Liam can't sit still. His cock is hard and aching. And locked up.

Chastity was not in his profile, but Marcus assured him it was only until they were paired, said that if he couldn't have him then Liam surely couldn't have himself. Liam wanted to be put off by the demand, but the fact that Marcus wanted Liam to himself so badly made fire burn inside his chest. All he wanted was to be wanted. So he took the cage and lock and Marcus kept the key for himself.

Marcus hadn't so much as looked at him since he put the cage on last week, so he did a bad thing tonight, and now his length is pressing the metal bars so painfully that he wants to punch a wall.

He did a bad thing.

He thought about Zayn.

Then, he texted Zayn.

He didn't mean to, but Marcus hadn't even kissed him since and, after the near constant contact he got at Zayn's, he was lonely. So he texted Zayn a simple How are you? Two hours later they'd delved into very dangerous territory that involved Liam begging and Zayn refusing.

L: It hurts, sir, please.

Z: I can't Liam. I want to but ur not mine.

Z: Plus he has the key.

Liam groaned. He knew that, but he expected-well he didn't know what he expected, but he just needed Zayn's help. Liam didn't respond because he knew it wouldn't help. He turned on his stomach and rubbed against his sheets for relief until he heard the low buzz of his phone.

He didn't even look at the number, too hard to care, before answering. "Yes?" he breathed, choked and airy.

"Fuck, Liam."

Liam gasped at hearing Zayn's voice and stopped humping the bed. "Sir, I'm sorry-I didn't know-"

"Are you okay?"

Liam actually thought about it. "I'm fine, sir."

"What about..."

Liam's mind rushed back to the red heat that was caught between his body and the sheets. "It hurts," he whispered, embarrassed but needy.

"Where does he keep the key?"

"I don't know," Liam whined.

"You don't have any idea?"

Liam focused all his brain power on anything, but his cock, to think. "His office, probably. I'm not allowed in there."

"Is he home?"

Liam shook his head before realizing Zayn couldn't see him. "At work."

"Can you get in his office?"

Liam fisted the pillowcase. "I'll get in trouble. I'm not allowed."

"Liam Payne. I'm allowing you. He can't hurt you like this."

"But I-" Liam didn't know how to explain that he sort of liked it, the pain, the feeling of being powerless. He realized very quickly that what he didn't like was the lack of love he was shown. He could be whipped and spanked and branded, probably, as long as he was cuddled afterwards. But Marcus wasn't the cuddling type. "I'm okay."

"Has he done anything against your will? Liam, I swear, if he hurt you-"

"No," Liam assured him quickly. "Nothing like that. I quite...I think I like it." Liam was rubbing against the bed again without noticing.

"Oh. Oh, um, alright."

"But he's never here. And when he is he's never with me. I just need him and he's never here." Liam could hear the weakness in his voice. "And I need to come so badly."

"God, Liam." Zayn's voice was filled with frustration and something else, something darker. "Get to his office; find the key."

"What if-"

"Do what I say."

"Yes, sir," Liam whimpered but got off the bed. He debated finding pants to put on, but then imagined the pain of it them against his hard on and decided against it. "Okay."

"Watch for his staff. They don't trust you yet, I suppose."

"I miss Kalli and Marvin," Liam offered. "The staff here is quiet."

"How are they treating you?"

"Hold on," Liam whispered as he dashed down the hall, one hand covering his crotch, down the back stairs and to Marcus' office door. He glanced down the hall to make sure no one saw him before ducking inside. He leaned back on the door and whispered, "I'm in. And they're not mean per say, just...distant." That's how Liam could describe this whole situation. Distant. No one was treating him badly, but they weren't kind. He was fed well, had a beautiful room, but it was quiet and cold.

"Find the key, Liam." Liam moved to the desk and starting opening drawers, careful not to move things around. "But you're okay?"

It was the third time, maybe, that Zayn had asked and Liam didn't know what to say to ease his worry. "I am."

"But you're not happy." It wasn't a question.

"I miss you." It came out before Liam even thought about it.

"Liam, don't."

"I'm sorry. I know. I'm happy, or, I will be. Once were paired and he'll touch me."

Liam heard Zayn's growl through the phone. "That's...that's none of my business. Please don't."

Liam pulled open the shallow top drawer and saw the tiny gold key sticking out from a pile of pens. "I found it," he whisper-shouted.

"Alright, Liam, I'll go now."

"Please!" Liam leaned against the desk and begged, "Don't go. I need you."

"Liam I can't-"

"I need you," he begged again.

He heard Zayn's sigh and then he said, "Take it off."

Liam whimpered with relief, that hadn't even come yet, as he put the key in the lock. The small padlock clicked open and then Liam was scrambling to get the cage off. "It's off." He looked down at his hard prick, nearly purple from the suffocation. "It'll hurt if I touch myself."

"It hurts now, doesn't it?"

"Yes," Liam agreed quietly and wrapped his fingers around himself. "Oh, God," he cried in a mix of pain and pleasure.

"Gentle at first, Liam. Lightly."

Liam loosened his grip and let his fingers run along his length. The touch felt like fire, and Liam couldn't decide if he wanted to drench himself in water or be consumed by the flames. Liam was groaning into the mouthpiece, little noises pushing from his lungs each time he moved his hand, so he pulled it away. "I can't. It hurts." He was crying now, tears leaking over his cheeks.

"Touch yourself, Liam. You have to get off."

Liam nodded resolutely and wrapped his fingers again. "Can you talk to me?"

"I shouldn't-"

"Please, I can't do it without you."

Zayn sighed again and lowered his voice. "Think about me. Pretend it's my hand."

Liam closed his eyes and saw Zayn's long fingers circle his shaft. He moaned into the phone and pumped himself gently. "More, sir, please."

"I need you to come for me, Li. Can you do that?"

"Yes, sir," he moved his hand faster. "Oh, God, Mr. Malik."

"Zayn," he urged.

Liam's breath caught, but he couldn't stop his hand now, the pressure building in him. "Zayn, fuck," he breathed, voice raspy from desire. He swore he heard an actual moan from Zayn's side of the phone, but his brain was foggy and he was trying to focus on his own problem. "Zayn, keep talking."

"Don't stop," Zayn instructed. "I want to hear you come, baby." That was it. Liam moaned Zayn's name and shot up his stomach and chest until he was shaking and crying again. "Li, baby. You're okay. Calm down."

Liam gulped down swallows of air and tried to get his body to stop shaking. "Thank you. Thankyouthankyou."

"Of course, Liam. You have to get cleaned up and get out before he comes home."

Liam hated the idea of putting the cage back on, but he did anyway as soon as he wiped himself down with a tissue. Once he was locked up again, he replaced the key and shut the drawer carefully. He felt a million times better and couldn't stop thanking Zayn over the phone. When he got back to his room and fell on the bed he was smiling. "Thank you, sir." Zayn was quiet and Liam had to be sure he hadn't hung up. "Sir?"

"I shouldn't have done that. I undermined another Master's authority."

Liam knew what they did was wrong, but he couldn't seem to feel the same regret that Zayn apparently did. But he knew he was an awful slave for it. He needed Marcus' training. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. You're just a-"

"Slave. I know." Liam rolled his eyes.

"Did you just talk back to me?"

Liam froze, didn't even realize. "Sir, I'm so sorry. Please forgive me."

"I wish I was there. You'd be punished over my knee for that." Liam groaned and hit his head against the desk. "Wouldn't even be a punishment for you would it? I had no idea you enjoyed that kind of stuff, Liam."

"Neither did I," he sighed into the phone. "But it's better with you. Marcus-he, he just leaves when he's done with me."

"I know it's hard, but that's the way a proper Master/slave relationship works."

"But with you-"

"I am not a good example of a proper Master."

"That's not true, sir. You-you're the most amazing example of a Master I've ever known."

"You don't even know me as your Master, Liam."

"I want to."

There was another heavy silence before Zayn answered, "I can't. Liam, I can't."

Liam didn't get it. He'd made his feelings for Zayn clear, but Zayn didn't return them. Then he'd give Liam little bits of hope that he felt the same way, only to tear them out from under Liam's feet. "Why not?"

"He's-it's complicated. Just-" Zayn made a disgruntled sound. "Tell me you're okay, one more time, please."

"I'm okay," Liam answered honestly. "But I'd be better with you."

"I shouldn't have called."

"But you did."

"Yes, I did. I can't seem to control the things I do when they involve you."

"Is that a bad thing or a good thing?"

"A very bad thing, Liam."

"Oh." Liam tried to understand from the minute details he'd gathered so far. "What is it about Marcus that stops you?"

"It's not of your concern."

"But it involves me, right?"

"Liam, don't push me."

"Why can't you just tell me what I've done wrong?"

"My Liam." Zayn was weighing his next words carefully, Liam could tell. "Can you meet me somewhere?"

"I-" Liam jumped at a knock on the door. "I have to go," he whispered urgently and hung up just as the door opened and Marcus walked in. Liam stood immediately and clasped his hands behind his back. "Good evening, sir."

"Who were you talking to?"

Liam floundered for a second before deciding, "Myself, sir."

"Marcus," he reminded gently.

"Right. Marcus."

"Dinner will be ready soon, but first," he closed the space between them and brought Liam in for a rough kiss. Liam gasped into it and let Marcus have his mouth, finally getting what he craved after nearly two weeks here. "I wish I could touch you. I can't wait to make you mine."

Liam moaned at the desire in Marcus' voice. "Me too. sir."

"Marcus."

"Marcus." Liam bit his lip and smiled.

Marcus gave Liam's hair a yank and turned to walk out, leaving a muttered, "Fucking hot," on his way out. And Liam was alone again, cock semi hard and mind a haze of two completely different worlds. He stared blankly at the door, wondering where the sudden passion came from. But then he went back to the last thing Zayn had said.

He hurried to his phone and typed a quick I'll sneak out tommorow. You never work on Thursdays. Meet me at the movies.