Todd closed his eyes, releasing a deep breath, stroking his fingertips over Nick’s cheek. Nick leaned into the touch. “And it’s not stupid,” Nick added.
“What?” Todd exhaled.
“My collar, it’s not stupid.”
Todd leaned down and let his hand slide around to the back of Nick’s head. Todd’s fingers wound in his hair and tugged gently up. Rocking up on his toes, Nick met Todd halfway. The first press of their lips sent a zing of excitement through Nick. When Todd’s tongue slipped into his mouth, Nick gasped, reached up, and pressed his hand to the small of Todd’s back.
Todd pulled back just far enough that when he spoke, Nick felt breath against his cheek. “Are you going to put out that fire and get on this horse, or,” Todd glanced at the sky, “do you want to spend the rest of the night out here with a storm on the way?”
Lips pulled into a slow smile, Nick said, “Low blow.”
“All’s fair and all.”
Todd waited patiently while Nick threw some dirt over the fire. The thunder was getting louder, the lightning brighter. It would be raining soon; that would take care of putting the fire out properly. He sprinted to the horse, grasped Todd’s outstretched hand, swung onto the horse, and settled behind his master.
Wrapping both arms around Todd’s waist, Nick rested his chin on Todd’s shoulder and kissed Todd’s neck. “You should probably punish me.”
Todd chuckled and turned his head, tipped it to the side to look at Nick. “Yeah, you’re probably right.” He reached back and patted Nick’s thigh. “No coffee for a week.”
“What?” Nick couldn’t help how his voice cracked and he sort of sputtered. “That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think?”
Laughing outright, Todd grasped Nick’s chin and gave it a gentle shake. “It’s supposed to be something you don’t like.”
“But no coffee? That’s…that’s…sort of inhumane.”
“Hmm.” Todd shifted so he was pressing hard in the V of Nick’s crotch. “And I’ll make sure to sip mine very slowly in the morning, probably have some with lunch and dinner, too. Don’t forget after dinner.”
“You wouldn’t.” When thunder cracked close by, Nick tightened his grip and turned his head so his face was pressed to Todd’s neck.
“If you don’t stop your nonsense about ruining my life, I sure as hell will. You are my life, Nicky.” Todd nudged the horse to a canter as the wind kicked up even more.
“You’re not angry?” Nick asked shyly as they came to a stop a few yards from their wagon.
Todd twisted and poked at Nick, nudged him off the horse. He slipped to the ground and reached out, wiping his fingers through Nick’s bangs. “Yes, Nicky, I’m very angry. I’m angry that happened to you and I didn’t stop it, I’m angry there are things in the world that treat people the way it treated you, and I’m really angry that we’ve been tossed out in the cold after what we did to help. But what I’m not angry with is you.” He pressed a soft kiss to Nick’s forehead, then turned and started leading the horse to where he’d bedded them down. “And if you know what’s good for you, you’ll get your ass into that wagon and be completely naked when I get there.”
Lightning streaked the sky, making Nick and the horses restless. Darting forward, Nick grabbed Todd’s arm. “Come inside, please.”
Todd smiled and patted Nick’s hand before removing it from his arm. “I’m just going to get this horse bedded down, and I’ll be right there. I promise.”
“But the lightning—”
“Still a few miles away.” Todd led the horse away, then called over his shoulder, “And I taught you how to cover your tracks far better than you did. Yes, I noticed.”
Nick felt his cheeks burn red. He hadn’t bothered, thinking he wouldn’t be followed, and on the off chance he was, he wanted to be sure there was a trail to follow. Todd had taught him how to completely obliterate his trail. If Nick hadn’t wanted to be found, Todd wouldn’t have found him so quickly or easily, or at all, and they both knew it.
Convinced something horrible was going to happen and not wanting to be alone in the wagon right now, Nick sat on his heels on the steps of the wagon, watching Todd care for the horses.
Todd turned and arched an eyebrow, pointing to the wagon then he grinned and started jogging toward it.
Laughing, Nick was up and diving into the wagon in no time.
All of his clothes weren’t quite off when Todd tackled him to the bed inside the wagon. Wrapping both legs around Todd’s waist and tugging him close, Nick immediately decided that had been a bad move. His shirt, boots, and socks were off, not his jeans, and Todd was fully clothed. The buckle of Todd’s belt dug into the tender skin of Nick’s abdomen as Todd’s mouth covered Nick’s and his weight dropped onto Nick’s body.
“Ow, ow, ow…belt.” Nick pressed his head back far enough to break the kiss.
Todd pushed up on his forearms and grinned before swiping a path with his tongue from Nick’s jaw to his mate’s navel. He pulled at the button on Nick’s jeans. “I said be naked when I got here. This, off, now. See, always disobeying me.” Todd undid Nick’s jeans and pulled at them as Nick kicked his way free.
Todd’s mouth, tongue, and hands worked over him until Nick was a quivering mass of want begging for release.
After giving him a truly wicked smile, Todd slithered the length of Nick’s body until he was nibbling along Nick’s jaw and ear. He whispered, “Nope, you will obey me.”
Somewhere along the way—Nick wasn’t exactly sure when—Todd had shed not only the offending belt and buckle but the rest of his clothes, too. Todd flipped Nick over and gave him a few good cracks to his ass, making Nick squirm. The entire world narrowed down to the sensations between his legs, Todd’s fingers working him open and hitting his prostate, sending jolts up and down Nick’s spine.
He was so hard he thought he’d literally explode, yet Todd kept at him, teasing him, then backing off just shy of allowing Nick his release.
Finally, when he thought he could take no more, Todd rolled him onto his back. Nick brought both legs up to wrap around his master’s torso, kneeing Todd in the stomach in the process, eliciting a hearty oommppfff from Todd.
“Sor-sor-sorry,” Nick panted out, fingers digging into the beefy part of Todd’s back, drawing him closer.
Todd chuckled and rubbed one hand through Nick’s hair before using the same hand to press Nick tightly against the pillow, holding him in place. “We definitely make finding a bigger place a priority.”
The small laugh building in Nick’s chest turned to a gasp when Todd’s mouth pressed down on his windpipe and Todd’s cock slid deep inside him. It barely took any time before Todd’s thrusts faltered and he was throbbing and pumping hard into Nick, biting along Nick’s neck and gasping out Nick’s name.
When Todd pulled free of Nick’s body, Nick twisted around, trying to get some friction against his master’s rock-hard belly.
“Something you want?” Todd drawled, hand skimming lightly over Nick’s side and between his legs, fingertips barely brushing over Nick’s hard, dripping cock.
Nick’s response was a breathy moan.
Todd chuckled, fingers gliding through Nick’s slit, rubbing in the fluid pooling for a few seconds before it oozed along the length of Nick’s cock.
Groaning, Nick gasped and tried to thrust up into Todd’s fist but was held in place by Todd’s other arm wrapped around his middle. All Nick could do was grip Todd’s shoulders and alternately knead at his ass.
Todd moved so he was more on top of Nick than beside him and stroked Nick faster, twisting and pulling, grip tightening. Todd licked along Nick’s lower lip for a few seconds before his tongue wormed inside Nick’s mouth, entwining with and caressing Nick’s tongue, swallowing Nick’s moans.
The sensation of the sheets against his back, the feel of Todd covering him, the sheer need coursing through him were the only things Nick could process. Nick’s body bucked up, every nerve and musc
le firing at once. Todd continued stroking, twisting, and tugging on his cock until Nick lay panting in huge breaths, sweat plastering his bangs to his forehead, and he was completely spent.
He didn’t even have the energy to move when Todd reached around and grabbed a towel to wipe them down. Todd pressed a soft kiss to Nick’s forehead as he slipped his arms under Nick and pulled his mate tight against his side.
“You never even noticed the storm,” Todd murmured against Nick’s temple.
Nodding slowly, Nick smiled but didn’t bother opening his eyes. “All proud of yourself, aren’t you?” His words were drawn out and slurred, and he wasn’t even completely sure he’d finished speaking them.
He realized he must have when Todd replied, “Sure am. Go to sleep, Nicky.”
Wrapping arms and legs around Todd, nuzzling closer when Todd’s strong arms tightened down on him, and tucking his head under Todd’s chin, Nick sighed and nodded. He’d obey that order.
* * * *
“We can’t even stop at Jimmy’s for a day?” Nick asked. He was riding behind Todd. They were both on the black horse Nick had named Obi, short for Obsidian. Todd decided his mate really did have a thing for rocks, especially the volcanic kind.
Three days had gone by since Todd had found Nick missing and chased after him, and Nick hadn’t let Todd go farther than an arm’s length, which was fine by Todd. He’d learned long ago a stressed Nick equaled a Nick who needed him close. Todd needed to keep him close.
They were scouting some of the trails, having left the other horses and wagon hidden in the woods. It was easier this way, though it had been Nick’s idea to ride one horse. Todd decided he gave in to Nick far too much some days. Yet the feel of Nick’s solid body behind him gave Todd a large dose of pleasure and comfort. Maybe it was really himself he was giving in to and not Nick.
They’d gotten into the habit of checking the roads and trails on foot or horseback before driving through, just in case.
“No, not now. Maybe by next year, but if anyone is watching, they’ll watch there. Not only bad for us but would cause too much trouble for Jimmy. We can write, though.”
That seemed to please Nick. He relaxed against Todd’s back and let his chin rest on Todd’s shoulder. The sun was warm, Nick against his back was even warmer, and Obi plodded along at a leisurely pace. Todd could actually get used to this.
“What’s that?” Nick straightening and pointing in the direction of the main road put Todd more on alert.
After turning the horse in that direction and nudging him to a faster walk, Todd leaned forward and squinted through the trees. He brought the horse to a stop near the edge of one of the caldera ridges. It gave them a clear view for miles of the land below the caldera, including New Colorado City.
Pops and cracks filtered up from the city, as did countless plumes of thick black smoke. The distinct sound of cannon and high-powered weapons being fired came a minute later.
“Holy crap. We were lucky, Nicky.”
Nick tightened his grip on Todd’s middle and pulled himself closer, looking over Todd’s shoulder. When he spoke, his voice sounded small. “Everyone we know. Everything, the whole town, it’s being burnt to the ground?”
Todd nodded. What had once been their home was now a battlefield. War had come to roost in New Colorado City.
Todd turned the horse away abruptly and squeezed his legs against Obi’s sides, urging the animal to a canter. “We’ll keep heading north. Get as much distance covered as we can every day until we find somewhere to live. I don’t know about you, but sleeping and whatnot in that wagon is getting old. I need room to stretch. It’ll be getting colder in a month or two. I want to be in some kind of building, even if it isn’t permanent.”
Nick nodded and hugged him even tighter, if that were possible.
War might have come to New Colorado, but the Rugers, Todd decided, were staying out of it and getting as far away as possible. They were sentries. They’d always have work, especially now. They’d make a new life somewhere secluded and safe. Todd didn’t care where. He had Nick. That was all he ever really needed or wanted.
They were forever and always together bound.
THE END
ABOUT ELIZABETH NOBLE
Elizabeth Noble started telling stories before she actually knew how to write, and her family was very happy when she learned to put words on a page. Those words turned into fan fiction that turned into a genuine love of M/M romance fiction. Being able to share her works with others is really a dream come true. She has a genuine love for a good mystery complete with murder and twisty plots as well as all things sci-fi, futuristic, and supernatural and a bit of an unnatural interest in a super-volcano in Wyoming.
Elizabeth has three grown children and is now happily owned by an adorable mixed breed canine princess, a spunky Welsh corgi and their sidekick, tabby cat. She lives in her native northeast Ohio, the perfect place for gardening, winter and summer sports (go Tribe and Cavs!). When she's not writing she's working as a veterinary nurse, so don't be surprised to see her men with a pet or three who are a very big part of their lives.
Elizabeth received several amateur writing awards. Since being published several of her novels have received honorable mentions in the Rainbow Awards. Her novel Jewel Cave was a runner up in the 2015 Rainbow awards in the Gay Mystery/Thriller category. Ringed Love was a winner in the Gay Fantasy Romance category of the 2016 Rainbow Awards.
For more information, visit elizabeth-noble.com.
ABOUT JMS BOOKS LLC
JMS Books LLC is a small queer press with competitive royalty rates publishing LGBT romance, erotic romance, and young adult fiction. Visit jms-books.com for our latest releases and submission guidelines!
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