The Copper Horse #2 Pride by K.A. Merikan

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