The days and nights drifted on. I began to lose track of time. How many weeks passed, I couldn't say. About every other day I met with my guitar instructor. Usually in the morning after I'd eaten and Remy had left to tend to state business. Alex would head down to his workshop or go into the study to write. I was allowed to join him in the workshop whenever I wished. Remy had laughed when Alex had asked if I could keep him company.

"Sacre! I t'ought dat was understood. You two take t'ings too literally." He shook his head bemused. "Never mind. I'll try to be more specific in my orders, eh?"

After my lessons I'd usually hit the gym, stopping by the workshop to collect Alex. We both enjoyed working out together. It was pleasant time spent laughing and joking. We were fairly competitive too, challenging each other on the equipment or racing on the track. On a few rare occasions Remy would join us. Of course he was dressed during these workouts. But afterward, in the sauna or the showers he'd strip down and take one of us. Or watch us take each other.

As Alex had warned my genitalia became painful and swollen for several days. Especially after I'd taken up jogging again. When Remy was informed of my predicament he insisted I sleep on the couch. He didn't want to be tempted by me lying so close and cause me to have a painful erection. I was grateful for his concern. A few times I'd become half erect and nearly passed out from the excruciating pain. It felt as though someone were pressing on a bruise, grinding their fingers deep into my tender flesh.

The pain and swelling were gone in about a week, and soon I was up to running 3 or 4 miles a day. I found myself still pushing my body as hard as when I'd trained as an X-man. I think it was a survival instinct. I wanted to keep in peak physical form in case I ever saw an opportunity to escape.

In the afternoons I took to dragging my guitar out into the garden to practice. I was getting better everyday. Even the surly temperamental tutor grudgingly praised my ability on occasion, saying I was coming along. I loved this time more than any other. Quietly strumming a new piece or picking out a chord exercise. My favorite spot was a small wooden bench on the East side of the palace toward the back. It sat secluded under what I was pretty certain was a Saucer Magnolia tree. The tree itself grew next to a brick fence that ran all the way to the edge of the woods. Tall shrubs surrounded the tree and bench in a maze-like fashion so that the area was hidden from general view. Had it not been for the inhibitor collar and my nakedness, I could have climbed the tree and scaled the wall to freedom.

As it was the tiny enclosure gave me an illusion of freedom. It was difficult to locate me just by searching the gardens. The first time Remy had sent a messenger to call me back to his rooms, it took him several hours to find my oasis. And only then with the help of the locator chip in my collar. Needless to say Remy was furious. He revoked my outdoor privileges for a week and even ordered me to remain in his bedroom except for an hour a day when I was escorted to the gym for my workout.

"You need to be easily found." He growled. "I shouldn't 'ave to wait more dan 15 minutes at de most!"

I said nothing. Didn't even protest the punishment. But I did let him know that was where I'd be most of the time I went out into the gardens. Still, it wasn't an easy plot to find, even after you'd been there a time or two. Even Alex complained the first few times he came looking for me. But he could at least appreciate the seclusion.

I sorely missed my isolated garden the week I was barred from outside. It was partly my practice room and partly a place to meditate and dream. But it was altogether sweet. A place of inner peace where I could think of Jean and serenade her memory.

Due to Alex's slip of the tongue Remy also had me take voice lessons. It wasn't long before I was ordered to sing for him. Surprisingly I had no sense of stage fright as I sang for him and Alex in his room one night for the first time. I was a little embarrassed, but I didn't panic as I imagined I would. I was, however, rattled by the attention and admiration Remy showered on me. It wasn't many days later when he began to insist I sing to him whenever he was home. He was especially fond of having me sing him to sleep. I wasn't thrilled by this request. It was too intimate, too personal. But what choice did I really have. A lover by coercion.

Still, as I held him in my arms I could close my eyes and dream of my old life. Dreaming of Jean and quiet times when I could cherish her warmth and love. She had been the best thing in my life. My soulmate. And I missed her still, loved her still.

And Alex was there, so often curled up next to Remy. My true lover. I could sing for him.

One day, after we had fallen into the pattern of palace life -- waking, lessons, exercise, free time, sleeping -- a guard came to the room early in the morning before Remy had left. Remy ordered us to go with the guard. Alex and I were more than a little suspicious, but our master calmed us by saying, "Time for your checkup, mon cheres. Dr. Sampson is waiting to make sure you're in good shape. Alex is long overdue, as de good doctor pointed out."

I breathed a sigh of relief. Dr. Sampson was a kindly old man. I had nothing to fear. The exam was just a typical physical. And the bending over and coughing part had never been easier. But then something really pleasant, at least to my mind, came about. An ankle bracelet was locked around my left ankle. Alex, who was seated next to me on another examination table, had one placed around his left ankle also. The bracelets were thin, gold bands, very similar in structure to the collars.

After they were secured, the collars were removed. I gazed at the doctor in astonishment as he placed his hands around my neck, pressing in with his fingers to feel for any chafing, cuts or bruises. His touch was gentle and sure, and a thrill of bliss ran through me.

"You have a few old burn spots, looks like." I blinked. It must have happened when Remy had charged the collar. "Nothing serious. And a few scrapes. Looks like the collar dug into your shoulders just a bit." He patted my shoulder. "I'll keep you here tonight to treat the scars and scrapes."

Dr. Sampson looked into my eyes for a moment, knowing I was full of questions. "You can speak freely here, dear boy."

I looked down at the ankle bracelet. "Why do we wear the collar, if he has these things?" I asked. I saw Alex nodding out of the corner of my eye.

"Two reasons really," Dr. Sampson replied. "First, the ankle bracelets are low intensity. Only meant to be used for these examinations. They really only dampen your power. The lower down an inhibitor device is placed on your body, the less effective it is. And it doesn't have all the whistles and bells that the collar has, like the locator chip and the...correction module. It doesn't cover enough surface area to be useful."

I nodded and looked up at the doctor, saying nothing.

"Second, the collar is more...psychologically effective. Makes a slave feel more like a slave." There was distaste in his tone. I sighed and he patted me on the shoulder again. Then he went over to Alex and examined him. "You're fine. Only a slight bruise or two. But I think I'll keep you over night anyway. A good salve will work out any of the kinks the collar might have caused."

The doctor turned and called for the guard. "They can stay in the infirmary tonight. Alert Lord Remy. Then escort them to their beds."

The guard grunted. "You want them shackled?"

"No, no." He shook his head. "I'm sure they'll be fine. My assistant will attend to them. And there are always two guards posted at the door."

Alex and I spent our first wonderful night uncollared. And away from Remy. I felt free for a little while. Dr. Sampson's assistant, a slave himself, treated our necks with an aseptic salve that tingled and a light gentle massage, that extended way passed our shoulders. It was euphoric.

The next morning, however, Dr. Sampson quickly evaluated the skin around our necks and nodded in satisfaction. The collars were re-secured and with a sense of loss, we were led back up to Remy's bedroom. Dr. Sampson informed Alex and I that every so often we'd undergo a physical and have the collar removed. I couldn't wait until the next time. Alex seemed to agree with me.

Several more weeks passed. Or was it months? It could have been. I'd seriously lost track of time at this point. There were no clocks, no calendars around. I thought this was deliberate on Remy's part. One more way to confuse us, to keep us under control. I had noticed though, that the temperature had begun to drop and on occasion it was too cold to go out into the garden. Fall must have been approaching and this gave me a little sense of the time that might have passed. It had been late April when I'd been abducted. So it must have been months that had gone by. Provided time ran in similar fashion as on Earth. Rescue or escape were looking less and less likely. And the longer I fell into the comfortable life of an obedient pleasure slave, the more I began to fall for my master. The songs were easier to sing. And in my mind Remy was no longer fucking me. He made love to me and I went willingly into his arms. When he allowed it I went into Alex's arms. There was something between us I could no longer deny. Between the two of them I felt cherished. There were days when I didn't even think of Jean. She became a dream in a sense. My life was here and now. Alex and I were safe. At least it's what I believed. What I allowed myself to believe.

The honeymoon too soon came to an end.