“Cameron?”
Cameron recognised Arslan’s voice, but he couldn’t drag any scrap of his attention away from Franklin.
“I can’t use the whip while you’re standing there.”That was Ellery, and his words finally sparked Cameron into action.
He couldn’t remain where he was.All at once, that was obvious.He wasn’t where he should be.But Cameron already knew where his rightful place should be in that moment.He took a step forward.
With all the care he was capable of, he cautiously lined his body up behind Franklin’s.
Lifting his arms, he settled his hands on the back of Franklin’s hands.His limbs were longer than Franklin’s.He bent his arms a fraction at the elbow, forming them into the best shape with which to shield his pet from the whip.
His shirt brushed against the whip marks on Franklin’s back, making him whimper.
Cursing himself, Cameron leaned back slightly, so they didn’t touch there.
“Cameron?”Arslan asked again.
Finally, Cameron managed to turn his head.He looked to Arslan and Ellery, and to Kefir and Ryland, too.
“Finish the punishment,” Cameron said again.
He met Arslan’s eyes, then Ellery’s.He saw the two men look toward each other and exchange slight nods as the feline and the human worlds reached an agreement.
Ellery turned his attention back to the whip in his hand, freeing Cameron to turn his own attention back to his pet.
“Cameron…?”Franklin whispered.
“Hush.”Cameron pressed a tender kiss onto the back of Franklin’s head.
As the whip fell against his back for the first time, Cameron arched into the pain, determined not to let it make him sway forwards.Sickening heat rushed through him, just as it had so many times in the past.His shirt was no protection against the leather whip.
He closed his eyes for a moment, but his position didn’t falter.He’d learned how to take a whipping a long time ago.For the first time in his life, he was glad for that experience.If it helped him take better care of his pet, it could only ever be a good thing.
“Cameron?”A touch of desperation blossomed in Franklin’s voice; he tried to turn in his restraints.“What are you doing?”
“What I should have done from the start,” Cameron whispered.
Franklin shook his head.
His struggling pushed his back against Cameron’s chest.
“Don’t,” Cameron chided, gently, the way a full-grown lion might chide a little cub who was under his care.“You’ll hurt yourself.”
And that wasn’t acceptable.If it was the last thing he ever did, Cameron was going to make sure no one hurt his pet ever again.The world became a very simple place as he realised that was what his life was about now.He’d make sure Franklin was never hurt and make sure his pet never did anything he’d have to feel guilty for either.
“I…”
“You’re mine.Let me look after you?”It came out more like a plea than an order.
Franklin stilled.“I… You…”
“You’re nothing like them.”
Franklin looked over his shoulder.They were too close together to see each other properly, but Cameron couldn’t have taken a step back for all the money in the world.
Franklin turned back to face the bed.“I…”
“I know the men in those clubs.And I know you.You’re nothing like them.Maybe you managed to pretend you were for a while.Maybe you gave men money, but…” Cameron shook his head, wondering how the hell he’d ever been stupid enough to think that alone made him anything like the men who had hurt him.
