Page 22 of Elemental Hope
“Sorry for what?” Nathaniel asked. “I’m not aware that you have anything to apologize for.”
“I just… You don’t seem to want me around. I’ll leave as soon as I pack. Not that I’ve got anything to put my things in.” He glanced around the room, seeming panicked.
“You don’t get away from me that easily,” Nathaniel said. “I apologize. I thought giving you some space for a while would help you settle in and clearly I’ve achieved the opposite.”
“I’m not used to having my own room, Sir. Symeon made me sleep at the foot of his bed, unless he wanted… Well, unless he…”
Nathaniel held up a hand. “No need to explain. You’re quite safe here. No one is going to make you do anything you don’t consent to. I won’t invade your room again without your invitation.”
“It’s your house, Sir.” Damon stared at his bare toes.
“Yours too, while you stay here. You’re free to leave at any time, Damon, but I would prefer that you stay. I think I can give you what you need, if you’ll allow it.”
“I’ve not had choices before, Sir. I find things easier if someone tells me what to do.”
“That’s not at all surprising for a natural submissive. You should still be involved in decisions made on your behalf. I think it might be helpful if we drew up a contract. One we both agree to.” Nathaniel didn’t attempt to get any closer to Damon, much as he wanted to hold him and provide some comfort. “It helps that you know what I am. Being a warlock is not a simple thing to explain to a prospective partner.”
Damon’s face flushed a pretty shade of rose. “You don’t hate me, Sir?”
“I don’t know you, but I’d like to. I have a feeling we’ll be compatible and I’d like to explore that, if you’re willing.”
“Yes! I mean, I think I’d like that too.”
Nathaniel hid a smile. Damon was transparent as crystal. “Very well. Then let’s go downstairs, make ourselves comfortable and have a chat about what it is you need.” Nathaniel pinned Damon with a stern look. “Don’t bother with shoes and take your shirt off.”
Damon’s pupils dilated until black almost covered the dark gray of his irises. Nathaniel headed for the stairs, not checking if Damon did as he’d been ordered. It was quite clear to him that the boy needed to be taken care of—the craving for affection shone in his pretty eyes.
Nathaniel chose a corner of his huge sectional couch where Damon could elect to sit next to him or keep some space between them. He stretched out his legs, crossing them at the ankles. Damon hesitated at the door then padded across the room. He paused in front of Nathaniel then sank gracefully to his knees.
“I’m impressed, Damon, but for now you can sit on the couch. Until we have a proper agreement between us, I’m your host, not your Master.” Damon rose then perched on the edge of the couch. Tension was apparent in every taut muscle. “I didn’t ask you to come down here shirtless because I wanted a chance to ogle. You’ve been moving stiffly and I wanted to check for injuries.”
“I’m fine,” Damon muttered, folding his arms across his chest.
“You’re bruised.” Nathaniel could see the remains of old wounds on several areas of Damon’s torso. He wondered how much more was hidden elsewhere. “Symeon beat you.” Damon didn’t respond, but then Nathaniel hadn’t asked a question. “Any contract between us is going to be founded on honesty. Tell me right now if anything he did is still bothering you.”
“Not now, Sir. He… He wasn’t careful the last time he took me. He liked it rough.”
“I’m going to need to take a look, Damon. Stand up then drop your pants.”
Damon’s sigh was one of resignation rather than resistance. His pants slipped over hips that were a shade too thin. Faded yellow finger-shaped bruising was apparent on both sides of his body. There were traces of old welts on his buttocks.
“Show me.”
Damon bent, reached back and pulled his ass cheeks apart. Nathaniel didn’t touch. “There’s still some reddened skin, but I can see you’ve been taking care of yourself. I would like my doctor to give you an internal examination though. Okay, you can pull up your pants.”
“Like what you see?” Damon’s attempt at bravado fell flat.
“You’re too thin. You’ve been abused. But you do have a cute ass. Thank you for cooperating. My intent was not to humiliate you. If we reach an agreement, then I will require access to your body at all times. Before you ask, that doesn’t mean I’mgoing to fuck you. Your health and wellbeing will become my responsibility. Have you ever taken drugs?”
Damon finished fastening his pants. “No, Sir. Symeon didn’t allow alcohol or drugs, not even cigarettes.”
Nathaniel grunted. “That’s probably the only thing he would be able to claim as a similarity with me. I expect you to keep your body clean and healthy, inside and out.”
“But you’re not going to fuck me? You don’t want me?”
“I don’t believe I said that. But it won’t happen until you ask for it.”
“My choice?”
