Deviations: Submission (24 page)

Tobias looked at him through heavy lidded eyes. "That would be nice. And then you can join me-I'm too lazy at the moment to actually get out, and I want to hold you for a bit."

Noah set down the towel and the robe, pulled the drain to let some of the cooling water out and refilled the tub with hot water. Then he slipped into the large tub with Tobias and stretched out along his side, resting his head under Tobias'

chin.

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Noah sighed as he settled into the water. "Are you comfortable, sir?"

"I am now," Tobias said quietly. "Did you have any trouble getting things put away?" He doubted it, but he was warm and comfortable and he had his boy with him in the big tub, and for some reason Tobias found himself wanting to talk.

Nothing deep or intense, just simple domestic things that made him think of staying right there for a year or so.

"No, sir, but I hope I got the floor clean enough. It felt a little slippery to me, but it was still wet, it was hard to tell. I'll run out and look it over in the morning." Noah ran his fingers lazily over Tobias' skin. "I'm going to have a lot to put down in my journal this week, that's for sure."

"You're journaling about this?" Tobias didn't know why that surprised him, but it did. Not in a bad way; on the contrary, he liked the idea, it meant Noah was really thinking about his circumstances, getting to know himself. He was also insatiably curious about it, which he put down to be being all too human.

"Yes, sir. I've kept a journal about various things since I was a teenager. But this one I started after our first session together, and it's only about our relationship and things I'm thinking about, and..." Noah cleared his throat. "And you. It's a way to record my journey, write down things I want to remember or things I need to work out. It's also so that in a month from now or six, I can read back and see where I am then compared to where I am now. I feel like it's important, I'm not even sure why, I just knew I needed to do it."

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"I think it's a good idea," Tobias assured him. "There is never anything wrong with knowing yourself, and this journey is going to take many turns ... a map might be nice, even if you can only use it in hindsight." He settled a little more in the tub, hot water lapping at him soothingly. "If you'd like me to make sure you have time to write or reflect over the weekend, I'm sure we can work something out."

"Thank you, sir. If time for reflection seems appropriate to you, or maybe if I request the time to write about something specific, that would be helpful. Otherwise I don't think it needs to be structured." Noah settled a bit lower and sighed.

"You smell good, Master."

Tobias matched his sigh with one of his own, a smile playing at his lips. "Thank you, pet. And we'll play it by ear then." They sat quietly for a time, Tobias simply enjoying the heat and the way Noah felt against him. "When's your birthday?" he asked suddenly. He had a vision of finding out about it a week or so after the date and winced. Another thought occurred, hard on the heels of the first. "And how old are you?"

Noah laughed softly. "Not until March, sir. The fourth of March, and I'm the much-dreaded twenty-nine.

Unfortunately. I already know I've missed your birthday, you'll have to hold out for forty-two to get a gift."

"Ah, you're a baby," Tobias said with a smile. "I remember twenty-nine. Mostly. Oh, that means I get to plan for the big thirtieth though, don't I?"

"That's not necessary, sir," Noah responded a little defensively. "It's just a birthday."

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"I didn't say I have to, boy, I said I get to." Tobias smirked, thinking he could quite possibly drive his pet crazy by March. "A big huge party, so I can show you off..." he mused.

"Well, I do enjoy a good party, sir," Noah admitted, and Tobias sensed what might be a kink in him, which made him grin.

"We can invite ... oh, your partner, your parents..." Tobias couldn't help laughing as he teased. "No, seriously. A lovely big bash, you at my feet ... I think it sounds wonderful."

Noah reached a hand out and splashed him. "As if!"

"You don't think you'd look lovely at my feet?" Tobias chuckled again, having captured Noah's hand to avoid another splash. "I'll assume your partner and parents don't know about the kink then." Still smiling, they settled a little, Tobias absently noting the feel of Noah's legs against his in the water. "Do they know you're gay?" he asked curiously.

"Oh, yeah, everyone knows I'm gay. Actually, I think my partner has some idea of what I do-well, what I used to do with my weekends, too. She's no shrinking violet, I could probably tell her and she'd get it, but I wouldn't dream of telling anyone else. I'd get laughed out of a job."

Tobias tilted his head to look at Noah. "That's interesting.

How long have you been with her?"

Noah drew circles on Tobias' chest. "We've had the same beat together for about three years."

"Are you trying to distract me? Because I don't mind, really. Keep doing that. I'm going to keep talking, however."

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"No, I wasn't trying to distract you exactly, sir. I was just enjoying these curls." Noah gave them a gentle tug. "Do keep talking; I like the sound of your voice."

Tobias smiled again and ran his hand over Noah's side, down to his hip. "You certainly seem to. One of these days I'm going to try talking you into coming-just tie you up and talk to you."

"It's worked before," Noah admitted with a grin. "Does that make me easy?"

Tobias frowned. "No, it merely means I'll have to make you beg first. I have something to live up to, and frankly that always makes me more ... intense. Brett made it sound like fun."

"Oh, no. You two really did compare notes," Noah was quick to respond, running his hand flat across Tobias' chest and ribs. "I look forward to it. I think your voice is your most unique quality, sir."

Tobias tried to think about that and not the way Noah's fingers were beginning to stir him. There really wasn't a lot of room in the tub, and the water was getting cool; it was almost time to head to bed. "I'll assume that unique is good.

And speaking of ... be a good boy and get the towel, sweetheart. Time for bed-five-thirty comes early."

"Yes, sir, all right," Noah said with a reluctant sigh and crawled out of the tub. He picked up the towel, and held it out for Tobias, and stood there dripping himself while Tobias got out of the tub.

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He spent some time carefully drying Tobias and toweling his hair before wrapping the now-damp towel around himself and helping Tobias on with his robe.

"No punishment tonight, boy," Tobias said with a smile.

"Well done."

"Thank you, sir." Noah's eyes were down of course, but his grin was obvious. "I'm glad I've pleased you."

"You have-and you've been rewarded, pet. Come, time for bed." Tobias led the way into his room and picked up the collar attached to Noah's chain. "I want you to rest well, tomorrow starts early, and will be long. Chores in the morning, and then I have plans for the day."

Noah's gaze was fixed on the collar and Tobias forced himself to ignore the disappointment he knew Noah felt; part of him was more than willing to merely let Noah sleep in the bed, in his arms ... but years of experience told him that it was better to wait, even the extra day. This was, after all, training. "Please me, boy," he said softly.

"What is your pleasure, sir?" Noah asked him softly.

"You are, sweetheart." Tobias lifted the collar, finally, and put it around Noah's neck. "You are my pleasure."

"Thank you, sir. I want to be." Noah was still and quiet, and his voice still held disappointment, but he was obedient and accepted the collar and chain gracefully.

"Tomorrow night, boy. If there are no strokes tomorrow night, you can sleep in the bed with me." Tobias lifted Noah's chin with a finger and kissed him quickly. "Now, sleep. It's late."

"Yes, sir. Goodnight, sir."

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"Goodnight, Noah."

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Chapter 23

It had been, in Tobias' estimation, one of the better days he'd had in a long time. Noah had done his morning chores quickly and easily, remembering almost everything he'd been told the week before. In the house he'd been flawless, every bit of his attention focused on producing breakfast, tending to Tobias, and doing the cleaning to Mrs. Miller's standards. In the barn he'd cleaned the stalls and done as instructed with Spot-this time not turning his back on the brat, and thus avoiding any bites-and then they'd been able to ride out on Dusky Dianna and Crispin for a couple of hours, enjoying the autumn morning.

After lunch they'd gone to the playroom and Noah had easily performed each position Tobias had asked, and shown that he was getting faster with each as well. He'd only smiled when Tobias had teased him about practicing every evening, which Tobias had rather liked the thought of. The image of Noah spending his time going through poses in an unknown room, just so he'd be the best he could be for his Master, had its appeal, unsurprisingly.

On the lead once more, it had taken a small amount of pain to drop Noah to the right subspace, but once there he'd been wonderful; so good in fact, that when Tobias had decided to use the studded paddle he'd had to sigh and declare that the only reason Noah was getting a good hard spanking was because Tobias wanted it.

And then, with Noah's ass reddened and his cock so hard it looked painful, Tobias had found his release in Noah's mouth, 222

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leaving his boy wanting and hungry-but grateful for the attention paid him.

Yes, a good day, Tobias thought as he finished dressing after his shower. He could smell garlic and something else, possibly sausage, and he hurried his movements. He wanted to watch Noah cook, his still-red ass neatly on display in the leather jock strap Tobias had put him in.

Halfway down the stairs he heard a chirping noise and froze, trying to identify it. It seemed to be coming from his office ... one of the pagers. He'd laid the four of them on his desk that morning, planning to check them just before supper. He skipped every second remaining step and rushed into the office, reaching for the slimmest pager of the four, the one Noah used for work.

It was blank, and with a sinking feeling his mind quickly pointed out that the noise couldn't be his own work pager, as it was turned off, and it was rather unlikely that Noah was paging himself on the pager Tobias had given him, which left the last pager. The one Tobias wore for Noah-and for Phantom.

He turned it off and checked to make sure there wasn't a 911 code before hanging his head and giving in to a reluctant smile. Phan knew how to pick his moments. With a rueful sigh Tobias picked up the portable phone and hit the speed dial on his way into the kitchen. Phan answered immediately, the sound of his voice coinciding with Tobias' appearance in the pantry, where Noah was hard at work.

"Hello?"

"I got your page," Tobias said lightly.

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Noah looked up at the sound of Tobias' voice and he nodded to him, taking a sniff of the sauce on the stove with the phone to his ear.

"Work, sir?" Noah whispered softly.

Tobias shook his head no. "Good," he mouthed at Noah, pointing into the skillet and then headed over to the window.

He felt Noah's eyes on him as he moved, and glanced over in time to catch him turning back to the stove.

"That was fast," Phan said cheerfully. "Not interrupting, then?"

"Do you think I'd call if you were?" Tobias looked out the window for a moment and then turned to lean on the sill.

"You know me better than that."

"I do! I know you so well that I can tell you've had a good day and your boy is making your supper right now." Phan laughed happily. "Tell me I'm wrong."

Tobias looked up at Noah and grinned. "No, you're not wrong. It was a good day."

Noah glanced in his direction, smiling at first, but the longer he lingered the more the smile faded, until he finally turned back to the stove again with a sigh.

"See, I knew it," Phan said gleefully in his ear. "So? What happened? Things are smoothed out? I was talking to my darling Elizabeth, you know."

"Were you?" Tobias asked distractedly, watching Noah. He seemed to be keeping busy at the stove, stirring his sauce, nursing his pasta along, but the slight and sudden stiffness in Noah's shoulders was unmistakable.

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"Yep. And she says he's been learning to cook and that he cleans as well as me."

"That's nice. I'm glad she's noticed." He stood up and walked toward Noah, sliding one hand over Noah's shoulder.

The muscle tensed under his touch and he frowned. "I better go, Phan."

There was a startled pause. "I thought I wasn't interrupting."

"You're not, but I think I have a problem here."

Noah snorted in response, and reached over to turn the heat down under the cream sauce.

"Oh, dear. Glad it's not my ass. Call me next week?"

"Soon, Phan. Goodbye." Deliberately, Tobias disconnected and placed the phone on the counter. "Noah."

"Yes, sir?" Noah's reply was terse.

"Do I have a problem here?" He moved to the side and leaned against the counter, making sure he could see Noah's face.

Noah shook his head. "You're off the phone, sir. That solves the problem for now."

Tobias narrowed his eyes. "I beg your pardon?"