When they arrived, David turned to Dnie and said, "Follow me," before glancing at Mark. "Go to your room for now."
Mark didn't think much of it. He simply nodded and headed upstairs. As soon as he entered his room, he made a beeline for the pile of new things he had bought.
Excited, he started going through them one by one. Then, he pulled out the card the lady had secretly slipped to him earlier. His eyes lingered on it for a moment, but reality quickly settled in—he had no phone that could connect to the outside world.
The only device he had was the limited phone in his room—the one that could only be used to call the maid.
Soon, he thought, he couldask David to buy me a proper phone.
David closed the door to his room with a quiet click, locking it behind Dnie. His jaw was tense, his thoughts scattered, but his expression stayed composed, as always.
Dnie stood in the middle of the room, arms crossed, reading his silence like a book.
"You're unusually quiet," she said softly. "That's not like you."
David turned his back to her, walking toward the bar and pouring himself a drink he didn't really want. "He's growing restless," he finally said, his voice low. "Mark.
I can feel it." It is about him
Dnie leaned against the edge of the desk. You've kept him in that golden cage long enough."
"It wasn't supposed to last this long," David murmured, gripping the glass tightly. "I thought once he saw how much I've done for him, he'd stay willingly. I didn't expect him to still look at the world like it's something he needs to return to."
Dnie tilted her head. "You mean you didn't expect him to still want freedom?"
David said nothing. He hated how well she understood him.
"I'm not judging you," she continued, her tone gentler now. "But you have to decide what you want, David. Do you want his love? Or just his presence?"
His shoulders stiffened. I want both. But he couldn't say it. Saying it made it sound selfish. Dangerous.
"I gave him everything," he whispered. "Clothes. Space. A place where no one can hurt him. Not even himself."
"But you also took something," she said quietly.
David's eyes darkened. "If I let him go… he might never come back."
Dnie stepped forward, placing a hand on his arm. "Then maybe it's time to find out if he stays because he wants to. Or because he has no other choice."
There was a beat of silence.
David pulled away, walking toward the window, mirroring the exact spot Mark had stood in minutes ago—gazing at the same city lights with a completely different weight in his chest.
"I'm afraid of losing him," he finally admitted.
"Then trust him," Dnie said. "Before he stops trusting you."
Dinner Time
The dining table was a feast platters of grilled meats, creamy pastas, fresh seafood, and delicate desserts lined the polished wood like offerings at a royal banquet. Mark sat quietly among them, overwhelmed by the choices, people at the table: David at the head, Dnie next to him, and Tony across from Mark, watching everything with a sharp, unreadable gaze.
Laughter flickered through the room, clinking glasses and casual talk filling the air. Mark tried to smile when someone spoke to him, but his eyes kept drifting to David, who hadn't said much throughout dinner.
Just as Mark stood to excuse himself, David's voice cut through the noise.
"Mark."
He paused, glancing back.
"You're staying with me tonight," David said, his tone calm, but firm. "Wait for me in the room."
The room fell silent for a second. Tony's eyes flickered with something unspoken, tension, maybe even trouble. Dnie, on the other hand, simply smiled, sipping her wine like she'd been expecting it.
Mark swallowed hard and gave a small nod. "Okay."
Later that night, in the quiet of David's bedroom, the two stood under the soft light. They had just stepped out of the shower, both wrapped in towels, damp hair clinging to their skin. The air felt heavy—not from heat, but from something deeper.
David turned to face Mark, his voice slightly hesitant for the first time. "If you were to move out… where would you prefer your apartment to be?"
Mark blinked. "What?"
David met his eyes. "I'm asking you—if I let you live on your own, where would you want to stay?"
Mark stepped back slightly, as if trying to gauge whether it was a trap. "You're… letting me live alone?"
David nodded once. "Yes."
Mark's eyes widened, then—without thinking—he rushed forward and wrapped his arms tightly around David. "Are you serious?" he asked against his chest. "Really?"
David let out a soft breath, arms slowly wrapping around Mark in return. "I'm serious."
Mark pulled back just enough to look up at him, eyes shining. "Then… I don't want an apartment. I don't want to live alone."
David looked at him, puzzled. "Then what do you want?"
Mark took a step back, his voice clearer now. "I want a phone. And the freedom to go outside without being stopped. That's all."
David studied him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he asked quietly, "Is that what you truly want?"
Mark nodded. "Yes."
A beat of silence passed… and then David said, "Granted."
Mark froze for a second—then smiled, wide and genuine, like the sun breaking through storm clouds. And for the first time in a long while… it felt real.
Mark's heart was still racing, his body electrified by the rush of freedom. But it wasn't the idea of leaving that consumed him—it was the man standing before him, the one who had given him that choice. David.
"You're giving me everything," Mark whispered, stepping closer. "Now let me give something back."
David's breath hitched when Mark reached for him. Their lips met—soft at first, but the second David felt Mark's tongue slide against his, everything inside him snapped.
Mark moaned into the kiss as David pulled him closer with one arm—his uninjured one—the other hovering, careful, restrained. But that didn't stop David's touch from being possessive, hungry. Even injured, his dominance leaked through every slow, dragging motion.
The towel vanished between kisses. Both towel were shoved down with urgency, his erection pressing against David's thigh, hard and eager.
"You're hard already?" David smirked, voice thick and low.
"For you? Always," Mark gasped, grinding against him.
David's good hand grabbed a fistful of Mark's hair and yanked his head back, exposing his neck. "You're not just grateful," he murmured, lips brushing Mark's skin. "You need me."
"I do," Mark panted. "Fuck—David, I want you."
David growled, and in one fluid motion, he turned Mark and shoved him back onto the bed. Mark sprawled there, flushed and needy, legs open in invitation.
David stood at the edge of the bed, eyes trailing down Mark's body like a man starved. "You look better than I remember," he said, stroking himself slowly with his good hand. "So fucking good."
Mark reached out for him, whining with desperation. "Stop teasing…"
David crawled over him, lips brushing Mark's ear. "I'm injured, remember? You'll have to do the work."
Mark's eyes lit with heat, his cock twitching at the challenge. "Then I'll ride you until you forget your name."
David laughed, low and dark, the sound vibrating against Mark's neck. "Prove it."
And Mark did.
He straddled David, taking control with shaky thighs and burning desire. When he sank down onto David's cock, his mouth fell open, a filthy moan tearing from his throat.
"Shit, you're so tight," David grunted, grabbing Mark's hips with one hand while the other stayed half-curled, protected against the bed.
Mark bounced on him, each thrust deeper, rougher. Sweat slicked their skin, gasps filled the room. Mark's moans turned desperate, higher with each thrust.
"Say it," David growled, thrusting up into him. "Tell me who owns you."
"You do—fuck—David, you do!"
David sat up, arm snaking around Mark's waist to hold him as he slammed up harder, deeper. "This is mine. You're mine."
Mark came undone with a broken cry, stars exploding behind his eyes, spilling between them as David groaned and followed seconds later, filling him deep, breath ragged and jaw clenched.
They collapsed together, limbs tangled, skin sticky, breath heavy.
David brushed a damp strand of hair from Mark's forehead with gentle fingers.
"Still want an apartment?" he asked hoarsely.
Mark laughed weakly, nuzzling into his chest. "I just want this. And a damn phone."
David smiled against his hair. "You'll have both. Just don't ever get tired of it.
Mark kissed his chest softly. "I won't.
With all the sex happening between Mark and David, Mark hasn't said he loves David; he's just enjoying the physical side of things. But for David, it's different; he loves Mark with everything he has.