Good. I would appreciate it if you will also attend the ceremony
this afternoon. That way I will know where you are."

"Pardon, my lord?"

I turned to Maggie. "As for you, are you going to refrain from
interfering, or am I going to need to lock you in the pantry till
tomorrow?"

The three exchanged another look. "We don't understand, Lord
Walter."

"Of course you understand. The messenger was from the King but
his message wasn't marked urgent. Of course, the fact that Fox
had asked Maggie to inform you, William, that we would be busy
this morning might have something to do with the urgency of the
message." William flushed and looked over at Maggie. "I thought
as much."

Captain Scully cleared her throat. "I tried to tell them, sir,
that Milord Fox didn't appear to be - reluctant."

"And what would an innocent young boy know about such things?"
Maggie demanded of her foster-daughter.

"More than you might imagine," the Captain said wryly.

"The fact of the matter is that Fox belongs to me," I said
grimly. "Whether you approve or not. Now, I'm going to go into my
study and you're going to bring us lunch. And then I'm going to
take Fox to bed. And if it's even half as good as I think it will
be, I don't plan to get out of that bed till tomorrow morning. If
anyone so much as breathes on my door before then, we had better
be under attack or the manor had better be on fire. Have you got
me, people?" Three heads nodded. "Good." I turned and stalked
back into the manor house.

Fox looked up with a smile as I entered, and the sight of that
smile was enough to reduce my ire and reinforce my plan. "It's
finished, sir."

"Good work." I ruffled his hair and took the scroll, reading over
it and signing it, then applying my seal. "Clean up, Fox. Lunch
will be here momentarily."

Maggie entered a few minutes later with the tray, and Fox went to
take it from her. She patted his cheek. "You're a good boy, Fox."
She threw a look at me that I blandly ignored before she left.

"Is something wrong with Maggie?" Fox asked, puzzled, setting the
tray down on the desk.

"I have no idea." I smiled and pulled him down to sit on my lap.
He looked surprised but settled willingly enough. I brushed the
hair off of his face and opened my mouth to say something but the
door opened and William entered. "Ah, William. I have the scroll
ready for the messenger." I handed William the scroll. "Give this
to him and then let Maggie feed him and send him on his way. That
should keep her busy."

"Very good, my lord."

I turned back to Fox who was polishing off a slice of bread and
cheese, seemingly not the least bit concerned to be found sitting
on my lap. I was well aware that William was watching and
listening as he sorted out my papers. Deliberately, I smiled into
Fox's questioning face and saw an answering smile in those
expressive chameleon eyes. "I was very pleased with your work,
Fox. You have a good hand and your phrasing was perfect.
Considering that the subject matter of part of the scroll
concerned you, you showed remarkable composure."

Fox flushed, pleased at my praise. "Thank you, sir."

"I think that you have earned yourself a special reward, Fox.
What would you like to do this afternoon? Spend some time in the
library, perhaps?" This was a risk, of course, but one hand was
gently stroking his back while the other hand lay on his lap,
covering the bulge swelling there.

"I - um - I’d rather have what - what you promised earlier."

I pretended not to remember. "What was that?"

Fox bit his lip and leaned closer to my ear, whispering, "You
remember - in the bedchamber earlier. You promised to - to have
me."

I looked directly in his face and said, clearly, "You want me to
take you to my bed as your reward." He nodded. "Words, Fox."

"Please, Master. Please take me to bed and make me yours."

I smiled in satisfaction and kissed him, a hard and greedy kiss,
and he opened to me completely. I could have taken him right
there, or in the Hall in full sight of the entire staff, and he
wouldn't have cared in the least. And if he didn't stop wiggling
like that, I would be forced to take him here. I released his
mouth, gently pushing him off my lap as I rose.

"Very well, Fox. You shall have your reward." I turned to
William. "I think we are finished with lunch, William. Please see
that I am not disturbed."

William's eyes met mine and he smiled ruefully, nodding. "Very
well, my lord."

Chapter 10

Walter

Fox was nearly quivering with anticipation as we walked down
through the hallways towards my chambers, barely restraining
himself from tugging me along. It occurred to me that he was so
hot, so eager for me that he would probably explode at my first
touch.

The door had barely closed behind us when Fox was stripping off
his clothes, recklessly unconcerned for where they fell or if
they were damaged in the process. I had never seen anything so
hot in my life and I have seen many a lover - male and female -
disrobe seductively before this. If I thought I was aroused
before I had been completely mistaken - I was now painfully hard.
And, more to the point, by now my own self-control was seriously
impaired. If I tried to take him in this state, it would be both
too short and too rough to be enjoyable for him. I would have to
take the edge off our hunger first.

Fox undressed me now, his hands slower and more careful with my
clothing and my body than he had been with his own. His actions
were interspersed with gentle kisses to whatever part of my body
he exposed, an action both tender and erotic. I had seen
professionals with less skill than this virgin and it took my
breath away to imagine the possibilities once he got some
practical experience in lovemaking. I wondered if I would survive
the winter.

Fox

It's not that I hadn't seen his body before - over the last six
days I had become intimately familiar with it while bathing,
dressing, and undressing him. It's just that I hadn't become
intimately familiar with his body. Which probably makes no sense,
but I only knew that I wanted to worship him, to explore every
inch of that magnificent frame, to learn what gave him pleasure.
Speaking coldly and rationally, I knew that it was in my best
interest to please him - I had no wish to become a common
plaything in the soldiers' barracks. However, there was nothing
cold and rational in my thinking. I was on fire, certain that by
the time he finally took me I would be reduced to a pile of
ashes. He stood still and accepting as I undressed and caressed
him, and only the hitch in his breathing told me that he was
feeling this as deeply as I was. By the time I had him naked, we
were both breathing heavily and seconds away from exploding. And
then he caught me by the back of the head with one hand and
around the waist with the other, pulling me in tight for one of
those devastating kisses, and we were of a perfect height for our
groins to mesh. His hand slipped down to my ass and he thrust
against me once, twice, and I was coming and moaning and shaking
all over.

I was mortified to have lost control, certain he would banish me
to the floor to sleep, but his mouth was against my ear. "By all
the Gods, I've never known anyone so beautiful, so hot. You drive
me right out of my mind, my sweet slave." And that's when I
realized that he had come, too, and I felt ridiculously pleased
that I had done this to him. Me, Fox, neophyte slave and
bedwarmer, had driven my master clear over the edge, thank you
very much. I felt the grin on my face and did nothing to hide it,
even if I was disappointed that we hadn't even gotten to the bed
or the main event before it was all over.

Walter dropped a kiss on my lips, then released me as he nudged
me toward the bed. He picked up a piece of our discarded clothing
and cleaned us briefly, then crawled up onto the bed. "I hope you
got plenty of sleep over the past few nights, Fox, because I
intend to keep you otherwise occupied all night."

I laughed as I sent up a silent thank you to all the Gods. "I
think I can manage to stay awake, Master." I moved into his arms
willingly, eagerly kissing every inch of skin I could reach, and
he laughed.

"Slowly, my sweet slave."

"I don't think I can wait, Master," I murmured, replacing the
kisses with nips. "I want to belong to you completely. I want to
know what it's like to feel you inside me, and I want to come in
your arms."

I could feel the tightening of his muscles. "Gods, Fox," he
growled and pushed me flat. His mouth devoured mine and I
surrendered to it completely. Whatever he wanted, however he
wanted it. His mouth moved down to my neck and I could feel the
marks that he left as his teeth danced over my collarbone. His
mouth moved lower, teasing at first one nipple and then the other
and I clutched at his head as I arched up against his mouth.

There was a puff of cool air across one sensitive nipple and a
soft laugh. "Like that, do you?"

"Gods, yes!"

His mouth moved lower, licking and nipping at the skin on my
belly, moving across the smooth and intensely sensitive skin of
my groin. I was nearly sobbing by now, once again hot and hard
and aching for relief. His tongue flickered at the head of my
cock and I could feel the stars flickering behind my eyes before,
abruptly, one hand pulled down on my balls and the other hand
squeezed the base of my cock. I gasped and swore, frustrated at
having my climax halted.

"I don't want to end this too soon, and I promise it will be even
better for the waiting."

His tongue moved back over my cock, bathing it from base to head,
and I groaned and tried to shift my body to bring his mouth where
I wanted it. He pinned my hips with my hands, murmuring for me to
be still, and I groaned again but tried to obey. Then, abruptly,
his mouth engulfed my cock completely and I would have come off
the bed completely if he hadn't been holding me down. I know that
I was saying something but my brain seemed to have disengaged
itself from my mouth so I couldn't tell if I was talking sense or
simply babbling. Whatever it was, it seemed to encourage Lord
Walter as he suddenly took my cock even deeper and then he was
sucking it hard, and I erupted down his throat with a scream. And
his mouth was milking me dry and it was so good, better than
anything I had ever felt, and he hadn't even taken me yet. I
sagged down bonelessly on the bed and wondered if I would survive
the night.

Walter

Fox lay gasping and dazed on the bed after shrieking like a damn
whistle in my ear before shooting straight down my throat. I had
taken it all, milking him till he had nothing left and was
boneless as a kitten; I hadn't intended to let him come this soon
but the sounds that he had been making as I licked and sucked his
cock had gone straight to my head. And, I thought practically, it
was better for him to be as relaxed as possible before being
penetrated. I shifted upward and moved the little pot of fragrant
oil from the table onto the bed.

He was still half-dazed as I pushed his knees back against his
chest so that I could access him completely but, as I circled a
lubricated finger around the outside of his hole, I could see him
blink and try to reconnect. "Hush, it's all right," I murmured,
leaning down to kiss him. He opened his mouth to me readily and I
broached him with one finger at the same time, absorbing his
involuntary groan with my mouth. I nibbled at his mouth, coaxing
his tongue to follow mine back. My finger slid deeper inside,
past the muscle that was still slightly relaxed from his last
orgasm, and then I slid another finger inside. Before long, he
was rocking against my fingers while his mouth ravaged mine and I
knew that he was as ready as I could make him.

I shifted between his knees and lubricated my cock, then shifted
his legs up onto my shoulders before pressing against his
opening. He bit back a moan and his hands twisted in the covers
but I moved slowly and steadily inside, pausing to give him a few
minutes to adjust to the fullness before sliding further inside.
At last I was fully sheathed inside him. I leaned down to kiss
him gently, refocusing his attention on me and, after a moment,
he responded to my kisses. Unable to hold still any longer, I
slowly withdrew and slid back in, and I heard the low moan of
pleasure.

"Beautiful," I murmured against his ear as I slowly fucked him.
"So hot and tight."

"Gods!" he gasped. "So good - didn't know it could be so good - "

I kissed him again. "I'll always make it good for you, my sweet
cub."

"Want to move - need to - " he panted, trying to move to meet my
thrusts.

"Easy, sweet. Slow and easy this first time. Plenty of time for
rough and hard once you're accustomed to it." I increased my
thrusting, still keeping it gentle and thorough but with a little
more speed, and he rocked against me. His cock was pinned between
our bodies and I could feel that he was getting closer. So was I
- it had been too long since I had done this for me to make it
last any longer - but I was determined to make him come first. I
pushed myself up a little so that I could grasp his cock and I
stroked it twice before he gasped and came hard in my hand. As he
came, his ass muscles clenched hard and it was all over for me as
well. I thrust once, twice, inside that hot, tight body and then
I was coming harder than I could ever remember in my life.

I collapsed, just retaining enough presence of mind to support my
body on my elbows, and looked down at the face of my bed-partner,
then grinned to realize that he was out cold. I gently eased
myself out of his body, fetched a damp cloth to wipe us down,
then settled back into bed and pulled him into my arms to wait
for him to come back.

He moaned slightly and his eyes blinked open slowly. "Am I dead?"

I laughed softly. "No, you're very much alive."

"What happened?"

"You fainted. It's not uncommon to pass out during intense sex."

"Intense? I felt like the top of my head exploded."

I laughed again. "Thank you for the compliment. I tried to do my
best."

He shifted up on top of me, covering me like a blanket, and
looked down into my face. "It was incredible. I never knew -"

I captured his mouth for a brief kiss. "I know."

"And now I belong to you completely." There was intense
satisfaction in that voice and I found my throat was tight with
emotion.

"Yes. I have claimed you, and you are mine forever."

He laid his head down on my chest and said, drowsily, "I like the
sound of that."

"So do I, Fox," I murmured. "So do I."

End of Part 1 - Claimed