Chapter 2

He shifted his weight in the saddle to ease sore muscles and pulled the drowsing young man snug against his chest. He checked the position of the moon through the treetops, reassured he was traveling in the direction he’d sent Bryce out to scout earlier.

Taden glanced at the burden in his arms and smiled, bemused by his beauty. Moonlight caught in his hair, creating a golden fan against a white cheek. Taden moved the reins to his left hand and tucked the silken strands behind a small ear. He noted the bruises under his eyes.

The young man moved against him, seeking warmth. Taden drew his cloak tighter over him, instantly, intensely aware of him. The stranger’s body was an exciting weight against his chest, recalling nights of passion with others, far in the past, none of which had been as beautiful as this man in his arms.

He ran his tongue over dry lips as a hesitant excitement filled him. Could this be the one to break the lonely cycle of his life? His days were spent in service to his family and those dependent on them, his nights alone in an empty bed. He longed for someone of his own, a lover to give him purpose outside the needs of others.

The stranger woke with a soft moan and turned in the saddle to face him. Taden held his breath as the dark lashes flickered and opened. There was confusion in the lovely green depths, and a soft breath escaped the pale lips. Taden bent his head, wanting to know their taste.

He straightened abruptly, amazed. Had he almost kissed him? Did the young man have him to fear as well? He’d made himself an oath to protect him, then nearly took the basest advantage. That made him no better than the Sutherlin soldiers he’d killed that night.

He watched awareness flood the lovely eyes, but before he could reassure him, the man lunged from the saddle with a startled cry, stumbling to keep his footing as he landed. The horse sidestepped, but Taden reined him sharply to a halt.

They stared at each other, the stranger’s chest heaving. Taden’s heart squeezed at his evident terror, but the youth stood his ground and asked, “What do you want of me?” His courage was an almost overwhelming attraction to Taden, but his eyes darted into the trees as if to assess his options of escape. Taden had to tread carefully.

“Don’t you remember?” he asked, his tone gentle. “I freed you. I’m Taden, the baron of these lands.”

The man blanched, his gaze traveling down the dark path behind them. Taden hurriedly reassured him. “They’re dead. Please, put aside your apprehension and come to my camp. Let us see to your wounds. In fact…” he dismounted slowly, holding out his empty hands as the youth took a step back. “I have dressings in my saddlebag. I can at least bind your wrists.”

The man looked at the blood drying on his forearms and the fresh stains on his palms, black in the moonlight. He worried a lip, seeming achingly young, but then his lips closed firmly and he nodded. “As you wish.”

Taden used the water from his flask to clean the young man’s slim arms and hands, wincing at the sores on his delicate wrists, which still oozed blood. He bound them in clean cloth, glancing up at a hiss of pain into the youth’s wide green eyes he could willingly drown in. He wasn’t sure what drew him so irresistibly. After several painful relationships, he’d sworn never to let anyone close again. So why did he tremble when the young man touched his hand?

“My name’s Nathaniel. Thank you for saving me.”

Taden had to clear his throat. “How are the ribs?”

Nathaniel glanced at his torso, the bruising stark on his white skin. He pulled Taden’s cloak closed over his chest. “I’ll be fine. They’re painful, as you might expect, but the soldiers knew what they were about. The captain had warned them not to damage me.”

Taden blinked several times at the almost arrogant tone of his voice, but with a quick glance at the descending moon, decided to leave his questions for the morrow. “Come. We need to find my friends before the moon sets completely and leaves us in darkness.”

Nathaniel took a step back and clasped his hands behind him. “I’m not going with you.”

“No?”

Taden looked Nathaniel’s slim figure over, noting the exhaustion and pain betrayed in his pale skin and heavy-lidded eyes. He stowed the remaining bandages in the saddlebag without a word, then climbed into the saddle and put out his hand.

“Surely whatever it is can wait until daylight?” he asked, trying for reason before the man collapsed on his feet. Nathaniel glanced down the trail again and ran a trembling hand over his face.