Page 53 of Designation Prey

The reunification room he’s led to is like a shabby bedroom. A queen-sized bed in one corner, a couch in the other, a bathroom with toilet and shower, and a basket on a small table that has various sex toys and lubricants.

The room smells like chemicals and eucalyptus, an attempt to cover the scent of how much sex has been had in this room. It isn’t pleasant.

He looks at the training dildo in the basket and imagines opening up his boy. What if Daniel doesn’t want him? Even if they had sex right now, the suppressants would mean they shouldn’t bond.

The door opens. He looks up, expecting it to be another doctor or someone with forms he needs to sign, but it’s Daniel.

“You’re here,” he whispers, stepping into the room. He’s wearing a t-shirt, gray sweats, and flip-flops.

“I am. I had to see you,” Liam says, voice rough. He pulls Daniel close, hauling him against his body.

Daniel nuzzles into his shoulder and writhes closer, dragging a deep breath in. He starts to laugh. “My father is dead and you’re here.”

He lifts his face and takes a look at Liam, studying him closely. He frowns. “Do you still want me? Is there someone else?”

Daniel’s pupils are blown, his voice slower than it should be. A sign that the suppressants are kicking in.

“There isn’t anyone else, Daniel. Of course not. But it’s been three years and you’re finally free. Not just from your father but from the military and our bond. It’s a decision we’d have to make again,” he says, forcing himself to remain calm, keep his touch light. He is suppressed so Daniel has a choice.

“I don’t feel well,” Daniel says, and Liam guides him to the bed, helping him sit down. Daniel closes his eyes and breathes in and out slowly.

“I don’t like this room,” Daniel murmurs, and he sways closer.

“Your suppressants are probably making it worse.”

Daniel puts his hand to his throat. “I feel like I can’t breathe.”

“Let’s get out of here,” he says, putting a hand on Daniel’s elbow, helping him stand and go to the door. They step out into the hall.

Daniel’s eyes are shining with tears. “You feel different. You’re not mine anymore, are you?”

“I’m… no. The bond is gone. I’m suppressed. I think I’m even more suppressed than you are. Daniel, sweetheart. I failed you. You deserve the world and if… if the best thing for you?—”

“I had a nest,” Daniel whispers, cutting him off. A tear slides down his cheek.

“It’s still yours. I haven’t been in the room since you left. Hell, I can’t even go to the cabin.”

Daniel wipes at the tears on his cheeks. “Is that true? Because you miss me?”

“There you are!” Logan says, and then he’s throwing himself at Daniel, holding him tightly in his arms. Daniel closes his eyes, hugging his brother hard. But when he opens his eyes, they’re fixed on Liam.

“I haven’t been back, Daniel. I won’t go there without you,” he says, putting as much dominance into his voice as he can.

Daniel swallows hard, swaying towards him but Logan is there, supporting him, and leads Daniel out of the base, Robert and Liam bringing up the rear.

Logan is doing all the talking, Daniel answering when questioned directly, but he frequently looks over his shoulder at Liam as if he needs to make sure he’s still there.

“You should stay with us for a few days. You’re suppressed, he’s suppressed, no one knows what the hell is going on. The two of you can reconnect and Logan will calm down when he sees you two together. He’s missed his brother. He feels guilty, too,” Robert says.

“I understand. And I would like to be with him,” Liam replies, sparing a quick glance of thanks for Robert. Then he’s back to looking at Daniel. At the swell of his ass. The perfection of his pale skin, his neck.

Liam isn’t hard because of the high dosage of suppressants he’s on, but he is interested in Daniel. He wants to touch him, speak to him, keep him close. There are a hell of a lot of things he wants to do with—and to—Daniel that don’t require his cock to be hard.

“Can you meet his needs?” Robert asks, as if he’s read Liam’s mind.

“Yes,” he says, though it feels like their time together was a lifetime ago. But he wants Daniel. That hasn’t changed. And once the suppressants wear off, it seems unlikely he’ll be able to stay away.

They board the plane, and Logan takes Daniel’s arm and guides him to sit down beside him. Liam takes a seat opposite him, needing to keep Daniel in his line of sight. Daniel can’t stop looking at Liam, either. Logan’s questions are frequently unanswered and have to be repeated, Daniel is so distracted.

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