RPS Fic: Spoil Of War [Adam/Tommy] 11/14

[toobusy2write]

[Part 10]
[Master Post]

Part 11

Adam woke slowly, feeling eyes on him. He blinked open his own and startled a little as he realized it was still the middle of the night and Tommy was sitting naked in the chair Sutan had pulled over earlier in the evening, just staring at him.

"Tommy?"

Tommy's throat worked as he swallowed hard, a scared but determined look on his face. He tried for a smile and failed miserably.

"I've been sitting here waiting for you to wake up, trying to find a way to say what I need to say to you. I haven't figured it out just yet."

Adam arched an eyebrow. "Would you like me to go back to sleep?"

Tommy smiled sadly at him. "Would you?"

Adam pushed up onto his elbow and shook his head slowly. "I don't think I could if I tried. The look on your face worries me. What is it?"

Tommy took a deep breath and ran his cuffed hand through his hair, the chain attached to it rattling loudly in the night air. "First, I need to know something."

"Okay," Adam said, waiting for Tommy to go on.

Tommy held his gaze and asked, "Did you mean it? You love me?"

Adam swallowed, sensing his answer mattered more than he could even imagine. "Yes. I've felt that way for a while now."

Tommy exhaled and stood. Leaning in, he pressed a kiss to Adam's lips, then backed off and sat down again. "I love you, too. No matter what, always remember that, please?"

Adam nodded, heart swelling even as his trepidation grew. "I will."

Tommy nodded in return. "Good." He fell silent for a moment, biting at his bottom lip, before finally saying, "There's no easy way to say this."

"Say what?" Adam asked, wanting nothing more than to exert his authority and make Tommy spit it out already.

He sensed, though, that to try right then would be a mistake. He wasn't facing slave Tommy, despite the fact that Tommy was naked with his leather collar locked around his neck and his wrist chained to a bolt in the floor beside the bed. This was Tommy, the man groomed to be king. Adam would have recognized the difference even without the other night where he'd let Tommy take charge. He could see the difference in the way Tommy held himself, the tone in his voice, and the expression on his face.

Tommy took a deep breath and said, "I've been lying to you this entire time, and if you choose to punish me for it, I won't fight you. We did have an agreement. Please just hear me out first, though."

Adam stared hard at him and Tommy met his stare head on. Eventually, Adam nodded and asked, "Lying about what?"

Tommy sat back in the chair, hands gripping his knees, the tips of his fingers white in the dying light from the embers in the fireplace. "I've only been biding my time, pretending to accept my lot as a slave of Vox. In truth and in my heart, I'm still a king and Tousma has not technically fallen. We just went … into hiding."

Adam's eyes widened, sure for a moment that Tommy was going to tell him it was all joke, but Tommy didn't. His expression didn't waver in the slightest. He was telling him the truth.

"But … what?"

"The plan was set in motion before I even surrendered to you. It wasn't a true surrender. It was a tactic to throw you off so I could infiltrate your castle. Subterfuge, I guess you could call it. Much like what your kingdom visited on us on that battle field, hiding as you did until we were engaged with the mercenaries you hired and it was too late to wait for reinforcements."

Adam sat up finally, the shock wearing off enough to let the anger in. "So you surrendered, but yet not, is that what you'd have me believe?"

"It's the truth," Tommy said, not backing down from the glare Adam was leveling at him.

Adam didn't even know where to begin. "You do realize that just because you wish something to be so, doesn't actually make it so, right? You can say all you want that you're still a king and your kingdom still exists, but at the end of the day, you have the collar around your neck and the pleasure slave piercing to prove otherwise, not to mention the fact that you have no army, no subjects. They've all pledged their loyalty to Vox's crown, and the ones that didn't were run out of the kingdom."

His words didn't come from a place of deep desire for Tommy's slavery or the destruction of his kingdom, but from a place of betrayal as he realized how much Tommy would have had to lie to him to keep the secret despite vowing to always be honest with him.

"I am not an idiot, no," Tommy snapped. He paused and collected himself, then said in a calm voice, "And I do still have an army. They are assembling as we speak, outside the boundaries of your guards' patrol. I have help, also, another kingdom that's thrown their lot in with us and is lending us their aide. Together, we outnumber you three to two."

Adam just blinked, wondering if it was possible he'd banged Tommy's head off the headboard one of the times they'd fucked that night and he was delirious. Without a word, he started to get up.

"Where are you going?" Tommy asked.

"I'm going to have the guard fetch Sutan. You must be ill, or maybe you bumped your head. I was rough with you tonight. Obviously too rough."

Tommy shook his head sadly. "You were not. Tonight was amazing, and I did not bump my head. I'm telling you the truth."

Tommy grew quiet then and Adam sat back down on the bed. "Your slavery is official. We sent a messenger to the sovereign, declaring our victory over Tousma. She sent him back with the decree that it was so, that Vox now ruled all lands previously under Tousma's control and that you were legally a spoil of war. If you kill anyone, your life will be forfeit."

Tommy met Adam's gaze and said, "The messenger lied. The sovereign knows nothing of the battle except rumors. Monte intercepted your messenger and promised him a place at court once we overthrow Vox, along with freedom for his children, whom King Gregory so thoughtfully enslaved after he took too long returning the last time he was sent to deliver a message to the sovereign."

Adam took a moment to absorb all that and what it meant, including the fact that it meant Tommy wasn't actually his and had just been playing a role with him, just like he had with everyone else. That hurt on a level Adam hadn't expected, despite his own feelings on slavery.

"Monte isn't dead," Adam said, choosing to focus on that for the moment. At least he hadn't been blindsided by that. He'd suspected it all along.

"No, he's not," Tommy admitted. "He's chieftain of Tousma. He brokered the deal with the kingdom helping us and gathered all the knights he could get his hands on since my supposed enslavement."

Adam nodded. "I thought as much … that he was still alive, I mean, not the rest."

Tommy's eyes widened. "You did? But why-"

"Because I don't agree with the custom of killing off the royal family of a surrendering kingdom."

"Oh," Tommy said, absorbing that. He sighed and looked away as he ran a hand through his hair, biting his bottom lip.

Sensing there was more, Adam asked quietly, "What else?"

"You haven't asked what the plan was," Tommy said, meeting Adam's gaze again.

Dread settled in Adam's gut like a cold weight. He wasn't sure he wanted to know, but found himself asking anyway, "What was the plan, King Thomas?"

Tommy blinked at the formal address, but didn't comment on it. "In a few nights time, when Monte gets the message to me that everything's ready, I'm supposed to murder you and the entire royal family-save Jeni and her child-in their sleep. In the ensuing chaos, Monte and the army he's put together are supposed to attack Erus and take control of it, so that I can reclaim my throne and take over Vox." Holding up the key Adam had placed under his pillow that night, Tommy continued, "And tonight, you gave me the opportunity I'd been waiting for."

Adam had about a second to realize how incredibly stupid he'd been to trust a king forced into slavery before Tommy blindsided him again by placing the key on the mattress near Adam.

"What-"

Tommy lifted his hand up as high as he could, pulling the chain taut to prove that he was still locked up. "I realized tonight that I can't do it. I can't kill you or your brother, or take his and Jeni's children's birthright away from them." Tommy fell silent for a moment, eyes lowering as he admitted quietly, "In truth, I think I've known for a while now that I wouldn't be able to do it. I just couldn't admit it to myself until tonight." Tommy looked up at Adam from under his fringe. "You changed everything for me."

"So you expect me to believe that you're abandoning your plans and your kingdom for me?" Adam asked skeptically.

Tommy shook his head. "No. I'm saying I'm going to find another way, one that doesn't mean yours or your brother's deaths."

Anger bubbling to the surface now that Adam had a little time to process what Tommy's had just told him, Adam said, "I could chain you up in this room and never let you out, never let you speak to anyone but me. It'd be pretty hard to reclaim your throne then, wouldn't it?"

Tommy nodded, expression resigned. "You could."

"But you don't think I will," Adam countered, finding himself both irritated by that and floored at the trust Tommy was seemingly placing in his hands.

Tommy stared at him for a long moment before saying, "I think you need time to decide what you want to do with what I've told you, and what you want to do with me." Tommy took a deep breath and continued, "I didn't lie when I told you I loved you, and I didn't lie when I knelt before you in these chambers and gave myself to you. I could have easily backed out many times before that point. You gave me the chance to repeatedly." Emotion flooding Tommy's eyes, he held Adam's gaze and said with conviction, "Every time, I chose you."

Swallowing against the lump creeping up his throat, Adam forced himself to ask, "How do I know that wasn't just an elaborate part of your scheme?"

Tommy leaned forward and reached for something under Adam's mattress. He pulled out a long dagger and placed it on the bed next to the key. "I stole it from one of the knights when I was a kitchen slave. He took his clothing off to fuck a servant at one of your many feasts and while he was distracted, I swiped it and hid it down one of the corridors. I didn't have time to grab it the day I was caught stealing bread for Jeffrey, so it stayed hidden until I was brought back into the castle to be your sex slave. I've had it here nearly the whole time I've been in your bed. Even before you gave me the key, I could have slit your throat and cut my way out of the leather cuff at any time."

Adam stood and walked over to the fireplace. He stared into the dying embers, leaving the key to Tommy's cuffs and the dagger on the bed, within Tommy's reach. He gave his back to Tommy, practically daring Tommy to use them, but long minutes passed and all that could be heard was the sound of them breathing. Tommy didn't make a move.

Over his shoulder, Adam asked, "The other kingdom involved is Solvo, isn't it? That's why Queen Brooke's here."

He could hear Tommy exhale, before he said, "Until I know what you plan to do with me and what I told you, I can't answer that. I won't take anyone else down with me if I've misjudged you."

Adam whipped around, "You mean like I misjudged you?"

Tommy tensed, rising to his feet. "You didn't misjudge me, not in any way that counts." He started for Adam but stopped short when he ran out of chain. He cursed under his breath and gave it a tug. "Please."

Adam crossed his arms. "The key's within your reach."

Tommy studied him. "I have your permission?"

Adam's eyes narrowed. "You're a king. You don't need my permission for anything."

Tommy glared right back. "I told you, already. I meant what I said when I gave myself to you that night. It wasn't a lie."

Adam ran a hand through his long hair and huffed in frustration. "This whole situation is insane. You came here to kill me, yet you give yourself to me night after night. You plan to take my kingdom from me, yet you claim to love me."

Tommy smiled sadly at him. "All things I've been saying to myself."

"Are you any closer to understanding?" Adam asked, truly curious.

Tommy shook his head. "Not at all."

Adam wanted to believe him, he really did, but Tommy had been so good at lying to him all along that Adam couldn't trust the instinct telling him Tommy was being honest with him now.

Anger flaring up at that realization, Adam crossed to Tommy, stopping inches away. He very pointedly didn't uncuff Tommy. "I wish I could trust what you're telling me now, and I wish I could forgive you for it."

"But you can't," Tommy said, dropping his eyes and looking the picture of a remorseful slave.

It messed with Adam's head. He wondered if it was deliberate, and wanted to hit something. Earlier that very evening he wouldn't have doubted Tommy's sincerity for a second.

Earlier that evening, he'd been a fool.

"I'm angry," Adam admitted through clenched teeth, realizing as he said it just how furious he actually was. "Angry enough that I'm afraid of what I'll do to you if I lay even one hand on you right now."

Tommy tensed, but otherwise remained still, gaze downcast.

"Stop it," Adam hissed, backing up a step.

Tommy's gaze lifted to his, forehead furrowed. "Stop what?"

"Stop looking dejected and remorseful and like any of this actually matters. Stop pretending what's between us is real and you actually care."

Adam had to steal himself against the way Tommy's eyes reflected the moisture gathering in them in the light of the bedside candle. "I can't change how I feel. Whatever else, this feels real to me. It is real."

Adam growled in frustration and turned away. He crossed to the chest next to his wardrobe and flipped the lid open, taking out the pallet he'd been given by one of the servants when he'd taken Tommy as his sex slave. Never having intended to use it, he'd had Taylor pack it away. He crossed back to Tommy and tossed it at him.

Needlessly, since he could tell by the hurt in Tommy's eyes that Tommy knew already, Adam said, "Spread it out and lay down. I don't want you in my bed any longer."

"Adam, please," Tommy said, just above a whisper.

Teeth clenched, Adam reached out and grabbed Tommy by the neck, the leather collar under his hand mocking him. Tommy didn't move a muscle, just stood there in Adam's hold, meeting Adam's furious gaze head on.

"You are no longer allowed to address me informally. You want to play at being my sex slave, you'll behave as every other sex slave in the kingdom does."

Anger flashed through Tommy's eyes, quickly followed up by resignation. Dropping his gaze as much as he could with his neck held in Adam's grasp as it was, Tommy said, "Yes, My Lord."

Adam released him, heart pounding at what he could have done to Tommy just then, what it was obvious by Tommy's reaction that he would have allowed, and stepped back. He watched while Tommy did as he was told, hesitating only the briefest of moments before he laid down on the rolled out pallet without benefit of a blanket. Silently, Tommy turned on his side, pillowed his head on his hands, and closed his eyes.

Adam stood there staring at him for a long time, but Tommy didn't move at all. The only thing that gave away that he was still awake was the way his bottom lip trembled until he pulled it between his teeth and bit down on it to stop it, and the occasional shiver due to the chilly night air.

Feeling like his heart had been lanced straight through, Adam finally rounded the bed and climbed in on the other side. He paused to stare at the dagger and key still sitting there on the mattress, then clenched his jaw and scooped them up, depositing them on his nightstand opposite the side Tommy lay on, out of Tommy's reach.

And if he kicked off one of his covers a short time later and it slid off the bed and down on top of Tommy, it was only because he was too hot despite the cool temperature of the room, not for any other reason.



Tommy woke to find his leather collar gone, along with Adam. He was surprised how much he missed the former but not at all surprised how much his heart ached for the latter.

Taylor moved around the chambers, getting a tub of hot water ready.

Tommy pushed up on one arm, groaning as his body protested from lying on the poor cushioning of the pallet all night.

Taylor looked over at him and said, "You're awake."

"Yeah," Tommy said, running a hand through his hair and realizing belatedly that he was still cuffed.

So Adam had removed his leather collar but not his cuff. That was a clear message if Tommy had ever seen one.

Taylor walked over and bent to unlock Tommy's cuff, saying, "I've been told you're not allowed to call Adam by name anymore, or me either."

Tommy's jaw tightened. He should have expected that. "Yes, sir."

Taylor looked up, his eyes meeting Tommy's. "I can only imagine what you did that would so thoroughly anger him."

Tommy's eyes burned as he looked away, mumbling, "Whatever you've imagined, it's probably worse."

"Want to talk about it?" Taylor asked.

Tommy bit his bottom lip and shook his head.

Taylor sighed, standing back up. "My orders are to make sure you eat all of your breakfast and take a bath afterwards."

Tommy sat up and leaned back against the side of the bed, fingering the blanket next to him. He'd felt it drop on top of him last night, but hadn't dared to thank Adam for it.

"I'm not hungry right now," Tommy said. "And I'd prefer my bath in the afternoon, like usual."

"Your master was clear," Taylor said, looking extremely uncomfortable, but not uncomfortable enough to defy Adam. "He said you were to eat and bathe even if I had to bring in help to force you."

Tommy tensed, wondering if Adam was doing this just to be a jerk, or if there was something else going on that Tommy didn't know about. Sighing, he pushed to his feet and started for the table. At least Adam had left his cushion in place.



An hour later he was fed and bathed, sitting on his cushioned chair while Taylor combed through his hair.

"You've hardly said two words," Taylor commented. "Are things really that bad?"

Tommy sniffed, unable to believe he was letting his emotions get the best of him. With a slight waver in his voice, he said quietly, "Yes. They're really that bad. I'm surprised he let you uncuff me, to be honest."

Moments later, Adam walked in and stopped near the entry, giving Tommy the once over. Looking at Taylor, Adam said, "You may go."

Taylor nodded and hurried out.

After the door shut behind him, Adam walked over to his wardrobe and pulled out a set of see-through garments, along with opaque underpants.

"Put these on," he said, tossing them on the table in front of Tommy.

Tommy swallowed. This was worse than he'd even thought. The look in Adam's eyes was cold. Tommy had never seen him like this before, not even when Adam had confronted him in the guards' shelter out in the breaking yard.

"Yes, My Lord," Tommy said, hurrying to pull them on.

After he was through, Adam looked him up and down, then stepped closer. Tommy's stomach fluttered at his nearness, but the flatness of Adam's voice when he spoke made Tommy's spirits sink. "Present your neck."

Tommy tipped his head back, chin up, and waited while Adam secured the diamond collar around his neck. Instead of it making him feel like it usually did, like he belonged to Adam, it felt like a noose.

Forcing back a flash of panic at the thought, Tommy held out his hands next, waiting while Adam adorned them with the diamond slave bracelets.

Afterwards, Adam met his gaze and said, "You will kneel at my feet today while I see to kingdom business."

"Yes, My Lord," Tommy said.

"And if I pull you down a side corridor to make use of your mouth at any point, as is expected of any worthwhile sex slave, you will not so much as protest, or I will make the next week you'll spend confined to quarters very unpleasant, understand?"

Tommy's heart stuttered in his chest. "Yes, My Lord."



It was a long day Tommy spent at Adam's feet, listening to the problems of the kingdom and King Gregory's wildly inappropriate and highly unjust punishments for what amounted to mere slights. Tommy wasn't sure how Adam listened to this day in and day out and didn't lose his mind. Tommy would have run the king through with a sword by now if it had been him. That thought, in turn, made him wonder just how much of what King Gregory had done to Adam when he was sixteen Adam was still carrying around with him, letting it control him, making him think King Gregory was more powerful than he was.

After suffering through an embarrassing dinner spent on his knees, at the end of which Adam gave him table scraps instead of the usual foods King Gregory thought he hated, Tommy was finally dismissed and sent back to chambers.

Just as Tommy turned the corridor to Adam's chambers, Isaac caught up with him.

"Hey, Tommy. What's going on? Something seems … different between you and Adam today."

Tommy opened his mouth to speak, but just then, Adam rounded the corner. "Thomas, I told you to return to chambers, not dally in the corridor. Do it."

Tommy's mouth snapped shut, his jaw clenching at being scolded in front of Isaac. Refusing to look Isaac's way, Tommy nodded and said, "Yes, My Lord," before turning and heading for the door to Adam's rooms.

Once he was inside, he leaned back against the door for a moment and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to stave off his emotions. He had no idea how he was going to explain this to Isaac, or to Brooke. If Adam kept as close an eye on him as he had today, Tommy wouldn't even get the chance.

Before Tommy could pull himself together, the door opened. Tommy stepped away and eyed Adam warily as he entered the room.

Adam stared hard at him. "Is he your contact?"

Tommy kept his jaw clamped shut, refusing to answer. He might have placed himself in Adam's hands, but he wasn't willing to take that risk with one of his subjects until Adam was past some of the anger, at least.

Adam stepped forward and grabbed Tommy by his fringe, using it to jerk Tommy's head back slightly. "I asked you a question, slave."

Tommy remained silent.

"Since you don't want to talk, maybe I should put your mouth to better use," Adam sneered.

Two could play that game, Tommy decided. "That is your right. My body's here for you to use however you like, whenever you like, My Lord. Your uncle made sure of it."

Adam released Tommy's hair abruptly and stepped back, all the anger in his eyes and tone gone at the slap in the face Tommy had delivered under the guise of agreement. "That was unnecessary. I wouldn't have done it and you know it."

"Easy enough to say from where you stand," Tommy said, tone biting, not caring that he was courting a lashing. "But from my side of things, standing here completely at your mercy? It felt very necessary."

Adam cursed and turned toward the door. With his hand on the handle, he said over his shoulder, "Be on your pallet, naked and cuffed and sleeping by the time I get back. I have no desire to speak to you again tonight."

Tommy fought the urge to throw something at Adam and instead said, "Yes, My Lord," as Adam let himself out of the room.



The next two days were more of the same, until Tommy was ready to pull out his hair. The hunting trip came and went and Isaac wasn't even able to get to him to tell him how the conversation had gone with Monte and what time frame they were looking at for the attack. He had to get word to them that the plan was off, but he couldn't even do that. He thought about asking Adam if he could at least call it off, but Adam would have to be allowing him to speak for that. The morning after that first night, Adam had taken even that away, telling Tommy he was only allowed yes or no answers, along with proper address, unless specifically told otherwise.

Finally, on the third night of being sent back to chambers after dinner, Tommy decided drastic measures were in order. Instead of lying down on his pallet and cuffing himself for the night like he had the previous two nights, Tommy took advantage of the fact that Adam hadn't specifically ordered him to do so, and started to strip. Folding his clothes and setting them aside, he crossed to Adam's side of the bed and picked up the bottle of oil, deciding he was going to make it as hard as possible for Adam to ignore him for a third night.



Sometime later, Tommy heard Adam speaking with the guard outside the door and hurriedly climbed off the bed, crossing to the middle of the room. He dropped to his knees on the pad he'd left there and waited. He'd oiled and stretched himself, then bound his wrists together in front of him, in the leather cuffs from Adam's chest at the foot of the bed. It had been difficult getting the lock to fit around the metal loops, but he'd managed.

Hoping he hadn't miscalculated, Tommy lowered his head and peeked up at the door through his fringe, holding his breath.

Adam stepped inside and stopped short when he saw him. The door clicked shut behind him and for a long moment, neither of them moved.

Then, without a word, Adam crossed the space between them and grabbed Tommy by his hair, jerking on it until Tommy rose to his feet to keep from getting it pulled out. Using his hair to tilt his head back, Adam's mouth came down on Tommy's hard and fast. The kiss was brutal, full of teeth and mashed lips and tongues. It was too much, too hard, and everything Tommy needed from Adam right then after being frozen out for the past three days. He moaned into it.

Adam ripped his mouth from Tommy's and released his hair, only to bend down and throw him over his shoulder. Tommy had a brief flash of that first day, of Adam doing the same thing to him then, but for a much different reason, and then Adam dumped him on his back on the bed and the flash was gone as he found himself staring up into angry blue eyes.

Tommy opened his mouth to say something, but Adam just shook his head and leaned down, cutting Tommy off with his tongue in his mouth. Tommy gave up on speaking and bent his knees, letting his legs fall open in invitation. Adam made a noise halfway between a growl and a groan and climbed on the bed, stripping himself as he went, until he was kneeling between Tommy's legs, naked and erect.

His eyes skimmed Tommy's body and he grabbed Tommy by his cuffed wrists, shoving them up over his head. The order to keep them there was clear in his eyes. Tommy had no intention of doing anything else. Adam was still for a moment, staring down at him, and then suddenly he dove in and it was all hands and lips and teeth, kissing and biting and pressing Tommy into the bed as he positioned himself between his legs. Tommy was vaguely aware of Adam oiling himself up, and then he was thrusting inside him, pulling Tommy's legs over his shoulders, and Tommy cried out, throwing his head back as he was stuffed full to bursting.

A hand descended over his mouth, cutting off any possibility of words and muffling the rest. Tommy took the hint and tried to remain as quiet as possible as Adam rutted into him, taking him hard and fast. And then Adam released his mouth and grabbed his hair again, yanking until Tommy was staring up into stormy blue eyes.

"I'm so … angry with you," Adam said through clenched teeth between thrusts. "I can't stand to be in the same room with you."

Tommy grunted as Adam thrust in particularly hard, hitting that spot that always made Tommy see stars. Swallowing a moan, Tommy said, "I know."

"So you thought this was a good idea?" Adam asked, thrusting even harder.

Tommy opened his hands and pressed them against the head of the bed to keep from sliding up the mattress into it. "Couldn't-" he broke off and gasped, then continued, "couldn't stand it anymore. I'm sorry."

"This doesn't change anything," Adam said, slamming into him, flesh slapping flesh.

"I know," Tommy said again, because he did and it hurt him somewhere deep inside.

"I don't love you anymore," Adam claimed, fist tightening in Tommy's hair to the point of pain.

Tommy sucked in a sharp breath and stared at Adam as Adam fucked him. He could see that it was a lie, but he could also see that Adam desperately needed it to be true. "Okay."

Adam jerked on Tommy's hair. "I don't."

"Neither do I," Tommy countered, willing Adam to see the lie in his eyes as easily as he could see it in Adam's.

Adam growled and took Tommy in a brutal kiss that left him tasting blood, lips stinging.

Adam pushed up onto his hands, locked his arms, and thrust in harder and faster until all either of them could do was pant and grunt and moan. Tommy writhed on Adam's cock, his own dick so hard it hurt.

Pre-come leaked from the tip, painting his stomach with sticky fluid, until Tommy couldn't take it anymore and begged between gasps for air, "Please, My Lord. N-need to come."

"No," Adam said sharply, picking up the pace even more.

Tommy cried out as Adam's thrusts fell out of rhythm, and then Adam was flooding his insides with come. With one last thrust, Adam stilled and groaned. Tommy panted, writhing and moaning, so close to coming he could taste it.

"Please," he begged. "Please. I need to-"

"No," Adam said again. He dropped down on top of Tommy, bending Tommy in two and trapping his throbbing cock between their stomachs. Grabbing Tommy by the chin, Adam waited until Tommy was staring up into his eyes to say, "You don't get to come. That's your punishment."

"But-"

"No buts," Adam said, gripping harder. "You claim you meant it when you gave yourself to me. You said you'd take whatever punishment I saw fit. Then accept this as part of the punishment for your lies. No coming, either on my cock of by your own hand, until I've forgiven you, which may never happen."

Tommy whimpered, his body screaming for release, but he forced himself to still under Adam's body, his arms only twitching occasionally as he said, "Yes, My Lord."

Adam's eyes widened a little, clearly not having expected Tommy to capitulate. "And you're still sleeping on the pallet at night."

"Yes, My Lord," Tommy said, spirits sinking.

He'd hoped Adam would soften toward him a little, but he supposed that was wishful thinking. Still, at least Adam was talking to him again and allowing him to speak in return.

Adam pulled out and Tommy winced as fluids leaked from him. Getting up, Adam grabbed a cloth, wet it down, then tossed it at Tommy's stomach. "Clean yourself up and then go to bed."

Tommy did so with difficulty since his wrists were still cuffed together. After a moment, Adam walked over and unlocked his cuffs, attaching one of them to the chain bolted to the floor.

Next he removed the collar from Tommy's neck and the slave bracelets from his wrists, then stood and walked away. He climbed into bed a moment later, and without a word, went to sleep.

Tommy lay staring up at the ceiling for a long time, feeling completely empty and completely alone.



The next night, Tommy didn't bother trying to cuff his wrists together because that had just been too difficult the first time, but he did put the cuffs on and locked them, the key hanging from his mouth by the cord it was attached to so that Adam could use it to lock them together himself if he chose.

When Adam walked in, he stopped short again, heat and anger flashing in his eyes. And then he turned away and went about readying himself for bed for the night, just leaving Tommy kneeling there, key in his mouth, waiting for whatever Adam chose to do with him.

Eventually, Adam walked over and took the key from him, asking, "Too hard to cuff yourself?"

Tommy nodded. "Yes, My Lord."

"Stand and turn around," Adam said, tone flat.

Tommy hesitated, unsure what was going on, but then stood as told.

Adam grabbed one wrist, then the other, and pushed them together behind Tommy's back. Tommy felt him work the lock, and then Tommy's hands were cuffed together. Adam grabbed him by the back of the neck, marched him over to the bed, and shoved him face first over the side of it, leaving Tommy standing on the floor with the upper half of his body lying on the mattress. Tommy turned his head to the side to look back over his shoulder at Adam.

"So," Adam said idly as he ran a hand down Tommy's spine, over the bump of his locked wrists, and over his ass. "Is this going to be a nightly thing, now?"

"I did lose a bet, My Lord. I'm just fulfilling my end of it."

"And trying to get me to forgive you by spreading your legs for me," Adam said coarsely.

Tommy flinched as Adam's hand cracked over his ass without warning.

"Will it work?" Tommy asked, hating the hopeful note in his voice and the weakness it revealed.

Adam cracked his hand across Tommy's ass again and Tommy gasped.

"It might," Adam said. Another crack. "Then again, it might not. Is it still worth it if it doesn't?"

Another crack and Tommy nodded, the side of his face rubbing against the mattress. "If there's a chance, yes."

Adam huffed in frustration and moved behind Tommy, one hand on his hip, the other on Tommy's cuffed wrists. "Are you oiled and stretched again?"

"Yes, My Lord. I'm ready for your cock."

"Gods," Adam said, sounding extremely aroused.

Letting go of Tommy's hip, Adam lined himself up and thrust in.

Tommy cried out as Adam sank balls deep in one go.

Already mostly hard from the impromptu spanking, let along being entered so swiftly and completely, Tommy tried to push back when Adam thrust forward, but Adam smacked him for his efforts. "Lie still."

Tommy groaned but did as he was told, lying there half off the bed, legs spread, arms bound behind his back as Adam fucked into him hard and fast, being just as brutal about it as the night before.

"I hate how you make me feel," Adam said, through gasps for air.

Tommy squeezed his eyes shut. "I know."

"I hate that I want you even though you betrayed me," Adam went on.

"I know," Tommy repeated.

Leaning over him, Adam said next to his ear, "I don't love you anymore."

Tommy swallowed down the lump in his throat at the repeat of the words from the night before. At least the night before he could see the lie in Adam's eyes. This time, he could only hear the wish for it to be true in his voice. "I'm sorry."

"I don't care," Adam hissed. "And I mean it. I don't love you."

Tommy took a deep breath and repeated his words from the night before, praying Adam didn't believe them any more than he believed Adam's. "I don't either."

"Good," Adam said roughly, then pushed up. Grabbing Tommy's shoulders, he used them to shove Tommy's body back onto his cock as he thrust forward.

Tommy groaned and twisted in Adam's hold, hands clenching and unclenching behind his back as he tried to hold off his orgasm, biting his lip to keep from begging to come.

And then Adam said gruffly, "Are you close?"

"Yes," Tommy panted.

"Beg me for it," Adam ordered.

"Please, My Lord," Tommy said immediately. "Please forgive me. Please let me come."

"No," Adam said, and Tommy could hear the relish in his voice as he froze and emptied himself inside him.

Tommy turned his face into the mattress and whimpered, so close to the edge that if Adam moved one inch right then, Tommy would lose the battle and come, permission or not.

Thankfully, Adam remained still until Tommy came back from the edge and relaxed a little, turning his head to the side once more so he could breathe in and out slowly.

Adam pulled free then and Tommy winced as come leaked down his thighs.

Adam uncuffed him and smacked his ass one last time, hard, saying, "Lie down on your pallet and hold out your wrist."

Tommy hesitated. "May I clean myself first, My Lord?"

"No," Adam said. "I want you to feel used."

Still hard, Tommy's cock twitched at that, although he wasn't sure that had been the reaction Adam was going for. "Yes, My Lord."

Adam cuffed him to the chain and went around the bed, climbing into it from the other side. Everything grew silent.

When Tommy was on the edge of sleep, Adam said, "Tomorrow night, have cuffs around your ankles as well as your wrists."

Clearing his throat, Tommy said, "Yes, My Lord," hope leaping in his chest. It might have just been his imagination or wishful thinking, but Tommy would swear that Adam didn't sound quite as angry has he had been.



The next two nights went much as the last two. Angry sex and even angrier words, punctuated by Adam's claim not to love him anymore and Tommy's bald-faced lie that he didn't either. The nights ended the same, too, with Adam giving him instructions on how to present himself the next night.

That night proved to be no different.

After yet another round of rough sex and an order to return to his pallet, Tommy settled in for the night, head resting on his hands, dick throbbing with need, come leaking from his ass because Adam had refused to let him clean up again. He shivered as the sheen of sweat covering his body cooled in the night air. Yet again a blanket dropped down on him without any warning and yet again, Tommy bit his bottom lip against the impulse to thank Adam, his gut telling him it was better to ignore the gesture than acknowledge it.

"Tomorrow night, I want you oiled, stretched, and on the bed, ankles and one wrist secured. The other wrist will be secured for you. Further, I want your eyes closed so that you can't see if it's me entering or someone else that I sent on a whim to fuck you," Adam said.

Tommy's neglected dick twitched and he longed to reach for it and relieve himself. He had no doubt it would be Adam entering the next night. As angry as he'd made Adam, Tommy knew that Adam would never let someone else fuck him without Tommy's permission, so the hint of it was arousing. All in all, the orders on how to greet Adam each evening would be a fun sex game if it wasn't for the anger and need to humiliate behind them.

"Yes, My Lord," Tommy said, the weight of Adam's continued fury pressing down on him.

"How much longer?" Adam asked from the bed above.

Tommy frowned. "My Lord?"

"How much longer are you going to let me keep treating you like this?"

Tommy exhaled quietly, surprised Adam was asking and even more surprised Adam was acknowledging that Tommy had a choice in all this and was continuing to choose him. "As long as it takes for me to prove to you I didn't lie about giving myself to you, and for you to forgive me," Tommy said honestly.

"And if it takes a year, will your kingdom wait on you?" Adam asked.

"I-" Tommy started, then broke off. "I have no idea. I do not even know if they're waiting now. I've had no contact with them since I told you." He left unsaid that it was because of Adam's tight leash on him since that night. The explanation of why wasn't necessary. They both knew why Adam had been keeping him at his side when he wasn't locking him in chambers with orders to the guards not to let anyone enter besides Taylor.

"In other words, Monte could be mounting his attack as we speak," Adam said flatly.

Tommy's heart pounded in his ears, unable to believe he was giving so much away, putting his kingdom at such risk. In the end, though, he had to go with his gut and his gut was telling him it was the right choice to trust Adam with the knowledge.

"If Monte thinks I'm under duress, which is entirely possible with how you've cut me off from everyone, then yes. He could be."

Adam was silent for a long time, so long in fact, that Tommy thought maybe he had fallen asleep. Eventually, though, the bed shifted. Tommy heard the sound of a drawer opening and closing, and then Adam appeared above him, braced on one arm. Tommy stared up at him as Adam reached down and set something on the floor.

Tommy glanced over and sucked in a sharp breath at the sight of his dagger and the key to the cuff. Hope leaping inside him, Tommy's eyes flew to Adam's again, only to have that hope shrivel up at the cold look in Adam's eyes.

"My Lord?" Tommy asked.

"The clothes you used for riding with Brooke and Isaac are in my chest. Be gone by morning."

Bile rose up Tommy's throat and he whispered, "You don't mean that."

"I do. I don't want you here anymore."

"What about the king?" Tommy tried.

"This will reflect worse on him than me, considering it will be his knights that let you slip right by them and out of the castle."

"And if I get caught?" Tommy asked, feeling suddenly hollow.

"You've proven how clever you are. I have every confidence you won't."

Tommy closed his eyes against his emotions, swallowing hard. "Please," he whispered.

"Goodbye, Your Highness," Adam said dismissively before turning on his side, back to Tommy.

Tommy lay staring up at the ceiling for a long time before he finally rose from the pallet and unlocked his cuff. It fell with a clink to the floor, the sound deafening in the silence. He looked at Adam, knowing by the tense line of his back that Adam wasn't asleep. Hoping beyond hope that Adam changed his mind and stopped him, Tommy pulled his clothes from the chest and slipped them on. Not a sound came from Adam.

Tommy hesitated, staring at Adam's back for a long moment before saying, "Goodbye, Adam."



It turned out to be surprisingly easy to sneak out of the castle. So easy, in fact, that Tommy suspected Adam had something to do with it. First, the guard outside Adam's chambers had been sound asleep, and then the guard at the end of the corridor, and the one at the bottom of the stairs. Somehow, Tommy doubted that King Gregory was truly that lax about security that he'd allow guards to sleep on their shift.

Once Tommy was past all of them, he stuck to the shadows through the great hall, passing sleeping citizens of the kingdom and visitors alike who regularly used the hall to bed down in. He passed through the keep just as easily, and found himself out in the yard, no one around. It was as if someone had cast a sleeping spell on everyone within the castle walls, not that Tommy believed in that sort of thing. Tommy tensed and looked around, suddenly sensing someone watching him.

Sutan stepped out of the shadows of the castle walls and Tommy exhaled, everything clicking into place. "He had you drug everyone."

Sutan stared at Tommy for a long moment, then nodded.

"So you know?" Tommy asked, feeling Sutan out.

"I know, Your Highness," Sutan said.

Tommy's shoulders slumped and he shook his head. "You do not need to call me that."

"You are a king, are you not?"

Tommy's jaw clenched and he glared at Sutan. "Don't. Don't you freeze me out, too. I did nothing to betray you, not like-"

Tommy broke off and Sutan stared knowingly at him. "Not like you did with Adam?"

Tommy nodded. "I never meant to hurt him. You have to know that. I didn't have a choice. Why can't he understand that? I never would have expected him to choose me over his kingdom."

Sutan blinked and glanced around pointedly, then back at Tommy. "Except, that's exactly what he's just done. It would be easy for you to enact your plan, what with everyone drugged. You could slit the king's throat, gather your army, and attack long before the elixir wore off."

Tommy's eyes widened, realizing Sutan was right. He'd been so caught up in Adam's rejection and his order for Tommy to leave, that Tommy hadn't even stopped to consider the implications of everyone being drugged, not to mention how Adam had armed him, then gave him his back.

Eyes narrowing, Tommy asked, "Did Adam send you?"

"Adam told me to lock myself in my chamber after I added the elixir to the evening round of drinks. I'm defying his order to be here telling you this."

"Why?"

"Because I believe that you love him, even if he's too hard-headed to see it right now. I've seen the two of you together. I saw the raw emotion written all over both your faces that night you invited me to watch you couple. There's no faking that, on either side."

Tommy bit his bottom lip, looking away. In a quiet voice, he asked, "Then why is he sending me away?"

"Because he's letting his anger get the best of him, and because he knows he can't keep you indefinitely like this. Something will have to give or there will be all out war."

Tommy looked between the stables and the castles, wrestling with what to do. Finally, he looked over at Sutan in resignation. "I have to go."

"I know," Sutan said, clearly disappointed.

"Tell Adam…" Tommy trailed off and took a deep breath, then tried again. "Tell Adam I love him. Tell him that if he ever manages to forgive me, I'll be waiting for him."

Sutan nodded. "I will."

Choked up, Tommy darted forward and pulled Sutan into a hug. "Thank you."

Sutan wrapped his arms around Tommy and hugged him back. "Go. Your horse is saddled and waiting."

Tommy nodded and pulled away. With one last look at Sutan and the castle, he turned and hurried for the stable.

[Part 12]