Sentries Box Set

Chapter 9

Todd poured a generous amount of coffee beans into the grinder and turned the crank slowly. His mind turned in about the same manner. Sounds of Nick moving around in the other room became background noise. Todd leaned against the kitchen counter, back to the rest of the apartment, concentrating on his task. He’d probably scared the hell out of Nick yesterday, between the trip across town and then last night.

He’d kick himself, hard, if he was physically capable of such a move. How could he have just left Nick sitting in that bar? If the—whatever that had been—had gotten to Todd, Nick would have been left abandoned there, unprotected and at the mercy of the other sentries. Todd had made provisions for Nick if something were to happen to him, of course. He’d made it legal and binding before going to retrieve Nick. The problem was that Nick wouldn’t know what to do or where to go, or even how to leave the city legally if something were to happen to Todd. The man designated as Nick’s new master wouldn’t have any way of knowing if Todd died unless he got word—he didn’t live in the city and it was likely Todd’s father wouldn’t pass the word on too quickly.

Nick had a decade of training learning to fight, think on his feet, and blend in when the need arose. However, he was clueless about why that training was needed or what Todd did.

“He sees evil and can feel emotions from people,” Todd muttered. “There’s a lot of damn evil in the world.” He finished prepping their coffee. “Yeah, I’m a moron and Nick needs to be what he was trained to be, just like me.”

Leaving Nick open to attack like that was something Todd vowed never to do again. He had to remember it wasn’t just him anymore; he had Nick to consider in everything he did. He also had to stop living in fantasy land and fill Nick in on important details such as where to go for help if needed.

Those thoughts brought Todd to what happened between them last night. If Nick’s face and the noises coming from his mouth were any indication, the kid had enjoyed it thoroughly. Todd had promised not to force Nick, and he intended to stick to that promise. He’d never promised not to try seduction in order to win Nick. Todd’s efforts certainly seemed to be appreciated. Nick’s enjoyment made Todd’s heart flutter and his c**k twitch.

A mate was what Todd wanted, and there was no reason he couldn’t work toward attaining that goal.

He’d gotten pretty good at reading Nick, even in this short time, and Todd’s instincts told him Nick wanted the same thing. Trying to get Nick to talk about what he was feeling could backfire. It was possible Nick would simply agree to anything Todd asked or say what he thought Todd wanted to hear. No, Nick had to initiate that conversation. The bulk of their relationship had developed via letters written over the course of many years. They had genuine feelings toward each other, otherwise they wouldn’t have such a mutual physical attraction, Todd had to remember that.

“Hey, Nicky, I got some food packed up, and we can hit the café for breakfast if you want.” Todd talked over his shoulder, not paying much attention to what Nick was doing.

No answer.

Todd sighed. Maybe he’d read Nick wrong and the boy was fearful of how Todd would be this morning. One tiny step forward, three huge steps backward.

Twisting around and heading out to the main part of the apartment, Todd called, “Hey, Nick, you get lost out—” Todd’s voice stuttered to a halt as he nearly swallowed his tongue. He tripped over his own feet in an effort to stop.

Nick knelt on the floor at the foot of Todd’s bed.

Naked.

He’d curled his torso over his legs so his forehead nearly touched his knees. Long chocolate-colored bangs hung over his eyes. The hair at the nape of his neck curled up ever so slightly.

On the floor and close enough to Nick’s knees it nearly touched him was the wooden box holding Nick’s collar, opened.

“Nicky?”

Nick’s voice was soft and steady. “You are my master, but I want a mate.” Nick lifted his head to meet Todd’s eyes. Maybe Todd hadn’t misread anything. “Please?”

Todd stood there staring stupidly, trying to remember the intricacies of breathing. In, out…in, out…

“Please?” Nick repeated. This time his voice was barely more than a whisper and trembled. He’d obviously mistaken Todd’s stunned silence for a rejection.

Regaining some semblance of composure, Todd walked forward and dropped to his knees. Hands gripping Nick’s shoulders, Todd pushed until Nick was sitting straight, leaning back on his heels. He moved one hand to place his fingers under Nick’s chin and pressed up until Nick’s head was tilted up and back. Todd reached between them, took the collar from its box, gently wound it around Nick’s long, elegant neck, and fastened it snugly.

Todd slipped one arm around Nick’s back and pulled the young man in close, dragged his tongue up and down Nick’s neck and nipped the sensitive skin until Nick was shivering against him. Todd moved his other hand to the top of Nick’s head and tangled his fingers through Nick’s long hair. Todd guided Nick’s mouth to his, pushed his tongue inside, slipped and slid it over Nick’s until he coaxed Nick’s tongue into his mouth so Todd could suck and tease.

Inching closer on his knees, Nick pressed his thighs to Todd’s, his chest and stomach pushed flush against Todd’s. Nick slid his arms over the small of Todd’s back. He spread his hands flat over Todd’s ass. Todd felt Nick lengthen and harden against him, wetness from Nick oozing through Todd’s jeans. His own c**k, swollen to the point of aching, strained to get out of his jeans.

After breaking their kiss, Todd breathed against Nick’s cheek. “God, I want you…mate…I want that, too.” He remembered his first few times, and he could only imagine how frightened Nick must be, raised without any real human affection or physical contact. Nick was shaking, and Todd sensed it was only partially from excitement and arousal. Todd leaned back and rubbed Nick’s arms. “I need my clothes off, buddy.”

Nick swallowed convulsively and nodded, his gaze traveling to Todd’s shirt. Using both hands, Nick fumbled with Todd’s buttons, getting about half of them undone before Todd took Nick’s hands in his own. “Hey, Nicky.” He pressed a soft kiss to Nick’s forehead. “Relax. Take it slow.”

“Okay.” Nick bit his lip, took a deep breath, and with steadier hands, unbuttoned and removed Todd’s shirt. Nick’s hands skimmed over Todd’s shoulders, down his biceps, and then rested them against his sides. Fingertips easing under Todd’s T-shirt, barely touching Todd’s skin, Nick lifted the shirt. Todd raised his arms and let Nick slide it up and over his head, then drop it to the floor behind him with his other shirt.

Todd ran the back of his hands gently over Nick’s face. Nick closed his eyes, leaned into the touch, and rubbed his cheek against Todd’s hand. “C’mere. Come on. Not hurting you.” Todd leaned forward and brushed his lips over Nick’s eyes, down his mate’s cheeks. Nick shivered and pressed against Todd’s chest. Holding him close, Todd nudged against Nick’s jaw with his lips, getting Nick to tip his head back so Todd could tease Nick’s neck with teeth, lips, and tongue.

Nick tentatively moved his fingers over Todd’s back and shoulders, then became braver, pressing more firmly against Todd. Todd wrapped both arms around Nick’s waist, slowly stood up, and moved them backward until Nick was trapped between him and the bed. Pressing lightly on Nick’s hips, Todd guided him down, laid him on his back. From the table beside the bed he took a small tube of lubricant and dropped it on the floor close to where they lay on the bed.

Going slow, Todd wedged between Nick’s spread legs as he had the night before. This time he stretched out until his lips pressed to Nick’s. “You need to tell me if something hurts, and what you like or don’t like,” Todd murmured, lips skimming over Nick’s skin, inching down his body. Moving over the line of Nick’s jaw and again down the column of his neck, Todd licked and sucked the tender skin before moving on to Nick’s collarbone, sucking and nipping, putting far more personal marks on Nick than a brand. “Mate,” Todd’s voice rumbled out.

“Like th-that.”

Todd hummed against Nick’s skin, enjoying how Nick shivered at his touch. Todd’s tongue swirling over Nick’s n****e had him gasping and arching into Todd’s mouth. Todd dragged his tongue across and fastened his mouth over Nick’s other n****e, scraped teeth over the hard nub, sucked on it until Nick’s back bowed up, entire body shuddering, breath raw, frantic pants. Inching down Nick’s body, Todd worked the tense muscles loose with tongue, nips, and massaging fingers.

By the time he nosed through the soft curls around Nick’s c**k, Nick was quivering with sheer excitement, Todd could feel it in how Nick writhed and arched beneath him, fear forgotten. He’d learned in those first few days, once he got Nick to relax, that his mate’s intense curiosity took over and drove him. Todd knew the best way to get Nick to relax.

He couldn’t help the short laugh and smile when Nick yelped in surprise as Todd’s mouth slid down Nick’s c**k. Pressing both hands against Nick’s hips, Todd held his mate to the bed as he used tongue, lips, and teeth on Nick, delighted when Nick’s hands found their way to Todd’s head, brushed over his hair, down his neck, and to his shoulders.

Moving one hand slowly, Todd took Nick’s balls, turned them over, and rubbed his thumb over the soft, velvety skin. The whimpering noises from Nick told Todd he was getting close. Slowly, Todd’s fingers eased away. He pulled off Nick’s c**k, leaned over to grab the lube, and smeared some on his fingers. Taking Nick’s c**k in his mouth, swallowing Nick down and sucking, Todd eased first one finger, then another into Nick’s opening. Moving carefully, Todd grazed Nick’s prostate, knowing what that did to Nick by how his back bowed and his neck stretched and from the noises he made.

When Todd pressed a third finger in, stretching and opening Nick, then crooking just so to hit his sweet spot again, Nick’s breathing faltered.

“Come, Nicky.” Todd barely got the words out before Nick’s entire body was thrashing and shuddering with his orgasm. Todd worked him through it until Nick’s shudders eased. Todd hooked one finger through the ring on Nick’s collar and pulled Nick upright. He met Nick halfway, pressing his tongue through Nick’s lips and into Nick’s mouth.

Leaning back and kissing along Nick’s neck—Todd didn’t think he’d ever get his fill of Nick’s neck—Todd walked on his knees farther up on the bed, straddling Nick.

“Liked that.” Nick exhaled against Todd.

“Good.” Todd turned Nick over, spread him out over the bed, and nudged his legs apart enough to kneel between them. Todd kneaded Nick’s smooth skin and lean muscle over his back. Leaning forward, he pressed kisses and then sucked the knobs of Nick’s spine. “This is going to be uncomfortable the first few times. I need you to tell me if it’s too much.”

“Okay.” Nick tensed for a few beats, but Todd rubbed it away.

Todd’s hands moved up and down Nick’s sides a few times before gripping Nick’s hips and easing him up onto his knees. Todd nipped and licked over Nick’s back and then his ass, relishing the feel of warm, smooth skin. Todd generously covered his own d**k with the lubricant. He wound one arm around Nick’s hips and pressed the head of his c**k against Nick’s entrance. When Nick tensed, Todd stopped. “Stroke yourself for me, Nicky.”

“But I just—”

“Trust me. Now do it.” A harder nip to Nick’s shoulder got a groan and a nod. Todd felt Nick shift to get one hand under himself, grip his soft c**k and began moving his hand. Todd bit down again, licked over the mark his teeth left, and pushed inside the tight, welcoming warmth of Nick’s body. Nick immediately went rigid and squeaked out some noise a bit too close to pain for Todd’s liking. Moving his hand over Nick’s hand and c**k, Todd gripped Nick’s wrist and got him stroking himself. “That’s my boy.” Another firm nip and Nick’s hips moved back, ground against Todd, and pushed him deeper.

As Nick’s c**k started to swell, Todd picked up his own pace, moving into and nearly out of Nick with sure, even strokes until he thought he was going to explode. Nick’s whimpers of pain turned to groans of excitement. Each time Todd growled out “You’re mine” and nipped and sucked Nick’s shoulders and back, Nick moaned and moved his hips faster against Todd. Breathless pants told Todd he wanted more.

Finally, Todd let go, rutting as deep into Nick as possible. He barely managed to keep from pushing the two of them flat against the bed. His entire body trembled and jerked, and he pumped hot and hard into Nick. After pulling out as he softened, he hoisted Nick up and into his arms, against his chest. With a scrape of nails over Nick’s now-hard c**k, he nipped at Nick’s neck. His voice came out rough and deep as he commanded, “Give it to me, Nicky.”

Nick gulped, shouted, and came hard, spurting over both their hands.

They held tight to each other until they were both breathing slower. Nick eased off the bed, and Todd watched as he went toward the bathroom, enjoying the way Nick moved. The water ran for a few minutes. By the time Nick was back, damp towel in hand, Todd was lying on his back on the bed. Nudging against Todd’s side, Nick stretched next to him and twined his legs through Todd’s. Nick wiped the towel over Todd, starting at his shoulders and working downwards, washing him. Todd folded one arm under his head and used the fingers of his other hand to stroke through Nick’s hair. “You okay?”

“I am.” Nick smiled that sweet, dimpled smile Todd adored. “A bit sore. Nothing bad.”

“It’ll be like that for a few days. Tell me if it’s too painful.” Todd sighed leisurely as Nick’s hand smoothed the towel over him and worked down his sides, over the muscles of his abs, and massaged his thighs. He stretched even more and relaxed into Nick’s touch. Todd caressed Nick’s cheek and down his neck when Nick leaned in, pressing his lips to Todd’s chest, licking over his n*****s, sucking in gently and imitating Todd’s earlier actions.

Nick was awkward and unsure, but Todd didn’t do a thing other than lay there and enjoy his efforts. Nick obviously wanted to explore and learn, and Todd wasn’t going to do or say anything that might thwart that desire. Besides, awkward and unsure aside, it felt damn good. When Nick’s hand dipped lower and he ran his thumb over Todd’s hardening c**k, he glanced up at Todd.

Todd smiled and let his fingertips trip lightly up and down Nick’s back. “Feels good.”

Nick spread the towel over Todd’s belly and wound his fingers around Todd’s c**k, stroking slowly. When Todd moaned, Nick curled around Todd and drew his tongue, broad and flat, up Todd’s length, back down, and across balls. It was a supreme effort on Todd’s part to keep from grabbing Nick’s hair and forcing his mouth down onto Todd’s c**k. Instead, he lightly pressed against Nick’s jaw. “Yeah, there. Like that.”

A minute later, Todd did grab Nick’s hair. He pulled Nick away just far enough to keep Nick from getting a face-full of Todd’s spunk. Todd used the towel to wipe himself down again, and then one corner of it to wipe some bits of thick white c*m from Nick’s neck, before he tossed it at the bathroom. After scooting up farther in the bed, winding one arm around Nick and tugging him close, Todd relaxed back against the pillows. Nick settled his head on Todd’s chest and sighed contentedly when Todd pulled the heavy blankets over them.

“I liked that,” Nick mumbled against Todd’s shoulder.

Rubbing the top of Nick’s head, Todd chuckled. “That was the point.”

Nick snuggled closer and wrapped one arm around Todd’s middle. Warm and completely sated, Todd’s mind began drifting. They should get up and get on the road, but what the heck? A few hours wouldn’t matter. He yawned and shifted Nick to a better spot against him. Sleep started at the edges of his mind and worked inward.

“Todd?”

“Hmm?”

“Can we take some of the coffee with us?”

“Sure.”

A few seconds later, Todd was floating in that place not awake and not asleep, comfortable, relaxed, and—

“Todd?”

He coughed and cracked open one eye, craned his neck to look at Nick. Nick squirmed around and shoved his hip over Todd’s leg. Todd reminded himself Nick had just turned twenty-two and was a bit more on the energetic side. “Huh?” He couldn’t come up with bigger words right now. He’d just shot most of his brain cells out through his d**k—twice.

“Are we going to be able to do this in the wagon? On our trip?”

That made Todd laugh outright. He wound his arms tighter around Nick, hugged his mate and ruffled his hair. “You betcha, Nicky. In fact, I’m counting on it.” Todd knew right then and there he’d never have another partner, in bed or out, for any reason.

Their midmorning departure turned into an early evening departure. While they packed, Nick asking question after question about the caldera and who they were going to see and why made Todd smile. Todd had lived by himself since he’d turned sixteen. In the months leading up to Nick coming to live with him, he’d worried about sharing his space with someone. He realized having Nick with him made the emptiness and loneliness inside of him vanish.

After grabbing an early dinner, they lugged their bags the few blocks to the livery where their wagon was stored. While Nick packed the wagon, Todd began harnessing the team of horses. When Nick was finished, he stood quietly beside Todd.

“Come here.” Todd waved him closer. “You need to learn how to do this.”

“Todd, the law…I shouldn’t.”

“I just want you to know how, in case I can’t someday and you have to.” Todd took Nick’s arm and pulled the younger man close, positioned Nick between himself and the horse. “It’ll be okay.” Todd turned Nick, threaded his arms under Nick’s, took Nick’s hands, and showed his mate how to hook up the horse’s harness. He punctuated his movements with “That there, this here, loop and buckle…”

Nick turned his head far enough to look at Todd. “It’s complicated.”

“You’ll learn.” Todd tightened his arms so Nick had to lean back against his chest more than he was. “And if you don’t—” Todd was surprised when Nick went rigid in his arms, sucked in a breath and held it. The change was so sudden and drastic it took Todd’s mind a few seconds to catch up. Something had rattled and spooked Nick so completely he’d literally frozen. Todd kissed the back of Nick’s neck. “We’ll have to keep practicing,” Todd quipped. To further lighten the mood, Todd moved one hand down and patted Nick’s belly then poked at his ticklish spot.

Nick jerked to the side, swallowed hard and nodded. The set of his shoulders relaxed, and he silently opened the livery doors so Todd could drive the team and wagon to the street.

By the time they cleared the city, the sun was setting. Since they’d slept half the day, traveling into the night wasn’t a chore. When they were a few miles beyond the city border, Todd reached out and slid one arm around Nick’s shoulders. “Come on over here.” Todd urged Nick across the seat until he was pressed to Todd’s side. “You doing okay? You’ve been quiet.”

Nick leaned against him and nodded. “Yeah, I am. How come your father hates me so much?”

“He doesn’t hate you, Nick.” Todd sighed. How was he going to explain this without having to explain it all? Especially when he wasn’t sure he knew everything. “He doesn’t know you.”

“But if he arranged for our binding, why is he angry about it?”

“He had to enter into the agreement with your village because I was underage, but it wasn’t his idea.” Todd nudged Nick’s arm with his elbow and held the team’s reins out to him. “You need to learn this, too.”

“I’m not allowed to drive a team. No slave is.”

“I just want you to be comfortable driving, and I need to know you can do this if you ever have to.” Time to start explaining. “Because of the job we’ll be doing, some of the laws are lax at times. The trick will be knowing when that time is right.”

Nick eyed Todd and took the reins. Todd held on with him, showing him what to do. When Nick seemed comfortable doing it alone, Todd let go and leaned back resting one ankle on the opposite knee. Nick hadn’t asked more, but Todd felt the need to add more details. “My dad signed the papers, but he wasn’t who paid for you. Someone else found you, heard about your ability, thought you were special, and decided you and I’d be bound together. I was raised to do a job with a certain set of skills. You have that ability to see evil and things other people can’t see. Those are necessary skills in my—our—line of work. Others thought you’d be useful, but you needed to belong to someone who wouldn’t be afraid of what you can do. So, even though my father went through the motions, he didn’t agree, but he didn’t have a choice. I’m glad it happened that way.”

“Me, too.” Nick smiled shyly. “Who was it?”

“Here, do this to get the horses around the rough spots.” Todd put his hands over Nick’s and helped him make slight adjustments. Then he rubbed Nick’s back a few times before leaning back again. “You’ll meet him. It’s who we’re going to see. Sort of our boss, and a true friend. He lives near the caldera. If anything ever happens to me, he’ll take care of you, give you a good home.” Todd turned Nick’s head so he could look into Nick’s eyes. “That’s all he’ll do.”

Relief flooded Nick’s face. “I only want…you…just you,” he stammered out.

Todd pressed a soft kiss to Nick’s temple. “That’s how I want it, too, and that’s how it’s going to be for both of us. I keep your papers and those that transfer ownership to him in my travel trunk.”

Nick chewed his lip and nodded. “Do you remember your mother?”

“No. My dad never talks about her, and I mean never. I don’t know anything about her.” He yawned and stretched. “What do you say we call it a night? We won’t be there for a few days. No rush. Jimmy, the man we’re going to visit, is going to give me grief for taking so long anyway.”

Nick laughed. “Not in a hurry to be chastised?”

“Nooo. Nope.”

It was deep into the night by the time they found a suitable place to camp for the night. They set up a fire and bedded down the horses.

“You like them a lot, don’t you?” Todd patted one of the horses on the neck and set a bucket of water down for the animal.

Nick was currying the other horse. He stopped for a moment and nodded. “I think they like me, too.”

“Oh, I know they do. Their ears move so they’re always pointed toward you.”

“That’s probably because I talk to them…and feed them.” He stopped long enough to clean the horse’s feet. “One of my chores in the village was caring for the livestock. Apparently, I have a knack for that as well.”

Todd nodded. “I’m inclined to agree. You do a good job with them.”

Nick smiled softly. “Thanks.”

Though the days were warming, the temperature at night still dropped to close to freezing. Todd and Nick were warm and snug, wrapped around each other inside their wagon. Waking up every morning with Nick drooling on his shoulder filled Todd with warmth and tenderness.

There was little traffic on the road, and after the second day none at all. Hardly anyone traveled this close to the caldera if they didn’t have to, and Nick’s smile every time Todd stopped for a rest sent all Todd’s rational thoughts flying away. While he drove, Nick seemed content to sit sideways on the bench using Todd’s shoulder for a backrest, reading or sometimes writing and drawing in one of the leather-bound journals Todd had given him over the years. Todd decided Nick was trying to make up for twenty-two years of no affection or physical contact in two short weeks—not that he minded one bit.

They reached the caldera’s eastern edge late morning on the third day. Todd packed some food and a few bottles of beer into a backpack he handed over to Nick to carry. In a second one, he stuffed his normal collection of weapons and two blankets. It took about an hour of hiking before Todd led Nick to the top of a ridge. The trees were thinner there, mostly pines.

Nick gasped when he looked out over the caldera, making Todd laugh.

“This ridge is the edge of the caldera,” Todd explained. Pointing to the body of deep, dark blue water below, he said, “That is the actual crater created when the volcano blew, or so the story goes.” Next he turned Nick a bit to see the curved edge of the ridge. “See how it follows around?”

“Yeah. This is…I don’t even know what to say. It’s so much more incredible than I ever imagined.” He turned and completely caught Todd off guard by throwing his arms around Todd’s neck, hugging tightly. “Thank you,” Nick whispered.

“Aww…Nicky. You always wrote about this and seemed so interested in it. Honestly, I couldn’t wait to bring you here.” Todd gripped Nick’s biceps and moved him back far enough to plant a quick kiss on his cheek.

“I sent you that picture I drew because I knew the tutors would burn it, but also because you were always sending me things, and I had nothing to give back.”

“Yes, you did. More so than you’ll ever know.” Todd pulled Nick back in, kissing him slowly and deeply until they were both breathing hard. After a minute Todd broke away and sat on the ground, tugging Nick down with him. Pointing to the far side of the caldera, he asked, “See over there?”

Nick nodded and leaned against Todd’s side, legs stretched out and the palm of his hand resting on Todd’s inner thigh, fingers pressing in lightly. “What’s over there?”

“That’s West Caldera Protectorate. The border is the caldera’s edge. We stay away from there as much as possible and never cross the border.”

“How come?”

Todd shrugged. “I don’t know for sure what goes on, but I’ve heard stories. I don’t want to find out.” Todd unpacked their food and handed Nick a bottle of beer. “Right now, we’re over here, just you and me and all this pretty scenery.” When they were done with their meal, Todd peeled off their clothes and eased Nick across the blanket, relishing the sight of Nick spread open beneath him, then the feeling of Nick wrapped tightly around him, heels pressed into his thighs. Todd slid deeply into Nick, making them both quiver with delight.

They spent the rest of the day hiking around the area until they were exhausted and it was too dark to be safe.

After settling near their wagon, they spent some time watching the stars. Todd took Nick’s hand and led him to the edge of the clearing they camped in, away from their fire. There was a small river, and he was careful not to get them too close in the dark, but close enough for Nick to see what Todd wanted to show him.

“Oh my…this is almost as great as the caldera.”

“Pretty cool, huh?”

Nick stared out and nodded. As they stood still, watching, fireflies flitted through the air, illumination winking on and off, shimmering in tiny sparks on the dark water. It took a few minutes before they were surrounded by hundreds of the small insects. Nick’s eyes glowed and twinkled, reflecting their light. He beamed at Todd when he reached out to touch one and it landed for a few seconds on his finger, casting a soft yellow dollop of light on his skin.

Later, when their fire died down, Todd watched as Nick drew the visible stars in another leather-bound journal. This one was well worn, and Nick had obviously used it for years. Todd thought back, it was one of the first he’d sent Nick. That was at least five years ago. When they turned in for the night, Todd thought how nice it was to have Nick in his arms and in return being wrapped in Nick’s embrace. It gave him a sense of security and stability.

They broke camp early the next morning, setting a leisurely pace. Todd spent more time teaching Nick to drive the team. It was pleasant having someone to share responsibilities. The gentle rocking of the wagon and the warm sun made Todd drowsy. He happily handed the reins to Nick and enjoyed a short nap. When it was Todd’s turn to drive, he’d hold the team’s reins in one hand, and drape his other arm across the back of the seat behind Nick. It didn’t get by Todd that since Nick had started wearing his collar all the time and sleeping curled around Todd, he’d had not a single nightmare. That fact simply made Todd more curious and determined to sort it out.