Zayn felt like he was walking on eggshells in his own house. Not at any fault of Liam's per say, but Zayn couldn't help how awkward he was being around the slave. It's like he lost all common sense anytime Liam was around. He'd spilled multiple glasses of liquid, shattered glass covering the floor; been late to work several times because he took an hour to eat breakfast, staring at the strong man instead of eating. He'd forgotten to pay his kitchen staff one week because he was daydreaming about him and didn't to go by the bank.

A couple days ago, Zayn had taken a shower and wrapped up in a towel, only to find his favorite pajamas were nowhere to be found. He marched downstairs to the servants' quarters to ask if they were in the wash to find Liam sitting at the staff's dining table in a pair of shorts and not much else. Zayn had never thought twice about his modesty while at home. Until then. He'd instinctively clasped his hands in front of himself and babbled on about his missing pants while trying not to make it obvious he couldn't stop looking at Liam.

Last week, Zayn had brought Liam into his office to update himself on Liam's comfort since moving in. Liam had knocked on the door and ducked his head inside. "Sir? You wanted to see me?"

"Yes, Liam. Come in." Liam sat in the chair on the other side of Zayn's desk and laid his hands calmly on his lap. "So, Liam, how are you adjusting to life here?"

Liam seemed taken aback by the question. "Very well, sir, thank you. Your staff is kind and I rather like your home. Especially the gym."

"I've heard. You've done well to keep in peak physical condition," Zayn swallowed at the meaning behind his words, "and that is a good reflection on me, so thank you."

"Of course, sir."

"You like your room? It's not too cold?"

"No, sir."

Zayn nodded sharply, trying to get up the courage to ask what he really wanted to. "You-you're not," Zayn huffed, annoyed at himself for being so childish, "You like it enough to stay for a little while longer?"

Liam's brows furrowed then smoothed quickly, "Quite frankly, sir. I love it here. I'll stay as long as you'll allow." Liam put his hands up. "Not that I'm taking advantage of your kindness. As soon as you can find me a place to go, I'll leave; but your home is lovely, and you are-" his long stream of babble cut off abruptly.

Zayn tried not to smile at Liam's obvious embarrassment. "As long as you're happy here, then you're welcome here." Liam had seemed relieved by that.

Liam had taken over his mind and had no idea. It'd been almost two weeks now and Liam still roamed around the house, helping with whatever he could, and being on his best behavior for his employer. He'd only brought up the agreement between them once, saying that he didn't want to force Zayn to use more resources than necessary to help him. Zayn quickly shushed him and told him he would do whatever he saw fit. Liam had bowed his head in submission. Zayn immediately felt bad, but he wasn't sure how to tell Liam that he hadn't even put him in the system yet. He told himself it was because he was so busy with actual clients.

***

Zayn changed out of his work clothes into a pair of loose shorts and a vest to hit his home gym for an hour of personal training. He made his way downstairs, only to find Liam at the free weights, alternating arms in lifting the substantial pieces of equipment into the air and back to his chest. His bare chest. His sweaty, glistening, bare-

Zayn shook his head free of those thoughts and made his way to where his personal trainer was waiting with a smile. "Mr. Malik," he greeted.

"Zayn, please. For the hundredth time, Mark."

The trainer just smiled and led Zayn to the boxing bag hung from the ceiling. Zayn laced up his gloves and positioned them until they were comfortable. He gave one more glance to his left to see Liam raising the weights up from the sides of his body into the air. Zayn sighed, just the smallest, tiniest sound, before focusing on the task at hand. He got into his stance and waited for Mark to nod before he landed a punch to the bag. He listened to Mark count out his rhythm and change up his routine as Zayn got warmed up. The repetition soon had Zayn's mind wandering again, and to the same place it seemed to wander every time for the past two weeks. His eyes flickered over for just a moment, but a moment was enough to see Liam now bench pressing rather a large weight above his head. Zayn swung and missed the bag, landing him face first into Mark who was holding it. He cursed and then righted himself, flushing with embarrassment. "So sorry."

Mark smirked at him, "Distracted today?"

Zayn grunted, "A lot on my mind." Well, not a lot, but a lot of one thing.

"It's time for your solo exercises, sir. If you'd like to grab your headphones, the ring is waiting for you." Zayn nodded, tossed his gloves to the floor, and pulled his headphones and phone from his pocket. "If you don't mind, sir, while I'm waiting, I'd like to work with your slave."

Zayn stiffened, and felt Liam do the same. "He's not mine, but, of course. Go ahead." Zayn motioned him off towards Liam and ducked between the ropes to face the dummy in the middle of the small practice mat. Zayn grabbed the tape from the floor and wrapped his knuckles before standing before his "sparring partner". He pressed play and an upbeat R&B tune filtered through the speakers. Zayn rolled his neck and shoulders, focusing his mind into the exercise. He bounced from foot to foot, playing hits back and forth between arms, while he danced around the figure. He subconsciously moved to the beat, feet hitting the floor in time with the song, fists smacking the dummy on a particularly good note.

He'd punched his way through half of his playlist before sweat was dripping into his eyes and his shirt was sticking to his torso. He dropped his hands to his sides tiredly and took long, heaving breaths. He looked around for Mark to find him leaning over Liam's stretched out body. Liam was on his back on the floor, one knee bent and held by his hands, stretching out the back of his thigh. Mark's hands guided Liam gently deeper into the stretch, one cupping over Liam's shin and the other on the back of his thigh. Zayn's nostrils flared as a dark growl fell from his mouth. The sound was muted to Zayn by his music, but it must have echoed through the gym because both Mark and Liam's heads snapped to the sound. Zayn quickly cleared his throat and plucked his headphones from his ears. "I think that will be enough for today, Mark. Thank you for your time."

Mark quickly rose from his position and Liam fell out of the stretch and laid out on the floor, breathing hard. They must've done some cardio while Zayn was boxing. Now Liam's chest rose and fell sharply, filling to the brim before sinking back down. "Sir, we haven't stretched you out. I wouldn't want you to get hurt. Tight muscles aren't pleasurable." Zayn wanted to oppose and shove Mark out his door that instant, but that would be rude and Mark was only trying to do his job. "Come and join Liam and I, we were just working on ending stretches anyway."

Zayn looked to Liam as he rose from the floor and held his hands behind his back. Zayn had never considered himself a masochist, so he's not sure why he decided to indulge in staying and watching Liam bend this way and that; but he found himself walking towards the two and wrapping his phone back up before returning it to his pocket. "Thank you for letting me borrow your trainer, sir," Liam remarked.

Liam didn't know how much he regretted that decision, so he just nodded and turned to Mark. "Shall we?"

Liam and Zayn stood next to each other while Mark led them in some basic arm stretches first. Arm across the body, behind the head, behind the back. But then Mark asked Liam to assist Zayn in an arm stretch and they both tensed up. "Just hold his shoulder with one hand and pull his arm, gently, back towards you." Liam looked to Zayn for permission and looked relieved when Zayn nodded. Liam's fingers curled over Zayn's shoulder, the touch warm and foreign, while his other hand clasped around Zayn's elbow. He had a good couple of feet between them until Mark stepped behind Liam and pushed him closer. "You can't leave that much space and get good leverage. Mr. Malik doesn't bite," Mark laughed.

Liam laughed too, but it was a nervous, airy sound. Now Liam's nose was brushing Zayn's sweaty hair, his lips only inches from Zayn's ear, as he gripped Zayn's body and pulled. Zayn bent willingly into him, his body folding with the movement. "Good, now the other," Mark instructed. Liam swallowed and moved to the other side, his breath now fanning across the other side of Zayn's neck. Zayn kept his eyes firmly on the mirror in front him, but he could see Liam in it, over his shoulder. Zayn stretched back into it, Liam's palm a firm pressure on his shoulder. "Good, now, Mr. Malik, if you'll cross your arms over your chest." Zayn did. "And, Liam, now take ahold of his wrists and pull back towards you."

Liam's mouth opened in obviously protest, but he didn't say anything as Zayn watched him and waited. Liam reached around Zayn, his chest now pressed to his back and grabbed his wrists. He bent his elbows and pulled Zayn's arms across his body. Zayn's eyes fell shut as Liam stretched him out. Liam couldn't help when he ducked his head and pressed his nose to Zayn's neck. Zayn felt it, but only registered the comfort of the gesture, leaning his head to the side for more. Liam inhaled Zayn's scent, spicy and raw from the workout, and strong like a Master's should be. He didn't even realize that a moan passed his lips until Zayn's froze in front of him. Once he realized, he dropped Zayn's arms and backed away from him. "I'm...I'm sorry," he mumbled.

Zayn looked anywhere but at the flustered slave that still seemed so close. When he finally found Mark he was smirking at the duo with a knowing gleam in his eye. Zayn shook his body out lightly and nodded to his trainer. "That's enough for tonight. You're dismissed." This second dismissal wasn't a suggestion and Mark knew it. He gathered his things, thanked Zayn for his time, and nodded to Liam before leaving. The room seemed exponentially larger now with just the two of them, the silence expanding the thick air. Liam held his hands firmly behind his back and kept his eyes lowered until Zayn finally said, "There's no need for you to apologize."

Liam immediately disagreed, "I was inappropriate. I have more self-restraint than that."

"No. You're just a slave, you can't be blamed for my error in judgment."

Liam's fists clenched behind his back at Zayn's unintentional belittling. "Whatever you say, sir."

Zayn ignored Liam's tight words and instructed, "Go clean up. Dinner is in an hour," before quickly walking away from him. Liam watched him go with a hollow feeling in his throat. Zayn marched up the stairs and to his bathroom, throwing off his sweaty clothes on his way to the shower. He flicked the water on and stepped under the stream before he fell against the wall and wrapped his fingers around the hard on he'd acquired during the strained altercation.

He hummed with relief as images of Liam flashed across his mind. Liam sprawled on the floor, panting. Liam's arms flexing as he pushed the bar above his head. Zayn bit back a moan and glided his hand faster to more images. Liam pressed to his back, warm skin against his. Liam pressing his nose to Zayn's neck. Liam's moan. Zayn groaned and shot his release over his hand and onto the shower floor, where the evidence washed down the drain. Zayn sucked in ragged breaths as his head hung heavy against his chest. "Fuck," he whispered to the knowing walls.

I'd like to say a massive thanks to my two new betas for this fic! They're fantastic and I love them!