Deviations: Submission (19 page)

well, you hit something there and I wasn't ready for it at all."

Tobias took a deep breath and eased his arms back around Noah. "It's all right, pet," he said gently. "There will be 167

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moments that leap up at us, I suspect, and we'll deal with them as they come. Are you willing to go on?"

Noah shook his head. "I'm not sure. What's next?"

Tobias wanted to explore David further, but he knew Noah would resist-or at least resent him for pushing at the moment. "I want to know how you got to the club," he said finally.

"Oh." Noah seemed relieved for the change of subject.

"Well, I'd heard about the club on the scene someplace. I think David had applied for membership at one point. But the first time I went there I was actually responding to a medical emergency. I escorted an ambulance over there and that's how I met Bradford."

"I didn't hear about that," Tobias said curiously.

"It wasn't as sinister as it sounds, though it was a sad day.

Mr. O'Connor, one of the Doms, had a heart attack in the middle of a session. Did you know him? Were you around much then?" Noah rested a hand on Tobias' thigh.

"O'Connor?" Tobias thought for a moment. "Oh, Derek.

Yes, of course. I'd been away from the club for a year or so by then, maybe longer." He held Noah a little closer, draping one leg back over Noah's thigh.

Noah laid his head back on Tobias' shoulder. "Anyway, I called Bradford the next day, allegedly on police business, but when I showed up I asked about membership, too. He was skeptical, but receptive to the idea, asked me for references, though I didn't have many. I don't know what it was like when you joined, but Bradford did a thorough background 168

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check; you'd have thought I was applying for membership with the FBI."

Tobias grinned. "It's always been like that. Bradford learned from the best; when I joined I had to be sponsored and already have someone willing to train me and a Dom in place to make sure I subbed as well. So, three members to vouch, a background check, and of course the financial checks, too. I doubt you had that-the submissives didn't back then, anyway."

"Our membership fees are lower." Noah laughed softly. "I didn't need members to vouch, he asked me about my experience though, and a few questions about David, too. He was more concerned with my mental state than my financial one."

"Of course he was. He's a good man. And as he's running the only top-heavy club around, he wanted to make sure you'd be fit and healthy-it would kill him if he helped to damage you further. Did he set up your first few sessions?"

"My first three sessions were all with him, actually," Noah answered easily. "And after that he set up nearly all of them for me. I think he was being deliberate about it, setting me up with people he knew well, that kind of thing. And then eventually he set me up with you, of course."

"So he did." Tobias moved his other leg, and as easily as that they were back as they'd started. "So Brett was before the club, or during?"

"Oh, during. Bradford set us up one night, and we hit it off.

I told Bradford that I thought it was a good experience and though Bradford said he was a little green, he thought we'd 169

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be good for each other. He'd been trying to help me find someone steady, he'd always said that's what I should have.

So I started doing regular sessions with Brett on the weekends."

"And why is it so important that you have someone steady, pet?" Tobias eased back toward what he wanted to know, ready to back off again. He hoped that Noah would eventually open up, and part of him feared how hard he'd have to push to get there.

"I suppose because I have things that I need to work through, and one-nighters aren't going to dig beyond the scene for the evening."

"And what would those things be?" Tobias whispered, his hands stroking Noah's arms.

"Trust, largely. In Doms, in myself to make a good decision, in a partnership. And fear, I think, too. Rational or no. I know I need someone that will be strong enough to push me where I clearly don't want to go." Noah gave Tobias'

knee a squeeze and sighed. "Bradford told me that if I was really ready to work through things that you were the man I needed to meet."

Tobias considered his answer but before he could speak, Noah interrupted his train of thought with a question of his own. "So, why do you do this?" Noah asked him. "Why do you Dom?"

"Because I have to. The alternative is unacceptable."

Tobias shifted his weight slightly, tightening his legs around Noah's. "Tell me what you picture in your head as perfect submission. What is the ultimate goal for you personally?"

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"I think it's different for different people. But for me,"

Noah sighed, now completely relaxed again, "I crave a relationship that feels natural, as natural as breathing, where I don't worry about trust because there is no reason not to trust." Noah spoke slowly and deliberately. "I'd like to get to know my Dom on a different level too, a more personal one, so that knowing what my Dom needs becomes intuitive. The kind of partnership that has infinite room for growth, you know? I think that's the ideal. I have no idea if it's even possible."

Tobias smiled to himself. "And you're prepared to work toward that?"

"I want to." Noah nodded.

"Wonderful." Tobias smoothed his hands over Noah's arms again. "Today you began your routine. After lunch we'll go to the playroom and I'll put you through the positions I expect you to know and we'll practice them. We'll start training you to heel. And then we'll talk again. Understood?"

"Understood, sir," Noah agreed.

"Good. What's for lunch?"

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Chapter 16

Tobias led Noah to the play stables, the sun streaking through the trees behind the house. Lunch had been pleasant, and they'd relaxed for a while after it, letting it settle. Tobias had seated them out on the porch and pointed out the few local landmarks they could see, which seemed to entertain Noah. Noah'd also been quiet and pliable when Tobias had taken him upstairs and switched his plug for a slightly larger one, enduring Tobias' inspection with gritted teeth and a whimper as his caged cock tried to respond.

"Poor baby," Tobias teased cheerfully. "Tomorrow night, boy. Not before."

"Yes, sir," Noah agreed, his eyes down.

He'd kept his eyes down the entire way out of the house and they were still down as Tobias unlocked the door and took them inside. As he flipped the main light switch Tobias said, "Strip and meet me in the ring. Bring two bottles of water, please."

Tobias watched as Noah did as he was told, taking two bottles out of the fridge after leaving his clothing neatly on a shelf by the door. He made his way down the long corridor to the ring, the new plug making him walk just a little more carefully. When he reached Tobias he knelt and offered him the bottles.

"Thank you, boy. Now, we're going to do some simple things, and you can't make mistakes at this point. I want to see if we're in the same book, let alone on the same page. I'll name a position, you tell me if you don't know it or show me 172

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the pose. If we call poses different things, we'll work with that. Clear?"

Noah nodded. "Yes, sir. That's clear."

Tobias walked to one of the wooden chests and threw it open, lifting out his favorite short handled flogger. "Okay, Grace position."

Noah stood, turning his back to Tobias. He placed his hands flat on the table top in the center of the ring and pushed away from it, spreading his legs slightly and giving Tobias access to his ass. "Grace, sir."

"Excellent. We'll use this for your evening punishment among other things. I know you can display-show me."

Absently, he slapped his thigh with the flogger and then ran the tails over his hand.

Noah stood upright and turned to face Tobias, clasping his wrists behind his back and spreading his legs slightly. His eyes were lowered respectfully. He stood there a moment and then squared his shoulders and lifted his chin some making last minute adjustments before saying, "Display, sir."

"Very nice. Same word for when you're kneeling, boy-just do your best, I'll tell you if I want you to stand or kneel."

Tobias walked around Noah, admiring the lines of the man.

"How about Present?"

Noah bent over at the waist, resting his hands on his shins. He spread his legs wide enough that Tobias would have easy access to his ass or his cock. "Present, sir."

"Oh. Pretty," Tobias said with a grin. "Trust me, I might keep this one. But no. Hands and knees, please."

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Noah sank to his hands and knees quickly. "I'm sorry, sir,"

he said softly. "Every Dom seems to have something different in mind for that one."

"I said you couldn't make a mistake at this point, boy."

Tobias nudged Noah's knees a little further apart. "It's a pretty personal position, and the word 'present' has different connotations for different people. Now, down to your elbows-yes, like that. Arch your back so your ass is raised."

Tobias stood back and admired his boy for a moment.

"Absolutely lovely. Now, from here I can play with your ass, your balls ... I can spank you, fuck you, flog you. When I say

'present' you will immediately drop and arrange yourself like this. I think we'll have to come up with a name for the other one, though; it's too nice to lose."

Noah grinned and chuckled. "Yes, sir."

"We can figure that out later. I think we'll keep what we did in the safe room too-good for talking, I think. Discussing what we are ... affirmation. So, Affirmation, and you can expect that at least once a weekend here, more if I feel you need it."

"Affirmation. I'll remember that, sir."

Tobias nodded. "Stand and display, please." He waited a moment while Noah righted himself and got into position, and once more he circled the man. "Have you ever walked on a lead? I know you said you disliked it because of the humiliation, but do you have experience?"

"I have some, sir, though not much. It's not anything I've done in public, for example, or for any length of time." Noah's 174

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tone didn't change, so at least the discussion of leads and leashes was something he seemed comfortable with.

Tobias opened a trunk and lifted out a set of nipple clamps and a fine chain. "And how do you feel about being clamped?"

"They hurt like hell at first, and when they come off, but I don't mind them once I warm up a bit, sir." Noah kept his eyes forward but checked his shoulders and his chin again.

"They'll ... sting a bit if you lag. Just so you know." Tobias stepped close in front of him and casually rubbed a thumb over Noah's left nipple, making it stand out. "You'll want to keep up," he added as he tugged it and put the clamp on.

Noah bit his lip and sucked in air, hissing as the clamp closed around his nipple. Tobias resisted the urge to grin as Noah's shoulder twitched reflexively like he was trying to back away from the pinch. Noah bit back a groan and forced his shoulders square again.

Tobias did the second one quickly and without warning, rather enjoying the stifled gasp and the accompanying wriggle. As he attached the chain to one clamp and then the other he explained, "The chain will be connected to a light lead-if you keep to heel there will be only a slight added pressure. Fall back-or worse, try to anticipate me-and you'll get a sharp tug. I won't jerk the lead, I won't pull you. I also won't rush-but I turn suddenly. You must pay attention, sweetheart, or you'll ache. Ready?"

Noah seemed a little nervous. All things considered, Tobias thought, it was a good thing to keep him on his toes. "Yes, sir, I'm ready," he answered gamely.

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"Good boy. The key is to keep right at my heel, one step behind. I stop, you stop. Simple." And with that Tobias started to walk. He walked slowly at first, keeping his pace even as Noah found his bearings and how close he could be without crowding Tobias. When Tobias moved to the right in order to go around the table, he was delighted that Noah came with him, a smile flickering over his face.

They walked around the ring, one complete circuit, and Tobias felt that Noah had the gist of it. Without comment he picked up the pace and moved to the left, as if suddenly remembering something in a trunk. The hiss of pain and stumbled step behind him made him wince, but he kept moving, knowing that Noah would recover as quickly as he could.

"Subspace is your friend, right about now," he said in a low voice. "Just lose yourself in following me."

"Yes, sir. I am thinking too hard about it, sir," Noah responded, right on Tobias' heels again. Several more abrupt turns went fine, and Noah had apparently found his comfortable distance and had begun matching Tobias' stride.

Tobias imagined they looked good together, moving as a unit, Noah obediently at his heel.

Tobias stopped walking and Noah halted a little abruptly behind him. When he started walking again his pace was far slower and Noah walked right into his back. Tobias gave him the promised tug and heard Noah swear at himself and whimper softly over his shoulder.

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decided that Noah could stand a few more minutes, but he'd make sure that if there were anymore serious errors he'd stop. With the idea of having something soft and soothing ready for his boy's nipples, he turned once more and started for the supply room, going for ice.