Page 2 of On Your Knees

He mumbles, “I… wait… what?”

I ignore his half-formed protest and drag him into the restroom, locking the door behind us. He stumbles as I force him toward the sink. I pull him down so that his hand is over it.

“Stay,” I order.

I leave him there and go to check the cabinet. Restrooms like this, the kind with a couch and good lighting and mouthwash by the sink, tend to be fully supplied, so I’m not surprised to find a small first aid kit. Grabbing it, I turn to face him again—and freeze.

Sacrifice.

That’s what he looks like, standing there at the sink, eyes wide, blood dripping, so damn willing.

A sacrifice.

The thought sends an awful shiver through me and has my cock trying to stiffen inside its cage.

The above-sink light beams down on him, flashing against his sandy hair, striking his nose and high cheekbones, revealing the shocking blue of his eyes.

God, he’s beautiful. Why is it striking me so differently than usual? Why don’t I hate it? Is it the innocence? Because the more I look at him, the more certain of it I am, and it seems like something that should repel me.

As I return to him, I expect him to flinch. People usually do when I’m like this, even brats. I’m not exactly angry, but I’m something like it. My darkness is showing. But he just watches me, undaunted, and I’m reminded that innocence is merely inexperience. It’s not the same as goodness.

Goodness would shrink from me. The fact that he doesn’t means there’s something dark in him too. But it’s buried, I think. He might not even know it’s there.

I set the first aid kit on the counter and pick up his hand. I’m gentle this time. There’s no reason not to be. He’s right where I want him.

The cut isn’t as deep as I thought. It doesn’t need to be stitched, and it’s on the outside edge of his palm where it shouldn’t affect him much. Still. He could’ve really damaged his hand. My anger sparks, partly at him, partly at myself. I dig my thumb into the meat of his palm near the cut. He doesn’t protest or pull away. He accepts the punishment, whether or not he knows that’s what it is.

It mollifies me enough that I’m able to take the edge out of my voice before I ask, “What’s your name?”

“Levi.” His voice is breathy. I don’t think it was like that before. I glance at the front of his black pants, but they lie flat. So do mine in spite of my arousal, but I seriously doubt that Levi is wearing a cock cage.

“I’m Ethan,” I tell him. I leave off my last name. He’ll probably figure it out eventually, but I don’t want us to start talking about Ruby.

I turn on the water and rinse his hand. He complies with that, but when I let go to open a package of gauze, he gets antsy.

He says, “I really shouldn’t be taking up your time. I can do that.”

“You’re not taking up my time, I’m giving it. There’s a difference.”

I can see in his eyes that he doesn’t understand, but when I press the gauze against his palm, taking physical control, he settles again.

God, that satisfies me. Except… it doesn’t actually. It only makes me want more.

“You don’t have much experience, do you?” I ask, my voice low and rough. Anyone with experience would interpret the question in the way that I mean it, but my guess is proven correct when Levi takes the question innocently.

“I’m just a temp. I’ve never done anything like this.”

Ah. That explains why his clothes don’t fit. His sleeves are not only too short, they’re too tight. His black vest is too. But I like it. It shows off his lean, athletic build. He’s beautifully structured.

“They threw you into this pit of vipers with no experience?” I ask as I let go of him to find a bandage.

He gets antsy again, and his words tumble out. “They were shorthanded. And I didn’t realize what I was getting into. I mean, they told me, but I guess I wasn’t really thinking. I just… needed the money.”

“I see.” I take hold of him again. He stills, but he’s not as relaxed as before. He’s remembered his troubles.

He says, worried, “But now I’ll be sent home. With my hand cut, I can’t serve.”

“Dinner is served with gloves. No one will know.”