Free Stealing West by Jamie Craig Page B

ushered Leon inside, shutting and locking the door behind him. Steam rose from the tub, and Thomas's muscles cried out for the soothing water. But that wasn't why he ordered the bath to be set up. Thomas had a more pressing matter in mind as he unbuckled his belt.
    “Get undressed.”
    Leon glanced at him quizzically, but obeyed without fail. He sat on the edge of the bed to tug off his boots, tossing them carelessly to the side, followed quickly by his socks. It was the first real chance Thomas had to see the gimpy ankle, the crooked little toe, the odd angle of some of the bones. It was a wonder he ever got his boots actually on, but Leon didn't flinch under the inspection. He just continued to strip until his clothes rested in a heap on the floor.
    The front of his thighs and the angular lines of his hips were scratched and raw, evidence of their fucking that morning. Leon's hard cock angled upward toward his flat stomach, but when he noticed the focus of Thomas's attention, he grinned and deliberately skimmed his fingers over the marks.
    Thomas's mouth ran dry. He had intended to order Leon into the tub, but for the moment, he couldn't speak. The scrapes and cuts on his thighs were a sharp contrast to his pale skin, an even sharper contrast to the bruises on his throat. He had never treated anybody like that before—had never really wanted to. He didn't know what to make of the fact that he enjoyed the visual evidence of his own cruelty, or the fact that Leon enjoyed flaunting it and drawing his attention.
    But it wasn't just the marks. Thomas had imagined Leon's body several times, based on the glimpses of bare skin he had seen, and the feel of Leon's frame pressed against his. Though he had correctly imagined the general shape and form of his figure, he had failed on the specifics. More than that, he had failed to prepare for the sight of Leon's naked body, bare flesh waiting to be touched again.
    “Get in the tub.”
    As soon as he stepped into the hot water, Leon groaned, a sound that went straight to Thomas's cock. “I haven't had a real bath in months.” He disappeared for a moment, submerging himself completely to wet his head. When he popped back up, water ran down his face and in delectable trails over his neck and chest. “I'm just going to bunk in here, I think. You can have the bed.”
    “I expect you'll change your mind once that water gets cold.”
    Thomas sat on the edge of the bed and pulled his boots off, then pushed his pants down to the floor. His shirt followed. Even if he didn't change his mind, Thomas had no intention of letting Leon sleep anywhere except on the bed. And he wasn't above using the rope to keep Leon on the bed until he was good and finished with him—though he was certain Leon wouldn't try to go anywhere.
    He pulled a short stool over to the tub. The water was still clear, and Leon's cock looked even more appealing than it had before. He plunged his hand beneath the still surface and fisted the thick length.
    “I thought we could have a talk.”
    Leon arched up into his touch, his lashes fluttering shut as he tilted his head back. It exposed his neck even more. “I like this kind of talk. Talk harder.”
    Thomas flexed his fingers, increasing the pressure around Leon's shaft. “ Sir . I expect a certain level of respect from you from now on.”
    That drew his attention. Leon leveled a frown at him. “What're you talking about? I already told you I respect you.”
    “I know. But now I want you to demonstrate it.”
    He looked pointedly at the hand curled around his erection. “And letting you lead me around by my prick doesn't do that?”
    Thomas released him and flicked the drops of water from his fingers. “That door will lock from the outside. I could leave you in here to think about it.”
    The amused behavior vanished. The eyes Leon fixed on him weren't mocking or sly; they seemed genuinely confused by Thomas's threat, his youth shining through. His attitude often