Page 42 of Designation Prey

Liam leans over and pecks him on the cheek. “We will avoid those things, then. How is your nest?”

“It’s beautiful,” he replies, blushing, joy rising up inside him.

His Dominant’s nostrils flare. “I’m glad you like it,” he says gently.

Daniel wants to ask him if it means what he thinks it means, but he’s terrified the answer will be no. “It’s too nice now. I won’t want to leave.”

Liam points to a plate of cookies. Daniel takes one, nibbles it and then devours it in three bites and reaches for another.

“There’s milk,” Liam says, gesturing towards the fridge. “Are you okay with whole milk?”

“Sure,” he says, and Liam nods, looking pleased.

“I’ve got lots of nuts and avocados. There’s always ice cream. At this point, I just want you to put on weight; I don’t much care how you do it.”

Daniel hesitates over taking another cookie and Liam’s gaze narrows. “I’m hoping you’ll start to feel hungrier soon.”

He takes the cookie, relief at the permission going through him. “Is it bad?” he asks, worried. Daniel knows how thin he is and how much he should weigh. He’s usually just too anxious to eat.

“No. Not at all. You’re beautiful. But you need to be a certain weight for your own health.” His smile is careful. “We’re gonna fix it,” he says, kissing Daniel quickly on the cheek again.

Liam wants to take care of him.

“You have a lot of nice things for a nest,” Daniel comments.

He doesn’t answer, just gives Daniel a distracted smile and looks down again.

“Your submissive will be very lucky,” Daniel continues, sick and waiting, but he needs to know what this is. It’s unsettling.

“Daniel,” Liam says, wincing.

And then Daniel has had enough. There is something going on with Liam. “I’ve heard prey submissives are very attuned to their Dominant. To unspoken cues.”

“That’s true. Being prey means you are very aware of your Dominant and his needs,” he agrees. He doesn’t say anything else.

“Right. So. You don’t get to keep me out. I feel it. Don’t,” Daniel demands.

Liam blinks at him, surprised at his tone. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I can’t figure out how to say what I want to say to you. I’m trying to manage my responses. I’ve got this bizarre… double speak, I guess you could call it, running through my head of what I want to say to you, versus what I should say to you, as this is a job and it will end. And yet, I’m not thinking of you as a job. My instincts are…. ”

“Maybe you just say what you want to say.”

Daniel waits.

Liam says nothing.

His Dominant is distressed and attempting to hide it. If he’s upset, he should reach for Daniel. What a strange series of thoughts, he realizes. Is that what it would be like if he could be a submissive all the time?Always getting to pay attention to his Daddy rather than fixating on himself? What a relief it would be. A job, something greater than his own neuroses.

“What was the syringe in the trash for?”

“Ah, hell. I knew I should have thrown it away in the kitchen,” he says, sounding annoyed with himself. “You’ve showered, I see.” Liam has a hint of a smile.

“Yes, I was gross,” Daniel responds, blushing.

“I disagree. Fuck, your scent when you started in on your nest, Jesus,” he says, and adjusts himself.

Daniel whimpers quietly, and Liam’s hand clenches on the counter, his nostrils flaring. He’s tense and coiled. Liam closes his eyes.

Daniel doesn’t know if he’s counting, but he’s got a look like he’s counting, and then he exhales and he’s calmer. It’s a pretty impressive trick.

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