Everything that Lucian wanted was right in frontofhim.
Marcus’ hands dropped from Lucian’s jaw, and Lucian mourned their absence. The chains rattled as he pushed forward, desperate for contact, but Marcus took a step back. His commanding voice echoed through the room. “No.Stay.”
Lucian fell still, tightening his core to try to correct the way he swayed. Sweat beaded on his brow, and he was sure it had started to gleam on his body as well. Maintaining a position like this washardwork.
“It’s time to unveil you to the world,” Marcus said. The sound of his voice traveled over the taut skin of Lucian’s shoulders to invade his ear, and Lucian shivered. As metal clinked overhead, Marcus’ hand found the bulge straining against the front of Lucian’s pants. “Time to show them what surprises you’re hiding under yourleather.”
The button of Lucian’s pants gave to Marcus’ thumb. The zipper beneath fell. Marcus guided the pants down Lucian’s legs to reveal the panties that caged Lucian’s cock to historso.
Lace,white.
With his last substantial layer of clothing stripped away, Marcus lifted his gaze to look Lucian intheeye.
“Fledgling?” Marcus asked. He rose from where he knelt, sliding his hand along the front of Lucian’s panties to tease his length. “We’re not done yet. Are you readyformore?”
“Yes, Master,” Lucian uttered. The strain on his arms was almost unbearable, but he pushed through for Marcus. “I’m readyformore.”
“Then let’s begin,” Marcus whispered. He kissed Lucian’s lips one last time, and Lucian met the kiss with enthusiasm. There were no more regrets—Marcus shouldered them on hisbehalf.
Strung up in chains, Lucian had never feltsofree.
31
Marcus
Warm-up was over.The glazed look in Lucian’s eyes and the flush in his cheeks told Marcus everything he needed to know—Lucian was well on his way to subspace, and even if that transition wasn’t fully accomplished, it would be soonenough.
It was time to drive Lucianhigher.
From the inside of his suit jacket, once stored next to the envelope destined for Clarissa, Marcus withdrew a thin cloth hood. He stepped behind Lucian and wrapped his arms around the omega, pulling him close. When he spoke, he did so against the back of Lucian’s head. “I want them to see you, but I don’t want you to see them. I don’t want your ego inflated. Seeing them stare at you, lust for you,covetyou… I won’t have you forget who you belong to, who protects you, and who keeps you safe nomatterwhat.”
“Yes, Master.” Lucian’s voice was a pitch higher than it should have been, his voice quivering in anticipation. “I willneverforget.”
It was exactly what Marcus wanted to hear. Content with Lucian’s mindset, he slid the cotton along Lucian’s chest, teasing him with the fabric. It traced over his pecs, then along his neck, until it crossed the coarse stubble along his jaw. Lucian puffed out a tiny breath Marcus felt rather than heard—it crossed his knuckles and warmed the back of his hand—and in it, Marcus knew that Lucian had let go. The steady, slow beat of his pulse and his altered breathing patternsconfirmedit.
Lucian was gone. The man who stood in his place was fledgling—Marcus’slave.
“You will see no one, and no one will see you.” Marcus whispered as he began to fit the hood over Lucian’s head. The cotton stretched, lightweight and comfortable. Lucian wasn’t ready for leather just yet, but that would come in time. Before long, Marcus hoped that the very touch of leather to his head would plunge Lucian into subspace, but for now, he accepted a training substitute. “Where we are doesn’t matter. Who watches doesn’t matter. None of it is your concern. None of it is in your control. All you need to do is listen and receive what Igiveyou.”
With Lucian’s arms pinned above his head, forcing the hood into position was difficult, but Marcus saw it through. He guided the fabric over Lucian’s eyes and down the bridge of his nose. It crossed the bow of his lips, then clung to the underside of his jaw. The fabric was solidly woven, offering no eye holes or nose holes. All Marcus afforded his omega was a singular, reinforced eyelet hole located by his mouth. The fabric would breathe enough that Marcus wasn’t worried about suffocation, but he knew that in order to draw in the best air, Lucian would have to struggle with the hole. The struggle would turn his thoughts inward, and inward was exactly where Marcus wanted him to be. When he pushed Lucian’s body to its limits, he wanted Lucian to be deeply awareofit.
“They’re looking at you,” Marcus whispered near Lucian’s ear once the hood was in place. “All of them are looking. Lusting. You’re the one that they want. You’re the one theyhungerfor.”
Tension rocked through Lucian’s body, betraying his arousal. When Marcus had asked him what he thought about exhibitionism, Lucian had only casually said yes—Marcus wasn’t expecting a reaction sopowerful.
But helovedit.
He traced his hands down Lucian’s hips, fingers slipping beneath the delicate band of Lucian’s panties. For a while, Marcus toyed with them. A gentle tug of the elastic dropped the panties down Lucian’s hips before Marcus drew them back up again, concealing skin once revealed. He took his time, varying his motions and refusing to make progress until he was sure that Lucian had no idea what to expect. As soon as Marcus was sure that his movements were unanticipated, he guided the elastic band down until it sat midway down Lucian’s shaft, exposing the pink, glossy head ofhiscock.
“Look what we have here,” Marcus mused as he traced his fingers over Lucian’s slit. Lucian gasped, the sound muffled by the hood. “Everyone is staring, you know. Everyone wants to see the lace come off. They’re hungry for it. If they could, every one of them would come over here, pull you close, andfillyou.”
Praise was so much more rewarding than punishment. Marcus lived for it. To know his meek, subservient partner was on top of the world, even when his body was pushed to its limits? To bridge discomfort with ecstasy? The contrast was what made it allworthwhile.
Lucian washis, and that meant Marcus wouldspoilhim.
“They want to use you, fledgling,” Marcus continued, keeping his voice only loud enough for Lucian to hear. “Every man in this room would breed you until you couldn’t take it anymore, and then even after that, they’d try to fill you. To claim you. But do you know why theydon’t?”
“No, Master,” Lucian choked from beneath the hood. His voice was burdened withdesire.
