“If things go wrong with his care, there will be an investigation. There might be one anyway. The general is very involved in his son’s care, and he’ll want a full report when he’s recovered.”

“Sure,” Liam says, even though it’s absolutely bizarre. Daniel is a submissive with high needs and it sounds like the general’s goal has been to force his son to survive without having them met. And look where it’s got him.

“I’ll need to note down what I’ve done for him, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there are lots of questions when this is over. His file says he can only have a visual examination unless he consents to a physical one. And if he consents to a physical exam then his father will find out.”

“And what?” Liam snaps. “What the hell is he going to do to this poor boy that is worse than what he’s currently going through?”

“I don’t know,” Dr. Chang says, voice calm. “But it’s scared him enough that Daniel won’t say yes.”

Is that why he’s pretending to be asleep? So he doesn’t have to deal with consenting to an exam? Doesn’t have to have his responses sent to his father?

“He’s injured. He clearly needs to be examined.”

“I agree with you. It’s not sensible. It isn’t in his best interest. But it is legal. And this is the sort of thing you’ll need to be cognizant of if you work with him,” he says, sounding tired.

Liam resists touching the submissive, hand tingling with the desire to touch the young man’s face and neck, to comfort him because this is all so very wrong. He makes a fist, takes a deep breath, and forces himself to give Dr. Chang his attention. He’s warning him. This is for his own professional safety.

“I understand. And I’ll do what I can to abide by all of that, but… none of this corresponds with a high-needs submissive whose designation requires he be owned and have a relationship that has a lot of nonconsent. He needs an ultrasound and then he needs to get fucked, and if you give him to me then that’s what’s going to happen. I’ll deal with the fallout later.”

There’s the faintest whimper from the bed. They both turn to look at Daniel, but his eyes are still closed. His scent has changed. There’s the faintest hint of arousal in it now, and it’s enough to convince Liam that he’s on the right path.