Page 6 of Just a Little in Love

Rowan froze. What?

Master Paul leaned forward. “It’s okay. I don’t expect you to take your diaper off. Puppies need potty-training after all.” And before Rowan could even protest, Master Paul had his shorts down.

And he stood there, naked. Completely. Well, naked except for a diaper as Master Paul was calling it He heard the door open behind him and the voices of some of the subs. He didn’t dare look. He didn’t dare breathe.

Rowan felt his chest tighten and wished with everything in him he could just die.

Chapter four

Rowan heard the murmurs behind him, but either Master Paul didn’t or he didn’t care. “Puppies should be on all fours,” he said in a stern tone and Rowan reacted to it immediately, even though he hated it, even though the humiliation barely made him able to breathe, he dropped to his hands and knees, cringing as the elastic on his pull-ups strained and bit into him.

“Good boy,” Master Paul crooned and stroked Rowan’s hair, which lessened his misery a little. “Look what I have for you.”

Rowan didn’t know where he got the courage to look up, but he did, then froze. Master Paul was waving a collar and a lead at him. “I thought we’d go for a little walk.” Master Paul moved his hand over Rowan’s head again, making it a little easier for him to breathe.

“Need your words, Boy,” Master Paul said, and ran his hand over Rowan’s sweaty back. Rowan cringed, but Master Paul was gentle. Maybe it was a test? He’d seen that. Masters wanting to push their subs, but without crossing a line. Maybe if he passed this they’d get to the cuddling part.

“Yes, Master Paul,” Rowan whispered, and he felt the collar fasten around his neck, and the click of the lead. He took a step, or a knee. Excruciatingly slowly, Rowan moved at each tug of the lead. On and on it seemed to continue. Rowan’s thighs rubbed together, and the elastic pulled terrifyingly tight.

“You’re doing so well, Boy,” Master Paul praised him, then stopped to talk to some other masters as if nothing was wrong. Rowan gasped, his arms shaking. He knew more people had come into the club and didn’t dare look up. This wasn’t how he imagined it would happen at all. He’d get back to his chair somehow and then go. Go and never come back, ever.

“May I get anyone a drink, Sirs?” Rowan heard the voice, and he felt his lungs seize. It was Matthew, the sub who delighted in making his life an utter misery. In fact, serving had been a punishment Master Adrian had insisted on for Matthew, and he wasn’t allowed in the little room.

Rowan was really thirsty. He’d barely had any water today, trying to keep his pad dry just in case. The headache that had plagued him all afternoon was banging to the beat of the music Master Adrian had on. He dimly heard Master Paul order some water for them both and could have cried. He was so thirsty, and his head really hurt.

“Sir?” He heard Matthew’s voice as if from a long way away and Master Paul’s agreement.

“There, Boy, some water.”

Rowan moved, assuming he was going to sit, but just before he could, Matthew carefully placed a bowl of water on the floor in front of him. Rowan gazed at it in utter horror.

Gabriel walked through the door, laughing at something Patrick was saying, then glanced toward the bar and froze.

What.

The.

Fuck.

He barely had ten seconds to take in the scene. Rowan on his hands and knees, naked except for some plastic pants. Matthew putting a dog’s bowl down on the ground in front of him, and Dennison holding a lead, attached to the collar around Rowan’s neck, before he saw Rowan’s arms wobble and the boy go down. His head hit the plastic bowl and water went everywhere, and even though Dennison was standing right fucking there, Gabriel got to him first. Thank fuck Patrick was with him. Rowan was conscious and between them and an admittedly worried Dennison, they took him to one of the private rooms.

Dennison was babbling and wringing his hands, and thankfully Adrian read the room and got the imbecile out of there before Gabriel had his hands around Dennison’s throat. Rowan was pale and sweating, but answered the questions Patrick asked him. Gabriel grabbed one of the cool sheets and covered Rowan a little, then took his hand and sat down, listening intently as Patrick talked to him. After a few seconds, Adrian came back with a bottle of water and the first aid-kit. Patrick took the water and handed it to Gabriel. “Small sips.” And Patrick took his blood-pressure.

Adrian disappeared again while Gabriel was holding the bottle to Rowan’s lips. “Just a little,” Gabriel encouraged, wishing Rowan would look at him.

Gabriel stared at him, but Rowan never looked at him once. Adrian reappeared with a folder and Patrick took that off him and scanned it.

“Ambulance?” Adrian questioned as Patrick undid the blood pressure cuff.

“No, try the next of kin. See if there’s anything not listed here.”

Gabriel was relieved to see a little color returning to Rowan’s face and he didn’t need to persuade Rowan to drink the water; it seemed he couldn’t get enough. Patrick smiled at him. “Rowan, have you ever been told you may have diabetes?”

Rowan shook his head and took another drink from Gabriel.

“I just need to prick your finger slightly,” Patrick murmured and held a small plastic tube against Rowan’s finger. It didn’t take long for the reading to register. “Normal range,” Patrick said.

Adrian came back, tight-lipped. “Both numbers are unregistered or showing an error.”

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