Underground

I didn't bring up the idea of Daniel working for me again over the next week, and he and I fell into a comfortable kind of co-existence. The guest room took on the faint scent of opium, but I didn't mention that either. He took to keeping similar hours to me, retiring for the night when I returned from the club and waking a little before I did in the morning to devour the newspaper, cook breakfast, and then bring me up to date on any current events he thought I might find useful. He did prove a very enjoyable conversationalist, and in the two nights that he spent with me at the club succeeded in charming almost all of my staff and a number of my guests. Daniel seemed to have an innate ability to listen to just about anyone talk about anything, and he always seemed interested and engaged in whatever they had to say.

"You know," he told me as we made our way home after the second night out, "One of your waitresses is... obtaining clients from among your customers while on shift."

I looked at him sharply. "Christ, are you serious? Did she solicit you?"

He laughed softly, an amusement that I saw in him far too rarely. "Heavens no. But people tend to tell me things. I'll point her out to you tomorrow night."

It was a busy week, but I managed to implement the changes needed to accommodate my newest business partner (and fire that waitress.) By the end of the week, there was a slow but steady slave trade being conducted out of my back rooms. I hated it, and hated that I had to accommodate it, but I knew that it would take time to build Hand's trust enough to get him in the building on a regular basis for us to plan to catch him. I took a little solace in the knowledge that several bugs had been quietly installed in my back rooms during the renovation, known only to myself, Bumstead, and a few others on the force. The conversations conducted there were being recorded and monitored by a task force that would track the victims from a distance. When a rescue could be made without incriminating my establishment, they'd take care of it.

The third night that Daniel came to the club with me he seemed a little distracted, but assured me that he was fine. I didn't worry about him until I lost track of him about two hours before last call. Feeling a shudder of fear in the pit of my stomach, I excused myself from the group of men I'd been schmoozing and started making enquiries amongst my staff. Stephans was manning the back door, and reported that Daniel had left for home over an hour ago, asking him to pass on his apologies to me.

More worried, I quickly took my leave of Ray and caught a cab the few blocks to my apartment building. I'd given Daniel keys that allowed him to come and go as he pleased, so I was more concerned with finding the reason why he'd left.

The lights were still on in my apartment, and Daniel was curled half asleep on my couch, his suit jacket and tie thrown over the back of the chair and the opium pipe and lamp sitting on the coffee table. I gave a soft sigh and crouched beside him, reaching out to stroke my fingers gently over his soft blond hair. "Daniel?"

He focused on me a little dazedly, pupils bare pinpricks, and gave a soft sigh. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to do this. It's been two days, but I... I don't know how to cope without it...."

I gave a little shake of my head. "Don't worry about it. Daniel... what happened at the club? Why did you leave?"

Daniel shivered under my touch, glancing away from me. "It... it doesn't matter."

"It does to me." I kept stroking gently. "Tell me what's upsetting you? Please?"

He was silent for a spell, looking past me out into the living room through half lidded eyes. For a moment I thought I'd have to prompt him. Then he finally spoke. "It wasn't anything serious. Just an old client that recognized me."

I bit my lip. "Jesus, I'm sorry. Did he proposition you?"

"Of course." A soft, broken laugh escaped his lips, and he closed his eyes for a moment. "Said it was a shame about my face, but he'd still do me for half price...."

I felt my free hand clench into a fist. "Who was he? He won't set foot in the club again."

"It doesn't matter, John. You can't stop this from happening again."

"I'm sorry," I said softly, hating that he was right. "You shouldn't have to deal with that."

"It's not that." Daniel sat slowly, curling up on the end of the couch and hugging his knees to his chest. "John... I was forced to work for him, to be a slave for so long that I... I don't know how to be anything else. I stopped thinking about freedom so long ago. So when that man propositioned me..." he closed his eyes for a moment, and the laugh this time seemed more like a sob. "Part of me wanted it. Needed it, craved it as much as I crave this damn drug. It was familiar."

I felt a rush of jealousy and fought to push it away. "Look... if you want to...."

"I don't!" Blue eyes looked at me in agony. "You don't understand. I have tried so hard to be... to be normal for you. To please you. I just don't know if I can, John."

"I don't want you to be something just to please me," I started, but he cut me off.

"Then what do you want from me? Can you tell me that?"

There was so much I wanted from him, and so much I couldn't say. I let a hand rest on his forearm. "Daniel...."

"I'm sorry," he said, pushing my hand away and standing, trembling. "Forget that I said anything."

"Please..." I followed him, catching his wrist before he could leave the room.

"Why did you bring me here?" he turned back to me, trembling under my touch, blue eyes bright with unshed tears. "What good am I to you? I'm worth nothing, and there is nothing I can do for you. I'm nothing more than a burden on you. I'm not strong, I'm not desirable - "

"Stop it!" My voice was louder, more angry than I'd intended, and I watched him shrink back against the wall. His fear cut straight to my heart, and a soft moan escaped my lips as I stepped closer, reaching a hand to touch his shoulder reassuringly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell. Just - please don't say that. You're worth everything to me, and you're so desirable to me...."

He blinked hard, a tear escaping one eye which he wiped away quickly with trembling fingers. "You've always been very kind to me, but lying is not a kindness, John."

"It's not a lie. Daniel please, I've never lied about what I think of you. I find you so beautiful, so desirable - "

"Then why won't you take me to bed with you?" Daniel's last words were almost a sob, expression helpless.

I let out a long breath, moving my hand to cup his face, fingers gently brushing away tears. "Because I'm in love with you. And I can't bring myself to use you like that."

For a moment he could only stare at me, looking more than a little dazed. "In love with me."

"Yes," I replied softly, glancing away. "And I want you more than you can imagine. But I won't take advantage of you."

Daniel gave a soundless, incredulous laugh. "John, I'm a whore."

"I don't care about that." I stroked my thumb over his cheekbone, holding his gaze as if to convince him with my eyes that I spoke the truth. "I love you."

Daniel's confusion faded to a kind of resigned sadness, and he reached up to stroke my cheek in return, his touch warm and gentle. "John... you don't understand the world I come from. For years, for all of my adult life, my worth has been based only on my body, on my desirability. On whether or not people would pay to fuck me. It's - it's ingrained in my mind. I can't cope with your chivalry and your pretty words, and I'm sorry that I'm not some innocent young thing that you can woo like that. I need your desire to believe in your love, and I know that it disgusts you, but I can't just break away from what I am."

"You don't disgust me," I said softly, leaning closer to him, letting my forehead rest against his. "I just don't want to be like the other people who've used you."

"You aren't. You could never be." Daniel slipped his arms up around my neck, trembling against me almost madly as he brushed his lips against mine. "Please believe me, John. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me. I'm so sorry to have disappointed you...."

"Shhhh...." I pressed my lips to the soft skin just under his ear, slipping my arms around his waist and feeling him sag against me a little. I continued to kiss slowly along his jaw, nuzzling his cheek. "You haven't disappointed me, not at all. Every day I spend with you only leaves me more in love with you. Do you believe me?"

"Yes," he whispered finally, and I gave in to a week of repressed desire, a week of wanting him, catching those sweet lips with my own. Daniel was still shivering faintly against me as he returned my kisses, slow and warm and deep, almost moulding his body to mine. Somehow his kisses were even more intoxicating now than they were when I'd first kissed him, and I gave a soft groan into his mouth, feeling the tension and stress of resisting this wash away. Daniel's fingers tangled in my hair, clenching tight as if afraid I'd pull away, and I tried to sooth him, letting my hands smooth up and down his back, slipping to cup the curves of his tight ass and pull him against me.

"John?" he gasped my name softly against my lips, and I pulled back just enough to meet his gaze, which was more than a little vulnerable.

"Yeah?"

I watched him draw a shivering breath through parted lips. "Please don't make me be alone tonight. Please. If you don't want me...."

"Shhh..." I leaned in to steal his words with soft kisses. "I'll show you how much I want you. Come to bed with me."

Daniel's moan sounded more than a little relieved, pressing closer to me wordlessly, still trembling. I urged him back just a few steps until I could press him against the wall, covering his body with my own. I took control of his kisses, claiming his mouth almost hard enough to bruise his lips, tasting the heat of every inch of his mouth as my hands stroked restlessly over his sides. Daniel squirmed and arched against me most gratifyingly, giving little low groans deep in his throat as he yielded to my mouth. The arch of his hips against mine was almost maddening, grinding against my aching cock through my trousers, and I could feel his erection press hard against my own.

I couldn't get enough of him, the way he tasted, the way he writhed against me, hips bucking against mine as my hands slipped to clench at his ass again. I broke from his mouth to kiss down his throat, feeling almost drunk on the scent of him, the taste of his skin. I could feel the vibrations of his moans under my lips, and tugged a few buttons of his shirt undone, nosing aside his collar to suck hungrily at the crook of his neck.

"Oh god," his groan was almost helpless, fingers tangling in my hair while one hand clenched at my back through my coat. "Yes, please. Oh god, John, please...."

"Please?" I nipped lightly at his skin, feeling him shudder against me. "Tell me what you like. Let me make love to you."

"Your teeth," Daniel managed to gasp, tilting his head back to give me better access to his throat. "Harder, please. Bite me, mark me."

I nuzzled his throat, drawing a shivering gasp. "I don't want to hurt you...."

"I need the intensity," he said breathlessly, tilting his head back more, body arched tense against mine. "I'll stop you if it's too much. Please...."

I yanked the buttons of his shirt undone, pulling aside the collar and the strap of his undershirt to kiss hungrily along his shoulder, teeth grazing over his skin. It pulled the most delicious little whimpers from his throat, made him arch, tense and trembling against me. "Yes. God John, more, please. Harder...."

I nipped at Daniel's collarbone, then sunk my teeth into the muscle that connected neck to shoulder, finding it surprisingly satisfying to feel him in my jaws. It pulled a throaty, trembling cry from his lips, made him almost wild, hips bucking up against me. His reaction was contagious, and I found myself groaning, grinding back against him as I abused his shoulder with my mouth, biting at his skin and sucking hard enough to leave pink bruises behind.

I forced myself to pull back finally, breathing hard, hands clenching hard at his hips to force him to still. "Bed," I gasped, certain that the dark wildness in his eyes was reflected in my own. "Or I'm going to come in my pants."

Daniel let out a shuddering breath which was almost a laugh and nodded. "Myself as well. Please...."

I stepped back from the wall and pulled him with me, tugging the rest of the buttons on his shirt undone as we moved towards my bedroom, getting in his way as he deftly unbuttoned my own, flipping the clips open on my suspenders. He pushed the whole mess off my shoulders and pulled off my undershirt, letting me do the same to him before he began to tug at my slacks almost desperately. "Let me go down on you," he murmured, looking up at me with dark eyes, lips swollen and bruised. "Let me take the edge off. I want a long, slow fuck, John...."

I fumbled to close the bedroom door behind me only to find myself pushed up against it, Daniel's fingers catching at my waistband, pulling my shorts and pants down. He kissed hungrily down my chest as he slid to his knees to cover my erection in long, wet laps, breath a cool tease against my skin in the wake of his mouth. I tangled my fingers in the silken gold of his hair, watching as he took the head of my cock in his mouth with a low groan, sucking hungrily, moving further down my shaft with each bob of his head. I was so hard, so aroused from everything we'd done that his mouth was almost a torture, and I let my head fall back against the door with a soft thud, arching up into his mouth a little as he moved on me, gasping for breath. "Oh hell Daniel, your mouth! God, I'm so close...."

The moan he gave around me could only be described as wanton, and he swallowed me deep as his hand slipped to cup and stroke my sack. I knew he could feel me as I rode the edge, balls tightening for a few moments of agonizing bliss. Then Daniel took me in his throat again, groaning around me as my passion spilled over, my hips jerking up a little as the shudders of my orgasm washed through me. My lips had formed his name, the bliss of climax and the satisfaction of being with him like a potent drug in my veins, and I tugged at his shoulders gently as I tried to catch my breath. I helped him to his feet, pulling him close and catching his mouth with a little appreciative moan, tasting myself on his lips. "You're amazing."

Daniel glanced down with a soft smile, gracious and shy, though I'm sure he must know how talented he was. "I like to please you."

I let my hands smooth over his hips before letting my fingers brush over the button on his slacks, teasing him lightly through his pants and feeling him shiver against me. "And I like to do the same. Will you let me?"

He pressed against my hand just a little, breath quickening a little. "You don't have to...

"What did I just say? I want to," I replied with a little teasing frown. I leaned in to kiss him warmly as I tugged his pants undone, easing the rest of his clothes off. "Think you can relax and let me take care of you for a change?" I asked softly, pulling him back towards my bed. The idea seemed to almost overwhelm him, and I tried to reassure him with slow, deep kisses, urging him to stretch out on the bed under me. Then I pulled back, tugging off his glasses carefully and setting them aside on the bedside table.

"John..." He opened his mouth as if to protest, but seemed a little lost. I nuzzled his temple, pressing a soft kiss to his scar.

"Easier without, don't you think?" At his wide eyed look I gave him a soft smile, stroking my fingers through his hair. "Better to have nothing between us." The love bites on his shoulder were already purpling against his skin, and I covered them with warm kisses, soothing them with slow laps of my tongue. Then I moved to the other side of his neck, slowly letting my kisses grow more needy, sucking and nipping at his skin, biting down to feel him gasp and writhe against me.

I trailed kisses down his chest, taking a little time to indulge in small, pink nipples, sucking them to hardened peaks before worrying them gently with the tips of my teeth, just enough to give a touch of pain. It made him wild, arching up against me, his erection pressed to my abdomen. "Oh god, yes...."

Lifting my head, I let myself look over him for a moment, flushed and nude and trembling, incredibly aroused. "You're so damn beautiful," I murmured softly, then lowered my head to nuzzle his midline. My fingers curled around his cock as I trailed soft, teasing kisses down his ribs and stomach, teasing his skin with a touch of my teeth without actually biting, feeling the soft muscles under my lips flinch and shiver at the tease. I kept my grasp on his erection loose, stroking him slowly, almost teasingly as I continued to claim his skin with my mouth, kissing down over one hip bone to nuzzle his thigh. Daniel's whimpers were almost helpless, and he shifted against me restlessly, arching a little into my touch as if ask for more. "Tell me what you want," I said softly, looking up the length of his body. "Tell me how to please you...."

Daniel flushed darkly, taking a few shivering breaths before speaking, his voice thick and husky with need. "Your teeth," he said again, and I couldn't tell if the flush on his cheeks was from arousal or embarrassment at the words. "Please. Don't hold back, I - I need to feel."

"Shhh," I murmured softly, and began to kiss my way up the inside of his thigh. My fingers tightened around his cock, stroking more firmly, circling his head with my thumb to tease the slick of his arousal over his skin, pressing against the sensitive bundle of nerves on the underside. My kisses grew hungrier as I moved, sucking and nipping at the softness of his inner thighs, biting harder at the encouragement of his hitched groans. I let my eyes fall closed, focusing on the taste of his skin, the heady scent of his arousal. Perhaps I'd needed this as much as he, needed this closeness and intimacy, to care for him and please him as he'd pleased me. I mouthed at his balls gently with a low groan before kissing wetly up the underside of his erection, finally taking him in my mouth.

"John - !" the sound of his voice lost to pleasure was more than a little arousing. I let myself work with the little helpless jerks of his hips, sucking briefly at one finger before slipping it back to stroke and tease his ass, dragging my teeth ever so lightly against his tender skin. Daniel's fingers bit into my shoulders, his body tense and shuddering, and I worked to take more of him in my mouth, pressing a finger into him carefully, stroking and massaging.

"Let me taste you," I pulled back to murmur, sucking at the tip of his cock. "Want you to come in my mouth. Don't hold back." Then I took him again, groaning around him as he bucked up into my mouth helplessly.

"Oh god - !" Daniel's moan was almost desperate, as if even more turned on by my words, and I felt him shudder against me and obey me, gasping my name as he came.

I wrapped my arms around him as he came down, nuzzling his hair, stroking slowly up and down his side. Daniel curled into me, still shivering, seeming a little overwhelmed. "Shouldn't have waited so long," I murmured, pressing my lips to his hair. "Feels so amazing, being with you."

Daniel let out a soft, shivering breath, slowly calming. "It does," he murmured, nestling his face against my neck.

I pressed my lips to his hair, indulging in its softness, letting my fingers smooth slowly over his skin as if to memorize his body. I paused at his shoulder, feeling him shiver as my fingertips brushed one pink bruise. "Does it hurt?"

"It's just a little tender," he replied, glancing up at me with a shy smile. "I like it. Your marks on my skin, reminding me of our passion. Reminding me who I belong to."

I glanced away. "You don't...."

"Don't I?" Daniel leaned up to kiss me, warm and tender. "Perhaps it's my choice, to belong to you. You offered me my freedom, said you'd help me go anywhere I liked. I chose to stay."

"Not just because Hand would come after you if you disappeared without reporting back?"

His lips pursed into a slight frown. "No. And that's not why I'm here either. You offered me access to your books, John, and you've given me free access to your club. If I was trying to discover your secrets you've given me far easier paths than trying to sweet talk them out of you in the bedroom."

"I suppose that's true," I admitted, giving a soft sigh as his fingers stroked down the side of my neck and over my chest, gentle, teasing touches designed to stoke my passion.

"I want to be here," Daniel murmured, sucking gently on my bottom lip as he kissed me, nibbling lightly. "Not out of fear or obligation. You're so kind to me, John, so attentive. You make me feel things I never thought I would. I have never had someone care for me without wanting something in return."

His words were soft, but I sensed no guile in them, and they made me feel strangely vulnerable and yet protective of him all at the same time. "Can't help it," I murmured, giving in to the warmth of his kisses and his touch. "Sweet Daniel...."

It was completely decadent, laying tangled with him in my own bed, trading warm kisses and gentle touch, slowly and languidly building arousal. For the moment there were no deadlines, no pending business deals or time restrictions. Nothing but a whole night of him in my bed, of being able to indulge in languid lovemaking. Daniel seemed more at ease as well, and actually happy, allowing and enjoying my explorations of his body. "You're going to make me very spoilt if you're not careful," he murmured against my mouth, fingers teasing my ribs, just shy of tickling.

I laughed softly, catching his earlobe in my mouth and nibbling gently. "Good. Make you spoilt rotten. Fatten you up and buy you fur coats and jewelry and you'll never want to leave."

"Fatten me up?" Daniel's laugh was almost incredulous, and god, I loved it. "Why on earth would you want that?"

I shrugged, still smiling, pressing a warm kiss to his lips. "Seemed like a good idea at the time."

"Mmm. Well, how about I pretend to all of that and just tell you I'll never leave anyway." He stroked a hand down my chest, fingertips teasing the base of a partial erection that was quickly growing very interested in the proceedings. "Make love to me, John. Been wanting you all week...."

Me too," I murmured, arching into his touch as I kissed him, giving myself over to the pleasure of his lips on mine. I pressed Daniel onto his back, slipping between thighs that moved to cradle my body, rocking against him slowly. Then I caught his wrists and pulled them up above his head, my grip loose to play with the idea of restraint, so that the only contact between us was our bodies pressed together, the caress of his lips against mine and the rock of our hips. It made things somehow more intense, more vivid, and the slow grind of my hips drew low groans of pleasure from him.

"Will you fuck me like this?" His voice was beautifully throaty and needy, and he pulled his legs up around my hips, angling for more sensation between us. "I want to see you..." I managed a breathless nod, releasing his wrists and pulling back just enough to fumble open the drawer of my bedside table, grabbing a small bottle of lube. I uncapped it, but he took it from me, slick fingers curling around my cock to coat me. "Now, please. Just like this. I need you inside me."

I was too turned on to argue, drunk on his kisses and the feel of his body against mine. I pulled Daniel's thighs up higher, catching his gaze and holding it as I started to rock into him, slowly easing past the tight ring of muscle and into his shuddering heat. I watched his eyelids flutter, gaze holding mine with surprising intensity, his breath coming faster as his body stretched around me. Daniel ran trembling hands up my arms and over my shoulders, heels pressing into the small of my back as he tried to arch up against me for deeper penetration. "Oh god, yes. So big, John, so perfect...."

"You are," I breathed, leaning in for a yearning kiss as I buried myself in him, holding still for a moment just to take in the feeling of being so deep inside him, the exquisite, tight heat of his body and the way he shuddered a little around me in pleasure as he writhed under me. "God, you feel good. So good, love." I couldn't stop kissing those sweet lips, warm and deep and possessive as I finally let myself move into him, thrusting up into him almost excruciatingly slowly. I loved the way it made him gasp against my mouth, and I circled my hips against him a little as we moved together, shifting until my thrusts made his body arch tense, until he cried out, breathless and throaty against my mouth.

"John - !" I loved my name on Daniel's lips, the way his hands clenched at my back and shoulders, tugging me closer. Deep kisses turned to soft, breathless pecks as we began to move harder together, but it didn't change the sense of connection I felt with him, the beauty of emotion rivalling the physical sensation I felt. I watched him, watched his blue eyes hold mine, eyelids fluttering as I gave another hard thrust, his beautiful lips parted to gasps of pleasure. "More. Please, it's so good...."

If I wasn't already in love with him I would be a lost cause from this, from the joy of seeing Daniel so beautifully vulnerable under me and completely lost to pleasure, from the intensity in his eyes when he looked at me. "I love you," I murmured, letting my eyes fall closed against as I did so, bucking a little harder into him. "So amazing, Daniel. God!"

His hips jerked up against me at my words, fingers digging into my back, the slow, gentle pace we'd started at quickly increasing. I couldn't keep my composure, moving hard and fast inside him and joining him in breathless groans of pleasure, the hot pulses of pleasure that washed through my body with each thrust quickly becoming overwhelming. I gasped his name helplessly against his mouth, and Daniel tangled one hand in my hair, trembling a little as he pressed his lips to mine, hard. "Come in me," he breathed, breath catching. "Please, John. Need to feel it...."

I cursed softly under my breath as my hips bucked into him almost erratically, riding the edge of orgasm. "Daniel!"

"Please," Daniel gasped again, his body hot and shuddering around mine as I moved with him. I choked back a cry as everything came to a head, thrusting deep as I came inside him, closing my eyes and blocking everything but Daniel, every sense lost in his body as the hot shocks of orgasm shuddered through me. I kept moving with him as I came, and heard him gasp my name in a choked cry, fingers digging into my back as his body shuddered tense, spilling hot between our sweat-streaked bodies.

Breathing hard, all I could think about was not wanting this intimacy to end. I dotted soft kisses over his face, and after a moment he tilted his face up to mine, returning them breathlessly as his fingers stroked through my hair. "You all right, love?" I asked softly, and Daniel gave a soft, appreciative hum in reply.

"That was perfect, John... thank you."

I brushed his kiss-swollen lips with my own before drawing back just enough to look down at him, smiling at the content I could see in his eyes, the shy smile he returned to me. "No, thank you. I really am lucky to have you, you know."

Daniel glanced away, flushing. "John..."

"Shh," I said softly, and kissed him again. "No arguing, not after sex. Just trust me, all right?"

I cleaned both of us up as quickly and efficiently as I could, hitting the light in my room and curling around him in my bed. "Will you stay here with me?"

I could just see his features in the dim light, but I could feel him shiver against me, shifting closer. "Yes. Oh yes. It's so beautiful to be able to think about spending the night in your arms, John. You make me feel so safe, and so... ordinary."

"Extraordinary," I murmured, nestling my face against his hair, but I knew what he went. Slowly I felt him relax against me, and before long I'd drifted off to sleep.

~~~~

During the night, I awoke to Daniel whimpering, shivering next to me. He'd turned onto his side and away from me, curled up into a protective ball. "Daniel?" I moved without thinking, sleepily fitting myself against his back and pressing my lips to his hair. I wrapped my arms around him, pulling the dislodged quilts up to his shoulders again. "You awake? Are you all right?"

There was no reply, but he seemed to calm, relaxing back against me. I stroked his chest gently, forcing myself to stay awake until his breathing became slow and deep again, then going back to sleep.

When I woke in the morning Daniel was awake, but still with me, watching me quietly, a little smile playing about the corners of his mouth. It widened as he met my gaze, and he reached up to trail his fingers through my hair. "Good morning, John."

"Morning, beautiful. How are you feeling?"

Daniel flushed and looked away, still smiling. "I'm good. I'm really good. Thank you. John, I... I really needed that." He looked back at me suddenly, strangely panicked. "This isn't just a one time occurrence, is it?"

I leaned in to kiss him slowly, stroking an arm around his waist and pulling him closer to me. "Not unless you're planning on going somewhere."

"Not in a million years." He arched against me, warm and willing, and this time I didn't even try to resist. Daniel's kisses were intoxicating, and making love ended up being a wonderful way to start the morning. Afterwards I curled around him, stroking fingers through his hair lazily, feeling sated and content.

"When I worked as a server... I used to think it would be the most wonderful thing to wake up with the same man every day," Daniel said softly, fingers stroking slow patterns on my chest. "I'd think that it wouldn't even matter who he was, if I liked him..." he gave a soft laugh. "Or if he was even a good person. Just the chance to have some stability, to get to know just one person... it was the best thing I could imagine."

I shifted down to look at him, giving a small smile. "Like a relationship."

Blue eyes returned my gaze calmly. "Yes. Yes, I suppose that's true. I was wrong, though, you know." He gave a soft, shy chuckle at my quirked eyebrow. "It does matter who he is, and if he's a good person."

"I'm not sure you could really consider me a good person, Daniel."

"You're good to me. Isn't that what matters?" He ran his thumb along my jaw. "And I like you."

"Thank you," I murmured, and pressed my lips to his forehead. I let my fingers stroke down his spine, silent for a time, thinking. "Daniel... can you do something for me?"

"Anything."

I took a deep breath. "Keep my books for me."

Daniel was silent for a moment, then let out a long sigh. "John... if I don't report to him, he'll be come suspicious of you."

"I don't want you to stop reporting to him."

"He'll see through me if I try to lie to him."

"Then don't lie." I cupped his face gently with my palm. "I want him to know that I'm not hiding anything from him. This is the best way. Can you do this for me?"

Daniel wet his lips. "You want me to feed him information."

I shrugged. "I want you to keep my books. Look, Daniel... I won't put you in a position that would endanger you, or me. I promise. Do you trust me?"

He nodded slowly. "I just... I don't want anything to go wrong, I don't want anything to happen...."

"I told you I would take care of you," I said softly. "I will. I promise. And I'll take care of us. Trust me."

"All right," he said, and gave me a brave smile. "I trust you."

~~~~

A simple coded phone call put into place the plan that Bumstead and I had hatched at the beginning of the week. The bath house I travelled to to meet him at was almost at the opposite end of the city, a quiet, discreet little affair surrounded by office buildings and legitimate businesses. I hadn't planned this as a meeting place as much as discovered it. It wasn't out of character for my cover to quietly visit places like this, and it was far away enough from my club that even if I was seen, it wouldn't be seen as anything more than a man seeking some casual, anonymous companionship. I'd first come here for that purpose, and still did on occasion. It was safer than letting a more serious lover into the picture.

I'd been in the city almost a year when I'd first run into Bumstead here, though perhaps 'run into' wasn't the best way to put it. What it had been was a metallic clatter in a locker room I'd thought empty, a dropped police badge that had lead to my contact in a rather incriminating position with a half dressed young officer. His subordinate, I later found out. At that time I'd simply handed back the badge labelled as belonging to Officer Husselbeck, smiled, and went on my way.

That night I arrived a little early, paying the entrance fee and changing into my swim trunks to lounge in the main pool. I could have gone nude, like many of the guests did, but it was generally an open invitation to be propositioned, and I didn't want to have to deal with that this afternoon. I wanted to make the exchange, run my errands, meet Daniel at the club to get him up to speed on my ledgers, then finish work and go home for more of what we'd started last night. Getting Daniel working on the ledgers, though, required that I actually have the doctored books, which was why I was here now.

The bath house was generally slow at this time of day, and most of the handful of people in the pool area seemed to be using it for legitimate purposes rather than just cruising. I'm sure it wasn't the same for the small, private saunas that required hourly booking. I'd thought about reserving one, but I knew this bathhouse, like most in the city, was under mob ownership and as such I couldn't be sure that the rooms were not bugged. And Bumstead couldn't exactly bring his bug detector into the pool with him.

When I spotted Bumstead across the pool, I got out, heading back into the change room. There was an out of the way bank of public showers in the back - a room too large to be attractive to those seeking sex, and too out of the way for other patrons. I made my way there, choosing a shower in the corner out of sight of the window and turning it on hot. I relaxed under the hot stream of water, hearing the doorhandle a few moments later, glancing up at my contact with a smirk. "Hey stranger. Come here often?"

Bumstead rolled his eyes, turning on the shower beside me. The white noise of the water would, I knew, disrupt any audio surveillance. "The case is in locker six-fourteen. Same combo as always."

"Great. Thanks." The case in question was one of two identical ones that we swapped back and forth on a regular basis. I'd leave the one that I brought in the locker, and take his home.

"There's a couple scenarios in there for your place. Study them and burn them, and for god sakes don't leave them where your house guest can see them. You make the call on when we move, you chose the best scenario."

I rolled my eyes, but decided not to argue that I wasn't so daft as to so stupidly leave sensitive material lying around. "Things have been fairly quiet so far. Business is running smoothly, but there's no sign of him stopping by. I'll let you know when things change."

"Don't contact me if you don't have to," he cautioned, stepping closer. "We think someone's keeping an eye on you, following you. More than just your little live in spy. We need to keep our contacts limited to the payoffs if at all possible, and avoid - "

We both fell silent at the sound of the door handle, but before I could react, Bumstead had pulled me against him, one hand cupping my face as he caught my mouth. It was completely unexpected and slightly ridiculous, but I was nothing if not adaptable. I gave a low chuckle, which hopefully sounded more aroused than amused, turning and pushing him back against the tiles, kissing along his jaw. If there was someone following me, there's no way they'd miss me. But with any luck they'd only see me with a random, casual conquest rather than in a private conversation at a bath house with a cop.

It was easier to nip at his earlobe, to focus on the mechanics of my actions rather than what was going on, because I knew if I did I wouldn't be able to hold back the laughter I could feel quivering in the pit of my stomach. I tried to think about Daniel, but it was all wrong - the feel of a larger body against mine, the taste of his skin and a faint hint of aftershave that hadn't been completely washed away by the water. Bumstead's fingers were still tangled in my hair, his other hand clenching at my back in a fair approximation of passion as our bodies pressed close. Still, I couldn't deny the relief I felt when I heard the door click shut, and Bumstead's low voice. "He's gone."

I pulled away, unable to keep my shoulders from shaking with silent laughter. "You really think he fell for the oldest trick in the book?"

"I didn't see you coming up with anything better," Bumstead replied, stoic and collected.

"It's interesting to know that we have absolutely no chemistry," I remarked, still far more amused by the situation than I really ought to be.

Bumstead shot me a slightly irritated look out of the corner of his eye. "Please tell me this means that you're going to stop with the constant flirting."

"What would be the fun in that? It's so much better when you know for certain it's not going to lead anywhere. I suppose I'm not corruptible enough for your taste?"

"You're a complete jackass, Murdoch," he replied, shaking his head with a little long suffering smile. "Now get out of here."

I quirked my eyebrows and gave him a teasing wink. "Sure. Say hi to Leon for me."

The last jibe earned me a glare. "Go."

"Going, going." I grinned. "See you around, Frank."

~~~~


Daniel ended up being a quick study, or better at it than he'd given himself credit for. Still, he seemed kind of on edge as we worked together at the club, a kind of tightly wound nervousness that I wasn't quite sure how to deal with. I tried to reassure him with care, with gentle touches and soft words, but to my surprise he didn't respond, focusing on the work with an almost forced calm. It left me preoccupied as I went about the rest of my work, glad that it was a weeknight, and slightly less busy at the club. I tucked myself into a private booth with a high-backed banquet bench that was near to the stairs to my office, sipping a glass of bourbon on the rocks and thinking, listening to the performers. We held an amateur night every for the first few hours of service Wednesday, run expertly by my general manager, and I watched a young woman with long dark hair and a heart shaped face take the stage, crooning along with my house band.

James Peterson slipped in beside me, my head of security. "Slow night, Mr. Murdoch?"

"Just doing some thinking," I replied. "How are things on your end?"

"Things are running fairly smoothly," he replied. "Had to throw a guy out at the end of last night for peddling contraband, I took payment from him and let him know the fees if he wanted to come back on my good side."

I motioned a server for another two glasses of bourbon as I finished mine, giving a nod at the news. "Good man. Anything else?"

He paused for a moment. "Well, with your permission I'd like to install a bolt lock on your office door. I caught someone snooping around at the end of the night last night. You think our new business parter might be trying to stick his nose where it doesn't belong?"

"It's possible," I replied. "Go ahead and get the lock in, make sure no one handles the install but you. I don't want the keys going missing and getting copied."

"Of course, boss. There's one more thing I figure I should talk about..." he paused, looking a little hesitant, as if he was choosing his words carefully. "That nice young man that's been spending time with you... you say he's a friend?"

"He is," I answered calmly, watching him. I'd expected this, though perhaps not quite so soon.

Peterson wasn't normally one for tact, so it was almost amusing to watch him try for it now. "I don't mean to offend you boss, it's just... there's been some things that people have told me, and it got me to thinking, well... if he was a broad, well, he'd be doing the kind of things a broad would do when she's up to no good. And they say that up until recently, he worked - "

"I know." I cut him off, giving him a smile and taking the alcohol from the waitress as she returned, thanking her and passing her a bill as a tip. "Put it on my tab, Cindy. And tell Ray to get this pretty little girl on stage booked in for a set three nights a week, she's good."

"Of course, Mr. Murdoch." The waitress smiled, tucking the bill away and hurried off.

I handed a glass of bourbon to Peterson and took a sip of my own. "I'm very aware of the situation I'm in, James," I told him, leaning back against the bench. "I know where he came from and who he works for. And knowing that, it's easier to control the information that he gains access to. If you catch my drift?"

He looked relieved. "Of course, boss. Sorry to have brought it up, you just seemed pretty sweet on the boy, so I wasn't sure...."

"I am," I replied with a little shrug and a smile. "But the one thing about our new partner is that he seems to think that any man can be controlled by his... more base urges, shall we say. I won't endanger the business. Do me a favor, though, Peterson. If there's anyone harassing him, deal with it. Talk to Ray for me, if there's anyone on the wait staff who can keep an eye out for that when I'm not with him, I'd really appreciate it."

"Of course," he replied, and I thanked him and left.

By the time I returned home with Daniel, I was beginning to realize that his mood wasn't entirely caused by the books. I let my hand rest on the small of his back as we entered my apartment. "You did very well tonight, Daniel," I said softly, trying to read the source of his distress. "Can you tell me what's bothering you?"

Daniel hung up his overcoat and took mine before I could argue, closing the coat closet door. "It's nothing, John. Just a little nervous, that's all. It's all very strange to adjust to, I'm afraid."

"I know," I replied, following him into the living room. "But there's something else, isn't there. Can you tell me what it is? Please?"

Daniel sighed, looking out the bay windows in my living room at the darkened patio. "I think there's someone following you," he said softly, not looking at me.

I watched him, trying to read his emotions. "What makes you think that?"

Daniel wet his lips. "I talked to him this afternoon while you were out. I had to report to him, I...." He sighed and lowered his head. "I'm sorry."

"I know what you have to do," I replied softly, stroking a hand slowly up and down his spine. "I'm not angry. Did he tell you there was someone watching me?"

"Not specifically. It was just... some of the things he said he knew about, places you'd gone.... He wasn't very happy with me, he said I hadn't done enough to win your trust. Until I told him about the books, at least. I made him believe that you asked me out of kindness, to make me feel useful. He seemed to believe it."

His words puzzled me. "How would he know whether or not you'd gained my trust?" Daniel gave another non-committal shrug, not looking up, so I cupped his cheek gently with one hand, turning him back to me. "Daniel, please. Tell me what's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong," he answered, somewhat stiffly. "You're a free man, John, you can do what you like."

Suddenly everything made sense. "Let me guess. He told you I was spotted in a bath house with another man?"

Daniel's flush said it all. "John - "

"It was a business meeting," I said softly, holding his gaze. "My client wishes to remain unidentified. When Hand's man walked in on us, it was the easiest way to throw him off the scent of something suspicious. That's all it was. I had no desire to sleep with him."

"... are you sure?"

"I'm very sure." Despite myself, I couldn't keep a hold on the laughter I'd resisted then, and it bubbled over in a mirth that was probably trying to keep me from embarrassment at the whole ordeal. "It was quite possibly the most unsexy thing I've ever done."

"At least it seems to have worked?" Daniel offered weakly.

"I hope so," I replied, and before he could ask anything else I slipped one hand up into his hair, drawing him close and kissing him gently. "Daniel. I'm in love with you. I don't go cruising for other men when my heart belongs to someone."

"John, if you want to - "

"I don't." I held his gaze, stroking my fingers through his hair. "I love you. Do you believe me?"

Daniel leaned into me a little, eyes downcast, flush darkening. "Yes. It's just that you could do so much better than me...."

"Shhh." I tugged his glasses off carefully, stroking the small of his back with my free hand as I began to trail soft kisses over his face. I heard his breath catch and smiled, bringing my mouth to his parted lips to claim them, kisses warm and slow and yearning, nibbling lightly at his bottom lip to feel him shudder against me. "You're the one I want," I murmured, keeping him close. "And I'll show you just how much I want you as often as you like. Come to bed with me, Daniel. It's been a long night."

~~~~