"Here I am, love," Joshua whispered from behind Justin, startling him. Turning Justin to face him, Joshua wrapped him in his arms and kissed him.

Returning the kiss quickly, Justin pulled away; not knowing they were alone. Hitting Joshua on the arm, the younger one hissed, "You're late. And you had me worried sick."

"I'm sorry, my love," Joshua apologized. "And do not worry; we are alone." Wrapping Justin in his arms once more he kissed him a little more insistently.

Again pulling away, but this time not out of Joshuas' arms, Justin whispered, "For now we are alone, until Lance walks in from wherever it is he's tying Ares and Midnight."

"We are alone, my love," Joshua cooed, leading Justin over to the small bed in the cabin. "Lance is somewhere probably crying at the thought of Joseph leaving for the week."

At once calming down, Justin allowed Joshua to push him gently onto the bed. "I don't know why he will be crying," he stated. "I for one will be glad to see Joseph leave for a week."

Laughing, Joshua leaned over and kissed his young lover. "You'll be glad so we can be alone without fear of Joseph catching us."

"But what of Lance and the servants?" Justin asked, pulling Joshua down to sit on his lap. "All except for Devin and Kenneth are loyal to Joseph. They'll tell him about us if they catch us."

Snaking his hand down the front of Justin's trousers, Joshua smiled when he heard Justin moan. "You weren't worried about that earlier now were you, my love?" he whispered.

"But that was only because the halls were clear of servants and Joseph was in his study," Justin replied, biting on his lip to keep his voice down.

"We are way out in the woods away from servants and Joseph and especially 'farm boy'," Joshua whispered as he lay Justin down on the bed and slowly slid his trousers down. "No one will bother us." Looking up at Joshua, Justin bit harder onto his lip until a small bead of blood formed. Their daily rides through the woods usually ended up here, at the cabin, in the same situation. Either Justin teasing Joshua with his actions, or today, vise versa.

Smirking at the tent that had formed in Justin's undergarment, Joshua began stroking him. Arching his back, Justin dropped his head on the pillow aas he emitted another moan.

"A...Angel..." Justin moaned, using Josephs' pet name for Lance. "Pl...please..."

Stopping his motions, Joshua sat up on the edge of the bed, his face contorting into a mask of anger. Turning to face Justin, Joshua glared at him, the mood broken. "Did you have to, Justin?" Joshua bit angrily. "Did you have to call me by 'Farm Boy's' pet name?"

Sitting up and moving cautiously towards Joshua, Justin timidly reached a hand out and gently placed it on his shoulder. "I...I...but you are my Angel," he whispered, knowing he had upset his love.

Shrugging off Justin's hand, Joshua stood up. "I hate that name and I hate him. He has been nothing but trouble since he came to Herfordshire."

Looking down at the tattered covers of the bed, Justin whispered a quiet, "I...I'm sorry Jos...Joshua. I...I didn't think..."

Turning to face his love, Joshua's face softened at the scared look he saw. Kneeling down, Joshua cradled Justin in his arms. "I...I'm sorry, my love," he replied softly, wiping away at a lone tear in Justin's eye. "I didn't mean to take it out on you. I just...I just can't wait until we rid ourselves of little Lance."

Shrinking back, scared that Joshua would lash out at him again, Justin whispered, "He will be gone soon. Right? A week or so and he will be gone?"

"If I had my way," Joshua began as he moved to lay next to Justin "...he would be gone right now." Looking at Joshua over his shoulder, Justin swallowed and moved down as well. His body rigid, he didn't make eye contact with Joshua. He only appologized again for making Joshua angry.

"Shh," Joshua cooed, again wrapping his hand around Justin's member and stroking it. "You have nothing to apologize for."

Closing his eyes and holding back a moan, but that proving futile, Justin whispered, "Bu...but I...I made you...ang...angry..."

Stroking faster, savoring the whimpers coming from Justin, Joshua leaned over and kissed his love. "I am not angry with you, my love," he cooed. "I just cannot wait until we get rid of Lance. Joseph has not bedded with me since Lance came."

"Nor has he with me," Justin whispered. He tried to finish his statement, but Joshua was a master at what he was doing. "Pl...please...Josh..."

Smiling, Joshua slid down and replaced his hand with his mouth, working Jsutin into a frenzy. Moments later, Justin whimpered as he climaxed, Joshua accepting all that he offered. Once his breathing returned to normal, Justin sat up and looked at Joshua, kissing him. They both knew that they had to be heading back to the castle for dinner was to be served soon. "We'd better start back," Joshua whispered, returning the smile.

His smile faultering slightly, Justin snuggled back into Joshua. "A few more minutes?" he asked quietly. "Who knows when I'll be able to hold you again. Please?"

Seeing how eager Justin was to be with him, Joshua relented as they lay back down. Joshua cradled Justin in arms as he spoke tenderly to him. "I love you, Justin...never forget that. I love you with all my heart."

Closing his eyes, just savoring the feel of being in Joshuas' arms, Justin mumbled something incoherantly, which sounded like "I love you too Joshua."

Kissing the tip of Justin's nose, Joshua rubbed his arm lightly. "We have to start back, my love," he whispered, wincing at the saddened look on Justin's face. "We don't want them to come looking for us and get caught. Besides," he continued, smiling, "Joseph leaves tomorrow for a week...Lance is going back to his farm for two days so we have at least those two days to ourselves."

"Can we at least ride together?" Justin asked, searching for any way he could hold onto Joshua for a while longer. "At least until we are closer to home?"

"What about Victory?" Joshua asked. "How are we going to get her home?"

"Tie her reighns to the saddle horn on Ares," Justin replied. "She will follow."

"That anxious to be with me?" Joshua teased as he took Justin in his arms. He instantly regretted teasing him when he saw the tears in his eyes.

"I just want to be with someone who loves me," he whispered, a lone tear falling. "It is obvious that Joseph no longer has feelings for me. Am I to assume you do not as well?"

Near tears himself, Joshua cradled Justin in his arms. "My sweet love," Joshua whispered, "I love you with all my heart. You are the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning and the last thing on my mind when I retire at night. I can't wait to go to breakfast in the morning bcause I know I will see your sweet face. Please never worry about being with someone who loves you...I will love you, Justin always and forever."

"I...I know you care for me Joshua," Justin whispered. "It's just..." Letting his sentence trail off, he stood and returned his trousers over his hips, he turned to look back at Joshua. "It's just that I'm scared you will tire of me as well."

Kissing Justin passionately, Joshua held him close. "Please do not be afraid, my love," he whispered. "I will never tire of you."

Having his doubts, but not voicing them, Justin simply nodded and held Joshua close for a few moments longer, before pulling back. "We...we better retu...return home..."

"We will skip our reading with Christopher and come straight here tomorrow after Joseph and 'farm boy' leave. Would you like that, my love?" Joshua whispered.

"But won't Christopher ask why we did not attend his reading?" Justin asked, starting to walk out of the cabin.

Joshua thought about what Justin had said and realized he made sense. "Very well," Joshua replied, as he tied Victory's reins to Ares and they headed home. "We'll attend the reading after breakfast and then have the rest of the afternoon to ourselves. Joseph will want to get an early start tomorrow so we probably will rise early."

Holding onto Joshua tightly, Justin rested his head on his loves' back. "Do you think we can stay in the same room tonight, since Joseph will want that early start?" he asked, his voice hopeful.

Smiling at his love, Joshua nodded. He couldn't say no to Justin. "Yes, you can stay in my chambers tonight."

Kissing the back of Joshuas' neck, the young lord whispered a quiet, 'Thank you'. Taking a chance, Justin added, "I...I know you don't like me calling you such. But...you are my Angel Joshua. My angel sent to me from above."

Sighing as they neared the stables Joshua dismounted Ares and helped Justin down. "As you are mine," Joshua whispered, stealing a quick kiss before Jason came out of stables and greeted them.

"Good evening M'lords," Jason smiled, taking hold of the two sets of reighns. "Did you enjoy your rides?"

"Yes, Jason, thank you," Joshua replied, stretching his arms over his head. "I could use a long soak in my bathing chamber. Jason, could you go and fetch Devin and tell him to prepare a bath for me?"

"Of course M'lo -- " he started, then remembered of the change in servants. "M'lord, Devin is no longer your servant. Lord Joseph had he and Blake switch charges."

"You mean Blake is now serving me?" Joshua asked, a wicked grin crossing his face.

Nodding, Jason explained, "Yes M'lord. Something about how Blake needed to be taught his place in the house, or some such thing. Lord Joseph was awfully angry with him, according to Devin."

Smirking, Joshua nodded. "I will take care of making sure Blake knows his place," the elder lord replied. I will make very sure of that, he thought to himself. "Jason, fetch Blake and have him meet me in my chamber so I can give him instructions on how I like my bath water, please."

"Right away M'lord," Jason replied, bowing slightly and running off to find Blake.

Turning to Justin, Joshua kissed him. "Go get some rest, my love," he replied, caressing Justin's cheek. "You will not be getting any sleep tonight."

"A promise?" Justin asked, looking into Joshuas' eyes before pulling away and walking towards the castle. Before he slipped into the door, he turned for one last look at Joshua. Dinner was only a few hours away; he would see him then, but to the young lord, a few hours seemed like a lifetime.

Waiting until Justin entered the door, Joshua gave Jason a few moments before he entered the castle and walked to his chambers, an evil smile on his face when he saw a frightened Blake standing just inside the door, his body shaking with fear.

Trying to calm his nerves, Blake looked up when he heard the door open and close behind him. The look on Joshuas' face did nothing to help settle him. If anything, they frightened the servant even more. "M'l...M'lord," he whispered, acknowledging Joshuas' presence.

The smile growing even wider, Joshua walked over and sat on the bed. "Well, well," he said, staring lustfully at Blake. "I couldn't have planned this any better if I tried."

Scared of what Joshua would do now that he was his charge, Blakes' breathing began to get choppy as he fought to keep the tears from falling. Closing his eyes and clasping his hands behind his back, he tried to steady himself, but the more he tried, the more he seemed to shake.

Standing up and walking over to his servant, Joshua cirlced him a few times until he stood in front of the shaking Blake. "Why do you shake so, Blake?" Joshua asked.

Not knowing what to say that wouldn't encure Joshuas' anger again, Blake only stumbled on his words. "I...I...it...um...it..." Finally settling on the truth, as he could think of no other way to explain his shaking, he whispered, "I am scared M'lord."

"What do you have to be scared of?" Joshua inquired, knowing full well why Blke was frightened.

"Lord Joseph said that I was...was to learn my place within the household," Blake answered. This excuse was only one of many now that he was scared of, but seemed the best way to keep him out of trouble. "And that...that you were to teach me my...my place."

"And so I shall," Joshua hissed, grabbing the frightened servant and throwing him across the bed. Ignoring his whimpers, Joshua yanked down his trousers and brutally entered him for the second time that day.

"No! M'lord please!" Blake shouted. Trying to get up and move away from Joshua, the elder on simply knocked his arms out from under him and pinned him down. "Please M'lord. I'm sorry! I'll learn my place! Please M'lord, please!" Tears fell from Blakes eyes in buckets, and he wondered for a split moment why he had been so curious in the happenings of the royal chambers. Now, he simply wished that he had gone about his duties and not worried about things that did not concern him.

"You...you...will...learn...your...place," Joshua gruned as he thrusted harder into the crying boy. Blake's crying seemed to edge Joshua on. On and on it went until finally, Joshua collasped on top of Blake in a heap. Once his breathing slowed, he pulled out and sat up, smirking at the sobbing Blake. "My, but you are a tight fit," Joshua cooed, running a finger down Blake's back, causing the young servant to shudder. "Has you curiosity been satisfied, Blake?"

Crying openly, Blake tried to move away from his charge, but his entire body was racked with unhuman pain. "M'lord...pl...please," he cried. "I...I am sor...sorry. I mea...meant no ha...harm..."

Smirking, Joshua reached for his clothes and got dressed. Walking toward the door, he looked back at Blake. "I expect that my chambers will be completely spotless when I return," the elder lord hissed. "Oh, and Blake?" Joshua called.

Turning so that he barely looked over his shoulders at Joshua, Blakes' eyes were bloodshot with tears as he croked, "Y...yes M'lo...M'lord?"

"I want you here in my chambers after the evening meal is done, is that understood?"

"Please Lord Joshua," Blake stammered. "I...I..." Letting his head fall back onto the mattress, he tried to stop his tears from coming, but with no success.

"In my chambers, Blake...or...well, need I say what will happen if I have to go looking for you?" Joshua bit, enjoying the firghtened look on the young servant's face.

Clenching his eyes shut, Blake nodded his head in surrender. "I...I underst...stand M'lord," he voiced. Sniffling and getting up slowly, the young one whimpered as he stood and pulled his trousers back over his hips.

"See you later, Blake," Joshua whispered as he left his chambers, laughing. Blake turned around and was horrified to see the blood that stained Joshua's sheets, his blood. Sinking to his knees, Blake dropped his head on the bed and sobbed, jumping when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning around slowly, he looked up at Edward, who looked down at the young servant with concern.

Knowing the sight before Edward must have been terrible, Blake looked around the chambers, scared that he would be punished for the mess that the room was left in.

Edward was only concerned for Blake, kneeled down beside him. "Blake, what is wrong? Why are you crying?"

Thinking of an excuse quickly, Blake whispered, "Lord Joshua; I was not...expecting him to return from his ride so early. I couldn't finish cleaning his chambers in time. He...he was quiet angry with me."

"Blake, are you sure?" the elderly man asked. Edward had worked for Lord Jospeh's family since he was a young boy and had over seen many of the servants. He had grown quite fond of Blake. Blake was young and impetuous at times, but he worked very hard and had learned the swing of things in Herfordshire very quickly. Edward was concerned as to why Lord Joseph had made the change and had Blake serving Lord Joshua now, but he knew not to question Joseph's decisions.

Nodding, Blake explained that he was to return to Joshuas' room after the evening meal. "Edward...please. Talk to Lord Joseph. Have him place me elsewhere in the staff. I'll do anything. Please. Anything but being Lord Joshuas' servant." Looking up at him, Blake took hold of Edwards' hands, pleading with him for any help. "Please Edward."

Edward looked at Blake, obvious concern in his eyes. "Blake, you know that once Lord Joseph makes a decision, it is final. What is it, what has happened to make you feel this way?"

Shaking his head and standing slowly, Blake replied, "Nothing that anyone can help with." Moving around the room, he pulled the stained bedsheets off and replaced them with clean ones. Looking up at Edward, he voiced, "Lord Joshua wishes for his chambers to be spotless. I...I have a lot of work to do if I'm to finish here and with the dinner tonight." Going about his work as Edward stood and watched, Blake felt himself growing distance from him; from everyone he ever trusted within the house. Lord Joseph had started out to be a kind man to work for, and his friendship with Lord Lance seemed to be flourishing. Even his friendship with a few of the other servants. But, when the time came when he needed help, they all seemed to push him away. Lord Joseph allowed him no time to explain his actions; Lord Lance would do nothing to protect him. Not even Edward would talk to Joseph.

Seeing how upset Blake was, Edward put an arm around the young servant. "Blake, I will talk to Lord Joseph and see if your duties can be changed. I cannot promise anything, but I will try."

Shurgging off Edward, Blake nodded. "Thank you Edward," he said simply, making a pile of the sheets in a corner. "Excuse me. I have a lot of work to do and not a lot of time in which to complete it."

"All right," Edward replied. "I will see you in the kitchen for the dinner meal." Edward stood up and walked to the door. Looking back at Blake, he had a sinking feeling that something was wrong, but Blake was too scared to tell. Edward watched Blake for a few moments, then left the chamber to find Joseph.