In Noble Pursuit
Smashwords Edition
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.
In Noble Pursuit Copyright © 2011by JC Natál All rights reserved.
In Noble Pursuit Cover Art © 2011by JC Natál for Dark Roast Press
Images licensed by DepositPhotos.com/KKulikov & © Purmar | Dreamstime.com
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In Noble Pursuit
By
J.C. Natál
SMASHWORDS EDITION
Dedication
Nicole, Lisa, Sarah and Natalie
My hand holders, enablers, and my very good friend
Prologue
It was early morning, Elias knew without opening his eyes. He stretched, reached for Jared, but the bed beside him was empty. He rolled toward Jared’s side of the bed and opened an eye, looking around the room for his husband. Elias was alone.
He grumbled a little and pulled himself up out of bed. He was sore, his back and thighs and ass aching as he moved. He couldn’t remember ever being sore like this before. They had taken advantage of the time alone…and found new and interesting ways to bring each other off, and when he considered Jared’s training and his own imagination, it had been an amazing week. But the last twenty-four hours, as they closed in on the time to go home, Jared had gotten quiet. Still enthusiastic where the sex was concerned, but whenever they weren’t involved in something that would bring one or the other to orgasm, Jared would go quiet.
Elias slipped naked through the small beach house, stopping when he smelled coffee. Jared had learned early on exactly how Elias liked his coffee, and insisted that was how he liked it too…strong and dark. He poured two cups from the full pot and headed out onto the porch, sure he’d find Jared sitting on the stairs down to the sand of their private, hard to find beach.
Sure enough, Jared sat at the top of the stairs in his boxers, staring out at the dark water. Somewhere behind them the sun was coming up, but the beach in front of them was still dark shadows, filled with hidden treasures the tide had brought in.
Elias sat beside him, putting the cups between them. He watched the water slip up the sand and back out, glancing at Jared. It was time to talk about it, even though Elias wanted nothing more than to protect Jared, even from himself. “Couldn’t sleep?”
Jared turned his head from the waves, resting one cheek on his knees. “Dreams,” he said softly, as if the sound of his voice might bring them back. His messy brown hair stirred in the breeze and Elias reached out to soothe it off his face.
“Bad?” he asked, rubbing his hand down Jared’s back.
Jared’s face scrunched up. “Not good.”
“Tell me?”
Jared shook his head. “Don’t wanna.”
Okay, Elias understood that. “Brought you coffee.” He picked up Jared’s mug and handed it to him. Jared sat up, letting his feet stretch down the stairs as he took the cup.
He offered a tentative smile before sipping it. “I don’t want to leave.” With the coffee cups gone, Jared moved closer, one hand moving behind Elias. “I like it here.”
“MMmmm…me too,” Elias agreed, leaning into the strong body beside his. “No work, no phones…just you and me.”
They were quiet. Elias knew Jared would say it eventually. He’d think it through and try to understand it…and then eventually he’d find a way to say it so that Elias could understand. “Can we?” Jared inhaled deeply. “Stay, I mean. I want to stay.”
“We could,” Elias offered slowly, sipping at his coffee and looking out over the water that was starting to show signs of the sun rising. He’d be lying if he said the thought didn’t appeal to him. These past six days had been…idyllic, if he was honest. No threats, no ratings, no parents or other family. Just this. Just Jared. “But it wouldn’t solve anything.”
“I know.” Jared pouted into his cup. He was quiet again and Elias was beginning to wonder if he just wasn’t ready yet, when Jared shifted, making himself smaller. “I’m afraid.” He shook his head. “I can’t…I can’t lose you.”
Elias moved closer, his arm sliding up Jared’s back. “Not going to, Jared. I belong to you.”
Jared shook his head. “For now. He’s not going to give up.”
“No. He isn’t.” Elias wanted to help him. Wanted to make him forget Stuart for at least another twenty-four hours. “He’s not here. Just us.”
“He’s waiting. He’s out there, and as soon as we leave…as soon as we go back, you’ll have to fight again.”
“And I will.” Elias turned his face, kissed his lips, but it felt like Jared was pulling away.
“I want to help.” Jared said softly. “I don’t know how. I don’t know what to do…but if we can’t stay here, I want to be there with you.”
Elias sighed and squeezed Jared’s shoulder. “I want that too, baby. I want us together all the time…but it isn’t practical, you know that, right?”
“Don’t care.”
Elias sighed again. “You’re going to have plenty to do, Jared. And I’ll have help. I’ll have Jeff and Amanda, Dave and Thomas. Even Jessica.”
Jared sniffed and looked up at him. “Jess?”
Elias nodded. “Yep, she’s going to be working for me. Keep me in line.”
Jared cracked a smile, though it didn’t make it all the way to his eyes. “She’s good at that.”
“And, when we get back, I’ve got some people set up for you. Tutors who can help you read better, learn math and science. It’s going to be hard work for you.”
Jared sighed. “But my learning math and science isn’t going to help you beat him.”
“You learning math and science is beating him,” Elias insisted. “Maybe you’ll decide to go to college. Be a lawyer. Or whatever. Help others like you.”
Jared made a face. “Too old for college.” He was back to pouting. His fear ran deep, Elias knew. He was still very tender in so many ways, so young. Jared sighed. “I don’t know how to be…what you want…what you need.” He stood up, setting his coffee on the railing and moving down to the cold sand. “A husband…or wife…or whatever.”
“Jared, you know I only want you…only need you.” Elias stood to follow, wrapping his arms around Jared from behind and kissing over his shoulders. “I only want you to be happy.”
“I dreamed…” Jared shook his head, rubbing a hand along Elias’s arm around his waist.
“Tell me,” Elias prodded, chasing kisses along the bare expanse of skin.
“You were bored with me…sent me away. I couldn’t help you and you…gave me away.” Jared shivered, pulling forward, away. Elias tugged him back and moved so he was in front of him.
“I won’t ever—“
“You were mad. Said I couldn’t do anything. Said I was worthless and should have stayed a s-Servant.”
Elias shook his head, tried to hold him and make it go away. It made him feel helpless. There was nothing he could do to make those dreams go away. He could only reassure Jared over and over that he would never send him away.
“I would have,” Jared said after a while, his hands falling to his side. “For you.” His eyes trailed down Elias’s body, down to his groin. “Would have been your Servant forever.” He slid to his knees, kissing over Elias’s abdomen.
“Jared…”
“May I?” Jared looked up at him, his eyes big and shining. “May I Serve, my Lord?”
Elias swallowed hard and nodded, held his breath as Jared moved in, moved close, his breath tingling along the length of Elias’s cock. Jared’s hands framed his groin, clinging to Elias’s thighs as his tongue gently caressed the skin, and Elias’s body came to attention, his breath catching, his ass clenching, his cock rising.
Jared smiled, all discomfort gone in the face of something familiar and intimate. His mouth opened and took Elias in, all heat and wet and this too Elias’s body knew, and Elias worked to keep from thrusting forward, to let Jared set the pace.
They’d had six days of honeymoon, six days of sex in every conceivable configuration and location, and he still wanted this, still burned with desire every time Jared went to his knees. He groaned deep as Jared sucked, his cheeks hollow, his eyes burning with love and lust as they stared up at Elias.
The sun was slipping across the sand, lighting the beach and soon it would reach them. Already Elias could feel its warmth on his face. Jared’s head bobbed, his mouth sucking and licking. Elias closed his eyes and let it build, let the warmth rush through him and push him closer. Jared’s tongue cupped under him and he was humming, his hands holding Elias’s hips, his thumbs pressing along the base of his cock.
“Fuck, Jare…” Elias slid a hand through Jared’s hair, pulling him back. “Love your mouth. Love you.” Jared’s mouth opened again as Elias came, catching the strings of come on his tongue and swallowing. Elias groaned and hauled him to his feet. “Love you so goddamn much.” His kiss was hot and Jared tasted like come and coffee. “My turn.”
Elias could feel Jared’s cock hard inside his boxers. “May I?” Elias kissed him again, softer this time, gentle. His hands slid down to the waist of Jared’s boxers as his lips danced up his jaw line to his ear. “May I Serve, my Lord?”
“Not…not a lord,” Jared whispered back.
“My Lord, my husband,” Elias breathed into his ear. “Married nobility, Jared…the title is yours just like it’s mine. My Lord…I wish to Serve you…may I?” Elias mouthed down the column of his neck, along his collar bone. He felt Jared nod somewhat shakily.
Elias moved slowly, his mouth sucking at Jared’s skin, nipples, muscles…all the way down. His hands pushed at his boxers until he’d loosed Jared’s cock and then slid up to his hips to steady Jared as he licked lightly across the tip. Jared was already leaking pre-come and he moaned when Elias’s mouth closed over the head of his cock, his tongue still swirling lightly over the surface.
He teased him like that, sucking lightly, licking, until Jared whimpered, and his hands found their way to Elias’s head. “Please…”
Elias moved then, sucking in, sliding over the soft skin until his nose touched pubic hair and Jared’s cock was pushing into his throat. He swallowed once, then again, and that was all it took. Jared’s come flooded him and he swallowed even as he pulled back. Jared’s face was wet with tears again as Elias stood and Elias brushed his cheeks with his thumb.
“It’s okay.”
Jared nodded. “I know.”
“We’ll be fine.” Elias kissed his cheek and Jared pulled him into a crushing hug.
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
Chapter One
Jared knew only an hour out that fine wasn’t going to come easily. Elias stopped the car for gas. They were still outside the city and the gas station seemed to be empty but for them and the attendant Jared could see through the window.
“Hey, can you get us something to drink?” Elias asked, handing Jared money as he got out to pump the gas.
Jared eyed the door and looked around them, then nodded. They had talked about how he needed to get out and do more, learn how to interact with people. He went inside and grabbed bottled water. He was almost to the register before he saw the pictures, staring out from the tabloids that lined the counter.
He blinked, scanning over them slowly.
They were all grainy and dark, black and white…but he knew exactly what he was looking at…Jared on his knees in the sand in front of Elias with headlines like “Husband or Servant?” and “Who’s Kidding Who?”…Jared put the bottles on the counter and tried to drag his eyes away. No one was supposed to get close enough for pictures. Their security was supposed to be keeping them safe, staying out of sight unless needed, like now. Jared knew they were nearby, but he hadn’t even seen the cars.
The man at the counter recognized him; Jared knew it when their eyes met. He dropped a five dollar bill on the counter and grabbed the two bottles of water, running for the door. The man had the phone in his hand as Jared got the door open and he heard him saying “They’re here.”
Elias smiled as Jared emerged from the building, but the smile faded quickly. “What?”
Jared shook his head. “We have to go.”
“Let me finish.”
Too late. Three vans were pulling in, people with cameras and microphones pouring out of them, questions filling the air. Elias shoved the nozzle back into the pump and came to Jared’s side of the car, shielding him and getting the door open. “Get in. I’ll get us out of here.”
Jared didn’t argue, hiding his face as Elias pushed his way through them to climb back behind the wheel. He got the door closed and locked and reached for his phone. “Where the hell are you? We’ve got press all over us.” Elias leaned forward to look as two men tried to climb onto the hood of the car. “Now.”
Jared was shaking as Elias turned to him, taking his hand and kissing his knuckles. “It’s okay, our guys are coming. They’ll handle this.” Jared nodded, but kept his face averted from the cameras, holding up his hand to block them. “Are you okay?”
“They saw us,” Jared said, then realized Elias didn’t know what he meant. “On the beach. Yesterday.”
“What do you mean?” Elias asked.
“Pictures.” Jared looked up at him. “They took pictures of me on my knees for you.”
Elias’s hand cupped his cheek. “It’s going to be okay, Jared. This will die down soon. Some Hollywood starlet will go out boozing and flash her tits, and they’ll leave us alone.”
Behind them a dark SUV pulled in and Elias’s security team was moving around the car, moving the reporters and their cameras away. “Okay?”
Jared nodded, and Elias started the car, pulling them out of the gas station and back onto the road. He wasn’t convinced it would all just go away, not with the six month deadline hanging over their heads. JP had told him that sex and scandal sell…Jared wasn’t sure what exactly there was to sell, but the idea of an American nobleman losing himself into Service made news, and all the sensationalism of the explosions and the plots only made it bigger. He found himself at the center of it all because he was…well, what he was.
Jared laid his head back against the seat. Elias’s hand was on his thigh, warm and comforting. The sound of the road was soothing. What Jared was…he sighed and thought about that. He was a trained whore, a married man…he was naïve and afraid…he was apparently a Lord now, if he could believe what Elias had told him.
It was strange and uncomfortable. Especially heading home, where Elias’s family didn’t want him. Home, where Elias had to work, and Jared would spend the long days without him, waiting, helpless in the fight to get free of Stuart. JP was back home, back in school, and it would be summer before Jared got to see him again. It was okay when they were away, when he had Elias all to himself, but Jared was worried now that they were leaving their private sanctuary.
JP had warned him that the public sympathy that had helped save Elias the first time might turn on them, and Jared would be the first to admit that he really didn’t understand any of the stuff with the public and the media and why they were so interested in the tiny details of their lives, but he’d been shocked to see that picture. Shocked, hurt…afraid. If men with cameras could get so close, who was to say that others who wanted to hurt them couldn’t too?
“Jared?”
“Just thinking.” Jared murmured. He lifted Elias’s hand and kissed it.
“Stop worrying.”
“I’m trying.”
“That picture really upset you?”
Elias looked concerned and Jared tried to shake it off. “If they can get close enough to take our picture…what else could they do?”
“Who?”
Jared shrugged. He wasn’t even sure. There was this vague feeling of danger that laid under everything, always there. “Them. Stuart. Those others. Anyone.”
It was Elias’s turn to pull his hand up to kiss. “Stuart is in England, and he’s interested in the game. He’s going to come after us, but not with weapons.” He sighed. “The others? I’m more worried about them. We don’t know if we got them all.” He settled Jared’s hand back on his leg. “But I promise you they won’t get you again.”
“What about your mother?”
Elias’s look was quick and confused. “What about her?”
“She didn’t want us to get married.”
“No. No, she didn’t. But we did, and there’s nothing she can do about it.”
“She’s your mother. Your family.”
“You’re my family now, Jared.”
“But I can’t…” Jared rolled his eyes and sighed. It seemed so…odd to bring it up, but they hadn’t talked about it, and they were married and it was something married people did, something Lady Doherty had made sure he knew. “I can’t have babies.”
Elias pulled his hand away, put both hands on the wheel and steered them off the road. He put it in park and looked at Jared. “You what?”
Jared squirmed. “Your mother…she told me…she was sad because I could never give you babies.” Jared had never thought about it, not before Lady Doherty had pulled him aside at the reception, told him that it was a crime her prettiest son wouldn’t pass on his genes. She’d been sweet, telling him how beautiful the ceremony was, and how in love Elias was, but Jared would never give her son children. But she was right. Jared couldn’t.
“What makes you think I want children?” Elias asked, incredulous.
Jared squinted at him, trying to determine if he did or not. “It doesn’t matter if you do. I can’t have them.”
“My mother can be a bitch,” Elias said with a sigh. “Jared, I don’t need kids. I have you. If you want kids, we can adopt…or get a surrogate. I can’t believe we’re talking about this.”
“Maybe we should have talked about it before,” Jared said, crossing his arms and sinking deeper into the seat.
“Maybe my mother should mind her own goddamn business,” Elias replied explosively.
Jared couldn’t look at him. He sounded angry. It reminded him of the dream. The one where Elias sent him away. After a few minutes of silence, the car started moving again and Jared huddled into himself. They were almost home, back to the real world. Jared missed the beach house already.
***
Elias hated having to have bodyguards. Hated saddling Jared with them. But the press was camped out in front of the gates when they got back, and Jared had hidden his face from them as they drove through, had raced inside to avoid them once the car stopped. There hadn’t been any further threats, but Elias wasn’t taking any chances.
He looked up as the door to his office opened. “Donald, Glenn, thank you.” They were both solid looking men with broad shoulders and strong looking hands, in dark blue suits. There would be no mistaking them for anything other than what they were.
Elias stood, buttoning his jacket and looking to Jared who was slouched in the chair. “This is my husband, Lord Jared Doherty.” They had agreed that it was easier if Jared used his last name, though all the legal paperwork had his name as Karan-Doherty. “Jared, these are the men who are going to be handling your security.”
Jared grumbled something, then stood. He’d been moping since they got back, and the only time he seemed happy was when they were alone in their bedroom. Elias wished he knew a way to lift him out of the funk, back to the happy husband he had been at the beach. “I know it seems a little intrusive, but it’s for your own good.”
“I know.” Jared lifted his face, looked the two men over and then held out his hand to the men. After shaking both hands, Jared stuck his hands in his pocket, scrunching up his shoulders as he turned to look at Elias. “Are you really going to work?”
Elias nodded. “I’ll be home by six. Donald and Glenn will take you down to the learning center, and bring you home after.”
Jared’s eyes flitted over the two men, then back to Elias. “We can trust them?”
Elias pulled Jared to him, nuzzled into his neck. “I think so. Thomas hired them for us. Taylor and Morgan too.” His own bodyguards were waiting with the car. “I trust Thomas.”
Jared nodded. “Okay. Can I call you?”
Elias smiled. “Of course. You have your phone?” Jared fished in his pocket for it, holding it up. Elias had made it a priority on their return. He wanted Jared to be able to call him anytime. “You got the money I gave you?”
“I don’t need—“
“It makes me feel better,” Elias said, stopping the argument before it started. Jared wasn’t comfortable carrying cash, but Elias wanted to know he had it, just in case.
“Yes, I have it.”
“Good.” Elias kissed his cheek and moved to get his briefcase. “Jessica will be here tonight. I’ve got a car set up to pick her up at the airport.”
Elias stopped and looked at Jared. He looked miserable. They hadn’t been apart more than a few minutes since the wedding. It hurt, even though he knew Jared understood.
“I’ve got to go. Traffic’s going to be bad.”
Jared didn’t answer, and Elias was torn between just giving in to staying with him and forcing him to face his fear. Finally, Elias turned and headed for the car. He had a business to run, and no matter how much he’d rather stay home and spend the day reassuring Jared, he knew he couldn’t.
***
Jared watched Elias leave and sighed. It was almost nine, and he had an appointment with the tutor at the learning center at ten. “I guess we should go too,” he said to the one Elias had introduced as Donald.
“As you wish, sir.”
“I’ll be ready in ten minutes.” Jared moved past them, up the stairs and into the bedroom in search of his shoes. Elias had given him a half dozen different pairs, but he still defaulted to his sandals. If he was honest, he’d rather be barefoot, but he knew he was supposed to wear shoes when he left the house. He wanted to be comfortable, so he slipped his feet into the worn, familiar sandals.
He rolled his eyes as he opened the bedroom door and discovered Glenn standing beside it. “Your car is waiting, my Lord.”
Jared flinched at the title. He could see why Elias didn’t care for it. He sighed and nodded, heading down the stairs to where the other one was holding the door. Elias told him he’d get used to it, that he’d forget about them after a while. Jared didn’t think he would. The driver smiled as he opened the car door. Jared could hear the press clamoring for him to say something, punctuated by the sound and flash of cameras. He raised his hand, then Donald stepped in front of him, protecting him from sight as they moved to the car.
Glenn climbed into the front seat with the driver while Donald slid in beside Jared. It wasn’t the big car, with room for ten people, like they took sometimes. It was just a normal car, with darkened windows. The car moved and Jared breathed a sigh of relief when they were on the street. “The learning center has a garage. We’ll pull in there and avoid being seen,” Donald said, and Jared nodded.
He tried to breathe through the knot of fear in his stomach, but it wasn’t going away. He dug out his phone and pressed the number 1. It dialed Elias’ number. “Hey.”
Jared’s stomach settled almost instantly. “Where are you?” he asked.
“Stuck in traffic. You?”
“On our way to the center,” Jared responded.
“You okay?”
“Nervous. Lots of cameras. At the gate I mean.” He picked at the lint on his sweater. “Miss having you here.”
“I miss you too. The press will lose interest soon. Okay?”
Jared sighed. “Okay. Have a good day.”
“You too.”
Jared hung up the phone and settled into his seat, calmer now. He watched out the window as they pulled out of the residential area and into a business development. “Looks like someone knew where we were going,” Glenn said, pointing.
Jared looked out the front window. At least a dozen reporters with cameras and news crews filled the sidewalk.
“My Lord, get down. Milo, once around the block and into the garage.”
The driver nodded as Jared slunk down, his knees against the back seat, his head far enough down that only the top of his brown hair could be seen out the window. When the car finally came to a stop, Jared slid back up the seat, looking out the window cautiously.
It was dark in the garage, and no one around that he could see. Glenn was opening his door, while Donald moved toward the elevators. It seemed weird somehow. Weird and wrong. He followed Donald anyway, Glenn behind him.
“You’ll stay between us, my Lord.” Donald said as the elevator doors closed. “That way we can protect you.”
Jared nodded absently, watching the numbers climb. When the five lit up, the elevator stopped and Glenn stepped out. Jared followed, with Donald behind him. A smiling woman was approaching them, her dark hair swinging around her face. “I’m so sorry about the chaos out front. Security is trying to keep them away from the windows.”
She looked directly at Jared, held out her hand. “You must be Jared. Lord Doherty has made all of the arrangements. We’re setting you up in a private room.”
Jared shook her hand. She seemed nervous, like him. Elias told him that might happen and he should try to make it better. He smiled, despite the butterflies in his stomach. “What’s your name?” he asked, hoping he didn’t sound as nervous as he felt.
She smiled again. “Silly of me, I’m sorry. I’m Maggie Devall; I’m in charge here at the center.” People were starting to emerge from offices, staring. Jared shifted uncomfortably, biting his lip and leaning back toward his bodyguards. “Why don’t you come this way? I’ll get you settled in and go find Ellen.”
She led them into a small room with a few desks and a chalkboard. It was like being in a classroom of one…well, what Jared remembered about classrooms. It was nothing like the training rooms. Too big, too white. Too much furniture.
Jared moved away from the bodyguards, across the room to one of the desks. He stood or kneeled for lessons when he was in training. Hours on his knees learning the proper ways to speak, the proper poses and silences. Hours standing in the corner practicing being invisible, but aware, not zoning out so that he could respond when called. There was a lot more to Service than most people knew.
He pulled at the collar of his t-shirt. It was choking, too close to his skin. Lessons then meant naked, or nearly so. He was trained to be comfortable naked, trained to not cover his body or his face. He had the urge to rip the clothes off, but it wasn’t appropriate. He knew that. He clenched his fists and tried to tried to focus on the moment. On why he was here.
Everything was different now.
“My Lord?” Jared turned, surprised at the sound. Maggie was back, a shorter blond woman with her. “This is Ellen. Ellen, this is Lord Jared Doherty.”
“Jared…it’s just Jared,” he said, looking from her to the floor. He swallowed the burn of shame, the instinct to go to his knees. This shouldn’t be so hard.
“Well, Jared, I hope you’re ready. I think we’re going to have a lot of fun together.”
Jared forced himself to look up, to meet her eyes. He could do this. Elias was counting on him to do this. He doubted that there would be a lot of fun in it, but he could make it work.
Chapter Two
Elias was not enjoying his first day back at work. A week away was more than he really could afford, even though he had Jeff and Amanda there keeping things running while he was gone. He came in to reports and ratings and the start of the financial breakdown of the studio’s performance over the last five years.
He sighed explosively and the accountant stopped in his run-on run down. “Okay…give me the high view,” Elias said, frustrated.
The small man with dark glasses and buck teeth that Elias could not stop staring at stammered and looked to Jeff, then back to Elias. “My Lord?”
“How bad is it?”
“Well, it’s bad. We’ve never turned a real profit. Haven’t broke even in the last two years…and with the repairs, and the new equipment, that’s a lot of capital expenses.”
“How much?” Elias asked, downing some aspirin from his drawer with a swallow of lukewarm coffee.
“That depends on what you want to do.” He shifted his papers as if he might find an answer somewhere in them, something to tell Elias that wasn’t more bad news.
“I want to keep myself out of Service. It doesn’t have to be a big profit, just something more than breaking even.” He got up and went to the door with his coffee cup, holding it out to his secretary for a refill.
“Alex, just give us a number,” Jeff prodded.
The accountant wiped at his sweaty forehead. “Well…we have to cover the losses…and…there’s the cost of the new—“
“Alex!” Elias growled and the accountant paled further.
“In the neighborhood of 20 million will break us even for this year.”
“Fuck.” Elias collapsed back into his chair. Twenty million in just over five months…and he could bet that Stuart still had a few tricks up his sleeve. “I guess it’s a good thing I emptied my own accounts to cover what I could of the medical costs.” That had been another five million, if he threw in the funeral costs he was still paying out on. He was next to broke, but his father had promised to give him some to cover household expenses and security.
“Well, some of that will be covered in our normal budget,” Alex assured. “Our income hasn’t changed much, aside from the revenue we lost while we were off the air, but these expenses…”
Elias nodded; at least that he understood. “Okay. Jeff, get on the phone and get Bill to take another look at my contract. I want to know exactly what I need to have at the end of the year. Alex, I want you and your staff to go over every single nook and cranny, find any bleeding holes and plug them. We’re tightening our belts.”
“We can’t tighten them that much,” Jeff said, standing.
“It’s a start,” Elias said. He’d already cut his salary completely. He and Jared would have to rely on his father. And seeing that this was at least partially his father’s doing, Elias couldn’t even begin to feel bad about that. Alex left the room, clutching his reports, already on the phone.
Elias blew out hard and tried to figure out where else to start. He looked up when Jeff cleared his throat. “You okay?” Jeff asked.
Elias frowned at him. “You’ve been in the same room for an hour, Jeff.”
“I mean the papers, the pictures,” Jeff responded, lifting an eyebrow.
“Oh, that. Yeah. I’m fine. I mean, it’s got Jared wound up tight, but I think with him it’s more than just the pictures.” He sat back and breathed in deeply. “There’s the security issues, and he’s floundering a little with the whole idea of what he’s supposed to be doing now.” He couldn’t help but think about the way Jared had been withdrawn and quiet since telling him about what his mother had said to him. He sighed and crossed his arms. “Would you believe my mother went to him at the wedding to tell him he was stealing her chance at having pretty grandkids?”
“What?”
Elias shrugged. “I don’t know. She was nice to him through the whole ordeal, and he won’t say a bad word about her, but yeah, he said she was upset that he couldn’t give me kids.”
“Did she say anything to you?” Jeff asked.
Elias shook his head. “She wouldn’t dare. It isn’t like she doesn’t have Joshua and Jeremy and Jennifer. Hell, Jennifer’s already trying.” He sighed again.
“Speaking of Joshua, do you know what’s going on?”
Elias sighed. It wasn’t something he really wanted to think about. “I know that all the spoiled little brats are out on bail. Lisa managed to get restraining orders preventing any of them from coming within 500 yards of us, but I doubt that will really stop them.”
“That the reason for the two shadows?”
“Yeah. Jared’s got two as well. Another four working the gates at home. I’m not taking any chances. They’ve proven they’re not above coming straight at us.” And he needed to focus on work, not be worrying about where the next attack was going to come from.
***
It was a long, hard day, and Elias was later than he’d wanted to be getting home, but as he pulled himself out of the car and into the house, he got the distinct impression it was going to be longer and harder. He’d expected Jared to be waiting for him, anxious to see him after their first day apart…but Jared was no where to be seen.
Glenn stood at the bottom of the stairs and nodded at Elias as he came in. “Jared?”
“He went upstairs as soon as we got back and hasn’t come out of his room, my Lord,” Glenn responded.
“Is he okay?”
“I’m not sure. He was very quiet.”
“Did anything happen?”
“Not that I’m aware of, my Lord. He was only out of sight while in the bathroom at the learning center, ten minutes, tops.”
That didn’t seem long enough for anything to have happened, but Elias had a bad feeling. He handed off his jacket and briefcase to the maid and bounded up the stairs. Donald stood outside the bedroom door. Elias nodded to him, then let himself in.
Jared stood in the alcove that had been where Elias had put his bed before, facing into the corner. He stiffened when he heard the door, but kept his back to Elias.
“Jared?” Elias moved closer. He could see Jared was shaking, his arms crossed over his stomach. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
Jared shook his head, and turned away when Elias got close enough to touch him. “Tell me.”
“I don’t like it,” Jared said softly, his voice thick with tears and emotion.
“Don’t like what?” Elias touched his back gently and Jared pulled toward the wall, his arms tightening around himself.
“Don’t make me go back.”
Elias shook his head lightly, his hands on both of Jared’s arms now, trying to turn him. “You don’t have to go anywhere, Jared. Tell me what happened.”
“I don’t like it,” Jared repeated, sniffing now as Elias got him to move a little out of the corner. “I’m dumb. I’m stupid and I don’t like it. Don’t like being there. Being away from you. Don’t like it.” He dropped his hands and Elias caught one of them, kissing it and drawing him toward the chair.
“Okay…it’s okay, Jared. You’re not dumb. Come sit down and tell me what happened.” Jared’s face was red with emotion, his eyes bloodshot. He collapsed into the chair and stared at the floor. “Did someone say something to you? Was someone mean to you?”
Jared made a face and looked away. “Not supposed to tell.”
A rush of panic shot through Elias as he snagged the other chair with a toe and pulled it close while he caught Jared’s other hand. “You can tell me anything, Jared. I’m your husband. No secrets.”
“He said…he said if I told they’d print more pictures.” He looked back down at the floor, anywhere but at Elias.
“Who, Jared? Who said?” Elias prodded gently, letting go of one hand to cup Jared’s chin.
Jared lifted his face, but still didn’t meet Elias’s eyes. “Boy, in the men’s room. He said I must be stupid. Only stupid people go there. Said I’m so stupid I’m only good to be a Servant.” Jared’s breath stuttered.
Elias squeezed his hands. “Jared…” He wasn’t sure what to say exactly. Nothing he said was going to stop the hurt in Jared’s voice.
Jared’s eyes fluttered closed and he took a deep breath. “He said you only married me for the publicity…and it’s a joke and that they’ll never let me forget.”
Elias was furious that someone had gotten close enough to hurt Jared, even just with words, and his heart was breaking at the defeat in Jared’s voice. “Baby, look at me. Please.” Jared’s eyes opened and focused on him slowly. “I’m so sorry. I’m so very sorry that you had to hear someone say that. You know it isn’t true, right?” Jared’s nod was slow and miserable. “You know I love you so much I’d do almost anything to make you happy. I don’t care what anyone else thinks. I don’t care about anything but you.”
“I know. I don’t want to go back, though.” Jared swallowed and pulled his hands free to wipe his face. “I asked the lady if there was another way. She said we could have lessons here…if that’s okay.”
Elias breathed a little in relief. “Of course. It would be safer. I just figured you’d want to get out of the house.”
Jared shook his head. “I like it here.” He took a deep breath and leaned across to kiss Elias lightly. “I took a bunch of tests today.” His voice was still shaky, but he was clearly ready to change the subject.
Elias was relieved that the worst of Jared’s upset seemed to have passed as soon as he realized that Elias wasn’t going to force him into anything. “Yeah?”
Jared got up and went to the dresser, coming back with a folded packet of papers. “I did extra good on the math. My vocabulary sucks though.”
Elias took the papers and shuffled through them. “Sixth grade reading level, eighth grade math level, these are good. See, told you that you weren’t dumb.”
“You have to say that,” Jared said, his voice still pouty, though the corners of his mouth were curling upward. “You’re my husband.”
“Yes I am…and I’ve been gone all day…I think I deserve a little private time with you.”
“What about dinner?” Jared asked as Elias moved in to kiss him.
“Dinner can wait.” He licked over Jared’s lips tenderly before pressing in for a full kiss. “You taste better than anything the cook can make. Rather have you.”
“You said Jessica was coming.”
Elias grinned and turned them so that Jared’s back was closer to the bed. “I want you to come before she does.”
Jared rolled his eyes. “You’re terrible.”
“Terribly in love,” Elias countered cheesily, his hands sliding down to Jared’s groin. “Terribly horny.” He managed the zipper before Jared surged forward, and Elias had to step back. Jared’s hands closed over Elias’s hips, turning them again and pushing Elias back toward the bed.
“I think it’s my turn,” Jared said as Elias fell back on the mattress.
“Your turn?” Elias worked his zipper down as Jared bent to take off his shoes off.
“You got the last two…so it’s my turn. You wanted it to be even.” Jared lifted Elias’ foot as he finished, his tongue running over the soft skin of his arch.
“Jared, Jesus! Warn a guy.”
Jared grinned up at him, his tongue protruding between his teeth, his eyes glittering. Gone was the upset little boy he’d been minutes before, and in his place was a man with a sexual appetite that had taken both of them by surprise. “I’m gonna do it again,” Jared said before he did exactly that, licking Elias’s other foot, and fuck but Elias was hard, just like that. “Then I’m going to strip you and lick you…and fuck you so hard that every time you sit down tomorrow, you’ll think of me.”
Jared’s voice was deep and gravelly as he spoke and when Elias looked at him in surprise, Jared blushed, bright red from his hairline down to the collar of his shirt. It didn’t stop him though from fulfilling that promise, pulling Elias’s pants off and tossing them away before starting at his left ankle and licking, kissing, sucking, nipping his way up to Elias’s cock which was standing tall and proud. Jared spared it a lick or two before moving past it, unbuttoning Elias’s shirt as he went, pushing him further up onto the bed until Elias’s head was on the pillow.
“Feeling a little aggressive, Jare?” Elias asked, though he certainly didn’t mind it. Jared kissed him hard and fast, before pulling away to strip off his own clothes and coming back with a bottle of lube.
He was still flushed with embarrassment, the blush coloring his stomach even, but he slicked up two fingers and moved between Elias’s legs. He pushed in and Elias had to remind himself to relax, to trust. It had only been a little over a week since the first time Jared had come inside him. And Elias still tensed up with memory of a time before Jared.
Jared made quick work of the prep before he was slicking himself up and positioning himself for his first thrust.
They were still learning what worked and what didn’t, but somehow this right here was really working for Elias. Jared’s hands gripped his hips tight, held him in place with bruising force. His ass clenched at the first intrusion, then relaxed when Jared didn’t stop. Elias reached above him for the headboard, holding himself still as Jared filled him.
Jared’s first few strokes were slow, but he picked up speed, tugging Elias closer to change his angle until Elias was yelling, his vision swimming as Jared hit the sweet spot over and over. When he closed one huge hand over Elias’s cock, Elias saw stars, and he came so fast he almost missed it when Jared followed him seconds later.
Jared was still panting and sweating as he lay down beside Elias and reached to kiss him. “Was it…good?”
“Yeah, baby…it was good.” Elias assured, trying to catch his own breath.
“I’m sorry.”
Elias lifted up to look down at him. “For what?”
Jared wrinkled his nose. “I’m so sensitive. I need to grow a thicker skin.”
“I like your skin just like it is,” Elias said softly, kissing his cheek. “Don’t be sorry.”
Jared turned so that he could look fully into Elias’s face. “I’m going to work hard, learn how to be a good husband. You deserve that,” he said earnestly.
“I think you’re a pretty spectacular husband already,” Elias said.
Jared blushed again, but he smiled as he did. Elias was about to suggest they shower and go down to dinner, when the intercom near the bed buzzed. He reached for it. “Yes?”
“Sorry to disturb you, my Lord, but Mr. Caine and Ms. Dauson are here to see you.”
“Show them in to the living room. I’ll be down in a bit.” He got off the bed and went to the bathroom to wipe the come off his chest and out of his ass. “Take your time, Jared.” But as he came out of the bathroom, Jared was already into a pair of jeans. “Or not.”
Elias pulled on a pair of pants and a t-shirt and headed down the stairs. Elizabeth was pacing; Thomas stood at the bar pouring shots. “So, not a social call?” Elias said, his stomach clenching around all the reasons they could be there.
Elizabeth stopped her pacing and turned to face them. “We have a problem.”
“What problem?” Elias asked. He crossed to the bar. Jared came with him, slipping a hand into his.
Elizabeth inhaled deeply. “It’s your brother. He’s clammed up.”
Elias took the glass Thomas was handing him. “What do you mean?”
“He stopped talking. I think someone got to him, threatened him.”
Elias stared at her. “How does that happen?” Joshua was in a supposedly secure cell in a jail that housed actual criminals, not one of the country club places most nobles found themselves if they ever got a court to actually sentence them.
She sighed and turned away, her hands moving as if they could churn out the answer. “I don’t know. We are talking about nobility, with deep pockets and a lot of pull.” She pulled her hair out of her face and sighed. “Half the punks we arrested are never going to get charged, and the other half could walk away with a slap on the wrist without Joshua’s testimony. It’s worse than trying to prosecute celebrities.”
“What are you going to do?” Jared asked, his free hand sliding over Elias’s back in comfort.
“I offered to go kick the shit out of him,” Thomas said with a strained smile, “but ‘Liz won’t let me.”
Elias shook his head. “He knows it’s his only chance, right?”
Elizabeth nodded. “He doesn’t tell us everything he knows, he goes down for at least ten years, on just my testimony and Jared’s. More, if any of the evidence we collected ties him to more than Jared’s kidnapping.”
“So…what can we do, that won’t land Thomas in jail too?”
Elizabeth took the drink Thomas offered her. “I’m not sure. I was hoping you would talk to him.”
Elias downed half his drink. “I don’t know that I’d make a difference.” His last words to his brother hadn’t been pleasant. He’d been furious, hell, he still was. Joshua had been involved in the plot to kidnap Jared and use him to keep Elias from airing the only programming that was keeping him from missing the second deadline in his contract.
“Maybe he’ll tell you what he’s afraid of,” Elizabeth offered. “Or maybe he’s more afraid of you than whoever threatened him.”
“I doubt that.” Elias crossed the living room and sat on the couch, staring at the chair that Joshua had sat in that day, when they’d gotten Jared back and Elias had found out exactly who his brother was. “Who? Who could he be that afraid of?”
“Stuart.” Jared said, his arms crossed. “He’s afraid of Stuart.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “Stuart hasn’t come back to the States.”
“He doesn’t have to,” Jared said. “He’s got four sons, legitimate ones. More than that if you count the ones from Servants…like Darren. And he’s got money and influence.” Jared made a face, like something tasted bad. “It’s him.”
Elias nodded slowly. “I’ve seen first hand what Stuart thinks he can get away with. I’m willing to bet that it was him, or one of his sons. One of them was pulling that Marcus kid’s chain.” He downed the rest of his drink. “I’ll go see him tomorrow. Maybe I can talk some sense into him.”
He didn’t want to, but if he ended up taking the fall for what happened to Jared, when Elias could prevent it, his mother would never speak to him again. Worse, she could make his father stop supporting them financially, and right now, they couldn’t afford that. “Stay for dinner?”
“Love to, but my father and his new wife are waiting for us,” Elizabeth said, slipping her arm through Thomas’s arm. “I will see you tomorrow though. At the jail.”
“I’ll be there.” Elias stood and walked them to the door, leaning against it when they were gone. Jared came to him, kissing his forehead and gathering him into his arms. Suddenly, Elias was too tired to bother with dinner. Jared seemed to sense it, taking his hand.
“Come, my Lord…let me draw you a bath and massage your shoulders. You’ll sleep better.”"If you insist, my Lord," Elias whispered, making them both smile.
Chapter Three
“I don’t want you to go,” Jared said as Elias finished getting dressed.
“Jared, it’s no big deal. I’ll only be there long enough to talk to Joshua; then I’m going to work.”
Jared made a face and moved to grab Elias’s hips, pulling him closer until their bodies were touching. “Let me come with you then.”
Elias shook his head. “No. He doesn’t get to see you. I don’t want anyone who might be there watching him see you either. Don’t want to give them any ideas.”
Jared pouted, knowing Elias couldn’t resist his pouting, and sure enough, he stopped pulling away and kissed Jared’s pouting lips. “Stop.”
“Want you to be here with me.” Jared realized his voice was a little whiny but he couldn't help it.
Elias kissed him again, his hands sliding around Jared’s waist. “You’re going to be the end of me, you know that?”
“Stay home, we’ll have breakfast in bed and we’ll have sex all day,” Jared whispered in Elias’s ear.
Elias groaned and leaned into him. “That’s not fair.”
Jared grabbed onto the idea, moving his lips to touch the shell of Elias’s ear. “I want to suck your cock, lick it all over, swallow you…want to hear you beg me to finish, say my name like you do just before you come.”
Elias’s breath shuddered against Jared’s bare shoulder, but before he could say anything, there was a knock on the door. “My Lord, your car is waiting,” Morgan called through the closed door. “And Ms. Karan is waiting impatiently in the hall.”
“Jessica.” Elias hung his head against Jared’s chest. “I’ve got to go, Jared.”
Jared moaned as Elias pulled away and finished tying his tie. At the door, Elias turned back to him, his smile wicked. “But I hope that wasn’t just teasing…I’ll be home at six.”
“I’ll be here,” Jared said, dropping onto the bed. “Naked.”
Elias groaned and opened the door, disappearing behind it as it closed. Jared pouted to himself for a few minutes, then gave up and went to shower. The tutor Ellen was coming to start him on his lessons. He wanted to be ready. He wanted to learn things so that he wasn’t always so mixed up and afraid, so that he could be a better husband, help Elias.
***
“So, Jessica, listen. We’re making a quick stop. I need you to wait in the car,” Elias said as their car pulled up to the county jail. He straightened his tie, not exactly eager for the meeting he was about to have.
“I want to start learning the ropes; let me come with you.”
Elias shook his head. “This is personal. Half hour, tops. Then we’ll head in to the studio. Just wait here.” Taylor opened the door for him to step out. “Morgan, stay here with Ms. Karan. Taylor, you’re with me.”
Elias buttoned his jacket and Taylor fell into step behind him as they headed into the jail. Elizabeth had already set the stage, and she fell into step beside him after they passed through security to meet her. “They’re bringing him up. We’re in here.” She showed them into a small room with a window looking into a smaller room. “Me and Goliath here will watch from here. You’ll be in there with him.”
Elias nodded. The door of the smaller room opened and Joshua was dragged in by two guards. Chains clanked as they moved him into the room, pushed him into the chair and secured him. “He got violent yesterday,” Elizabeth said. “Had to be restrained. With you going in, I didn’t want to take any chances.”
Elias watched his brother shift and squirm as the guards withdrew. He had cuffs around his wrists and ankles, chained to the table. The orange of his jumpsuit drained the color from his face and he had a black eye. He’d lost weight in the short few months since Elias had seen him last and his blond hair had gotten dark and long. Elias blew out a breath and nodded. Elizabeth opened the door to the hallway and told the guards to let Elias in.
Joshua didn’t look up as he came into the room. “You look like shit,” Elias said as he moved closer.
“Yeah, no thanks to you,” Joshua snapped. “What do you want?”
Elias shrugged, leaning against the wall in an effort to seem like he didn't have a stake in what was happening. “Came to talk.”
“Don’t want to talk,” Joshua responded. He didn’t look at Elias, didn’t look at the mirror, just stared at the table.
“Suit yourself. You want to take the fall for these guys, I’m not going to stop you, but you’ll break Mom’s heart. She’s already furious with me, so I guess that leaves Jeremy to make her happy, give her grandbabies and all that shit.”
Elias pushed off the wall and headed for the door, stopping with his hand on the knob. “This really what you want, Josh? Are you this fucked up?” Elias asked, looking over his shoulder.
Joshua didn’t answer, but as Elias raised his hand to knock, Joshua cleared his throat. “They told me you got married.”
Elias stopped, turned back. “Who did?”
“Mom and Dad.”
“Yeah, I did.” Elias turned to face him, arms crossing again.
“Him?” His voice squeaked a little and he glanced up, then away.
Elias nodded. “If you mean Jared, then yes; him.”
Joshua’s face was twisted. “Marcus said you were no better than him.”
“Marcus. You’re still listening to that bastard?”
“Not like you gave me a lot of choice, when he’s the only one talking.”
Elias looked at him, narrowing his eyes. “That why you stopped telling them stuff? You wanted me to talk to you?”
Joshua shook his head. “Needed to see you.” He looked up at his brother. His green eyes filled with fear and he glanced at the mirror, then back to Elias. “Needed to warn you.”
“I’m listening.” Elias sat in the other chair.
“You gotta get me out of here." He dropped his eyes to the table, his mouth barely moving as he spoke. "They’re going to kill me, Eli. They’re going to kill me, and…” He leaned over the table, his voice dropping. “The guards are in on it. They let Marcus into my cell. He beat the shit out of me.”
“Saves me the trouble,” Elias said dryly, though the idea of the guards taking a part in hurting him made Elias nervous.
“Eli, I’m not lying. I’ll do my time, I’ll take the fall, I’ll testify. I don’t want to die.”
The fear was genuine, but Elias got the impression he wasn’t telling him everything. “What aren’t you saying?”
Joshua sank deeper into the chair, his eyes on his chained hands. “They’re threatening the family. Mom, Dad, Jeremy, Jennifer…you.”
“What kind of threats?” Elias asked.
Joshua shrugged. “I was getting beat up at the time. Not really sure.” His eyes lifted. “Other than what they plan for you and Jared. Marcus…he says ‘Once a Servant, always a Servant’…and he says that you—you’re a Servant now too.”
Elias couldn’t stop the shiver that ran through him, the memory of those long hours. “What is it you want from me, Josh?” Elias asked after a few moments of silence between them.
“Get me moved someplace safer, someplace they can’t get to me.”
“Tell me who’s pulling Marcus’s strings, and I’ll see what I can do,” Elias countered.
Joshua’s face paled further. “I can’t. I don’t know.”
“Which is it, you don’t know or you won’t tell me?”
“Elias…they’ll kill me before I even get back to my cell if I say anything more.” He fidgeted, his eyes skating up to the mirror, then the security camera. He pressed his lips together. “At least hug me before you send me to my death.”
Elias raised an eyebrow, but stood slowly and moved closer. He bent forward and hugged Joshua to him as much as he could with the cuffs and chains and awkward position.
“His mother is a Stuart.” Joshua pressed the words into Elias’s ear, barely whispered. Elias stood, looked at his brother, then the mirror, his blood cold.
“I’ll be back.” Elias moved to the door and knocked. “I’m not done with him,” he told the guards, then let himself back into the observation room. When Elizabeth turned to face him he sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. “What can we do to get him out of here?”
“Why, what did he tell you?”