Colum has earned his freedom, by proving his worth in battle! But if the end of his slavery means the end of Viggo’s sweetly cruel tutelage, is it worth it? And Colum is a slave owner himself now – will he do what he must to protect his friend Niall, and show the other Vikings that Niall is his property by using him like the lowly thrall that he is? And when a man from Viggo’s past calls them to do battle with the Franks, is Colum ready to fight by his lover’s side as an equal? EXCERPT:... moreColum has earned his freedom, by proving his worth in battle! But if the end of his slavery means the end of Viggo’s sweetly cruel tutelage, is it worth it? And Colum is a slave owner himself now – will he do what he must to protect his friend Niall, and show the other Vikings that Niall is his property by using him like the lowly thrall that he is? And when a man from Viggo’s past calls them to do battle with the Franks, is Colum ready to fight by his lover’s side as an equal? EXCERPT: “You need to think of your friend differently now,” Viggo said. “He’s your slave, remember. Not mine. You won him in your combat with Harald.” “Then I can free him,” Colum said. “You can. And if that’s your first act as a freedman, to free a slave, it’ll be seen as weakness. Other men will challenge you, attack you, defeat you. And then Niall will be re-enslaved anyway.” “But no man tries to make me a slave again.” “No, but that’s because you earned your freedom, in battle. You earned respect, which you have already risked.” “How?” “If you can’t kill a sheep, how can you kill a man?” Colum flushed. “Men are guilty. The sheep was innocent. It seemed… wrong to celebrate my freedom by killing something.” Viggo eyed him. “I need you to be strong. To be seen as strong. Call for Niall.” Colum didn’t need to call for him; he was standing against the wall behind him and had heard every word. Niall was standing attentively between them in a flash. “Tell him to suck your cock.” Colum looked at Niall. He’d known for some time now that his friend desired him, that this was something Niall had wanted. Colum had always held back, always thought it would be a betrayal of their friendship. But now, it was clear, he must do this for Niall, must show the others that Niall was his property – and therefore under his protection – in the clearest way possible. “Do it,” Colum said, the firmness in his own voice surprising him. “Get down under the table.” Niall obeyed in a flash. The Viking code was simple – what was done publicly was not shameful, what was done in secret was another matter. Viggo sat Colum beside him, publicly, to show the world his place in Viggo’s world. Now Colum would show the world Niall’s place in his. Niall was between his legs, looking up at him, eyes aglitter in the darkness beneath the great oak table. Something rose in Colum, dark and strong, to match his stiffening manhood. This was what Viggo saw when Colum knelt before him! A full grown man, subjected to him, forced to pleasure him. Niall smiled and Colum slapped him, hard. He’s not your equal! He told himself. Niall was shocked for a moment, then he saw the look in Colum’s eyes and responded with a dark shadow in his own. Niall undid his breeches and grasped Colum by the root, then opened his mouth and took Colum inside. “Oh…” Colum groaned. This was what he did to Viggo! This was the sensation of a man sucking you. It was smooth and warm and wet in Niall’s mouth, and Colum knew that behind this soft cave was the tight tunnel of his throat. He pushed his hips forward, and Niall responded eagerly, opening wide to take him. The pressure of Niall’s throat swallowing his meat was maddening. He had to get more of himself in there! All of himself! He grabbed Niall’s head and jammed himself down, deeper, till he felt Niall’s forehead grinding against his hip bone. He turned to see what Viggo’s reaction would be. less
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