* * * * *

Xander goes home with Tim. It was a mistake to take Tim to the club so soon, but he'd been so excited about going; couldn't wait to meet the other Doms and subs that Xander often talked about, and had begged, so politely, to be allowed to be part of it.

Xander should have realized it would be too much for him. Even though the idea of ADHD, if that's even what's going on, hasn't previously occurred to him, Xander knows that Tim struggles with self-control. He should have known that the incredibly controlled expectations of the club would make him spiral. That all the rules would be too much for him.

And the reaction to punishment? That's even more unexpected. It's true he hasn't punished Tim yet, had told him that they needed to find out whether the lifestyle was what he wanted before they took that step, but the conflict between his desire for punishment and his obvious fear of it is making Xander nervous. If anything, he's used to subs loving the punishment side, but pushing away because of the control he needs. He isn't sure how he will deal with the opposite problem.

When they get back to Xander's Tim stumbles into the house, avoiding Xander's guiding hand. Xander doesn't like that, but isn't sure how to deal with it – is wishing he'd asked Gray, or even Ellis, who seems to have a calming influence on the boy, to come back and help settle him.

Tim hasn't spoken since the club, and now he stands in the darkened kitchen, his head down.

"Tim?" Xander whispers. "Speak to me, please."

"I don't know what you want me to say, Sir. I messed up, bad, and you have to punish me."

Xander has a sudden idea.

"Drop to your knees, boy!" he commands.

Tim drops immediately, with a sharp crack that makes Xander wince. They'll definitely have to do some positioning training, and soon. Tim's head is down and Xander can see his tattooed shoulders shuddering with emotion.

"I am your Master, Tim, and I am the one that determines how and why you are punished. It is not your decision, and you will not question me."

"Sir?" Tim's voice is tremulous, but Xander notes his shaking seems to be calming.

"I decide what is best for you. My choice. Not yours. You will crawl to the staircase now, and climb the stairs on your hands and knees, to my bedroom. You will strip and kneel on my bed, your face on its side on the bed, your ass high in the air. And you will wait for me for as long as I choose. This is your punishment."

"Sir?"

"If you question me again I will make you wait longer. You're a needy boy with a needy hole, and I know you don't like to wait for anything. You will not enjoy it." He repeats; "This is your punishment."

He waits, hoping that this will be sufficient for the time being. He usually canes and whips as discipline, and he knows this issue has to be truly resolved before he can even consider using any of his usual methods. But he can see that Tim needs to feel like he has been chastised or his mind will unravel further.

To Xander's relief, Tim obeys, crawling out of the room, his sexy bubble butt wriggling from side to side as he moves. Xander would really like to just grab him there, ripping his tiny shorts down and taking him hard on the floor, but he has to do this right. Not just because he thinks Tim meets many of the needs he has, the needs that haven't been entirely getting met by the horny, pretty twinks he's been inundated with lately, but because he actually likes the boy.

When Tim had come into his office for an academic review meeting, Xander had been struck by his looks, of course, who wouldn't be? He has the perfect combination of utterly beatific and completely slutty. Wide, innocent eyes that easily narrow to arousal, full pink lips parted sweetly, with a wicked pointed tongue that sneaks out to lap the honey flesh. That hair that makes him look like a piece of art, a manga creation. His skin is soft and pale, smooth, slender and not muscular, but covered in places by intricate, violent tattoos – one swirling sleeve, a snarling tiger on one side of his abdomen, a swooping raven on one shoulder, almost as if half of him is wild devil and half is sweet, pure angel.

But that hadn't been it. Not all of it. As an intelligent, witty, and charming model himself, Xander has spent years nailing the best of the best. Beauty after beauty. If he wanted muscle-boy, he could have it. If he wanted barely legal virgin, he could have it. Hell, if he wanted a dominant Daddy vanquished before him, he could, and he had. There is something more about Tim. The blanket of cocky confidence covering him, but one that can be shifted to show glimpses of an uncertain boy beneath. But a boy that seems to be seeking something, something that, just perhaps, Xander will be able to give him.

Xander goes to his study but leaves the door open so he can hear. He's not sure what he might expect but he's nervous. He phones Gray.

"Xander, how are things?"

"Okay, I think. I punished him by making him wait for me. He's impatient."

"Wow, Xander, that's actually a great idea. I mean, he clearly needed something, and this achieves it without being physically invasive. Good job."

"Alright, thanks Captain Patronizing."

"Sorry buddy," Gray laughs down the phone, "I'm just pleased for you. If you can resolve the punishment issue he might just be a great sub for you. And it will be beneficial for him too."

"That's why I'm ringing, actually. Will you see him? I was thinking a few sessions next week, if you can fit him in."

Gray seems to be thinking, a long pause followed by the deep release of breath.

"What the hell, okay, I will. But even though I know you'd love there to be a quick solution to this, we'll start with one session and I'll make recommendations for future sessions after that."

Xander breathes a sigh of relief.

He spends the next two hours in his den, wondering if Tim will have fallen asleep. As he sips slowly on a large whiskey, he wonders at himself, and maybe a little at his friends. The things they put themselves through for these gorgeous creatures. Francois of course, with Ellis, but Chase, lusting after broken Gabriel, Dexter, dealing with bratty Dae, and apparently loving it, but still, and Gray, ridiculously in love with a man he's stupidly convinced himself he can't have, and won't listen to sense about. He feels jealous of Mateo and River's simple mutual obsession, and how perfect, quiet Nikolai just fell into Landon's lucky lap.

He quietly climbs the stairs, expecting to see Tim curled into a small ball, like he normally sleeps, but instead he's right there, perched on the edge of the bed, in the precise position Xander instructed. His eyes are closed. But they pop open as soon as he hears Xander move into the room.

"Good boy," Xander purrs, "your punishment is over. And we both know what that means," Tim whines lightly as Xander runs his hands over his rump, down his narrow sides, "it means I can take what I want, because I own you. Do you want to be mine, Tim?"

"Yes, Sir," the boy whimpers, shifting his hips.

"No," Xander growls, "only what I want. Don't move."

He continues to run his strong fingers up Tim's sides, knowing his muscles will be aching from holding one position for so long, and he loves the way Tim stays perfectly still, despite his body quivering like a bow, ready to let loose.

"Does my pretty boy like me being in charge?"

"Yes, Sir, please, tell me what you want."

"I would have thought that was obvious, beautiful. I want you. In every position conceivable. I want you screaming in pleasure. I want you begging me for release. I want you chained to the wall. Stand."

Tim stands on wobbly legs while Xander opens a drawer, extracting thick padded cuffs, which he fastens tenderly around Tim's small wrists. Tim watches as Xander moves to the wall, tearing down the large tapestry-style artwork that covers it, revealing a wooden cross embedded into the wall.

It's beautiful; dark glossy polished wood, contrasting with the white wall. Xander is proud of this design, one of many features in his small apartment. He guides Tim to it, pressing him against the smooth timber, knowing that the plug inside him is being pushed in deeper by the unforgiving wood.

Raising his arms, Xander fastens them to the strong but short chains, looking down into those almond-eyes, wide with trusting uncertainty. Xander knows he has to make sure he lives up to the trust that's being placed in him. He gently slides a soft blindfold over Tim's eyes, nuzzling into his neck.

"Trust me, baby, I'm going to make you feel so good."

Xander opens a drawer, sliding out a long bar, with cuffs already connected, which he kneels to attach to each of Tim's ankles, spreading them wide. He looks so beautiful this way, his arms high and spread, his thighs tense.

Xander puts his hand between Tim's legs, stroking the end of the plug, taking hold and twisting it.

"Hng...Sir, please," Tim's voice is a delightful whimper.

Xander has every intention of removing the plug, but only to replace it. But first, he needs to get Tim soft, and that isn't happening on its own. Without warning he tips his head forward, taking Tim into his mouth, swallowing him down while he continues to twiddle the spreading plug.

He sucks voraciously and it isn't long before he feels Tim prepare for release. At the same time he smoothly withdraws the plug, forcing a keening cry from Tim's throat. He quietly picks up a metal implement, sliding the ring over Tim's briefly soft cock, quickly, before he hardens again, which he begins to do almost immediately. He pushes the large linked metal ball inside Tim, so he's now connected front and back, every throb of his cock pulling a matching throb in his ass.

"Please, Sir," Tim begs, but Xander just pushes into his neck, lapping and sucking at the soft skin while his fingers find Tim's nipples; large for a boy, and he's going to make them even larger now.

He places one pump on, twisting the screw, sucking the nub inside, forcing blood into it, performing the matching action on the second. Tim is mewling now, just the way Xander likes him. Managing not to beg further, but desperate, for more, for it to take him as far as possible.

He's still pushed into Tim's neck, grabs his blue hair now, pulling his head to the side, revealing him further, latching on at the soft point in the crook of his collar bone, his fingers roaming over the tiger on his abdomen.

"You like to mark yourself, huh?" Xander pauses with a growl, "now I get to mark you."

"Please, Sir, make it hurt good," Tim whines.

That's new. Xander hasn't hurt him yet, and Tim's never asked him to. Oh, he's been rough, but always careful with prep, and Tim certainly isn't a sweet virgin. He sucks harder, pulling the flesh between his teeth, twisting each of the pumps one more time. Tim gasps, thrusting his body against Xander's.

He wants him now, wants to feel inside as he adds more delicious bruises to his soft, pale skin. He drops, removing the spreader, hooking Tim's legs over his strong shoulders as he stands. Tim's almost bent double, he can do nothing as Xander thrusts inside him, shoving the ball deeper, pulling back on the ring with every strike.

He thrusts harder, rougher, the noises from Tim incomprehensible, his pretty eyes rolling back delightfully. Xander flicks off the pumps, pinching the elongated nipples forcefully, driving a small scream from Tim, while his clamps his mouth again, on the other side of his neck this time, adding a new mark as Tim comes hard, noisily, and Xander joins him.

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