“Being made a ghost,” Caledon said and drank his coffee.
“A ghost is what we turn into if we’re starved for a year,” Seldon explained. “We age. More like the aging that stops when we feed catches up to us. We’re banned to a part of the compound where breeders don’t come, and we die a slow and tormented death over the course of about ten years,” Seldon said.
“They were going to do that to you?” Daniel exclaimed.
“That’s the usual punishment,” Seldon said, looking unaffected. Caledon’s words about having to live with Daniel being a worse punishment hit home, and that was so not fair.
“I may not be the best-behaved person here, but saying that death is an easier punishment than having to deal with me is not fair!”
“Actually, I meant the life sentence of having to aid you in anything for nearly four hundred fifty years,” Caledon said.
“Oh, the cub will get a job,” Seldon said, looking at Daniel. “And if you thought packing other people’s groceries was beneath you, you’re in for a rude awakening. Just because you’re to be treated like a Cubi born child doesn’t mean you won’t get to shovel shit, because as long as you act like that, you’re going to learn like any other Cubi kid thinking their own shit doesn’t stink.”
“So, you’re gonna take it out on me?” Daniel asked, incredulously.
“Oh, no, cub, I don’t get vindictive. You’re going to get exactly what that poor attitude reflects you deserve.”
“Deserve? To shovel shit?”
“Yeah. A shitty attitude deserves shit.”
“So don’t wear your best clothes tomorrow morning,” Caledon chimed in.
“I don’t believe this,” Daniel said, rubbing his face.
“Would you like to be a house slave instead?” Seldon asked. “They don’t shovel shit.”
“No, they’re just slaves and fucking food.”
“I don’t care if you cuss or swear but you will never take any of those words in your mouth when addressing anyone of higher energy than yourself!” Seldon growled. “One day you’ll be forced to look at these humans as food, too. It’ll be a delayed lesson, but you will learn it, anyway.”
There was just no winning with them. No matter what he said, he was getting punished for it somehow. Yes, Daniel understood that he had to get to know and live under a whole new set of rules, and in a hierarchy he still didn’t fully understand, but he hoped he’d never become as rigid as these two old Incubi. One thing was for sure, if how Seldon ran his house said anything about the Cubi society’s social structure, Daniel was in for a rude awakening.
“I’m allowed to show him,” Caledon said. “The last classification doesn’t have to be you.”
“You’d do that?” Seldon asked. Caledon nodded, glancing at Daniel.
“Maybe I should leave so you can get on with showing this cub that his choices have consequences, and as he was shown today, consequences are what we focus on here, not intentions.”
“I have no problems disciplining while people watch, least of all you. I’m waiting, because he asked a question as we got here, and knowing the cub, it’s a very important question.”
“If you even want him,” Caledon reflected and sat back with a thoughtful expression.
“He’s new, and there’s been a lot of changes in his life in a very short time. See, Daniel, I don’t mind taking your needs into consideration. I have to in order to make you grow as an individual that will fit into our world. What I will not tolerate is a lack of respect for the respect I show to you and your needs. I changed how I train you based on your needs. So I show you how irritating that is by not showing you respect in return. Respect is earned, not something you just demand unless you’re a tyrant.” Seldon made his point by lifting the thermos and placing down it again.
Okay, so Seldon hadn’t poured coffee for Daniel because he didn’t feel Daniel deserved the respect of being offered coffee. Daniel almost wanted to roll his eyes at Seldon’s methods, but he kept the urge under control. What did the big guy have against talking to people? This more or less left Daniel guessing at a set of social rules he had no premises of understanding, and that’s why he couldn’t win with either of them.
“You show me basic respect, and I’ll show you basic respect,” Seldon said and sat back. “If that shit isn’t fair in your brain, some wires got crossed. I asked you to make the coffee because I hoped you’d help me a bit. That you could take into account that I haven’t fed since last night. That I haven’t slept a wink because of the trial and the thoughts of how I’ve failed you, and because I thought I’d be starved to become a ghost and then die slowly without the chance to say goodbye to my children. But you could only think about yourself and how all this has impacted you.”
Okay, that one hit home, and Daniel felt like shit. He hadn’t considered what Seldon had been through since the Grand House had picked him up the night before. He hadn’t even known about the possible conviction of being made into a ghost when he’d said that snooty remark about no longer being a house slave. Of course, this had to be difficult on Seldon, too, but it still didn’t make his methods of making Daniel guess at their ways okay.
What eventually really drove home the guilty conscience was the disappointed expression, and that Seldon didn’t even bother to yell. He wasn’t mad, he was hurt. Or maybe he was just exhausted.
Daniel’s thoughts went to the last time he’d seen his mother. That tired expression when they talked about the upcoming interview at a Business College. He had put that tired expression on her face. And now on Seldon’s face, but for completely different reasons. In both cases, he was an unwanted child, though—one that just kinda came in from the sideline as a surprise.
A burning sensation started somewhere in Daniel’s stomach and spread to include nausea. His eyes stung, and he looked down, feeling ashamed of not thinking about just how much this had impacted others other than himself.
“I’m sorry. You’re right, I didn’t think of you. I didn’t know what…I could barely keep up with what was happening to me, but I am sorry I said that. You didn’t deserve that,” Daniel said quietly, still not looking up because his vision blurred from tears he didn’t want to wipe at because it would give away that he was crying. Plus, it would smear his makeup.
“At least look at me when you give an apology.”
Daniel looked up, and the tears tipped over the edge and ran down his cheeks. “I’m sorry.”
Seldon gave a weak smile and reached for a napkin to hand him. Daniel accepted and scrunched up the corner to soak up the tears and not rub at the makeup.
“Considering the lack of discipline and responsibilities you come from, this is not the first nor will it be the last time we have this conversation. But it’s a step in the right direction for us to get to know each other and to be able to live together and not despise one another.”
“So…you don’t just want to mold me completely into something else?”
“No, people are supposed to grow together. And if you think I haven’t grown with you, the fact that we talk shows I’ve learned something and molded my ways to accommodate your needs. If you don’t believe me, ask Rosadin.”
“I’ll testify to it, too,” Caledon said.
Daniel nodded, thinking of the past week. Going from scared shitless that Seldon would rip his fingernails off to seeing the man keep a distance because Daniel was scared certainly proved Seldon’s claim. Seldon had even held Daniel after a nightmare. They had talked about disciplining, and Seldon had reevaluated his usual methods to fit Daniel’s life experiences, and they were having yet another conversation. Daniel had accused him of only using corporal punishment and told him the best way forward was always to talk, and Seldon had proved that both were necessary by spanking Daniel—‘cause that had definitely worked regarding Rosadin. With thoughts of Rosadin, Daniel realized just how much Seldon had taken her advice too, and he felt grateful for her.
“Do you want a cup of co
ffee?” Seldon asked and placed the thermos in front of Daniel. This was definitely a test if Daniel had come to understand anything about the rigid old Incubus.
“Yes, thank you.” Daniel poured for himself and was about to screw the top back on when he noticed their cups were half empty. “Do you want a refill?”
“Yes, thank you,” Seldon said and smiled. Caledon repeated Seldon and pushed his cup toward Daniel who topped off their coffee. Daniel remembered that even when he had been a slave, Seldon had always said thank you when Daniel did something like that.
“Now, to the important question you asked. Would you repeat it? Maybe phrase it a bit more clearly?” Seldon asked.
“Yeah,” Daniel said, sitting back. He’d asked if Seldon even wanted him because he was denied anyone else to feed from. Daniel didn’t really want to be a punishment. He didn’t want Seldon to feel annoyed about him if he had to live with him. Like him having to be there was…like Caledon said—a cruel and unusual punishment.
According to the two old Cubi, Daniel would be so hungry that Seldon couldn’t keep up. Speaking of which, the skin on his neck tingled. Well, it would have to wait until they got this sorted out.
“I’m a part of your punishment. I don’t really like that. What if you grow tired of me and don’t want me anymore, but you still have to for over four hundred years. I’d be pretty pissed if all I could eat for a year was bland cheese crackers.”
Seldon blinked. “Did you seriously just compare yourself with a cheese cracker?”
“Bland cheese cracker at that,” Caledon added.
“Damn. Daniel…correct me if I’m wrong, Caledon, but I think I know My Lord well enough to know that the part about you only being allowed to feed from me, too, isn’t a punishment. But because it will also teach you that sometimes feeding isn’t as interesting as a lot of humans, and especially new Changelings, would like it to be. Therefore, the part about you seeing humans as food is one thing, but you’re going to view me that way, too.”
“You know me too well,” Caledon said, looking pleased with himself.
“If every time could be like when I classified you, hot damn, cub, that would be awesome. But it won’t be. It can’t be. To stay with the food analogies, you can be a ten-star meal, and it wouldn’t change the fact that it can’t be awesome every time. Especially since this particular ten-star meal is going be breakfast, lunch, and dinner for someone who only needs that amount of food once a day. This is the consequence of changing you. I don’t get to enjoy you as often as I want because sometimes I’ll be so full that I can barely roll off the bed.”
“So you’re gonna tire of me.” What irritated Daniel the most was that he’d no longer be special to Seldon. Like he was as an Untouchable. He wouldn’t be looked at and appreciated. He felt so damn vain for thinking it, but he had also been told enough times that he was allowed to be vain because that was how his new race was.
Looking at Seldon, the man looked disheveled, tired, and he’d lost that air of attractiveness. Daniel felt sorry for him.
“Remember that sex to the Cubi race is different from what humans think of it,” Seldon said.
“Which is what you will learn over this year,” Caledon added.
“So, sex is never something special?” Daniel asked.
“Oh, it can be. Classifying you was very special to me.” Seldon looked sincere enough for Daniel to believe him. Caledon snickered and made two splat noises.
“Don’t give the boy a big head,” Seldon said and fought to keep a grin from spreading.
“What does it mean?”
“It means,” Caledon said, holding up a finger to stop Seldon from complaining while looking smug. “Being a young man, you can probably remember having an oops-ejaculation. Like, hot damn, this chick is gorgeous, and then she does something, and the party came to an end in your pants.”
Daniel blushed. Yeah, he’d had that. At a party, and luckily no one noticed, but even after cleaning up and tossing his underwear to go commando he had a wet spot in his black pants for hours. Or what felt like hours. “Yeah, I’ve tried that.”
“Good. Cubi lose control of a dose when we get that excited. It can be an oral dose or whatever, but Seldon lost control twice when he classified you. Twice, cub. That’s like a double dosed red-eye with his favorite porn star.”
Seldon groaned and sat forward, hiding his face in his hands. And all the power Daniel had found in riding him came back with a vengeance and the tingle spread to cover his entire torso and upper arms. His dick grew rock hard, and the image of Seldon under him had him swallow a few times because he actually started drooling.
“He might not always be in the mood for the goodness you offer, or in the next year force him to take. But if he’s in the mood, he’s going appreciate the hell out of you.” Caledon said and winked at Daniel.
It occurred to Daniel that he could control that, too. To some extent, at least. He’d stop wearing makeup at home with Seldon and not wear the sexy clothes. He’d save that for special occasions to give Seldon something special. When the big guy earned it. Two could play at that game. Right now, Seldon had earned being pampered. Daniel just hoped he could fight his hunger long enough because getting Seldon naked and in the shower to clean him up, shave him, and make him look like the beautiful Incubus he usually did was going to demand some self-control. Daniel was going to have to really suck it up because his hunger was actually getting a lot worse.
“Are you hungry?” Seldon asked. Daniel looked up from his thoughts and became aware that he was scratching his arms.
“Yeah.”
“Then come here.” Seldon reached for Daniel.
“I was actually just thinking about feeding. And contemplating hunger and how it works in my body. Can we try something?”
“What do you have in mind?” Seldon asked with a positively curious expression.
Daniel smiled and glanced at Caledon. “Something that’ll take a while.”
“Well, that’s my cue to leave.” Caledon stood. “See you tomorrow at six. Be ready, cub.”
If Daniel wasn’t a Cubus now, he was pretty sure that statement would have been enough of a mood killer to kill his erection, but the thing just kept raging on while Daniel internally groaned at the prospect of shoveling shit. “Yes, My Lord.”
“Good boy,” Seldon said, smiling.
“See you tomorrow.” Caledon left, and Daniel looked for his resolve to pamper Seldon. It didn’t take more than to look at him again. Daniel got up and held out his hand for him. Seldon took it and followed Daniel to the bathroom where Daniel turned to face him. He smiled, hoping this would show Seldon that he could indeed take other people’s needs into consideration. He stepped closer and pulled Seldon’s shirt out of his pants, thinking the idea of giving him a shower was needed. By the smell of him, he hadn’t had a shower after all the sweaty sex last night, and he was still covered in everything from Daniel. Dried cum stuck as crusty spots on his chest when Daniel managed to pull the shirt over the big man’s head.
He wasn’t surprised to find Seldon’s cock hard when he made to remove Seldon’s pants. But he wanted him hard for other reasons than hunger, too. He wanted there to be something special between them.
Daniel threw Seldon’s clothes in the hamper and turned on the water, careful not to get wet himself.
“Aren’t you going to take off your clothes?”
“Patience. Should be easier for you than me, right?”
Seldon just smiled crookedly and watched as Daniel stripped out of his own clothes, and he was so fucking horny by then.
Chapter Five
Seldon stood naked and very conscious about his body odor. He felt like something only worthy of being scraped off the floor. Daniel looked beautiful, and he smelled wonderful. And there stood Seldon, looking like a bum and smelling like a whorehouse sans the perfume.
Upon finishing with Seldon’s clothes, Daniel undressed, slowly. Oh, hell, the boy was a tease. But Se
ldon wanted to see where he wanted to take this. What parts of himself he was exploring or trying to come to terms with.
Once naked, Daniel guided Seldon into the shower and under the sprays where he left him to soak under the hot water while he poured soap on a loofah. He motioned for Seldon to step out before stepping closer to wash him. Seldon kept his arms passive by his sides, wondering if this was the power-bottom or the newborn trying out his own limitations at not being able to be straight anymore. Or maybe it was the boy trying to smooth the waters after the coffee incident.
Daniel’s breath caught, and he reached to squeeze his own cock, knitting his brows in concentration.
“You challenging yourself? Seeing if you can put it off?”
Daniel looked up, biting his lip. “Both, but probably not for the reasons you think.”
“Oh, what do I think?”
“That I’m shy about it.”
Cub got him there. He did think that. “So why are you?”
“You deserve to be pampered after the night you’ve had. To look beautiful again,” Daniel said, his breathing growing faster as his eyes roamed the body his hands explored.
Seldon’s stomach fluttered at the sentiment and thoughtfulness.
“There’ll be times you just feed me,” Daniel said, watching where his hand soaped Seldon’s chest in slow circles. “But I want there to be times like yesterday, too.” Daniel looked up at him, and Seldon groaned. They held the same intensity as the first time he saw those beautiful green eyes framed by carefully selected makeup to accentuate his features. “This may have to be an item off a fast food menu sometimes.” Daniel stepped closer, running his hands down Seldon’s torso and thighs. He was so close their erections rubbed against soap-slick bodies, and Seldon’s hunger rose.
“And your plans right now?”
“I want you to enjoy me.” Daniel slipped his hands around Seldon’s hips and ran them up his ass and all the way to his shoulders before caressing the expanse of his back.
Claimed Beauty (The Cubi Book 2) Page 5