The days passed into weeks without any let up in our punishment. During the day we were left unrestrained, but watched closely by a guard. At night we were cuffed and gagged. And the guards always kept the controls to our collars within easy reach. One hint of rebellion and it would be activated.

Remy came home almost every night. And almost every night he was escorting a noble woman. Most of the time they dined, enjoyed an after dinner drink, and then the woman of the evening left with a family member or servant who had come to escort her home. Remy would shower afterward, and then come to stand in front of my brother seeking release. Alex gave it willingly every time, so often with a sad smile at the end. He'd never look at me after he'd finished, just turn toward the bed, drop his forehead against the post and try to sleep. Sometimes, I saw a few tears drop down his cheek, but most of the time, he showed little emotion. And so often, I'd feel my own tears fall for what was lost to me.

Occasionally the woman of the evening was brazen enough to attempt to seduce Remy. And more often than not Remy would take her to bed. Alex and I would be forced to listen as he was pleasured by the woman, and has he pleasured the woman. It was grating more than anything. And for some reason actually being witness to the act didn't spur my jealousy as much as when he'd left us alone, and my imagination roamed, thinking of him with someone else. It could have been the gender. As long as it wasn't a man, I didn't feel quite as threatened. Or perhaps because I knew it was just sex for him. The women never returned for a second night. Remy knew well enough that those women were using sex to get what they wanted, namely to become his consort, to gain power of some fashion. It had nothing to do with love or even attraction.

And I think he liked the idea of having sex with a woman in front of Alex and me. There was an allure to it, another way of punishing us with what we couldn't have or couldn't do. Namely touching him, or holding each other. And that made those nights exquisitely painful for me. It forced me to realize what Remy had meant. Soon I would succumb. If the punishment didn't relent soon I'd be begging Remy, telling him I'd do anything if he'd just let me back into his bed.

All during that time, no woman came to dine twice. Not even the ones who had been demure and genteel, the ones who had left seduction behind and sought to appeal to Remy's intelligence. Noblewoman after noblewoman came and went trying to win the heart of the sitting Patriarch. But they all seemed to fail once their night was over. One audition per woman.

Until Vanessa de Troia, the dark-haired ice queen I recognized from Alex and my 'coming out' party. Four consecutive days she came to dine, and stayed with Remy the rest of the night. I despised her on sight. Not because she goaded Remy into ordering Alex and I to perform. That would have been a waste of good hatred. Especially when that night had ended so well in reconciliation with my brother. But because she didn't ignore us like the rest of the women who'd come to win Remy's heart. She made every effort to slight us, to demean us in Remy's eyes. And we were helpless to fight back against her nasty words, bound and gagged in front of her. I felt like less of a man in her presence.

"Remy," Vanessa said, the first night she came to his room, "what lovely decor. I believe I'll have to look into having a few handsome slaves chained to the foot of *my* bed."

Remy laughed. "De trick, ma chere," he joked, "is getting de right slaves. Deir coloring should accentuate de fabric of your bed."

She tittered at his wit, then proceeded to ignore us for the time being. But her attention always seemed to come back to us, her jealousy so obvious. Her words cutting and deep. And while I might have pitied her for being so petty and insecure, I just couldn't bring myself to do anything but despise her.

However, I did have to wonder what she really had to be jealous of. There was little we could do to her as slaves. But perhaps our very presence frightened her? Perhaps it symbolized what we meant to Remy? Was it possible she was still angry because Remy had left her at the party to be with us? She seemed the type to hold a grudge and to exact revenge whenever and wherever she could.

This all became too evident on the forth day. It was early morning and Remy had been called away for some minor crisis in the palace. He'd told Vanessa to stay. He wouldn't be long. She lay in Remy's bed for a while, but eventually, when it seemed Remy would be away for longer, boredom must have caused her to rise. She floated around the room, picking up the various statuettes and knick knacks, turning them over and over as if assessing their value. But even this began to lose interest and she turned her attention on us, two more objects to be appraised.

Vanessa glided over to stand in front of me. I eyed her warily, knowing she'd try to provoke me, although there was little I could do, but wondering how. She used a fairly direct approach. Animosity radiated off her like a victim of a nuclear war.

"Lovely creatures," she purred. "You do make handsome decor. But then Remy always had good taste." She paused in thought. "If not always good sense. When we are married, however, I'm sure I'll be able to guide him in the right direction."

So she expected to marry him? I had thought as much. But had he asked her yet? Was it official, or was she presuming? I think I hated her more at that moment than I'd ever hated anyone, including Apocalypse. So when she ran one perfectly manicured finger down my cheek, I snapped my head away, one lip curled up in distaste around the ball gag. She scowled viciously and slapped me hard across the face.

"Remy's too lenient with you. When we are married," she hissed, "I'll have you sold. He may be enamored of you now, but I'm certain I can convince him what a liability you both are. I'm sure Councilor Escalada would pay a handsome price for you. He's mentioned several times to me how he'd love to have you both in his stable. Perhaps I'll arrange it. Remy's sure to see my reasoning."

She stood back crossing her arms. Her lips rose in a half sneer, half smile. "Or perhaps," she mused, "I *will* keep you. Yes. I'll have Remy give you both to me as a wedding gift. Then I'll keep you in *my* stable." Her eyes lit up with malicious amusement. "I'll harness you both to my gurney and gentle you to my riding whip. Would you like that? You'll live in the stables like the rest of the stallions." Now her lips curled into an unmistakably cruel smile. "Perhaps I'll have you gelded. It will help in the long run to tame you."

I narrowed my eyes in fury. I wouldn't put it passed the bitch to try. And after these last few weeks, I wouldn't put it passed Remy to agree.

"Yes." Vanessa drew the S out with a perverse satisfaction. "I'll drive you around the city. I'll be the talk of Genosha. The woman who tamed Remy's favorite pets." Her smiled broadened and a faraway look appeared in her eyes. "The woman who tamed Remy Lebeau."

Suddenly Vanessa shifted in front of me and I saw Remy standing in the doorway. She hadn't heard him come in. Neither had I for that matter, so caught up in her cruel words.

"So," he said, his voice low, but the dangerous tone couldn't be mistaken, "you'll tame me like a slave, eh?" Vanessa had crossed the line and I would have laughed with glee if not for the gag in my mouth. "Like a stallion slave, no less."

Vanessa whirled around, completely off her guard, and her perfect icy demeanor faltered. But with grudging admiration I watched her recover quickly.

"Remy," she began placatingly.

"Get out," Remy calmly interrupted, refusing to listen.

"But, Remy, darling..."

"Get out, or I'll have de guard escort you out."

Sensing she was loosing ground fast, Vanessa switched tactics, pulling herself up and exuding an air of indignant anger. "You wouldn't dare. My father would..."

"Your father, chere, wouldn't do a thing. Not once he was made aware of your excursion to Earth with Escalada last summer."

Vanessa's eyes widened in shock. "How could you possibly..."

Remy chuckled, but with little mirth in his tone. "You're not de only one wit' spies, petite."

Vanessa dropped her hands to her sides, but I could see the minute tremors in her fingers. She shrugged slowly, casually and slithered over to Remy. Another tactic in mind. Seduction.

"Remy," she began in a low husky voice, "it was nothing. Just a little scouting trip." Remy's lips twitched in dark amusement, but he said nothing as she draped herself around him, pressing her cold lips against his cheek. "He's a brute. Cold and callous."

"Den you two should be perfect toget'er," he said maliciously.

I had to give Vanessa credit. The comment didn't raise her ire. She continued speaking as if she hadn't heard him, running her hand up one arm and shoulder and down again. "You're so much more of a man, Remy. Warm, friendly, handsome, but so powerful. We'd be so good together." She gestured back toward us. "I was only joking. I would never do anything to harm your favorites." Her hand came back to run seductively down his chest. "And I'd never believe that I could influence you. Don't send me away."

Remy looked at her for a long moment as if assessing the truth of her words. "So you wish to marry me, chere?"

My eyes widened at this. Was he really going to ask her to marry him? Vanessa's face lit up. "With all my heart," she whispered, breathless with anticipation.

Remy smiled at her, the first sign of warmth I'd seen in him since he'd returned. He ran a finger gently down her cheek. "You should know, petite," he said, "I don' marry whores."

It took a moment for his words to sink in. Then Vanessa stepped back away from him, her face twisted in fury. I saw her hand twitch slightly before she brought it up, intending to slap him. But he caught her wrist and forced it back painfully.

"You bastard!" She screamed. "After all I've done for you! All I've given you!"

Remy chuckled. "Oui. But as my Tante Mattie use to say 'why buy de cow, when you can get de milk for free.' And incidentally," he added, "I was never going to marry you." He winked at her and in a rage she wrenched her arm free.

"You'll pay for this," she hissed. "Somehow, someway, I'll make you pay."

Remy looked over her shoulder then, catching my eye. "Better men den you 'ave tried, chere. Do your worst." He looked back at her. "But never underestimate me. I have ears all over dis kingdom. I know your secrets. Do you really t'ink you know any of mine?"

Vanessa glared at him and said, "I know your weaknesses."

I thought Remy was going to strike her then. His face mirrored the fury in her own expression. But she suddenly gathered herself together and swept passed him out of the room.

Remy waited for the door to slam. He closed his eyes for a moment and a transformation took place on his face. Then he burst into heartfelt laughter. "Oh," he said to himself, "Remy Lebeau, you've made a very lethal enemy today. But dis was coming. I knew she'd never agree to simply be my mistress. But wife? Ha! I have better taste."

He turned to us at that point and walked over to me. With his fingers barely touching the reddened area Vanessa had left, he asked, "Dis all she did, cher?"

I nodded.

"Bein." He smiled. "But I never would 'ave let her harm you. Alt'ough de thought of seeing you two harnessed to a buggy is tempting." I pulled back in anger, but my cock jumped in arousal at his words. God! The images he conjured up were depraved, vile, but also incredibly erotic. Harnessed like a horse to a cart and forced to pull him along as he encouraged more speed out of me with the sting of his whip across my bare ass. Would he control my movements with a bit in my mouth? Would he add a tail for some sick aesthetic purpose?

Remy leered at me as if he could see the images swirling around in my brain. Then he ruffled my hair affectionately. "Non," he said. "Dat would only add full to de fire. And besides, it'd probably cause serious injury with all de people trying to get a look." He grinned and a moment later he was gone. A guard step in just after he'd left and released us from our bonds to begin our day.