Page 15 of Designation: Null

“Are you okay?” Logan asks.

“Yeah, what part of ‘healing’ did you miss?” Robert asks, playing it down.

“It has to be hard emotionally.”

“I’m fine from that,” he says firmly. He glances at Logan, his smile more like a grimace. He jogs. Should Logan jog, too? Should he go? How long can he stand here like a servant waiting for his king to give him an order without it being very noticeably bizarre?

“Seriously, Logan. Don’t worry. The biggest problem in my life at the moment is that I have to go to my parents’ house for dinner tomorrow night. My mother is going to ask a lot of questions and then she’s going to freak out and cry. It’s going to be a disaster and I—” Robert turns off his machine and looks at Logan. “What areyoudoing tomorrow night?”

“Me?” he squeaks, surprised. And now he’s blushing. “Nothing. Why?”

“You have to come with me. They’llloveyou. And they won’t ask you anything sensitive. They’re good about that so long as it’s not me. Please? The food is great. I’ll beg. Do you want me to get down on my knees and beg?”

“Well, almost. But no,” Logan jokes, but not really. It’d be weird and unsettling to have Robert beg him. Wrong. “I’ll go. If you really want me to.”

“Thank god,” Robert says. His hand hovers over the start button. “What a relief. Honestly, you have no idea.” He smiles at Logan again, blinding and knee weakening.

Logan blushes and starts to run again, but his chest is sensitive and he’s got that weighted feeling going through him, like his glands are heavy. Well, his glands and his pecs and even between his legs. Everything feels heavy and uncomfortable.

“I think I’m done,” Logan says.

The sweat is still glistening on Robert’s skin, his arms are beautiful and the veins on his hands stand out from the exertion. It probably isn’t the sort of thing Logan should fixate on, but it just means he wants Robert’s hot, strong hands on him. Ideally on his chest where he’s aching so much.

What would that be like? Pleasant agony.

He puts his hand on Robert’s forearm without meaning to, needing to feel how warm he is, and Robert gives him a small, tight smile in response.

It’s a little strained around the edges, his gaze flicking down to Logan’s touch, politely interested. Nothing more. Which is good. A relief to not be wanted.

Pursued.

Have his designation used against him. Because most Dominants would see this as an offer and make an attempt. At least try to get Logan to bend over in the showers.

It’s weird that he’s put his hand on Robert.

He tries to laugh it off, takes his hand away, and heads to the showers. He doesn’t want anything from Robert. He doesn’t even know what hecouldwant. Not really. He has no experience and never wanted any. And what would he even say if Robert asked him if he was alright?

“I don’t think so. Would you mind if I licked the sweat off the back of your hand before you really work my chest over? I think I’d really like it if you made me bruise.”

Okay, so he does know what he would say, but he doesn’t want to say it. Which means he has to walk away.

Which is annoying because he desperately wants to be near Robert.

At least he gets to see him tomorrow, have dinner and meet his family. Robert is his friend and that’s it. There is no indication Robert likes him the way a Dominant likes a submissive. Why would he?

Robert is a kind, high-level Dominant and undoubtedly has a whole stable full of submissives at his beck and call. God only knows what sort of things he’s into.

Logan has been clinging on to his null and not particularly submissive designation and persona for so long that he doesn’t know what he’d enjoy.

He’s so inexperienced that Robert wouldn’t want anything to do with him. Plus Dominants like it when submissives give in to their needs, have desires and are willing to submit. That doesn’t describe Logan at all.

The whole thing is a nonstarter. But at least they can be friends.

Which is enough. Spending any time with Robert is incredible.

Of course Logan’s designation is making it difficult to spend time with a Dominant when he actually wants to. The first time in his entire fucking life that he wants to and now he has to walk away and hit the showers.

Logan’s never been in this position before, his designation sneaking up on him and making him act. Offer himself. And he’s never seen a Dominant so willing to ignore an offer. Dominants have needs and they like to get a little something when they can, and they will typically see if they can turn a small offer into more.

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