“Do you trust me?” His master’s voice came from above him.

Danny sighed. Julian asked this question at least once a session. If Danny didn’t love him so much, he’d have been tempted to snap, “Of course I fucking do. I let you beat my arse, don’t I?” But he knew the question came from a place of deep insecurity and deserved his respect. So, he kept his eyes downcast as Julian required, and muttered, “Yes, sir.”

“That’s all I needed to hear. You may kiss the whip, slave boy.”

Julian held out the handle of the leather flogger he’d used to punish Danny. Pressing his lips to it, Danny knew this signaled the end of their game for the evening. Julian always acted as though working from a preprepared script, beginning with the moment he ordered his slave to strip and ending with this ritual. Danny sometimes wondered what would happen if he decided to deviate even the slightest bit from it.

For the first time since they’d entered the guest bedroom they used as their play space, he looked up at Julian. “Thank you, sir.”

“Okay, you can get up now.”

Danny rose from his kneeling position. His back ached and he was ready for a shower. Or maybe Julian would suggest they shared a bath, Julian running his soapy hands over the marks he’d left on Danny’s skin, soothing away the ache. It had been a while since they’d finished a session that way.

But his master seemed to have something on his mind. As Danny made to leave the room, Julian put a restraining hand on his shoulder. “I forgot to tell you. Michael’s coming over for drinks this evening.”

“Do you want me in role?”

Michael Thorne was one of Julian’s oldest friends, but their relationship had grown strained long before Julian and Danny had started dating. Apparently, it had something to do with a failed business venture the two men had been involved in, though Julian had never discussed the full details. That Michael had gone on to become the founder of an incredibly successful chain of high-end health clubs and spas, amassing a net worth in the billions in the process, had done nothing to sweeten Julian’s attitude toward him.

Julian shook his head. “Of course, though this is an informal evening—a chance for Michael and me to catch up on old times. And I’d like you to prepare a few canapés for us.”

“Yes, sir.” Danny worked in a restaurant kitchen, serving a style of food that had become known as Modern European. Rustling up nibbles for Julian and his Dominant friends at home was one of his regular duties, in addition to keeping their apartment spick and span. Julian’s thinking was that it saved him having to employ a cleaner, as well as being a way for him to exert his mastery over Danny. “Do you have any requests? I could do those figs wrapped in prosciutto you like.”

“Michael doesn’t eat meat, and I’d prefer you show him respect by devising an appropriate menu. Though he’s a little more flexible when it comes to fish, so how about blinis with smoked salmon—and caviar, naturally.”

“Of course, sir. May I go and shower?”

“You may. Michael will be here at seven, so I’ll need you to have everything ready before then.”

Thinking he’d been dismissed, Danny walked to the door, only for Julian to call him back.

“One last thing, Danny. I want tonight to be perfect in every aspect, and that includes your behavior. You will not do anything that shows you hold your master in less than the highest regard. No deliberate insolence, no hesitating to respond to a direct order, whether that’s given to you by me or my guest, do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.” A chill shivered down Danny’s spine at Julian’s stern, brook-no-arguments tone.

You’ve never had any reason to doubt me on this before, so why now? Why with this man? This callous, superior…

“And when Michael arrives”—Julian’s voice brought Danny back to his immediate surroundings—“I want you to answer the door to him. Naked.”

* * * *

By five-to-seven, Danny had completed all his chores. He’d made the blinis Julian had requested, as well as a plate of Parmesan straws and mini quiches with an asparagus filling. A bottle of champagne chilled in the fridge. He’d vacuumed and dusted the living room and lit a welcoming log fire in the grate. Now, he waited in the hallway for his master’s guest to arrive.

As requested, he’d stripped bare, and wore only a thick leather collar around his neck, one of the signs of Julian’s ownership of him. The polished floorboards were cold beneath the soles of his feet, and this wasn’t in the least how he’d intended to spend his evening off from work, but he didn’t fidget. Instead, he stood ramrod straight, his hands clasped behind his back. Julian might walk into the hall to check on his posture, and Danny didn’t want to be seen to be slouching or giving any indication that he’d rather be somewhere else right now.

The doorbell rang. Danny took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heartbeat. He’d performed this duty so many times before, but never without clothes.

Julian always warned me it might be required of me, but I never thought the man I’d have to welcome in this way would be Michael frigging Thorne. But this will be okay. You can do it. You’re not going to let Julian down.

When he opened the door, Michael stood there, shaking raindrops from the folds of a large, black umbrella. He paused in the act, glancing up and down Danny’s naked body. His direct gaze, lingering on Danny’s crotch, made it clear he liked what he saw. As if it had a mind of its own, Danny’s cock twitched in response, and he did his best to will his growing erection away. He didn’t want to get hard, not in front of this man.

This arrogant, oh so handsome man.

Julian had only one photo that featured him with Michael. It was pinned to the cork board in the kitchen, along with a couple of other snaps from Julian’s university days. Both men had floppy, bleached haircuts and wore the loud, baggy clothing that had been fashionable at the time.

Now, Michael’s striking, prematurely silver hair brushed the collar of a long, charcoal-gray overcoat and he had a discreet gold signet ring on his little finger. Everything about his understated outfit and his air of quiet confidence reflected how well he was doing for himself.

And as long as you’re okay, it doesn’t matter about anyone else, does it?

“Do come in, sir.” Danny kept his eyes downcast as he stepped to one side, allowing Michael to enter the house, bringing with him a gust of chilly mid-December air. A floorboard creaked behind him, and he knew Julian had appeared in the hallway, but Danny didn’t look round to acknowledge his master. He had to pay proper attention to their guest.

“Thank you—Danny, isn’t it?” Michael’s voice was soft and deep. If it had belonged to anyone else, Danny might have described it as pleasantly husky.

Like you don’t already know.

“Yes, sir. May I take your coat?”

“Of course.” He allowed Danny to unfasten the buttons, then take the rain-spattered overcoat from his shoulders. Danny breathed in the scents of wet wool and Michael’s cologne, warm and spicy. As he hung the garment on a hook, he risked a glance to see how his master was assessing his performance, but Julian had disappeared.

“Did you have a good journey from your office, sir?” It was a feeble attempt at small talk, and Danny could have kicked himself. But all the questions he wanted to ask—Why are you here? What do you want? Why is it so important that you get this five-star treatment?—hardly seemed appropriate coming from the mouth of a submissive.

“Not too bad,” Michael replied, following Danny into the living room. “I’d forgotten how the traffic backs up at this time of night. But then it’s a while since I’ve been here. I don’t even think you were here the last time…”

Julian entered the room. “Hey, Michael, good to see you again.”

The two men embraced somewhat awkwardly, Michael patting Julian on the back a couple of times. Danny stood to the side, awaiting his next instruction. He’d expected a certain animosity between them, a frostiness to the atmosphere, given the little he knew about their history, but Julian’s greeting had sounded sincere.

He wasn’t given any longer to ponder the situation. “Danny, go to the kitchen and fetch the champagne and nibbles.”

It was a direct order from Julian, not to be disobeyed. With a muttered, “Yes, sir,” Danny hurried away, even though he wanted to watch more of the interaction between these two former best friends. His cock, which had stubbornly refused to go down despite all his best efforts, bounced with every step. Of all the reactions he’d expected to have in Michael Thorne’s presence, arousal was way down at the bottom of the list.

Yes, he might be just as hot as Julian—hotter, maybe—but you know what he’s like. He is not the kind of man you want to be with…

He ignored the nagging voice at the back of his mind in favor of carefully uncorking the champagne. A tray containing two long-stemmed flutes stood on the kitchen table. Danny put the bottle in an ice bucket beside it, then added a platter of assorted canapés, a couple of plates, and some neatly folded paper napkins. Satisfied with his presentation, he took everything back to the living room.

“Well, that looks nice,” Michael commented as Danny entered the room. He didn’t know whether Michael referred to the food and drink or his own naked charms. Even if he hadn’t been expressly forbidden from making eye contact with Julian’s guest and fellow Dominant, he didn’t dare look over to find out the answer. Michael Thorne radiated an aura of quiet power Danny couldn’t help but be attracted to. Even though he had no intention of acting on that attraction, it still made him feel somehow disloyal to Julian.

He attempted to hide his confusion by pouring two glasses of champagne. He handed one to Michael, who didn’t thank him directly. Instead, he commented to Julian, “You’ve trained the boy very well. Pleasant manners, quick to obey.”

“Thanks,” Julian replied. “He was rather raw when I first took him on, and he’s still a work in progress, but I do my best. Try one of the asparagus quiches, Michael. He made them from scratch.”

Danny offered the tray of canapés to Michael, who took a couple. He bit into one of the quiches, his face breaking into an appreciative grin as he chewed. “Delicious. All that, and such a superb arse too. You’re a very lucky man, Julian.”

It should have been humiliating to be discussed as if he weren’t even in the room, but Michael’s words, and his blatant appreciation of Danny’s body, only served to excite Danny further.

“Do you need me for anything else, sir?” Danny addressed Julian. Now both men had been served with food, he expected they’d want to be left alone to discuss whatever had brought Michael to the house.

“Kneel on the floor by my chair,” Julian instructed him. “In the display position.” Danny did as he was told, aware that with his thighs spread and his fingers linked at the back of his head, he was giving Michael a perfect view of his little pink nipples and his hard dick, jutting up from his groin. Julian required him to keep his pubic hair trimmed almost to the skin, which helped to make his already larger than average cock appear even bigger. He stared straight ahead, his cheeks growing hot with embarrassment at being presented to a virtual stranger in this fashion. Usually, Julian allowed him to wear some clothing when he was waiting on guests, even if it was only a tiny PVC pouch.

A thought occurred to him.

The way Julian’s showing me off… It’s like he wants Michael to see what he’s got. Like he’s rubbing his face in our relationship.

He shrugged the idea off.

Surely, he isn’t so petty as to do something like that.

He tried to keep his expression neutral even as he struggled to work out the power dynamic between the two Dominants.

“I’m so glad you emailed me,” Julian was saying. “Though I’ll admit I was surprised to hear from you again after all this time.” He took a sip of his drink. “So why now, Mike?”

Michael stared at his glass, as if considering what to say. “A couple of months back, I suffered a health scare. Nothing too serious, but I had to spend a few days in hospital. It’s the kind of thing that makes a man reconsider his priorities. And one of the things I realized was how much I missed our friendship.” He sighed. “When we fell out, I said a few things I regret. I think you did too.”

Julian nodded. “Yes. I was angry at the time. At you…at me… I guess a lot of it was pretty pointless, wasn’t it? So, what, you’re here to extend the olive branch?”

Michael shrugged and set down his glass. “I guess you could put it like that. But I’m also genuinely interested to see how well you’re doing these days. While I was recuperating, I saw a story in the papers. About the contract you’re trying to land with that Swiss software distributor.” He picked up a blini from his plate and popped it into his mouth. As he chewed, he glanced over at Danny, who continued to stare straight ahead of him.

Julian didn’t reply at first. Though he didn’t share all the details of his work with Danny, whose eyes glazed over as soon as his master started talking about anything in the slightest bit technical, Danny knew the deal was going far from smoothly. “Yeah, I’m supposed to be flying to Geneva to meet with the company’s CEO, but I can’t see it happening now.”

“Really?” Michael raised an eyebrow. Danny surreptitiously checked his face for signs that he might be gloating but didn’t find any.

“Well, I’m meant to be going over there at the end of next week but all the hotel rooms in the city have been booked up. With it being Christmas, I suppose I shouldn’t have expected anything different. I mean, it’s crazy that the only time the guy could fit in a meeting with me was on Christmas Eve. I can’t work out whether it’s the price you pay when you’re running a massively successful company, or whether he just wants to see how many hoops I’m prepared to jump through in order to land this contract. Anyway, I tried finding a place to stay in one of the nearby towns, but…”

“I might have the answer to your problem. I own a villa on the shore of Lake Geneva.” Reacting to Julian’s incredulous expression, Michael waved a hand. “I know what you’re thinking, but it was left to me by…someone I was very close to. I don’t go there half as often as I should. Too many memories of Xavier. But if it’ll help you out of your jam, I’d be very happy for you to stay there.”

“Thanks. That’s really generous of you.”

“Please. It’s the least I can do.”

Julian looked over at Danny, who kept his eyes fixed on a point a few feet ahead of him. “If you don’t mind, Michael, I’ll take him with me too.” He still didn’t refer to Danny by name. “It’s a while since we’ve been able to get away together and if we could spend Christmas together in Geneva…”

“Ah.” Michael lowered his voice. “I’m afraid that’s not going to be possible.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, now I’ve made this offer, it occurs to me there’s a trade-off.” He took a moment to lick his fingers clean of crumbs, leaving Danny hanging on his next words. “What I have in mind is that you get the use of my holiday home for a couple of days, and in return you allow me to put your slave boy up for auction.”