Finding Sanctuary

by Morticia Knight

  “I thought you said you’d be with me the whole time, that I didn’t have to worry about any men bothering me—no offense Javier, you seem pretty swell and all—but I don’t want to go anywhere here unless you’re with me. You promised.”

  Francesco felt bad because Theo was rubbing his forehead and he was afraid he was giving him a headache. His mama used to tell him he did that to her a lot.

  “Yes, I did. And I won’t break my promise to you. Javier? Would you mind if I escorted Francesco to the changing area this time?”

  “Not at all, sir. I know Master Saul would wish for him to be comfortable.”

  Francesco wasn’t sure if he should explain himself any further to Javier, but right as he’d sucked in a breath to say something, he remembered what Theo had instructed regarding the correct interaction with the Dominant and submissive men. It wasn’t clear which category Javier fell into, so he decided to be safe and not say anything.

  Theo’s in charge and I defer to him. Got it.

  “Come on, pet. Until we’re adhering to a strict protocol, I’d love to have the opportunity to hold your hand. Here we are, inside this lovely mansion with others who are the same as us. Let’s take advantage of it, shall we?”

  Francesco nodded, intertwining his fingers with Theo’s. It didn’t make sense to him, but so far, his favorite thing to do with Theo hadn’t been the coming—it was the kissing and hand-holding. While he’d been sure that someday he’d eventually find men who he was attracted to and who he would want to come with as well, he hadn’t been as certain of experiencing mutual affection.

  As they rounded the corner of the dark hallway Theo had led him down, he spotted some light shining through the open door of a room. When they entered, Francesco laughed. It was almost the same as Theo’s library, but instead of books on the shelves, they held stacks of neatly folded clothing and shoes.

  Several matching mahogany coatracks stood side by side with coats and jackets hung on the elaborate chrome pegs that jutted from the center of the wood posts. Attached to the base of each one—and extending upward for approximately two feet—was a circular mahogany and chrome-rod umbrella stand. Francesco had never seen anything like it. He peered over the edge of one and inspected the bottom. Individual metal trays had been fitted in the round base, which would then collect the rainwater that dropped off the umbrellas stored there.

  “Hey, did you see this? They’re pretty keen. You should get one for your house.”

  “That would be, ‘hey, Sir’, and they are. If you think we should get one for our house, I’ll inquire as to where Saul or the owner purchased them.”

  Francesco gasped as he whipped around to face Theo. Again, he was surprised that he wasn’t met with anger or frustration. The same somewhat amused smile Theo typically wore graced his lips and he seemed to be regarding him with fondness.

  “I’m sorry. I meant to say ‘hey, Sir’, but I got distracted. And thank you for saying it’s my house too even though I need to get used to that and we don’t have to buy one just because I like it, that’s okay.”

  Theo ambled over and inspected the rack, also checking the inside of it. He reached down and when he’d straightened again, he held one of the curved metal trays. “Well, this is quite convenient for collecting water. I think this stand would be a good addition to our home. The one I own doesn’t have this helpful feature.” Theo replaced the tray. “Good suggestion, love.”

  Francesco grinned. Even though Theo had assured him that being a submissive didn’t mean becoming a mindless slave, and even though Francesco had believed him, he hadn’t been able to figure out how that would work if he was always following Theo’s instructions. A coatrack might not be that big a deal, but he thought he might be getting the gist of what Theo had meant. Theo still cared about Francesco’s opinions and ideas. Even without having known what submissives and Dominants were before meeting Theo, no one had given a hang what his thoughts were about anything—not even a coatrack.

  “Let’s get you undressed so you can meet Saul before the demonstration begins.”

  Francesco lifted his chin. He wanted the blasted collar and tie off first. “Is Saul—I mean Master Saul—he’s the one who’s gonna do the hitting, right?”

  Theo gave the necktie a quick tug and it pulled free. “That’s correct. He’ll want to get in the proper frame of mind before he whips Charlie, so I want to allow him the time to prepare.”

  “I guess I’m slowing things down, aren’t I? I promise I’ll be better and let you do all the talking.”

  Theo had crouched down to unbutton the spats, which was a great relief to Francesco. Theo glanced up.

  “I love hearing you talk. But since we’re practicing at the club, speaking at the appropriate time would be good to work on too.”

  “Okay, I will.”

  After removing all the bits and pieces of his ensemble, Theo waited patiently while he folded everything up and placed them in neat piles on the shelves. Then he hung his sleek new suitcoat on a hanger and hooked it on the rack he loved so much. He also loved that Theo didn’t tap his foot or make loud sighing noises to indicate that he was taking too long.

  “My, my. All the men will be envious of my spectacular boy.”

  Francesco’s face heated—which had happened a few times since he’d met Theo. He hadn’t known what to make of it at first since he wasn’t used to reacting to anyone like that. But as much as he enjoyed hearing Theo say nice things to him, even if they made him a bit embarrassed, he also knew Theo wanted to say them—that it made him feel good too.

  “Thank you, Sir.” Francesco gave him his best smile. “And I even said ‘Sir’ that time.”

  Theo opened his arms and Francesco stepped into them. Theo’s elegant suit brushing against his bare skin gave him shivers. It felt decadent to be held by a man dressed to the nines while he only wore his silk boxers.

  “That was excellent, pet. You’ve been using it at home without trouble, so I think the excitement of being here, and perhaps some nerves, could be making you forget?”

  “Yeah, I bet you’re right.” Francesco rubbed his cheek against the soft wool of Theo’s jacket. “But I won’t talk bad about myself.”

  Theo hugged him tighter. “Oh, Francesco, how I—” Theo kissed his temple then straightened. “How happy I am to have you here with me. Should we join the others now?”

  “Whatever you want, Sir. I’ll submit, I swear.”

  Theo gave him a squeeze then let him go. He gazed down at him, his eyes glimmering. “Then give me your hand so I can show you my world.”

  He presented his hand to Theo, not sure if he’d been as submissive as he should so far, but he figured Theo knew he was trying and would help him fix things as they went along.

  Theo led them back down the same corridor they’d come from until they had reached where they’d started. Javier was checking a man’s membership card and they waited until he’d finished with him, then opened a door that revealed another hallway, opposite to the one they had just traveled down.

  Javier turned to them after the member had made his way into the club. “I trust everything is satisfactory, sir?”

  “Yes, Javier, everything’s fine. We’re ready to head inside now.”

  Javier stood to the side, allowing them to pass. Francesco glanced up at the manager, who gazed down at him with an open and warm expression. He really hoped he hadn’t made a bad face at him. Theo had already advanced beyond the entryway, but Francesco couldn’t stand leaving things the way they were—even if he wasn’t exactly sure how they’d been left.

  He dug in his heels and Theo stumbled back.

  “What now, pet?”

  Francesco went on his tiptoes to whisper next to ear. “I’m trying to only talk when it’s appropriate, but I want to say something to Javier and I’m not sure if it qualifies.”

  “Ah, I see. Is it something you could say at any time, that’s not particularly relevant to anything right now, or do you n
eed to tell him something you feel should be said right away?”

  “I think it’s the right away one.”

  “Then go ahead, and if it turns out that it was inappropriate, you and I can discuss it later when we’re alone.”

  “Because you won’t get mad and you think I should practice?”

  “That’s correct, love.”

  “Okay, that seems like a pretty swell way to do it.” Francesco turned back to Javier. “I just want to say it really is nice to meet you and I hope I see you again when me and Master Theo come back, because I’m pretty sure we will since he likes…” Francesco huffed. Gee, I guess I do blather on, don’t I? “What I mean is sorry about the bad face, if I made one.”

  “I didn’t notice if you did, but your apology is accepted anyway.” Javier’s smile wasn’t big and showy, but it did seem sincere. “Enjoy your evening.”

  Francesco grinned back. “Thanks! You too.”

  Theo leaned down to speak next to his ear. “I found that appropriate, and you also did a wonderful job by stopping the blurting before you got too carried away.”

  He’s proud of me. “Thank you, Sir.”

  They continued into the club, but this time when they reached the end of the hallway, it spilled into a large open foyer at the bottom of a spectacular staircase covered in red carpet with matching lamps of a nude young man holding an Aladdin’s lamp aloft. He’d seen pictures of them in one of the library books. They stood guard at the end of the banisters, but even though they were the most amazing lamps Francesco had ever seen, his attention was diverted to everything else surrounding him. He twisted his body all around as he took in the sights, overwhelmed by the luxurious mansion and the fancy décor.

  A crystal chandelier bursting with tiers of sparkling glass hung from a long chain that was attached at the highest point of the stately home. He couldn’t imagine how anyone could have secured it up so high. All the dark wood—from the mahogany railings to the floors to the intricately carved furnishings—had been polished to a bright sheen. Colorful, patterned rugs accented the floors and lead cut crystal ashtrays, covered candy dishes and vases overflowing with fresh flowers abounded throughout the front room. Francesco surmised that the many paintings of lush landscapes, forests and waterfalls framed in ornate gold gilt frames could be hung in a real museum. He’d never been anywhere so spectacular and grand.

  No wonder Theo joined this club. It was a fine gentleman’s establishment and here he was—not only had he been allowed inside, he’d been welcomed.

  Francesco suddenly realized that they were no longer walking. However, he wasn’t standing still, not at all. He was squeezing Theo’s fingers with one hand and biting on the end of the thumb of his other. In addition, he was shifting back and forth on his feet and figured he was about a couple of shifts away from a genuine bounce.

  He wrinkled his forehead as he gazed up at Theo. “Is Master Saul a prince or an oil baron or something?”

  “I don’t believe Master Saul is, but maybe the owner of the mansion is? None of us know who that man is because Saul oversees the estate for him.”

  “Oh my, that’s so mysterious. I love this place already.”

  Theo cleared his throat then arched an eyebrow. “Yes, well. I’ll check back in with you later to get your opinion after the demonstration.”

  Francesco tilted his head. It hadn’t occurred to him that Theo might be nervous too, that he might be worried about Francesco being disappointed in him. “Sir? Don’t be afraid that I’ll go away or won’t like you anymore. You told me that we can do whatever we want together, and you already know how I feel about the holding down stuff.” Francesco jostled Theo with his elbow as he snickered.

  Theo gazed down at him with an expression unlike anything that had been directed at him before. It went beyond affection, but Francesco wasn’t sure how far it went.

  “Thank you, love.” Theo stroked his cheek with the back of his hand. “That was very sweet of you to say. Shall we go upstairs and meet Master Saul? We can also get some refreshments before everything begins.”

  “Sure, that sounds swell.”

  Theo led the way up the stairs and Francesco couldn’t stop grinning. The fabric of the carpet was so lush under his bare toes, everything was so beautiful, Theo was acting as if he was better than anyone alive and he couldn’t believe—not for a minute even though it was happening to him at that moment—that he was no longer starving and cold on the streets.

  Just before they reached the landing of the second floor, Francesco’s attention was diverted by noises coming from the far right. Loud moans interspersed with screams and slaps rang out, and even though the sounds were blocked by closed doors, Francesco imagined what might be going on behind them. He couldn’t deny how strange it was to hear such noises from the men who had sought privacy in the bedrooms, but it hadn’t stopped his cock from swelling as they’d drawn closer to them.

  Theo gave his hand a gentle tug and Francesco glanced up at him, realizing that he must have been so distracted by the revelry that he’d stopped in his tracks.

  “I have a room reserved for us later, pet. But we won’t be doing anything so extreme.”

  “We won’t? Why not?”

  Theo sputtered laughter. “That doesn’t frighten you?”

  “No. I know you won’t do anything to me I don’t want, and if those fellas wanna do stuff that makes them yell a lot, it ain’t—it isn’t any of my business.” He shrugged. “And anyway, I might have a hankering for some of it myself after I see that show.”

  Theo shook his head, smiling. “Then let’s carry on.”

  When they entered the large room to their left, Francesco was shocked to see so many naked men. He was almost naked, but almost and completely were very different. As they strolled their way through the crowd, Francesco tried not to stare—at least not in a way folks would notice.

  In addition to the nudity, several men wore collars and leashes and were being led around by the men wearing suits. The Dominants and submissives. He narrowed his eyes as he took in the sights, trying his best to catch all the details in the soft lighting. A few of the naked men had their genitals tied up real tight, and he wasn’t sure how he felt about that. Others were kneeling by their Dominant’s side, and one was having his hair petted while his Master smoked a cigar with his other hand and laughed with a fellow Dominant. One naked boy even wore a hood over his head, and Francesco thought about mentioning to Theo that he didn’t want him to do that. Thinking about it made him nervous in a way that wasn’t the excited kind of nervous, but the scared kind.

  He started at Theo’s voice as he whispered against his ear. “How are you doing, love?”

  “I’m fine.”

  Francesco gripped Theo’s fingers tighter and swallowed hard, but at the same time, told himself not to be such a big baby. His eyes widened as a young man walked past him with several clothespins attached to his nipples, sac and—Francesco cringed at the sight—the tip of his penis. They all had chains hanging from them with what looked like fishing weights which swayed as he moved. He plastered himself to Theo’s side and Theo immediately wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

  “I see Saul over by the bar. I imagine you could use a seltzer water?”

  He could’ve used a shot of gin, but Theo had already warned him that he wouldn’t be allowed to drink and that Theo wouldn’t either. He’d explained that even though Saul hadn’t made it a strict rule at Hampton Road, it was something that had been discussed already between the board members. He wanted Francesco to be clear-headed and had said that he didn’t play with a submissive if he was under the influence of hooch or reefer. It seemed that he’d heard a story from one of the other Dominants where a submissive had been badly hurt because he hadn’t realized how harshly he was being beaten by his soused Master until it was too far gone.

  He’s making sure I’m safe.

  Francesco peered up at Theo. “You’re right, I could. My mouth is awful dry.”<
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  “Then I must take care of my pet, right away.”

  Theo winked at him. Francesco loved it when he did that.

  “Excuse me, Saul. I wanted you to meet my new boy before you left to get ready for the demonstration.”

  An older, silver-haired gentleman angled his body around. He’d been leaning on one elbow against a long bar that was covered with a sheet of copper that shone brilliantly. “There you are, old sport. I’ve been wondering when you and your submissive might arrive.” Master Saul peered down at him. “You must be the delightful young man that Theo has told me about. I can see why he’s so overjoyed to have you in his life.”

  Francesco’s eyes rounded. “He did?” Francesco looked up at Theo. “You did?”

  “Of course I did, pet.”

  “Gee, thanks!”

  It was one thing to give him compliments when they were alone, but to take the chance and tell his friends made it twice as nice.

  Saul chuckled, but it wasn’t in a rude way. “Yes. Quite delightful. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  Francesco grinned at the friendly Master. “Thank you, Master Saul. It’s nice to meet you too.”

  He wasn’t going to use the word ‘pleasure’ with Master Saul. He didn’t want Theo to get jealous. Especially since despite the Master being older, he seemed very fit and was quite handsome.

  After their shared greeting, Saul returned his attention to Theo and they began to converse about boring club stuff that related to new members, such as when the next board meeting would occur and whether they should have a mahjong night. Francesco drank the seltzer that Theo had given him and took in more of the sights. The only other submissives who wore any clothing or didn’t have a collar or leash, were lounging by themselves on a couple of settees at the edges of the large area, behind the chairs which had been arranged for the upcoming show.

  Francesco scooted closer to Theo until their arms were flush to each other. He didn’t want anyone to get the wrong idea about him. I’m Theo’s and he’s mine. He hadn’t missed how the seemingly unattached boys were glancing in their direction and whispering to each other. He was going to have a hard time not making any bad faces as the evening wore on.