Page 24 of Designation Prey

In Daniel’s apartment, all traces of the accident have been removed. The shattered glass coffee table has been replaced with a wooden one and the floor has been cleaned. It smells like disinfectant, but Liam can smell the misery under it. It’s seeped into the walls and the carpet in just the short amount of time Daniel has been here. Daniel shies away from the scent of his blood, chemicals, and misery, his hand going to his face, breathing in Liam’s shirt instead. He stumbles back into Liam, instinctively needing reassurance.

“It’s okay.” Liam squeezes his biceps, pulling him back into his chest. He bends down and kisses Daniel’s neck.

His submissive breaks out into goose bumps, head tilting in offer, arching a little so his ass goes back in invitation, Liam’s cock slotting in between his cheeks perfectly. His ass is incredible. The fabric separating them is a crime.

“Good boy. That’s right. You’re so clever,” he praises.

Daniel whimpers and steps forward just a little, but Liam holds him tight. “No, honey. The first instinct was right. We’re somewhere bad, in a place that has hurt you, and you know you need to get out. You want your Daddy to help you. Offering yourself is just right,” he says. Daniel shudders in his hold. “I don’t want you in this place. You’re going to pack a bag and we’re going to leave.”

“W-where will you take me?”

“Home. My home.”

“Your…. I don’t want to intrude.” It’s a heartbreaking thing to say. Denying himself the opportunity to be safe and secure in a Dominant’s home, protected and taken care of, knotted whenever he needs it. And instead of relief or confident knowledge that of course a Dominant wants to get him into bed and in their territory, he says no. Because he doesn’t deserve it. He’s a bother.

It’s terrible.

“You’ll be more comfortable there and so will I. I want you there. You’ll get my knot in my bed. I’m feeling a bit feral at the moment. I want you very badly and that’s how I need to give it to you for the first time.”

“Yes, Daddy,” he whispers, unmoving.

“Do you like the idea of that?”

Daniel is so still that it’s unnerving.

“Yes. Please. I would… yes.” He hears the submissive swallow.

Liam can’t stop himself from pressing his nose into Daniel’s neck and scenting him. He gives him an open-mouthed kiss, tongue sliding along the strong column of flesh. He lets his hands roam over his submissive, whispering into his ear roughly, “You say ‘yes, Daddy’ and I swear it’s like you’re begging me to knot you. That’s how it feels, Daniel.” He growls and cups Daniel’s chest in his hands, squeezing him gently.

Daniel cries out, jolting against him. “D-don’t,” he gasps and his hands come up, covering Liam’s. He doesn’t pull Liam’s hands away, but he might want to.

“What is it, sweetheart?” His voice is rough with desire and rising dominance.

“No one touches them. I’m not supposed to and—and no one else is, either.”

“That’s wrong. Your chest needs to be worked, honey. You’re a submissive. You’ve been changed and this is one of the most common changes that happens to men who become submissive. This tissue is heavily glandular. It gets congested, hot, sensitive to touch, and frequently becomes incredibly erogenous. If you’ve been told not to touch here then you’ve been denied, and it’s going to affect your health and limit your pleasure.”

“I’m not… pleasure isn’t something I’m allowed.”

It’s a horrible thing to hear.

“You weren’t allowed pleasure and look where it’s gotten you. You can’t deny your needs and go on functioning. You’ve been starved, Daniel. And while we’re together you’re going to get the things you need.”

“And then what? My father will recover, take over my care, and then I go back to nothing?”

Liam forces himself to slow down. Daniel deserves the truth. “With your designation you don’t have to stay in the military, Daniel. It’s so high that you could leave. Or you could demand to have a Dominant. He has no right to interfere with your life like this.”

Daniel laughs bitterly. “He’s controlled me and my brother for all of our lives. Every time I even thought about disobeying him, he knew and he’d punish me or my twin. Do you know the easiest way to keep someone in line? Threaten what they love. I love my brother more than I love myself. I can’t leave him and my father knows that. If I disobey him, I won’t just be losing my parents but my twin. I’ll lose my name and my place in the world. Before the change, I could have survived those losses but now it’s too difficult. I don’t have the courage to leave it all behind. They took that from me. I don’t know who I am now, I don’t know what I’m capable of, or if I’m capable of anything, honestly. I just go where he sends me, I have these procedures done and hope that whatever they do, maybe I’ll come out of it and I’ll be… done. Finally be enough.”

It’s heartbreaking.

“Thank you for telling me, Daniel. I’m sorry you’ve gone through this, that you don’t have more freedom and clarity over what you want. I think this time might be really good for you, then. A chance to see what your father has been denying you, what it’s like to get your needs and desires met. I know it’s counterintuitive, but satisfying your submissive needs might give you the strength to make decisions for yourself.”

“I don’t want to lose my brother. We did this together but he came out null. My father’s been able to pull strings and he’s thriving now.”

“Dr. Chang mentioned your brother was null.” Liam has heard of the designation, heard it’s rare, but he’s never met someone who had it. How could it be sustainable? But surely the doctors who’ve encountered it know, and he doesn’t need to be thinking about that right now. Right now he needs to take care of Daniel, the deprived and traumatized submissive in his arms.

He lets his thumbs brush gently over Daniel’s nipples, a light touch through the fabric of his shirt, and Daniel gasps in pleasure.

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