Chapter 7

Nick had to fight to steady his breathing as Greg moved above him. The sight of Greg's pink tongue, sticking out between soft lips, as he concentrated on his task, was driving Nick crazy.

It didn't help that the sweep of the tip of the ballpoint pen over the skin on his cheek tickled.

"Wouldn't it be easier to just lock a collar around my neck? That's what my former masters did." He resisted the urge to shift on the kitchen chair, instead, holding onto the edges of it in a white knuckled grip he hoped Greg wouldn't notice.

"Easier, yes. This is about trust, though. My trust in you to not wash this off and run away. Your trust in me that this means I'll take care of you. There. Done." Greg took a step back, admiring his freehand drawing skills. Satisfied, he handed Nick a hand mirror he'd set on the counter earlier.

Nick reluctantly took the mirror, not sure what he'd see on his cheek. He knew that some owners tattooed their slaves, instead of collaring them, but he'd never known of any that would just draw their sigil on with a ballpoint pen that could be washed away.

A stylized shooting star streaked down Nick's cheek, the tail forming a constellation in the shape of an 'S.' Nick found he liked this much better than a collar. Even though he still knew little about Greg, he felt that the sigil was a perfect fit for his master. And deep down, Nick was pleased to be claimed as Greg's.

"It looks better in color, so we'll have to see about getting some gel pens. Once you get the hang of it, it's pretty easy to draw, so you should be able to do it yourself, too." Capping the pen, Greg put it and the mirror away, and they were off to go shopping.

Having planned to be out later than usual today, Greg had taken a nap the night before. It was just after nine in the morning, and they were at the Super Wal-Mart near Greg's apartment. Greg had made this their first stop because he didn't want Nick to walk around barefoot all day, and his own shoes wouldn't fit the other man.

In the shoe aisle, Greg eyed the selection available. "I think you should have at least two pairs. Do you like to jog? I try to go jogging a few times a week, wouldn't mind company."

"I jogged as part of my training in the off season for football, when I was in highschool," Nick replied quietly. "It would be nice to do it again."

"Choose yourself a pair of shoes for everyday use and a pair for jogging, then." As an afterthought, Greg added, "As long as you don't get too extravagant with price, it isn't an issue."

As Nick tried on some different shoes, Greg reflected on what Nick had told him. The night before, he'd tried to get Nick to open up, tell him about his past, but he wouldn't. Now he knew the other man had played football in highschool. It was a start.

When they were done in the clothing section – the shopping cart loaded down with shirts, jeans, sweats, packages of socks, underwear, and the two pairs of shoes – they headed over to the health section, where Greg made sure Nick had a toothbrush, deodorant, and – after asking Nick if he wanted to keep his hair short or let it grow out – a comb.

Eyes lighting up at one of his sudden brilliant ideas, Greg pushed the loaded down cart towards the back of the store. Nick trailed quietly behind, not questioning his master. He just thought his master had remembered something he wanted to get for himself.

In the electronics department, Greg looked over the display of MP3 players. He pointed out one of the newer iPods to the clerk. Then he wandered over to the laptop display. Choosing one of those, he motioned to the clerk again.

Turning to Nick, Greg said, "Go choose a few music CDs and a computer game or two."

Nick looked at Greg a bit blankly, not comprehending what Greg wanted of him.

"The iPod and laptop are for you. You'll need music and games to use with them. C'mon, I'll help you choose." Greg pushed the cart down the music aisle.

It took him a moment to realize Nick wasn't behind him, but still standing over by the laptops, a stunned look on his face.

"Nick, c'mon," Greg called to him.

Blinking rapidly, as he came back to himself, Nick hurried over to Greg. "Master, you don't have to get those things for me," he said in a hushed voice.

Greg had to fight the urge to touch the other man. He settled for clenching the push bar of the shopping cart hard enough to turn his knuckles white. "You'll need something to do when I'm at work. I don't want you to be bored."

"But, they're so expensive, Master," Nick said, trying to get Greg to change his mind.

"I'm not changing my mind, Nicky," Greg wasn't sure where that nickname came from, but it earned him a strange look from Nick. Changing the subject rapidly, Greg said, "What kind of music do you like?"

Back at the car a short while later, Greg dug through the bags until he found a package of socks and Nick's new everyday use shoes.

While Greg loaded the rest of the purchases into the trunk, Nick put on a pair of socks and his new shoes. Then they were off to a furniture store.

As they wandered the showroom, Greg asked, "See anything you like, Nick? It's going to be your furniture in your room," he added a silent, Unless I can coax you into my bed.

Nick settled on a simply designed set of pine furniture. Greg suspected Nick had chosen it more for its low price than because he truly liked it, but Nick had a real smile lighting up his face – actually reaching his eyes – so Greg told the salesman he'd take it.

As the salesman was writing up the sales ticket, Greg noticed him eyeing the shooting star on Nick's cheek.

"Is there a problem?" he asked, casually leaning an arm on the counter.

"Just never had any slaves in here. Shouldn't you have a collar on him? I mean, he could just wash that off and run, couldn't he? You're sure spending quite a bit on him, too." The salesman simply seemed curious, so Greg tried to keep irritation from his voice when he replied.

"He stays with me because he knows he doesn't have to worry about having a piece of metal locked around his neck. I spend money on him because he's my responsibility. Besides, if I treat him fairly, he'll do as I ask because he knows I won't mistreat him."

"Guess I'd never thought about it that way before," the man replied. "How will you be paying today?"

"Credit card," Greg replied, pulling his wallet from his hip pocket and digging the card out to hand to the salesman.

A panicked look settled on Nick's face, "No, Master! Don't go into debt on my account! I can sleep on the floor. My clothes can be kept in boxes!"

Again, Greg had to fight the urge to reach out and touch Nick. He desperately wanted to cup the other man's cheek, or put a hand on his arm. "Nicky, it's okay! I don't put much on credit, and I'll be able to pay this off within a couple of months. Besides, I don't often get to splurge on anyone but myself."

Nick didn't look totally convinced, but he didn't say anything else, just looked at his feet, appearing to be lost in thought.

After setting up same day delivery of the bedroom set, they made a trip back to the Super Wal-Mart. Groceries and bedding were on the list now.

By the time they were done, the trunk and part of the back seat were full.