Chapter 6
I wake to the feeling of a hand brushing along my back. Khazak. How long have I been out? The hand stills when my body stirs, allowing me to pull away.
“Welcome back.” His voice is soft but teasing. “How are you feeling?”
“Okay, I think.” I cuddle forward into him. “What was that?”
“It is called ‘dropping.’” He keeps petting my back. “Sometimes, when things get intense as they did on stage, the body’s hormones become elevated. Did you notice yourself feeling any different?”
“Yeah. It kinda felt like I was falling into a trance.” I remember the warm floaty feeling from earlier. “It was almost like I was floating outside of my body.”
“That is called subspace.” Good to know.
“Afterward, as you come down and your body’s chemistry returns to normal, it can leave you feeling fatigued, or cold, or even depressed.
It is something that can happen to either person involved, dominant or submissive.
When I noticed the signs, I took you in here to rest.”
“Will I be okay?” I’m not feeling exhausted anymore, but still a little sluggish and sorta just...down.
“Yes, some feelings may linger, but you are already sounding much better.” His hand moves to my neck, and he thumbs my ear. “I would give it a few more hours.”
“Do we have to go anywhere?” We’re in Brull’s bedroom right now I’m pretty sure.
“No.” He chuckles. “We can stay here a bit longer.”
Which is what we do, though not before Khazak beckons me to sit up and makes sure I drink a glass of water.
There’s a pitcher on the bedside table I’m not sure was there before.
Then we just lay there together, cuddling, and slowly the melancholy feelings begin to fade.
When I’m ready, I sit up, wanting to stretch my legs.
“Feeling better?” Khazak asks, sitting up to join me.
“Yeah, I think so.” I look around the small room, spotting his bag and our clothing in a neat pile on the floor.
“Brull brought them in while you were napping,” he tells me, seeing where my eyes fall. “Same as the water.”
Aww. “I should thank him.”
“You already have.” He lightly thumbs my lip. “Remember?”
That certainly jogs my memory, and I get a flash of Brull feeding me his dick earlier and blush.
“Are you okay? Was it...alright?” He sounds nervous when he asks, watching my face carefully.
“Yeah, I wasn’t expecting it but...it wasn’t hard to get into.” Despite some of his bristles, I like Brull. “But... I thought I remember you saying something about not sharing me?”
“I said I would not share you with my brother. That would be strange for what I hope are very obvious reasons.” Glad to hear they aren’t big fans of incest around here.
“Brull is someone I trust, especially in that area. I had a feeling, should something happen, that you would feel comfortable with him.”
“How did you know it would happen?” That was a gamble if you ask me. Yeah, I still lie to myself sometimes.
“I did not, for certain.” Khazak stands and stretches his arms. “I knew he would be helping with the bondage, and that he would be flogging you, but for the rest, I waited. I wanted to see what would happen in the moment, what developed naturally. Had I sensed things going the other way, or had you said something, things would have proceeded differently.” He runs his hand through my hair. “I would say it worked out.”
“Yeah.” I’m feeling bashful for some reason. “What did he...flog me with, anyway?” I’m only familiar with that term when it means like, getting lashed as punishment. Something that thankfully hasn’t been done for years back home in Northlake.
“This.” Khazak bends down to pick up an object lying next to his bag. “A cat-of-nine tails. He gifted us this one as a thank you for the demonstration.”
In Khazak’s hand is something that looks like a short whip.
Well, several whips, all attached to the same black wooden handle.
Each of the lashes are short and flat, strips of leather maybe a foot and a half long.
The end of each strip is tied into a tight knot, which explains the thud I felt followed by pin pricks.
“Did you enjoy it?” He’s gauging my reaction again.
I pause and think before nodding my head. “I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t that. It was different than being spanked, and it definitely helped with the whole...subspace thing.”
“You looked amazing as you took it, and the marks it left on you were lovely.” Khazak smiles as he places the flogging device into his bag before stepping over and putting his hand on my shoulder to turn me and look at my backside.
“Pity they are already fading.” Right then, my stomach growls. “Hungry?”
“I guess so.” I put my hand on my belly. Haven’t eaten since breakfast.
“Good.” Khazak reaches out to help me up from the bed. “Because we have dinner plans.”
We make a quick trip to the bathroom to freshen up, and I can’t help but use the mirror to check out the marks he’s talking about.
The skin of my ass is pink, a few lines visible along the tops and bottom.
I gotta admit, they look pretty nice. I trace my finger over one, biting my lip at the slight twinge of pain, which I oddly don’t dislike feeling.
After that, the two of us get dressed. Actually dressed—the harnesses go in the bag, and our regular shirts are pulled on.
It helps me feel a little more like a human again.
A person again. We exit into the front of the store to say a quick goodbye to Brull, who is busy handling the evening rush.
Looks like the night’s festivities are just getting started.
We make our way out onto the streets, already packed with other festival goers.
We wander around for a bit; I assume because we’re still a little early for dinner.
We watch another intense and dangerous looking fire-dancing performance where they seem to only barely miss burning their partner to a crisp.
Khazak swears they aren’t using any magic.
Eventually, my stomach’s growling gets loud enough that we head to the restaurant.
I can’t read the sign on the place, of course, but Khazak tells me the name of the place is Bauzi’kro, which translates to “The Iron Pan.”.
It’s no less busy inside, though it doesn’t seem like we need to worry about getting a table when Khazak walks right in.
I don’t know what I was expecting, but it’s just like any other restaurant.
A large room filled with tables. Most of them are full, but I spot Ragnar and Nylan at the same time as Khazak.
“You guys having a good night?” Ragnar asks, retaking his seat after we’ve all hugged our hellos.
“For the last half hour this one has been awake.” Khazak rubs my neck as he teases.
“Good nap?” Nylan asks me from across the table.
I nod, the weird nonverbal feeling returning now that we’re around people again.
“Really great performance, guys,” Ragnar tells us both. “I’ve been trying to get Ny to do something like that for years, but he’s too shy.”
“See, when David whines and moans, he sounds hot. When I do it, I sound high pitched and nasally.” Nylan shakes his head. “Nobody wants to hear that.”
“...Scared you can’t take as much as me, huh?” I can’t help but taunt the half-elf.
Nylan doesn’t say anything—that might mean committing to something he’s not sure he wants to do—but he narrows his eyes at my challenge.
Our orcs both laugh, and the three slip into small talk with me occasionally adding something.
A few minutes later, another familiar looking orc makes his way over to our table.
“Evening, boys. Enjoying the festival?” Rurig, one of Khazak’s fathers, steps up to our table wearing a slightly stained apron. Khazak told me he owned part of a restaurant, but I didn’t realize that’s where we’re eating.
“Yes, Ruda. Very much,” Khazak answers with a smile. “Has it been busy?”
“Just look around.” Rurig gestures to the full room. “I only even came in because they needed the extra hands.” He looks over to Nylan and Ragnar slyly. “Good thing they did not need extra feet, eh?”
I laugh along with the two of them—Nylan even snorts—while Khazak groans. “You make that joke every time.”
“Because it’s funny every time,” Nylan sucks up from his seat, a smart thing to do when food is involved.
“Flattery will get you everywhere, sweetheart.” The stout orc ruffles Ny’s hair with a warm grin. “What about you, David? Having fun?”
Even though I’m sure he has no idea what I’ve actually been up to, I still try and fail to not have my whole body turn red at the question. Then I remember I need to answer. “Yes, sir. It’s been very, uh, interesting.”
“I bet.” My turn to get my hair ruffled. Then he picks up one of my arms, inspecting its size. “Still too scrawny. Good thing you are here to eat.”
“Are the chefs the ones to come out and take the orders now?” Khazak tries to draw the attention off me.
“My own son, trying to get rid of me.” Rurig puts his hand over his heart in mock pain. “Alright, what can I get you boys?”
Rurig takes Ragnar and Nylan’s orders first before turning to Khazak and me.
“I will have the—”
“I know your order,” Rurig cuts off his son with a wave of his hand, making Khazak roll his eyes. “What about you, kid?”
“I, uh.” I haven’t even looked at a menu. Did we even get menus? “I’m not sure what you—”
“You know what, I remember what you ate at dinner the other week. I am going to surprise you,” Rurig cuts me off as well, and Khazak and I share a look.
“Food will be out in a bit. First round of drinks is on the house!” With a smile and a slap to his son’s back, Rurig leaves us, a female orc bringing over four mugs of beer a minute later.
Once the beer and conversation start flowing, I feel a little more relaxed and like my old self. I still don’t have much to say, but I’m happy to sit and listen while Ragnar and Nylan talk about their day.