Chapter Text
Matthew was jolted awake by the jet landing and being pulled off his seat by one of Alexi’s heavies. When he stepped out of the cabin, he knew instantly that this was not Russia; the heat attested to that.
He was reminded that he should be moving and walked down the short flight of steps and into one of the private hangars.
Several minutes later two vehicles pulled up, a Hummer and a limousine.
Alexi walked forward and the rear passenger window was opened, and Alexi conversed in what Matthew thought was Arabic.
Then Alexi snapped his fingers and he was dragged forward. There was an older man sitting in the back of the limo. He stepped out and did exactly what Alexi had done, and walked round him, examining him like he was a prize animal.
The older man nodded and he shook hands with Alexi, who then turned to his own men and said.
“Put him in the Hummer and watch him.”
Like he was going to jump out of speeding vehicle.
The journey was done in silence and from what he could see from the vehicle, he was somewhere in the States…possibly Nevada or Texas, or one of the desert states. The limo in front stopped outside a set of large gates, which lead to a very large house.
He blinked at the sunlight when he stepped out of the Hummer. There were expensive cars parked outside and well- manicured lawns.
Whoever owned this house had enough money to waste on watering grass in a desert state.
He shivered at the air-conditioned coolness inside of the house, which shouted wealth yet taste.
As he followed Alexi and the other man he heard music and laughter. He was taken upstairs and taken inside a large bedroom…ah, it was like that then…figured. He sighed and closed his eyes…he knew what was coming next.
He jumped when a voice said.
“Most people are nosey and explore the room they’re in.”
He turned and found Alexi and another man, who was well-dressed and had an air of authority and wealth about him.
“You were right, Alexi…he is exquisite.”
The man reached out and Matthew flinched away from his touch.
The man smiled, “And spirited, good, I like a little rebelliousness. It makes things much more interesting…something to tame. The money will be transferred to your account today.”
Matthew was surprised when Alexi actually bowed his head…was this man that rich and powerful?
Alexi left and the man spoke to the two men that had entered with him.
“Leave us, myself and Matthew are going to get acquainted.”
He couldn’t stop himself from flinching again when the man reached out and touched his face.
“Do you think I am going to hurt you? Why would I damage something so beautiful and fragile?”
When the man touched his face again, he forced himself not to flinch.
“Better…I am Al-Aziz and you belong to me now.”
****************
“When are you coming back to the shop?” was the question asked down the phone.
The word ‘never’ popped into his Dominic’s head, but the word ‘Monday’ came out.
He’d returned to his own place, as he couldn’t stand being in a place that reminded him of Matthew.
It had been a six weeks since Matthew had been taken, but it felt like a lifetime. He felt sick at the thought that Matthew might be suffering horrible abuse in someone’s sick fantasy, or god forbid, already dead; he didn’t know that much about snuff movies, but what he did know was enough to frighten him.
The only glimmer of hope was the Wosltenholmes’, whose influence and status kept the police from putting Matthew at the bottom of a very big pile of missing people. And their wealth that meant they could pay people to look for and hopefully bring Matthew home.
But all of this would take time and that was something that Matthew may not have.
He’d decided to go back to running his café, anything to take his mind off Matthew, but even that would be fraught with heartache; that table by the window. He considered removing it, and not putting it back until Matthew was back with him.
He felt tears welling again…more tears, hadn’t he cried enough.
“Jesus, Matthew, when will all of this stop,” he said aloud and let the tears fall.
******************
Matthew was confused…the man, Aziz hadn’t forced him to have sex…in fact he hadn’t seen the man for over a fortnight. But he had been visited by a lot of people…tailors, designers, hair stylists, amongst others.
He was also being tutored in Arabic…saying no in another language might be interesting, but he found he enjoyed the challenge of learning.
He wasn’t sure why Aziz hadn’t forced him to have sex, but he was certain that would change soon. He was being groomed, just not in a sexual way.
And he was right, as today he’d been attended to by the designer, the hair stylist and his tutor, testing him on what Arabic he knew. Then he’d been dressed and ‘tarted up’ before being lead downstairs.
He was shown into what turned out to be a dining room, and soft music was playing. The table had been set for two and the lighting was soft.
Aziz was standing by the large patio doors, his back to him. Instinct told him not to speak…to speak out of turn could mean punishment.
Aziz turned and spoke, but in Arabic.
“Matthew, you look good.”
For a moment he searched for the right words to reply with.
“Thank you, the clothes are very nice.”
Aziz smiled, then carried on speaking, but in English.
“You’re Arabic is improving, and the clothes, you deserve the best. A thing of beauty should not be dressed in rags...sit,” he said, gesturing to the chair in front of him.
“I hope you like the meal I have had prepared,” he said as a servant brought in a bottle of wine.; not a religious man then…but of course, if he liked men, why would he be, considering the attitude to gays in certain countries in the Middle East.
“So, Matthew, I have read all about your former life. That life is now over. Your life is with me now. You will not want for anything, all you have to do is be no-one’s but mine. Is that understood?”
He could only nod.
“And when you are in my bed and in my company within the walls of my houses, you will be called Hassan. Only outside will you be known as Matthew…now we should eat.”
*****************
Aziz traced the scar on his shoulder and tutted.
“Who would mar such perfect skin? Name him and he will be shown the error of his violence. All these marks and scars are such a sin.”
Matthew had been sharing Aziz’s bed for a month now and had rarely been out of his company.
At first he had hated it and had fought the touch that wasn’t Dominic’s, but now he was finding that he no longer minded, and it was no longer feeling like just sex.
“Hassan?”
His given name drew his attention, it was becoming second nature to respond to that name; so much so that he did not always respond to Matthew when that name was used.
“Hassan,” Aziz said again. “I know that you did not give yourself willingly to me at the beginning. But I have noticed that it has begun to change. I hope one day you will give me your heart as well as your body.”
Two weeks ago he would have laughed in defiance, but he found himself saying.
“My body I now give to you willingly…but my heart has to be won.”
Aziz smiled at that, “Still so much spirit…then show me how you willingly give me your body.”
Matthew returned the smile and found himself doing just that. Surely he wasn’t developing feelings for this man….then again, perhaps he was.
Hassan- Beautiful