We took our time going back. Neither of us had much to say. I was still irritated at the minor confrontation we'd just had. I should have kept my mouth shut, but I'd felt provoked. His flirtation had been amusing at first. Yet I'd had this nagging sense of being watched.*Well,* I thought, *why wouldn't Remy have us spied on?* In spite of all his security measures, we still might have found some way of escape. But if he was having us watched, and watched closely, escape would no longer be much of an option. That chilled me.

And then there had been Alex's flirtation. Don't get me wrong. Alex was a temptation. At this point, after everything that had happened, after a part of me I never even dreamed existed was revealed, I could become aroused just looking at my brother. But this also tore me apart. The values I'd been educated under -- first by my parents and later by Xavier -- screamed how wrong all my feelings were, how unnatural. And yet I'd challenged Alex, practically dared him to touch me. My life, my head, was so screwed up here. At least in Remy's presence I could justify my actions. I could claim his empathetic hold was triggering my responses. It'd probably be a lie, but it'd be a lie I could believe. Outside Remy's sphere of influence there was no justification. I was captivated by Alex, by my brother. I needed him desperately, and sex was so much a part of that need. To be able to share physical intimacy with him seemed almost as necessary as breathing.

And always, there in the back of my mind, was the question: what would Jean think? I couldn't escape her memory. And if I ever saw her again, she would know. I'd never be able to hide my feelings for Alex from her. And as much as I knew my wife, even more intimately than most couples due to our psychic rapport, on this issue I was at a loss to say how she'd feel. Yet regardless of her feelings I'd never abandon Alex. After all these weeks, regardless of how this bond had formed, regardless of the pain I'd suffered to get to this point, the humiliation, the rape, I don't think I could have given him up for anyone. Jean included.

Underneath all these conscious thoughts, just waiting to throw me into panic should they rise without warning to the surface, were the visions of being whipped. Of being tied to the end of Remy's bed as the lash landed over and over on my back. I pushed those images as far back in my mind as I could. There was no question about it. I could not think of that incident. Not now. Probably not ever. And I promised myself I'd never talk about it with Alex again.

Lost in my thoughts, I started when I felt a hand on my shoulder. "We're here," Alex said, pointing to two wooden doors. I blinked in confusion. I'd forgotten about the gym, thinking we were headed back to the bedroom. Mentally, I chastised myself for my lapse in awareness. I hadn't mapped out the route from the garden to here. That information could have been useful. Plus, I didn't need the grief I'd get for wandering around the palace looking for the gym unattended. Well, I'd just have to pay more attention on the way up to Remy's suite of rooms. And I'd have to get Alex to show me the way back to the gardens.

Alex ushered me through the doors onto a black top area that bridged out to a good sized track. A few slaves were jogging, barefoot and naked. I grimaced a bit at the sight. Every time I thought I'd gotten use to the idea of my nakedness and captivity, something would shove those feelings of vulnerability and shame back into my awareness. Alone with Remy and Alex, I could relax a bit. But any contact with the outside world, naked slaves, fully garbed courtiers, and I was thrown back to a level of fear and panic. It was easy enough to bring it under control, but that didn't make it easier to handle the initial reaction.

I turned my eyes away from the slaves and took in my surroundings. The track was suspended about 15 feet above the floor. It was five lanes deep with a railing around the center lane. Passed the railing was an open area where one could look down into an Olympic sized pool.

"Man." I said in astonishment. We'd moved out to the railing to look over

nto the pool.

"Yeah." Alex agreed. "There's a similar facility for the female slaves."

"Really?" It hadn't crossed my mind that Remy would have female pleasure slaves. But it made sense. I just didn't see him as a homosexual. I think with his empathetic power he'd be drawn to both sexes. Men just held that allure of power and the challenge of being able to change their sexual orientation.

Alex gave me a leer. "Come on. I'll show you the rest of the place."

On either side of the platform that connected to the track were stairs leading down to the pool area. Off to the right was a weight room. Next to it was an exercise room with every kind of exercise machine available. Stairmasters, stationary bikes, row machines. You name it, it was there. On the far end of the pool was a short hallway leading to a gymnastics room, complete with rings, a vault, parallel bars and floor mats. There was a slave practicing on the rings as we entered, his well-defined body lifting up into a handstand, holding it for half a second before swinging himself around twice, gaining momentum until he flipped up into the air. A double twist and he landed solid. It was Warren. When he turned raising his arms in the air as if to an imaginary crowd, he saw us and waved. I smiled and nodded. But my brother was glaring at him.

"Where's your spotter?" He called to Warren.

"He's busy." Warren answered casually as he came towards us. "Hey Scott." He said to me as he got closer.

"Remy would kill you if he knew you were in here without a spotter," warned Alex.

Warren smirked. "And your point being?"

A death wish in a slave really brings home the idea of how ugly slavery is. I grimaced.

"You're looking to get your privileges revoked, Warren." Alex growled, trying another tactic.

Warren bowed extravagantly. "The favored one has spoken."

Alex rolled his eyes. "Fine," he said. "Break your neck. I won't say anything to Remy. But you know if he finds out he could do a lot worse than revoke your privileges."

"Like execute me?" Warren gave another smug look. But there was something behind his eyes. Something that sent a chill through me. It was hope.

"Like sell you." Retorted my brother.

That shut the slave up. Death would be preferable to some of the people Warren could be sold to. There were many things worse than death. He glared at Alex for a moment, then stomped off without another word. Alex sighed.

I was concerned. "You think he'll be okay?"

Alex didn't hesitate. "No." He looked at me intently. "It's happened before. One of the slaves fights his captivity or is no longer a favorite of Remy's. They get angry. But rather than lash out at the source of their anger, knowing it's useless, that nothing will change, they turn inward. There've been plenty of suicides and attempted suicides. Especially among the pleasure slaves."

"Damn."

"Yeah." Alex replied. "So much for a carefree existence. I think I'll have to keep an eye on him."

I followed him back toward the pool wondering if there was a way for me to keep an eye on Warren also. He'd been kind enough to me despite the overt sexual suggestions. I'd hate to hear that he'd been sold off like Zaki. Or worse; had killed himself.

When we reached the pool area, Alex led me to a door on the left. This led to the showers and toilets. There was also a sauna and a steam room inside. I could really get to love this place.

Alex showed me the exit that led to an outer passage in the citadel.

"It's the quickest way back," He said. "We'll go out this way to get to Remy's bedroom."

I nodded and we stepped back inside.

"So." Alex smiled. "Wanna work out?"

I returned his smile. "Sure do," I replied enthusiastically. Then I turned to head out to the exercise room. Alex's hand came down on my shoulder again.

"Ever worked out in the buff?" Alex asked, pulling me back around to face him. "You need to know a few things."

I frowned. "What things?"

Alex cupped my balls causing me to squirm in surprised delight. "First, you won't have any support for these. If you push yourself too hard running or on the stairmaster -- anything that will cause them to slap against your thighs over and over -- it's gonna hurt. They'll get pretty raw and swollen. You have to work up gradually. Get use to hanging free." He gave my sack a quick squeeze before dropping them. "It's kind of nice not having to peel off sweaty clothes after working out, but you won't fully appreciate it until your genitals have toughened up. Takes about a week or two."

"What else?" I asked.

Alex looked thoughtful for a moment. Then he said, "I guess that's really about it. Except for your feet. You won't have much support there either. Have to be careful of heel spurs and flattening out your arches too much. But then you only need to work out once a day to keep in the kind of shape Remy expects here. Just take it easy for now too, since you haven't worked out in weeks."

I nodded. We made our way back to the exercise room where Alex had me stretch for several minutes. It felt good after weeks of virtual inactivity, the only exercise having been pretty much horizontal. We did lunges together, and then squats and pushups, all the while laughing at each other's clumsiness and telling crude jokes. Then I got on one of the stairmasters. After twenty minutes I was winded and Alex ordered me to cool down.

I almost started to argue. But then I thought better of it. There was really no reason to push myself. Except for vanity's sake. As an X-man it had been extremely important to keep in top physical form. It might have meant the difference between life and death. Here I was just a body that Remy wanted looking good. An hour a day would maintain the ripples and cuts of my muscles. With a chef to feed me nutritious, balanced meals I'd easily keep in good condition. I wouldn't really have to push myself.

Without a word to Alex, I went back to the bathroom and slipped into the steam room. It was heavenly, lying in the heat on one of the marble benches against the cool tiled wall. Alex joined me shortly, looking like an Adonis, glistening from his sweat and the steam swirling around his form as the door shut behind him. I gazed at him through hooded eyes and licked my parched lips. Damn Remy. This was going to be too much temptation.

Alex gave me a sly lopsided grin, fully aware of my dilemma because it was his too. He went over to the bench farthest from me and settled down with a groan. One arm was thrown across his eyes, the other falling to the floor like Marat in the bath, but very much alive. One leg bent up against the wall, and his limp cock resting down across his straight leg. I sighed in admiration and then closed my eyes to block the view, trying to ignore my need. Trying to think of anything but that still, beautiful body across from me.

After about ten minutes of languid comfortable silence, Alex stirred. "I'm going to hit the showers," He said. "Wanna join me?"

I turned to look at him. He wore that same sly smile. I chuckled. "Stop it Alex." I said. "Quit being such a damn tease."

He barked out a laugh and stood up. "Don't be long then. I'd like to head to the workshop. I want to try and finish up a piece I've been working on. But I need to show you the way back to Remy's suite."

"I thought Remy said we could only come here to the gym or go to the gardens?" I said.

"The workshop's on the way between here and the suite. I don't think he meant to keep me from using it. After all, I'm being useful. Making gifts for visiting diplomats." Alex moved to the door of the steam room.

"I suppose not. Mind if I keep you company?" I asked. I was disappointed that he wanted to head off to his workshop rather than spend the rest of the day with me. But I couldn't bring myself to tell him that.

"I don't know if Remy would like you coming with me. I'll ask him tonight. But I think you ought to stick to his bedroom for now."

I said nothing and closed my eyes to hide the hurt. After a long pause I heard the door swoosh open and felt the cool draft of the outer room rush in. I wondered if Alex had clued into my disgruntled silence. Finally, forcing back the disappointment I joined him in the showers. He was just finishing up and caught my eye with a studious look. I kept silent and turned on the shower faucet next to his. For a moment it seemed as if he'd say something, but then he just turned back under the spray and finished rinsing off.

He was waiting by the hallway door when I stepped out of the shower stall. I toweled off quickly and without a word we headed back up to Remy's suite. About halfway up Alex asked me if I was paying attention to the route.

I gave him a curt nod and he sighed. "Look Scott, are you pissed because I'm going to the workshop, or because I won't take you?"

For several minutes I kept silent, not sure how to answer him. Finally I said, "Probably both." I turned my head to look at him as we walked. "I haven't seen you in weeks. Remy's the only person I've talked to during that time. And he doesn't talk much. I just thought...I assumed you'd want to spend some time with me." God, that sounded so weird, so needy. Like a jilted lover. I tried to take it back. "Never mind. I'll find something to do."

Alex stopped me with a hand on my arm. "I'm sorry, bro. I'd forgotten how boring it can get up there. My stuff can wait. And I'll be sure to ask Remy if it's okay for you to come down to the workshop whenever."

I smiled shyly. "Really? You're sure? I mean if you need to finish..."

"Naw. It can wait." Alex replied as we walked on.

We spent the rest of the afternoon playing cards and talking. During poker we gambled on who would have to give Remy the next blowjob, laughing, knowing that really wasn't up to us anyway. Servants brought us dinner when Remy hadn't returned. It was a very simple affair. A small salad, a chicken breast, mixed vegetables and water. Lean but tasty. A few more hours spent playing cards. Then Alex, saying he was feeling tired, climbed into bed. I sat up for another hour reading one of the books I'd taken from the study. Remy still hadn't come home when I closed the book and joined Alex in bed. As I slipped in next to him, he stirred and sleepily pulled me close. He did little more than nuzzle my neck and slide his knee between my legs. Our cocks brushed together enticingly, but I wouldn't deny us this pleasure. Remy could say little about our caresses if he insisted we sleep in the same bed. As long as we didn't cross the line into further intimacy.

Something caused me to stir a little while later. I wasn't quite certain what. But when I looked up through heavy lids, Remy was standing a few feet away in the dimly lit room. His face was shadowed by the glow of light that outlined his figure from behind, but his eyes shone in the darkness. I roused myself, concerned by his stare, half afraid, feeling as if I'd done something wrong.

"Master?" I whispered in the dark.

"Shh..." He said. "Jus' admiring de view."

I sighed inwardly, relieved, and sank back down into the mattress. Remy undressed quickly then and climbed in on top of me. He kissed me into arousal and swiftly buried himself inside me. It was a fast urgent fuck. Almost desperate in its pace. Alex didn't even wake as we reached our mutual climax.

When we had finished, Remy pushed himself up on his elbows to look at me. "Got a surprise for you, cher."

He stood up and pulled me to my feet, leading me around to the couches. There on the coffee table was a guitar case. I ran my hand a long the top of the case tentatively.

"Open it." Remy ordered, not unkindly.

Inside was a handsome 12 string guitar. I picked it up carefully with a smile. He was really going to let me learn how to play. I turned toward him, holding the instrument like an offering and said, "Thank you, master."

Remy nodded pleased. "De instructor will be here in de morning. I'm tol' he's very talented. Make me proud, mon cher."

I returned his nod. I was tempted to strum the guitar, but I didn't want to wake Alex. This was a moment I wanted only to share with Remy. So I place the instrument carefully back in it's case and padded over to him. Throwing my arms around him, I gave him a grateful kiss. He met my affection with his own warmth. But I could feel him stifling a yawn, so I broke the kiss and led him back to bed. He was asleep in minutes, curled up against a still sleeping Alex.