Chapter 4

Rowan heard the murmurs behind him, but either Master Paul didn't or he didn't care. "Puppies should be on all fours," he said in a stern tone and Rowan reacted to it immediately, even though he hated it, even though the humiliation barely made him able to breathe, he dropped to his hands and knees, cringing as the elastic on his pull-ups strained and bit into him.

"Good boy," Master Paul crooned and stroked Rowan's hair, which lessened his misery a little. "Look what I have for you."

Rowan didn't know where he got the courage to look up, but he did, then froze. Master Paul was waving a collar and a lead at him. "I thought we'd go for a little walk." Master Paul moved his hand over Rowan's head again, making it a little easier for him to breathe.

"Need your words, Boy," Master Paul said, and ran his hand over Rowan's sweaty back. Rowan cringed, but Master Paul was gentle. Maybe it was a test? He'd seen that. Masters wanting to push their subs, but without crossing a line. Maybe if he passed this they'd get to the cuddling part.

"Yes, Master Paul," Rowan whispered, and he felt the collar fasten around his neck, and the click of the lead. He took a step, or a knee. Excruciatingly slowly, Rowan moved at each tug of the lead. On and on it seemed to continue. Rowan's thighs rubbed together, and the elastic pulled terrifyingly tight.

"You're doing so well, Boy," Master Paul praised him, then stopped to talk to some other masters as if nothing was wrong. Rowan gasped, his arms shaking. He knew more people had come into the club and didn't dare look up. This wasn't how he imagined it would happen at all. He'd get back to his chair somehow and then go. Go and never come back, ever.

"May I get anyone a drink, Sirs?" Rowan heard the voice, and he felt his lungs seize. It was Matthew, the sub who delighted in making his life an utter misery. In fact, serving had been a punishment Master Adrian had insisted on for Matthew, and he wasn't allowed in the little room.

Rowan was really thirsty. He'd barely had any water today, trying to keep his pad dry just in case. The headache that had plagued him all afternoon was banging to the beat of the music Master Adrian had on. He dimly heard Master Paul order some water for them both and could have cried. He was so thirsty, and his head really hurt.

"Sir?" He heard Matthew's voice as if from a long way away and Master Paul's agreement.

"There, Boy, some water."

Rowan moved, assuming he was going to sit, but just before he could, Matthew carefully placed a bowl of water on the floor in front of him. Rowan gazed at it in utter horror.

Gabriel walked through the door, laughing at something Patrick was saying, then glanced toward the bar and froze.

What.

The.

Fuck.

He barely had ten seconds to take in the scene. Rowan on his hands and knees, naked except for some plastic pants. Matthew putting a dog's bowl down on the ground in front of him, and Dennison holding a lead, attached to the collar around Rowan's neck, before he saw Rowan's arms wobble and the boy go down. His head hit the plastic bowl and water went everywhere, and even though Dennison was standing right fucking there, Gabriel got to him first. Thank fuck Patrick was with him. Rowan was conscious and between them and an admittedly worried Dennison, they took him to one of the private rooms.

Dennison was babbling and wringing his hands, and thankfully Adrian read the room and got the imbecile out of there before Gabriel had his hands around Dennison's throat. Rowan was pale and sweating, but answered the questions Patrick asked him. Gabriel grabbed one of the cool sheets and covered Rowan a little, then took his hand and sat down, listening intently as Patrick talked to him. After a few seconds, Adrian came back with a bottle of water and the first aid-kit. Patrick took the water and handed it to Gabriel. "Small sips." And Patrick took his blood-pressure.

Adrian disappeared again while Gabriel was holding the bottle to Rowan's lips. "Just a little," Gabriel encouraged, wishing Rowan would look at him.

Gabriel stared at him, but Rowan never looked at him once. Adrian reappeared with a folder and Patrick took that off him and scanned it.

"Ambulance?" Adrian questioned as Patrick undid the blood pressure cuff.

"No, try the next of kin. See if there's anything not listed here."

Gabriel was relieved to see a little color returning to Rowan's face and he didn't need to persuade Rowan to drink the water; it seemed he couldn't get enough. Patrick smiled at him. "Rowan, have you ever been told you may have diabetes?"

Rowan shook his head and took another drink from Gabriel.

"I just need to prick your finger slightly," Patrick murmured and held a small plastic tube against Rowan's finger. It didn't take long for the reading to register. "Normal range," Patrick said.

Adrian came back, tight-lipped. "Both numbers are unregistered or showing an error."

Patrick glanced at Gabriel. "Both?" Patrick murmured and sighed, rubbing his head. "Rowan, you seem really thirsty," he hedged. Rowan didn't reply, but he tightened his hand in Gabriel's. Gabriel didn't let go. "Adrian, Charlie's outside. Can you get someone to take over on the door and ask him to come in here?"

Gabriel swore to himself. Charlie was taking a turn on the door while Patrick was here for a meeting with Adrian. Charlie and Rowan were friends. He should have thought of that. Another moment and Charlie was there, immediately sitting on the bed. Rowan reached for him, and Gabriel let go. Patrick murmured something about normal readings and the water, then he stood and beckoned Gabriel and Adrian to follow him. All three walked into Adrian's office and sat down.

"For starters, Gabriel, before you say one word, Rowan was fully aware of what was going to happen out there and signed a contract."

"Charlie told me it was puppy play," Patrick said, "but I'm guessing there's a healthy dose of shame kink in there as well?"

Gabriel closed his eyes in frustration. He respected everyone's needs, of course he did, but Rowan was way too shy and nervous for shame kink. Adrian nodded, tight-lipped. "How is he?"

Patrick sighed. "I don't have any history, but to be honest I think he was severely dehydrated. His blood sugar was a little low, but still within a normal range."

"Does he wear those pants because of his little needs?" Gabriel asked, more to himself. He knew Rowan had a thing about going to the bathroom in unfamiliar places, but for the first time—much to his shame—he wondered if there was another reason.

"Would Charlie know?" Adrian asked, understanding what he was asking.

"If he did and was told in confidence, he wouldn't tell me," Patrick said. "I'm not his doctor, but there was nothing obviously wrong."

"If he has a medical condition, he lied on the form," Adrian snapped out, clearly angry.

Gabriel understood. Anything that affected the safety of his members, Adrian needed to know.

"The only thing I will say," Patrick said cautiously, "in confidence." Gabriel and Adrian nodded. "I recognized the brand of pull-ups he wore. Arotek is a medical supply company, and they don't sell to retail establishments."

"Which means he's likely wearing them because he has to," Gabriel said, his heart hurting for Rowan.

"It's a guess, but if he was worried he might have to take them off to play, I'm betting he has restricted his fluid intake severely," Patrick said.

"I need to talk to him and then arrange to take him home," Adrian said.

"Let me," Gabriel said and stood.

Patrick looked up at him. "But be careful." Gabriel frowned. Careful driving? "I mean you aren't into the sort of thing Rowan needs. I'm pretty sure he has a healthy dose of hero worship for you as it is."

Gabriel nodded. "I realize that. But you and Adrian have a meeting, and I already know where he lives."

Patrick's eyebrows shot up. "You do?"

"Mom during the week and Dad on the weekends."

Patrick nodded. "I've only ever collected him from his dad's."

Gabriel looked at Adrian. "I know you're angry he withheld information, but not tonight, huh?"

Adrian smirked. "Are you telling me to back off?"

Gabriel rolled his eyes and didn't deign to reply. But he was, and they both knew it.

Charlie helped Gabriel get Rowan settled in his car, which he brought around to the fire exit door so Rowan wouldn't have to walk through the club. Charlie passed Rowan his bag and hugged him tightly, making Rowan promise to call or answer Charlie's call tomorrow and then Gabriel drove away.

Gabriel noticed Rowan rubbed his head a few times. "Headache?"

Rowan looked up at him for the first time in what seemed to be hours, and for too long a moment Gabriel forgot he was driving and gazed into Rowan's huge blue eyes. Gabriel wrenched his gaze back, but not before he'd seen the sheen of tears and the slight wobble in Rowan's bottom lip. He cursed again in his head and pulled over.

He put the car in park, took off his seat belt, and turned around, reaching out for one of Rowan's hands. "I'm sorry," Rowan whispered, misery lacing his voice.

Gabriel forced himself to remain calm, sliding into his Dom space. "What are you apologizing for?" Rowan looked surprised, and he sucked his bottom lip in and bit down. "Don't do that," Gabriel said automatically and just managed to stop himself from reaching out to pull the abused lip away.

"Sorry," Rowan mumbled again.

Gabriel sighed. What was he doing? Rowan wasn't his sub, could never be his sub, and he was acting in a manner Patrick had just warned him about. "Adrian said you signed a contract with Master Paul, but something tells me you didn't look at the fine print."

Rowan didn't reply, but Gabriel knew he understood. Not that there was any fine print in Adrian's contracts, but Rowan had clearly not understood or had been willing to risk it. He knew why. Rowan came to the club looking for something specific he needed, the same as everyone else, and in two years hadn't found it. Gabriel was aware Rowan wanted a Daddy and for a dizzying moment wished he could help, but that wasn't what Gabriel wanted. To be honest, he wasn't exactly sure what he wanted right at that moment, except possibly to be a friend to Rowan.

"Look," he started, hoping he wasn't going to mess things up and conscious of Patrick's warning. "I understand completely why you would think Master Paul would fulfill your needs—" Gabriel broke off as Rowan made a distressed sound and looked like he was trying to curl in on himself. "There's nothing to be ashamed of, Rowan," he said as gently as he could, reaching over with his other hand and hooking a finger under his chin. "Do you think I should be ashamed of myself for needing to cause pain to get myself off?" It wasn't like that, but Gabriel bet it would have the effect he wanted.

Rowan's eyes widened and he shook his head quite violently and Gabriel let go. "Of course not, Sir." Gabriel grinned, relaxing a little.

"Exactly, so you hoping for a Daddy is just the same. I'm betting," he added cautiously, "that you were eager to see if you and Master Paul's needs aligned and perhaps thought you could compromise a little? We all do that. That's why negotiation is necessary."

Rowan seemed to forget his embarrassment for a moment. "Negotiation?"

"Absolutely. You always negotiate a scene with a Dom. Never just accept his requests unless they absolutely line up perfectly with yours."

"But—" Rowan snapped off whatever he was going to say, but Gabriel could imagine. He was sure Rowan had been eager enough to skim over some pertinent details.

"I wondered if you could do something for me?"

Rowan's eyes grew wider and for a second, Gabriel lost himself in them. They were just about the most beautiful eyes he'd ever seen. "You know that Doms need to help people? It's like a switch we can't turn off." Okay, so that was stretching the truth a little, but... Rowan cautiously nodded.

"I don't want to settle down. My dad died recently, and I find myself at a bit of a loss."

"I'm so sorry," Rowan said, and he squeezed Gabriel's hand. Gabriel looked down in surprise. He'd forgotten they were still touching.

"Just because we don't match sexually doesn't mean we still can't help each other."

Curiosity flashed in Rowan's eyes. "Sir?"

"I'd like you to talk to me if you're interested in any Doms. Talk to me first. I can advise you if I think they would be a good fit, and definitely advise you in contract negotiations. Any master could do that, though. If you prefer Master Patrick—"

"No." Rowan rushed out them flushed. "No, Sir." Gabriel wanted to hear Rowan call him by his name, but it would be better if they kept this friendship on a business footing. He nearly scoffed. Yeah, right. Wasn't that an oxymoron? "But how would that help you?"

A good question. "Seeing my friends happy fulfills a need in me. I felt pretty useless after my dad died and helping you would go a long way to making me feel better." He wasn't lying. Gabriel never wanted to see Rowan put himself through what he'd done tonight ever again. Rowan had zero body confidence and Gabriel hoped he might be able to help with that as well.

Rowan nodded thoughtfully. "I'd love to help."

Gabriel forced himself to let go of Rowan's hand. "Give me your phone." Rowan handed it over without protest, and Gabriel quickly put both his numbers in there and sent a text to his own, then added Rowan's contact info to his. "Right," Gabriel said and reluctantly turned back around and fastened his seat belt. "Are you at your mom's tonight?"

"No, my father's. Mother's out of town." Gabriel headed that way and after a moment, added. "As soon as you are in bed and settled tonight, I want a text. You can text me anytime you want on a regular basis. If I'm in a meeting, I may not be able to answer, but I will get back to you as soon as I can."

Gabriel drove Rowan home, determined to reach out to his contacts and see who wanted a little. Rowan deserved someone to spoil him, and Gabriel would make sure he got that. Rowan needed a friend. Gabriel could be like an older brother to him.

He could. He absolutely could.

Couldn't he?