Gentle Bonds

Espen stared at him, his heart racing. What should he do? If Shae got worked up right now, and tried to hurt him, he knew he wouldn't make it away unscathed. Above all else he needed to protect the baby in his womb. 

Espen wrapped a hand protectively around his belly, standing and backing a few steps away from Shae, who was seething as he subtly tested the strength of the silk binds. Espen continued to move backward, but ran into something solid and warm. He whipped around to see he'd crashed into Luca's chest. He'd just come into the room to trade places so Espen could go eat.

Luca glanced down at his wife, knitting his eyebrows together. "Is something wrong, Espen?" he glanced to Shae and noticed how angry he looked. "What's going on? Are you okay?" he rubbed Espen's belly, trying to soothe him.

Luca gently nudged Espen behind him as he moved forward and crouched beside Shae. He reached out a hand and wiped a tear that spilled down the boy's cheek. "Try to calm down, okay? We can talk. I can explain everything, and--"

"No!" Shae shouted, jerking his head away. "I don't want to hear it! I want to go home!" He yanked against the silks, tightening them around his wrists. "Let me go!"

"I will release you, if you promise to calm down. Let me explain what's happening, alright?"

Shae considered for a moment before his shoulders slumped. "Fine." he muttered, turning his head away. The second the silk binds were off he scooted to the far corner and mashed himself into it.

Luca settled down a few feet away and Espen cautiously joined him, sitting a little behind him. Luca leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands. "To be honest, love, you won't be able to go home." he started, trying to choose gentle words. "We will be your family now. When you are ready, you will be married to us. We will take care of you and love you. We understand that you are hurting right now, and you're very confused and scared, but I swear we will not hurt you. You are safe."

Shae listened, his heart numb. He didn't want to go home. . . but where was he? He couldn't just blindly trust strangers. "Is this some sick game?" he asked, his tone scoffing. "Or are you a cult? I can't believe he actually sold me off to a cult. . ." he muttered the last part to himself, but the others heard him. 

"What do you mean, 'sold you off'? Did someone try to sell you before?" Luca asked, his voice failing to hide his shock and sadness at the thought.

"Nothing." Shae snapped, scrunching his legs closer to himself. He hadn't meant to let that slip. He glanced up and saw Espen sitting slightly behind Luca, clinging to his arm with a wary expression on his face, hand placed over his belly. 

"I'm not going to hurt you," Shae mumbled after a moment. "I didn't mean to scare you." 

Espen seemed caught off guard, and so did Luca. Espen scooted out from behind him a little and his face relaxed. "Sorry," he whispered. "you looked really angry earlier."

Shae glanced away, and awkward silence settled. A voice called from outside and Luca stood, briefly placing a hand on Espen's shoulder. "I'll be right back." Then he left the room.

The silence stretched and they avoided each other's eyes, the gentle sound of Espen's breathing and slightly-less-peaceful heavy panting of Shae's mixed together. Shae glanced down and saw that the front of his robe was completely open, having come undone in his hours of squirming. He reached down and tried to figure out how to tie it together, but failed miserably. 

Espen laughed a little. "Let me help you." he scrunched a finger, gesturing Shae to come closer. 

Shae hesitated, then scooted over. Espen took the folds and crossed them, then tied the strings in little bows, a swift, practiced motion. 

Shae glanced down, noticing the way Espen's hand drifted back to his stomach the moment he was done with the ties. 

"Why do you always hold your belly? Are you hurt? Or--"

"Oh, no." Espen chuckled. He took Shae's hand and placed it on his belly. "I'm pregnant."

Shae felt his eyes widen. He felt the smooth curve of the swollen belly under his hand, but there was no way. . . "How-- that's not possible, is it? You can't--" he sputtered, pulling his hand away and glancing at it like it had lied to him. 

"I know you're confused. But men can carry children here. You will be able to, too." He ignored the way Shae flinched when he reached out and lifted Shae's robes. He ran a finger over a strange marking on Shae's belly. "This mark, its from the bond you have with us now. It will allow you to develop a womb, and then you will be able to bear children." 

Shae backed away, letting his robe fall back down over the swirly, inky mark on his lower stomach that definitely hadn't been there before. His mouth fell open, and he couldn't find words that would convey what he was feeling. Had they tattooed him in his sleep, too? 

Luca came back in, and motioned for Espen to come to his side at the door. Luca whispered to him for a moment before Espen left, leaving Shae alone with the large man.

                   Part 51 Coming Soon
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