A Strong Hand

176

    A Strong Hand
    by Catt Ford
    you mooning about with stars in your eyes and a sting in your bottom, no doubt, and then suddenly Damian is surly as a bear and you're acting the brat again."
    Nick suppressed a sob, his Adam's apple bobbing, and merely shook his head speechlessly.
    He felt long fingers cupping his jaw, and his head was tilted back. "Look at me, boy," Ashley instructed, his voice still gentle. "What happened after your hip went out?"
    Nick gulped nervously. "Damian took me home; he took care of me."
    "And?"
    "He ... uh ... he.... "Nick struggled, not knowing quite how to put this into words.
    "He took you?" Ashley helped.
    "Yeah," Nick nodded miserably, not meeting Ashley's eyes.
    "And then, he just ... um ... he never ... he only ... uh...."
    "Ah, I see," Ashley said, as comprehension flooded over him. "He was kind to you."
    "Yes. No ... he's always kind ... he just..." Nick floundered.
    "He's treating you like you're made of glass and you might break."
    "I guess," Nick agreed miserably.
    "Have you talked to him? Asked him why?"
    "I couldn't!"
    "You could, and you'd better learn to make your needs known, Nick, or you won't learn how to get what you want.
    However, I think in this case perhaps you'd better leave this to Uncle Ashley," the older man said. "Do you need a hand up?"
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    A Strong Hand
    by Catt Ford
    "No, I'm fine," Nick quavered.
    "Up you get then, lad," Ashley said, "Go and dry your pretty eyes. You don't want Damian to know you were crying on my shoulder."
    Nick rose seamlessly and Ashley marveled at his grace; truly a natural sub.
    "I wasn't anywhere near your shoulder," Nick said, looking up at Ashley from under his lashes. "Sir."
    Damn, the boy was dangerous and he hadn't the least idea of his own provocative allure. "Get off with you, boy. And you might locate Derek for me. He should have been back an hour ago."
    "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." Nick ducked into the bathroom, wiping at the tear that threatened to spill from his left eye.
    That one always teared up first.
    In fact, Derek had returned, and he'd witnessed only the two men's positions. He couldn't overhear what had been said, but he was feeling oddly jealous to find Nick on his knees in front of Ashley.
    And he had not been the only witness. Ashley wandered out into the studio, to find Damian had sent all of the models off for a change and was slamming sandbags around at the back, behind some unused flats. He chuckled to himself; he'd hoped that Damian would see him command Nick to his knees. Jealousy was an emotion he could work with.
    "Damian, I was just thinking—" Ashley began, his voice innocent and unconcerned, as if he hadn't been caught.
    Damian turned and swept Ashley up against the wall, trying to brace his forearm across Ashley's throat, but the 178

    A Strong Hand
    by Catt Ford
    larger man was prepared. He allowed Damian to commit his weight and followed the sweep of his momentum, turning them so that Damian ended up with his back against the wall with Ashley pressing his weight against him to keep him motionless.
    "Get off me," Damian demanded, struggling against the larger man.
    In spite of himself, Ashley felt his cock stir when he felt the fine body pinned under his, writhing fruitlessly. "What's the matter, Damian? Since when can't you throw me off?" Ashley taunted.
    Damian's face darkened and he doubled his efforts but Ashley kept him pinned. No matter what tricks he tried, it seemed Ashley was one step ahead of him and all Damian managed to do was wear himself out.
    "What're you trying to pull, Ashley? I thought you were supposed to be my friend!" Damian hissed.
    "I'm doing this because I am your friend," Ashley grinned, his teeth white and gleaming. Damian was almost afraid.
    Almost.
    "You're acting like a complete git. I asked if you were claiming Nick and you said you were. You put your mark on him in a public place and then you abandoned him. How do you think he's feeling right now?"
    Damian struggled weakly and subsided, Ashley's words echoing in his brain. "He'll be all right. He's better off."
    "How do you know? Did you ask him what he wanted? Or did you just decide that it would be dangerous to let this go any further?"
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    A Strong Hand
    by Catt Ford
    "I didn't—I didn't ask," Damian admitted.
    Ashley shook him. "You're a complete twat. How long have you been playing?"
    "Twelve years."
    "And you still haven't learned that the bottom is the one with all the power?" Ashley shook him again.