Deviations: Submission (25 page)

"No problem, sir. Dinner is almost ready. I'll go set the table." Noah turned and walked past Tobias toward the dining room.

Tobias stood straight, away from the counter and steeled himself. "You will not. You will come here, immediately, and explain yourself."

Noah stopped and made his way back to Tobias' side.

"Permission to speak frankly, sir?" Noah's tone hadn't warmed 225

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up one bit, and his usual respectful words were bordering on disrespect as he spat them through his lips.

"Denied. I don't think your current frame of mind will allow for anything resembling sense, let alone frank and respectful.

Unless you have solid reasons for wishing I not make personal calls from my own home?"

Noah frowned further. "I can't discuss this without your permission to speak frankly, sir, so I hope that you will accept my apologies and allow me to go set the table."

Tobias sighed. "Fine. Talk. But know that you're already up to four strokes tonight for showing disrespect and saying 'no problem' when there obviously is."

Noah shook his head in response. "Very well, four it is, sir." He took a deep breath, worrying his lip a moment before letting it out. He seemed to be choosing his words carefully.

"You are already aware of how uneasy it makes me to discuss Phantom, sir. Unfortunately, I see little use in expressing my feelings about your phone call with him at this point. I remember well the response I got when I asked you with all due respect not to bring him up in the safe room. I believe your exact words were 'tough.'" He shifted, crossing his arms over his chest, and his voice grew softer and less angry.

"You're not at all receptive to discussion about my feelings with regard to him, and so explaining myself would be a waste of time, sir."

"It is a waste of time simply because as my submissive you have no say in who my friends are, Noah," Tobias said softly, his voice serious. "You have no right-granted or otherwise-to be disrespectful of anyone in my life. Phantom 226

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was my lover and he is now a dear friend. I have no intention of pretending otherwise, nor do I intend to monitor my speech about him. However, I will do what it takes to rid you of your obvious insecurity about him, within those limits."

"I see. And would you say that you were in love with him, sir?" Noah asked boldly.

"Yes, of course," Tobias said easily. "I'm not any longer."

"And you really believe that discussion of your last love-interest is appropriate with me? Let alone calling him in my presence after a weekend like this? You're right that who your friends are is none of my business."

Tobias was stunned when Noah deliberately broke the first cardinal rule of submission and lifted his eyes to meet his Master's. He continued, speaking slowly and clearly.

"Unless you have expressly ruled out the possibility of an emotional relationship between the two of us, I think that Phan is my business." Noah swallowed hard, with a kind of discomfort that wasn't inflicted by whips in his eyes. "Have you ruled that out, sir? It's possible that I have grossly misread you, but I don't think so."

Tobias met Noah's eyes and he hoped he looked as firm as he felt, "I have not ruled it out, no. However, I happen to think that discussion about my last sub and the experience I gained with him is highly relevant to what I need from you.

Also, I fail to see why my calling him-ever-is an issue with you. I am not with Phan. He is not my slave, my lover, or my sub. I do not spend my weeks planning how to meet his needs, nor do I spend my weekends helping him, lying with him, enjoying him."

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Noah sighed and lowered his eyes again. He cleared his throat before he spoke, but his voice still sounded rough. "It feels like a competition, sir. Ever since he drooled all over you at the club that day, in front of me. He knew what he was doing. And he knew exactly when to call today, didn't he? His timing was deliberate. Surely you see that. It's possible that he is just playing games with you, but I feel as though they are at my expense and I ... I don't like it. It's hurtful." He let his arms fall to his sides and sighed. "It's distracting and it's destroyed my headspace, sir."

Tobias reached out and pulled Noah into his arms, not letting Noah's initial resistance stop him. "Sweetheart. He knew when to call because he knows what time I eat on the weekends and that you would be cooking it. Therefore, he wouldn't be interrupting anything. And at the club, he was making a point-I'm cherished, and if you wanted to be mine, you had to try. You had to know that I don't settle." He ran one hand down Noah's back. "I don't settle, pet. And you're mine. Understand?"

After a quiet moment, Tobias felt Noah's arms snake slowly around his waist. Noah's chest expanded and he exhaled audibly. "Yes, sir," came the reply, muffled into his shoulder, and Noah relaxed slightly. "I'm sorry, sir. Please forgive me." Noah's arms tightened around him for a brief moment and then he dutifully slipped to his knees at Tobias'

feet, bowing his head over them. "I wish to beg your mercy, sir, for my disrespect, though I feel better for having been honest."

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"I'm sure you do," Tobias agreed. "Mercy will only get you so far, though, pet. I don't think we're completely done with this topic, and I'm a little concerned with how quickly you were able to jump out of your position. I know your emotions were high, but I can't let it slide completely. Two strokes, this time. If it happens again I won't be so generous."

"Six total, sir. Thank you." Noah seemed to have a handle on his emotions for the moment. He stood and moved to the stove to give his sauce a stir. "This will burn if I let it go much longer; have a seat please, sir, and let me serve you."

With his perfect day now sporting a lovely red blemish, Tobias did just that. He sat in his dining room, perfectly aware that the topics of Phantom, their relationship, and Noah's insecurity were only displaced for the moment, not dealt with in any real manner. And now he had a sub to punish before bed-on a night when he'd looked forward to sharing his bed until morning.

The only real way around that, Tobias decided, was to allow Noah to redeem himself. After all, what fun was it being the boss if you couldn't occasionally swing things to get what you wanted? A nice warm Noah in his bed was worth the six strokes, he was sure.

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Chapter 24

Tobias allowed Noah to be thoughtful over dinner, and as a result the meal was almost painfully quiet. They did chat a little about the horses-Noah seemed to be taking a shine to Spot-but apart from that it was, "Pass the salt, please," and,

"Would you like more water, sir?" and that was about all. The meal was delicious, although the pasta had been just a bit soft. If they hadn't had that unpleasant interruption, it would have been perfect.

When he'd had his fill, Tobias left Noah to clean up and excused himself to go to his safe room to mull things over a bit. He supposed he ought to be flattered in a way that Noah was feeling protective of their relationship, but that unfortunate element of control had begun to rear its head again. They'd been working through it since last weekend and would be for some time to come, he feared. Clearly, Noah needed another lesson.

Noah seemed to take his time about the dishes. Or maybe Tobias was just impatient, in anticipation of Noah's opportunity to make up for his earlier transgressions. He finally heard footsteps on the stairs and brushed himself off, fixed his hair, and schooled his expression. My, that was a fine jock strap he'd put his boy in, the soft leather hugging his curves in all the right places.

"I'm finished, sir," Noah told him, coming into the safe room and kneeling at his feet.

"Good. I assume that the amount of time you spent speaks to a dedication to detail which will make Mrs. Miller weep with 230

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joy." Tobias rested a hand on Noah's head, playing with his hair for a moment. "I think I'd rather like to weep with joy, boy."

"I want to make you happy, sir. Tell me how I can please you."

"Well, see, there's the thing, whelp. I like control, and you seem to have a bit of trouble giving it to me. So I'm going to give you utter control over your own ability to orgasm this evening. I forbid you to do so, but I'm not going to ring you or help you at all. In fact, I'm going to go down on you, my sweet boy, and I'm going to fuck you-I'm going to have such a wonderful time with your body."

Noah's eyes widened and he actually stuttered as he spoke. If it weren't for wanting to seem stern, Tobias would have laughed at the poor thing. "It's ... I ... without a...?" he stammered, blinking incredulously. "Sir, did you say without a ring?"

"I did." Tobias stepped back and moved around Noah to the cabinet, pulling open the drawers with fanfare. As he tossed a tube of lube and a handful of condoms on the bed he said, "You'll control yourself-you'll love it. Such control is to be admired, pet. Mind you, I'll let you come if you beg me nicely enough, and admit that you don't have control-that control is mine." Tobias casually began to undo his shirt buttons, trying to look utterly unconcerned with the state of his sub.

Noah seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Apparently the idea that he could beg seemed more reasonable to him. Poor disillusioned boy. He stood and moved to Tobias to help him 231

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undress. "As you wish, sir," he answered, though his voice still sounded uneasy.

"Always," Tobias said cheerfully. He tweaked both of Noah's nipples and grinned at him. "Now, I think this would work better on the bed, boy. On your back, if you'd be so kind." With a sweep of his arm Tobias motioned to the middle of the bed, neatly cleared of all pillows, the cluster of condoms looking like a challenge.

"Yes, sir," Noah looked at the bed a moment as if it were the enemy and then climbed up on it, rolling onto his back lengthwise up the middle. He trained his eyes studiously on the ceiling.

Tobias, still fully dressed save his unbuttoned and untucked shirt, pounced. He curled along Noah's side, one hand immediately massaging Noah's cock as he thrust his tongue into Noah's mouth in a deep, claiming kiss. He growled for effect and rubbed himself shamelessly on Noah's leg.

For a brief disoriented moment Noah responded, pressing his cock into Tobias' fingers, opening his mouth wide. But he recoiled at the first hint of arousal, the first answering twitch of his prick. He puffed out a breath, went completely still and closed his eyes.

So Tobias moaned into his mouth and dragged his tongue down Noah's jaw, biting at his neck. "My boy, my beautiful boy," he whispered, his hand still rubbing and massaging as he feasted on one tight nipple. His other hand found its mate and Tobias made sure to turn up the volume on his own 232

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sounds as he tasted his pet. He was having a wonderful time, and wanted Noah to know it.

For long moments, Noah did nothing but breathe, taking in air and letting it out almost desperately, as if oxygen were his only defense. But even air, as necessary as it was, was no match for a Master's touch, and Tobias knew it. "Oh, God,"

Noah groaned at last. It was a lovely, deep-chested sound of arousal and defeat, and his body arched to Tobias' attentions.

"Mine," Tobias purred, feeling Noah harden under his fingers. Not wasting time, and hoping to keep Noah confused and disoriented, he replaced his hand with his mouth, licking and sucking at the leather covering Noah's erection. His hand momentarily free, he stripped off his shirt and tossed it away with another growl.

"No, no, no..." Noah moaned and whined softly, pushing gently at Tobias' shoulder. At first Tobias thought the words were meant for him, but then he noted the way that the leather stretched away from Noah's body as his shaft filled fully and pushed in frustrated defiance at the jock strap. "Oh, fuck," Noah groaned.

"Oh, yes," Tobias countered with glee. "Definitely yes, pet." He sat up, hands tugging the strap off and away with a minimum of fuss. "Such a pretty cock," he informed Noah.

"It's about time I got to know it better, don't you think?"

Without waiting for a reaction he swooped down again, his tongue happily bathing Noah's balls while his hand held the stiff shaft loosely.

Tobias measured his success by the length of Noah's frustrated moan. It seemed to go on and on, until Noah was 233

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finally forced to gasp in air. He grunted, and in a different scenario the sound might have had accompanying curses, but Noah knew better. Still, his resistance was waning steadily, and Tobias wondered idly when the last time anyone sucked Noah off might have been. Noah puffed again, and he relaxed back into the mattress. Impressive. Score one for the boy.

"Good work," Tobias said, lifting his head. "Nice control.

I'm rather glad I don't have to do that." He rolled to the side and, grinning broadly, stripped off his trousers and boxers in a few short movements.

"Me, too," Noah responded, and, in a deft and unexpected move, Noah rolled toward him, giving Tobias a light shove onto his back while he was off-balance with this clothing.

Before Tobias could breathe a protest, Noah had swallowed his erection, surrounding it in hungry, wet heat.

"Jesus!" Tobias gasped, the sound quickly becoming a moan as he let Noah have his way. It was lovely and wonderful, and frankly he'd be thankful to have the edge taken off; it would give him more time to play with his boy.

So he tangled his hand in Noah's hair and let him go to town.

Noah reached one arm up his body, and Tobias winced as Noah tangled fingers in his curls and tugged on a nipple. With his other hand, Noah was juggling his balls, rolling them from fingers to palm. But his tongue, well trained and well practiced, was where Tobias focused, as Noah pulled on his cock and bathed his shaft and head, skillfully teasing and taunting.