A Strong Hand

that. Let me do all the work."
    Nick remained still, feeling a ticklish whisper on his skin as Damian worked with the silk, draping it around him. He felt the warmth of the other man's hands as they brushed over 266

    A Strong Hand
    by Catt Ford
    his skin occasionally, wondering what he looked like to Damian.
    He felt the caress of the soft fabric on his back, arms, and one leg and shivered at the sensuous feeling, and the thought of the other man looking at him lying there completely exposed, bearing his mark.
    "All right, now, don't move," Damian warned as he backed away. He checked the viewfinder and gasped at the image he'd created.
    As he'd expected, the red silk emphasized the luster of Nick's warm skin. The play of light and shadow concealed the boy's face, sending just a hint of reflection off his thick, glossy hair.
    The silk wrapped around the slender body with graceful folds, but no less graceful than the splay of the relaxed form in its nest of red. Most of Nick was covered, save for a shoulder and one slim strong leg that was highlighted in a golden glow from the light, leading the eye to the two perfect mounds rising over the silk like twin moons in a dark sky. The bruised line left by the cane was subtly shadowed, so that when one first glanced at the photo, one would see only the naked body of a beautiful sleeping boy. The bruised line added a sinister, yet sensual, element to the composition, a hint of danger.
    It was easily the most erotic photograph that Damian had ever taken, and yet Nick was mostly covered. If not for the stripe on his bottom, it was a photo that could have been exhibited anywhere, but Damian had no intention of ever letting anyone else see this one.
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    A Strong Hand
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    Damian took the picture and then directed Nick in a series of movements, but none of those photos captured the pleasing abandon of that first sprawling pose.
    Nevertheless, Damian was satisfied. "Okay, I've got it," he called out.
    Nick moaned sleepily and snuggled further into the silk. "I could get to like this," he murmured.
    "Come on. I'll take you home," Damian said, running his hand lightly over the perfect naked buttocks.
    Nick was dismayed when Damian pulled up in front of his flat, but he didn't say anything. He kissed Damian and got out, standing on the sidewalk, watching the car pull away. It seemed he didn't know what the hell was going on with anything anymore.

    * * * *
    Without either man explicitly saying anything about it, Damian gave Nick a ride home on those days when he was scheduled to work. Nick wondered if the entire caning incident had disgusted Damian to the point that the older man couldn't bear to look at him while he still carried the mark. He checked his arse every day, tracking the colors as the line went from purple to yellow, wondering how he could announce when the mark was gone. And if it would mean that Damian would play with him again.
    He smiled sadly as he pictured himself walking into Damian's office and dropping his pants, saying, "Good as new, boss! Let's saddle up again!"
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    In fact, he was beginning to wonder whether they were ever going to play again. Or go to bed. He missed being filled, feeling Damian's hard cock inside, claiming him. He missed being on his knees, breathless with anticipation to find out what Damian was going to do to him next. At work, Damian was considerate and he never once gave Nick an order, instead making gentle requests, which depressed Nick enormously.
    Once again, he feared that he had ruined everything without quite knowing what he had done.

    * * * *
    "Ashley, can I have a word?"
    "Well, finally!" Ashley threw up his hands in exasperation.
    "You've come to your senses at last."
    "What are you talking about?"
    "Ashley Winthrop, Counselor to Tops in Trouble. I should get a card printed," Ashley said with a smug smile. "What did you do to fuck it up this time?"
    "It wasn't just me," Damian said defensively.
    "You're the Top, therefore it's mostly your fault."
    Damian glared at his friend, nettled by the utmost confidence with which Ashley laid the blame at his door. Even though he was right. "I mishandled a scene. And now we're drifting apart."
    With his usual humor and discerning judgment, Ashley put his finger on the problem right away. "Do you still want to play with him?"
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    A Strong Hand
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    "Oh, yes," Damian said, hanging his head miserably. "But I'm not sure he still wants