A Strong Hand

what Nick was studying and why he'd never asked before. He'd have to find out.
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    74

    A Strong Hand
    by Catt Ford

Chapter Five
    Nick was exhausted emotionally and physically when he arrived at his flat. He brushed his teeth hastily and fell into bed, wincing as his arse made contact with the lumpy mattress. He turned onto his stomach.
    For the first time in a week, he was deeply asleep in seconds, never waking until the alarm went off the next morning.
    He balanced precariously on the edge of the tub, trying to see what his arse looked like in the medicine-cabinet mirror.
    Despite what Damian said, he was afraid that it would still be as red as a signpost and everyone would know. He wished that he'd thought to look at it the previous evening, but he'd just been so tired.
    Damian was right: not a mark. His skin was the same shade as usual. Nick was almost disappointed when he took his cold shower. Experimentally he aimed his bath brush at his arse, giving himself a swat. "Ow!"
    He'd forgotten that it hurt and didn't do a thing for him to swat himself. "Why the fuck do I want to do this again?" he grumbled, and then he hoped desperately that he hadn't left a mark on his own. He checked and relaxed when he found only a faintly pink area, knowing that it would fade by the time he got to work.
    Hitting himself didn't work at all. He thought it must be something connected to Damian. When his handsome boss gave an order, it sent a thrill throughout Nick's body, and he 75

    A Strong Hand
    by Catt Ford
    hastened to obey. There was something unbelievably exciting about being on his knees in front of Damian. He would have to ask why it was.

    * * * *
    Ashley was amused to see that some of Nick's brashness was back, although he was no longer sullen. In fact, he seemed to be glowing with satisfaction, like a cat who'd gotten into the cream, and the dark circles under his eyes were gone. So he could only suspect that Damian must have made some kind of move on him last night.
    Ashley looked forward to coaxing details out of Damian but first he hovered in the doorway of the makeup room, wanting to see Nick's reaction to the decorations he had left on Markie's arse last night before fucking him to their mutual satisfaction.
    Gabe seemed to catch on to what Ashley was up to, and he turned the makeup chair Nick sat in to give him a good view when Markie dropped his pants. Nick paled when he saw the six evenly spaced stripes of a purplish hue.
    Markie looked back over his shoulder and wiggled his arse.
    "Ask me if I got lucky last night?" he said provocatively.
    "I don't need to ask, you lucky dog," Gabe said. "You look like a happy man."
    "I am." Markie sighed, and he winced as he sat on a towel in the other chair.
    Ashley walked away, laughing quietly to himself.
    76

    A Strong Hand
    by Catt Ford
    Damian was in the studio waiting for the models to be readied when Ashley came in still chuckling. "What did you do now, Ash?"
    "Nothing at all. I just ... er, watched when Markie dropped his drawers and gave Nick an eyeful," he laughed.
    "How many?" Damian asked with a wry smile.
    "Six of the best. How many did you give Nick?" Ashley asked irrepressibly.
    "If I had, I wouldn't tell you, and if I hadn't, I would lie,"
    Damian said.
    "You are so frustrating," Ashley complained. "I tell you about all my conquests, while you've bored me to tears these last five years. At last you get—"
    "Shut it!" Damian ordered. Ashley swung around to see Nick come in, clutching a towel around his waist, following Markie, who was naked and strutting proudly, showing off his marked bottom to the shocked young man.
    Ashley busied himself dressing Markie in a mask and ball gag. He led the blond to a spanking bench, securing his ankles and bending him over to cuff his hands to the front legs.
    He found a pair of tight, low-cut leather pants and handed them to Nick. "Put those on, pet, will you?" His practiced eyes saw the little flinch Nick gave, and he smirked with satisfaction.
    Damian called out, "You weren't very even with your spacing, Ashley. One of the stripes is a little too close."
    77

    A Strong Hand
    by Catt Ford
    His pride stung, Ashley turned around, sulking. "Markie jumped at the last minute. It wasn't my fault." He came to stand by Damian's shoulder, behind the camera.
    "I'm warning you, Ashley: no tricks," Damian said with quiet menace.
    Ashley shivered, remembering that Damian, for all he was a bit shorter, was by