Page 104 of Tell No One
“What?”
Before Tag could stop him, Lincoln snapped it into place.Don’t panic!Tag couldn’t get enough air. He was breathing too quickly and he felt sick.Oh God.If he was sick with the mask on, he’d choke. He tried to pull at it, then pressed his hands together but Lincoln held him in place. Tag knew that he wasn’t helping himself, but he grew more and more frantic.
Lincoln grabbed his wrists and kept his hands on the floor. “Breathe with me. Slowly. In…out…in…out.”
Tag was trying to tell him to take the muzzle off, that he was going to die if he didn’t, but Lincoln just kept doing the fucking breathing thing. Ahsan had his paws together in the time out signal but Lincoln ignored him. Tag wasn’t sure how long it was before he began to calm. It was probably not as long as it felt. He was wringing with sweat, his heart was going crazy, but he didn’t pass out.
“Well done,” Lincoln said. “Look at you. What a good puppy.”
Fuck off, fuck off, fucking fuck off.
“I’m going to leave you to settle down. Lie on the rug and rest for a while until Tag is feeling better. You can play with the ball later, once he’s used to the mask. If there are any problems, Sonny, ring the bell.”
Ahsan nodded.
Tag crawled over to the rug and lay down. Ahsan lay facing him with his muzzle close to Tag’s, then put his paw over Tag’s and pressed lightly.
“Good boys,” Lincoln said and left the room.
“Wait.” Ahsan’s voice was faint in Tag’s ear, but he got the message.
The mask was fucking horrible but now his breathing had calmed, he felt a little better.
“I’m sorry you’re here, but I’m glad,” Ahsan whispered. “We have to be careful. If we get caught talking, Lincoln will put us in cock cages or think up some other punishment like getting us to cock-warm him for hours or making us stay as puppies all night.”
What the hell was cock-warming?Though maybe he could guess.
Tag whimpered. He wanted to tell Ahsan he knew who he was, that Rafiq wanted to help him, that people were coming to save both of them, but he couldn’t say any of that. Partly because there might be someone listening, partly because help might not come and partly because he didn’t know yet if he could trust Ahsan not to say anything to Lincoln or Norbury.
Slowly, Tag’s heart calmed. He still hated the mask but he was coping.
“What’s your name?” Tag whispered. He hoped and yet didn’t hope that the guy was Ahsan.
“Ahsan.”
Tag swallowed.
“Is yours Tag? Or is that your puppy name?”
“Real name.”
“Did you want to come here and be a puppy?”
“No.”
“Me neither but play along. It’s less painful. Try to look pleased to see them. Wag your tail. Woof. Bounce.”
“Can we escape?” Tag whispered.
Ahsan let out a shaky sigh. “There’s nowhere to go.”
When Lincoln came in and told them to play, Norbury was with him. Tag saw Ahsan wagging his tail but he couldn’t bring himself to do the same. He and Ahsan knocked the ball to one another. Tag kept missing and having to crawl over the hardwood floor to retrieve it. He was glad his knees were protected.
Then Norbury got hold of the ball. “First puppy to bring me the ball gets a treat.” He threw it across the room.
Tag half-heartedly followed Ahsan. Ahsan got there first and rolled it back. When Norbury unfastened his facemask to give him a snack, Tag wished he’d tried harder.
“Good boy!” Norbury said to Ahsan. “Paw!”
