Page 29 of Hold my Reins

“It does.” He lifted Rox down from the counter, setting him on the floor. “I’ll give you the grand tour.”

Rox laughed. “I only need to know where the bathroom and your bedroom are.”

fourteen

Rox lay on his side, one leg thrown over Lynck’s thigh. Sunlight slanted through a gap in the curtains, and they were both awake, just unwilling to get up. The more time they spent together, the more the song in his heart grew, and he didn’t want to stop it, even though it was dangerous to indulge.

Thursten was in the kitchen trying to be quiet as he made breakfast, but the troll didn’t really know the meaning of the word. Lynck liked the way Rox curled up close to be held while half asleep, and he’d been content to hold him, not expecting more.

Last night, watching Rox straddle him and ease onto his cock had been a glorious sight. The way his body moved, lithe and graceful, as if they had all night. Lynck had let him set the pace, too busy touching and caressing every part of him within reach. When Rox’s dick hardened, he’d rolled his hips fucking Lynck’s hand and riding his cock, until the need to come had been too pressing to do anything but rush for the finish.

Rox’s fingers trailed over Lynck’s chest. Smoothing the hair with one sweep and ruffling it with another. His hand crept higher, touching the silver necklace. Rox lifted the disk andexamined the marking, and Lynck knew the question that was coming.

But there was no lie ready on his tongue.

“What does it mean?” Rox asked, his voice rough with sleep.

Lynck closed his eyes. It meant never going home unless he wanted to lose all freedom. Again.

“It is the mark of the man who captured me.” That was the truth.

Rox tilted his head and stared at him. “Then why do you wear it?”

Lynck licked his lip. He wanted to pull away and put some distance between them. Kick Rox out of his bed. The bridle was the reason he didn’t let people close. He didn’t want to lie to his lover. And if it was only one night, the truth didn’t matter, but that’s not what this was anymore, and he wanted Rox the way he’d never wanted anyone. He wanted to write his mating song.

How could he promise a life when his life wasn’t free to give?

“You don’t have to tell me.” And while Rox didn’t pull away Lynck felt the fissure form.

“I do. It’s been a secret and a source of shame for so long that talking about it isn’t easy.” He pressed a kiss to Rox’s forehead. “Do you remember how I said I can’t shift in the human world?”

“Yeah. Because of the necklace?”

“It’s not a necklace. It’s a bridle.”

“Isn’t that what horses have?”

“Yes.”

“I’m no expert, but it doesn’t look like?—”

“Because it has magic. When I shift, it shifts with me and will become reins and wrap over my muzzle.”

“It stops you from shifting?”

“I’m not sure. I may not be able to shift in your world, regardless.”

Rox held the disk. “Why not take it off?”

“I can’t. The magic prevents me from removing it.” He swallowed, knowing he needed to force the next part out. “In the monster realm, the magic also allows him to find me.”

His human lifted his gaze. “He can’t track you through the portal?”

“So far, he hasn’t.” But if he ever came across, no matter the town or the distance, Bothvar would be able to find him.

Rox propped himself up on one elbow and studied the chain. “Were you his horse?”

“No. An obedient servant until I took my chance and fled through the portal.” He hadn’t even been sure being in the human world would protect him, but there’d been so few options, he’d been willing to risk the punishment that would follow if found.

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