A/N: Hopefully it's obvious (if it's not, I'm doing something wrong), we still have some *very* poor practices here - Frankie is not paying attention to his sub's needs.

François

I intentionally leave my parents' early, because I have been missing my sweet boy, even if I'm furious at him. One day! And he couldn't behave himself. I'm sure Nikolai and Dae – especially Dae – had something to do with his terrible decisions, but he's the one who's my sub so he's the one who'll have to take the consequences. Of course, if he chooses to implicate them, I will be more than happy to punish them too, but I suspect he won't. My poor boy is more that capable of keeping his own counsel, even if I wish he wouldn't, not against me.

I didn't warn him I was coming early, but despite that, when I go up the stairs, I note the playroom door is slightly ajar, and when I enter, Ellis is there, in forgiveness, his arms extended toward the door. I crouch by him, stroking his beautiful face.

"How long have you been waiting, Pet?"

"Only a few minutes, Master. I saw your car go past." I wonder if that's because he was watching out for me, but it's of no consequence. I'm already feeling calmer to have come home to find him like this. I stroke down his back muscles, tense despite his obvious attempts to stay relaxed.

"How are you feeling, Pet?"

"Sore, Master. I'm afraid I could only manage one hour in the gym." Damn, I should have told him he didn't need to go to the gym with the huge plug in, it must have been incredibly uncomfortable, but I find myself pleased that he at least followed some instruction while I was away, despite his errors.

"Okay, Pet, there'll be no punishment for that as you tried, at least."

"Thank you, Master," he says softly.

My boy looks so perfect stretched out this way, but I haven't finished his punishment yet. I go behind him as he stays perfectly still and gently work the plug out of his hole. He whimpers and I know he'll be bruised inside, but also nicely stretched out, so I slam myself inside him without too much consideration. He still has the cage on, but this isn't for him. I remind myself that I'm not the one who behaved inappropriately, and my movements are rough and angry inside him, even if he feels incredible wrapped around me. He's whimpering uncomfortably when I finish inside him, so I give him some slight reprieve, lifting him to the bed and removing the cage, though still refusing him a release. He's hard when I've finished massaging his sore muscles so I carry him to our bathroom and allow ice cold water to shower over him until it's gone, before giving him warmth and care by washing him carefully.

I give him some time to recover, but when he awakes it's to me sitting on the edge of our bed.

"Master," he shuffles himself upright, wincing.

"Pet. How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay, Master." I growl, and he corrects himself, "I'm sore, Master."

"I should hope so, Pet. I'm very unhappy with your behavior." He drops his eyes with a sad droop to his countenance. "Your punishment is not over, though I feel like you've had enough discomfort physically. You are grounded for the next month. You will only come to the club with me one night per week and when there you will prep in our playroom and you will not communicate with any person unless I give you express permission, and I suggest right now that you do not ask to do anything that will take you from my side whilst there. When school starts back, you will attend your classes only and return home immediately after. Connor will be your driver."

I have to impress on him this need, from both of us, to make this work. Ellis desperately has to face and embrace the control he doesn't have, and I can guide him in that. I must guide him, because if the alternative is to lose him, I simply cannot allow that.

A/N: very short, so another to follow straight away, showing a better side.