Page 22 of Loved to Death

“You’re freezing,” Shen said, touching the spot on his cheek where Thomas had touched him.

“My skin is always cold. It’s…a condition. Is that a problem?”

“No,” Shen answered quickly.

Smiling, Thomas said, “Lead the way.”

After ten minutes of silent brisk walking through the dark streets, Shen stopped in front of a door and looked at Thomas.

“Is this it?” Thomas asked.

Shen nodded.

“Should I knock or just walk in?”

Reaching out a fist, Shen knocked on the wooden door three times. A few moments later, an older man opened the door a crack and peered out at them.

Thomas watched with growing impatience while Shen and the older man had a short conversation in their native language. The old man shook his head, and Thomas decided to move things along by pulling out his coin purse. He poured half the money onto his palm and held it out toward the old man.

“Tell him to take it all and give us a room.”

Shen’s eyes opened wide as he stared at the coins. “That’s too much. You’ve got a gold eagle and four silver dollars there. Normally a room is a silver dollar for the whole night.”

Thomas’ eyes narrowed to pierce Shen with disapproval, and he repeated himself with slow and deliberate words of authority. “Tell him to take it all and give us a room.”

Shen frowned and scrutinized Thomas’ face for a second before turning to the old man and apparently relaying the message. The door opened wide and the old man whisked the money out of Thomas’ palm.

Thomas stepped inside and put the half-empty coin purse back in his pocket. They followed the old man down a hall to a small bedroom that contained a single bed, a wooden chair, and a small side table with a large bowl and pitcher for washing. Before going in, Thomas said, “Tell him I might come back and pay for another room tomorrow as long as he leaves us alone until dawn.”

Once Shen had translated Thomas’ message, the old man gave them a slight bow and walked back the way he’d come.

Thomas entered, gestured for Shen to come in as well, and then shut and locked the door behind them. Thomas turned and just stared at the human for a few moments. Shen ducked his head to break eye contact and he stuck his hands in his pockets.

Thomas stepped forward, pulled Shen into an embrace, and when the human looked up, Thomas gave him a quick chaste kiss on the lips. He pulled back to make eye contact. “I don’t like repeating my instructions. I’d suggest you do as I say unless youenjoypunishment. In which case, feel free to make me repeat myself as often as you like because I’m certain the enjoyment I’d get out of punishing you would outweigh my irritation.”

Shen’s eyes opened wide and he shook his head.

“No?” The human’s heartbeat increased and Thomas could smell the slight fear. He pushed his disappointment aside and berated himself for moving too fast. He gave Shen a reassuring smile. “If youwouldn’tenjoy it, then I wouldn’t, either. Tell me what you do enjoy.”

Shen blinked a few times, opened and closed his mouth twice, and eventually said, “I like men.”

Thomas chuckled. “Obviously. I was hoping for a little more detail. You seemed to enjoy it when I called you a good boy. Perhaps praise for obedience?”

A soft whimper came out of Shen’s throat and his cheeks flushed red before he answered, “Yes.”

Pleased to have figured out something that made Shen tick, Thomas kissed his forehead. “You said you enjoyed my height. Would you like it if I picked you up?”

The look of shock on Shen’s face before he nodded made Thomas grin. “All right then. Starting right now, you don’t move around the room. I’ll move you where I want you, and it’s your job to stay where you’ve been put. Is that clear?”

Shen’s body trembled with excitement. “Yes, sir.”

It had been so long since anyone had called him “sir” in the bedroom that he’d almost forgotten the way it made his chest swell and his cock come to attention.

Thomas swept Shen up in his arms bridal style. Shen gasped in shock and clutched the lapels of Thomas’ jacket. Thomas carried him to the foot of the bed and set him on his feet beside it. Shen looked up at him with adoration still holding the lapels.

Thomas put his hands over Shen’s and gently pulled them off his jacket and put them down at Shen’s sides. “Now you stay. I want your feet planted to the floor. You don’t shuffle around. You don’t sit on the bed. And you don’t look anywhere but forward at the wall while I get things ready. Understand?”

“Yes, sir,” Shen answered.

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