Sentries Box Set

Chapter 3-1

Chapter 3Todd yawned awake, stretched, and was reaching for his gun in the nightstand next to the bed before he even realized why the shot of adrenaline was coursing through him. Just as his fingertips touched the holster, his brain kicked in and he heard a familiar voice.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.” Nick slid from the lounge chair to kneel on the floor. “I was having trouble with…” Nick’s hand fluttered near his chest. “Sitting there was easier.”

Todd frowned and rubbed one hand over his face.

“I didn’t know where to get you some breakfast, or have any money…I never had to make food, but I thought—” Nick stopped immediately when Todd raised one hand.

Sitting straighter, scratching through his hair and then pulling his knees up to rest his forearms on, Todd sat staring at Nick, waiting for all his words to sink in.

Nick’s eyes widened, and he bit his lip.

“No one ever taught you to cook?”

Staring down at his own knees, Nick shook his head no.

Todd sighed and swung his legs off the bed, setting his feet firmly on the floor. It seemed Todd would take a step forward in getting Nick to come out of his shell and relax and then be shoved three steps backward. “It’s okay, Nicky. I’ve been making my own meals since before I could reach the counters. You’ll catch on.”

Nick looked up at Todd, and his face revealed a tiny smile.

“And, Nick, you live here. This is your home, remember? You can sit on the furniture.” Waving his fingers in a come here motion, Todd said, “Let me take care of those.”

Grabbing up the supplies he’d set on a table near the chair, Nick’s smile broadened, relief filled his face, and the set of his shoulders relaxed. He sat quietly while Todd made quick work of cleaning the wounds and changing the dressings.

“We only had one meal a day in the village and we ate in the dorms, away from everyone else.”

Todd stood and carried the supplies to their place in the bathroom.

“You don’t live there anymore. Things are going to be different.”

He beelined to the kitchen and grabbed two glasses of juice. Walking past Nick, he dipped his head to one side. Nick scrambled to his feet and followed.

After sliding open the large window that took up a good half of the outer wall, Todd stepped onto a small, private balcony. He settled into one of the two chairs, holding one of the glasses out to Nick. Before Nick could sit on the floor beside him, Todd grabbed the arm of the empty chair and gave it a quick shake.

“Sit in the chair. When we’re here you sit on the furniture.”

Nick eased into the chair, eyes even wider, gazing out at the street below. “What if people see me?”

“Let them look.” Todd sipped his juice. “My apartment, my chairs, my choice.” Warmth spread through Todd’s chest when he reached out and stroked the back of Nick’s head a few times and was offered that wonderful, sweet smile he had come to cherish in the few short days since riding into that village.

“Wait ‘til summer; you’ll love sitting out here.” Todd finished his juice and stood up, placed a hand on Nick’s shoulder and squeezed. “We don’t have any work to do for a few days. So, first we need to go rustle up some food, and then we’re going to get you some more clothes. Bet you’ve never been to an open market?”

Nick looked up at him. “No.”

“This is your lucky day, Nicky. Let’s get ready. I’m hungry.”

Todd stole glances at Nick as he folded the bed back into a couch and sat waiting for Todd. The way Nick’s brown hair dipped across his eyes made him look even more innocent than Todd was coming to realize he was. Nick’s long limbs had a grace Todd knew was only possible from hours of physical exercise and training. His training and education had been dictated by the work he’d do with Todd. The resulting physique Nick carried was magnificent; Todd couldn’t help but watch and admire it every chance he had.

Todd crossed the room to where Nick sat and reached for the wooden box with Nick’s collar.

Nick’s expression turned anxious as Todd opened the box and ran one finger over the braided leather. He’d had it made especially for Nick, saving up for months to afford this, even if his father did call it a needless extravagance. Sitting on the couch beside Nick, Todd slipped the soft, pliable leather around Nick’s neck, after gently brushing his fingers just under Nick’s hair to nudge Nick’s head forward a bit.

As he fastened the buckle, Todd pressed a soft kiss to the knob at the top of Nick’s spine. Keeping his mouth close so his breath ghosted warm and soft over Nick’s skin, he pitched his voice low.

“This fits you perfectly. It looks nice…I like it. How’s it feel?” Every few words he accentuated with another kiss brushed over Nick’s long neck. When he felt Nick shiver under his touch, Todd sat back and looked at him, pleased. “Were you ever out of that village?”

Nick actually laughed. “Oh, hell no. We were kept away from proper people.”

“Nicky.” Todd took the young man’s shoulders and turned Nick to face him. “You’re a person. Most of the places we’ll go folks will treat you fairly. We’ll just be the plain old Rugers, the two of us.” Saying his name that way, as a we, felt good on Todd’s tongue. “There are some other times and places we’re going to have to play by society’s rules. I can tell the difference, and it’ll probably be pretty obvious to you, too. I’m sorry for that, and I don’t like it or agree with it, but it’s something we’re going to have to live with from time to time.”

Nick offered him a smile and solemn eyes. “I know. It’s okay.”

Something thorny unclenched in Todd’s chest, and he realized he’d been dreading this conversation with Nick. Being unsure of what the kid did and did not know or understand was starting to wear on him. He was finding the things he thought Nick would be totally clueless about or upset by were met with calmness and eyes full of trust.

“Did you ever get to do anything fun, just be a kid?” Todd brushed a hand over Nick’s hair.

Nick shrugged. “Not unless you count learning to use guns and knives. Why did I have to learn all that?”

Todd stood and crossed the room. After checking the load in his gun clip, he strapped on his shoulder holster and shrugged into his leather jacket.

“C’mon, Nicky. I’m hungry. You hungry?” Todd stopped by the door and watched Nick push off the couch and pull on the thick overshirt Todd had given him over his thinner, short-sleeved T-shirt. Todd reached out and fingered the tether hanging next to the door. Three feet in length with a snap hook that fit into the ring on Nick’s collar, it was the same soft, braided leather as the collar. He took it down, threaded it through his belt loops, hooked it to itself, and stuffed the excess into his back pocket. “We’ll take this. Normally we won’t go anywhere we’ll need it, but guess I’d better have it in case. Don’t want trouble.”

“I don’t mind.” Nick was now standing placidly beside him.

“I guess it’s a good thing it’s not up to you, then.” Todd was silent as they walked down the stairs to the street. He paused before pushing through the door and outside. “I don’t have to tell you to stick close, do I?”

Nick shook his head no, but he was already gawking at the street beyond the door. Todd turned away, smiling as he led the way outside and down the street, wondering who was going to enjoy this more.

Walking at a more leisurely pace than he normally did, Todd ignored how his stomach growled as he headed toward their first stop for the day. He’d lived in this city his entire life and had been all over the protectorate many times. Yet, watching Nick trying to look everywhere at once was like seeing it for the first time. Todd decided he’d probably smiled more in the past few days than he had in the past few years.

It was a few blocks to the café where Todd liked to eat. The food was simple and good and the people who owned it and worked there were just as good. It was one of the rare places Todd could take Nick and have the young man sit across the table from him so they could enjoy a meal together.

Along the way, they began working out a code between them so Nick would know when he was expected to behave strictly as a slave or when he and Todd were free to behave like any other couple. Already Nick sensed Todd’s emotions so well, they almost didn’t need codes or gestures.

It was warmer than the previous days and sunny. Todd was pleased to see the outdoor patio was open. He made his way through the maze of small tables, tapped on the back of a chair, and then sat in the other chair.

Nick picked up the menu in front of him, eyes widening. “There’s so much.”

Todd laughed softly. “Tell ya what. How about you let me handle this one?”

Biting his lip, Nick nodded. He scrutinized the menu for a few more minutes before he set it down and turned his gaze to the café and surrounding area. Todd was thoroughly amused watching Nick watch the people, taking in every detail of the city.

“Todd Ruger, it’s about time.”

A cup of hot coffee was set in front of him. Todd smiled up at the woman, meeting her warm, dark eyes. Nick’s gaze bounced for a few seconds between them. Then he focused on the tabletop.

“I thought you were never going to bring him here to meet me.”

Nick’s gaze skipped to Todd before he stared down at his hands looking self-conscious.

“Julia, this is Nick.” He poked at Nick’s leg with his toe, letting Nick know he could look up. “Nicky, meet Julia.”

“Hello, ma’am.” Nick looked up at her, a light blush coloring his cheeks.

Julia smiled and snorted. “He’s far too polite for the likes of you.” She pushed against Todd’s shoulder. “Do you like coffee, Nick?”

“I’ve never had any before.”

“Well, I think we need to remedy that situation.” She set a cup of steaming hot coffee in front of Nick. “You try this. It’s got a touch of chocolate and cinnamon in it and between you and me, it’s Todd’s favorite, though he tries to tell everyone it’s ‘girly’ and he drinks his plain.”

“Traitor,” Todd grumbled good-naturedly. Nick grinned, his eyes dancing.

Nick wrapped both hands around the cup and sipped the hot liquid. His eyes widened for a second, and then he smiled, full of dimples and delight.

Todd chuckled. “I think we have a winner.” He leaned back in his chair, enjoying this more than he thought he could enjoy anything. “Can I get a few pounds wrapped up to go?”

“On the house, this once. You want your regular breakfast?”

Todd nodded, holding up two fingers.

Julia refilled both their cups and promised to return with their food.

“Did you ever get to be just a kid?” Nick asked quietly.

Drawing in a deep breath, Todd studied him. “Once, my dad took me fishing.” He shrugged. A memory of how they’d ended up hunting the ghost of a very angry woman who’d been dead for a century filtered to the forefront of his mind. “It didn’t work out so well.”

“How come?”

“Eh, my dad’s not so into fishing. He’s actually not into a—” Todd stuttered to a stop when hands clapped over his eyes and a weight slithered onto his lap. He barely deflected the kiss he knew was aimed at his mouth before shoving the weight away. In that instant he got a look at Nick’s face. It lasted barely a second before being covered up, but Todd was sure he saw jealousy and hurt on Nick’s face, in his eyes.

“Todd, God, I missed you.”

“Clarice, don’t ever do that.” Hands firmly around the woman’s waist, Todd moved her away.

“Since you’re here and it’s been so long, how about breakfast?” Clarice, small, with long blonde hair and barely covered body, bent down and literally purred at him, giving him a good view of her ample—and, Todd was sure, enhanced—cleavage.

“I’m having breakfast with someone.”