A Strong Hand

thought, but he said, "Good job, Nicholas. I think we can use you; that is, if you agree?"
    Nick wrapped his arms around himself, feeling a little exposed to be standing so close to the other two men without his shirt. He was uneasily aware of Ashley's eyes, which seemed to be drawn to his nipples as if they were targets. He looked up through his lashes at Damian for approval.
    Damian was nodding and smiling. "I'd very much like to photograph you, if you're willing."
    "Okay," Nick said, his eyes sparkling, although Damian did not understand why.
    "Well!" Ashley clapped his hands together, startling the other two, who were lost in their examination of each other.
    "I'll be off then. Later, Ian, see you tomorrow. Thank you, Nicholas. You'll be an asset, I'm sure." He bustled to the door, heading gratefully to his club, which was located not too far away. He needed a little relief.
    Nick stood with his arms wrapped around himself, wondering if he should go and change.
    "Well, go take those off," Damian said, pointedly looking at the bulge distending the front of the pants. "We don't want you stretching them so they're too baggy for the shoot."
    Nick blushed hotly and ran for the bathroom, unaware that Damian was pressing a hand over his own crotch at the sight of those perfect buttocks flexing under the thin leather.
    When he was safe in his own baggy clothing again, Nick came out and hung the leather trousers on the rack Damian had provided.
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    A Strong Hand
    by Catt Ford
    Hearing some noise in the darkroom, Nick went to the door, looking in questioningly. "Anything else today?"
    Damian whirled around guiltily, hiding something behind him. "Oh! No, I don't think so. You can go, Nicholas."
    "Okay, then. See you tomorrow?"
    Damian smiled, enjoying the answering hopeful smile on the boy's face.
    "Tomorrow. Don't be late."
    "Yes, sir!"
    Damian looked after the slim figure, startled. Maybe Ashley was right.
    Both he and Nick slept very little that night.
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    43

    A Strong Hand
    by Catt Ford

Chapter Three
    Nick went through agonies of jealousy the next day, although he didn't recognize it enough to call it by name.
    Damian and Ashley were ensconced on stools in the studio, leaving it to Nick to check the names off the list as the models turned up. They were almost all good-looking enough to be considered beautiful, Nick thought sadly, wondering how a regular guy like him could hold a candle to some of these men. Almost all were taller than he, most had awesomely muscular bodies, and their faces were uniformly handsome.
    Gloomily he crossed his eyes, trying to get a glimpse of his nose. He couldn't remember exactly what it had looked like before he broke it, but even if it had been perfect, he was still nothing compared to the professionals.
    He got to watch as Ashley poked through the boxes of his products, selecting various items for the men to model for test shots. All of the models seemed to feel supremely comfortable walking around completely naked, and they were not embarrassed in the least by the collection of manacles, leg irons, cock cages, and masks that they wore for their various shots; most of it made Nick blush, although he couldn't turn away from the sight.
    And yet, he wondered if Damian would like to see him in any of those items. He'd heard about this kinky stuff, of course; with the Internet being what it was anyone could see things that would shock their mothers, but he'd never given 44

    A Strong Hand
    by Catt Ford
    any thought to ever being in the same room with any of these items, let alone wearing them. The leather trousers he had worn yesterday were tame compared to most of the
    "clothing" he saw today.
    Ashley and Damian teased and joked with the various boys, who all appeared quite at ease. Only two had stalked out indignantly when they'd seen the kinky gear, refusing to audition for the job. Nick had to wonder why they'd even shown up; the agencies had been informed just what type of project this was.
    He slipped surreptitiously into the bathroom twice, unable to keep his hands off himself; once when Ashley had laughingly smacked a willing blond model's arse red with a leather paddle, and the other time when Damian had helped a young man into a leather harness, complete with a cock cage and ball spreader. The blond had appeared to enjoy his paddling, but it was the mere sight of Damian's hands on the model and imagining them against his own skin, strapping him into