The Phantom Of Harmoneyville
Rating: R
Summary: Cody is promised to a wealthy land owner, Evil Randy is phantom killer guy who loves him from a distance...No good at these!
Disclaimer: All fiction!
Cody stroked his hand threw the fine fur of a magnificent black stallion's broad neck just under it's silky soft mane as the air grew colder and colder and the sun quickly disappeared passed the horizon and cast the world in to dusk and turned the sky to an angry shade of gray and blue as dark clouds billowed and built into a storm. The wind blew and chilled the stables and slightly riled the horses he'd already brushed and prepared for the night. It was risky being out so late, he knew. A murderer was on the loose and the police weren't even close to catching the gruesome killer, but, he wasn't afraid. After all the killer seemed to target only wealthy land and business owners and he was neither of those. He was, however, engaged to one of them.
He sighed as he looked down at a small gold band around his finger and forced himself to smile. As part of a land arrangement between their fathers he'd been promised to the son of a very wealthy and very well known and respected member of the high society, Ted Dibiase Jr. To Cody's delight Ted was very handsome, very sweet and very giving. He'd been excited, thrilled even. Finally he got to leave home and fulfill his duties to his family and he absolutely loved to be lavished with expensive fine jewels and gifts. As long as he did everything he could to please Ted he was always rewarded with expensive jewelery or a sack of gold he could go to the market with and spend to his hearts content. Ted took very good care of him and although it was not exactly the most romantic way to start off a relationship, he kept in mind that their arrangement was what was best for him, and his family.
They didn't need the money, they had plenty of their own. But, they wanted it, and he was brought up to believe that to be someone you had to have money, and lots of it. So he'd jumped at the opportunity of marrying a wealthy land owner as it would secure his place in the high society that he loved and was accustomed to, and he knew that he'd never go without with his arm around a handsome man like Ted. The only problem was, he was supposed to marry this man when he barely knew him? Absolutely not! He'd have no part of marrying a stranger and just as soon as he'd moved in to the wealthy older mans large five bedroom home he'd insisted they wait at least a years time before they made their fathers arrangement official. And although Ted didn't have to, he was kind enough to agree and gave him the time he needed.
Ted wasn't around much though, and when he was there wasn't time for real conversation, nor did Ted seem to see a need for it. Mostly they spent their time with other members of the high society, going to parties and celebrations that were so boring he'd rather have a dull spike drilled into his head rather than sit quietly in a chair all night while Ted went around socializing. He found it truly mind-numbing and he'd just about lost it before his now good friend Evan came along and kept him company.
Evan too was promised to a land owner and being young like him he also hated any high society gathering as it meant he would be forced to sit and speak only when spoken too. Which wasn't often. No one spoke to them unless they were asking for a dance or trying to get in the good graces of their soon to be husbands. While Evan flirted and batted his eyes at any tall handsome wealthy man that approached them Cody did his best to ignore them and always found Ted with his eyes and fingered the gold engagement ring on his finger. He didn't like the feeling of being passed around between Ted's friends and business partners, even if it was only dancing. He truly despised any high society party and could never understand the purpose of yet another celebration. What were the celebrating? The fact that they were rich? It was a little over the top for his taste and he would much rather be at home with is future husband than be forced to sit and watch him socialize with a bunch of boring dullard's.
Especially since there was a mad man on the loose who for months had eluded capture and had successfully murdered, all during the night, several of the wealthiest land owners, leaving the rest of them shaking in their expensive boots. No one knew why the sudden string of gruesome murders occurred but they knew the shadows were no longer safe, that the once peaceful nights sky was the perfect cover for the evil prescene that came and went like a phantom in the dark.
Cody had been worried about Ted and feared he might be next on the madman's list and had begged that they move some where safe. But Ted was stubborn and didn't believe for a second that they had anything to worry about and no matter how much he pleaded and begged, Ted just didn't see that the high society he belonged to, was one by one. slowly but surely, being picked off.
So, for a while, he was at his side every second of every day until Ted grew irritated with his presence and insisted that he go try to find something else to do. Luckily for both of them, that same day he'd wandered into the stables and discovered his love for riding, as well as a love for breaking in the new stallion's and training them for his future husbands use. Ted was delighted because it kept him busy and he'd highly encouraged him, going so far as to buy him horse after horse to break in and train and before he knew it he had over nine horses he was proud to call his own. His favorite though, was the newest one, a tall handsome black stallion with a wild stubborn streak that he could identify all too well with. Phinnaeus he'd named him, and weeks later, he was still trying to break him in.
He smirked as he toyed with the ends of the long soft hair of the horses mane as he thought back to only a few days ago when he'd been thrown from the graceful beast and was nearly trampled by him and gave the horse a quick glare as he started to braid the fine hairs into a neat, perfect braid. "You could have killed me, you know." He scolded slightly. "And you're lucky Teddy didn't see what you did or he would have sold you to the highest bidder the very first chance he got." Phinnaeus turned his head towards him, his ears perking up proudly and almost seemed to smirk. He had to laugh and shake his head, of course Phinnaeus was smiling, he always smiled when he did something bad. "Good thing that handsome gentleman was there to pull me out of harms way. You would have trampled me and then what would you do? Who else would put up with you Phinny?" He patted the horses neck firmly, smiling. "Face it big guy, you're stuck with me."
Everything was working out perfectly and soon he'd marry the wealthy land owner and he'd have everything he ever wanted...
He'd sighed, his smile fading as he let the braid slip from his fingers and stepped back. He never imagined that even with having everything his heart ever desired he could still feel so incredibly lonely. But he did, and nothing Ted bought him seemed to fill the void in his heart. He knew Phinnaeus wasn't ever going to answer him and that he was only just a horse, but he still found a companion in him and there was no other place he'd rather be than in the stable with his favorite horse, his biggest challenge, and his best friend.
"It's not so bad Phinny," He told him as he dug into his pocket and pulled out a small cube of sugar he'd snagged during lunch when Ted wasn't looking and fed it to him with a big smile, "I manage to do something right from time to time."
Phinnaeus snatched the cube from out his hand and chewed it noisily as he shifted slightly, impateintly. "I know Phinny," He soothed with a soft chuckle. "We should turn in for the night. But Teddy's not home yet and the house is so empty, I'm lonely in there big guy, mind if I stay here and hang out with you for a while?"
Although he doubted he would actually get any sleep even if Ted was home. Ever since he'd narrowly avoided death he spent every night tossing and turning, afraid to fall asleep as a pair of eyes kept haunting his dreams and stirring up a mix of emotions that he didn't care to even think about. But frequently he couldn't stop his mind from kept taking him back to only just a few days ago when he'd met the most mysterious and darkly handsome man he'd ever seen...
He remembered taking a deep relaxing breath as he looked out over a wide spread peaceful field of tall sun flowers and then into the still, quiet woods beyond them, his favorite black stallion Phinnaeus beneath him, shifting his weight impatiently from hoof to hoof, anxious and literally chomping at the bit to get moving. He should have known Phinnaeus was going to throw him but he loved to ride, he loved the wind in his face, the excitement of pushing the horse to go faster and faster until they were a blur and the world seemed to fade away around him. He was addicted to the rush he got when he pushed Phinnaeus to speeds they'd never reached, loving how it always made him feel so alive, so untouchable and invincible as they soared around the world too fast for everyone to see. So he didn't see or he ignored the signs of the mischevious mood the horse was in and pushed the horse like he did any other day when he should have dismounted and won the beast over with tasty sun flowers and promises of extra long brushing's.
As he'd guided the massive beast towards the edge of the tree line the wind pushed and molded the expensive silk of a loose fitting white cavalier shirt to his sculpted chest and finely chiseled abdomen and might as well not have been there at all as the wind blew the ties open down the front, and sent the fine fabric sliding down passed his shoulders. It was irritating and typically he didn't wear more than a pair of slacks when he rode but that day before he'd even reached the stables his fiance had insisted he cover himself up after scolding him for flaunting his body for all to see. Ted didn't like anyone getting a look at the perfect body beneath the expensive clothes he lavished him with and as much as he disagreed with him, he had to oblige without complaint.
He remembered he was only a spec in the distance but he knew Ted was watching him and would for several minutes before going back inside to his office and returning to work. He didn't see much of him during the day but Ted always took the time around mid day to watch him ride from the back porch of their home, and whether he did it because he wanted to make sure he was appropriately dressed or because he liked to watch him, he didn't know. He was just happy Ted paid him the attention, whatever his reason.
Everything was going smoothly and he'd really just begun to let loose when Phinnaeus came to a complete halt along the treen line before a large pile of rocks and nervously stomped his hoof to the ground repeatedly.
"Easy now." He'd tried to comfort the nervous beast in a soft tone. "Just back up, come on, back up." But the horse ignored him and continued to pound it's hoof into the dirt before the pile of rocks. "Phinnaeus !" He'd called angrily as he gave the reigns a sharp tug. "Back up!" The horse suddenly screamed and rose up on it's hind legs too high, too fast and too hard and he lost his grip, his balance, his grace and he crashed to the ground, his head smacking against a rock along the edge of the pile, stunning him and knocking his mind into a daze.
Phinnaeus ran around him in a wide circle, confused or proud he wasn't sure but each loop he made he grew closer and he could hear his hooves pounding and crushing the dirt in their panic between the massive stallion's fearsome cries. He'd been too dazed to think about trying to pull himself out of harms way and could only watch in horror as giant crushing hooves came closer and closer and threatened to trample over him. Everything was happening too fast and he couldn't move, couldn't think as his life flashed before his eyes. He'd closed them tight and tried to brace himself...
But just as he shut them strong hands slid under his shoulders and pull him threw the dirt and just in time as he heard the horse race by. After being pulled a good distance and roughly dropped back down to the ground he felt strong forearms press against his sides as warm, sweet smelling breath puffed against his lips and cheek and thought he knew Ted was hovering over him, scowling and readying a sound scolding for his carelessness.
"Owww I hit my head." He'd groaned, hoping for a small amount of sympathy as he reached up and blindly grabbed the forearm he felt pressed against his ribs, almost gasping when even in his dazed state he'd noticed that the arm felt bigger and incredibly well defined with strong muscles that were much firmer than Teds and the skin unlike Ted's, was soft like silk under his fingers.
His eyes snapped open and as his vision came back into focus he'd looked down at where he felt their bodies touching along his ribs, following the length of his arm to where a thick black sleeve was bunched up at the elbow and led to an over sized hooded sweater that's zipper was undone, it hung freely around what he could tell was a finely sculpted chest and abdomen that he'd, perhaps, taken a moment too long to look at. When he'd finally gathered his courage and looked up at the stranger hovering over him the air in his lungs instantly left him as he discovered a pair of exquisite, effulgent, cerulean blue eyes gazing at him from under a black hood that shadowed and concealed the strangers face like a mask. All he could see were his beautiful, breath stealing eyes... He'd gulped and his mind screamed for him say something, anything, as he watched the eyes travel over his face and down his neck to the exposed skin of his chest. The eyes came back up and bored into him like they could pierce and steal his very soul at any moment and he just couldn't look away. "Who-Who are you?" He managed to ask, his voice small and nervous as he shuddered under the strangers beautiful, mesmerizing, gaze.
But the stranger didn't answer, he only swiftly grabbed his wrists and roughly pinned them in the dirt above his head. He'd gasped in fear and almost panicked as he felt him sink down on him like he meant to pin him to the ground. But just as soon as the fear arose the stranger's grip loosened and his weight began to leave him. He'd relaxed as the hooded stranger started to draw back, keeping and following his gaze as he disappeared down his body. "Wait." He implored softly as the quiet stranger slipped away. "Who are you?" He'd sat up thinking he'd find him crouched by his feet, but he didn't. In fact he hadn't found him anywhere. He was just, gone.
He shuddered as the memory finished playing out for what must have been the hundredth time and bit back a groan. Something about the hooded stranger was just so exciting and mysterious and if he didn't stop thinking about him, if he didn't stop dreaming of those gorgeous deep blue eyes...He shivered, his cock starting to harden and he wiped away beads of sweat from his forehead with a shaky hand. What was wrong with him? How could he lust after a complete stranger? He didn't even know the man's name!
He swallowed hard as his groin continued to burn and come to life with arousal and felt so embarrassed, so ashamed. Was he really so sexually frustrated that a stranger turned him on! No that couldn't be. He was far too civilized to let his libido control him like that. It must have been because he hadn't had thought to thank him for saving his life. Manners were important, they were proper and sophisticated, like him. Yes, that was it, he was just feeling terribly guilty for not properly thanking the man and it had manifested it's self into lust. This was all just a mean trick his brain was playing on him to further drive him insane with need. He just needed to let it go and forget it ever happened. He only wished the handsome stranger had explained what he was doing on Ted's land, and that he had stayed just a moment longer so he could have learned his name. A name he could put to the eyes that came to him every night in his dreams and instantly stole his breath...
He sighed heavily and picked up the brush from the stool in the corner of the stall, his mind still miles away while he went about the task of preparing the stallion for the nights chill, never once noticing there was someone watching him from the window...
"Cody!" He heard Ted's voice shout for him just from outside the stable doors and quickly stepped out of the stall just as Ted came threw the heavy doors and angrily called for him again."Right here." He answered calmly as he set the brush down on the stall door. "Stop shouting, you'll spook Phinnaeus."
"I told you to stay inside the house!" Ted shouted still with anger flushed over his handsome face.
He shrugged, "The horses needed tending to and I had nothing else to do."
Ted surprised him with a firm smack across his face and he fell against the stall door in shock, a hand clutching his face over a forming welt that stung and burned and brought tears to his eyes.
" I told you to stay!" Ted snarled.
"I'm sorry.." He heard himself apologize for what must have been the millionth time. "I didn't go very far. I-I thought the stables would be okay. I didn't mean to upset you." Ted was in many ways a good man but he never once gave him a sense of comfort and he feared that at any moment Ted would grow tired of him and back out on the deal their fathers had made and send him on his way. His way being of course being disowned by his family and tossed out to fend for himself. Sure he could learn to survive on his own, but he was accustomed to luxury and years of conditioning had convinced him that he couldn't live or be anyone without it. He cared for Ted and he hated it when he did something to upset him enough to earn him a slap to the face, which Ted only did if he really crossed a line. He knew he was lucky that their arrangement had worked out so well and would do anything he could to keep his future husband happy. Because of all the wealthy land owners to be promised to Ted was by far the most handsome and giving. He just wished they could be closer and have a real friendship, rather than an arrangement. Maybe then Ted wouldn't hit him when he lost his temper...
Ted let out a frustrated sigh as he shook his head, "No, it's not okay! Does this look like the fucking house to you?"
"No." He mumbled into his hand as he righted himself against the stall door then let his hand drop down to his side.
"I told you to stay inside because that madman is still on the loose and he could have snatched you up without me even knowing it!" Ted scolded angrily and put his hands on his hips as he took a deep breath and looked around slowly, "While you were ignoring my request did you at least finish?"
"Almost." He replied quickly. "I was just brushing Phinnaeus and then I was going to head back inside."
"I do appreciate your concern for our horses. I just wish you would have checked with me first." Ted said with a sigh and he could tell he was starting to calm down. "I...I was worried when I came home and you weren't there."
It was when Ted said things like that that made him believe the older man truly did care for him. Maybe he wasn't just some prize possession to him, maybe Ted did see him as a person, a lover, a friend. "You were worried?"
"Yes...Of course I was." Ted replied as he pouted slightly and pulled him into his arms, "You know that I don't want you leaving the house after dark until they catch that lunatic. Stay in side where it's safe Cody."
He nodded as he put one arm around Ted's neck and let the other trail his hand over his broad chest and down his stomach where it stroked and fingered the dips of his hips threw his shirt. He crushed his lips to his and kissed deep, moaning as he pressed his already stiff sex into Ted's groin. He knew exactly what to do to calm him down... "I'm really sorry Teddy..." He purred in a seductive tone as he dropped his hand to his groin and groped his stiffening sex threw thin silk. "Let me make it up to you?"
Ted chuckled softly as he tugged him closer, "What has gotten into you tonight? You're like a cat in heat."
He nodded and rubbed and ground their bodies together sensually as he hungrily trailed his lips down his neck. He was suddenly over come with passion and desire, so much so that his mind was in a complete haze and he couldn't think of anything but Ted's hands exploring and caressing his body. "Touch me. Please Teddy touch me. " He gasped and moaned as Ted's hand stroked down his back, stopping at his hips and he let out a desperate whimper. "Take me Teddy. Please I'm so ready."
Ted sighed softly as he pulled back and grabbed his shoulders to stop him from advancing. "The wedding is only but two months away, you can wait a little while longer."
"Oh Teddy please take me." He whispered in a desperate tone as he shook and trembled with desire. "I want you to ravish me."
Ted arched a brow and released his shoulders, "How?"
He licked him lips seductively, "I want you to...I want you to...Um..." He trailed off, biting his lip nervously as he blushed with embarrassment. He wasn't exactly sure what he wanted, or even how to ask for guidance because, he was a virgin and Teddy always used it against him.
"See?" Ted said with a chuckle, "You don't even know what you want from me. How can you possibly be ready?"
He swallowed hard and blinked rapidly as he at first shook his head then nodded and managed an apologetic smile. "You're right, I'm sorry I just got carried away for a moment." He took a deep shaky breath and let it out slowly as he focused his eyes on the ground to hide the disappointment in them. He had to get himself back under control before he upset him and didn't get any attention at all. "Can I still please you? Can I still kiss your sex?"
"Okay." Ted answered with a nod. "But not here though, it's going to storm," He grabbed his hand firmly and turned them towards the door. "Let's get back inside before it starts pouring, I don't want to get stuck out here."
"Are you sure?" He asked as he tugged at the waist band of Ted's pants suggestively, looking up at him with hopeful eyes. "I think it would be kind of nice to stay and please your body right here."
"Trust me it wouldn't be." Ted assured quickly. "We're far too civilized for such crude behavior." He continued and tugged him towards the doors, leading them away from the excitement and freedom and right back into the smothering confides of their mundane home. "Especially not in a stable, it's filthy in here."
He nodded and held back a sigh of disappointment as Ted lead him towards the house, letting go of the hopes of something more passionate and resolved himself to another night of decent but all together boring touching and sucking. Their wedding night just couldn't get there fast enough...