Discipline (34 page)

By the time the plane had reached cruising altitude, Tobias was feeling mostly human again. "Tell me why it was a good idea to stay out that late last night?" he asked Noah, trying not to moan pitifully as his ears popped.

"Because, sir, it was our last night in Paris?" Noah suggested, bringing him a bottle of water now that they could move around freely. "Because that club was one of the classiest places we've ever been?

Because you wanted to see Gregory and Jean-Pierre again before you left town in case it was another ten years before you take me back to Paris? Because we could sleep on the plane? I'm sure we had a good reason."

"Oh. Right." He took the water bottle and drank about half of it in one shot. "Thanks, pet." He forced himself to sit like a human who had been raised properly, and gave Noah a grin. "I doubt we can get away with not going back sooner than that. Hell, Jean-Pierre was ready to follow you home."

He had been, too. Noah had been allowed to speak at the second club, and he'd whimpered and
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begged so prettily. He knew how to use his voice, that was for sure.

"Mmm. Jean-Pierre is a fine looking man, isn't he? And Gregory's boy, Martin, was... energetic. He's someone I could stand to get to know better." Noah winked and flopped next to Tobias, resting his head on Tobias' shoulder. He chuckled. "We really have to go back to the real world, huh? I was so enjoying being a kept boy in Paris."

Tobias snorted. "Don't start, brat."

"Thankyou," Noah said turning his head in Tobias' direction. "For the trip. It was amazing. Incredible. I loved every minute of it. I hope my pictures come out."

"You took pictures?" Tobias asked, startled for a moment. "Oh! The tower, right." He hoped to hell he wasn't blushing. "I need sleep. And you're welcome."

Noah laughed. "Don't worry, you had your clothes on. And seriously, I'm going to be talking about this for a long time. Why don't you lie down? The couch should be big enough for you."

Tobias nodded and swung his legs up. "Come here, pet," he invited, holding one arm out. If they curled up tight they could snuggle without hurting each other. "It was a good trip."

Sometimes Tobias was amazed by his own understatements. He amended it to add, "Last night was almost as amazing as the first evening with Gregory and company. But nowhere near as nice as the hot tub."

"I'm glad you have your priorities straight," Noah grinned, snuggling into Tobias on the couch. It was a tight fit, but not uncomfortable. "Mmm. Hot tub. I love hot tubs." Noah laughed softly. "Let's have a hot tub."

"Okay." Tobias wasn't about to argue that one. He ran a hand over Noah's side, soaking up his body heat. "When do you have to go back to work?"

"Monday, bright and early. But I left my uniform and gear at your place, since we're coming home on the weekend. You?"

"Rounds Monday morning, but I have to call Deidre as soon as I can manage it. We're coming up on a birth cycle, so I have to touch base and see what needs doing. I think I should have bought her more chocolate."

Noah winced melodramatically. "Uh-oh. Sounds like you're in for a long week. Isn't the birthing cycle thing when you end up being called at two A.M. to go deliver a cow?"

"Or a horse or a lamb... Once, I had a horse foaling in one stall, a bitch having a litter of puppies in the next, threat of a cow going into labor in the next barn, and Dee about to have kittens. It was insane." He laughed softly. "The easiest was the pup. She didn't need me at all and was just happy to have clean straw."

"And the toughest was Dee?" Noah was giggling. "Sounds like we're in for some interrupted evenings.

Fairly warned. Just promise me you'll shower before coming back to bed."

"Hell, I'll shower before coming home. Do you have any idea how messy births can be?" Tobias
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shuddered and rubbed a slow circle on Noah's stomach. "It may be quiet, we never know. Some animals have a harder time than others, that's all." He kissed the top of Noah's head. "Oh, and I have dinner with Bradford on Wednesday this week, did I mention?"

"I'll have you know I delivered a baby in the backseat of my squad car two years ago," Noah said proudly. "I don't need to see that much of a woman ever again, thankyou. And, no; special occasion? Or just to catch up with him after Paris?"

"You did?" Tobias was impressed. "Good for you, I'd always thought those sorts of things were urban legends. And he's worried about Phan. Or something. I don't know, he wouldn't tell me."

Noah turned his head and looked at Tobias. "He's worried about Phan and he wouldn't tell you why?

That doesn't sound right."

"Well, he wants to talk to me about Phan," Tobias said. "He said Phan was fine and not to worry... but I do." Rather a lot, he was willing to admit to himself. He itched to get home; he wouldn't be surprised if he called Bradford and pestered him before Wednesday.

"Hmm." Noah tucked his head into Tobias' arm and didn't make any further comment than that.

Tobias tried to put Phan out of his head, but couldn't, quite. "Will you see him on Tuesday?" he asked.

"Oh. I hadn't thought about it. I suppose I will, yes, we didn't talk aboutcanceling it."

"You don't have to," Tobias said, trying to sound neutral. "You can tell him you have jet lag -- likely, it will be true."

Noah's brow furrowed and he turned his head to look at Tobias again. "You want me to cancel it?"

"No, I just don't want you to do anything you don't want to," Tobias explained. "Honestly, I really want you to see him. I want to know how he is, and he'll likely tell you the truth."

"He usually does, or tells me enough that I can guess it." Noah nodded. "Why wouldn't I want to see him? You're worried that Bradford's holding something back, aren't you?"

"I don't know," Tobias said. "He wouldn't out and out lie to me, but he's concerned about something.

And I didn't mean to suggest that you wouldn't want to see him; just that you don't have to." He sighed.

"Okay, maybe I thought you wouldn't want to see him. I don't know why."

"Because you're still worried that I don't trust you when it comes to him. Except that I do. Phan, I'm still a little shaky on, but that's not really his fault." Noah leaned up and kissed Tobias under his chin. "I'll see him. And I suppose you want a full report? I feel like a spy."

Tobias smiled, feeling a little more at ease. "He knows you're reporting back. Unless you want to be a spy. Oh, we could do that, I'm sure. 007, a nice tux..."

"Ooh. And gadgets!" Noah grinned and Tobias knew he'd set himself up for something. "Hmm. I want a pen that really writes but has a secret and unending supply of lube in the cap, and I want a gun that shoots bullets and rubbers. Oh! And you have to promise that I always have hot men chasing after me like PierceBrosnan's Bond girls."

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"Hey! I'll be Bond," Tobias laughed. "You can be Doctor No. Only you're more a Doctor 'Oh, yeah, sir'. Or maybeGolddick ."

"Pfft." Noah sniffed at him. "You'd like that wouldn't you? No, if I'm the spy then I am 007. You can be one of my Bond men... one that secretly indulges me in my fantasies of being tied up and fucked."

"I see," Tobias said evenly. "You do know that I'm a double agent and I'll leave you tied to the bed after stealing all your secrets, right?"

"As long as you steal them well, I won't argue much." Noah winked.

Tobias snorted. "You won't argue at all. You're kind of easy that way, you know."

"I am not!" Noah protested. "Well, all right. For you, maybe I am. Sometimes. Occasionally."

"Pretty much every time." Tobias grinned and rubbed another circle on Noah's belly. "I like it, though."

"Good, because I can't help it." Noah chuckled softly. "You have a way of turning me into babbling jelly."

"Oh, what a lovely description!" Tobias said with a laugh. "So we're agreed that you're easy, my boy, and that you'll spy for me. Am I correct?"

Noah snorted. "I suppose so, sir," he agreed with a tone of playful sarcasm. "Weren't you going to nap or something?"

"Or something. Talking about playing spy was more fun, but sleep could be good. Oh, and we can nap on the way home, too -- nice thing about having a driver."

Noah settled down again. "Would be cool if we could arrange to put the hot tub in the safe room, don't you think?" he asked, totally out of the blue. "Oh, and what will be in your playroom in our new place?"

"Oh, good idea!" Tobias got an immediate mental image of their new safe room, all white with large windows and lots of plants, a nice sofa and the hot tub in the corner. "Hmm, playroom. Let's see. A cross and a whipping post, manacles on the wall, a sling..."

"Mmm. A couple of trunks with your gear, funky lighting, a big comfy chair like the one you have at the farm..."

"A closet for costumes, some pillows, a huge mirror..."

"Ooh, a mirror. Kinky. Spanking bench? Sound system?"

Tobias shrugged. "Probably. The frills we can work out later. Did it get warm in here, or is that just me?"

he asked with a grin.

Noah laughed. "You're a dirty old man, sir."

"Ah, I believe you may be right," Tobias said, pulling Noah a little closer. "Now hush, and try to sleep.

Or I'll be forced to take matters into my own hands -- again -- and you won't be able to walk off the plane." He grinned and winked. "Though, at the moment, it feels a little beyond me to be honest. The old

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man part is sneaking up on me, I think."

"Right. Sleep now, fuck me later." Noah tangled his fingers with Tobias' and snuggled in tight. "I think we're going to land a couple of hours before we took off." Noah yawned. "That'll be weird."

"We'll forever be younger than we were yesterday," Tobias pointed out. "Or something." He closed his eyes and tried to figure out what he meant, the thought getting lost as he listened to the engines and finally fell asleep.

END