"So... I believe we have some groceries to put away, hm?" Orion said with a smile as he removed his hands from Zachary, only to tap his backside before stepping out of the bathroom. The tap made Zachary jump, dropping the empty can in the sink before he stalked after Orion.

"That was not your butt to tap," he chided as he knelt down beside Orion and began digging through the bags to get things put away.

"Oh?"

Zachary tried to glare at him and shook the thing he'd just grabbed from the bag at the older man, but when the guy just snickered, Zach glanced down at his hand and frowned.

Of course. Out of all the things I could have grabbed to shake at him, it's the cucumber.

When Orion burst out laughing Zach smacked him over the head with the vegetable.

"Oh, how I wish I had gotten a photo of that."

Both of their heads jerked over toward the door where a woman that looked around thirty or so stood.

"Don't you ever knock?" Orion grumbled as he stood up and walked over to her.

"Nope. You know this already, Master."

Orion rolled his eyes but Zachary knew he didn't mind because of the smile that accompanied the gesture. "What do I owe the pleasure of this visit, Xena?"

"Aww, not happy to see your very own warrior princess?" Xena said as she tried to skirt around Orion to obviously get to Zachary. When she couldn't get past him she huffed out a frustrated breath and put her hands on her thin hips.

"Oh come on, Orion. I just wanna see your new sub. No need to hide this one from me just because I drove off Mackenzie. You and I both know that he wasn't even gay and just wanted to piss off his friend that liked you."

"I know that, but you also drove of Mitchel and Harmon, too."

The woman paused, then smirked. "True. They just annoyed me."

Orion shook his head and sat down on the bed, then realized his mistake when Xena blurred past him and over to Zachary. Unsure of what to do about the woman rapidly encroaching on his personal space, Zach lifted the cucumber in both hands and pointed it at her like a weapon.

"D-don't come any closer!"

The woman stopped abruptly and looked back at Orion like he was crazy. "You picked an interesting one this time. Defending himself with a cucumber?"

"He's spunky, but he's not my sub" Orion said with a grin. Xena didn't look impressed. In fact, she turned back to Zachary and returned her hands to her hips.

"Alright you, all of Orion's subs have to go through me before you can be official. So, what's your name?"

But I'm not his sub...

Doubting that she'd even believe him, Zachary hunched his shoulders and replied. "Zachary."

"How old are you? Where do you work? Where did you live before Orion invited you to stay here?"

Man, she knows him really well.

"I'm twenty, and uh, I don't have a job yet."

Her eyes narrowed, but when Zachary didn't answer her last question she turned and glared at Orion.

"Really Orion? How many times do I have to throw out guys that just want to take advantage of you? It should be really obvious by now, yet you keep bringing them home."

"Xena, he's not trying to take advantage of anything."

The woman threw her arms up in frustration. "I'm not going to deal with another useless brat strutting about the club like he owns it because you're his dom."

"I already told you, he's not my sub, Xena."

The woman didn't even blink at Orion's answer and instead turned her attention back to Zachary and his cucumber-weapon. "Answer the last question. Where did you live before he invited you to stay here? You're getting drug tested either way, but I still want an address."

I don't like her, but if she wants the truth, I'll give it to her.

"I was homeless. He found me during the rainstorm in the alley two blocks away."

The woman's face relaxed slightly out of surprise. "What?"

Shifting from foot to foot nervously, Zachary looked down at his feet, lowering the cucumber as he shrugged and mumbled. "I don't have a home. I've been trying to get a job for awhile, because I'm down to twelve dollars and twenty-two cents, but it's hard to impress people when you have nothing to offer."

For once in his life, Zachary felt inadequate. His normally determined, positive outlook just didn't help him right then as the cucumber slipped from his fingers and dropped to the floor.

"That's enough, Xena." Orion finally said, pushing his way past her in order to tug Zachary into his arms. He hadn't wanted to interfere because Zachary was his own man, and really made him proud by standing up to such a dominant woman that scared even him, but it was time to step in and protect what was his.

"He isn't my sub. I put my collar on him and he asked me to take it off. He might let me have him one day, but for now I just want to help him. He's not taking advantage of me at all, and everything I've done so far has been strictly because I wanted to do it."

The woman took a few frustrated breaths before taking a step away from them and crossing her arms over her chest. "What expensive store did you get his clothing from?"

"The thrift store down the street. The receipt is still in the bag."

Her eyes widened, pouting frown finally beginning to turn authentic.

"Where did you take him for lunch? I know you, you always take out new guys to start getting to know them."

"We went to that Chinese fast food place near the thrift store."

When Xena finally turned her attention back to Zachary Orion felt the guy nod, his head gently moving against his chest, where he held it for comfort.

"Darn it. Fine, I got it. He's not your sub, at least not yet, and he's not trying to take advantage of you. Did I miss anything?"

"Yes. You forgot to tell me about the birthday party you're planning for tonight, even though I told you at least twenty times over the years that I don't like parties with your clingy customers. Unless you're down here for another reason that I can't guess."

Xena rolled her eyes and flicked her wrist, as if his words meant nothing. And to her, they pretty much did. "Oh you'll get over it, Orion. Tonight's your night to let loose!"

Correction. Tonight's you're night to let loose, and blame me later for letting you get shit-faced.

"Be up in about an hour, okay Master?" She said as she sashayed her way toward the door, her tiny pitch-black dress swaying with her matching hair as she moved.

"Yes mom," Orion sighed, making the woman giggle before disappearing out the door. When he was sure she was gone he flopped over onto the bed, blowing out a frustrated breath.

"God, this is going to be terrible."

Zachary slid onto the bed, sitting beside him with a curious stare. "Why not just skip it if you don't want to go?"

Orion looked up at Zach, grinning at the guy's naivety. "She's my boss... and she has a key to this room."

Realization took over Zachary's curious expression and he shook his head.

"Yup, that's basically my outlook on it. Since I don't have a sub yet, either, I'm probably going to get swamped with random presents that I don't want, either."

Shaking his own head, Orion sat up and reached over, mussing up Zach's hair out of habit before sliding from the bed. "I'm gonna go get in the shower, since I know she'll skin me if I don't look the way she wants when I go upstairs for the party. Can you put away what we bought please?"

"Sure," Zachary said as he quickly slid from the bed and began doing just that. He removed the plate of food Orion had made him the previous day and got busy stuffing the fridge with the new things he'd bought. By the time Orion was in the shower he had put everything away... and really, really had to pee.

Just wait. He told himself, trying to force himself to hold it, but darn it! He'd drunk way too much water at the restaurant. It wasn't even two minutes later that he peeked into the bathroom. "O-Orion? Can I use the bathroom real quick?"

The dark outline on the other side of the frosted shower glass made him blush as Orion turned to face him, but obviously couldn't see him. "Of course." Zachary didn't wait another second as he rushed forward and unzipped his pants. The relief made him sigh, getting a deep chuckle from Orion as he finished up.

"Just don't flu---fuck!" Zachary literally did exactly what he told him not too, a second before the words left Orion's mouth.

Oops!

"Sorry!"

Another quiet laugh came from him, drawing Zachary's eyes toward the frosted glass just long enough for him to see Orion rubbing his likely-burning backside. He forced his eyes away toward the sink, a blush quickly covering his face right down to his neck. He stood there quietly for a moment, expecting Orion to say something, but when he instead heard the shower door open, he knew he had to run! Unfortunately, he, of course, wasn't fast enough. Orion's soaked, bare arm slid around his waist and pulled him backward, straight under the spray of water!

"Ah! Hot!"

It wasn't as hot as it had likely been when he'd flushed the toilet by accident, but it was still pretty hot.

Wait a second.

Moving a little, Zachary confirmed that he was being held against something firm... and breathing.

So that also means Orion... and Orion is naked.

If his neck and ears weren't bright red yet, they definitely were now! His heart was pumping so fast that he thought he might begin to get light-headed, too, especially when he felt Orion nuzzle against his cheek beneath the warm spray.

"You burnt my butt."

Zach's eyes had squeezed shut, but now blinked open, surprised by how random Orion's statement was. Not that it was a lie, he likely did have a red butt right then, but Zachary definitely hadn't expected him to say those words instead of teasing him or getting upset!

"I-I'm sorry."

There was silence for a moment before Orion slowly released him to stand on his own. Zachary didn't dare turn around until he was literally forced to by Orion's firm hands on his shoulders. He thought the older man might still be a bit upset, but when all he was met with was Orion's grin, he felt his body relax.

"I'm not mad, you just startled me with the hot water. I know it was a mistake."

Zachary nervously licked his lips and nodded. It had definitely been a mistake.

"There will be a punishment, however."

What? But he said he wasn't mad.

Worry etched its way onto Zach's face but before he could dwell on it Orion told him to turn around. Stiffly, Zachary did as told. He knew that Orion wouldn't hurt him, but he wasn't really sure what else he could do as a possible punishment. His thoughts broke apart when strong fingers began to work soap into his hair, making a groan slip from his lips unintentionally. Orion easily blocked the spray of water with his large stature so all Zachary had to do was focus on staying upright, which was harder than he'd ever thought possible considering how good Orion's fingers felt against his scalp.

After the shampoo was washed off he eagerly anticipated the conditioner. Orion didn't hesitate to apply it, but instead of scrubbing it in he gently slid his fingers through his smooth hair, removing any tangles that had managed to occur throughout the day.

"Orion?"

The older man's fingers paused in his hair for a brief second before he replied. "Yes, Zachary?"

"Do you um... um, have any books o-on..."

He couldn't manage to finish his sentence, embarrassment taking over him again. It was a simple question, one Orion had probably heard plenty of times, or even asked at some point, but for some reason Zachary just couldn't get the words out of his mouth.

"BDSM?"

Turning slowly, Zachary felt Orion's hands slip from his hair and slowly move down his wet face, finally stopping on his shoulders. He wanted to talk, to acknowledge what Orion said, but after a few silent moments he just nodded. It was a simple gesture to a simple question, but the way it lit up Orion's face... it made Zach's chest suddenly feel too small for his racing heart.

I want to make him smile like that more.