He'd been serious about the S&M? Bugger. Zero had had a faint hope that that had just been another ploy of some kind – a threat, trying to embarrass him, put him off balance maybe – but apparently Kaname really did want to break out the whips and chains.
Eugh.
Still, Kaname was paying for it, so what the fuck ever.
He still wasn't going to cry though.
"Have you done this before?"
"Obviously," Zero drawled, "You'd be amazed at how many people feel more secure asking for kinky sex from a whore than with their real partners."
Zero half expected a reprimanding lash for that one – the belt was already in his hand after all and you couldn't say he hadn't earned it – but instead he got reassurance.
"You are a real partner, Zero."
Oh no. Not happening. Nuh uh. Not on his watch.
"We are never having that conversation," Zero insisted. Loudly. "Now, flog me or fuck me, but hurry the fuck up, it's fucking cold in here."
Kaname was not a hesitant vampire.
"We'll start with the belt. Do your best to hold still. I wouldn't want to draw blood accidentally."
"Oh well as long as it's accidental," Zero scoffed. He braced as instructed though, because he had, in fact, done this before.
"I did give you my word," Kaname affected a wounded tone – and the first blow fell.
Zero felt a moment of fear. Kaname was a pureblood, he was incredibly strong, super(in)human levels of strong – he could probably pulverise Zero's spine with a single stroke and –
-a whoosh of leather–
-Snap-Crack and pain.
Zero flinched reflexively, and then relaxed, letting out a long steady breath as he adjusted, rocking backwards slightly and letting his weight rest on his whole foot. That hadn't been too bad. Nowhere near the level Kaname was capable of truly dishing out and it really was just a belt. Soft leather, no less than three fingers wide and hey, bonus, he wasn't even getting the buckle end.
This would not be one of those sessions that ended really badly.
The first lash was always a bit of a shock to the system. Rather like being scalded with boiling water – there was the rush of sensation – a moment – did I really? – oh – OW.
Ow indeed. Zero could already feel the welt rising across his back, throbbing with excess fluid as cells caved in to mush, but the heat was almost welcome. Zero hadn't been kidding; it really was cold in here.
More importantly, no scent of blood.
Kaname let the echoes of the first lash fade, probably waiting to see if Zero would scream – and then struck again.
Zero didn't flinch away this time. There was a certain rhythm to a good thrashing – a push and pull – that let him anticipate the pain and move into it. If Kaname kept it at this level, this even steady keel, he could cope.
Walking tomorrow would be a problem, but he'd have the money to give himself a night off, and buy some proper blood from the hospital for once, if he could stomach it, to help with the healing. He'd have to sleep on his front too, and forego shirts, but there were worse things in life.
He rested his forehead against the cold glass – and the view really was quite conveniently distracting – settling in for the long haul.
Zero was certain Kaname wouldn't limit himself to one round, and whatever his agenda was this time, Zero knew he'd need his strength for it.
Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.
Why did Kaname go in for dominance games anyway? Zero mused as he winced and grunted his way through the next few blows. He was already the vampire-cat-equivalent of the alpha male wherever he went. It would make more sense if he wanted to turn the tables in private – but then again, Kaname wasn't the sort of person to get stressed out by responsibility. He'd never need that sort of release, so he must just honestly like this. Why Zero though? Any vampire would grab ankle if Kaname cared to ask and –
Whoosh.
Revenge for saying no? Wearing down his defences to get him to say yes? Working out some frustration? Retaliation for past insults? Or just sexual preference?
Whoosh.
Zero tossed his head back and grunted, breaking out into a full body sheen of sweat and shivered. Mistake. His back was swollen past the point of allowing that much flexibility in his skin. He felt like he was going to burst open if he moved wrong.
Whoosh.
"You know," Kaname murmured, stepping forward and caressing the marks he'd made, "I think you should count for me."
"What's the matter? Can't keep track?" Zero rasped, god he wanted some water.
"The picture you make Zero, it's gorgeous. I," there were lips at his neck, "can hardly focus," breath in his ear, "when you," a body pressed tightly up against his and ow, "look so wanton for me."
Zero's laugh was strangled, but genuine.
"Wanton? Oh come on Kaname, I'm not a regency romance here. Get on with it, if this is really what gets you off." He bucked his hips backwards to feel and – yep – Kuran was deeply interested in this.
"I've forgotten what number we're on," Kaname replied viciously as he stepped back – a draft of cool air over Zero's back igniting another painful shiver. "I suppose we'll just have to start from the beginning again."
Like he hadn't seen that one coming. Next he'd have to say please and thank you too.
"Let me guess," Zero drawled, glad he didn't have to look at Kaname right now, it helped tremendously in keeping his voice light and cheerful, "No safeword either."
"Why, Zero, it's almost like you read my mind."