Angel and the Assassin

tea towel off the counter, wrapping it
    around his narrow hips, fumbling to tie the corners. He dropped it and stooped to
    grab it, trying again to cover himself.
    “Put that down,” Kael ordered. He had embarrassed the boy when he hadn‟t
    meant to. “Put it on the counter, now!” Angel met his eyes as color rose up his
    slender neck and smooth cheeks. “Put it down!”
    Angel obeyed, throwing the tea towel at the counter without looking. It landed
    in the sink, soaking up the hot water. He blinked rapidly; he was ready to cry, and

    84
    Fyn Alexander

    Kael desperately wanted to rescue the situation without being too soft. Kael grew
    angry, with himself mostly, but with Angel as well for thinking he would make fun
    of him. Playful teasing was one thing, but cruelty he reserved for Conran. Angel
    was an inexperienced boy who wanted only to please him. He was the easiest kind
    of sub for a man to abuse.
    “Hands behind your back.” Kael spoke firmly, keeping his tone neutral. “Chin
    up, eyes lowered. Square your shoulders. Come on; you know how to stand. You
    have excellent posture. What are you drooping for? You look embarrassed.”
    “I am. You‟re laughing at me, and I feel like an idiot.” Angel‟s chin began to
    tremble.
    “Look at me,” Kael said.
    Angel looked past him across the kitchen, then down at the floor. Finally,
    unable to put it off any longer, he met Kael‟s eyes.
    “Correct your posture,” Kael said firmly.
    Angel stood to attention, his shoulders squared, feet slightly apart. He tucked
    his hands behind his back and lowered his gaze. A single tear trickled down one
    cheek. Kael watched him, feeling like a piece of shite.
    “I‟m not laughing at you. You‟re a beautiful boy. You‟re just too cute for your
    own good.” Angel blinked away another tear. “Come here, sweetheart.” Kael held
    out his arms.
    “Daddy.” It came out as a whimper. Angel ran to him in a couple of gazellelike
    leaps and flung himself into Kael‟s arms.
    Kael‟s height meant that even sitting on a bar stool, he and Angel were face-to-
    face as the boy leaned heavily on him. Angel wound his slender arms about Kael‟s
    neck, and wrapped one leg around Kael‟s waist, then drew up the other until he sat
    in his lap, his legs wrapped as tightly as his arms. Kael spread his feet wider to
    steady himself and balance Angel‟s weight.
    “Daddy, were you making fun of me?”
    “No. I wanted to look at you, which is my right as your master, and you got all
    girlie and shy on me. You‟re a beautiful boy, and you‟ll grow into a handsome man.
    You‟ll get taller and more confident. You‟ll get to know yourself, so you won‟t burst
    into tears when your Dom makes you stand naked so he can look at you.”
    “But I feel so skinny and stupid when you‟re looking at me like that.”
    “You were fine until I drew your attention to how goofy you looked washing
    dishes in the nude.” Kael laughed, kissing his cheek. “As a slave you must learn to
    carry yourself proudly. If you look all scared and shy, you won‟t attract a master or
    a daddy. He wants a boy who‟s sure of himself. A boy who knows what he wants and
    carries out his duties with confidence. You have to decide what kind of man you
    want to be and then become it.”
    Angel leaned back to look into Kael‟s eyes, his face so open and trusting. “I
    don‟t need to attract a daddy. I‟ve got you. You‟re all I‟ll ever want. I‟m going to

    Angel and the Assassin
    85

    learn to be the best slave in the world. You can teach me everything I need to know
    to please you.”
    “Right then, let‟s start with the cleaning. Houseslaves have to clean the house,
    so that‟s what you‟re going to do today. I‟m going to instruct you on how to clean to
    my satisfaction.”
    “I know how to clean, Daddy,” Angel said, as if it were the easiest thing in the
    world.
    “Take it from one who saw your bedroom.” Kael paused for effect. “You need
    some help.”
    “Yes, Sir.” Angel hung his head in mock shame, then laughed, hugging Kael
    again. “My Daddy,” he whispered close to Kael‟s ear.
    Kael wished he wouldn‟t do that. What if he couldn‟t work out how to keep
    Angel safe? What if he had to send him away to keep him safe?
    “Come on; we‟ll start in the living room. I‟ll show you how to do things, and
    after that I expect you to keep everything perfect. I want everything cleaned within
    an inch of its life.”
    “Yes, Sir.