Promising Submission

Interlude


Asher woke from death in an unknown room and was momentarily disoriented. His body tensed in anticipation of an attack. He relaxed when he remembered that he was in Harry’s basement. He turned his head to focus on Damian’s still dead form and chuckled. This was the proof that Damian was not stronger then he, no matter what the Viking wanted to believe. It wouldn’t be proper to mention it when the ancient vampire was awake, but for the moment he could enjoy the feeling.

He sat up and then frowned when he realized his things were still at Guilty Pleasures. Would he be expected to still live there or was he moving into Harry’s manor? He didn’t know the answer to these questions for he hadn’t asked them before morning. He’d just followed Damian in his sorrow.

He’d been traded. It was a sobering prospect to find that his talents were still not useful enough to secure his position. Even with his lover of centuries, nothing was certain. His spirits lifted at the memory of Harry’s righteous indignation at Jean-Claude’s insults. It was humorous to think he needed protection for his feelings; he appreciated it none the less.

A soft knock on the door roused him from his musings. “Entré” he spared a moment’s thought to the impropriety of offering an invitation into Damian’s room. Nathanial gracefully stepped into the room, “Hello,” He spoke in the same soft tones Asher always associated with him. “Harry said you should come up when you’re ready and you can talk about your things, and where you would like to stay.” Asher nodded and stood up to tidy his appearance.

Nathanial shifted his weight in a way Asher knew meant he wanted to say something. Patience born through centuries of waiting allowed him to wait for Nathanial to speak. “Harry is really upset. He keeps saying that he bought you. Could you calm him down?” Speaking like this obviously upset the leopard so Asher didn’t push it. “Of course Nathanial. I will try and put his mind at ease.” Nathanial’s smile was all the reward he needed. Asher heard Damian’s waking noises as he left, and Nathanial turned to go see him. A shard of pain filtered through him, but Asher was used to living with such afflictions. Others’ comforts always came before his own.

He met Harry in his office after getting directions from one of the little green servants. He looked disheveled, as though he’d not gotten any sleep. Asher suspected it was a strong possibility. Harry looked up as he entered. “Hey Asher, sleep well?” Asher smiled and nodded, humans always asked how his sleep was, as though he could remember it. There wasn’t a ranking of quality on death; one was either dead or not dead.

“I wanted to talk to you about a few things.” Harry appeared nervous and Asher wondered at the cause of it. Harry gestured to the chair in front of him, so Asher sat in it. “Where would you like to stay? You are welcome to rooms here; I can expand the basement and give you separate rooms. Or you can talk to Jean-Claude about staying with him. I’m sure he would love that.” There was a bitter humor in his voice that Asher recognized. Harry knew Jean-Claude’s plan to gather information on the wizard from Asher. The vampire considered whether or not Harry was observant enough to realize his loyalties had shifted completely. Jean-Claude traded him; his loyalty was now with Harry.

“I will take your offer of a room here.” Harry’s smile was filled with true joy, and it made Asher’s heart beat once. “Good that’s good. I don’t have work for you like Jean-Claude would, I’m afraid you’ll be rather bored.”

“I would be willing to teach your Severus, if he agrees, there is much that he needs to know about himself if he is to be healthy.” Harry smiled again and said he’d ask.

Asher watched Harry talk about nonsensical things, making the correct responses where required. Harry was nervous and putting of asking him something. Asher knew this well, and used the opportunity to put his mind at ease. He told Harry that he was content to work with or for Harry. He knew the wizard would not treat him as another vampire might. Eventually Harry stopped rambling and pulled out a box.

“I had Severus bring this last night. It’s a potion for removing scars.” Asher froze in abject surprise. “I want you to understand what you’re getting yourself into. It’s kind of an experiment; Severus said this potion is not meant for vampire scars caused by holy artifacts. He altered it and said it should work. He is a genius so I believe that it will. If it doesn’t then he is willing to help us find something that will.” Asher tried not to get his hopes up. Harry continued on a vein Asher didn’t think anyone would ever go on. “Your scars are a memorial to Julianna, to your deep feelings for her and to your past with her. If you remove them, you’ll not get them back.” Asher disagreed; they were a memorial to his failure and made him look like a monster.

“I would like to help you apply it and be with you, as would Nathanial. We want to help support you. I expect this will be rather emotional. I also want to say that I’m offering you this because I know how you hate them and it’s nothing to give it to you, you owe me nothing. I paid Severus, but this potion is common in the wizarding world, and Severus wanted a test subject for the alteration for vampires.” Asher didn’t speak; he didn’t know what to say. Nothing was ever given without price; he would just have to figure out Harry’s price. Harry handed him the box and Asher took it with reverence.

Nathanial came in the door not long after and Asher realized that he had just been staring at the glass vials in the box. There were twelve of them. When he looked up Harry handed him a handkerchief and he realized he’d been crying. His emotions were chaotic and uncontrolled. The idea that he would one day be able to remove his scars had never occurred to him, and that a possibility for doing just that was considered common, floored him.

Nathanial reached him and sat on the floor by his feet. Slowly the leopard reached into the box and pulled out a vile. He grabbed Asher’s hand and pulled off his glove exposing his scared flesh. Asher felt as if he was floating, his mind simply watched with out reacting while Nathanial rubbed the green paste into his skin. It burned and pulled and tightened. The pain, while not intolerable, was unexpected and he hissed. Nathanial looked up at him but didn’t stop until the skin was completely covered.

Harry moved his chair so that his knees were bumping Asher’s and used a handkerchief to wipe off the paste. Asher didn’t look; his eyes focused on Harry’s face until he was done. Harry smiled and Nathanial let out a cry of joy. Slowly Asher looked down to see his hand was red and abused, but the skin was smooth. Blood tears dripped on his hand and Harry and Nathanial pulled him into a hug.

They moved him into the bathroom in front of a mirror and pulled off his cloths. They made a production of applying the paste, starting with his face. The skin there was more sensitive and he hissed again at the pain. He watched astonished as they covered every inch of his scared skin. He tried not to be ashamed of the way his penis pulled tight to the right. This was by far the most painful part of him. He trembled with suppressed cries.

They pulled him into the shower and washed him off. They soothed the skin with kisses and warm water. Asher didn’t know what he looked like now but he was sure it would be better then his monstrous form from before.

His visage in the mirror broke him, and he fell into Harry’s embrace sobbing his joy. He was whole again. Even though Harry told him it wasn’t necessary, he swore to them both that he would always be their most loyal servant. He chuckled slightly when Nathanial told him while pouting that that was his job.


Chapter 16


Harry looked around at the people who’d decided to crash his place. Micah, Stephen, Gregory, girl named Gina and one named Vivian, Richard and Jamil, Severus, Damian, and Asher. He couldn’t really figure out what happened. The day after the poker night, a week and a half ago, people just started showing up at his house.

First it was just Severus at night wanting the lessons Asher offered. Then Micah showed up everyday to check on Nathanial, and he started bringing around Nathanial’s pard. Richard was a new thing, he’d just started showing up. Harry had a suspicion that the wolf liked him and considered them kindred spirits. Harry suspected because the feeling was mutual. Some nights he thought people showed up just to stare at Asher’s returned beauty. Jean-Claude had already invited them over to celebrate, and Harry had felt malicious glee at the blatant lust the Master vampire sent Asher’s way. The blond god had refused his advances and stayed near Harry the whole night.

At the moment though, Harry was having less then amicable feelings toward these particular people. He’d not played with his kitten for three days. There was always someone there.

If his kitten had been anyone else, Harry would have accused him of playing with him. But it was Nathanial, and he didn’t do that. His movements were driving Harry crazy. He was so graceful. Nathanial’s sinuous fluidity while he traversed the room caused his mouth to dry and blood to pool in his groin. His kitten was beautiful.

Nathanial was overjoyed to have people who cared about him around him. Harry could see it in his eyes every time someone came over. He was also a physical person. He was always touching someone, whether it was just a casual touch while talking or a hug in greeting or affection. Being unable to reaffirm his claim on his kitten chafed at Harry. He could tell Asher was enjoying his unrequited possessiveness. He snarled at the vampire.

A wave of his hand exploded the t.v. everyone was watching. He pointed to the floor at his feet and Nathanial immediately moved to kneel there from where he was sitting with Stephen and Gregory. “In two minutes I will be having sex in this room. If you don’t want to watch, get the fuck out of my house.”

A few of them chuckled, like it was a joke, but Harry’s expression didn’t change. He made eye contact with all of them, reiterating the seriousness of his claim, most looked astonished. He ended with Nathanial. He looked excited and not humiliated which was good, although Harry wasn’t sure if he’d be able to stop even if Nathanial was humiliated. Nathanial panted at him and Harry gestured at his crotch. Immediately his kitten reached up to open his fly and take out his erection.

This opened the flood gates. There was a rush of movement as his ‘guests’ fled. When the flurry of activity clamed down Harry glanced around to see who stayed. Asher, big surprise. Severus, huh didn’t know he was a voyeur, he had moved to sit by Asher. Richard, who smirked at him, memories of discussions with Nathanial about Richard flickered in Harry’s mind. Jamil, but he shifted his chair so he wasn’t watching. Unless Severus was a sub in disguise then Nathanial was the only one who stayed.

Harry contemplated this turn of events while Nathanial swallowed him. Harry noticed Nathanial was trying very hard to be quiet. That just wouldn’t do. “I want to hear you pet. Don’t hide how much you love my cock. They want to hear it too, or they wouldn’t have stayed.” Nathanial moaned, and Harry grunted at the vibrations. Nathanial really was a talented cocksucker. Harry put his hand on the back of his kitten’s head and pushed him down, listening to him choke and gurgle around it. He loved to choke his pet with his cock, loved how Nathanial took it with out fighting in the least.

He wanted to test his watchers, perhaps they could do more then watch. He noticed that they seemed to be having some kind of contest. An unspoken contest. Probably about who could hold out the longest before touching themselves. Harry’s money was on Severus breaking first. He’d probably not gotten any for a while. He snapped his fingers and Nathanial lost his cloths. He gasped and Harry let him off his cock to take it at his own pace again. Harry let his hand run through Nathanial’s loose hair, lifted it up and spread it on his thighs. He loved to get his pet’s hair dirty and sticky with his cum. Got a thrill out of thinking how much work it took Nathanial to get it clean again, that all that time his kitten was thinking of what he did to get it there.

At the sight of Nathanial’s naked flesh, Asher caught his gaze and grinned. Harry winked at him. “Do you like that pet? Do you like that we are all clothed and watching you? Can you feel their hot gaze on you? I can see them pet; I can see that they want you.” Nathanial moaned, and made a motion Harry recognized as checking the desire to touch himself. He couldn’t beg with Harry’s cock down his throat and Harry hadn’t given him permission to stop. “Do you like them watching, do you want them to touch you pet? They want to, I can see it. You may pause.”

Nathanial pulled up and looked up at him with wide lavender eyes. He panted a little before answering, “Please…Please Master.”

“What do you want pet?” Harry would control it but, he wanted to know what his kitten wanted. Asher wasn’t a problem, and Richard was a surprise but not an unknown, Severus could cause problems for Nathanial. “Please let me dance for you, let me show them why you want me, and then let them use your kitten. Please Master?”

He heard Severus’ breath speed up and Jamil whimper. Harry had to swallow a few times before he could speak. He summoned his wand from wherever he put it. He could do most things wandlessly but transfiguring cloths onto a naked body required a wand. He didn’t look around to see what the others thought. If they thought it was too much they could leave. “Picture how you want it to look and what you want to wear. I can’t take care of music kitten.” Nathanial smiled, and Harry saw confidence in his body language, even though he blushed. He should have recognized how much his kitten wanted to dance, how talented it made him feel.

Harry transfigured what he saw in his mind, a gold reflective outfit, form fitting in all the right places and flowing and nearly transparent in the others. There were bells on his wrists and ankles and in his hands. “Its okay Master, Asher can hold a beat for me, if you’ll allow it.” Harry nodded and tried not to show his momentary jealousy that Nathanial wanted Asher to help him. He knew he couldn’t hold a beat.

Asher nodded and took up the beat Nathanial showed him, three quick claps followed by two staccato ones.

Slowly Nathanial began to dance. The gold shimmer created a hazy effect. Parts of his body filtered through Harry’s subconscious. It was sultry and dirty, but also some how pure and mystical. Nathanial danced around the room, his body twisting and contorting, exerting the control and strength Harry found so appealing. The bells and jingles coupled with the firm concussions from Asher’s hands, seemed to blend together and tightened the atmosphere until all thought constricted to Nathanial and his dance. The dance changed, and with it the atmosphere. Although still beautiful, it became more intimate, the motions a blatant emulation of various sexual acts. Nathanial’s movements caused Harry’s lust to spike and only his need to keep watching his kitten dance prevented him from tearing into the flimsy outfit to claim his kitten.

He restrained himself until the end of the dance. As soon as Nathanial’s bowed form signaled Asher to stop clapping, Harry slid to him and pulled his pet into a kiss. His mind seemed to have reverted into a primal state. He didn’t spare a thought to the others in the room or bother with magic. He tore into the material until he could get a fist full of his kitten’s ass. Nathanial mewled into his mouth and fisted his hands in Harry’s shirt at his waist.

Ultimately his powers of reason returned and he decided that taking Nathanial like this, after such a performance would be a waste. He wanted to see his kitten laid out before him, performing in a different way. He stepped back and ordered him to take off his outfit and lay on the floor. He backed up until his calves hit his seat, and sat down. On his way, he reaffirmed the other’s locations. Asher was still in his seat, but his position leaning forward on the edge of his seat and the unabashed hunger in his eyes gave away his need. Severus had succumbed to his desires and pulled his erection out of his slacks to fist it slowly. He seemed to not know what to do with his luck.

Richard looked just as hungry as any wolf Harry’d ever seen. The fierceness of his gaze as he watched Nathanial disrobe rivaled Asher’s. Harry knew there was a story there. He motioned the Ulfric forward, just to see what he would do. Richard molded Nathanial’s body with his hands starting from where he was kneeling at his thighs and stopping at Nathanial’s shoulders. Nathanial arched into the touch but Harry noticed his kitten kept his eyes on either Asher or himself.

Harry watched Richard lean forward and map Nathanial’s body with is lips and tongue. He stopped at one of the leopard’s nipples and worried it with his teeth. Nathanial cried out and Harry found the sound beautiful, but didn’t like that he wasn’t the one to cause it. He decided to muffle his pet and ordered Severus forward. “Let Severus fuck your mouth kitten.” Nathanial obediently opened his mouth and sucked Severus in.

Harry glanced at Asher. If it had just been the three of them, or if Damian had been there, he would have let the vampire bite him. As it was he needed to be clear headed to keep Nathanial feeling safe. He smiled at Asher. “What are you going to do Asher?” Harry asked. It was a rare treat to allow another to decide what they would do with his pet since they were still in training.

Asher chuckled and stood up to remove his cloths, exhibiting none of the shame he’d had before. The vampire frequently went without a shirt now, showing off his new skin. “I’m going to ride you.” The comment made everyone moan and Nathanial cry out. Once completely naked, Harry let the vampire help him out of his cloths. The vampire’s tongue and hands found all his pleasure spots fairly quickly and Harry found himself gasping and moaning. Asher thoughtfully shifted them so Harry could still see his kitten and straddled his legs.

Harry smoothed the skin on the vampire’s thighs and ass while Asher prepared himself. It was a beautiful sight. The cold skin was a shock after so much time with Nathanial. Harry had no illusions that he controlled their first liaison. He looked up into Asher’s blue eyes while the vampire surrounded his hard cock with cold wet flesh. A cry from Severus, when he was fully sheathed, pulled his full attention back to Nathanial’s interaction. Richard was pounding away into his pet and Severus had just cum on his chest. He was quite a feast for the eyes.

Harry looked up at Asher to see his attention was on the beautiful picture Nathanial made, before looking around to find Jamil. The black wolf was fighting a loosing battle with himself. He wanted to join, that much was certain, but he seemed to refuse to let himself want. “Kitten, tell Jamil how much you want him to fuck your face.” The wolf in question moaned at the dirty pleas that fell from Nathanial’s lips. It didn’t take much to break him and Jamil didn’t even bother undressing before thrusting into Nathanial’s waiting mouth.

Not long after that, Harry’s attention became focused on the god writhing on top of him. Asher was beauty and power personified. He took everything Harry gave him and moaned for more. Broken whispers in French slipped through his lips. The erotic language curled along Harry’s spine. He wished he could take more time with Asher. The vampire needed to be taken care of. His pleas portrayed a betrayed warrior and Harry longed to restore his faith. Soon, he swore to himself, soon he would prove to Asher he could take care of him. Harry didn’t expect it to be like Nathanial, but the vampire was still healing from Julianna, to Harry that signified a need for a soothing influence.

Harry held on to his orgasm long after Richard and Jamil collapsed next to his kitten. Only after Asher cried out on top of him did he let go. “Asher...” he whispered for the vampire’s ears alone. It wasn’t just a cry of pleasure; it was an acclimation of emotion. He held the vampire to him until their aftershocks receded.

Asher moved off him slightly when Nathanial crawled over to them. They picked up the leopard and slid him between them. The cum and sweat made a squelching noise when Nathanial moved but none of them were bothered by it. Severus and the two wolves redressed themselves and came to give Nathanial a kiss before they left. Harry waved them away. Kissing was sacred, and Nathanial’s lips didn’t belong to them. Richard looked sheepish, as he should have known that.

The three of them sat together long after the others left and the sweat dried. Eventually Harry told them to get up and they made their way to Asher’s room. The vampire was surprised by this so Harry explained it to him. “I am going to cuddle with you until you die for the day, so deal with it.” Asher laughed and Nathanial grinned up at them. Harry decided that he would have to speak to them about adding Asher to the contract sooner rather then later. His feelings for the vampire were becoming rather possessive.

AN: I'm not happy with the smut in this chapter. Also, I am not sure if I'm going to keep the interlude, it seems rather pointless. Let me know what you think.