Pride (The Copper Horse book 2) (gay erotic romance pony play BDSM)

by K. A. Merikan

  Reuben’s first instinct was to offer a hug, but it seemed like an awkward thing to do with a man like Erik, so he silently put on the collar and turned around for his master to put on the padlock. Erik quickly closed the collar without letting his fingers touch Reuben’s skin. Then he tugged on the chain and wordlessly led Reuben to where he conducted the physical examinations of his stallion.

  “Where’s Hans?” Reuben asked, watching his master’s slim ass through the tight-fitting breeches. Erik fastened the chain to the wall with another padlock and walked over to the chair Reuben mentioned earlier.

  “It’s his day off.”

  Reuben gaped at him. “And you just walked in here on your own, without Jack, and with my hands uncuffed? Daring.”

  Erik gave him a wide grin and slid the chair over the floor, a little closer to Reuben. “You didn’t know.”

  “And now that I know, I’m chained to the wall. Not so foolish after all.”

  Erik put the cane on the seat of the chair and popped the top button of his pants open. “I’m learning my lesson.”

  Reuben’s gaze followed the slim fingers. He was sure this would be an extremely unpleasant lesson for Erik. He wondered if the proud Bluefinger wouldn’t chicken out after a few blows. He didn’t seem like someone who knew the meaning of that kind of pain.

  Erik didn’t wear any underwear, so he just kicked his breeches away, yanked off the shirt, and picked up the cane, turning to look at Reuben, who held out his hand for it.

  Erik handed over the cane, but there was an uneasiness to him, even when he bent over the back of the chair and gripped the sides of the seat, presenting his slim white buttocks to Reuben. His body wasn’t very hairy, and the hair that was there was so fair it was hardly noticeable. Now that Reuben’s focus was on those narrow buttocks, he noticed so much more, from the soft glistening of the hairs to a small birthmark on the left cheek.

  Reuben tested the length of the chain, and it allowed him just enough freedom to deliver a strike. He stayed silent, remembering just how much it had frightened him the day before. Erik deserved to feel just how bad it was.

  Reuben examined the cane and slowly licked its side, hoping that would add that bit more bite to the sting. He watched Erik’s muscles twitch and shift in anticipation. His toes curled against the floor, but he didn’t say a thing, didn’t urge Reuben on. He just stayed in the uncomfortable position like a good slave.

  Reuben delivered the first hit to the middle of Erik’s ass the moment fancy struck him. The swoosh of the cane made his own blood freeze for a second at the memory of yesterday. Wood hit the skin with a harsh smack, and Erik almost tumbled forward with the chair.

  Yes, fucker. That’s how much it hurts. Reuben watched the pale skin redden and took a deep breath before another hit. He wasn’t sure how it would feel to actually go through with it, and even now bringing pain to another person made him feel dubious, but it leveled the playing field after yesterday. He had no reason to feel any guilt. Erik was getting what he’d earned, and it seemed that each stroke was harder to endure. After the first five, Erik was fidgeting, moving like a puppet on a string, his red ass clenching. His cries were still muffled, but their pitch cut right through Reuben’s eardrums.

  He hesitated a bit longer before the sixth strike but delivered it as promised. With the pain of the day before still a fresh burn in his brain, and the aftermath still stinging his flesh, he shook his head in disbelief. He never imagined Erik would agree to a beating. The man had guts. Or clueless about just how much it would hurt and was now too ashamed to back out.

  By the time they passed ten strikes, Erik was practically howling into his fist, and his buttocks looked as if someone had brutalized him with something much worse than a cane. At twelve, Reuben could distinctly hear sobbing, and he hesitated, the cane swaying close to the fidgeting ass. He was afraid that it would break his heart to see Erik’s face. “I think you’ve had enough,” he said after a deep breath. After all, it had been over ten, so they were even.

  “N-no...” Erik’s voice sounded broken and firm at the same time. His body was trembling all over, and the thick welts Reuben saw on his master’s buttocks didn’t make him feel better anymore. They were the sign of what he’d become just to exercise revenge for something Erik had already apologized for, and he didn’t like this new version of himself at all. Didn’t like the power that came with it.

  “No?” His eyebrows shot up.

  Erik gave a stifled gasp. “Eight more.”

  “I... I’m satisfied, Erik, it’s fine now,” he muttered, stunned that Erik managed not to lose count.

  “Eight fucking more!” Erik demanded in this strange voice that was both weak and strong.

  Reuben followed the order with a heavy heart, but he did put a lot less force into the next few hits, knowing all too well that Erik’s skin was on fire. Even the weaker strikes wrung out pained gasps, and it wasn’t fun anymore. He felt like the worst person in the world for going through with this, but if he stopped, Erik’s pride would be hurt. He couldn’t allow that either.

  The last slap was a relief for them both, and Reuben did try to make it as light as possible. Pretty much just a tap. “Twenty,” he said, just in case Erik didn’t know, but instead of slipping to the floor like one might expect, Erik just held on to the chair and fidgeted in anticipation of another blow. It looked like an obscene dance.

  “Erik, we’re done.” Reuben wanted to reach him and pet his back, but was restrained by the chain on his neck. “Fuck.”

  Then again it made some sense. After yesterday, Reuben knew that staying in one position for a while could soothe the pain. When Erik eventually moved, it was a heavy slump to the floor, and the chair went with him, clattering as it fell. Still trembling, Erik went into a crawl. It lasted for a long time until he reached his clothes, and he didn’t even dress, just wiped his face with the pants. ‘Are you all right?’ would have been a stupid question, so Reuben just stood in silence and put the cane down on the floor. Without Hans’ presence, the situation could become awkward. Would Erik not approach him now?

  Erik only moved after regaining some of his composure. Slowly, he darted a look at Reuben from where he kneeled. His face was red, and so were his eyes, still swollen from crying. Reuben wanted to hug him, but he did feel a pang of satisfaction deep down. Justice had been done.

  “I’m—” Erik cleared his throat and retrieved a tiny key from the pocket of his breeches. “Copper, down,” he told Reuben, slowly shifting closer. It looked as if his muscles had gotten very stiff during the caning, and he had trouble moving properly.

  Reuben complied with a small smirk. A bruised ass would stay with Erik for a long time.

  “Open it.” Erik closed his eyes for a moment and didn’t even look at Reuben as he handed over the key.

  Reuben reached to the back of his neck and opened the padlock after a moment of fiddling. He took off the collar and held it out to Erik in both hands. Adrenaline rushed through his body like a horde of hungry zombies after fresh meat. It was as if they reached some new, deeper level of understanding. At least that was how he felt.

  “Help me up, Copper,” muttered Erik. Reuben knew it was meant as an order, but sounded more like a plea. He smiled at his master and put the collar away. Erik was in molten hot pain, but Reuben couldn’t help feeling exhilarated. He himself had been a heap of heaving muscle after just ten strikes, and it was amazing to see his master persevere through twice more. Reuben gently wrapped his arms around Erik and helped him up. Erik didn’t feel heavy, especially after Reuben’s constant training, but it was nice to have Master wrap his arms around Reuben’s neck as if Reuben were the protector, the person to lean on for once.

  “I think... I’m not in the mood for fucking anymore,” muttered Erik.

  Reuben laughed, for a moment unsure what he should do, but finally picked up Erik under the knees and carried him. “Do you want to stay here, or do you want me to take you to your bedroom.
.. Master?” It only occurred to him then that while he spent so much time in this mansion already, he had yet to see Erik’s bedroom.

  Erik’s breath hitched. After an agonizing couple of seconds, he leaned up to press a kiss to Reuben’s lips. “Bedroom.”

  Reuben rewarded those words with a smile and prolonged the kiss to Erik’s dry lips. “Guide me,” he said, making his way to the door.

  “You’re really getting big and buff, my darling Copper.” Erik gave him a look that could only be described as dreamy.

  “I suppose that’s what good food and honest work do to a horse.” Reuben couldn’t suppress the grin. Erik had to want him so badly, if he’d agreed to the caning!

  “You’re a very honest horse, Copper.”

  “I told you on the day we met, didn’t I?”

  “Oh, just take me upstairs, silly.”

  When Reuben pushed the door open, Jack looked up at him as if he’d seen a ghost. He was practically shaking, but when Erik told him to fetch a set of shackles, some ice and wine, he rushed to get them without hesitation. Following Erik’s directions, Reuben carried him upstairs, past the office he’d already been to, and straight to Erik’s bedchamber. It was tall and fairly large for its purpose, with white relief pillars framing walls covered with blue velvet wallpaper. Lifelike statues of naked men and the creatures Erik called centaurs were scattered all around in a way that made them look like they were interacting, arguing, and touching one another. Reuben carried Erik to an elevated bed in the far end of the room. It looked otherworldly: big, chunky posters resembled arched trees, their crowns joining at the top and sheltering the mattress from bright daylight that shone through tall windows and reflected off a set of framed mirrors hung on the walls.

  Reuben was so enthralled he almost dropped Erik, standing in front of the bed with his mouth open as he took in all the opulence. There was no other furniture around. Just the massive bed in a garden of statues. It seemed wasteful to use so much space for sleeping, but then again was there anything in Erik’s life that wasn’t excessive? The thick draperies shielding Erik’s bed on three sides were probably more expensive than Reuben’s whole bakery.

  “Do you like it?”

  “It’s beautiful, and so... expensive.” Reuben took a deep breath and carefully helped Erik stand on his feet.

  “No, the dining room was far more costly.” Erik laughed, still holding on to Reuben’s neck.

  Reuben didn’t know what to say. Erik either trusted him suddenly, or was too dizzy after the caning to think about possible dangers of being alone with a horse.

  “What?” muttered Erik, cuddling his face against Reuben’s chest.

  Reuben licked his lips, looking down into the swollen eyes and for lack of a better answer, kissed him again. He couldn’t put a name on the things he felt for this man.

  Erik brushed his fingers over Reuben’s cheek. “Do you want to stay with me?”

  “I would like that. Your bed does look very soft.” Reuben closed his eyes with a sigh. He felt the warm body slip from his arms, and when he looked up again, Erik was already crawling on the bed, into the dark cave created by the velvet draperies, his buttocks red enough to make Reuben squirm just looking at them.

  It felt strange to have so much freedom around Erik, but he slowly made his way to the mattress. He could imagine five people easily fitting into this bed. It was soft, but no more than necessary, and the thick, luxurious bedspread covering the mattress had to be velvet. It was almost as soft as the fine hairs on Erik’s body.

  “How do you feel?” Reuben asked then, lying down on his stomach. With the bed open only from the footboard side, the warm darkness covered him with a thick blanket. Erik hummed, hugging the pillow.

  “Sore.”

  “You’ll think twice next time.” Reuben smirked but held out his own hand to touch Erik’s fingers.

  Erik chuckled, stroking them over Reuben’s hand. “You’re such a cruel master.”

  “Only when I’m pissed off.” Reuben couldn’t stop smiling. There were many pillows here, most with intricate designs, and they were all so pleasant, smelling of the perfume he could sometimes sense in Erik’s hair. It was heaven.

  “Are there times when you aren’t pissed off at me?” Erik asked, keeping his tone neutral, but Reuben was sure it was a tricky question. He pretended to give it a long think.

  “I like to be fed,” he teased Erik and pinched the side of his hand.

  “I don’t keep you hungry, do I?” Erik snuggled into the pillow and stared at him from beneath his eyelashes.

  “No, I have never eaten so well in my life,” Reuben admitted in all honesty.

  After a short knock, Jack rushed into the room with a bowl that contained the items Erik had requested. He was obviously baffled as he looked at both their bruised bottoms and did his best to keep his gaze on the floor.

  Erik groaned. “Leave it to Copper and stay in the corridor.”

  “Are you sure, Master?” Jack swallowed and started fiddling with a thin leather bag filled with ice. The same one he’d used on Reuben the day before.

  “No. Shackle him to the bed and then go.” Erik changed his position slightly, pretending not to see what Jack was doing. The boy gave Reuben an insistent look. He wanted to know what was going on, but Reuben wasn’t sure himself. He shrugged and held out his hands, though he found it hard to look Jack in the eyes. The boy deserved better than his lies.

  “Um, do you want any other services, Master?” asked Jack, but his eyes were clearly on Reuben when he fastened a cuff to Reuben’s hand and chained it to the bedpost.

  “No, Jack, we want to be left alone.”

  “Don’t worry.” Reuben smiled at him so the boy wouldn’t bite off all off his fingernails in the corridor.

  Jack chewed on his lip, but left with a slight scowl.

  “What a nuisance,” muttered Erik, wiggling his butt so that it faced away from the fabric.

  “What is?” Reuben’s gaze went to the bowl, and he grabbed the ice.

  “That boy. He worries too much. I don’t think you’re going to hurt me. Unless he knows something that I don’t.”

  “I already hurt you,” Reuben raised his eyebrows and gently put the ice on Erik’s ass. His master stirred with a soft groan.

  “I guess I haven’t fed you yet today.”

  “You know, all that whipping does make a man hungry.” Reuben was comforted that they were now on the same boat, both bruised and sore.

  “Tell Jack to bring you food if you want.”

  “Jack!” Reuben yelled out, still holding the bag on Erik’s ass. When the boy rushed in,

  Reuben asked for fruit, nuts, whipped cream, and ice cream, without any complaint from Erik. “See what I did there?” He snorted when Jack left without even looking at him. “Whipped cream. Whipped and white like yar ass.”

  “That’s the most amusing thing I’ve ever heard. You should consider a career in comedy,” Erik said in a neutral tone, curling his toes.

  “Maybe by Percy Preston’s side?” Reuben chirped, carefully moving the ice to Erik’s other buttock.

  “How much exactly do you like him?” Erik shot him a questioning glance from beneath a few strands of golden hair falling across his face.

  “I—” The question caught Reuben off guard. “I mean, I just think he’s a pretty funny man.”

  “Hn.”

  Reuben pouted and pretended nothing happened. Erik thought for a moment before he spoke again.

  “So, when else aren’t you angry at me?”

  Reuben bit his lips. “I suppose I don’t hate it when you suck me off.” He assumed it would be appropriate for any man in his position.

  Erik burst out laughing, and the rapid moves of his body made the ice bag slide down his buttock. “I’ve been told I’m quite good at it.”

  Reuben could feel himself going hot. “Lots of practice?”

  Erik looked at him over his shoulder, his face partially obscured by
the sun-colored hair. He smiled. “I like it.”

  A shiver went down Reuben’s spine. He did too, loved sucking Erik and making him moan. But he didn’t have the courage to admit to such a sinful thing. He wasn’t as shameless as Erik. “Have you thought of having someone like um... Jack, or John as a pony? You know. All the servants are--”

  “I don’t want them as ponies.” Erik grimaced and pressed his face into the pillow.

  “Why?”

  “I don’t want them. I just don’t. It’s not something I can’t explain.”

  “And... um...” Reuben traced Erik’s back with icy fingers. “What about... if you paid someone? Whores would do a lot, and you wouldn’t have to shackle ‘em.”

  “Wouldn’t I?” Erik snorted. “And I don’t want a whore. I want a pony.”

  “Why not? Why not a whore?” Reuben sighed and painted circles on Erik’s back.

  Erik gave a long, shuddering sigh. “I can’t train a whore to be a pony. They would just pretend that I succeeded. And I want someone to discover the pleasures of being my mount.”

  Reuben watched the back of his head, unsure of what to say. “The pleasures,” he mumbled.

  “Yes. There are pleasures, aren’t there, Copper?” Erik looked at him with his blue eye. Reuben liked the blue eye.

  “Um, I like to feel needed. Like a I have a purpose.” he muttered.

  “You like carrying me through the streets,” agreed Erik. He reached back and placed the bag back on his ass.

  “As long as you don’t take my— never mind.” Reuben sighed, still remembering the humiliation and fear of yesterday. “I said I’d forgive you.”

  “For ten blows. I took twenty,” Erik reminded him, not without pride.

  Reuben lay down next to him, on his stomach. “I’ll try to find pleasure in being your pony.” Through submitting to the caning, Erik took some of Reuben’s burden. After all, he’d promised to try not to hate being a pony. He could do it more freely now that he struck the deal with Erik. His master’s mismatched eyes watched him in the dim light of the closed bed.