A Strong Hand (28 page)

"Oh, you should," Damian assured him. "But for right now, climb up on that bed and be prepared to stop when I say so."

Nick got onto the bed, kneeling on his hands and knees. A flash of light blinded him and he yelled, "You didn't!"

"Yes, I did, and it's a perfect shot of your ass, with that line right across it," Damian said smugly. "Just for me, remember that."

"Fine. You're a pervert," Nick grunted as he crawled further onto the bed.

Damian laughed, relieved that Nick had recovered enough from his funk to even make a joke like that. "Okay, hold it.

Lie on your stomach, yeah, just like that. Let me do a couple tests, for exposure."

Grabbing the light meter, he passed it over Nick, taking readings from head to foot. He adjusted the level on the power pack and tested again.

"Okay, lie there just like that. Let me do all the work."

Nick remained still, feeling a ticklish whisper on his skin as Damian worked with the silk, draping it around him. He felt the warmth of the other man's hands as they brushed over 266

A Strong Hand

by Catt Ford

his skin occasionally, wondering what he looked like to Damian.

He felt the caress of the soft fabric on his back, arms, and one leg and shivered at the sensuous feeling, and the thought of the other man looking at him lying there completely exposed, bearing his mark.

"All right, now, don't move," Damian warned as he backed away. He checked the viewfinder and gasped at the image he'd created.

As he'd expected, the red silk emphasized the luster of Nick's warm skin. The play of light and shadow concealed the boy's face, sending just a hint of reflection off his thick, glossy hair.

The silk wrapped around the slender body with graceful folds, but no less graceful than the splay of the relaxed form in its nest of red. Most of Nick was covered, save for a shoulder and one slim strong leg that was highlighted in a golden glow from the light, leading the eye to the two perfect mounds rising over the silk like twin moons in a dark sky. The bruised line left by the cane was subtly shadowed, so that when one first glanced at the photo, one would see only the naked body of a beautiful sleeping boy. The bruised line added a sinister, yet sensual, element to the composition, a hint of danger.

It was easily the most erotic photograph that Damian had ever taken, and yet Nick was mostly covered. If not for the stripe on his bottom, it was a photo that could have been exhibited anywhere, but Damian had no intention of ever letting anyone else see this one.

267

A Strong Hand

by Catt Ford

Damian took the picture and then directed Nick in a series of movements, but none of those photos captured the pleasing abandon of that first sprawling pose.

Nevertheless, Damian was satisfied. "Okay, I've got it," he called out.

Nick moaned sleepily and snuggled further into the silk. "I could get to like this," he murmured.

"Come on. I'll take you home," Damian said, running his hand lightly over the perfect naked buttocks.

Nick was dismayed when Damian pulled up in front of his flat, but he didn't say anything. He kissed Damian and got out, standing on the sidewalk, watching the car pull away. It seemed he didn't know what the hell was going on with anything anymore.

* * * *

Without either man explicitly saying anything about it, Damian gave Nick a ride home on those days when he was scheduled to work. Nick wondered if the entire caning incident had disgusted Damian to the point that the older man couldn't bear to look at him while he still carried the mark. He checked his arse every day, tracking the colors as the line went from purple to yellow, wondering how he could announce when the mark was gone. And if it would mean that Damian would play with him again.

He smiled sadly as he pictured himself walking into Damian's office and dropping his pants, saying, "Good as new, boss! Let's saddle up again!"

268

A Strong Hand

by Catt Ford

In fact, he was beginning to wonder whether they were
ever
going to play again. Or go to bed. He missed being filled, feeling Damian's hard cock inside, claiming him. He missed being on his knees, breathless with anticipation to find out what Damian was going to do to him next. At work, Damian was considerate and he never once gave Nick an order, instead making gentle requests, which depressed Nick enormously.

Once again, he feared that he had ruined everything without quite knowing what he had done.

* * * *

"Ashley, can I have a word?"

"Well, finally!" Ashley threw up his hands in exasperation.

"You've come to your senses at last."

"What are you talking about?"

"Ashley Winthrop, Counselor to Tops in Trouble. I should get a card printed," Ashley said with a smug smile. "What did you do to fuck it up this time?"

"It wasn't just me," Damian said defensively.

"You're the Top, therefore it's mostly your fault."

Damian glared at his friend, nettled by the utmost confidence with which Ashley laid the blame at his door. Even though he was right. "I mishandled a scene. And now we're drifting apart."

With his usual humor and discerning judgment, Ashley put his finger on the problem right away. "Do you still want to play with him?"

269

A Strong Hand

by Catt Ford

"Oh, yes," Damian said, hanging his head miserably. "But I'm not sure he still wants to play with me. How could he trust—"

"Only one way to find out," Ashley said robustly. "And you're the Top. He's a sub, granted, but he's so new to this, he doesn't know yet how to act out to get what he wants.

You've got to take the lead on this. It's up to you to make it right."

"But I could have hurt him."

Ashley's expression softened and he put an arm around Damian. "You could have, but you didn't. You controlled yourself enough to pull back before you did any damage."

"I've never fucked up this much with a sub before. I don't know why he affects me this way," Damian mumbled.

"Don't you?"

"Do
you?
"

"You love him." Ashley sniggered at the look of stark terror that crossed Damian's face. "Didn't you know?"

"How the fuck do
you
know when I'm not even sure?"

Ashley took a moment to weigh his response. "You've heard the expression, you only hurt the one you love?"

Damian nodded, looking away from Ashley's piercing gaze.

"When you love someone, you give them power over you.

You've been in control for so many years, simply by keeping your heart locked away, that now you don't know what to do with yourself. Does Nick love you?"

"I haven't dared to ask. He may think he does now,"

Damian said in a troubled tone. "But he's too young. He doesn't know—"

270

A Strong Hand

by Catt Ford

Ashley rolled his eyes in exasperation. "He's old enough to recognize a good man when he sees one. Granted, you're a good-looking fellow, but he's smart enough to see past that to the real qualities that make a man. And being a Dom in this lifestyle, if you're a good one, and you are, one becomes very attuned to the other person. With your ability to read a sub's response, you lessen the chance that you'll grow apart in time."

"How do you know all this?" Damian sounded as if he only needed to be convinced.

"If Nick had any kind of self-destructive tendencies, he would have chosen me over you." Ashley laughed. "I'm a handsome devil, and a snappy Top, but I wouldn't be good for him."

"You think I'm good for him?"

Although Ashley wouldn't show it, his heart was wrung by his friend's need for reassurance. "You two were made for each other. Now if only you could get your heads out of the sand."

"You think I should say—"

"Go slow. Let it develop." Ashley laughed at his little photography joke, even though Damian didn't seem to notice.

"Don't just dump him off at his flat. Give him an invitation to play. I assure you, he'll leap at the chance."

"Thanks, Ash."

It was all Damian said, but Ashley felt well repaid as he saw the renewed confidence in Damian's step. He rubbed his hands together in satisfaction. "Ashley Winthrop, purveyor of 271

A Strong Hand

by Catt Ford

kinky toys and a surefire cure for Top Drop. I really must have a new card made."

[Back to Table of Contents]

272

A Strong Hand

by Catt Ford

Chapter Fifteen

That night after Damian finished some pick-up shots for the catalog, Nick was expecting nothing to happen between them, nothing more than some instruction for the next day when the older man called him to his office.

Damian was sitting behind his desk, stroking the polished surface of a wooden paddle with his slender fingers, a wicked smile on his face.

"Strip!"

Nick gasped, arousal sparking through his veins like wildfire and melting his knees. His hands were trembling as he ripped his clothes off, dropping to the carpet without even waiting for an order.

"Very good, pet," Damian purred, rising to his feet. "I think I told you that I don't permit my sub to dictate to me.

Tonight, you have a choice. You may get dressed and leave, or," Damian paused to appreciate the tiny shudder that passed through his sub's body, "or, you may agree to anything I want to do to you. I'm not going to warn you or ask your permission. Your only purpose will be to please me."

"Yes, sir," Nick agreed hurriedly, not wanting Damian to think there was even a moment of hesitation for him in this choice.

"You understand, you've agreed to be under my control until I declare that the scene is over, pet," Damian reiterated.

He was enjoying the delicate pink flush that suffused the 273

A Strong Hand

by Catt Ford

boy's entire body; he was shaking like a puppy about to be taken out on a walk.

"Please, sir, do whatever you want, just ... just ... do
something
.... "Nick ran out of words.

Damian closed his eyes in relief for just a fleeting moment.

He had held off as long as he could to guard against his own questionable impulses, he had resolved never to spank Nick again, but he could no longer resist his alluring sub. He had made so many mistakes that fateful day: acquiescing to his pet's demand to be caned, not setting the scene for him, promising three and then not delivering the stated number. If he'd been able to tell Ashley everything that happened, he was sure that the other man would have yanked his status as a Top, if it were possible to do such a thing.

Damian was filled with gratitude to his friend; without his advice, he was sure he would never again have seen the beautiful sight of Nick, naked and on his knees, vibrating with need.

"Oh, I will, pet. I will do whatever
I
want." Damian pulled the straight chair to the center of the room. "Over my knees, pet." He had to suppress a laugh when he saw how quickly Nick scrambled to his feet and flung himself over his lap.

Nick winced when the hard hand came down on his arse.

He was completely healed from their session with the cane, but it was like getting back on the horse that threw you.

However, Damian didn't allow him a long time to ponder; he warmed Nick's arse thoroughly with a series of swats, making a random circuit over the entire bottom, ensuring that he did not miss an inch of the quivering flesh.

274

A Strong Hand

by Catt Ford

Damian paused to stroke over the smooth skin, just blooming pink as the result of his attentions. "I'm going to warm your bottom tonight, pet. You're going to be squirming, I'm going to make you so hot. I doubt you'll find it very comfortable to sit tomorrow, but that's what you've agreed to so it's my pleasure to spank you as much as I like."

Nick wiggled around on Damian's lap under the hand that stroked him, pleased to feel the hard bulge under him, but only gasped, "Yes, sir."

Damian pushed Nick to his knees onto the floor. "Kneel, pet."

Nick assumed the position, waiting with outward patience, but inwardly quivering with arousal. The short spanking had served only to whet his appetite.

Damian stepped closer and cupped Nick's chin in his hand, forcing the boy's head up to look at him. "Look up." Nick obeyed, surprised when Damian went to his knees, but then he felt the man's hands at his cock, putting something on him.

Damian stood up. "All right. Eyes down."

Nick looked down to see a cock ring secured at the base of his organ, circling his balls.

"Just in case you can't control yourself," Damian said with an evil grin. "On your feet."

Nick stood and Damian led him to the wall. "Hands against the wall. Back your feet up, ass out where I can reach it, pet.

I'm going to paddle your cute little behind until you're begging for more."

275

A Strong Hand

by Catt Ford

When Nick was in position, he felt Damian's hands running all over his arse, reaching between his legs to find his balls, rolling them between his fingers.

"I'm going to warm you up a bit more before I cool you down, pet," Damian commented. "Keep those eyes facing front."

He picked up the paddle and stroked the polished surface in his hands before he stood by the boy's side, sliding his arm around the slender waist to anchor him, watching the flex of the perfect buttocks. "Ten to start with, pet. We'll have this little bottom nice and red."

Nick would have squirmed away had the arm around him not restrained him. He tensed, waiting for the first blow. He flinched as the paddle connected with his backside, anticipating a sharp blow, but Damian brought it down lightly.

The snap sounded worse than it felt, each stroke increasing in firmness that sent tingles dancing through his arse.

After ten strokes, Damian ran his hand over the firm buttocks and said, "You're pinking up nicely, pet. Another ten, I think."

Nick would have agreed to anything, if only Damian would touch his cock, straining in the ring, begging for attention.