Deviations:
Submission
by Chris Owen and Jodi Payne
Chapter 1
There were many truths in this life, Tobias decided as he
knotted his tie for the evening. Death comes to all, taxes must
be paid, and fortieth birthdays were a reason for one's friends
to buy nice wine, make lavish cakes, and throw dinner parties.
Forty-first birthdays, on the other hand, went unremarked upon
by all but one's nearest and dearest. As he had cards from a
few friends and a message from Phan, he thought he'd just about
exhausted the expected well wishes.
But turning forty-one did not mean he was dead or unable to
make his own fun. He'd made his arrangements for the evening,
planning with as much detail as he could--which, admittedly,
wasn't much. He knew what to wear for his mood; he knew where
he'd go and what he'd eat; he knew what he wanted. But there
were an amazing number of variables at play, more than he usually
allowed.
He was thinking about that as he straightened his dinner jacket
and pocketed his keys. It was a highly planned evening of spontaneity
that lay ahead of him, the novelty of which made him smile.
Perhaps letting the fates blow once in a while was a good thing.
In any case, he'd find out shortly; the worst he could do was
have an evening of fine dining and a bottle of wine. The best
would be far, far better, but it was rare to find exactly what
he sought.
Tobias ran a comb through his hair one last time as he waited
for his car, the light in the entry to his condo making the
few stray silver hairs shine among the darker brown. Forty-one
wasn't too old, he decided. It was a fine age to be, the height
of his success and skill. He lacked for nothing, really.
Only someone to share his birthday with.
The phone rang and he pushed the thought away, startled to
realize it wasn't the house phone signaling his car, but his
landline. "Dr. Vincent," he said as he answered. God,
he hoped it wasn't an emergency--he really wasn't dressed
to have a lamb be born, or to nurse a horse through colic.
"Good evening, Doctor, I'm sorry to call like this. I'm
sure you have plans," came the smooth and cheerful voice
of his elderly housekeeper.
"Oh, Mrs. Miller, hello. I do, yes--I'm just on my
way out, but I have a few minutes." He smiled to himself
ruefully; he would talk for as long as the lady decided, and
he knew it. No matter how successful he got or how many birthdays
he had, there would always be Mrs. Miller to defer to.
"I'm merely calling to wish you a happy birthday,"
she said, "and to ask if you'll be out to the farm this
weekend."
Tobias' smile grew. "Thank you, Mrs. Miller, that's
really very kind of you. And yes, I'm planning to drive out
tomorrow afternoon until Monday."
"Should I tell Peter not to come then, or would you like
him to exercise the horses?"
"No, I'll do it," he decided. It was one of the
best things about going to the country, and he wouldn't happily
pay someone to do it for him when he was there. The house phone
buzzed at him, two shorts. "Thank you again, Mrs. Miller."
"I'll see you tomorrow, Doctor," she said, and he
could picture her grinning. "Enjoy your evening."
"I hope to," he said with a smile. He hung up, buzzed
the front desk, and headed to his club.
***
The car pulled up in front of the building and Tobias lowered
his window for the security guard. "Good evening, Tobias,"
the man said with a smile that was entirely professional, despite
his use of Tobias' first name. It was a club rule that all members
were to be treated equally until there was an agreement in place
between individuals, and as last names were not used at all
in order to preserve anonymity, given names were expected.
"Timothy," Tobias said with a warm smile. "When
did you start out here?" The last time Tobias had been
to the club Timothy had been inside.
"About five months ago. I like it, though I'm called
back inside if needed." Timothy made a note of the number
on Tobias' membership card and smiled at him again. "Have
a nice evening, Tobias. And welcome back."
The car moved slowly ahead and stopped at the wide front steps;
by the time Tobias had opened his door the driver was there,
and the front door was opening.
"Tobias! Timothy said you were here."
Tobias shook his head and smiled again. "I trust you
don't mind me appearing again after all this time?" he
asked Bradford.
Bradford met him on the steps and shook his hand. Tobias'
friendship with Bradford went back far too many years to count
anymore, and even after Tobias' long absence from the club,
the man's firm handshake felt as familiar and comforting
as a favorite sweater. "The day we turn you from here,
my friend," Bradford told him with a warm smile, "is
the day I close the old place up. Now, come in! Eat. Enjoy your
birthday. I have a room reserved for you, as you requested.
You're not meeting anyone are you?"
The club had a small, exclusive membership made up of carefully
screened Dominant and submissive men. These men had been screened
not just for their level of training but also style and personality,
thereby keeping the membership diverse and varied. It wasn't
a BDSM club in the common sense; it was more a place for men
to meet, socialize and fulfill each others' needs and fantasies
in a safe and monitored environment. Bradford had taken over
management of the club a number of years ago, and eventually
assumed ownership as well when his mentor, a smooth, confident
Dom who had also been a mentor of Tobias', was ready to
retire. Bradford was a natural host; he knew his membership
well, and he had a knack for making everyone feel right at home.
Tobias shook his head again and allowed himself to be led
inside. The solid doors closed behind him and he took a deep
breath, immediately relaxing. There was just something about
the dark interior, the plush fabrics and deep wingback chairs
that called to him. Or perhaps it was the crossed whips decorating
the walls.
"I don't have a guest, if that's what you mean,"
he told Bradford as they made their way to the small bar. "But
I'm open to possibilities."
"I was hoping you would say that." Bradford suddenly
looked speculative. "In which case..."
"Wait," Tobias said, laughing. "I'm not saying
I want you to find me a date. I'm just saying I want to have
a pleasant evening--a nice meal, people I like around me--"
"And it's been eight months since you've been here, Tobias.
I know you spend your weekends on the farm and your weeknights
in town. I'd certainly have heard if you had someone new."
He shook his head sadly, making Tobias grin. "No, my friend,
you deserve to play. And I might just have the right someone
for you."
Tobias tilted his head and considered his friend. Bradford
had been running the club for a number of years, had been an
integral part of Tobias' own training. There was perhaps no
one more capable of knowing the type of partner Tobias needed,
liked... desired.
"Tell me," Tobias invited, accepting a glass of
ice water from the bartender.
Bradford beamed at him, delighted. "I can, and will,
do you one better. Come."
Tobias had little choice but to follow as Bradford crossed
the room with purpose to a small table. Tobias, being behind,
could see little other than a man sitting alone. He rose quickly
as Bradford made a direct path to him.
"Tobias," Bradford said grandly, "I would like
you to meet Noah. Noah, this is Tobias. It is my opinion that
the two of you are well suited. Of course, you may decide otherwise,
but I encourage you to at least discuss the matter." He
then bowed his head and stepped back, wishing them good evening
with a knowing grin before turning and walking away, leaving
Tobias to face this stranger alone, knowing no more than his
name.
Chapter
2
Due to long
practice and natural inclination, Tobias studied the man before
him, sweeping him with a fast look. He noticed first the masculine
squareness of Noah's jaw, and the relaxed posture in his shoulders.
Black leather vest, round collared dress shirt, blue jeans that
hugged and wrinkled in all the right places, all topped off
with brown hair shaved tight over his ears and the back and
just barely long enough to tug on up top.
"Hello," Tobias said calmly. "It's a pleasure
to meet you."
Noah offered his hand and met Tobias' eyes, though neither
gesture seemed to sit comfortably with him. "The pleasure
is mine," he replied, his voice sweet and his smile handsome.
He seemed a bit better prepared for this meeting than Tobias
had been. "I was just going to order some dinner, would
you like to join me?"
Tobias smiled slightly. "Actually, I called ahead and made
arrangements with the kitchen staff for something special. Please,
join me in the dining room--if you don't care for trout
I'm sure there will be something to satisfy your tastes."
Noah blinked a moment, the invitation clearly unexpected though
apparently not unwelcome. He nodded and stepped out from behind
the table. He was taller than he'd looked a moment ago, and
broader as well, though still shorter than Tobias. "That's
very kind, thank you. I love trout."
"Wonderful." Tobias allowed his smile to grow and
turned smartly on his heel. He gestured with his glass toward
the door of the bar area and across the wide hall to the dining
room. "I believe they have a table for me as well."
He walked ahead of Noah, barely conscious of the fact. It wasn't
until they were in the hall itself that he noticed and cut his
stride slightly.
The dining room was half-empty, but he knew that they would
be seated against the far wall. He had no idea why, but it had
always been that way; no matter who was waiting tables, he was
always taken to the same general area.
"Sir!"
Tobias suppressed both a grin and an eyeroll as a slight young
man bounded over to him, his apron flapping. "Pup. Mind
yourself," he said gently.
For that he got a grin and a wink. "Yes, sir. Table for
two?"
Tobias sighed dramatically and nodded. "Really, Brian,
try to at least act like a waiter when you're at work,"
he teased.
Noah covered a grin with the backs of his fingers and nodded
a greeting to Brian, then followed Tobias to the table. Tobias
noted with some interest that Noah waited for him to sit first,
seemingly out of habit, before pulling out a chair for himself.
"Would you like something to drink?" Tobias asked
as he shook out his napkin.
"San Pellegrino for me, please? With a twist," Noah
answered smoothly.
Tobias nodded to Brian. "Ice water is fine for me, and
Noah will be joining me for the trout, thank you."
Brian nodded once and flashed them both a grin before darting
away.
"You do know," Tobias said thoughtfully, "that
we've just become the discussion in the kitchen?"
Noah looked over his shoulder as Brian disappeared around a
corner then looked back at Tobias. "Really? Are you that
popular?" He leaned back in his chair. "Forgive me,
I don't mean to be rude, but... I'm here nearly every weekend
and I can't say I've ever seen you around before. How do you
know Brian?"
Tobias sipped his water as he studied the man before him. A
player, a trained sub, that much was obvious. But at the club
every weekend and, Tobias assumed, usually unattached, which
meant he was looking for something. Interesting. Military haircut,
but without the usual bravado--though that could have been
trained out of him.
He'd learned long ago that there was little to be gained from
hiding the truth for no reason, so he set his glass down and
sat back in his chair. "I've been a member here for nineteen
years," he said. "My visits have been somewhat sporadic
over the last few years, however. Brian and I had a session
about a year ago--he was badly in need of a spanking."
The last was timed to coincide with Brian's arrival at the table
with Noah's drink. He set it down and whispered something to
Noah, then fled.
Noah snorted and grinned, then laughed softly. "He corroborates
your story," he informed Tobias, reaching for his lime
to squeeze it into his glass. "Nineteen years. I see why
we're now the subject of discussion in the kitchen. Impressive."
He picked up his glass and raised it to Tobias before taking
a sip. "So what brings you here tonight in particular,
other than dinner, of course?"
There was, Tobias allowed, also a time to decide how much truth
to let out. In this case it might just be best to keep the important
aspects to the fore--especially with a man who used words
like corroborates. "Probably the same thing that brings
you here--a need to fulfill, a hunger to satisfy."
"Bradford hasn't steered me wrong yet," Noah said
and swallowed back another sip of his water. "So I'm going
to presume I'm capable of what you're looking for, unless you
see any reason to feel differently?"
"That depends entirely on what your particular taste is,"
Tobias said evenly. "There's little sense in going into
any situation blind, as I'm sure you're aware. That Bradford
thinks we'd do well together is a good sign, but we can make
up our minds. Do you like pain?"
Noah leaned backing his chair and looked at Tobias thoughtfully.
"That's a relative question. Do I like stubbing my toe
on the coffee table, no. Do I appreciate the sting of a flogger
wielded by a man that knows how to use it? Absolutely. I'm rather
versatile and I have a lot of depth in that regard, though I'd
prefer it to be purposeful."
"Purposeful." Tobias nodded slowly and saw Brian returning
with a tray. "For punishment or discipline?" he asked.
"You may wish to wait a moment before answering."
Brian, trained to recognize the signs of negotiation, waited
until Tobias nodded before approaching this time. Quickly and
efficiently he began to lay out the plates, placing Tobias'
carefully in front of him.
Noah sat up. "This smells great." He smiled and set
his glass down on the table. "Can I get another?"
he asked, pointing to it. "Thanks." He waited until
Brian had moved away before answering and, Tobias noted, didn't
pick up his fork. "Tonight? Discipline. My terms are simple:
no humiliation, water sports, full deprivation or cages, the
usual limits with regard to marks."
Tobias nodded. "What tools do you like? I can use them
all, and well, but I prefer a flogger or crop. And do you have
limits on bondage, aside from full deprivation?" He picked
up his fork and flaked the trout carefully. "Oh, this is
lovely," he murmured as the meat came off the bone.
"Crops and floggers are fine, whatever toys turn you on,"
Noah grinned at Tobias and tried a bite of the trout. "Very
nice," he commented and mulled over another bite before
continuing. "Hm. Bondage I'll defer to your comfort level,
I'm broad in that regard as well--oh, and I don't feel the
need for safe words... unless that makes you uncomfortable?"
Noah was a bit more confident about meeting his eyes this time,
and seemed to be studying Tobias' reaction carefully.
Tobias raised an eyebrow and set his fork down. "Only in
the sense that it's incredibly stupid. You'll use both a warning
word and a safeword with me." He picked up his glass and
leaned back in his chair, watching the man.
Noah didn't agree or disagree immediately. Instead he took a
taste of the rice pilaf and considered it carefully before swallowing.
His words felt like a test, as if Noah were trying to size him
up without asking direct questions. "You know, I joined
this club for a reason. The Doms here are well screened. Most
I've had sessions with are quite skilled and know their own
abilities--within this pool of men, I don't think it's quite
as stupid as you seem to feel."
Tobias found the man intriguing, though he doubted very much
that Noah would use a safeword at this point even if he needed
it. He wasn't sure if he could trust him to play entirely safely,
which meant... which meant that they would play Tobias' way.
Entirely.
Oh, this was a lovely birthday gift. He'd have to thank Bradford,
even if Noah didn't.
"All right," he said, finishing his trout and turning
to the rice at last. "My way. Two words of your choice,
or we don't play. Bondage choice is mine, I'll use
a flogger, no warm up, and you give me a convincing reason why
you need to be disciplined. No blood, no marks, but you will
ache. We stop when you say the word or I tire. I may start again.
If you're interested in actually giving up real control when
it matters, we can discuss that once you've earned a little
trust. Oh, and do you want to be fucked?"
Noah nodded and seemed satisfied by Tobias' rules, appearing
to be just as intrigued with Tobias. He washed down what was
evidently his last bite of a still more than half-full plate
and put his fork down. "Fine. Yellow and red, we'll discuss
real control when and if you feel it's appropriate, dinner was
a fine warm up, and sex is preferable in my opinion, but then
let's see where the session takes us. I'll leave the do-or-don't
up to you. We have an agreement?"
Smiling at the man's attitude, Tobias finished a mouthful
of rice and gathered another, taking his time. He'd always found
the opening negotiations to be an aperitif of sorts, and this
one was no exception. Noah was a complete unknown and already
wonderfully complex. "I'd say so," he said in a low
voice, looking at Noah to watch him submit. To enjoy it. "Yes."
Noah nodded, took one more long sip of his water, then straightened
his shoulders, folded his hands in his lap and dropped his eyes
to the table. "If it pleases you, sir, and since we are
working with safe words," Noah paused, choosing his words
carefully. "I need most to be still and to let go. To trust.
It's been too long since I've been able to do that." He
sighed, and it was clear to Tobias that Noah was giving him
not teasing, playful words to fill an evening, but an honest
account of his needs. They weren't given lightly, and Tobias
had to wonder if Noah was this open with everyone, or if he
had seen something in Tobias that made him want to take a more
honest leap. "I need to focus on pleasing you, and not
require reasons where there is only your will. I need to fully
submit."
Tobias said nothing for a moment, merely ate his rice and let
himself settle into the proper headspace. "All right then,"
he said in a low voice. "You may kneel beside me while
I finish my supper, and then we'll go upstairs. You will be
still, but you needn't be silent; if you have questions, feel
free to ask, though I will answer at my discretion."
"Thank you, sir," Noah answered softly. He stood,
moved alongside Tobias and knelt slowly at his side.
Tobias watched him, pleased that the man had good posture. His
back was straight, his head was up and his eyes were down. His
hands, folded in his lap again, were still. He was definitely
well trained; Tobias drank the last of his water and wondered
idly who'd had the pleasure of teaching him, and if he'd learned
from fear or affection.
Brian stood watching in the doorway, and Tobias raised his glass,
asking for more water. Immediately the waiter walked over, ignoring
Noah. "Sir?"
Tobias smiled at him and held out his glass for Brian to fill.
"Thank you. Please fetch my room key from the desk. We'll
be going up in a few minutes."
"Of course," Brian murmured, leaving quickly. He really
was a good boy, if a little unrestrained at times. He knew when
to behave, though--for the most part.
Tobias glanced down at Noah and wondered if he knew the same
thing. "No questions, boy?"
Noah took advantage of the opening. "With your permission
to ask, sir, earlier this evening you spoke of a hunger and
a need to fulfill. I can satisfy you better if I understand
what it is you hunger for." Noah didn't move; only the
slow rise and fall of his shoulders as he breathed caused him
to stir at all.
It was a fair question, if a piercing one. Tobias considered
his answer as he finished the rice, making sure he'd swept up
each grain. "I have several," he said, laying his
fork across his empty plate and picking up his water glass.
"Some are more pressing than others, at the moment. Tonight
I require the use of your body--mine to pose, to tie, to
manipulate. I need to control your reactions, which means that
all you really need to do is feel and be honest. If I want you
to scream, it's up to me to make it happen. That's what I hunger
for. I want your submission and your honesty."
Noah nodded. "Thank you, sir," he said, "I have
one other question. I am curious whether you have a regular
sub, or if your reappearance at the club means you have recently
lost one?" This was uncertain territory for a submissive
to enter, and its weight was evident in Noah's respectful tone.
Tobias' smile faded a little, and he quirked an eyebrow. "I'd
tell you that it's none of your business, but I suspect that
there are many who'd happily tell you," he said calmly.
"I have no regular submissive, and I have not recently
lost one. In point of fact, I've never 'lost' one. The rest
is not something I'm prepared to discuss at this point."
Noah nodded, "Yes, sir," he answered and fell silent
and, Tobias suspected, thoughtful.
Brian once more appeared in the door and Tobias stood, not looking
down at Noah but utterly confident that the man's training would
be basic enough to not disappoint him at this point. "Come,
boy," he said softly.
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