Page 31 of Xerxes Ascendant
“I’m assuming this one’s a ‘no’,” Kyle said, and began to swiftly swipe out a response to that effect on the onscreen keyboard. A response that was far politer and more conciliatory than anything Akira would have come up with, and he – not for the first time – internally commended his decision to appoint Kyle as House manager.
Then Kyle’s finger came to an uncertain halt, the half-swiped word autocorrecting to something incongruous. “That is, if your blanket prohibition on off-site appointments is still a thing?”
“It’s still a thing,” Akira echoed, amused. Did Kyle really think he’d transformed his business practices so radically in the two weeks he had been absent? Akira had barely been able tobreatheduring that time, let alone implement radical changes. He was lucky House Epsilon’s staff were all so competent, or his abysmal lack of leadership would have seen the freshly restored building come crashing right back down on itself.
“Good,” said Kyle happily, and finished drafting his message while Akira knelt contentedly at his feet and watched him work. His mind felt blissfully empty, his thoughts now confined only to their conversation and Sir’s commands. Analysing each of Kyle’s words to ensure he obeyed the standing order and avoided more of that horrendous electricity left no space to fret or plot, andhis body was similarly constrained by not much more than his Dominant’s will and Akira’s desire to submit to it. No fidgeting, no pacing. Just beinghere.
Grounded.
Settled.
At peace.
“Next one,” said Kyle, peering at the runepad. “Someone’s asked for a 5% discount?” He brightened. “Sure, that sounds reasonable.”
“No!” growled Akira, reaching out to steal the device from him before he could send such a terrible, ill-judged reply. Remembering too late that his hands were secured behind his back, the lunge only served to plant his face into Kyle’s lap.
“Make it10%, you say, Master?” teased Sir, and then laughed softly, the vibrations echoing through Akira where he was pressed against him. “Don’t worry. I won’t bankrupt the House on only my second night back...although I hope you know the third is fair game.”
Akira, who had been about to apologise for his uncharacteristic clumsiness, stopped struggling to rise when Kyle’s hand came down firmly on the back of his head to keep him still.
He mumbled the required words into the space between Kyle’s legs –worry, won’t– needing to continue to please his Dom even if he went unheard.
But Sir always heard.
“So good, pet,” Kyle murmured from above him, his voice thick with praise. “You’ve been ever so good for me.”
Fingers tangled though Akira’s hair, blunt nails scratching against his scalp a moment later and making him groan.
Stars, that felt good.
“You’ll stay there while I finish answering the rest of these requests.”
With pleasure, Sir.
Akira submitted to his Dom’s controlling caresses, enjoying being able to press his face into the rough denim of the man’s jeans. When he breathed deep, he could even detect hints of Kyle’s natural scent through the thick material. It made Akira’s cock swell in the tight embrace of his trousers, but trapped as it was – asallof him was – there was nothing he could do but endure the pleasurable tease of constraint. Sir was in charge of their scene.
In charge ofhim.
Akira began to drift, his breathing deepening. He listened idly to the faint taps against glass as Kyle typed one-handed on the runepad above his head, keeping Akira where he wanted him.
With. Fucking. Pleasure.
He felt like he could easily fall asleep like this: effortlessly weightless and delightfully unburdened. He didn’t have to decide anything, not even how to position his body. Sir was taking care of it all...taking care of him.
All Akira had to do wasbe.
Date of appointment:20 June 2073
Time:9.00pm
Assigned to:Ben
Client request:"I want the guy I had last time. The cute one who screams like a pig when you catch him. Fuck, the way he wriggles…tell him I'll tip an extra 100CR if he makes it a good chase."
-Extract from the records of House Epsilon's client bookings
CHAPTER 10
