Page 33 of Damian & Jun: Episodes 5-8
Émeric gave him a clinical scan and nodded, motioning Jun to cover up. “I’m going to get my robe, then we’ll get the couch set up.”
Together they moved pillows around on the couch, and Émeric produced a heavy sheet from inside one of the ottomans. They laid it out over the couch.
Richard came out with an arm around Damian. Damian blinked at Jun and started to speak, but Richard guided him firmly to the couch. He sat against the arm on one end with one leg stretched out across the back. Damian crawled in between his legs and lay with his head pressed against Richard’s stomach. He was still breathing hard. Émeric approached with a towel.
“I can do it,” Jun said.
Richard nodded and motioned Jun closer. Émeric let Jun have the towel and went to retrieve blankets.
Jun knelt down beside Damian. He laid the towel carefully on Damian’s back. Damian flinched, but Richard’s hand on his shoulder kept him down. Jun looked to Richard. The older dom nodded for him to continue. Jun dried Damian off, starting at his shoulders and down his back to his thighs and all the way to his feet. Émeric covered Damian with a blanket and stepped away. Jun moved back to Damian’s head and started to dry him there.
Damian took a long breath and turned his head so Jun could see his face. “Did I hurt you?”
“No.” Jun glanced at Richard for permission and then laid a hand on Damian’s shoulder. “I’m fine. I was scared, but I’m fine.”
Richard stroked Damian’s head as tears started to run down Damian’s face. “Your boy is fine, Pup. You’re here, in The Residency. You’re safe. It’s four in the morning.”
“Émeric, Collin, Matthew?”
“Matthew is safe with Hypatia. Émeric just went to tell Collin everything is okay. Would you like to see Collin yourself?”
Damian nodded. “And Émeric.”
Richard looked to Jun. “Third door on the left down the hall.”
Jun pushed up from the rug and hurried down the hallway. The door was ajar. Jun stuck his head inside. A naked Collin was sitting up in bed, hugging himself, and Émeric was rummaging for something. There was a second smaller bed to the side, but it didn’t look like anyone had been sleeping in it.
“Damian wants to see you. I think he wants to know you’re okay.”
Collin opened his mouth. “We should…”
Émeric shook his head and disappeared into a walk-in closet, coming back with a large T-shirt he handed to Collin. “Let’s go see Damian.”
Back in the living room, Collin knelt by the couch and pressed a kiss to Damian’s arm. Damian said something Jun couldn’t hear. Collin shook his head. He almost looked like he was fondly scolding Damian.
Jun swallowed back longing and loneliness. These men knew each other so well. They were together and he…
He didn’t know what he was.
Collin stood up and motioned to Jun. “You should be with your dom.”
Jun colored. Damian and he hadn’t codified their relationship yet, but he wasn’t going to argue. He moved around the coffee table and took Collin’s place. Émeric sat in a chair across from the couch where Damian could see him without moving his head, and Collin curled up in Émeric’s lap.
There were so many questions in Jun’s head. This felt like yet another event in a string of terrible and strange events mixed in with bright, beautiful moments.
Richard murmured to Damian, reminding him where they were, that they were safe, what his job was, the color of the couch, and trips they’d taken. His voice was a deep, rhythmic lullaby of syllables and memories.
Damian’s breath evened out. In time, he gave a long sigh. “I should shower.”
“Then let’s have you shower.”
Damian pushed himself up. Richard came up with him. Jun scrambled back and stood too, not sure where to go.
Gods and goddesses, Richard was beautiful when naked. Jun tried to look anywhere else, which meant staring at Damian, which was just as embarrassing to do because that man did things to him even on little sleep and looking like a train had hit him.
Damian dithered, and Richard paused, as if reconsidering a course of action. Somehow, Jun sensed he was the reason. There was something they were accustomed to doing, but his presence was making them question it.
“You should drink water. I’ll find water,” he found himself saying.
