In the Heat of the Dungeon - Samantha Cayto Page 0,18

Try as he might, he’d lain there, staring at his ceiling and feeling like the worst fucker in the world. How had he let that whole shit-show happen? He should have gently blocked Cody’s efforts from the first signs that he was heading in the direction of a blow job. He’d been like that fabled boiled frog, not getting that he was being killed—or in this case, seduced—until it was too late. It had all started with that sweet gesture of trust by Cody placing his head against his thigh. Ford had been helpless to resist it. Then he’d escalated things and sent the wrong message by giving in to the urge to stroke the sub’s silky blond hair. No wonder the kid had believed it was time to move on to the logical next step.

There had been plenty of opportunity to halt matters. Ford hadn’t wanted to and that was the bottom line. Since the moment he’d found the boy trussed up and waiting for rescue, he’d wanted him with a ferocity that disturbed him. The desire had been all about biology, however, and he was willing to cut himself some slack over it. Acting on it was another matter entirely. And it was all about preying on a vulnerable kid who was without the means of caring for himself, not any notion that he shouldn’t move on another Dom’s sub. Fuck Gage. He’d done the unforgiveable by leaving Cody like he had. It was obvious that the danger he’d been in of literally dying in that dungeon had occurred to the boy. It must have been a terrifying realization. Of course, Cody had sought to give Ford thanks for the care. His body had likely been his only currency while living on the streets. Only a selfish fucker would take advantage of that.

Now, the poor kid was crying. Tossing his covers aside, Ford rose then hurried down the stairs. He found Cody curled in the corner of the couch, his worn backpack clutched to his chest, his shoulders shaking with his quiet sobbing. With grim determination, Ford quietly approached him with what he hoped was a disarming expression. Cody still jumped when he saw him and looked at him as if he expected to be punished.

Ford held his hands up, palm out. “You’re not in trouble.” With that assurance out of the way, he sat gingerly on the edge of the couch. Cody watched him as if he were a snake about to strike. It killed Ford, knowing he’d put that look on the kid’s face.

“I’m sorry,” they both said at once.

Ford sighed. This was moronic. He needed to act like the Dom he was. “Tell me why you said that,” he commanded firmly, yet matter-of-factly.

Cody tucked in on himself even more, if such a thing were possible. “I’m sorry I angered you by being bold and slutty.”

“Oh.” Ford rubbed his forehead. Could he have screwed up matters any worse? “I’m not mad at you. I’m pissed that I didn’t exercise self-control. I shouldn’t have allowed you to think that you had to blow me in exchange for room and board. Gage trusted me to take care of you, not take advantage.”

Instead of being reassured by that confession, the sub’s crying morphed into full-blown sobbing, leaving Ford baffled. He acted on instinct, reaching for the boy and hauling him onto his lap. They sat together with Cody curled into Ford’s embrace. Having a naked boy in his arms would normally be a major turn-on, but the misery emanating from the sub quashed any erotic response. Ford was in full caretaking mode. All he could think about was soothing his charge and easing his emotional pain. He ran his fingers lightly along Cody’s arms while murmuring words of comfort.

“It’s okay, baby. You’ve done nothing wrong. Everything is going to be fine.” Tears ran down his chest from where the boy pressed his wet cheeks, and the backpack prevented him from achieving as much contact as he knew was necessary. It was obviously a security item, however, so he made no move to take it away. Instead, he tried a technique that had worked with other subs by cupping the nape of the boy’s neck and squeezing it.

“I have you. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

Cody shook. “He…he left me there! I could have died!”

Ah, there it is. “I know, but you didn’t. It’s over now. You’re here and you’re safe.”

Cody moved one hand to clutch the collar of Ford’s