Days and nights falling by me. I know Of a dream I should be holding Days and nights falling by Days and nights falling by me.

Soft blue horizons Reach far into my childhood days As you are rising To bring me my forgotten ways.

Strange how I falter To find I'm standing in deep water Strange how My heart beats To find I'm standing on your shore ...

Part of On your Shore - Enya

The first thing she'd seen were the black boots, one stepping over the sill of the airlock, the other following closely, clicking hard on the metallic floor. Her eyes had hungrily swept up, following the sinuous calves, the tight black pants hugging every curves and leaving nothing to the imagination as she reached the powerful thighs, disappearing beneath the angular Cardassian uniform. Tracing those lines brought her to shapely neck ridges, connecting to a smiling face and the most hypnotic blue eyes Kira had ever seen. Cardassians don't have blue eyes like that ...

"Intendant Kira Nerys," exulted her new Second in Command, sweeping forth and grasping her hand. He brought it to his lips and grazed his teeth across the ivory skin. "A pleasure," he purred, his brilliant eyes locked unwaveringly on her own. She grinned at his ebullience, quickly finding the idea behind chain of command not as bad as she thought.

"Mr. Garak," she said sweetly, retracting her hand. "The pleasure is all mine, I assure you," she winked.

"I'm sure," he leered. He turned and made a quick gesture at the Terran slave accompanying him. He strode forward, his eyes cast to the floor as he silently took his place next to the Cardassian. Kira raked her eyes on him as well, quietly admiring Garak's choice in servants. Tall, slender and skin the colour of gold, almost as dark as Benjamin's ... A white blouse hung from a shoulder, exposing a smooth dusky chest, a dark nipple peeking at her and beckoning her lips ... She lifted her gaze at his face and almost let a gasp escape her lips ... shoulder length hair, colour almost as black as Garak's, undulating around a long sinuous neck.

She looked at Garak in time to see him glaring at the Terran. He growled and forced him to bend at the waist. "You will bow in the presence of the Intendant," he hissed. "You bow or you die." He turned to Kira, his sudden smile brightening his face anew. "This is my Pretty Terran servant." He rounded the slender neck with one broad hand and clenched his teeth. "I'm sure it'll be his -pleasure- to accommodate your wishes ..." he purred suggestively, tipping his head at Kira. "Won't it, my Pretty Terran?" Garak whispered, tightening his hold. Mutely, Julian nodded.

Kira licked her lips, watching the two men in front of her. This certainly looks promising, she thought. My first officer is the most gorgeous Cardassian I've yet to seen, and his servant is the equivalent in the Human category. Both at my service. Oh yes my dear, you will have a grand time with these two. She smiled sweetly, her eyes arching with delight. "Mr. Garak, may I escort you to your new quarters?" she asked, offering her arm.

Garak nodded and grinned brightly as he accepted her proposition. "Why certainly!" he exulted, walking with her as they laughed of inconsequential things. Behind, Julian followed dutifully.

"Really?" Garak droned, fighting an urge to yawn. His hands were locked behind his back while his new Intendant gestured around.

"Oh yes. The station has never run this efficiently before I took over," she boasted, no modesty whatsoever tainting her faintly mocking tone.

Garak laughed under his breath. "Well who would dare contradict such an --" he inhaled sharply. "-- exquisite creature?" His eyes scoured the woman's curves, eyeing them hungrily and wondering what exactly lay beneath the lustrous leather. Though by the way it hugged every arch and bend, he realised that not much was left to his vivid imagination.

"And as I remind my staff," she was saying with a distinctly clipped tone. "Flattery gets nothing out of me."

Who does she think she is? he thought suddenly. I've served in the military longer than she's been alive. Spoiled. I hate spoiled brats. They think they rule the Universe and expect everyone to bow at their feet. She has a pretty face, but I doubt she'd be able to handle what I've seen in my life. Oh well, we have plenty of time to teach her, he smiled, feigning interest in her rehearsed lecture about the station's facilities. When he glanced back, following a particular conduit she was indicating, his eyes caught Julian's and narrowed seductively at the tempting way the young man's hips swayed with each step, the way his entire demeanour begged for someone's touch. After licking his lips, he blew a kiss at his slave just as Julian lifted his eyes to him, and Garak smiled triumphantly as the young man looked away in faint embarrassment.

"And I do appreciate when my officers actually listens to me while I am talking!" a voice roused him of Julian's bewitchment. He turned and frowned at the Intendant.

"I do apologise, but I am tired." His eyes began reflected his true impression of her as he stepped forward. "And the trip here -was- tedious. And while I would simply love to follow you around and listen to endless monologues about how you improved this station or how everyone bows at your command without rally, I would much rather go to my quarters and have a nice quiet supper with my attendants. Now ..." he waved forward at the stretch of corridor. "Care to actually follow your earlier proposition and -show- me to my quarters?"

A few paces behind, Julian watched the scene dispassionately. His mind retreated inward, curling around the small safe haven he'd formed over the years. I remember the first time I knew I was in trouble, he mused idly, examining Garak's face as it contorted with annoyance. Not so long after you took me away to Cardassia. You told me it was for my best interest; you even said I'd be safe in your arms.

And I was ... for a while.

Then you decided that having me around wasn't good enough. The fact I laboured at your side wasn't enough; you wanted more. And you got more didn't you? And how was I to see it coming? By the tone of your voice? By the fact I was going to your quarters to assist one of your many conquests? Those poor men and women ... Yet nothing was new to me. I'd seen you in the midst of passion with your lovers before; passion not always pleasurable to the one you shared it with. I pitied them really; and I was so damned stupid to think that I was safe. Safe because I was so sure that deep down beneath that harsh rugged exterior of yours, you really cared for me.

"In here my sweet Pet," you said, your voice beckoning from the bedroom. I remember feeling a shiver down my back, and I prepared myself to watch another torture session. You called it lovemaking. Strange practices for an act that I'd always considered beautiful. My trainers were stern, but they'd always taught me the value in seducing ... in passion. You took what you wanted and never gave a second thought to who was giving you pleasure.

But I never complained. I obeyed you because you were my saviour. Well what did you expect? I was barely 20. Too young to be exposed to the things you did to those other Terrans. I was fascinated - shocked. How little did I know I was to be one of those Terrans?

I hated you for forcing me to watch really; hated you because I could never do something to help your victims. Watching the ecstasy and agony contort their features, you controlling it all; the one who decided how much more agony to induce, or how much more pleasure to add. Fucking every possible orifices, smiling at me as you caught me squirm in my seat with involuntary passion. Oh yes, you did arouse me. Watching your ass thrusting powerfully into your lovers ... unable to resist looking over their shoulders to your intensely erotic eyes and wondering what you'd feel like inside me. What dangerous thoughts I had ... and of all the things I had wished for and never had, this had to be the one wish I'd have realised.

And so I came to your bedroom, stepped inside, closed the door and turned. What I saw was unusual. I should have realised it and ran. Ran like the wind. But I stood there, a stupid look on my face I'm sure. My accustomed eyes had been trained to expect another to be present; a woman or a man, wrapped in leather bindings to your bed as you drove them to the twin peaks of agony and pleasure. But your bed was empty when I walked in that night. And how could I have not realised the empty place was destined for me?

"We're going to try something different tonight, my Pet," you said, that infuriating smile on your face. You were still wearing your uniform ... I rarely got the chance to see you completely disrobed. It gave you power over your lovers. But how I was mesmerised by the sheer pulling force of that cuirass; those stark lines highlighting your cruel face, the dark colours merely intensifying the blue of your eyes. How was I to resist?

"What?" I asked, and perhaps my tone had been petulant; doubtful, for your smile vanished and the blue seemed to mutate to fiery sapphire.

"You doubt me?" Allah. I can remember every words ... "You doubt my authority? This is the repayment I get for letting you survive? For rescuing you from that planet you call Earth?" And though every words dripped with contempt, despite the angry light in your eyes, even I could see you were aroused. By me? Was it always me, or simply my availability? My convenience?

I suppose you had planned this out. Every words rehearsed, every inflection concise. They gave you all the pretext you needed to flung me across your bed and do to me what I'd feared out of all your other lovers. Allah be forgiven ... I'd never known so much pain in my life. My eyes were opened to the stark reality of your true self. I cried, I sobbed, I begged. You ignored me, you laughed, and you fucked. And whipped. And tortured. I still have the bruises to prove it. You may not have touched me so ruthlessly since, but I will never forget my initiation to slavery. The one you were only too pleased to conduct.

And when it was mercifully over, me spread over the sweat and blood drenched sheets, my eyes closed in shame and reverberating agony, I remember your soft breath against my ear, your taunting voice whispering, "You are mine Terran, do you understand? You are my servant and you will do as I say. If you don't, expect more of this evening's entertainment. An experiment if you will; one I will personally conduct on your body to observe the many wonderful ways to torture a Human. And believe me ... that is -one- experiment you won't survive."

And then you left me. You left the room, closed the door and left me alone to drown in my humiliation and sorrow. I was terrified. I think I cried all night, into the morning where even the rays of Cardassia's hot sunrise couldn't warm my body.

When you finally came back, I was shivering, cold, frightened. I dimly remember you wrapping a towel around me and leading me to the washroom. You cleaned me ... meticulously, though I don't remember well. Is it possible I've filtered out all your compassionate deeds and kept the worst ones? Why? Why would I choose to do that to myself?

And why are so cruel Elim?

Julian blinked quickly and drew out of his daydream as Garak elevated his voice. When he looked up, he noted Kira's arm was being held tightly inside the Cardassian's strong grip.

She was still amazed at his speed. One second she was informing him that she had no need of indolent officers who didn't have his priorities straight - and the next he'd grasped her forearm, crushing her skin. His pearl-white teeth flashed in an indecent rictus as he added more pressure. She winced, and was shocked to note she was growing warm between her legs. The pressure on her was intensely erotic, even more so with the Cardassian's eyes flickering with vivid blue. Panicked, she tried to struggle, but Garak's grip was firm.

"Now listen here Intendant," he sneered. "You may be in charge here, and I will respect your rank. But know that no superior of mine has ever survived mouthing me off, is that clear? I don't care you run the bloody station like a glorified technician; I don't care that people treat you like one of your fucking Prophets. You -don't- insult me, understood?" He gave her an emphatic squeeze to her abused arm, and was intensely pleased at the reluctant cry it drew from her. Satisfied, he let her go, and his smile was once more ingratiating. "Now," he sighed. "I believe you were showing us to my quarters?"

"This way," she said, her eyes shining with a different light as she regarded the Cardassian.

"With pleasure," he purred, allowing a seductive glimpse at his attendant.

"Nora isn't here," murmured Julian as he entered the suite. He settled the bag in the lavishly decorated master bedroom and returned swiftly to the den where Garak was eyeing him speculatively.

"And?"

"She always accompanies us," replied the young man, making sure his eyes avoided the entrancing stare of his owner.

"True," smiled the Cardassian. "And she -would- be here, hadn't I dismissed her before we left Cardassia."

Julian felt the lump forming in his throat, and for a moment was unable to breathe. He knew damn well what 'dismissed' meant for Garak's slaves. The Cardassian caught Julian's sudden discomfort and laughed throatily. "Have no fear my Pet, she -did- go on a ... high note."

You mean you fucked her until she passed out? Mercifully allowed to be anaesthetised before you slit her throat? "I see," he whispered harshly, angrily keeping his tears at bay. She had been in Garak's service nearly as long as Julian himself. But she was younger than he was, perhaps 19 or 20. Before Julian came along, she'd been a favourite of the Cardassian's; probably why she survived so long. Her pretty innocent features unscarred by hate or malice. And you enjoyed every fucking minute polluting her mind with your games, didn't you?

"So now we are alone," Garak went on, closing in on Julian as a predator approached his prey. "And I'm sure you'll become popular aboard this station soon enough." The distance separating them was suddenly gone, and Garak was pressing against Julian. "But never forget where your loyalty lies my pretty. If I so much feel that you're slipping away to another, I'll snap you back so fast you'll never see it coming. And you know my methods can leave a lot to be desired ..." he grinned sadistically, his forefinger tracing a small scar across his attendant's chest. Julian shuddered and nodded.

"Now. Be a good boy and go prepare supper. I'm positively famished. Why, I'll even let you dine in my company tonight." He chuckled as his hand caressing the silky smooth cheek. "And who knows? I might just let you stay around for ... dessert."

Julian nodded hazily, too numb with grief to even dread Garak's promised touch.

Nora had been the first with whom Garak had demonstrated his little power games to Julian. Naive in the face of such atrocities, young Julian had began to cry when he witnessed the Cardassian's harsh treatment, so sure Nora would not withstand the cruel management. But at one point he saw her face change; watched as Garak's hands turned her torment into pure ecstasy, thrusting steadily into her -- she sitting on his lap as his massive hands clutched her waist and controlled her movements. And as she threw her head back to shout her rapture, he again wondered what it'd feel like to be Garak's lover.

Too damned expensive a luxury, I can tell you that, Julian snorted inwardly, outwardly going through the automatic routine of preparing Garak's favourite meal. You may pleasure me like no other can, but the price attached to it is too high. I'm losing myself. But more importantly, I'm losing my reverence for life.

As the taspar eggs glimmered into reality on the replicator dais, Julian was suddenly yanked back, then rammed into the wall next to it with brute force. Hands probed his waist and the unmistakable hardness of an erection pushed at his ass.

A voice in his ear, playful. "Odd; I seem to have suddenly lost my appetite," it hissed, a confident tongue tracing the delicate whorls of cartilage. His cheek pressed flat against the wall, Julian closed his eyes.

The assault had been unexpected, but not altogether unusual. Garak was known for his impromptu onslaughts, no matter what the time of day. On top of being the cruellest lover Julian had known, he was also the most lustful - aroused to passion by the merest thing he did; the way he walked, the way he dressed, or like he had been now, standing by himself in the corner with his eyes lost in memory.

Garak leaned forward, bracing his hands across the smooth metallic wall near either side of Julian's head. The Human's body was hot against him, so fiery compared to his inherent coolness. He always found himself shivering with cold - or perhaps more - each time he separated from the young man.

"I told you on our way here that I'd continue our little ... diversion," the Cardassian whispered, sending chills down Julian's spine despite himself. His body responded to Garak's touch as though they had been meant for each other. Allah, no, Julian thought, conscious of his erection as it pressed against the wall, insistent. His breaths turned to small involuntary gasps, knowing that once the torment was over Garak's hands would lift him to an impossible height.

Unwittingly, he moaned deep in his throat, and immediately cursed his weakness. Torture, Jules. Remember ... whips, hard fucks, insults ... Allah, don't let it go on one minute more ... I beg of you, make me stronger ...

Garak smiled against the back of his neck. "Splendid," he cooed triumphantly. Let's retire to the bedroom." What could have been taken as a request was meant as an order, and Julian understood it well. Hesitantly testing the leeway Garak had given him, Julian found that the Gul had stepped a few paces to clear his way. Barely glancing at him, he turned heel and walked the march of death to the lavishly set bedroom.

"Lie down."

Garak's order was terse and cold, his hands moving to undo the fastenings on his own uniform. Normally he'd command Julian to do everything for him - undress him, undress himself, suck him, then allow Garak to do with his body as he wished, lest he wanted reprisal in the harshest of sense.

But today was different. He had no idea what made it so, but he felt it, wanted it to be so for some odd reason. Am I crazy? Garak thought, ducking his head and feigning interest in his task, hoping against hope his servant hadn't caught the hesitation in his eyes.

Yet Julian had obeyed his owner faithfully, and could not see the Cardassian's eyes in the lain position he'd taken across the hard Cardassian bed. He took a few deep breaths, trying to set his mind off to a comfortable place. It was always so. Before Garak fucked his ass, whipped his skin or did whatever monstrosity to his body, Julian placed his mind elsewhere. Shifted it to an imaginary place with the skills and will ten years under Garak's service had given him.

Gone, Garak thought, a part of him saddened as he looked down at him. He is gone again, off to his land of fantasies and dreams. What would make him be here with me? What would draw him away from his mental cocoon and into my arms?

But the question was not fevered enough to bother him, not desperate enough to make him ignore the fire between his legs as he studied the exquisite Human prone before him. He straddled the impossibly thin frame, bent down and began removing his servant's clothes. For a moment, Julian's eyes returned from their void to focus questionally on his master. That is mine to do, his gaze told Garak. Why are you undressing me?

Hush. Garak's eyes spoke volumes as he bent to follow the opening of his shirt. His tongue swirled across the smooth golden expanse of skin. For one night, he said again, his mind one with Julian's. For one night I give you this. I want to feel ... I want to be one with you. The following thoughts vanished as he lost himself in Julian, opening half of the thousand locks, throwing bones to half of the thousand hounds, nearly letting his love through. Not all, but just enough.

Julian moaned. He threw his head back, exposing the lithe neck that Garak quickly ravished. His teeth scraped skin, his tongue following and soothing. His nails dug into the Human's thighs, pressing them insistently against his hardness, grinding his erection into the fiery steel of his servant. Never, in all his service, had Julian become so hard without help. Without the stimulants, without his owner's mouth, without anything Julian had grown hard from Garak's unusual behaviour, grown hard at the possibilities this offered.

One night, Garak's gaze reminded. Only one night. He reached up to caress the Human's throat and encountered the leather collar. He hesitated barely a second before he began working on the clasp. Julian's own fingers stopped his progress, his slow shake of the head confirming Garak's suspicions. He liked it. The only gift he'd ever been given in his miserable life. A token of appreciation certainly, but did Julian realise the love attached with it?

They never once spoke that night. From the first command Garak had uttered upon entering the lavish quarters, none of them had dared to speak. I am crazy, Garak confirmed, leaving a trail of bites and kisses down the smooth rich coloured chest. Stop this, right now. Save yourself ... this is not right. Garak ignored the voice, his breath becoming laboured, his hands clenching into the silky smooth thighs, the scent driving him insane. Never had he allowed to open himself so deeply to the sensations sex with Julian offered. He'd usually used him for his own pleasure, thoughtless of his servant's needs and feelings. Ah! You are becoming weak ... too weak.

I love you, was Julian's message as he stared deeply into Garak's eyes.

Panicked, feeling the shackles close over his heart, Garak shook his head and refused to acknowledge the same. Working on the body, his hands suddenly became possessive, dominant, his movements rougher and wilder. Julian's eyes saddened, and stared at Garak as he thoughtlessly began to devour his body. Uttering an inarticulate cry, the Cardassian reached for the night stand, produced the usual cuffs and placed them around Julian's wrists. When he looked up, the Human's eyes were cold, distant ... gone.

I have lost him again. I had him. He was here, with me, and now he is gone. Garak sighed, and reluctantly proceeded to relieve his own aching needs, pushing away the thought of his failure.

Turning the young man's serpentine body in one fluid movement, Garak gripped the narrow thighs and plunged into his servant's depths without any soothing admonition.

Julian cried out in pain, his bound hands unable to support his body as he collapsed forward, his face buried in the smooth satiny sheets. He breathed in the scent, took small comfort in its odd reassuring presence as he nuzzled into them. He concentrated on the soft texture against his cheeks and tried to ignore in vain the brutal pounding from behind.

Oblivious to Julian's discomfort, Garak continued his thrashing, driving himself up the peak, his breathing laboured and fast as he thrust violently into the Human's ass, stretching him, filling him, but bringing no pleasure to him. Garak bent forward, his skin slick with sweat, his scales flared and almost crimson with desire as he swept harsh breaths against the cinnamon back. His nails scraped the slender sides, drawing thin welts beaded by blood.

Growling, he twisted his neck and licked them clean, his release finally upon him as he emptied himself in the Human. He grinned ecstatically as he cried out his bliss, while under him Julian remembered a song.

Angels answer me, / are you near if rain should fall? / Am I to believe / you will rise to calm the storm? / For so great a treasure words will never do. / Surely, if this is, promises are mine to give you. / mine to give ...

Thus he drifted to a troubled sleep. His hips fell limply upon the bed as Garak released him thoughtlessly, only the poetic words to comfort him, promises and memories his only companions as he shed a single tear to dampen the soft linens beneath him.

Hovering above his exhausted form, Garak watched him for a moment, then quietly left.

Continued -->