Noah scribbled his number down and Jason took it from him. He stood and gave Noah a nod. “I have to make the rounds, but Noah, even if I can’t help you myself, I’ll find someone who can, okay?”
Noah nodded, but at the last second before Jason left, Noah blurted, “Why?”
“Once upon a time, I was you.” Jason nodded and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Noah in the booth with his churning thoughts.
Chapter Four
Spring 2001
Noah arrived at the club long before opening and Jason met him at the door, letting him inside. “The day staff are doing inventory and cleaning, getting ready for tonight, but we won’t be disturbed.”
Noah nodded and Jason led him over to the table where Travis, Jason’s submissive boyfriend, waited. Noah had worked with Travis and Jason all winter learning things. How to instruct a submissive, how to care for one properly. The rules of a dominant. It had been a hands-on crash course and Noah felt ready for the next step, but also remarkably not ready.
Tonight would be his first solo scene with Travis. Equal parts fear and anticipation coursed through Noah’s veins, but he still managed a smile and a kiss on the cheek for Travis.
“How are you?” Noah asked him as he sat across the table from him.
“I’m fine, Sir. How are you?”
Noah swallowed a lump of emotion. He kept his hands out of sight where the trembling wouldn’t give him away. “Excited. Nervous.”
“If I may, Sir, please don’t be nervous.” Travis blushed and dropped his gaze. “You have the makings of a fine dom, Master Jason has taught you well.”
“Thank you, Travis.”
Jason put his hand on Travis’ shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “I’m not the only one who has taught him things, boy. Don’t sell yourself short. He’s learned a lot from you.”
“Thank you, Master.” Travis glowed under Jason’s praise and Jason tugged him closer, cradling the smaller man in against his side. “Are you ready, my sweet boy?”
“Yes, Master.”
“What about you, Noah? Travis and I discussed it, and if you changed your mind and wanted to cross the line into something more, the offer is still open.”
Noah shook his head. “Thank you, but…”
Jason lifted his hand. “Say no more. You don’t need a reason to say no to something, Noah.” Jason stood and led them up the stairs to the private room where Noah watched the way Jason kissed Travis. His heart stuttered in his chest. Sometimes Noah thought he was in love with these men, other times he knew better. It wasn’t love, but a bone deep affection for them both. For Jason, who guided him in everything from floggers to bondage, to why water and chocolate were good after a scene. Travis, who was open and warm, who never laughed at Noah’s many questions.
Tonight would be Noah’s first scene with Travis. There wouldn’t be any fucking. He didn’t have that type of relationship with Jason and Travis. Even though they shared other men sometimes, Noah didn’t want to go over the line. He might fall in love with them, and then he’d be in real trouble.
Jason cupped Travis’ cheeks and kissed him again, then he stood up and crossed the room. He’d told Noah he was ready to fly on his own, but Noah wanted him there just in case. Noah approached Travis, his bare feet sank into the carpet when he stopped in front of him.
“Kneel.”
The grace with which Travis moved had always impressed Noah. His cock was already thick against his thigh, trapped by denim, it throbbed with his pulse. Noah reached out and ran his fingers through Travis’ short, dark hair. There was enough to grab, and he tilted Travis’ head back. “Are you ready?”
“Yes, Sir.”
Sir. The word slid over him like silk. An undeniable sense of rightness settled in his stomach, warm and soothing. He could do this.
“Crawl to the cross. Wait for me there.”
Noah released his grip on Travis and strode across the room to where the floggers lay. There was a selection he’d practiced with. He chose the deerskin to start. It had a nice thud to it, but it wouldn’t be too harsh on Travis’ back. Noah’s pulse raced, and he took a breath before he took a couple of test swings. The heft of the flogger was familiar now. He could make the falls land exactly where he wanted them too, as hard or soft as he wished.
It had taken months of practice. Walls. Pillows. The bed. Even couch cushions before Noah felt proficient enough to practice on a person. Jason had offered to go first, and Noah remembered the argument which ensued between him and Travis.
How can he learn what it’s like to have someone submit if he practices on a dom?
Jason didn’t like Travis’ argument, but in the end, he relented when Travis leaned in and kissed him sweetly. I trust him because I trust you.
And the moment was here. It had felt like it was a million years in the making, but he commanded Travis to stand and he secured him to the cross. He double checked that his wrists were comfortable in the restraints.
“What’s your safeword?” Noah asked. He didn’t plan on doing anything which would warrant Travis using it, he hoped, but it was important to Noah that he show Travis he cared about him and his comfort.
“Red.” Noah heard the smile in Travis’ voice.
Travis wasn’t his submissive, but he was for now and Noah ran his hand down Travis’ back, feeling the slope of his shoulders and the curve of his spine before he retreated. He gave the flogger a final test swing, then turned and swung.
The falls connected with Travis’ shoulders and the thud made Noah’s cock twitch. And he did it again. He watched the way Travis’ back took on a pink hue as the flogger warmed his skin. Noah fell into a rhythm quicker than he’d expected. He stopped before his arm got tired and let the flogger hang by his side, loose in his grip. His chest heaved, and he gasped for air.
He raised the flogger again and watched the tails as they caressed Travis. He moaned and shuddered in his restraints... fuck. It was beautiful. The way Travis melted into the tails. The moments where Noah sensed the electric anticipation, like static electricity, as Travis urged the flogger to make contact.
It was glorious. The adrenaline in his veins made his skin sing. His cock throbbed in his pants and he wished he chose beforehand to cross the line. The pleasure he felt was pure, untainted by the world outside. There was only the two of them in the universe.
If Travis was his, he’d drop the flogger and take him against the cross, wild and rough. He’d shove his fingers in Travis’ mouth while he fucked his ass, and he wouldn’t stop until he’d released everything, every bit of anxiety and doubt. Every shred of the everyday existence that didn’t live in these walls. He’d spend himself deep in Travis, then plug him and keep it there. He’d own him.
That’s what he wanted. To own someone. To share this with them. Share everything with them. Noah wasn’t sure how long he went on, but he kept going until his arm tired and his shoulder ached. He put the flogger away, then approached Travis. Travis moaned in his restraints, his head hung low between his shoulders and Noah strode over. He placed his hand on Travis’ lower back.
“How do you feel?”