A Strong Hand

envied.
    Nick glanced at Damian, almost relieved when the older man shook his head slightly, denying him permission to speak. He took up a position behind Damian's chair, aware of the leash swinging between his collar and the older man's hand.
    Ashley smiled at Nick but didn't speak to him, continuing to stroke Derek's head. It was Crispin who examined him closely, smiling at the look of embarrassment on Nick's face under his scrutiny.
    "You are one lucky man, Damian. I can't remember when I've seen a submissive more beautiful. The collar and cuffs truly heighten his desirability. Good thing you have him 295

    A Strong Hand
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    leashed; he'd raise quite a ruckus if he were let loose in here uncollared."
    Damian laughed easily. "Thank you, Crispin. I do feel lucky."
    "I know that it's your boy's first time here; I'll have my slave get us some drinks." Crispin snapped his fingers, and Eddy knelt up. Nick hadn't seen him at first, prostrated on the floor in the darkened club.
    Now his face blanched as he took in the full glory of Eddy's rig; the well-muscled torso was well displayed as Eddy was wearing very little else. Nipple clamps were linked to his wide studded collar and to a leather belt buckled around his waist with chains. He wore a cock ring, also attached to the clamps with chains and his erection looked purple and angry. The chains wrapped between his legs and Nick surmised that he was wearing some kind of butt plug again.
    Crispin told him to get five beers at the bar, and Eddy nodded, unable to speak because of the ball gag in his mouth.
    When he rose to his feet, Nick could see that his hands were cuffed behind his back, and he was indeed impaled with a large butt plug. Weights swung between his legs and Nick realized with shock that they were attached somehow to his balls. He felt a little faint and decided that he didn't want to know exactly how they were attached.
    Eddy's buttocks were well-marked with red lines crisscrossing over the muscular globes. Despite that, his eyes were peaceful, almost as if he were on some kind of high. He went to the bar, leaving Nick wondering just exactly how he was going to order with a gag in his mouth and bring 296

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    everything back to the table with his hands pinned behind him.
    "Eyes down, pet." Damian gave him a little reminder and Nick gratefully lowered his eyes, not wanting to see any more.
    A server came to the table with a tray, unloading the mugs of beer, while Eddy knelt again behind Crispin's chair.
    Crispin was still studying Nick, and the young man began to realize that although he felt his clothing exposed him provocatively, his outfit was actually quite demure compared to most people in the club.
    "Have you traded him yet?" Crispin asked Damian casually.
    Nick hoped desperately that his comment didn't mean what he thought it meant. Submitting to Damian was one thing; he had never considered that his submission might mean that Damian would give him to someone else to use.
    He turned pleading eyes to Damian, receiving a little swat as a reminder. "Eyes down. Perhaps you'd better kneel, pet,"
    Damian said under his breath.
    Nick lowered his eyes and took in a shuddering breath, dropping to the floor.
    Ashley spoke up. "I'm afraid that Nick is a one-man sub.
    He belongs to Damian only, and he wouldn't obey anyone else."
    "He could be broken," Crispin said. "But I'm not surprised that you don't want to trade him. He is peerless. Tell me, is every part of him as gorgeous as what shows? Is he beautiful in his submission?"
    "Is Eddy?" Damian retorted.
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    "As you can see," Crispin shrugged. "Eddy is never more beautiful than when he's suffering. Kneel up. Isn't that right, slave?" He tugged on the chains attached to Eddy's nipples, and the construction worker moaned and shut his eyes.
    Crispin appeared to take that as acquiescence. Derek seemed to shrink behind Ashley, as if not to attract the other Dom's attention.
    Nick felt like crying, but he couldn't shame Damian that way so he blinked rapidly and looked at the floor.
    Damian recognized the acute discomfort on Nick's face.
    "He's bright too," he told Crispin. "What's the most populated city in the EU, pet?"
    Nick looked up, his eyes meeting Damian's. " London, sir."
    Damian nodded. "Excuse us, Crispin, and thank you for inviting us. We forgot to take care of something."
    Crispin laughed. "Don't be too hard on him, Damian."
    Damian merely