A Strong Hand

hoped ... but then he pushed the thought away. Damian could never love him; he would just have to make do with what the photographer was willing to offer.

    * * * *
    Sunday was a lazy day for both men. Nick slept most of the day and Damian kept tiptoeing to the doorway in his socks to watch him, not wanting to be caught. He told himself it was simply because the boy was so beautiful. The slight smile on Nick's face as he hugged his pillow and restlessly moved his hips made Damian feel lonely somehow, no matter how he tried to talk himself out of it.
    Whenever Nick sighed or turned in his sleep, Damian would run for it.
    Between sightseeing excursions, he ran the washer, doing his own laundry and a pile of Nick's that he'd gathered from every horizontal surface in the untidy apartment. He even folded it, smiling as he thought how the tables had been turned a bit. Here he was, the Top, doing chores for his sub.
    When dusk's shadows crept into the rooms Damian called for Chinese takeaway, ordering whatever he thought might tempt his boy.

    * * * *
    Monday morning found Ashley tapping his foot impatiently, arms crossed as he leaned against the locked studio door.
    170

    A Strong Hand
    by Catt Ford
    When the lift doors opened, he started to drawl sarcastically, "So you finally decided to come to work. What's wrong?"
    Damian was walking slowly, his arm around Nick, who was still a bit stiff and limping. "Nick's hip went out on him Saturday night, after we got back from dinner. He's just a bit out of it. He had to take another pain pill this morning and I didn't want to leave him alone."
    Ashley strode forward, holding his arms out. "I'll take him; you open up."
    Damian grinned. "Nice try. Take the keys and unlock the door."
    Ashley grinned back. "It was worth a shot."
    Nick smiled groggily, not quite understanding the byplay between the two men. "Sorry, Ashley, I don't think I can do much today."
    Ashley looked back over his shoulder. "Not a problem.
    We'll work around you. Get some rest, lad." By then he had the door open and the three men went inside, Damian leading Nick to his office. The blanket was still on the couch so he swept it back, settling the boy so he was on his side with a pillow under his head and another between his knees.
    Damian bent to tuck the blanket around him. "Go to sleep, babe. Don't worry about anything. We'll be right outside if you need anything, okay?"
    "Yeah," Nick sighed, relaxing as his pill started to kick in again, once he'd stopped moving. He had hoped that perhaps Damian might want to fuck him again, but the older man had 171

    A Strong Hand
    by Catt Ford
    left him alone in the guest room last night after they had eaten dinner together.
    After spending the solitary night tossing and turning, racking his brain to discover what he'd done wrong, or what he had left undone, Nick had finally awakened in the morning, twisted into an uncomfortable position with his hip sending warning signals to his brain.
    Ashley watched as Damian ran his hand over the glossy curls. Nick's eyes drooped shut and he fell asleep, obviously under the influence of whatever painkiller Damian had given him.
    "Is he okay?" Ashley whispered.
    Damian backed out, closing the door behind him. "He had some kind of accident, a few years ago. Had an operation and as far as I can tell, he's mostly quite sound. I don't know the whole story, but if he's under stress or in the wrong position, apparently he has muscle spasms."
    "You need a nice spanking bench," Ashley advised judiciously. "Padded surface, adjustable in height, sturdy ring bolts...."
    Deciding attack was the best form of defense, Damian ignored this sage advice and asked, "How're you getting on with Derek? Where is he?"
    Ashley coughed and answered. "I sent him to the office for a few things. He'll be here soon."
    "That wasn't much of an answer," Damian teased.
    "We're talking," Ashley answered slowly. "Apparently Nick told him that he hadn't given me much of a chance to explain 172

    A Strong Hand
    by Catt Ford
    myself. That he'd hurt my feelings by not trusting me to take things slowly."
    Damian was very amused. "Nick? Giving advice to Derek?"
    "Well, whatever you've been doing to him, and I do still want details," Ashley said, salaciously licking his lips, "it seems you at least have won his trust. I just hope you're worthy of it."
    Damian turned away, pretending to inspect the display of whips. I hope so too, he thought.
    [Back to Table of Contents]
    173

    A