Happy #SlaveMeThursday my loves! Some more Ziam for you! A little suspense. A little angst. A little fluff. What more could a Ziam shippers want ima right??

COMMENTS AND VOTES! MWAH!! Xoxo

***

"Sir," Liam gulped.

"I've been looking everywhere for you."

Liam's eyes shifted back to the door that Zayn would surely be coming out of in moments. "I was just leaving, sir."

"Going where?"

Liam started to walk towards Marcus, hoping to steer him away from theatre seven. "To, um, to the ceremony planner's, sir. Like I said earlier." He formed it more as a question.

"How was the movie?"

Liam started to pass Marcus, making him turn away from the door and face Liam just as Zayn came out. When he saw them he froze and Liam's eyes flicked to him before going back to Marcus. "It was okay, I guess. Do you want to escort me to the planner's, sir?"

"What's the rush? Tell me more about the movie. What'd you see?"

Zayn closed the door gently behind him and searched the immediate area for somewhere to go. The bathroom was across the hall right behind Marcus. His only chance. He gave Liam a pointed look and then glanced towards the bathroom.

"Yes, okay," Liam answered both Marcus and Zayn. "The, um, the movie was..." He watched Zayn slide across the tacky carpet only feet behind Marcus. "It was awful, actually. I fell asleep part way through and I don't really remember it." He tried to laugh it off, but it was stiff and jolting. "I'd much rather be at the planner's." Liam offered Marcus his hand and begged him with his thoughts to take it. Marcus disregarded the hand, but started walking with Liam towards the exit. Zayn slipped into the bathroom just as Liam turned around. They walked down the hall a few feet before Liam pretended at innocence. "I have to use the restroom, sir, and I came in a separate car anyway, so why don't you go ahead and I'll meet you there?"

Marcus pursed his lips in assessment before nodding tightly. "Alright, but don't be long, I need to get back to work."

Liam jumped at the chance. "I wouldn't want to keep you from work." He clasped his hands behind his back to show submission and suggested. "Your work is so important to you. Why don't I just come by after I go to the planner's with all the details and you can show me off to your coworkers? I would, uh, I'd love to meet them."

"Show you off," Marcus repeated with a glint in his eye. "Yes, why don't I? Show off my perfect slave." He ran a hand down Liam's back and gave his ass a squeeze before leaving around the corner.

Liam twitched at the gross feeling of someone touching him after Zayn. He nearly ran back to the bathroom and rounded the corner to find Zayn leaning against the entrance with a stern face and closed fists, but his face went soft at seeing Liam. "Wha-"

"Touch me," Liam asked. "Please, I feel-I just need your hands on me."

Zayn wrapped his arms around Liam protectively, his hands sliding down to pull Liam closer by his ass. "I will always touch you, baby. All you have to do is ask." Liam tucked his face under Zayn's chin and kissed his scruff. "My entire career I have respected that man," Zayn growled. "But now I can't stand him. I hate the way he touches you, or doesn't touch you. I hate that he calls you his. I hate him."

Liam rubbed his thumb across Zayn's lips. "I don't care about him. I just want you."

Zayn sighed and kissed Liam, letting his lips sit against Liam's for a minute. "I heard you in the hallway. You have to go."

"I don't want to."

"You have to."

Liam bit on Zayn's lip teasingly. "Come with me."

Zayn groaned and gripped Liam's ass harder. "I can't," he argued. "Not now. We know Marcus is watching you."

Liam could feel his anger building inside him. He didn't want to hate Marcus, he hadn't done anything actually wrong, but he wasn't Zayn. "I don't want to go. I don't want to plan his ceremony. I want to plan ours." Liam gripped at Zayn's back. "Please, go with me."

Zayn nosed along Liam's jaw and inhaled his scent. "I want to-"

"Then please."

Zayn kissed him again. "Okay, Liam."

Liam kissed him back, hard and excited. "Thank you," he murmured against his lips. Liam pulled Zayn's hand from his bum and intertwined their fingers. "Come on." He pulled, but Zayn stayed still. "What?"

"You have to go first." He nodded to the world around them. "They're watching you."

"But you'll-"

"I'll come after. I'll go in the back and meet you inside. I'll tell Cecilia you're coming and what room to give you so we can speak in private."

Liam couldn't help his smile, despite the circumstances. "I'll see you there, then?"

"Yeah, baby. Soon."

Liam gave Zayn's hand one more squeeze before letting go and leaving him in the bathroom. Zayn let his head fall back to the tile as he exhaled in relief.

***

Liam's hands shook as he buckled himself in and turned the key in the ignition. He was insane. Absolutely insane. He'd almost got caught on a date-not-date with another Master. He would've been ruined. Marcus would've had every right to punish him how he saw fit, or worse, abandon him.

But would that be so bad? His name would be ruined, but then he could be with Zayn and Zayn doesn't care about his name. Maybe he should've been caught.

No. What would that mean for Zayn's name? His company? It all would be marked by his indiscretions.

No, best to let Zayn figure this out and find a way for them to be together. Until then he'll just have to be more careful in order to see Zayn. Because he would. See Zayn. He needed to. He'd kissed him. Really kissed him. Touched him. Felt him. He couldn't go back now even if he wanted to. Not when his eyes were imprinted on Liam's consciousness forever. The shape of him like a brand in his mind.

It was noon by now so lunch hour traffic was clogging the streets and gave Liam a decent drive time to go over every little thing he'd ever done wrong in this life. Most came in the form of a raven-haired man of power with a good heart and amazing collection of literature. Liam's mind's eye ran over each minuscule detail since he walked into Zayn's house that night he'd been beaten and left to find his way.

He wondered why Zayn had just stayed silent and distant for all those months, but now he can see it. Zayn's eyes on him all the time. When they ate together. Worked out together. When Liam would bring him his nightly tea. Looking back, Zayn couldn't take his eyes off Liam. He made sure Liam was always happy. Safe. Comfortable. He went out of his way to ensure Liam was healed and tried to put his mind off his past. How did Liam miss Zayn's fondness for him for so long? They were Master and slave whether they admitted it or not. The only thing missing was the sex.

Which.

Liam would hopefully be getting some soon. Sex with Zayn would be...would be like finally waking up in the glow of mid-day after sleeping in a dungeon. Liam would finally know what if felt like to be touched and loved by a man that really cared for him. When Zayn finally took him it wouldn't be just sex, they would make love together.

Liam shivered in his seat and pressed his palm to his jeans. He groaned when he remembered that he'd snuck his cage off that morning before going into the theatre just in case Zayn wanted-well, that didn't happen and Liam had encountered Marcus without it and he could only imagine what would've happened if Marcus found out.

Honestly it only made Liam hotter. Marcus finding him hard and free for another man. Liam gripped the wheel tighter and burned holes into the road with his eyes to stay focused. He blindly reached in the glove box for the cage and lock. He retrieved it and started undoing his jeans. The slave pushed them down and slid the pieces back on, connecting the ring and cage with the lock and clicking it shut. The poor old lady crossing the street almost got an eyeful when Liam was stopped at a light.

Liam pulled his bottoms back up and felt in his pocket to make sure the small key was still there. Now he'd have to find a way back into Marcus' office to replace it before he found out. And he didn't even get off. Why did his life have to be so hard?

He pulled up to the planner's and parked. Inside Zayn was waiting for him, or will be if he wasn't there already, and Liam was about to start planning his pairing ceremony to another Master with Zayn's hand in his. This wasn't normal, or logical. But it was absolutely right.

As soon as he walked in, a woman with long, sleek black hair came rushing to him with a blaring smile and open arms. "Liam! Darling, how are you?"

Liam had only met Cecilia once, but he could pretend they were friends if she could. "Cecilia," he smiled fondly. "I'm well, how are you?"

"Oh Liam dear, I'm fabulous. Why don't you let me show you to your meeting room. I've got samples already lined up so we can just get right to it." She put a hand on Liam's lower back and led him down a hallway. She was a Master, but her touch didn't make him feel gross like Marcus' did. Maybe it wasn't all Masters, maybe it was just that one that Liam felt wrong being around. Funny, considering he was Liam's perfect match. "It's this one. I'll just go grab my folders and things. Why don't you get settled in and I'll be right back." Cecilia gave him a discrete wink and flitted, "Have fun," before walking off.

Liam opened the door to the dim room and shut it behind him. Before he could comprehend, he was being pushed back against the door and grinded on. "Zayn. Zayn," he whispered like it was his motto for life.

"Will it always be like this?" he growled in Liam's ear before biting on the lobe.

Liam mewled and pulled Zayn closer. "Like what?"

"Will I always have to wonder, when you're not with me, if you're with him." Zayn moved his teeth to Liam's neck and bit briefly, making Liam whine. "I got here before you and the first thing I wondered is if you decided not to come and went to him."

"Never," Liam promised, breathless and airy, as Zayn moved his shirt collar and sucked on a piece of his chest. He pulled back before he could do any real damage, Liam could tell, but he knew that at least for a little bit there'd be a faint red mark that claimed Liam as Zayn's. Liam was dizzy with the realization. "I'd never choose him over you. Id never choose anyone over you."

"Promise me," Zayn demanded.

"I promise."

There was a soft knock on the door and Zayn pulled back quickly and shook his hair across his face to compose himself. Liam on the other hand was still dizzy and couldn't care less about appearances. He moved from the door but his shirt was still pulled over and his eyes were hazy when Cecilia poked her head in.

"Are we ready to get started?" She flicked on a second light and Liam flinched against the sudden brightness, like his sins would suddenly be revealed under the florescent exposure.

Zayn came to Liam and placed a comforting hand to his lower back. "Ready?"

Liam swallowed and nodded before being led to sit across from Cecilia at a big table with samples and plans and lists. "Is this all for Marcus?"

"And you, dear. I've been tireless since I know the ceremony will be soon. Have you chosen a date? That really should've been the first thing."

Liam looked to Zayn and then back. "I, I don't know."

"How about," Zayn suggested gently, "you let Marcus take care of that. Just tell Cecilia what you like and don't like."

Liam nodded. "Okay."

Zayn leaned forward and brought some napkin samples towards Liam, leaning in to show him. Liam leaned into him unconsciously and listened as Zayn read out the options. "Which do you like best?"

Liam ran his fingers over the samples, brushing against Zayn briefly, before shrugging. "This one, I guess." He pointed to a cream colored one.

"Do you really like it, Liam? You have to really like it," Zayn urged.

"Yes, I like that one," he said more firmly.

"Alright," he slid the board back over and brought another. "Which one?"

Liam shifted in his chair so he was closer to Zayn's voice, hoping he could maybe just absorb him in through osmosis. His thigh pressed against Zayn's under the table as he looked over sample pieces of plates. "Does it need to match the napkins?"

Zayn chuckled fondly. "Well, that's the idea, but no. It's your pairing and you may choose whatever you'd like."

Liam pursed his lips and looked to Zayn, and as he lifted his head to respond he noticed that their faces were mere inches apart and Liam could probably count his individual eyelashes if he wanted. He made a side note to embark on the endeavor one day. "I changed my mind about the napkins then."

"Okay," Zayn nodded without looking away. "Which ones did you want?"

"The ones you want."

Zayn's face went soft, eyelids dropping with the weight of his adoration. "Its not my choice. This is your ceremony."

Liam remembered Cecilia and flicked his eyes to her, but Zayn brought him back with a squeeze to his knee. Liam ran his fingers over the back of Zayn's hand. "Can it be ours, for now?" he whispered.

"Liam," Zayn sighed, that way he always does when Liam almost asks for too much.

"I'll still pick the things I like, just like I would, but I want to know what you like, too."

Zayn's smile was small but full of things he couldn't say. Things like I want that, too and I'd do anything for you. "Okay."

"I want paper napkins."

"What?" Zayn laughed in confusion.

"I want paper napkins with our initials," Liam repeated. "And paper plates. And can we have barbecue for the food?" He took Zayn's hand in his and tucked his ankle behind the man's. "And I want it on a beach. With cheap folding chairs and a fire pit. I want to dance in the sand to a boom box under the stars with you."

Zayn had his lip caught gently between his teeth listening to Liam's dream wedding. "Macaroni and cheese for a side. And no shoes. I want you in white."

"Yes," Liam confirmed giddily.

"Yes," Zayn agreed, to much more than napkins.

***

"It's Mr. Malik, sir. I'm sure of it. He went in the back."

Marcus was in his car on his way back to the office, but the news had him running through a red light and speeding fifteen over suddenly. "That ungrateful prick. Who does he think he is, fooling with my slave?!" Marcus ran a furious hand through his hair.

"Do you want me to keep watching, sir? I should be home soon to lead in dinner preparations."

"No," Marcus barked. "Don't take your eyes off him for a moment. I want to know everything."