Underground

Oh man, someone gave me the plot bunny of 'Slave boy Daniel' and it kind of exploded from there. I couldn't resist the idea of Mr. Hand as some badass pimp gangster. XD This is total crack!AU.

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Underground

I had been working undercover for three years when I first met Daniel. I owned a Jazz bar on Avenue K, and over the past three years it had gradually become a safe haven for gangsters, for unsavoury business dealings that I more often than not were privy to. I slowly earned the trust of various business contacts that I needed, contacts that would eventually get me in deep enough to get the information and evidence I needed to put a stop to what was proving to be the biggest human trafficking ring the city had ever seen.

No one knew when exactly the city had become the hub for this gang of slave traders, but it had. Stolen children - and most of them were little older than children - would be shipped in, appraised and in some cases trained, then sold or shipped to other cities to be sold. What happened to them there did not bear thinking about. Open prostitution was sometimes the best way things ended. Two months ago the police had staged a raid of the club I'd identified as their headquarters, but they'd failed to capture the head of the ring, an enigmatic man known only to his business associates as The Hand. With him still at large, the ring would only rebuild itself.

Tonight was to be my best chance of gaining an advantage over them. My club had caught the attention of the illusive Hand, and if I could convince him to use it as the new front for his trafficking, then the next raid would be on our territory. We'd catch him for sure.

I travelled alone to the rendezvous point, waiting by a magazine stand and leafing through a random business periodical. A sleek black car pulled up to the curb, and I stepped in without question, not resisting as they blindfolded me. The route we took through the city was impossible to trace, and when the car finally stopped and the blindfold was removed we were in an underground garage that I couldn't identify.

My contact was a man named Simms, who smiled apologetically. "Sorry for the secrecy, Mr. Murdoch, but you understand how things work."

"Of course," I replied, stepping out of the car after him. "I would expect nothing less of The Hand. I am impressed by a man that takes all necessary precautions to protect his business investments." The language of flattery and manipulation was something I was well versed in now. I'd been in for so long, and gone so deep that sometimes I wondered if there was anything to me besides this shadow gangster I'd played for so long.

I followed Simms out of the parkade with the driver bringing up the rear, boxing me in as we moved through hallways and down several spiraling sets of stairs, until I couldn't even be sure how far underground we were. Finally we stopped in a small reception area, and the man behind the desk took our overcoats before showing Simms and I into what I only assumed could be The Hand's private club. The club was a mere quarter the size of my jazz club, and sepearted into small areas and booths with chest high walls to give the inhabitants privacy. A number of them already seemed occupied, and the air was hazy with the smell of tobacco and opium.

Instead of taking us to be seated, however, the receptionist - Matre'd? - took us into the back of the club, through an unmarked door. The small room we stepped into was lit more brightly then the rest of the club, and against the wall in front of us was a line of what I knew immediately were slaves, men and women standing still and silent with heads bowed. These all appeared to be of legal age, though I had no doubt they had been forced or cohered into this line of work. The women wore short, low cut dresses with light skirts, and the men tight fitting black pants and nothing more than waiters vests. All of them were barefoot and yet perfectly coiffed, their skin oiled and supple, and wore silver collars with an O-ring on the front, some set with a gemstone or two.

Simms seemed an old hand to this, and went immediately to a little brunette girl who he affectionately called Candy, greeting her with a deep kiss. He looked back to me. "Pick anyone you like. They'll be your personal server and entertainment for the evening. No restrictions, as per Hand."

Entertainment. Of course. The thought of using a slave for any kind of entertainment made me sick, but I was certain that it would be expected of me tonight. I tried to rationalize that it wouldn't be that different from the whores that attached themselves to gang members as a meal ticket, but it didn't make me feel much better. I ignored the girls - my prefrence was fairly well known by now - and made a show of examining the men, catching their chins and tilting their faces to examine their features as if I was examining the teeth of a purebread racehorse. Some were stocky, some slender, and some looked back at me with feisty smirks. What caught my eye, though, was a small, pale man with sleek blond hair and wire rimmed glasses. When I touched his chin he raised his head obediently, but kept blue eyes lowered, and I noticed the right was marred with a strange scar.

"Daniel's a good choice," Simms said from the door, a hand familiarly on Candy's ass. "Very well trained, very experienced. That's what the stones in the collar mean. Shame about the scarring, of course. Hand doesn't normally keep slaves so ugly, but his skills more than make up for it. He'd be expensive, if you were paying tonight."

The man in front of me showed no reaction, but I felt a slight shudder run through him where my fingers touched his chin. His lips pressed together just a little, and I admired the shape of them, an unusually deep cupid's bow curving into pink softness. "I think he's beautiful," I replied without hesitation, and watched his eyes flick up to mine for a moment in surprise. I could see an intelligence behind them that I hadn't expected, as if he was appraising me the same as I was him. His eyes dropped, once again the submissive slave, but the tips of his ears flushed pink, and my mind was made up. At least if he was with me, then he was free from the abuse of someone else for a night. "I'll take him."

"Good call." Simms patted Candy's ass, then took me from the room. We followed the Matre'd to a boothed in area in he corner made more private by sheer black curtains above the walls and over the doorway. There was a table in the corner with a hookah already lit, and a plush red two-seater against each wall, an arm chair on either side of the door.

"Have a seat," the Matre'd instructed, and I stepped around the coffee table to sit on the sofa. "Your servers will be with you momentarily."

"The experience is very opulent," Simms continued to ramble, sitting on the other sofa and taking a long draw from the hookah. I smelled opium, and waved it away when he offered it to me, lighting a cigarette instead. "I'd come here every weekend if I had the money, but it's very elite, you must understand. Easiest to attach yourself to someone with money and get them to pay for you. Candy's my favourite, I manage to see her once a week. She's not very experienced but I like it that way. Cheaper, too."

I half listened to his boasting natter, taking a drag of my cigarette and trying to calm myself. Hand would join us whenever he chose, and I needed to be perfectly alert when he did. I was used to Simms natter, which was one of the reasons why I'd developed him as one of my main contacts. Easy to get information, and easy to let him speak and fill the gaps so that I didn't have to.

The slaves arrived first with a large silver basin and matching pitcher, towels over their arms. The basin was set on the coffee table between us, and Simms immediately sat forward to place his hands over it. "Rosewater," he replied. "Gorgeous, ain't it. If you need anything or have any questions, you can ask your server, but they won't speak unless directly spoken to or unless you instruct otherwise. I like Candy a bit more talkative." I watched Candy pour a slow stream of water from the pitcher for Simms to wash up, then handed it off to Daniel, taking the towel from her arm to dry his hands.

I glanced up to find Daniel waiting, patient and silent, and though I tried to catch his eye he kept his gaze downcast. I pushed up my sleeves and put my hands over the basin as Simms had done, rinsing them as the warm stream of fragrant water poured over my skin. Then the pitcher was set down, and Daniel sank to his knees in front of me, taking the towel from his arm and drying my hands attentively in turn, patting off the drops of water and drying between each finger. "Thank you," I said softly, and though it wasn't as obvious in the dim light of the club, I thought he was flushing again.

Simms picked up the opium pipe again, leaning back against the couch. "Bring us a good bottle of Chardonay, will you Candy? And some finger food. Expensive stuff, the Boss wants Mr. Murdoch wined and dined tonight. He's a very important guest."

That seemed to perk Daniel's curiosity, and he glanced up at me, quickly looking away when I caught him. I sat back against the couch again, going to light a second cigarette and finding him already there with a light, which I accepted, breathing deep. "Don't exaggerate, Simms. I'm a business contact, nothing more."

"You could help The Hand out of quite the pickle, and you know it, so hush and enjoy the hospitality."

The two servers disappeared at that with the basin, and I watched their forms move through the club through the black gauze of the curtains. "He does seem to have them very well trained," I mused. "He never has trouble with them? I suppose they are well compensated."

He snorted. "Hardly, this club is one of the most lucrative areas of his business. They know their place."

When the servers returned it was with wine and trays of finger food - raw fish wrapped in seaweed, cut fruit and succulent sautéed meats on skewers, small crackers with caviar. I reached for a wine glass, but was cut off by Simm's glare. "Sit back and let them do their job, Murdoch. Tell him what you want and let him pamper you. Hand wants you to take full advantage of his hospitality." He pulled Candy up onto his lap, a hand up her skirt as she pressed a grape to his lips.

I glanced away, unused to the overt display of lasciviousness and more than a little uncomfortable. Instead I looked to Daniel, who was watching me quietly - waiting for a cue, I supposed - and gave him a smile. "Just food for now, Daniel. Let me try a little of everything?"

He nodded, beginning with the fruit, a tart piece of pineapple on a toothpick that was lifted expertly to my lips. I did have to admit that there was something decidedly sensual about the experience, watching the fluidness of his movements, how completely obedient and submissive he was. "You can speak if you wish to, Daniel," I told him, taking a sip of wine, and received a careful smile in return.

"Thank you, Mr. Murdoch." Daniel's voice was low and unexpectedly throaty, a warm rumble that didn't quite match his fragile form. "Would you like to converse? To tell me about yourself?"

I tried to ignore the fact that Simms was now eating berries from between Candy's cleavage. From the movements of his hand and the way she squirmed on his lap it was fairly obvious what he was doing under her skirt. I looked away quickly and finished my wine in a gulp, and Daniel refilled it without delay. He glanced over at the other two and then back to me. "If that is what you would like it is entirely permissible, sir."

"Just food, thank you," I replied quickly, and took another drag of my cigarette. Daniel gave me another small smile - god, he was adorable when he smiled - and deftly fed me a shrimp that sat on top of what tasted like a very mild radish. His fingertips brushed my lips ever so slightly as he did so, and I couldn't help but feel a shiver of desire for him, regardless of my previous vows not to.

Thankfully I was saved by the arrival of our benefactor, who proved to be a tall, pale man in a very expensive looking fur coat. He was completely hairless, but still young, and had an air of authority to him. "Simms. You are in my seat, yes? And you must be John Murdoch."

I stood to offer my hand, which he caught in a firm shake. "The same. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hand."

"Likewise." He sank down onto Simm's vacated couch and beckoned the woman in the door to him, who was dressed in a long coat. She took it off silently, wearing little more than a tiny leather string bikini underneath with thigh high leather boots, then sat next to him and began to unbutton his coat. Hand took a long drag from the opium pipe. "How do you like my little club, Murdoch?"

"It's incredibly opulent. Very luxurious, I can see why it must be so lucrative." I took a sip of my wine. "I can also see why you would need a more... discreet club as a face for some of your other operations."

"This is true," Hand replied. "But enough of that for now, I consider it very bad luck to talk serious business before pleasure. I must compliment you on your taste, Murdoch, Daniel is one of my... personal favourites. Has he been good to you?"

I tried to ignore the fact that Simms, who had settled in one of the arm chairs, was now getting a blow job from Candy. It disgusted me, as did the thought of this man doing anything to the petite blond that knelt at my side. "Daniel is a credit to your establishment, Mr. Hand."

"Good. Come here, Daniel."

Daniel's eyes flicked to mine, and I thought I saw a flash of fear in them, but he moved as bidden, kneeling beside Hand's couch. Hand took a long draw of opium, then reached out to catch the O-ring on Daniel's collar, pulling him up to him. I watched Daniel's body stiffen, watched him shudder as his eyes fell closed and his lips parted, taking the sweet smoke almost desperately that Hand blew in his face. Of course, I realized, my heart sinking. Control them with drugs. Surely that was the most effective way to keep them doing his will.

Hand pressed the tip of the hose to Daniel's lips, letting him draw on it hungrily before pulling back. "Daniel was once the highest of all my servers here, the most requested. A client did that to his eye six months ago. I took great pleasure in taking the cost of it out of the man's hide. One must be strong enough to protect ones property and make an example of all transgressors, yes?"

"Of course," I replied, and for once didn't feel sickened by the thought of whatever gruesome end that man had found. "It's an admirable trait, Mr. Hand."

"As is your eye for quality," he replied, and waved Daniel back to me. "Go attend to my guest, Daniel, meet his needs. Then we'll talk business."

"I'm fine," I tried to argue, sitting up. "The food and the wine - "

"Does he not please you? I will send him back and have you choose another."

In the midst of settling back to his knees beside me Daniel froze, and I shook my head. "He pleases me very much. If you'll forgive me, Mr. Hand, I simply do not enjoy engaging in sexual acts in front of others."

"No matter," he replied, "The club includes private rooms. Daniel will lead you there. Tell them I sent you and take as long as you like. We can converse afterwards, yes?"

"Mr. Hand - "

He frowned, all of a sudden the stern overlord. "I insist that you take advantage of my hospitality, Mr. Murdoch. If he does not come back with your seed spilling down his thighs I will assume that he has not pleased you and he will be punished accordingly."

Daniel seemed to become even paler, and before I could stop myself I'd reached to touch his hair comfortingly. I could feel him trembling under my touch. "Understood, Mr. Hand. You're a very generous man, thank you."

Hand relaxed back against the sofa again, picking up the opium pipe and making a small hand motion to his companion, who began to unbutton his expensive black silk shirt. "You are wise to realize that, Mr. Murdoch. Daniel, show him to the private rooms."

My server rose to his feet fluidly, waiting for me at the entrance to our booth. He didn't look at me as I joined him, turning and taking me out into the club. I caught his arm and moved closer as we walked, keeping my voice low. "I'm sorry about this," I murmured. "I don't want to hurt you."

When he glanced back to me his eyes were glassy, pupils dilated despite the low light, but I could see the fear in them. "Please don't send me back, sir. I'll do anything you want me to. Hand already questions my value, if you don't want me - "

"I won't send you back," I said quickly, and watched him relax, though he still seemed on edge, trembling a little in my gasp. If it was up to me, I'd never send him back to the kind of treatment he'd received. We reached our destination before I could say anything more, another unmarked door that he too me through. Inside a slave behind a desk stood, giving a low bow.

"Good evening, sir. How may I please you?"

"Hand sent me for a private room," I replied. "Please take us there."

"It would be my pleasure. Do you wish to punish your server before you take your pleasure of him, sir?"

"Punish?" I repeated dumbly, and felt Daniel shudder under my touch as the slave continued.

"We have many instruments of reprimand available for your pleasure, sir. Whips, clamps, flails, restraints and so forth. You will need to sign a few pieces of paperwork to agree not to permanently mar your server - "

"No, that's fine," I cut him off quickly, feeling sickened as I recalled what Hand had said about Daniel's eye. "Please just take us to a bedroom."

"Of course, sir. Please follow me." The slave took a key from a drawer, and when I released Daniel's arm he fell into step behind me. The room we were taken to was even more opulent than the rest of the rest of the club, containing a very large, soft looking canopy bed, two armchairs in front of a crackling fire, and a large, sunken marble tub. I looked around as the slave left, then turned to regard Daniel for a long moment, who stood silently, head lowered.

I was silent long enough that he raised his head finally, gaze a little fearful. "Will you tell me how you would like me to please you, Mr. Murdoch?"

"It's John, please," I found myself saying, and it seemed to ease his anxiety a little.

"If you have no specific preference, John, I would be happy to give you a taste of everything...."

"Are you addicted?" I asked softly, and he turned his eyes to me slowly, blinking as if to clear his mind.

"John, please don't concern yourself - "

"Are you?"

Daniel lowered his eyes. "To the opium? Of course. We all are. I'm sorry."

Of course they would be. It was the easiest way to control them, keep them dependent on their owner. "You have nothing to apologize for," I replied quietly, reaching out to place a hand gently on his arm. "Would you stop, if you could? Leave this place?"

He turned away from me with a shudder, closing his eyes tight for a moment, and when he spoke his voice was hoarse. "Please do not ask me to play this game, sir."

There was such pain in his voice that I couldn't stop myself from stepping close to him, drawing him against me and pressing a kiss to his hair. "I'm sorry, Daniel. Will you tell me what you recommend for us to do, please?"

I felt him relax slowly against me, and his voice was composed when he spoke again. "What I would recommend for a hardworking gentleman such as yourself, John, is for you to simply let me pamper you. Let me undress you, let me draw you a bath with scented oils and rub those oils into your back and shoulders. At your pleasure we will go to bed, and I will pamper and relax every part of your body with my hands and mouth. Then you can do with me as you like."

"I like the sound of that," I replied, giving him a warm smile as he drew back. He seemed much more in his element now, stepping away from me to turn on the taps to the tub, testing the heat of the water after it had run for a few moments. Then he moved to the glass cabinet that held bath supplies, examining the bottles for a long moment before selecting two and uncapping them, returning to me.

"Is this scent to your liking?"

I leaned in to smell sandlewood mixed with something I didn't recognize, a rather cool and fresh scent. It was a nice combination. "Yes, thank you. It's lovely. My compliments on your taste."

Daniel seemed shyly pleased at that, but shrugged off the compliment as he turned to add the oils to the bath. "Just practice, sir. May I undress you?"

"Thank you." I watched Daniel set the bottles down beside the bath and return to me, nimble fingers tugging my jacket off my shoulders, folding it neatly and setting it aside. My suspenders followed, his fingertips brushing casually against my skin through my clothes, and I shivered at the whisper of sensation. Of course it was intentional, but he made it seem so innocent, looking up at me through blonde eyelashes as he unbuttoned my shirt and tugged it from my slacks. His hands smoothed warmly up my chest to grasp my shirt collar, pulling it off my shoulders and setting it just as neatly with the rest of my clothes.

He was, as promised, very good at this, arousing me with light touches without even seeming to try. His fingers whispered against my partial erection as he removed my belt, and then he sunk to his knees fluidly in front of me, looking up at me with a hint of a smile as he leaned forward to deftly tug open the button on my slacks with his teeth.

I choked back a soft moan as he nuzzled my cock through my slacks, leaning into the touch just a little and stroking my fingers through his hair. Daniel tugged my fly undone with his teeth, then eased my slacks down my hips and leaned in to mouth my cock through the thin fabric of my undershorts.

"Oh god..." my fingers clenched in his hair before I could restrain myself, and I groaned as he sucked wetly at my quickly hardening erection, mouth hot through the thin cotton. It only took him a little tug to ease my boxers over the head of my cock, and he nuzzled slowly up my shaft, letting warm breath play against my skin before sucking gently at the tip of my erection.

"You're so big," he murmured, one hand slipping to cup and massage my balls through my shorts. Then he tugged my shorts down around my ankles along with my slacks, leaning in to kiss and nuzzle my erection as it sprang free of restraint. "I can tell this will be very enjoyable for us both, John. Would you like me to keep doing this? Take the edge off before your bath?"

God, it was tempting, watching those beautiful lips part over the head of my cock. I swallowed hard and shook my head, tugging him back. "Bath first."

"Certainly." He reached to pull over a footstool behind me, glancing up with a smile. "If you will please have have a seat?"

I did as he asked, letting him unlace my shoes and set them aside along with my socks, pulling the rest of my clothes off and setting them aside. Then he moved to check the water, turning off the taps and kneeling beside the tub. "Whenever you're ready, John."

The water was the perfect temperature, and I sank down into it with a soft sigh, letting my eyes fall closed. Part of me berated myself for stretching this out with such an important business meeting on the line. I should finish up quickly and return to convince Hand to use my club for his business dealings. But would that be too suspicious? It was hard not to want to stay, not with Daniel kneeling behind me, oiled hands slick on my skin as he kneaded my shoulders expertly. It felt so very good that I couldn't help but want more, shifting in the bath and leaning forward a little to give him access to more of my back, groaning as nimble fingers found knots of muscle I hadn't even known I had and massaged them away. But at the same time, soft brushes of his fingertips teased my slick skin, and I couldn't stop thinking about how beautiful he'd looked on his knees in front of me, how hard he'd made me.

"Come join me," I murmured before I could stop myself, turning to look up at him and seeing him give a small smile. Daniel stood wordlessly, slipping out of the slim fitting trousers, and I wasn't surprised that he wore no undergarments. They were set aside, then he slipped out of the vest, fingers hovering over a small, puckered spiral shaped scar that sat on his chest, just to one side of his nipple. I helped him into the bath with me, urging him to straddle my thighs, then tugged his fingers away from the scar to touch it soothingly. "Was this another client?"

Daniel glanced away, flush spreading to his cheeks this time, and seemed almost ashamed. "No, that was him. A mark of ownership. He's branded all of us."

I felt my stomach churn, and let out the rage in a shuddering breath. "I'm sorry."

"Don't think about it," he said softly, and leaned forward to press a soft kiss to the corner of my jaw. "Would you like me to continue your massage, John?"

"No," I replied, stroking my hands up his thighs under the water, catching his hips and tugging him closer. Then I leaned in to return the kiss to his jaw, breathing in deep of the scent of his skin and his hair as I started to nuzzle slowly along his cheek. The feel of his slick, wet skin under my fingers was intoxicating, and I could feel him shiver as my hands slowly explored his body, stroking over his thighs and hips and waist, teasing him as he had teased me. He was almost writhing against me when I finally caught his mouth with my own, his lips parting to mine without hesitation, returning the gentle caress with a soft groan. Our kisses quickly turned hungrier, Daniel's hands clenching and kneading at my shoulders, and when my fingers finally slipped to curl around his cock I found him already hard. He arched up into my touch with a very gratifying moan, but I pushed his hand away before he could return the touch, leaning back in the bath and watching him as I slowly worked his cock.

"You really are beautiful," I murmured, smiling as I watched him flush, looking away. "I mean that. I wanted you over every other man there. You're exquisite, Daniel."

"Please don't," he whispered, and I leaned in to catch his mouth again, slow and warm and soothing.

"Shhh," I breathed, kissing him until he relaxed again, then urging him closer, hips pressing to mine. Daniel arched against me with a soft whimper, nipping against my bottom lip as he rocked up into my touch, groaning as I wrapped my fingers around my erection as well, bringing our cocks together and letting him rock and grind against me.

"Can I ride you?" Daniel's lips were flushed from the force of our kisses when he pulled back, his eyes dark with desire. "Right now, just like this?"

"Not yet," I managed to gasp, arching up against him, drunk on the sensations of him writhing against me, the length of his shaft rubbing warm and slick against mine. Daniel tightened one arm around my shoulders as if to steady himself, his other hand moving to join mine, encircling our cocks as we rocked together. I bucked up harder into his touch, groaning into his mouth as it caught mine again, water splashing, sloshing over the edges of the tub. "Make me so hard, Daniel...."

"John - !" I'd half expected forced sounds of pleasure like I'd heard from Candy, but nothing seemed fake about the way Daniel whimpered against my mouth, gasping for breath as our bodies rocked together. "God, please!"

I pressed my lips to his jaw, feeling my own pleasure build and surge, almost aching with the need to climax. "I'd love to feel you come," I told him softly, voice thick with passion, brushing my thumb over the head of his cock on the next upstroke and feeling him shudder against me. "You're so close, aren't you? Come on Daniel, let me feel it. Come for me."

Daniel's head fell against my shoulder in reply, an almost pained whimper escaping his lips as he bucked up against me, shuddering. "John!"

"Come on," I murmured again, pressing my face to his hair and breathing in deep. I smoothed my free hand down his back and over his firm ass, pressing between the cheeks to tease him gently. It made him jerk tense against me, and I felt him pulse and come in my fingers, crying out against my neck. It was elating, and more than anything I wanted to rut against him, hard and fast, until I joined him. But I forced myself to still, to tug his fingers from my cock, stroking wet hands over his sides and back as he came down.

"Sit on the side of the bath, please," Daniel said softly as he pulled back, skin flushed cutely pink from the heat and the aftermath of orgasm. I did as he asked without question, groaning as he urged my thighs apart, slipping between them to take my aching cock in his mouth. His mouth was hot and wet and perfect, sending shudders of sensation up my spine as he moaned around me, one hand stroking up the inside of my thigh and moving to gently cup and stroke my sack as he sucked me. Daniel's eyes closed as he swallowed me up to the hilt, his throat tight around me, and within moments I was bucking up into his mouth helplessly, crying out as he pulled me through the intense bliss of orgasm, swallowing my seed down almost hungrily. He continued to draw me through orgasm with his mouth, sucking gently unlike so many lovers who would stop immediately upon climax. It prolonged the shudders of pleasure, letting my body calm on its own, my racing heartbeat slowly returning to normal as I caught my breath, my softening cock finally slipping from his lips.

"I don't need sweet flattery," I murmured softly, watching him sit back in the bath, droplets of water running over his bare skin. "I know you've had far more attentive lovers than me. But I enjoyed pleasing you. Thank you for your attentions, that was very, very nice."

He glanced away with a soft, almost disbelieving laugh. "Not many patrons take the time to care, in all honesty. It costs to rent these rooms, so... thank you. You've been very kind."

I smiled, reaching out to stroke my fingers over his cheek and the arm of his poor smudged glasses, then got out of the bath and stood. Daniel hurried to join me, catching up a large, plush towel from the rack on the wall and wrapping it around me, drying me as attentively as he had dried my hands in the club. "Was Hand serious about me bringing you back with...."

"He is always serious, unfortunately." Daniel looked up at me through his eyelashes, hands stilling on my body, holding the towel. "It would be my pleasure to stay here with you longer and fulfil his request. I'm sorry if you had other plans for the night, John...."

"No," I replied, taking the ends of the towel from him and pressing closer to wrap it around him as well. "There isn't a nicer way I could imagine spending the evening."