Read The Copper Horse #2 Pride for Free Online Page A

did you do?”
    The boy
swallowed, averting his eyes. “Nothing. I was just... so
infatuated.”
    “And he didn’t
like it.”
    Jack bit his
lips, his face getting darker. “Depends.”
    “Jack, spill
it.”
    The boy
cringed. “We were... intimate at times.” He dropped the sponge into
the water, covering his face as he let out a choked sigh.
    “God.... Did
Erik know?” Reuben stared at him with parted lips. It was
unbelievable.
    The boy just
shook his head, pressing his balled fists against his eyes. There
was a tension around his lips, as if he was trying to regain
control but kept failing.
    “Oh Jack. And
Chestnut let you do it?”
    “He... no...”
Jack dropped his hands, looking at Reuben with reddened eyes. “I
let him have me.”
    “And you were
the one saying servants aren’t allowed to touch the slaves.” Reuben
gave him a disapproving look.
    Jack let out a
broken sob, curling up, with a long wail. “He—he wanted it...”
    “But he didn’t
want Erik?” Reuben’s own words sounded harsher than he would have
wished, but he needed to understand what happened.
    Jack flinched.
“He didn’t want to be ridden .”
    “Oh. That seems
an important part of Erik’s likes.” Reuben swallowed. “Will you
take the cuffs off me?”
    “I don’t want
another pony...” Jack squeezed the fabric of his pants.
    Reuben opened
his eyes wider. “I’m not offering.” What was this boy thinking?
    “Good.” Jack
didn’t hesitate anymore and dunked his hands in the water to
unshackle Reuben.
    “So you’re
saying Chestnut fought the treatment every time?” Reuben pulled the
boy into a wet hug the moment his arms were free. Jack seemed to
need more support than the person he was supposed to be taking care
of. And just as expected, he broke down in sobs.
    “It was so
horrible, Copper, he was so angry with me...”
    “Why with you?”
Reuben petted his hair.
    Jack sniffed,
his little body shaking as he clung to Reuben’s wet chest. “Erik
was... un... touchable...”
    “But that’s not
your fault.”
    “Didn’t
matter... he... I got hit sometimes.” Jack’s eyes were teary when
he looked up at Reuben. “I knew he hated it, and he hated me, but I
still loved him.” Jack squeezed his eyes shut, two huge drops
falling down into the water.
    “Oh, silly
boy.” Reuben sighed, trying to give Jack the same peace as Jack
gave him the night before.
    “I know. I was
so naive.” Jack sniffed, curling his shoulders as if he wanted to
shrink. If it weren’t for the tub between them, he’d probably end
up in Reuben’s lap. “He changed at some point, started to be nicer
about Erik. I thought he fell in love with him.”
    “Wait!” Reuben
blinked faster. This made no sense. “He hated him but then... he
fell in love anyway?”
    Jack shook his
head. “No, he was pretending so that Erik trusted him... And then
he attacked—and died....” He trailed off, the sorrow on his face
clear as fresh spring water.
    Reuben gently
stroked his arm. ‘Died’. As if Chestnut just fell to the ground and
stopped breathing, not got his neck broken by Hans’s freakishly
strong arms. With this knowledge though, Reuben could sort of
understand why Erik was so particular about having a body guard and
restraining a slave. “Did you know he was planning the attack?” he
whispered.
    Jack shook his
head, and his tear-filled eyes shot up at Reuben. “Please, don’t do
anything stupid. He will grow tired of you, eventually. I’m sure of
it!” he protested.
    It was as if a
sharp needle pierced his heart, but Reuben quickly put on the mask
he wore for the world. A captive trying to cope with the horrendous
situation he was in. But the ruby stud in his ear reminded him of
just how much he didn’t want Erik to grow tired of him. “I’m sure
of it too,” he said and kissed the side of Jack’s head.
    The boy sighed,
leaning against Reuben, and his body was slowly getting back to
normal. “You are amazing, Copper, so