A Strong Hand

silver spikes, and buckled it around Eddy's throat. He attached a leash and yanked. His voice was commanding but calm when he ordered the construction worker, "Head on the floor. I don't want to hear another word out of you or you will wear a ball gag out to dinner."
    Eddy bent and touched his forehead to the floor. Nick had to admire his control; he didn't topple over. He simply obeyed in one smooth movement, his hands stretched out in front of him, his ass in the air.
    Crispin continued to walk next to Ashley, keeping Eddy's leash short as they strolled the length of the tables, examining every photograph and discussing them intently.
    Eddy crawled along behind Crispin without making a sound.
    "Gives me the creeps," Derek whispered.
    "What's he doing that for?" Nick asked. He was feeling very uncomfortable with this display of power from Crispin, and the uncharacteristic obedience of the other man.
    "He's a slave ," Derek said, his eyes glowing with arousal and fear. "Crispin is his master and he can do anything he wants to him."
    "Why would he ever agree to that ?" Nick wondered, aghast.
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    "I don't know, dude, and it makes me think twice about what I'm doing with Ashley," Derek said, giving no details.
    Nick was afraid to ask, and besides, he wasn't ready to swap confidences.
    Damian, Ashley, and Crispin had reached the far end of the tables and stood talking, with Eddy still in his position of obeisance.
    "I'd like a night to sleep on it," Crispin was saying. "May I take these printouts with me?"
    "I can e-mail them to you if you'd prefer," Damian said.
    "Yes, do, and copies to Ashley as well. They're numbered, correct?" Crispin checked the back of several prints. "Great.
    Then when we talk on the phone, we'll all be on the same page. And now, would you care to join me for dinner? Your boys, too, of course."
    Nick blushed, wondering how Crispin knew and uncertain whether he was okay with being called Damian's boy.
    Damian said, "That's very kind of you, Crispin. I'll just check to see what Nick's plans are for tonight."
    He and Ashley came toward the two boys, still standing in the doorway to the kitchen.
    Crispin turned to Eddy. "Up. Trousers down. Over the table. Twelve of the best. Six for rudeness, six for attempting to manipulate the situation."
    Obediently Eddy stood, dropping his pants and leaning over the nearest table. Nick was amazed to see that he wore some kind of cage, similar to the one Damian had put on him, but Eddy's had a belt, with chains leading to a plug inserted in 248

    A Strong Hand
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    his arse, while around the front the chains disappeared under his shirt.
    When Eddy's chest hit the table, he gave a little grunt, but gripped the edge with both hands.
    Meanwhile, Crispin had picked up a cane, and stood swishing it through the air. He put his hand on the middle of Eddy's back. "What is this for?"
    Eddy's muffled voice sounded perfectly respectful as he answered, "Six for being rude to the others, six for forcing you to punish me, Master."
    "You are not forcing me, slave, this is for my pleasure and your punishment. I could just chain you and leave you here while I go to dinner. Is that clear, slave?"
    "Yes, Master," came the subdued voice.
    Crispin walked away from the man bent over the table.
    Taking three running steps forward, he struck Eddy's arse with a mighty wallop. Eddy gasped, but made no other sound.
    Nick shivered; he was quite sure he couldn't take anything like that, and the thought of being punished in front of other people, people he had never met before, made him feel a little sick inside.
    "Thank you, Master. May I have the next one?" Eddy said in a remarkably steady voice.
    Crispin wound up for the next strike and Nick turned, stumbling away to the outer door. Damian noticed and followed him at once. He let the door close behind them, muffling the sounds of the scene in the studio.
    "Are you all right?"
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    "How could he...? Why does he...?" Nick shook his head, hugging his arms around his body, feeling very cold.
    Damian stepped closer, noting the boy's flinch, but wrapped his arms around him anyway. "Eddy is a slave, Nick.
    It's a very different thing from what we're doing. Eddy is a troubled man; he drank, did drugs, and got into fights. He bratted his way through practically every Dom at the club Crispin belongs to, until he took Eddy in hand. Eddy needs someone to master him, force his