"Give me a high five, kid! You saved my butt today," Xena said with a tired smile. Zachary clasped his hand in hers and returned her grin. He was exhausted and covered in all sorts of random food scraps, soap, and water, but at least he'd made his new boss happy. That's all that mattered to him because a shower could and Orion's bed could take care of everything else.

"I'm glad I could be useful."

Xena laughed, then yawned, covering it mostly with a hand. "Alright kid, we're done for the night. Ricki's got more than enough clean glasses to deal with the stragglers at the bar, so get your butt outta here and go do whatever it is you do."

Zach nodded and tossed his disgusting gloves he'd set aside in the trash and headed for the door, only to hear Xena call behind him to "Catch!" He whirled around, lifting his hands just in time to save a cold piece of something from falling to the floor. He glanced at the small container is his hands and opened the lid curiously.

Oh!

"Enjoy it. It was from my birthday a few days ago but I'm tired of eating cake. If you want, I think Orion should be on his break soon, why not go upstairs and share with him?"

Great idea!

"Thanks! I'll go do that," Zachary said happily as he turned and ran out of the door and up the stairs, hearing Xena laughing behind him. Once on the second floor it was easy to find Orion's room, mainly because there was a huge M on the door for it. While he could hear a few voices inside, he figured it would be fine to just go in since he wasn't dressed half bad. Grabbing the knob, he hesitantly pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The first thing he noticed was that it was much darker inside the room than outside. All of the lights were dim, giving just enough light to make out faces but not details from where he stood. Several women in leather or dresses, sometimes both, were sitting on several large sectional sofas the color of dark red blood or black. Guys were dispersed between them at certain points, but most were sitting at the bar where Zachary quickly noticed Orion making drinks.

"Hey Or---Master!" Zachary called, catching himself when he remembered that Orion didn't use his real name at the club. Of course, he also failed to remember himself, that Orion's name was on his collar. Orion looked up, a grin immediately in place over the forced smile he had been wearing. He quickly held out the drink he'd been making to a young man in tight black leather pants and leather straps around his chest before ducking around the edge of the bar and literally running over to scoop him into his arms.

"Hey sweetheart!" Orion said with a content sigh as he hugged him tight and sighed against his neck before kissing it lightly and leaning back. "How was your first day? Xena didn't run you too raged, did she?"

"Nope! And look!" Zach moved his hand around to his front and showed Orion the container. "She said you would be on break soon and gave me this so maybe we could share it?"

Orion blew out a surprised quiet whistle and turned to walk over to one of the spots on the sofa where there was just enough room for him if Zachary sat on his lap. "Xena must really like you to give you that, she's been guarding the last piece of her double fudge cake for three days under penalty of death."

Wow, really?

"You really saved her butt tonight though, so you deserve it." Orion said before sitting down next to a young man and woman that couldn't stop staring between him and Orion.

"Oh my god, he's adorable! Where did you find someone so cute, Master?"

My master, not yours!

Zachary blinked, then blushed at his own jealous thoughts. How mean, I have no reason to be jealous. He collared me, after all. Not any of these people. Even though they look older... and more mature... and obviously have more money...

Doubt swam in his veins but he forced it aside and realized that Orion was looking at him, and had likely asked him a question that he hadn't heard. Oops. Thankfully Orion seemed to understand that he'd missed his words and just rustled his hair and took the container once he was situated on his lap comfortably.

"You forgot forks, sweetheart."

Oh my god!

No wonder Xena had been laughing at him! "I-I'll go get some!" He quickly squeaked out, but when he tried to get up Orion held his legs, keeping him in his lap as he chuckled deeply.

"It's fine, sweetheart. Say ah?"

Zachary didn't get much of a chance to decline, because a delicious-smelling piece of fudge cake was soon encroaching on his lips. He opened for it, of course, then moaned as the rich chocolate flavor exploded in his mouth. Holy crap! No wonder she guarded the cake!

"Haha, you're so cute! No wonder Master collared you. What's your name, cutie?" The young blond woman said as she leaned closer. Zachary realized that everyone's eyes in the room were actually on him. Well, except for one of the couples on the other sofa that were too busy sucking each others faces off.

"U-um... my n-name is Zachary."

Darn it, he'd gone several days without stuttering badly but having so much attention was unnerving! He leaned against Orion's chest with a quiet huff and tried to hide his face a little. It didn't work, mainly because Orion offered him another piece of cake with his fingers, and the delicious chocolate was too hard to resist. Another piece came before he'd even finished with the second one, but he gladly took it front Orion's fingers all the same. What he didn't expect that came directly after it though, was Orion's soft lips as his thumb slid a small bit of fudge along his cheek to give him room for the kiss.

Cheers erupted in Zachary's ears as the room went wild. He didn't mind kissing Orion, but doing it in front of so many people was really making his stomach roll with nerves. Thankfully Orion seemed to notice when he leaned back a little. "You're getting pale, Zachary. Is this attention bothering you, sweetheart?"

Giving a shaky nod, Zachary felt Orion gently guide his head to his shoulder. He turned it just enough to nuzzle into the crook of his neck and hide his burning face.

"Sorry guys, I think I'm going to take him back downstairs. He's not used to this kind of attention."

There were a few "Aww"s from the group as well as a couple nods as Orion stood, carefully adjusting Zachary in his arms before heading for the door. "I'll be back in a few minutes, please excuse me."

Several people shouted something along the lines of "Of course, Master!" or "Enjoy!" but Zachary wasn't listening to anything but his thundering heart pounding in his ears. Mix that with the loud music that returned as soon as Orion stepped out of the quieter room and he knew a headache was likely to be starting soon. They were both quiet until they were back in Orion's room. As soon as the door shut Zachary heaved a huge sigh of relief and felt his body begin to go limp in Orion's arms as the older man chuckled.

"I'm sorry about that, Zachary. They're just curious and want to know my new sub."

He could understand that, but he still wasn't very good with people, let alone that many at one time. "It's o-okay." After getting a gentle pat on his back, Orion sat Zach down on his bed and then took the spot beside him with a grin. The grin looked a little too mischievous, however, and Zachary soon found out why as Orion lifted the container of chocolate cake he'd been feeding him.

I sense a trap.

Not that he cared, because soon Orion was offering him another piece of cake with his fingers. Yum! Zachary took it immediately, downing it fast as the next piece came, then made it disappear in the same fashion.

"Hey sweetheart?"

Zach blinked up at Orion, realizing that he'd moved to within a few inches of his face without him noticing. "Yes, Master?" He almost said yeah? but remembered just in time to change to Master. It was going to take him some time to get used to saying that, but at least he was catching himself most times.

"Can you put some on yourself where you would be comfortable with me licking it off?"

Zachary's eyes went wide and he knew he was turning red when Orion's smile lengthened a fraction. "Okay..." he whispered as he took the container Orion offered him and hesitantly dipped two fingers into the soft, cold fudge. He thought for a quiet moment before lifting his fingers and running them over the mark he already knew Orion had left on his cheek.

"Good boy," Orion said as he leaned forward and let his tongue run along the length of the mark. Zachary shivered at the contrast of the cold cake to Orion's hot tongue as it moved over the area, cleaning every last bit of chocolate from his skin before leaning away to lick his lips.

"Mm, you're delicious."

Looking away, Zachary felt his fingers clutch the container of cake nervously. "Th-the cake is delicious."

There was quiet for several moments, so Zachary decided to chance a glance back at Orion. The older man was waiting for the action, because he was there right away, his soft lips hungrily kneading Zachary's. "You think it tastes better than you?" He whispered against his mouth, voice husky. Zach wanted to lie, afraid of how Orion might react to the truth, but then he remembered what Orion had said, and also what the book had told him so far. Trust and truth. Lying to your dominant or submissive was not appropriate.

"I-I'm d-dirty from w-work..." He mumbled out, feeling his lips tingle each time they bushed against Orion's. "Answer my question, sweetheart."

Squeezing his eyes shut tight, Zachary quickly mumbled out. "I-I do."

Orion's tongue suddenly lapped up his left cheek, making his eyes fly open in surprise. He then slapped his hand against the wet spot while he stared up at Orion's tongue as it retreated back into his smirking mouth. "Y-you just licked me!"

The smirk stretched, and before he could do anything about it Orion was licking a long line from his chin to his nose, and up to his forehead. "Ack! Hey!" Reaching up, he moved to rub his arm over his face, but Orion snagged it before he could and began licking at each finger on his hand!

"Oriiiooon. Stooop, my hands are dirty."

He stopped licking at them, but then redirected to Zachary's neck, catching him off-guard since he was focusing on getting his newly-freed hand to finally wipe at his face. When Orion's teeth barely nibbled at the flesh just under his jaw Zachary couldn't stop the loud moan that left his mouth. In a blur he was scrambling backwards, having seen the predatory look that came over Orion's face the moment he'd accidentally moaned... but he wasn't fast enough. No matter how much he moved, Orion was there not a second behind, eventually leaving Zachary on the edge of the bed by the storeroom door, holding his head up with his arm covering his neck in worry. Orion was resting overtop him, his large body easily pinning Zach's with little effort, his eyes never leaving his target.

"Zachary... I want it, please."

The raw need in Orion's voice made Zachary's stomach twist into knots. He wanted to give in, but then he would make a fool of himself and moan again! When the older man leaned over and pressed a kiss to his arm guarding his throat Zach swallowed, trying his best to keep his arm exactly where it was, as well as his head up so that he didn't expose his neck further.

"Please, sweetheart. That was the best thing I've heard all day and I need to hear it again."

Pursing his lips, Zach fought with himself for another two long minutes before he felt his head drop over the edge of the bed from exhaustion. His arm hadn't moved yet, but it didn't need to. Orion easily moved over it to press his lips beneath his jaw. He quickly begin to suckle there, drawing all sorts of stifled sounds from Zachary's forcefully closed mouth. No way was he letting those sounds escape to increase in volume!

That's what he thought, at least. Orion, however, was relentless and soon Zachary's arm was completely out of the way so that he could enjoy his whole neck. And he sure as hell did just that. It wasn't even another two minutes later when Zach just gave up and let his mouth gape open, freeing moan after moan as Orion worked his tongue and teeth against his sensitive skin with no reserve.

Not until Orion's phone began ringing loudly in his pocket did Zachary notice that the man had one of his hands slipped under his jean-covered backside, grasping tightly, while the other held his hair in a tight knot with his strong fingers. "Damn," Orion hissed as he forced himself away and off Zachary before sitting up and answering the call. There was quiet for a moment as Zachary shifted back fully onto the bed and tried to catch his breath, panting too hard to be able to hear whoever was talking on the other end of the call.

"Yeah, sorry. I got distracted. I'll be right up."

Another quick bout of silence and Orion glanced over at him with a grin, making Zachary flush. "Yup, he tasted better than the cake."

Oh my god, it's Xena! I'm gonna go die in the corner now!