(Joshua's POV - Sat. 2 November 2013)

"We will be taking off in ten minutes, Sir," Michael says as I hop into the jet.

"Perfect! Thanks for arranging this last minute change!" I say thankfully.

"No problem," he replies with a smile before he heads for the cockpit while I go to sit at the back. I quickly fish out my phone and dial Tony's number. He should be home by now.

"Good evening Joshua, yes he arrived safely at home," he says with amusement in his voice.

"I'm not calling about that Tony, I'm actually about to take off," I inform him.

"Already? I thought you were landing at 11:00 in Chicago?"

"The last meeting finished earlier and Mike was able to get an earlier spot to take off so we'll be landing at 8.45 in the end."

"Alright, perfect... I'll be at the airport waiting for you. Have you told Mr. Reed?"

"Nope, and don't, it will be a surprise. Now talking about Liam, did everything go well?"

"Sure," he chuckles.

"What's so funny?"

"Hmm... nothing... he was just a bit sulky when I refused to let him sit at the front of the car on our way back home. I thought he was about to throw a fit..." he laughs.

"I'm not surprised..." I chuckle, totally imagining Liam sulking at the back. "You did well, thanks Tony... I'll see you in two hours and a half."

With that, I lean back in my armchair and pull out my laptop from my bag to get back to work. I am really glad that Tony had the idea to drive Liam around after I left, on his own initiative and without letting me know in advance. When Liam called me on Wednesday morning to complain about my supposedly over-acting behavior, I was a bit at a loss in the beginning, but when I understood what had happened, I just couldn't stop laughing at his annoyed tone. I had to call Tony and congratulate him on his idea, regretting I hadn't thought about that myself. I will make sure that it becomes a habit each time I travel and why not all the time... Tony could pick him up after he has dropped me off in the morning. Well that is something I will think about... the idea is not to have Liam suffocating though, so I'll see.

I quickly relax at the thought that in three hours I will be home and with my sweet boy. Today, I could talk to him for barely a minute early in the morning, and that was only because I wanted a scan of some documents I had left in the office and needed them urgently. However, since I was in a meeting room full of people, I wasn't able to remind him to be ready when I get home. I could have sent him a text later on, but I just didn't and anyway it doesn't really matter since I'll be home earlier than initially planned. So he probably won't be prepped as he doesn't expect me home until eleven but it doesn't matter. Well, that's fine... I will give him the time to or I might as well help him...

Argh I need to calm down on my sexual urges first... The last three days have been rather intense and tiring; there was so much to do and so little time to achieve everything. I spent all my time in New York with the three guys who are going to transfer to Chicago and we reviewed all the current projects in details. I wish I had their future manager with us but unfortunately Jeffrey, the man we hired for the job is not available until December and since Allan is busy with other projects, I had no other choice than to do this myself. But at the end of the day, I am really satisfied with what we have done. These three guys are impressively smart and will make nice recruits for Pierce Construction. Within three days, we have been able to do a good brainstorming and came up with enhancing improvements in the plans, so I didn't waste my time at all.

Next week I will need to make sure that the renovation works have progressed on the 7th floor and that everything will be ready by mid-December to welcome the new team. Jeffrey can use a spare office on another floor in the meantime but I need the new offices to be ready when the rest of the team joins the company. The next months are going to be crazy I think... between this and the upcoming trips I need to organize. Well this is how I like my life: full and intense! Though... there are certain things that I would rather do without... like my mother who has been trying to call me - again - since yesterday although I haven't heard from her at all since the fiasco in August. Or Ally's issues... although this should be solved shortly.

On Wednesday I took the time to call one of my clients who is a distinguished pediatrician in Los Angeles for whom we built a villa a few years ago. He explained to me in more details what Sun's problem is and directed me toward one of his fellow practitioners in Chicago. On Thursday morning the baby was transferred to his establishment where the skilled doctor will take care of him personally. It was a bit difficult to convince Ally because the woman is proud enough to manage on her own, but the private hospital is a rather high-end practice and in the end she accepted my help. Money may not buy health but it certainly helps a little sometimes and all I want is for this baby to survive and get the best treatments and care. If that is the only thing I can do to help, then I will.

By the time my plane lands in Chicago, I have been able to review Allan's reporting on the business visits he did in Washington State and to draft a few emails that I will shoot later. For now, I just hurry out of the jet and meet Tony at the car. As he first goes to tuck my luggage in the trunk, I hop on the passenger seat, just to make him grouse - which he does - and pull out my phone to check my voice mail and texts. I had hoped for a message from Liam but there is none so I put it back in my pocket and look at the road ahead.

"Did you have a nice trip?" Tony asks as he drives out of the airport.

"Busy, as usual, but it was very productive, so it's all good. Anything new on your side?"

"Nothing... the week has been quiet, apart from the rides between Mr. Reed's place and the office..." he replies with the beginning of a smile. Tony rarely smiles, so this is quite remarkable.

"You like him, huh?" I tease him.

"He's a kind buddy..." he says nonchalantly. "Liz likes him too..."

"She hasn't really seen him much yet..."

"She got to speak with him a little tonight while he was having dinner."

"Did she?" I exclaim, frowning my eyebrows and turning to look at Tony and his smug face. I am quite astounded that Liz stayed while Liam was having dinner; she usually leaves right after meals are ready.

"They didn't speak for very long, but they did talk a little. You know how Liz has a talent to decipher people and she thinks that Mr. Reed is a nice guy."

I just grunt in answer and turn back to look at the road. I have never really cared about what Tony or Liz may think about my previous Submissives and my lifestyle in general, and I never had to interfere - well as long as the guys behaved respectfully toward them - but everything is so much different with Liam and I am earnestly happy that they like him. The rest of the ride is silent but soon enough the SUV is parked in the garage and I quietly get inside the house, surprised to see that the ground floor is all dark. I take off my coat and shoes, put them in the closet and silently get upstairs, wondering if Liam might have fallen asleep. I first check his bedroom and notice his bag and the small plug on the bed, but the room is empty so I head toward my suite, thinking that he is probably there getting ready for tonight. As I turn around the corner, I see that the playroom door is slightly open and lit.

Without a noise, I push the door a little further open and lean against the door frame, smiling at the sight in front of me. Liam is kneeling on the punishment bench, only wearing sweat pants and obviously trying to figure out its purpose. The bench is set diagonally to the opposite wall and I can barely see him in profile but he is so absorbed by what he is doing that he doesn't notice my presence. I watch him bend over the bench, making my cock twitch in my pants at the sound of his sweet voice when he utters a hushed cooool. Just as I am about to walk in, he sits back on his heels, apparently hesitating on what he should do next. To my utter amazement, he bluntly pulls down the front of his pants, revealing his undeniably hard member. Are you aroused Pet? Well now I know what we are going to use tonight... after all, this bench has other purposes than punishments.

However, what I see him doing next immediately makes me change my plans. Disappointment and a bit of anger fill me as he wraps his fingers around his shaft and begins to stroke it, clearly enjoying what he is doing by the intensity of his moans. Wrong move, Baby, wrong move... Liam told me he never masturbated before and I believed him, but how true is it? How often does he do that? Has he been doing this all week long? Or even last week...? No, I would have known... I am fully conscious that he is new in the lifestyle, but he knows the rules and one of them is that he is not allowed to touch himself for pleasure. It can be extremely erotic actually; watching your Sub masturbate when you ask him to can be very sexy and arousing, but in this current situation, I didn't ask him, much less allowed him to. Well now he shall face the consequences...

"Hum... hum..." I clear my throat noisily, causing him to startle and freeze on the bench for a second. Both his hands drop to his side and his face flushes to the deepest red. "Enjoying yourself, Pet?" I ask him, my voice serious and firm, as I slowly walk in. He scoots down from the bench and immediately adopts the display position on his knees, his eyes cast down.

"I'm sorry... I... I... didn't mean to..." he mumbles, his voice barely audible. I stop right in front of him and remain silent for a few seconds, increasing the tension.

"Look up, Pet," I order. I need to see his eyes before I ask any question. Liam is one of these persons who can't lie without showing the truth in his look. "Were you masturbating?"

"No, I... yes but... I didn't m..." he stammers, averting his eyes.

"Just answer the question, Pet! And keep looking up! Were you masturbating?" I ask again

"Y... yes I was..."

"Have you forgotten about the rules already?"

"No, Sir..."

"So... you know that you are not allowed to touch yourself and yet you still did."

"Yes, Sir..." he replies remorsefully.

"Why did you do it then?"

"I don't know... Sir... I just wanted to have a look in here and got...really turned on. I thought... you... you wouldn't know..." he mumbles before he drops his look back down.

"Keep your eyes up. So you thought I wouldn't know? You're wrong because I would have found out... Guilt shows so easily in your eyes that I would have found out, Pet." I see his Adam's apple move up and down as he seems to realize how true this is. "How often have you been doing that?" I then ask although I already know the answer in fact.

"Never... I swear this is the first time, Sir... I promise I never did it before..." he whimpers and from the expression on his face, I know that he is telling the truth here.

"You're going to get punished for today though, you know that?"

"Yes, Sir..." he replies, looking down and I let him this time. I already know how I am going to punish him and since there is no point in making him wait, I immediately set to it.

"Strip of your clothes and get back to your knees," I order. While he does that, I bring the armchair to the center of the room and sit in front of him. Liam is back on the floor, absolutely perfect in his position, and his semi-hard cock nicely exposed, slowly rising again. I could just punish him with a spanking and fuck him without letting him release, but I am conscious that all this is still new to him, so I don't want to completely deny him any pleasure at all. "Spread you knees further apart... enough... now get back to what you were doing a few minutes ago, Pet," I order as I lean back into the armchair and cross my right leg over the left one. He hesitates for a few seconds, his fingers twitching over his thigh. "Come on, Pet, let me see how you were doing this before I got back... And you'd better enjoy this because this is the only release you're gonna get tonight," I warn him.

Liam finally wraps his hand around his hardening shaft and as he awkwardly strokes it, his member slowly swells. "That's it Pet, make it real hard..." He applies himself to his task, wanking at a slow pace and beginning to moan. "Harder Baby..." His movements accelerate and within a few more seconds, he is begging me to let him come. "Cum for baby," I finally say, which brings him to bend over a little as he is overcome with quivers and long spurts of white semen hit the floor. "You're so beautiful when you climax... Go get some tissues on the chest of drawers to clean this, Pet," I order him once he has recovered from his orgasm.

As he does so, slightly wobbling on his legs, I begin to undress, keeping an eye on him. Once I am down to my boxer briefs, I walk back to his frail body, standing at perfect attention in the middle of the room, and order him to display. I notice that he has already shaved and when I reach his backside, I see the little handle jutting out of his ass. "How long has it been here?" I whisper in his ear, softly moving the handle up and down.

"I'm not sure... maybe an hour... Sir..." Perfect! I won't have to tease him too much with prep then!

"Well, that's good... You seemed to enjoy the bench, so you're going to take your punishment there, Pet. Go and bend over," I order. Once he is exactly where I wanted him, his bottom nicely exposed, I quickly strap his ankles and wrists in the restraints and go get a flogger made of soft leather lashes. This one is a bit more painful than the suede one, but much less than a cat'o nine. "I hope you enjoyed your orgasm Pet?" I ask as I begin to massage his buttocks to warm them up.

"Y... yes Sir..." he replies in a small voice.

"Good, because now you are going to take your punishment and then I am going to get my release, understood?"

"Yes Sir..."

"I'm going to flog you fifteen times and I want you to count out loud. Do you remember your safe words?"

"Yes Sir..."

Standing slightly to his side, I let the lashes run along his back and his bottom for a moment, then I suddenly raise my arm and slap it across his buttocks, holding off my strength. He lets a little squeak out and I wait for him to count before I continue. "One... Two... Three... Four... Fiiiiiive... Six... Seven... Eight..." I pause and go to leave my boxer briefs with the rest of my clothes and get the lube bottle. I walk back to stand between his parted legs and admire his beautifully pink ass cheeks. I also notice how hard he is again... Seems like my sweet boy likes the flogger... Too bad for him... I spread some lube in the crease of his ass and play with the plug for a little while before I pull it out... Oh nice... As I insert both my thumbs and pull them apart, I see that he is already nicely stretched. "I'm going to fuck you before I finish your punishment Pet. I'm going to make it short, but remember that you are not allowed to cum again, alright?"

"Yes Sir..."

I quickly coat my hard cock with more lube and set the tip at his entrance, probing his little hole, before I slam deep inside. Oh fuck... he is still tight and not as stretched as I would have thought. His hiss echoes to my groan and I give him two minutes to adjust, rubbing his back. "Are you okay, Pet?" He briefly nods, so I pull back a little then back in, at a slow pace. Each time I thrust in, I try to avoid his prostate, not wanting to make it harder for him than it already is. Gripping his hips, I pick up the speed and within a few seconds, the addition of his moans to the sight of his pink butt make my orgasm build up quickly and I explode deep inside his ass with an animal grunt.

"Let's get it over with Pet," I say as I slowly pull out and bend down to pick up the flogger from the floor. I resume his punishment, carefully aiming the outsides of his buttock rather the crease and he bravely counts up until he reaches fifteen with a little squeal as the last strike was a little harder. His backside is now a little pinker than before so I drop down the flogger and hurry to get a wash cloth. Once I have cleaned the semen leaking from his asshole, I remove all the restraints and carry him in my arms to my bedroom where I lay him face down on the bed, his arms along his limp body. His eyes are a bit teary but he doesn't say anything while I begin to massage his warm bottom with the soothing lotion.

"Are you okay Baby?" I softly ask once I am done.

"Hmm..." he nods, closing his eyes and a small tear escapes past his lashes.

"Liam... hey..." I quickly lie down next to him and envelop his slim body in my arms. "Talk to me Baby... Are you hurt?" He weakly shakes his head but doesn't answer. "Liam, tell me why you're crying then... Why didn't you use your safe words if I was too hard on you??"

"... not crying..."

"I saw the tear, Baby, don't lie."

"I'm not crying... I'm just upset because of what I did... because I disappointed you and now you're angry at me... I'm so sorry... That was completely stupid of me..." he whispers. I push him to lie on his back and shift to topple him so that I can look straight into his glimmering eyes.

"That wasn't stupid, Liam. You are learning. Everyone needs to make mistakes to learn. And I'm not angry Baby; you're all forgiven now. You made a mistake, you have been lectured and punished, you have apologized and now you're forgiven. I hope you learned the lesson well?"

"So you forgive me?"

"Of course I do. Just don't do it again, alright?" He nods so I lean down to reach for his pouting lips before I shift us to lay on our sides. I hug him tightly until he falls asleep then get back up to quickly turn off all the lights; cleaning will wait until tomorrow. I slip back into bed and spoon Liam who is now sound asleep. The evening didn't exactly go as I expected, but I guess this was supposed to happen... He can't be that perfect and it's all good with me. Perfection would be boring...

* * *

Almost 1:30 pm... With a satisfied smile, I save and close the file I have been working on for the last three hours. That was a productive morning of work which is good, because I won't have much time to work this afternoon. Liam is working out in the basement with Jason but they should be over shortly so I head to the kitchen and look in the fridge to see what Liz has prepared for the week-end meals. Soup and club sandwiches will do for today. I also need to prepare something that we can eat at the club tonight. We have been asking Aaron to make an extension at the club so that we can have proper dinners there, but he keeps refusing. Such a stubborn asshole...

The morning has flown by and yet I was up at six! I woke up to a clingy Liam - something I am not used to but that I am getting to like - and went straight to work out for a good two hours. Once I had showered and dressed, I prepared breakfast and went to work for the whole morning, only taking a break when Liam woke up after ten. He apologized again for what happened yesterday evening and I reassured him saying it was all forgotten and that he shouldn't talk about it anymore. The concept of making a mistake, taking the punishment and being forgiven is still unfamiliar to him, but he will learn. I was glad to see that his bottom kept no trace at all of the flogging though, because his skin seems to be particularly sensitive and the goal is not to leave marks. Though... it sometimes help as long as it is not permanent... depending on the mistake, it can be good that the Sub remembers of what he did for a few days each time he sits down. However, it was his first big punishment and I think he understood his lesson.

"How did it go?" I ask Jason as they both show up in the kitchen, drinking from their bottles of water.

"Very good! Liam's actually quite supple..." Jason replies with a large smile, patting Liam's shoulder. Well that's good to hear... it promises a lot of fun on the swing...

"Great! Do you want to stay for lunch, Jason?"

"No thanks, I have my next appointment in half an hour and I need to go. I'll see you in two weeks! And Liam, train on the exercises I showed you today and I shall see the progress next time!"

"Okay, thank you..." a red-faced Liam answers. For once, his colored face isn't due to his blushing... Jason must have pushed the training this morning.

"Go get a shower Baby while I heat up lunch," I say once Jason has left.

"Don't you like me all sweaty and stinky?" he replies with a grin.

"Hmm I like you better all sweaty and stinky after another type of exercise Baby," I purr in his ear before I nibble on his earlobe, making him blush some more and chuckle.

After our quick lunch, I advise Liam to go take a small nap while I finally get back to work, because the evening is going to be a long one and I will need him in full shape and it is almost 5:30 pm when we make it to the club. Jeremy is already waiting for Liam in the corridor by Aaron's office when we get in and they share a brief but enthusiastic hug before Jeremy greets me and takes Liam's hand to lead him to the Subs' room.

"Hold on a second, boys," I call out. "Liam, you'll need this," I say, holding out one of the two duffel bags I am carrying out.

"What is it?" he asks warily, as he takes it.

"Things you will need...," I chuckle. "Jeremy will explain. And there's your dinner as well. You can have it in the Subs' room with the other boys if you want."

"Okay... thanks... I'll see you later then?" he says, hesitating to get back to his new friend, so I lean down a little to kiss his beautiful lips.

"I'll see you at the Black Diamond at 8:30 sharp. Don't be late."

He nods and hurries back to Jeremy. I smile and almost regret I won't be there to see his expression when he finds out what is in the bag. Cam and Mark are already in Aaron's meeting room when I walk in, all seated at the same side of the table and looking at some documents. I quickly greet them and take a seat next to Camden where a spare copy of documents is waiting for me.

"What time are we meeting him?" I ask as I begin to skim the two sheets of paper in front of me.

"I asked him to be here at six," Aaron replies as Mark sighs heavily.

"Such enthusiasm, Marky..." I comment with a chuckle.

"Sorry, I just don't like the guy."

"You're only saying that because he's a sadist," Cam scoffs.

"It's nothing to do with the fact that he's a sadist, Cam. As long as it remains consensual with the Subs, there's no problem, right, Ron?"

"Of course, or Cam wouldn't be a member of the Black Diamond, Dumbass. I'll admit that the guy looks particularly cold, so that's probably what sets you off, Mark," Aaron reasons.

"And yet, you're asking for our opinion, Ron..." I retort.

"The test went well on Wednesday, but yes, I want you too to tell me what you think," Aaron replies with a certain hesitation that doesn't resemble him. He has always been so self-confident.

"Did you have his background checked?"

"Obviously. Mike worked this out with Tony, and they couldn't find anything wrong. The guy owns a chain of pubs in Detroit and wants to expand in Chicago. He already owns two establishments here and just bought a third one."

"And you said he was already in the lifestyle?" I question.

"Yes, he was recommended by the owner of a similar club in Detroit where he's had a membership for nearly ten years, but since he has decided to settle down in Chicago, he's looking for a BDSM club here."

"Fair enough."

"Let's just give him a chance, then," Cam replies firmly. "Anyway, as a Sadist myself, I'll be able to keep a close watch on him, and since we'll be dealing with the same Subs, I'll make sure they tell me about their experiences with him."

"Besides, as much as he didn't go through the usual training, security will monitor him like any newbie," Aaron argues.

The fact that Camden, Mark and I sometimes assist Aaron in recruiting new members at the Black Diamond could have been the reason why some Subs call us The Big Four, but the truth is that a certain little minx nicknamed us like this back in late 2010 once the four of us had finally reunited, and found it funny because we were four tall dark-haired friends who always stuck together. Anyway, when Aaron realized how well his three best friends fitted in the lifestyle, he began to occasionally ask for our help during training sessions or certifications, which we have always gladly accepted whenever our respective schedules allowed it.

Since I have been so busy lately and I was in New York earlier this week, I wasn't able to attend that Andrei-guy's test last Wednesday, but today is basically a formality with a group conversation aiming at validating the man's certification. To be honest, I'm glad I was in the Big Apple on Wednesday. I must confess that certification tests can be fun and arousing as Doms are expected to prove their dominance skills around Subs, but I can only imagine what that session looked like with a Sadist and a Masochist, and since I'm more into lighter kinks, deep SM doesn't really appeal to me.

Besides, when I eventually get to meet Master Andrei, I can't deny that an unpleasant shudder runs down my back. Despite his mature age, the guy is rather handsome with his silky salt and pepper hair and in a very good physical shape if I judge by the muscles stretching his dress shirt. However, his incredibly light blue eyes, almost translucent, look icy-cold, and I guess that it's what set Mark off.

As expected, our conversation is merely a formality during which Aaron reminds him of the rules and policies of the Black Diamond, as well as all the services provided by the club. Should he want to play with a Sub, he must consult said boy's activity sheet and notify the receptionist of his intentions. Having been in the lifestyle for so long, he won't go through the mandatory trial period before he can contract a Sub if he wants to, but he shall consult Aaron and ask for his approval at first. The Master Dom also doesn't fail to remind him that should he mess up with his babies, he shall face the consequences with a public punishment and a potential temporary ban.

Of course, the older man agrees to all the conditions and once all the documents have been signed, there he finds himself a new member of the Black Diamond. All in all, he doesn't really look suspicious to me, but I still keep watching over his reactions as we then give him a tour of the club, and I'm not surprised to see him ogle Paxton, Tod and Nyles, the three cute bartenders who are preparing the bar and the main room.

Once we have escorted the man back to the entrance, wishing him to enjoy his first evening later tonight, we return to Aaron's meeting room where we have our usual dinner together, talking about nothing and everything. By 8pm, we have dressed into our leather outfits and combat boots, but it's another half-hour until I finally get to see my beautiful Submissive show up.

I did trust Jeremy to help him go through the routine preparation, but I wasn't expecting that much.

And right then, it's an ineluctable jaw-drop.

Published on 1 Oct 2016

So hopefully you're not going to think that Joshua took it too hard on Liam, though the goal for now is not to make him appreciated by the readers. Joshua is supposed to be a rather cold-hearted person, with very few feelings, if at all. He used to use the Subs for a given time - having his personal reasons for that - and change regularly. The idea is that Liam is going to make him change but until we discover the New Joshua, some time will pass and many events will happen (Remember that this story has more than 80 chapters after all...).

You also got to see a preview of how they recruit Dominants at the club, but I keep more details on that aspect for the fourth story, which will be Aaron's story.

I'll upload the next chapter asap so that you can get Liam's POV on his first official night as a Sub ;)