Page 15 of Designation Prey

“I don’t know.”

“Do you think…. Could you ask me again after you find out?”

“Yes, Daniel. I can do that.”

Liam can’t help but hope the old man drops dead immediately.

6

Anurse comes in wanting Liam to sign a few forms, and it’s as good a time as any to ask more about Daniel’s father and his chances of recovery. She reiterates that she thinks he’s going to recover but says she’ll let them know if she hears anything to the contrary.

It’s terrible. How awful must a father be for a child to be looking forward to their death? Knowing that’s their only chance at happiness?

The reality is that Liam isn’t going to get an honest answer out of Daniel because he is more afraid of his father than Liam. His father is the most controlling influence in his life.

Liam needs to start at the beginning if he’s gonna have any chance at all of understanding this complicated submissive.

He comes back into the room and gives Daniel the lack of news. “If anything changes, she’ll let us know.”

Daniel once again chews on his bottom lip. It makes him look very young, very innocent. “I’m sorry I said I didn’t want to be called sweetheart. And said the other stuff.”

“That’s alright. You’ve a right to be defensive.” He tries not to smile, noting that Daniel’s biggest apology was about an endearment. Underneath the fear and snark is undoubtedly a sweet boy who lives for praise. And to be chased down and mauled like prey.

But one step at a time. Liam also notices that the sheet is artfully arranged so as to reveal a fair amount of his body. He’d hidden himself when the nurse came in but apparently decided to expose himself for when Liam came back.

Good boy.

Liam approaches the bed, looking his fill at the young man who will soon be his. There’s a fine line in the crease of Daniel’s thigh, just above where his oddly small and nonreactive mounting gland is.

Liam wants to gently brush his fingers over the area, pull the skin taut so he can get a better look. “Is that a scar?”

Daniel’s hand slides down, stopping at his stomach. He wonders how many times Daniel has been told not to touch, has started sliding his hand down his body to touch himself and been ordered not to.

“I got too… there’s a discharge that happens to me,” Daniel confesses, sounding ashamed.

“Yes, you self-lubricate. It happens to some submissive men. When they’re very high on the scale and require a lot of rough sex to drop thoroughly.”

“What?” Daniel asks.

“I don’t understand the question,” Liam says.

“Are you saying I’m not the only one that does this?”

“No, I’d guess there are about thirty percent of submissive men who self-lubricate. And there are a lot of Dominants who spill a lot of pre-come when they’re aroused, and most likely that’s to help mate with a submissive. To make a quick, rough mounting easier.”

“Quick, rough mounting,” he mumbles, sounding shocked.

“You should have that a lot, Daniel. It’ll be good for you.”

“That isn’t my decision.” He glances down at Liam’s groin. The question is unspoken but there.

“Yes, I do leak, Daniel.”

Daniel takes a deep breath in and then lets it out slowly. “You stopped recording?”

“I did.”

“Are there other recording devices in this room?”

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