Marked Yours

Chapter 1-2

Perhaps one of the most difficult things in Todd Ruger’s life was waking up that morning and not pinning Nick down and showing the boy just how much he wanted him. After spending years watching Nick grow from afar, the only thing he’d been able to think of these past months was what having Nick with him would be like. He’d waited for what seemed like forever to receive Nick. He reminded himself again that to do this right would be worth it. Todd spent years hoping he and Nick would become a family and he intended to work toward that goal. While the kid was shy and unsure, he did seem to want to please Todd. More importantly, he seemed to like Todd.

Todd lay quietly, watching Nick as he woke up. Long limbs that carried a decent amount of muscle moved slowly. Sometime during the night he’d pressed his cheek to Todd’s shoulder, which brought out a surge of protectiveness and possessiveness the intensity of which Todd hadn’t known he was capable of. He stretched, and Todd watched how muscle slid under smooth, tanned, dark honey colored skin. Nick yawned, opened his eyes a crack, and smiled, making Todd’s breath catch in his chest. Nick’s dark hair hung in wisps over his face. His almond-shaped eyes were deep pools of hazel Todd could easily get lost in. Todd was relieved; the fear he’d initially seen in Nick’s face and eyes were gone. Now he simply watched Todd patiently.

Todd wasn’t sure what he liked more—Nick’s soft, gentle eyes or his sweet smile and dimples.

Brushing some of the rebellious strands from Nick’s face, Todd asked, “Sleep okay?”

Nick nodded. “Yeah, I did. Did you?”

“Oh, hell yes.” Todd stretched and sat up. Todd needed to move away from Nick or crawl inside him.

Wrapping his head around the thought that this marvelous young man beside him was his, would share his life and—hopefully—bed made him dizzy. He could force Nick, of course. He owned Nick, and Nick was obligated by law to do whatever Todd wished. But that wasn’t how Todd wanted this to go. He didn’t want to instill fear in Nick, as he’d seen in others’ slaves. He didn’t even want a slave. Todd wanted a partner, someone to count on and who’d count on him. Earning Nick’s trust was far more important to Todd than beating him into submission.

Nick had responded so well to Todd’s experimental touches and words yesterday and seeing him smile made Todd’s heart beat wildly. He’d been so surprised by Todd’s small gestures of care, it made Todd realize how much his own life was lacking in the affection they were both so obviously starving for.

Todd poked his head outside, turned, and grinned. “They’re still out cold. We can get cleaned up in peace.”

Nick scooted across and out of the wagon, following Todd to a stream.

“I’ve been here lots before.” Todd pointed to a small bend in the stream and an outcropping of rocks. “We’ll have more privacy over there.”

With Nick in tow, Todd picked his way over some rocks and along the stream bank until they were out of sight and hearing of the others. Nick followed amiably. Todd watched how his eyes darted everywhere, taking in every detail of their surroundings. His life might have forced him to melt into the shadows and be unseen by society, but Todd realized this boy didn’t miss a thing.

From the day he turned eleven and Nick’s binding to him was initiated, Todd grew up knowing he’d have this person in his care, be responsible for the young man. Discovering Nick wasn’t a mindless dolt brought Todd a definite sense of relief. If push came to shove, in any situation, Todd was sure Nick could hold his own. That eased Todd’s fears about what would happen if he and Nick were ever accidentally separated in a dicey situation. Todd knew Nick had been raised to be Todd’s property, but what Nick probably didn’t know or realize was that already he was becoming Todd’s most prized possession. Todd was more and more looking forward to tomorrow. They’d be home and alone to get to know each other.

After relieving himself and keeping a keen ear out for Nick, who’d disappeared behind a tree, no doubt to do the same thing, Todd peeled his coat and shirts off, leaving just his jeans and boots on. Nick followed suit and stripped to the waist. They were both shivering, and their teeth were chattering when they’d washed, though Todd seriously enjoyed the view of Nick’s muscled body glistening with water droplets.

Just as he yanked his T-shirt over his head, Todd heard movement through the bushes. He lifted one hand to his lips, telling Nick to keep quiet. Nick nodded; he understood. Moving slowly, Nick pulled his own clothes on and glanced around. Todd eased his pistol from the shoulder holster that was gripped in his hand. He only marginally relaxed his stance when a man stepped through the trees and brush.

“What are you doing here, Ruben?” Todd lowered his gun but didn’t put it away. He shot a quick look at Nick, who’d finished dressing and stood motionless, watching Todd and the other man.

“Just came to check on you boys.”

“We’re fine. Go back to the wagons.”

Ruben gave Todd a look that made him wonder if his pants were zipped. He had to concentrate on not squirming under the other man’s intense gaze. Stepping around Todd, Ruben moved closer to Nick.

“Thought maybe you’d be sharing some of this fine stock you’ve gotten yourself.”

When Nick didn’t move away, just squared his shoulders and stood there staring at Ruben, Todd felt a swell of pride. This boy—his boy—was no pushover. If Ruben intimidated him, he certainly wasn’t showing it. Todd was doubly pleased when he realized Nick already trusted in Todd enough to follow whatever choice Todd made for them.

Just as Ruben reached out to run a hand down Nick’s face, Todd closed the distance between them and smacked Ruben’s hand away. Todd’s eyes met Nick’s, and he saw a flash of relief, and something else, in the younger man’s eyes. “I don’t share well,” Todd ground out.

“Now, Todd, your daddy would be disappointed in you disrespecting me,” Ruben drawled.

God, how he hated Ruben. The man had been in his life since he was a small child and Todd never cared for him. Mean, pushy with a bad temper and an ‘everyone owed him’ attitude, he was the type of sentry that gave other sentries a bad reputation.

“I’m sure you’ve noticed my father and I don’t see eye to eye on many things.” Viper fast, Todd reached out with his free hand and pulled Ruben close, shoving the barrel of his gun against the other man’s neck. “Let me be clear. You are never to touch Nick. Not now, not ever! And don’t think that because you’re my father’s friend, I won’t beat the ever-living crap out of you if you try something like this again.”

Todd gave Ruben a hard-enough shove he sent the man sprawling on the ground.

Ruben scrambled to his feet. He pointed at Nick and spat, “Keep that slave trash away from me then.”

As Ruben stomped off, Todd rolled his eyes. He looked at Nick. “Wasn’t that what I said, stay away from you?”

Nick nodded. “Won’t your father be angry?”

“My dad is always annoyed with me about something. Usually, it has to do with the fact I won’t run with the pack, like a lot of sentries do.” Todd shrugged. “Ruben’s lucky I didn’t stomp on his balls, too.”

Nick burst out laughing then pressed his lips tightly together and turned away. “I…um…sorry, I shouldn’t…”

Todd grinned. “Yes, you should. It was funny as hell. Did you see the look on his face when I grabbed him?” He holstered the gun and put the shoulder holster into place.

“I thought his eyes were going to pop right out of his head,” Nick said and smiled. “I might’ve enjoyed it a bit more than I should’ve.”

Todd reached out and put one hand on Nick’s arm. “C’mon, let’s get back so we can get on the road,” Todd said.

Keeping Nick away from the others until they broke camp wasn’t much of a chore, since Nick watched him constantly. Todd didn’t trust the group of sentries they traveled with; he wasn’t even sure he trusted his father. As they continued on their trip, a cold wind whipped up. For the first part of the day, Nick quietly watched the scenery go by. He looked thoughtful, worried. Todd didn’t know what to say to Nick, or if he should say anything. He simply let the incident blow by.

Finally, Nick spoke.

“Thank you,” he said very quietly.

When Todd glanced sideways at him, Nick huddled down into the heavy shirt.

“For what?”

“What you did this morning.”

Todd patted Nick’s knee, drew in a breath, and sighed it out long and slow. “Nicky, like I told you yesterday, it’s just you and me. I’m not handing you off to anyone. I don’t believe in that s**t. They’re a bunch of assholes, and honestly, my father, even though he’s a great hunter, isn’t much better. You stay away from them. And if they or anyone else ever lays a hand on you, I want you to tell me.”

Nick nodded.

“What is it you can do?” Todd asked. “I was never clear on that.”

“I can see when someone has evil inside.” Nick looked down at his hands. “Sometimes I know what a person is going to do before they do it, not know their thoughts, more like their emotions and intentions.”

“What’s it look like, the evil inside?”

Nick shrugged. “Mostly black. Or a person’s face looks funny, distorted, frightening. Once when I was really little, I saw the evil leave a girl and she died. My village thought I’d done something. If you…your father hadn’t put in a bid for you and me, to…”

When Nick swallowed hard and his voice trailed off, Todd nodded. He understood. Nick would have likely been put down, a nice term for killed. Todd shifted the reins to one hand and put an arm around Nick’s shoulders, tugging him closer.

“It’s cold,” he muttered, pleased when Nick nudged into his side and relaxed against him. “Have you practiced using your ability to see evil or sense emotions?”

Nick shook his head, and Todd felt how his hair rustled softly against his coat. “I was told it would be important to your family; that was why they let me live.”

“Okay, we’ll work on it and figure it out. I grew up being told I’d have you and there was an ability you had I could use and that without the right master you might not survive.”

Todd felt Nick shift so he could look up at Todd but said nothing. Their ride was quiet but comfortable to Todd, with Nick sitting close, their shoulders pressed together as if they’d known one another forever.

In a way they had.

Their camp was tense that night, and Todd was happy they’d be back in the city by midmorning the next day. He told Nick to stay with their wagon while he got their food for the night. Todd had seen how the other men, his own father included, watched Nick, watched him. Waiting until his father was closer to his own wagon and alone, Todd confronted him.

“I want to do this my way. You said—”

“I said”—John turned to face Todd fully, hands gripping a branding iron—”that I’d see what I could do. This has to be done. You know that, and Nick does, too. We have to follow the law and the city elders want it done before he’s in the city limits.”

“Fine, but not like this. He’s just starting to trust me. The only thing he probably knows is he has to wear my mark. Not—” Todd pointed to the large iron. “—not that.”

John’s jaw clenched. “You’re talking like he’s someone. He’s property, nothing more than horses or cattle.”

“He is someone! Hell, I’ve seen the work those two do! I wouldn’t do it to anything, cattle, horses and certainly not a human.” Todd shouted. His arm shot out, pointing at two other men sitting with Ruben. Branders. “It’s cruel, not necessary, and he could die.”

“Then he’ll die. I’m sorry, son. He shouldn’t have been allowed to live at all, but I was out voted.”

Todd’s only warning was John’s eyes dropping. Grabbed from behind, Todd was thrown off guard. He kicked out, hitting nothing but air. There was one of him and eight of them. “Nick! Run!”

“Todd, stop it!” John snarled at him. “You’re making it worse.”

Nick suddenly appeared, looking bewildered. His eyes widened for a few seconds. He didn’t run. In fact, he stood his ground and clenched his hands to fists. “What are you—”

“Nicky, run! I mean it. Run now!” Todd glared at his father and then at the other men. “There’re better ways.” He bucked and kicked wildly, trying for freedom. “Hurt him and I’ll—”

“Shut up.” One of the other men, someone Todd had known since childhood, shouted and hit him hard enough in the side of the head to make his vision explode in a starburst of color for a few seconds.

Todd was shoved against one of the wagons, and then tied to it. A rag was wadded up and forced into his mouth, but that didn’t stop him from trying to shout obscenities at them. Nick had just begun to trust him, and now they were doing this. What Todd had built between them was going to be wrenched away in a few brutal minutes.

With Todd out of the way and Nick having no idea what was coming, Nick was easy prey. Four men descended upon him. While Nick tried to rip his arms from their grip, he didn’t hit any of them. Striking anyone was a death sentence to slaves.

He was forced to his knees and stripped to the waist; his wrists tied with loops of rope. Still on his knees, he was hauled against one of the other wagons between the two large wheels. The ropes dangling from his wrists were wound through the wheel spokes and held by two of the other men pulling Nick tight between them.

His shouting turned to pleading. One of them grabbed him by the face and forced a bottle of whisky into his mouth. “Believe me, boy. You’ll thank me for this.”

While Nick choked and sputtered, Todd thrashed against his own bonds, screaming through the gag.

Ruben yanked his belt off and strung it around Nick’s neck while another man pressed a small brand to Nick’s left wrist. The smell of sizzling flesh filled the air. Nick howled in pain, shouting for Todd. Ruben, the heartless bastard pulled the belt tight, cutting off Nick’s air. A matching brand was put to Nick’s right wrist.

Todd, insane with fury, watched Nick’s eyes go wide with terror and pain when one of the branders was handed the larger branding iron by John.

The brander held up the iron and turned it, inspecting it closely. His face split into a grin as he pressed the iron against Nick’s chest under his left collarbone and held there for what seemed an eternity. Nick’s entire body bowed as far as the restraints allowed, and his scream shattered the night air.