Tethered Pair

Chapter 1-1

Chapter 1

“Could you be any more obnoxious about this?” Nick had a headache, a big one that was roughly Todd sized.

Todd stopped in his tracks and pretended to be deep in thought before saying, “Yes.” Then he started walking toward the pier once more.

“Of course you could, what was I thinking?” Nick grumbled and trailed behind his mate, reminding himself yet again that Todd was his world, the love of his life, his everything. Right now, that everything was getting on Nick’s last nerve.

They walked along the boardwalk that led to the pier among an absolute crush of people. Being around so many strangers was giving Nick’s nerves a serious jolt and making him more irritable than Todd ever could. Their luggage had been taken right from the train they’d traveled south on to the section of the pier where their riverboat was boarding passengers.

Todd had wanted to walk to get the full “experience.” Nick could have done without any experience just fine.

Nick had to admit his mate cut a very dashing figure in his crisp black suit, white shirt, narrow black tie with the silver clasp, and wide-brimmed black hat. Glancing at the river, Nick wondered, if he grabbed that hat and threw it just the right way, would it sail clear to the other side?

“Oh, come on, we have to check this out before we board!” Todd grabbed Nick’s arm and hauled him along faster.

It was the third vendor they’d just had to check out. Nick sighed and stood behind Todd as best he could while Todd looked over the selection this vendor showed off. At least it was weapons, guns and knives, so more interesting to Nick than the dice, fake lucky charms, and playing cards of the previous place. Todd tolerated Nick’s fascination with finding books everywhere they went, so it was only fair Nick returned the favor. He simply wished there weren’t so many people brushing by them.

When the proprietor gave Nick a sour glare, Nick huffed out a breath, rolled his eyes, and dropped to one knee, arms crossed over his other knee. He rubbed his temples while Todd chatted happily with the merchant.

“Oh, Nicky, look at this, it’s just like the one Jack James had.”

Todd held a small gun with a pearl handle under Nick’s nose while Nick grumbled the words “Just like Jack James.”

“And check this out. It’s got the spring strap for under my jacket.”

“Are we hunting chipmunks now? Is it loaded?”

“Oh, right, good thought.” Todd turned to the proprietor and asked, “Do you have ammo for it?”

“Damn, not loaded,” Nick muttered. “Probably doesn’t have enough power to pierce my skull, anyway.”

Todd finished paying for his purchase and looked down at him. “Huh?”

“Nothing.” Nick smiled up at Todd. His bangs flopped in his eyes, the picture of innocence, doting mate and slave. “I do love you. Always remember that.” The simple fact was, however, if Nick heard the words “just like Jack James” one more time, it was distinctly possible there weren’t enough bullets manufactured—anywhere—to slow him down, let alone stop him.

Shaking his head, Todd hooked a finger under Nick’s slave collar and gave a very gentle tug. “Let’s go, we’ll miss our boat.”

“‘Cause I was the one stopping every three feet,” Nick said and smiled.

Todd winked and bobbed his eyebrows up and down a few times. “Don’t worry, Nicky, once we’re in our stateroom, I’ll get rid of your headache and put a big smile on your face.”

“Stateroom?”

“Hell yeah! Because—”

“Jack James always traveled in style.” Nick finished the sentence and threw both hands in the air for emphasis. Nick was starting to really hate Jack James, which was sad and pretty pathetic because the man was a fictional character from a series of books Todd read, and adored, as a kid.

They continued along the pier, and Nick took some comfort in the fact that Todd seemed to have lost interest in the vendors. Without warning, Todd grabbed Nick by the shoulders and shook him so hard, he was nearly knocked off-balance. “Nick! Look! Look at her. It says Annabelle.”

“I’ve been reading since I was four.”

Nick had to really stretch his legs to keep pace with his mate as they hurried to the gangplank. In reality, it was more like a bridge. Dark, rich wood was stretched from the pier to the boarding area of the boat. The rope rails were thick and white, with red and black strings woven throughout. It was wide enough to easily accommodate several people walking shoulder to shoulder as they crossed.

They had to stop and wait in line. Todd pulled their tickets out, tapping them against his fingers while he rocked on the balls of his feet. Nick had to admit, even if it was only to himself, the riverboat Annabelle was an impressive sight to behold.

Three decks rose majestically above the water. Gold streamers decorated the railings encircling the sides and far end of the boat near the paddle wheel. Twin stacks graced the back end—”stern,” Nick remembered was the correct term—of the boat. Wisps of steam curled up from the stacks. The outer portions of the boat were glossy and white. What was visible of the inside was deep-red carpet and dark wooden panels. Lively, happy music from a band floated from somewhere inside.

“You’re learning to dance, no more excuses,” Todd leaned over and whispered in Nick’s ear. “And don’t forget, you’re the—”

“Devoted mate of a man who spends too much time gambling and not enough teaching me to dance.” Nick threw his wrist across his forehead. “I’m so lonely, and I have needs.”

“Don’t be a drama king,” Todd said. He grinned and took Nick’s hand in his, squeezing it, then pulled Nick a step closer when the rope barrier to the boat was moved aside and people began pushing forward. “Don’t stray.”

“I never do.” Nick ducked his head and pressed his arm to Todd’s back, basking in his mate’s strength and warmth and very happy to have Todd between him and the crowd. Todd glanced back at Nick and winked, settling Nick’s nerves and bumping his heart rate up a notch.

There were porters taking tickets, moving luggage on large wheeled carts, and directing passengers to their rooms. People were everywhere, but they were dispersing, so it wasn’t nearly as bad as the more congested groups on the pier.

“Well, who is this tall, dark stranger?” An older woman with a neat, thick sort of figure and white hair pulled back and held in place with ornate clasps was standing in Nick’s path, eyeing him like he was a tasty snack.

Todd slid between them and touched the brim of his hat with two fingers, giving it the slightest tip. “Tyler McCabe, ma’am. Luck is my companion and gamblin’ is my game.”

“Mr. McCabe, Heidi Larue.” Heidi held her hand out for Todd to shake. When he took her hand, kissed it, and bowed slightly, she pressed her other hand palm down on Todd’s chest and drew in a deep breath, smiling.

Nick groaned and crossed his arms over his chest. Looking at the porter moving a luggage rack, he said to the man, “Shoot me now. Please.”

The porter hooked his thumb under his black-and-red slave collar. How nice, it matches the décor, Nick thought. “I’m a slave like you. I’m sorry, but you know I can’t handle a weapon.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Nick pointed to a dark brown trunk. “That one there is full of guns; just crack it open, and I’ll get one and do it myself.”

“Then this must be your Luck.” Heidi had gotten around Todd and was shimmying up to Nick. “You remind me of my fourth husband; he was a tall slab of dark-haired beef, too. You’re both delicious.” Her hand curled over the thick part of Nick’s shoulder and brushed down the length of his arm.

“No, it’s—” Nick jumped. He swallowed his words and made a decidedly unmanly noise when Heidi’s fingers dropped lower, grabbing a sizable chunk of his left buttock. He clamped his mouth shut and ground his teeth.

“Yep.” Todd was between them again, and this time, his hand landed solidly on Nick’s shoulder, pulling him back a step. “That’s him, my Lucky. And now if you’ll excuse us, our luggage is heading to our stateroom.”

“You’d better hope it has a nice couch, ‘cause lucky sure ain’t what you’re getting tonight,” Nick grumbled and trailed behind Todd.

They started up the wide center staircase; their stateroom was on one of the upper levels. Another porter, this one without a slave collar, stopped them. “Just a reminder, sir.” He spoke to Todd, ignoring Nick completely. “Slaves may only use this staircase when accompanied by their owners.”

“No worries, my Luck is almost always with me, and we’ll both be sure to remember that, won’t we, Lucky?”

Nick dropped his gaze to the carpeted stairs under his feet, put both hands behind his back, and muttered, “Of course.” When they were a few steps higher, Nick leaned forward and grumbled in Todd’s ear, “You don’t have to enjoy this so much. That woman grabbed my ass!”

Todd leaned back and looked Nick’s backside up and down.

“It’s a very nice ass.”

“Todd!” Nick hissed. “And Lucky?”

“You have to admit it’s a great gambler’s slave’s cover name. And I grab your ass all the time. Besides, she’s old enough she probably had a front-row seat to watch the volcano erupt. It’s a public service, giving old ladies a thrill like that.” Todd swiped his hand over Nick’s rear. “It’s very touchable.” They cleared the stairs and walked along the passageway, Todd holding their tickets and checking door numbers as they went. “This one.” He pointed to an open door.

They stepped to the side to allow a porter with an empty luggage rack to exit. Todd thanked and tipped him.

Nick shoved the door shut behind him with his foot. “You know, maybe I like old ladies grabbing my ass. I hear they have a lot of—” Nick shrugged. “—experience.”

“Um-hum.” Todd untied his tie and pulled it off. “So you’re into women now?”

Nick went to the bedroom door. “Wow, this is nice. That bed is huge. Couch is small.”

Todd snorted and slipped passed Nick, grabbing his ass on the way by and laughing when Nick squawked. Todd seized Nick around the waist, took a few steps sideways, and spun him around. “You’re learning to dance.”

Nick hooked a foot around Todd’s shin and pulled back, dumping Todd on the bed, then pounced on top of him. “Maybe old ladies know stuff we don’t.”

“Ha, I bet not.” Todd flipped Nick off of him, reversing their positions. “I bet she can’t make you beg.”

“You’re jealous.”

“You’re my Lucky.” Todd grabbed both of Nick’s wrists, pinning his hands over his head. Todd leaned down and kissed Nick, tongue sliding in his mouth. When Nick arched up against him, Todd pulled back and sat Nick up. “Clothes off. Now.” Todd was already tugging Nick’s dark green shirt open. Todd’s hands pressed against Nick’s heated flesh, rubbing over his n*****s, up to his shoulders, and over and down his back, easing his shirt off as Todd moved.

When Nick shimmied off the bed and stood to shed his pants, Todd turned and watched, a slow, wicked smile spreading over his face. Heat shot through Nick, starting at the tip of his hard, moist c**k. “Maybe I want to find out if Heidi can make me beg.” He stretched his arms, then flexed his biceps and pecs. A second later he shoved against Todd’s shoulders. “And do it faster than you could.”

Todd reached forward, taking hold of Nick’s hips. “Let’s see,” he said and jerked Nick to him with enough power, Nick was thrown off-balance and landed on Todd’s lap, straddling his legs.

Leaning forward, Todd scraped his teeth along Nick’s neck and collarbone. One of Todd’s hands went to the middle of Nick’s back, pulling him in close. He licked the fingers of his other hand before moving it down and massaging over Nick’s left buttock.

As soon as Nick arched against Todd, he nipped a path along Nick’s chest to one n****e, sucking it between his teeth. At the same time, Todd’s finger slipped between his ass cheeks and circled his entrance until Nick was squirming and gasping.

The instant Todd’s fingers slipped inside Nick’s body, he ground down on them, moaning out, “Oh yeah, more, please!”

“You’re so easy,” Todd chuckled, the vibration reverberating through Nick’s body.

He bent his finger and hit Nick’s sweet spot at just the perfect angle, rubbing so lightly Nick barely felt it. Nick held Todd’s shoulders, fingers digging into the thick muscles while he ground his c**k against the material of Todd’s trousers, thrilled with the sensation of pleasure/pain that shot straight through him. Todd bit, then licked Nick’s n****e.

Nick gulped down a protest and whined when Todd pulled his fingers from Nick’s ass, both of his hands again on the juts of Nick’s hips. He pushed Nick back, ordering, “Stand up.”

“I can’t.” Nick closed his eyes slowly and panted out the words. The air surrounding him felt as if it were on fire.

Todd snickered and pressed his thumbs on either side of Nick’s c**k. “You want my pants off so I can do more to that fine ass, you’ll figure it out.”

Groaning, Nick lifted off Todd’s legs and balanced over him, trembling. Nick watched as Todd eased his belt loose and pushed his pants and underwear down, exposing his thick, very hard c**k.

Nick’s hands went to his balls. “Todd.”

“Put your hands behind your head, keep them there.” Todd grinned. First Todd stroked Nick’s c**k, smearing precum over it, repeating the action on his own. Then his hands were on Nick’s hips once again. In one swift, fluid motion, Nick was pulled forward and then pushed onto Todd’s c**k. “I guess….” He forced Nick down while he thrust up. He bit his lip for a second before groaning out, “I win. Say it, I win.”

“Yeah,” Nick whimpered, nodding. Nick’s entire body shook while Todd shoved up into him, at the same time moving him with Todd’s own movements and holding him firmly in place. “Win.”

Todd’s body quivered and shuddered. His thighs, pressed against Nick’s back, were rigid one second and trembling the next as Todd exhaled a long, guttural moan and came, filling Nick with heat. Letting go of Nick with one hand, Todd wrapped the fingers of that hand around Nick’s c**k, squeezing. Nick shivered and swallowed in large, deep breaths.

Sliding out from under Nick, Todd used his other arm behind Nick’s shoulders to lay Nick down. He moved that hand to Nick’s neck, applying gentle pressure while he leaned down, kissing Nick deeply. Todd moved the hand on Nick’s c**k slowly, swiping his thumb over the slit and then pressing in until Nick could barely breathe.

Nick gritted his teeth, back bowing off the bed when Todd whispered, “Now, Nicky,” causing Nick’s c**k to throb, his orgasm rocketing through him, curling his toes and making the room spin.

When he could finally catch his breath, Nick reached up and ran a finger over Todd’s cheek. “You think that’ll keep you from sleeping on the couch?”

Todd eased over so he was beside Nick, elbow bent and cheek resting in his palm. He glanced at the headboard. “It has slots,” he observed.

“Hmm…and the couch probably doesn’t.”

“No.” Todd stretched far enough to look into the sitting room. “It doesn’t.”

“Something to think about,” Nick said, pushed up on one elbow, and kissed his mate.