Bonds of Steel free read by Maura Anderson

Some of you may recognize the characters of Noah and Jim. Since this is 1100 words, I count it as my Friday Flash as well. Be happy I didn’t try to split it and make you visit two blogs :)

Bonds of Steel
(c) 2008 by Maura Anderson

Noah pulled his car up as close to the smithy doors as possible. No sense having to tote the pumpkins filling his backseat any further than necessary. Jim’s excitement over the holiday party they’d planned for their friends had proven contagious and Noah couldn’t wait to see how the smithy’s conversion to haunted party house had come along. But that excitement was curtailed a bit by the constant case of nerves he’d had for two weeks now.

He started pulling the pumpkins out of the car and setting them out along the path between the driveway and the smithy. Hopefully two dozen would suffice, that was all he could fit in the car in one trip.

In the midst of arranging the pumpkins to his own satisfaction, the door to the smithy opened and he looked up to see Jim’s boots in the doorway. “Umm. I thought you said a couple of pumpkins, Noah. Unless I’m hallucinating, this is a lot more than a couple.”

Noah could feel his cheeks grow hot at the amusement in his lover’s voice. “Well, I want it to look nice. Do you think it’s too many?”

“Nah. It looks perfect.”

A strong hand reached down to help Noah to his feet and up against his Jim’s warm, hard body. Calloused fingers tilted his chin up and his lips were captured and devoured by his lover’s. Fire seemed to flash through him, consuming him and pulling him under Jim’s seductive spell. Even his bones seemed to melt and he laced his arms around the blacksmith’s waist to keep himself upright.

When the kiss ended, Noah sighed and tucked his head against Jim’s shoulder, content to snuggle for a few minutes before the final party preparations had to continue. His cock had other ideas but it would have to wait. He needed to tell Jim how he felt.

I love this man. Even after admitting the truth to himself last week, it still seemed like a dream. How had he gotten so lucky? When he imagined telling Jim, nerves made his stomach clench and his knees weak. He thought Jim felt the same but what if he didn’t? What if Noah’s feelings weren’t fully returned?

“What’s wrong, Noah? You suddenly tensed up.” Jim’s deep voice was laced with his concern. “Are you worried about the party? Do we need to cancel it?”

“No, I’m okay. I just want the party to go off perfectly. You said this is one of the days you tend to sell a lot of your fetish gear and this is the first party since you moved here. I want to help.” Noah’s voice was surprisingly steady and didn’t betray how very nervous he was.

Jim didn’t look convinced but gave him a gentle hug before releasing him and then pulling him toward the smithy by one hand. “I have everything done in here. Come take a look.”

The small building had been separated into little areas by long drapes of gauzy fabric hanging from the metal rafters. Each little area had been set up and decorated to best show off Jim’s impressive stock of bondage and fetish metalwork. Noah peeked into each little room as they walked through, his already rock-hard cock throbbing and aching as he imagined the play that could take place with the items Jim made.

One area had a large cage in the center, open manacles laying on the floor of the cage and what looked like a chastity belt on a chair next to the cage.

Another room had a huge x-frame dotted with rings and bolts, manacles chained to the end of each arm and a thick chain anchored at the intersection of the two arms.

The last area, around the forge which was off for now, there was a wall of display racks of different types of manacles, collars, leashes and even a few pieces like head cages and gags to demonstrate the custom-fitted work that could be ordered. Another wall was hung with swords, daggers, axes and other weaponry since there was a large amount of crossover in customers.

Jim pushed past him and picked up the pair of manacles laying on his anvil. “I have a present for you.” His long red braid swung around as he spun and gave Noah a smile that made him briefly consider running. Predatory is the only way to describe it. He stalked nearer and Noah dropped his gaze to the manacles instead. They were polished steel but appeared to have a pattern on them and were lined with what looked like red and black leather. The cuffs had several rings spaced out around them, a hasp to allow a lock to be added and they were attached together by a short length of sturdy chain.

He looked up again to see Jim watching him intently. “I made these for you, Noah. They’ll fit you perfectly and I made sure you can’t hurt yourself on them when you thrash and writhe on my cock. I wouldn’t want you to cut or bruise yourself while I’m making you come. I don’t like blood mixed with my cum.”

Noah’s mouth felt like the Sahara, dry and barren. He couldn’t force words to his lips, instead standing there mute and gaping at Jim’s speech, cock pressing urgently at the zipper of his jeans and hoping he wouldn’t combust before he could ask Jim his question.

His predatory stride took him another step or two closer and Jim held the cuffs closer so he could see them. This close he could see the polished metal was etched with the same flames that ran up his lover’s arms. They were beautifully made.

He licked his lips and swallowed heavily, finally able to choke out a few words. “Wait. I need to ask….”His voice wavered and his nerves took over again, pushing his libido to the side. Jim obediently stopped but kept his eyes on Noah’s face. A look of concern and worry replaced the teasing, devilish look on his face but instead of demanding an answer, he waited.

Fuck it. I need to just get it over with. Noah reached into his pocket and pulled out the object he’d been carrying and fidgeting with for two weeks now. Hiding it in his hand, he abruptly dropped to his knees in front of Jim and looked up at the solid, muscular man. If he wasn’t so nervous, he might be amused by the look of confusion on Jim’s face.

Voice thin and reedy, he finally managed to choke out one of the most important questions he’d ever asked. “Jim. Will you marry me?”

Grey eyes widened in surprise and then glanced at the ring Noah was now holding out to him on his palm, a beautifully-made stainless steel ring etched with flames and their combined initials.

Written by Maura Anderson

Maura began writing on a whim and writing male/male romance on a dare. She enjoyed the results so much that her muse can't seem to turn off the ideas and she continues to write stories about acceptance, being true to one's self and love.
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