“Think about it, but not for too long. I don’t know how much poor old Two can take,” F said.
Alex was quiet for the rest of the evening as he considered F’s ultimatum. It was no different to what he’d done in Vertex Tower. He hadn’t found any of his houder’s “guests” particularly attractive, but he’d slept with them anyway. He’d got through it by taking some small satisfaction in his own sexual skill, but he’d never once managed to rise to the occasion without pills. He doubted F required him to take any pleasure in the act, though; it wasn’t going to be that kind of deal. He’d have to swallow his pride, but if that saved Two from being bullied, then surely it was worth it?
At bedtime, F returned to the dorm clutching the day’s “results” in an envelope, as usual.
“So, we have a surprise winner tonight,” he announced, opening the envelope. “Well done, One. We seem to have found something you’re good at finally – cleaning the shit off shoes.”
“As I have to go to the gym to work out first thing in the morning, I won’t get a chance to use the shower before the others,” Alex said. “So, what’s my reward for coming first?”
“How about I don’t piss on your bed tonight?” F suggested, grinning. Alex decided not to protest; in the circumstances, thatwasn’t a bad deal. “Sadly, there has to be a loser.” F pulled a mock-sad face, and Five squared his shoulders glumly; he’d been by far the worst at the day’s task. “And today, it’s Two,” F announced.
“There’s no way Two came last,” Alex protested. “He was fantastic at today’s task.”
“Well, that’s what it says here.” F brandished the white card.
“It doesn’t.” Alex took the card and examined B’s clear, rounded lettering. “It says Five.”
“And yet I read out Two, so that must be who gets to spend the night in the cage. Two – come here.” F opened the cage door and pointed.
“At least give him a blanket and mattress like you did with Five last night,” Alex said.
F spent a moment pondering that and then shook his head. “Nah, I don’t think I will.”
“Leave it, One,” Two said in a resigned voice, making his way stiffly to the cage.
“No.” Alex fought down his rage and handed the card back to F. “Look again – it says Five,” he said meekly, bowing his head in resignation.
“Does it?” F said, gazing at him keenly. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
F gave a gloating grin, then looked at the card again in mock astonishment. “So it does. Looks like I made a mistake, boys. Two – you’re off the hook. Five – get in the cage. One – you’re with me.”
Alex followed F out of the room and down the corridor to the dining room. D was still busy in there, wiping down the tables.
“So, this should be good.” F smirked. “I don’t get much action, stuck out here. I prefer girls, but you’re pretty enough to pass as one.”
“Here? Now?” Alex shot D an agonised glance.
“Yeah – get on your knees and start sucking, pretty boy.”
Alex sank down onto his knees and opened F’s fly, then hesitated, fighting his own revulsion.
“Problem?” F demanded, thrusting his hips forward.
“No, F,” he managed to grind out.
He performed the task as expertly as he knew how, hoping to bring F to climax as soon as possible, but it seemed to last forever all the same. Afterwards, F looked down on Alex with a spiteful smile. “That was good. I want a blow job every morning from now on if you want me to go easy on Two.”
Alex nodded grimly and then sank down onto the floor. It was only when F had left the room that he realised D was still there, huddled in the corner, looking petrified.
“I’m sorry you had to see that,” he told her. “And I’m sorry about getting you into trouble the other day. I really am. I’ll never ask you to do anything like that again – I promise.”
She put her hand over her mouth, shaking her head vigorously, and then ran out of the room. Alex poured himself a glass of water from the jug on the table and chugged it down, but even when it was all gone, he could still taste F in his mouth.
He took a moment to pull himself together. If he could do this for F, couldn’t he bring himself to do it for Tyler? Tyler was an attractive man, no matter how he felt about him. Maybe he could use F as practice for the day he was inevitably returned to Tyler. If he could learn to pretend to enjoy it with F, might he one day be good enough to fool his houder?
He took a moment to pull himself together. Then he returned to the dorm to find F standing in the middle of the room, looking pleased with himself. Five was now in the cage, and Two was getting into bed, slowly and stiffly, wincing as he moved.
