Chapter 5

Riley glared down at the large guy standing next to his prize. If Jovian thought he could hide behind that large slab of flesh and deformed features then he had another thing coming. He would have him in his bed again, he would see his body shake with fear and pain again, he would see the tears in his eyes again, and for that he was sure.

Riley moved away from the window and looked at the room he was given; it was small to say the least. There was a rickety old bed that creaked every time you sat on it. The blanket looked like it got in an ultimate fighter match with moths. He grimaced. It certainly wasn't a Best Western, but it would do for now. He reflected on the family that owned the run down Texas like mansion. There was defiantly no way they were rich, they looked liked they couldn't even afford to fix it up, it looked as if it would collapse any minute. Mai the sweet old lady was a pain, she continued to compare him to Jovian. He was nothing like that piece of ass, that's what Jovian was and would ever be, a piece of ass. The estranged wheelchair uncle was just a hindrance. He smirked when he thought of Hoyt, now that was a man worth keeping around. His attitude towards others was magnificent, especially when Jovian was brought into conversation. The hate, the lust, the bloody malicious intent in his eyes was a refreshing dose of reality. It seemed Hoyt shared the same feelings he did.

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Hoyt watched from the shadows, as his nephew and that scared face boy walked through the front door, he practically snarled when he saw how close they were standing. He could see there shoulders were tense in nervousness. A light embarrassed blush was dusted on Jovian's face. He needed to do something fast.

"Boy, come here, we need to chat" he said in his usual gruff voice. The two that just walked in knew who he was talking to, Thomas. Thomas looked at Jovian, and gave a slight nod of the head before he moved away and stalked to his uncle. Jovian continued on his way upstairs, his shoulders tensed even more on his way up the stairs, what if Riley was up there waiting to get him alone, he shook his head, he shouldn't be thinking such things, even if they were a possibility. His thoughts soon became occupied and his earlier thoughts vanished replaced with the thoughts of Thomas. He thought of the kiss, how rough his skin was around his mouth. He thought back to what he saw beneath the leather, his skin looked as if it was deteriorating, it was dark, so dark it looked black, he knew it was a skin disease. He figured this is the reason why no one ever thought to get to know Thomas, people thought he was different, but since when should that matter, everyone was different they were individuals since birth but people just don't seem to remember that and he hated it. Thomas disserved so many things in his life. He thought about the fluttery feeling he got in his heart every time he saw him, or every time Mai talked about him. Was he just crushing on him, or was he truly in love with him? He couldn't think anymore of it, because he was knocked from his thoughts when he bumped into someone. He was beginning to fall when he felt strong lean arms move around his waist, and he froze. He knew those arms; they were a distinct memory that would never go away. His head flew up and his eyes looked onto the one man he didn't want to run into. Riley.

Riley smirked down at Jovian as he held him in his arms. He chuckled slightly this is defiantly where he wanted him. He could feel Jovian begin to shake, and his eyes captured Jovian's. He saw the unadulterated fear in his eyes, it made his eyes shine.

"Let me go…" came the small light reply from Jovian, his voice shook. Riley's smirk grew larger. He loved the effected he was having on the young man.

"Now why would I want to do that?" he questioned. His eyes grew dark, and Jovian's grew in size. Jovian saw the dark look in his eyes, he knew the look well, he had seen it a million times when he was with him in the past, and he wished a million times he would never have to see it again. He could feel himself quiver, he wished Thomas was here, he felt safe with him, unlike in Riley's presence, he felt fear, danger, and all the other emotions that went along with it.

"Please…" Jovian found himself begging to be released, he hated it that Riley could bring him to beg for things. He felt the self-hatred. Why couldn't he be strong? He just wished he was strong enough to push him away, but he wasn't. He could feel Riley lean in and nuzzle the side of his neck; he jumped and whimpered when he felt the sleek wet tongue touch his exposed skin. It felt so wrong.

"Please what? Please continue? It would be a pleasure" said Riley; he forgot how good Jovian's skin tasted. Jovian could feel the tears come to his eyes, he wanted him to stop, he wanted him to let him go, he want him to be a million miles away, he wanted him to die. He closed his eyes tight. And then it was gone, the arms, the tongue, the warm breath, the frightening feeling of knowing Riley was so close. He opened his eyes, and a small smile came to his lips. Thomas was in front of him, he couldn't see his face, his back was turned to him, but he could see his shoulders tensed in anger, if its one thing Jovian learned over the passed couple weeks was Thomas body language. He assumed he was pissed. He looked beyond Thomas and saw a sight he thought he would never see. Riley on the floor, holding a bloody nose. He hoped it was broken. Thomas turned around and looked at Jovian; he saw that his eyes were glistened over by un-shed tears, his body language softened. He locked eyes with Jovian. He saw the relief and gratitude in his eyes. He held out his hand, and Jovian took it, and then he lead Jovian down the hallway, but when he passed Riley he gave a good kick for measure. He could hear the slight intake off breath as he moved away, and a small smile formed behind his masked, and his eyes alit with life. Jovian looked at Thomas from the corner of his eye, and a stray thought passed through his mind. My knight in not so shinning armour.

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Riley scowled and growled deep within his throat as he watched as the two walked off. He would have him in his grasp again, and he would dispose of that butcher as well. He was interference. He slowly got up, holding his side all the while. Yes, they would both get what they disserved. He turned and walked to his room.

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Thomas walked Jovian to his room, when he walked in he dragged Jovian to his bed and pushed him down on it.

"Sleep" he said in his light whispered hoarse voice, that Jovian loved to hear. Jovian nodded and got under the covers. Thomas turned to leave the room, but was stopped by the hand that gripped his lightly; he turned and looked at Jovian. Jovian stared up at him shyly, with an almost scared look on his face as his eyes moved, jerked looking at every dark shadow in the room.

"please stay…I….I'm afraid to be alone right now…please stay just till I fall asleep" he said as he hid his face in the pillow, he felt ashamed, he shouldn't be scared that Riley might be hiding in the shadows, but to him Riley was his personal boogieman, one that actually existed. He frowned slightly when he felt Thomas draw his hand away, and the door shut. He sighed and looked up and was surprised that Thomas was standing next to the bed. Didn't he leave? He didn't want to question that thought, he was just relieved he stayed, he smiled a little, and scooted over, making room for Thomas, but Thomas didn't move. He probably doesn't know what I'm asking him to do. He thought, and that he was correct. Thomas didn't know why Jovian moved over, but when he patted the place that was free, he got the idea, though he was nervous, he would be laying in the same bed as somebody else, he'd never done that before. He sat down none the less. He tensed when he felt Jovian move up beside him. He felt warm, his heart grew fluttery, and his stomach flipped. What was wrong with him, was he sick? Jovian sighed, Thomas was warm, it was comforting. He wasn't scared anymore. He loved that about Thomas, how he can make him feel safe with just being next to him. Just another thing I fell in love with about him. Jovian froze, fell in love. Did he really fall in love with everything that was Thomas even the very man? He thought about all those times, he thought about him, wishing he was there, just so he could hang out, just to be in his presence. He was sure he did. He fell in love without even knowing it. But one last thought filtered through his mind as he fell asleep. Does he feel the same way?

Thomas watched over Jovian as he slept. He could feel the light puffs of breath against his arm. His eyes left the far wall, to look down at Jovian. He looked to be glowing, but he wasn't, not really, it was probably his mind thinking up things, if anything his mind decided Jovian would be the light in the dark. The marred skin on his face seemed to be so in contrast with the rest of his smooth pale skin. He reached up and caressed the burned skin; it was rough, yet soft. A contented sigh fell from Jovian's face. He remembered the day Jovian told him how he had enquired the scars on his person. It was no more then six days ago.

It was a little light out, the sun was fading and the moon was coming. It made a beautiful contrast in the sky, dark blue, purple, red, orange. Thomas sat beside Jovian silent, it wasn't an awkward silence, on the contrary it was quite content. Jovian spoke.

"You know it would be today, thirteen years ago that I got these scars." he said as he traced the scare on his face. Thomas watched him, he watched as a small sad smile graced Jovian's face, and a far away look took over his vibrant green eyes. He gave a low chuckle. "I was only nine, when I was forced into a world no kid should live in. The sad thing was I was the only one in the house when the fire happened. I can't remember how it started, I think they said it started over a spark or something, all I really remember is the smoke and the unbearable heat. I blacked out and I woke up a week later in the hospital. I got out a year later; I was faced with the whispers and stares of the population. Most avoided me like the plague." He stopped and sighed. He hated the memories, the world became a very lonely place him. Thomas stared at him, he didn't know what to do, so he did nothing, he just stared at Jovian. Jovian looked up at him and gave him the smallest, shyest smile ever.

He sighed. He wished he had the courage and knowledge to comfort him in that time, but it was in the past and the past can't be changed, only forgotten. His finger moved towards Jovian's hair, and he could feel Jovian moved towards his touch subconsciously. He smiled, but his smile faltered and vanished when he remembered what his uncle said to him earlier.

"Boy, come here, we need to chat" said Hoyt. Thomas left Jovian's side with a side glance. He and his uncle moved from the foyer, and moved towards the sitting area. Hoyt plunked himself down on the old ripped arm chair. His dark eyes staring into Thomas soul, Thomas still fidgeted from the look after so many years of being on the receiving end of it. Thomas stood a distance away from the Hoyt.

"Change of plans. I need that boy dead within the next three days!" He said. Thomas froze. Three days? What was he going to do? He didn't want to hurt Jovian. He couldn't he knew he couldn't. How can his uncle ask this of him? Right he was just a pawn in his one major big chess game and Jovian was the opposing team. Hoyt could see the slight answer of hesitation in Thomas' eyes as he looked towards the ground, as if it was the most fascinating thing to stare at. "You will kill him Tommy-boy; do not disobey your uncle! Do you understand?" by the time Hoyt was finished he was standing up in front of Thomas, he looked to be foaming at the mouth, and a hard glare was set across his face. Thomas flinched, gulped and gave a small insecure node of the head. Hoyt smiled and nodded. Good the boy would co-operate. "Leave" he said before he turned around and once again sank into the cushion of the run down arm chair.

He didn't know what to do, but he defiantly didn't want the ending consequence to be done, especially by his hands. He didn't think he would be able to live with himself, not when the blood soaked the corner of Jovian's lips, and those lifeless eyes staring up at him, with betrayal. He just couldn't he had three days to figure something out, or he would be deep between a rock and a hard place. His hand feel away from Jovian's hair, a frown came upon Jovian's lips and a low grumble sounded before he snuggled into the pillow. Thomas gave a small smile before he slowly got up and left the room, he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep tonight, not with that burning feeling in his chest at the look of betrayal that would surely shine through Jovian's lifeless eyes if he were to kill him. Jovian continued to sleep away unaware of his inner conflict.

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Hoyt sat in the old run down arm chair in the sitting room, nursing a glass of brandy. He took a sip. Soon the boy would leave, and with him all these frustrating feelings. His grip tightened on the glass. This was how Riley found him.

"Wow! Lighten that grip tiger, unless you want broken glass everywhere" came his smooth drawl. Hoyt turned and eyed the young man; he wasn't very hard on the eyes, on the contrary really. Hoyt smirked; he certainly was a fine piece of meat if he ever saw one.

"Riley" Hoyt nodded in his direction. "Hoyt" Riley returned. Riley saw the faint hint of lust in Hoyt's eyes as he looked towards him. 'Hmm…fascinating' He thought. "I have a proposition for you" he said as he quirked an eyebrow towards Hoyt. Hoyt watched his every move.

"What is it?" he said gesturing towards the chair. Riley took a seat; Hoyt poured him a glass of brandy and handed it to Riley. Riley took a swig; it burned on its way down. Riley then began to explain the 'proposition.' Hoyt's eyes were elite when Riley finished, a smirk played on the sheriff's lips.

"Excellent" he said. Riley smirked. "I assure you, you won't be disappointed" said Riley as he stood up. Hoyt stood up as well. "Let's just hope your right" came Hoyt's reply. Riley turned to leave before a small smirk came to his handsome features. He swirled around and quickly gave Hoyt a chased kiss. He pulled away and smirked. Hoyt saw it and smirked. When Riley went to turn away, Hoyt grabbed him and slammed his mouth on Riley's, it was long, and hard, and Riley full hardily replied. When they both pulled away they were slightly flush, there pants were tight, and they were breathing hard. Hoyt smirked and said breathlessly "You shouldn't start something, you don't plan on finishing." Riley smirked and turned and left. Hoyt watched his form move away preferably he was staring at his ass. Hoyt chuckled. Oh yha, it was going to be worth while.

TBC……………..

A/N: so how's this chapter? Sorry I haven't updated in very long, but you know school and everything, its hectic, especially when its so close to the end of the year! Yha two more weeks or three till school ends and summer begins!!! YAY!! Anyway please leave a review, and Benagail24 I hope the explaining of the scares was well enough for yha!!! See yha!

Pampers Baby Dry