La Maison 5: Darkness (Complete: mxm BDSM)

Arc 2 Chapter 9

They had been getting closer, ever since that night at the club. Nothing had happened, yet, but Gabe knew it was a 'yet'. Laurent was surprisingly tactile, and Gabe found himself leaning into it, more and more. Even needing it. The best – and perhaps most surprising – part of it was how their closeness was improving their other relationships. Gabe was relaxing into his friendships with the other subs, confident enough that Ellis had compared him to Dae a few days ago and he'd liked it. Liked the thought that he was now someone who would stand up for himself, and for what was right, in the same way Dae always did. Loki and Kaiya were disgustingly, soppily, happy together. Laurent and François were actually communicating without perpetual sharp barbs, and Gabe had even seen them laughing together the previous day. Even Ellis seemed to be relaxing around the man, which was something Gabe had thought he'd never see.

Gray had told Gabe that his attitude was clearly untroubled by what they'd been doing, and he'd offered to increase some of the impact play during their therapizing scenes. And Gabe had turned him down. Gabe had been surprised at himself, Owen had seemed so too, but Gray had just nodded with a chuckle and said that he'd 'thought as much', whatever that meant. He hoped it didn't mean Gray thought he didn't want it at all – because that was far from the truth; he just didn't feel like he wanted it from Gray anymore.

But he wasn't getting it from Laurent yet either. He was quick to open his arms for Gabe to sink into a too-short hug when they greeted each other, or to stroke his hair as they sat close on the couch. He didn't even flush – like Gabe did – when François or Gray, or even Loki, made a barely veiled suggestive remark. He just smiled at Gabe with a soft promise in his eyes. Gabe didn't want soft though, and he was on the edge of frustration that Laurent wasn't making any move to take things further.

"I don't need a babysitter, you know?" Gabe didn't care how petulant he sounded, as when François and Ellis had gone to the door, after Loki and Kaiya had already gone on a date, they'd checked Laurent was planning on staying in before they were willing to leave Gabe, and he found it ridiculous.

"I know." Laurent's voice was kind, but he was still smirking, and Gabe didn't know whether he wanted to scream or kiss it off his handsome face.

"So why do you let them think I do?"

"Oh? Is that how it is? You're a tough little independent fawn who don't need no man, but you want me to fight your battles for you?"

"That's not what I mean." But perhaps it was. Gabe might love his new-found confidence, but he still wanted someone – and more and more, that someone was Laurent – to demand something of him, and to take. "You just let them order you around as much as any sub."

That got a reaction – Laurent's smirk twisting into momentarily bared teeth, though it was back seconds later, along with a tilted head.

"Oh? Bambi's looking for a punishment?"

Gabe's head flicked up and his eyes narrowed. "Not from you. You can't."

No one could, he knew that. Not outside the club, which he had only stepped foot into for his sessions with Gray since the night when he'd freaked out. And maybe not ever.

Laurent seemed to realize his mistake.

"Nothing without your agreement, Bambi."

"What happens if I'm really rude to you?"

"More rude than you already have been since we met?" But he chuckled, and Gabe dropped his head with a flush.

"Yeah, more rude."

"Gray's been teaching you. So what do you know about punishment?"

"They can be for fun. I don't mind the sound of that kind. Or if you've been bad. I'm not sure about them."