Cass knew he was asleep. He wasn’t sure how he knew, just that he had a knowing. It was unfortunate, since it didn’t appear he was dreaming like he had been when he’d arrived at the mansion.
Instead, he felt like his body was consuming itself from the inside out.
Thin needles of heat were under his skin, starting at his chest and focused around his heart and spreading out. There were a few more focus spots, like his lower stomach, near his crotch, and his heart and crotch were pulsing together. It felt like a heartbeat meant only to hurt him.
His body was drenched in sweat, his breathing harsh and ragged, and he just wanted to wake up. This was a true nightmare.
He couldn’t move either. He felt like he was spread out on warm ground, gravel beneath him. Was he naked? He had no idea. He just knew that he was spread out, his arms and legs slightly apart and away from his sides, like if he was floating in water.
Cass needed to wake up. This was pure fucking torture at this point, and he swore he could hear someone laughing, but he didn’t want to think too hard about that. It was either a god or some fucking demon, and at this point, if he wasn’t frozen, he would have tackled either one.
If they were going to put him through this level of pain, they deserved it.
"Alright, little one. I’ll let you go. Something tells me that we’ll meet soon." The voice was deep, and Cass felt like he’d probably heard it before, but just as he had the thought, it was gone.
So was the memory of what he’d just experienced.
~
Cass woke with a gasp, his body on fire as he tried to catch his breath. Edgar, who had been sleeping next to him, jerked awake, reaching for Cass as he loudly tried to suck air into his lungs. He sounded like he was drowning on land, and Cass’ body was shaking.
What the fuck was happening to him? What was wrong? He had been fine when he’d gone to bed, and now he was a shaking, trembling mess.
"Cass?! What’s going on?" Edgar’s voice held a lot of panic as he reached for Cass, gently lifting him up into a sitting position as if that was going to help Cass breathe.
Cass was mildly surprised that being elevated into a sitting position did help him breathe. Cass’ hands felt like claws as he desperately grasped at Edgar’s clothes, pulling on him as Edgar stared at him in pure panic.
The door flung open to the bedroom, and Cass could tell it was still dark out since no light was pouring into the room. He guessed it was either late at night, or early morning.
"What’s going on?" It was Sam who spoke, but Cass could tell that more than Sam had entered the room. He thought it was just Sam and Byron, but the snarl was all one man.
"What the fuck is going on? Edgar, did you do this?" Lucian snarled, clearly in a bad mood and Edgar sputtered.
"I didn’t do a thing! He asked me to sleep by his side tonight, and then after only a few minutes his breathing grew ragged and he woke up. I just noticed." Edgar defended himself from the dragon who was looming over them.
Cass was still having trouble breathing, and with everyone beginning to crowd the bed, it wasn’t making it easier. Cass waved his arm wildly, making a grand gesture for everyone to back off. It took them a second, but they understood. Byron took the biggest step back, with Sam going to the other side of the bed, Edgar’s side, while Lucian remained on Cass’.
Lucian reached out, touching Cass’ shoulder and giving it a squeeze. As soon as the other man touched him, Cass felt his heartbeat reverberate through his whole body. It was like a scene out of a movie.
Cass had never had an out of body experience like it before. It wasn’t like with Lord Blackburn, but more like his body had pushed him out so that he could feel everything more. His heartbeat was in his ears, time was slowed down, and Cass felt a rush of heat spread throughout his whole body.
He let in a shocked gasp, sucking air into his deprived lungs, but it sounded slow and harsh to his ears.
Cass took in the concern and anger on Lucian and Edgar’s face, and Sam’s face that was shrouded in worry. He had just enough time to do so before everything sped up and he doubled over as he began to tremble.
It had started.
"Fuck!" Cass exclaimed loudly. "E-Everyone, out!" Cass shouted, his arms wrapping around his midsection. Edgar, who had no idea what was going on, seemed stunned when Cass broke contact with his arms. Cass groaned as that loss made everything harder, worse.
"M-My Lord? Is this-"
"Get the fuck out, Sam!" Cass snapped, not wanting the man to see him like this. He didn’t even want Edgar or Lucian to see him like this. "Take the others!" Cass told him. "Show Lucian the thing!" Cass was desperate, the words feeling harsh and garbled when they came out of his mouth.
His body was on fire. It wasn’t like last time. This didn’t feel...he didn’t feel even partially normal. He felt like he was in pain, not just on fire. This heat hurt. Cass could feel tears welling in his eyes.
"Go!" He shouted when the others weren’t moving. It was clear that Edgar and Lucian didn’t want to leave. They could tell he was suffering, but Sam, who had been given strict orders, nodded towards Byron. Byron gulped, before he grabbed onto Lucian and began to drag him towards the doors while Sam did the same with Edgar.
Sam hauled Edgar out of the bed, much to the other man’s shock and horror.
"You can’t just-"
"I’ll explain in the hallway. For now, we need to leave!" Sam shouted, looking back at Cass with deep concern in his eyes, but his expression was hard. He had regained some of his composure in the time that he had been by Cass’ side again.
Cass heard the door close behind them, could even hear them protesting outside of the door before it became quiet. Then, Cass was alone.
Alone with the burning in his body, his gut twisting, and his cock so fucking hard it felt like a sin that he wasn’t touching it.
Cass knew what this was. He had experienced it before. He knew he couldn’t touch it. As soon as he did, he was locked into about a week of lost time, endless jerking off, and damaged nerves.
Cass needed to avoid that. So, with a groan, he collapsed onto his front on the bed. He was partially on Edgar’s side of the bed, or where he had been lying before. His heart was racing in his chest, but at least he was able to breathe again.
Cass could feel his ass twitching, his hands aching to touch his straining cock, and his nipples felt sensitive against his shirt. He whimpered, before he swallowed the sound.
He couldn’t do that right now. Not with everyone with good hearing outside of a single door. He had no protection right now. It made sense why Lord Blackburn had so many levels to his rooms back at the manor. It was probably for this exact reason.
He didn’t like others being able to hear him.
~
Cass wasn’t sure how much time passed as Sam explained the situation to Lucian, and then probably had to explain a dumbed down version to Edgar, but eventually Cass heard the door click open.
Cass, like some kind of creature that could smell others currently, snapped his head towards Lucian as he stepped into the room.
Lucian looked...ruffled, was the nice way to say it. Spooked was another way. Cass wasn’t sure how quickly he’d arrived at the mansion and then run up to Cass’ rooms, but given that he was back in his white billowy shirt and tight fuck off pants, he had a feeling he’d been here for many 30 minutes.
Maybe more, but Cass’ brain couldn’t think further than that.
"You read the rules?" Cass croaked, his hands dangling off the edge of the bed so that he wasn’t touching himself. It took a lot of willpower. He was actually surprised he hadn’t stripped off his clothes yet.
He probably knew in the back of his mind that he had to wait.
Lucian was looking at him with an expression that his cloudy mind couldn’t place. If Cass had been himself he would have recognised the strong desire and...pity in his gaze. Lucian let out a deep sigh.
"Cassian, I can’t believe you drew up a contract. Is my word not good enough?" Lucian asked softly and Cass gave a loud snort.
"No one’s word is good enough." Cass told him and Lucian flinched. Cass didn’t notice. "So? Did you agree? Did you sign it?" Cass asked and Lucian’s mouth twitched, before he shook his head.
"I did. I understood the gist of, ’do not put it inside of me’ loud and clear, Cassian." Lucian said, his voice strained. Cass couldn’t tell if he was about to laugh, or if he was upset. Both sounded the same to him right now.
"I’m not myself. I do not want you taking advantage of me. I need it in writing." Cass said through gritted teeth. Then, he attempted to pull his hands towards him and use them to push himself up. He managed to get into a seated position, but it took a lot out of him. Cass’ chest rose and fell like he’d run a mile.
Lucian couldn’t take his gaze off of him.
Cass gave a bitter smile.
"Sam explained it to you?" Cass rasped, and Lucian nodded, clearing his throat.
"Yeah. We’re trying to get you...satisfied enough that you can go to the ball, yeah?" Lucian asked and Cass nodded. That was the gist of it.
"I’m going to ask for weird shit. Don’t let me do any penetration." Cass told him, being clear even as he felt his mind try to fog over. Cass made a face. It was a face full of fear, anger, and frustration. Lucian watched him, his eyes sympathetic.
"I understood that, Cass. It’s okay, sweetness. I’ve got you. You can...you can let go." Lucian’s voice was rough, but somehow, Cass found it soothing. Cass let out a soft whimper, his fingers clenching onto the sheets beneath him.
"I just feel so hot." Cass whimpered, raising a hand and running it down his chest. He pressed a fist against his stomach. "I want something inside of me so badly, but I already told you no." Cass sounded distraught even to his own ears and Lucian’s eyes widened. He finally seemed to realise what he was about to face, and he quickly sat on the bed, pulling Cass closer to him.
"Shh. It’s okay, Sweetness. We’ll do lots of things to get your mind off of that, alright? We’ll have lots of fun, without penetration." Lucian told him, and Cass hiccupped. He raised his head, and Lucian took in the unseeing, red gaze that met his own.
"Really?" Cass asked, his voice breathy, and Lucian gulped.
He was in big, big trouble. Thank goodness Sam was outside the door. Lucian needed the warning of someone else when faced with a Cass like this. This was a step beyond what he had been like recently, and given this behaviour...Lucian realised why he had been like that.
His jaw hardened.
Cass had asked for Lucian’s help, and so Cass was going to get it. Lucian was going to be true to his word. He was going to honour the arrangement that they had made. It was only right.
Cass would do the same if they swapped roles.