Chapter 7 You Really Are My Babe

Daniel didn't ask.

He leaned in and kissed him.

Nathan's eyes went wide. The silk shirt was cold on his shoulders but Daniel's mouth was hot. Hard, possessive. Not like a first kiss. Like claiming.

"Mm—" Nathan made a small sound and pushed at his chest with both hands. Weak. His hands shook.

Daniel cupped his neck harder so he couldn't turn away, thumb under his ear. His other hand gripped Nathan's waist through the silk and pulled him flush.

Nathan's back hit the wall. The shirt rode up his thighs.

Daniel bit his lower lip lightly, not hard, just enough to make him gasp.

"Open," he whispered against his mouth.

Nathan shook his head, face red, eyes wet. "No..."

Daniel smiled against his lips. Obsessed.

"You said you want to go home to your mum. My babe doesn't say that after he tried to leave me."

He kissed him again, deeper this time. Nathan's hands that were pushing slowly fisted Daniel's black shirt instead. He didn't know why. His knees felt weak.

Daniel finally broke the kiss. Just one inch. Both breathing hard. Nathan's lips were red and swollen.

Daniel brushed his thumb over his lower lip, slow.

"You are so soft, babe," he whispered.

Nathan slapped him. Small, weak slap on the shoulder.

"Don't... do that again," he whispered, voice shaking. But his hand stayed fisted in Daniel's shirt.

Daniel caught his wrist and kissed his knuckles. Hard.

"Do it again," he said, eyes black. "If you want to leave. Slap me and I let you go."

Nathan looked at him, confused, tears in his eyes. "Really?"

Daniel leaned down, lips almost touching his ear. "No."

Nathan pushed him, harder. "You are crazy!"

"I am," Daniel said calmly. "For you."

He picked Nathan up easily, one arm under his knees, one around his back. Nathan made a small shocked noise.

"Put me down!"

Daniel didn't. He carried him to the big bed and sat down, pulling Nathan down with him, onto his lap. Door locked.

Nathan sat stiff on his lap, silk riding up, bare legs showing. He tried to get up but Daniel's arm was steel around his waist.

"Stay still," Daniel whispered, opening his laptop with one hand. The other hand rubbed slow circles on Nathan's side, under the cloth, skin to skin. Warm.

"What are you doing?"

"Working. You tried to leave tonight without permission. So tonight you sit here. So I can see you."

"I'm not a dog," Nathan mumbled, face red, but he stopped struggling. He was tired.

Daniel worked with one hand, typing cold emails, voice cold on the phone: "If it's late again, I cut you off."

But his other hand never left Nathan. Rubbing, claiming.

After twenty minutes, Daniel closed the laptop.

He turned Nathan's face to him with one finger under his chin.

"Still want to call your mum?" he asked, voice lower now. Soft only for him.

Nathan's eyes went wet. "Yes. It's been 8 days. She will worry."

"8 days you didn't call because your phone is with me," Daniel said flatly. "From day one."

Nathan remembered — day one Daniel took his old phone, said "My babe doesn't need phone. I buy you new one later." He never bought it.

Daniel picked up his own phone. Black iPhone.

"One minute," he said. "On speaker. If you say where you are, or ask for help, I cut the call. And no call for two weeks. Understand?"

Nathan nodded fast.

He dialed. His mum picked up on second ring.

"Nathan? Nathan is that you?"

Nathan's tears fell instantly. "Mum... it's me."

"Nathan! Where are you? 8 days no call, no text! Chase came to my shop twice asking! I was so worried!"

Nathan covered his mouth to not sob loud. Daniel's arm tightened around his waist, thumb rubbing his side under silk, listening, eyes black.

"I'm... I'm okay, mum. I'm with a friend. For work. In Hollywood Hills. I'm safe."

"Work? What work keeps you 8 days? Come home this weekend, Nathan. Please."

Nathan looked at Daniel. Daniel shook his head once.

"I... I can't this weekend, mum. Soon. Maybe next week. I just miss you."

"I miss you too, my son. Are you eating well? You sound tired."

"I am eating," Nathan whispered. He wanted to say more but Daniel mouthed: 20 seconds.

"Okay, mum, I have to go. Low battery. I love you. I will call again."

"Okay. Take care of yourself, Nathan. Call me."

Call ended.

Nathan sat on Daniel's lap, crying quietly, shoulders shaking.

Daniel threw the phone on the bed and hugged him with both arms, tight.

"Good babe," he whispered into his hair. "You listened. So next week you call again."

Nathan didn't answer. He was too tired. He leaned his forehead against Daniel's shoulder.

Daniel laid him down on the big bed, still in silk, covered him with blanket. He laid behind him and pulled him into his chest, arm locked around his waist.

"Sleep, my babe," he whispered. "Tonight you are really my babe."

Nathan fell asleep in ten seconds.

Daniel didn't sleep. He stared at his face for a long time.

Downtown, 8 pm next day.

Side door of Club R. Dark alley, one light flickering.

Chase came alone, grey hoodie, photo of Nathan folded in pocket. He looked around.

A black car light flashed. Rafael got out, black shirt open, tattoos.

"You came," Rafael said.

"Where is he? You said 5 minutes."

"I can give you 5 minutes tomorrow night. My brother has auction tomorrow 9 pm. All guards go with him. Only Rosa in house. Side door no lock."

Chase's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Yes. But price is tonight. You have dinner with me. One hour. Just dinner."

Chase frowned. "I told you yesterday, I don't like guys. I'm here only for Nathan."

Rafael smiled. "I know, logical boy."

"Stop calling me that," Chase said, irritated. "My name is Chase. I don't like that name."

Rafael looked amused. "Okay, Chase. You don't like that name. Noted. So, dinner? One hour. No touching unless you want. Then tomorrow you see your pretty friend."

Chase looked at the dark club, then at Rafael. "Just dinner? One hour? Then you swear you take me to him?"

Rafael held out his hand. "I swear on my club."

Chase didn't shake it. "Okay. One hour."

"Good boy," Rafael said.

He opened the side door. Music came out.

Mansion

Dark. Warm.

Daniel was asleep, bare chest, arm tight around Nathan's waist even in sleep.

Nathan opened his eyes.

He saw Daniel's phone on the side table, screen black. Locked.

He remembered — after mum's call, Daniel locked it again and put it down. But Nathan saw the code when he typed it for mum call. 0606.

Slowly, with shaking hand, he reached for it.

He typed 0606.

Click. Unlocked.

He opened messages, searched "Chase."

Contact: Chase - Nathan's Friend

He typed:

Help me. Hollywood Hills mansion. Daniel's house. — N

Send. Delivered.

He quickly deleted it from sent box, locked phone, put it back exactly where it was.