He goes out to the kitchen. Liam is getting ready to cook, dressed in a t-shirt and pajama pants, his feet bare, hair curling and almost dry from his own shower. “What do you not like to eat?” Liam asks, looking him up and down.

Daniel blushes. He’s only in underwear and Liam’s robe.

“Are you kidding? I like everything. Well, I hate spam. And cabbage. Oh, and oatmeal. Not a big fan of oatmeal at all,” he says, going up to Liam.

Liam leans over and pecks him on the cheek. “We will avoid those things, then. How is your nest?”

“It’s beautiful,” he replies, blushing, joy rising up inside him.

His Dominant’s nostrils flare. “I’m glad you like it,” he says gently.

Daniel wants to ask him if it means what he thinks it means, but he’s terrified the answer will be no. “It’s too nice now. I won’t want to leave.”

Liam points to a plate of cookies. Daniel takes one, nibbles it and then devours it in three bites and reaches for another.

“There’s milk,” Liam says, gesturing towards the fridge. “Are you okay with whole milk?”

“Sure,” he says, and Liam nods, looking pleased.

“I’ve got lots of nuts and avocados. There’s always ice cream. At this point, I just want you to put on weight; I don’t much care how you do it.”

Daniel hesitates over taking another cookie and Liam’s gaze narrows. “I’m hoping you’ll start to feel hungrier soon.”

He takes the cookie, relief at the permission going through him. “Is it bad?” he asks, worried. Daniel knows how thin he is and how much he should weigh. He’s usually just too anxious to eat.

“No. Not at all. You’re beautiful. But you need to be a certain weight for your own health.” His smile is careful. “We’re gonna fix it,” he says, kissing Daniel quickly on the cheek again.

Liam wants to take care of him.

“You have a lot of nice things for a nest,” Daniel comments.

He doesn’t answer, just gives Daniel a distracted smile and looks down again.

“Your submissive will be very lucky,” Daniel continues, sick and waiting, but he needs to know what this is. It’s unsettling.

“Daniel,” Liam says, wincing.

And then Daniel has had enough. There is something going on with Liam. “I’ve heard prey submissives are very attuned to their Dominant. To unspoken cues.”

“That’s true. Being prey means you are very aware of your Dominant and his needs,” he agrees. He doesn’t say anything else.

“Right. So. You don’t get to keep me out. I feel it. Don’t,” Daniel demands.