Bondage (25 page)

"Ah, bourbon. On the rocks, boy. And a small glass of water." Nothing coming from Bradford was ever a request if it was said to a submissive; it was always an order.

"Yes, sir." Noah nodded and disappeared again.

Bradford took a seat and looked back at Tobias as Nikki knelt by his chair. "Did you pick the bell out, or did it come with the house?"

Tobias petted Phan's hair as the boy knelt beside him. "I had it installed, of course. Brownstones don't come with something like that."

Phan went utterly still and Tobias suppressed a smile. There was making up to do.

"And you're happy with the place so far?" Bradford asked. "I have to say you picked a great neighborhood; very lively, lots of trees."

"We're very happy with it," Tobias said, letting himself smile again. "Noah actually found the house; we've had nothing but kind words with the neighbors, even when there was construction. It's working out very well; close for Noah, easy for Phan to get to his appointments."

"Glad to hear it. Very glad."

Noah returned with Bradford's drinks and handed the water to him first, which Bradford in turn handed to Nikki, before taking his own drink. "These chaps are something else. Your friend in Paris?"

"Gregory's a genius," Tobias said, nodding. "Turn around, pet. Show off a little for us."

Noah turned slowly and showed Bradford the back of his chaps, as well as his slightly pinked backside. Tobias could tell by the look in his eyes that Bradford approved.

"Stunning," he said. "Showing off the boy's best assets."

"Absolutely," Tobias agreed. He reached out and nudged the plug in Noah's ass, just a little.

"Very nice," Bradford said with a smile. "What do you think, Nikki?"

Nikki looked up to see and Tobias saw the boy grin and blush before looking down again. "They are very good on him, sir."

"They are indeed. Noah?" Bradford sat up a bit in his chair and sipped his drink while Noah turned back to face him.

"Sir?"

"How are you and Phan managing?"

Noah smiled. "We're more than managing, sir, we're getting along very well."

Tobias smiled and petted Phan a moment. "Very well," he agreed. "Phan, wouldn't you say so?"

"We're... good," Phan said softly. "Fun."

The doorbell chimed again and Tobias leaned back, grinning as Phan jumped. "So much better than a buzz," he said lightly. "Off you go, boys. Let them in."

Noah nodded and followed Phan out of the room.

"I have something for you later," Tobias said to Bradford as he stood up, straightening his tie. He smiled and took a few steps toward the entry before adding, "Be right back with Luca; make yourself at home."

"Will do," he heard Bradford say as he left the room.

Noah was hanging Luca's coat in the closet as Tobias arrived in the foyer. Luca's boy was with him, looking as sweet as Tobias remembered.

"Hello, Luca," Tobias said with a smile. "You're looking well. Danny, too."

"Tobias." Luca smiled, coming forward to shake his hand. "Thank you. And thank you for inviting us, it's good to see you." He looked curiously at Phan and Noah as the boys moved to stand behind Tobias. "I'd heard you had an addition. It's good to see them both looking so... well." He winked and made a show of studying Noah's chaps and Phan's skirt. "Do you always keep them dressed like this?"

Tobias laughed and led the way back into the living room. "No, usually they're naked."

"Ah. Even better. Hello, Bradford."

Bradford was instantly on his feet. "Luca!" He greeted the man with a warm smile and an enthusiastic handshake. "So good to see you again. You look wonderful, so I suppose you weren't placating me when you told me you were feeling better these days. I love the jacket."

"Thank you," Luca said, smiling warmly. "And I feel fine. Not a hundred percent, but doing better. Nikki looks well." He pointed to the floor without looking and Danny sank down next to him.

Tobias sat down again, inviting Luca to do the same with a sweep of his arm. "Noah, Phan... please see to our guests, then we can show off our home."

"Just water, thank you," Luca said, petting Danny's hair.

"My pleasure, Master Luca." Noah nodded and left the room quickly.

"Nikki is doing very well." Bradford said, setting his glass down on the table. "And Danny...well, he always looks happy to me, and he's deep every time we see him. You must prepare him well for outings, hm?" He took Nikki's empty water glass from him and handed it to Phan.

Phan scurried away as Luca nodded. "He takes such good care of me that I think he deserves to be treated well when we're out." He winked at Tobias. "Like last time... very pretty, dear heart. Can we hope for another?"

Tobias laughed. "We'll see," he said with a grin. "What do you think, pet?" he asked Noah as he returned and knelt.

"I would be pleased to ensure your guests have a memorable evening, sir," Noah answered.

Bradford laughed. "Noah is so cheeky. Does he always answer such questions with innuendo? I assume he is speaking of more than dinner, which smells wonderful, by the way. Luca tells me the New Year's scene was memorable indeed."

"He does, thank you, and it was," Tobias said with a smile. "Ah, Phan. Good. Would everyone like to see the house? I admit, I want to show off a little."

The tour began downstairs. Noah and Phan walked into each room and knelt until Bradford and Luca were finished commenting on the windows or the decor and then they moved on. The dining room caught Bradford's eye especially for the trim and the detail work over the doorways.

The tour of the upstairs, naturally, was far more interesting. Bradford admired the safe room for quite some time. "I've never thought of a putting hot tub in my safe room, but what better way to relax?" he commented, running his fingers along the edge of the tub. Noah had scrubbed the tub until it sparkled that very morning. "And those glass dildos are gorgeous. Something of a fetish?" He grinned. "You'll have to invite us for a soak sometime." He winked and made his way back into the hall.

Luca nodded at the safe room and seemed impressed, but appeared to have much more fun wandering through their playroom. Noah and Phan knelt side by side while Luca and Bradford led their boys through the room. Bradford was even brazen enough to open the armoire and several of Tobias' trunks as well. "You've done very well, Tobias, I'm really impressed with the whole place."

"It's not the stables," Tobias admitted with a falsely modest shrug. "But it's nice and meets our needs. The tub, however, is sheer luxury." He grinned at Bradford and glanced at Noah. "The glass is a... well, shared fetish, I think."

Bradford smiled. "Ah. Yes, I might have guessed. I remember Noah's penchant for pretty tools. And Phan has always been a bit of a peacock."

Tobias grinned. "Are you a peacock, boy?"

Phan smirked and wiggled his butt, his skirt riding up a bit. "Oh, yes, sir."

Laughing, Tobias tugged it back down, cupping Phan's balls for a moment. "All right then, gentlemen. Dinner first, play later, maybe. Oh, and Phan, you can get the envelope from the top of my dresser for Bradford." There were actually two envelopes there, but Phan knew which one to bring; the other was a surprise for Phan himself, the results of his blood work, and the last thing Tobias needed to know about his boy.

Luca raised an eyebrow as they left the safe room and headed for the stairs. "Is there something going on?"

"Maybe," Tobias said with a wink. "It'll keep another few minutes. Now, I think Noah has something to do in the kitchen, and then we can sit -- my boys will serve, and yours can sit at the table or kneel, whichever you prefer."

Noah bowed quickly. "Masters," he said and hurried downstairs.

"How mysterious." Bradford grinned. "Come, Nikki, love." He made his way toward the stairs with Nikki silently at his heel.

Tobias led the way into the dining room, pulling out the chair at the end and sitting while Phan went to fetch their contract. "Please," he said, gesturing to the table. "Sit."

Luca did so, taking the chair at his left, Danny sinking to the floor beside him. "I'll feed him," Luca said softly. "Please have Noah or Phan serve me a larger than normal portion."

"Of course," Tobias said. "He looks so content."

Luca smiled down at Danny, the silent boy kneeling and almost glowing in his sub space. "I worked hard to get him there," Luca said with a grin. "It's been a while."

Bradford followed Luca's lead and sat as well, then turned to Nikki, speaking quietly. "Would you prefer to sit or kneel, my boy?"

"As Master Luca's boy is kneeling, sir, I would prefer to kneel as well."

"Ah. Yes, good boy," Bradford seemed pleased. Tobias wondered if it was Bradford's pride in his boy that made Nikki stand up straighter. Bradford pointed to the floor and Nikki knelt gracefully.

Noah appeared a few moments later with salad plates and warm rolls, and set them before each of the Doms. "Master Bradford, will Nikki require a plate or will you be feeding him, sir?"

"He'll eat on his own, Noah, thank you."

Noah nodded. "Master Luca? How about Danny, sir?"

Luca's eyes cut to Tobias approvingly. "I'll be feeding him, Noah. Well done, Tobias."

Tobias shrugged. "He's a helpful boy, aren't you, pet?"

"I try to be, sir." Noah's modest words were slightly betrayed by the smile that passed quickly across his face.

Tobias was about to shoo him back to the kitchen when Phan came in, going directly to Bradford and kneeling in front of him. Instead, Tobias pointed to the floor and Noah sank down, watching as Phan held out the envelope.

"Master Bradford," Phan said respectfully. "For your safe, sir."

Bradford looked at Phan for a long moment, and then turned and looked at Tobias. "For my safe?" He raised an eyebrow slowly in question, then looked down at the envelope and opened it. The room was still for a moment as he glanced at the contract and started to smile. "Ah!" His smile grew broader and he pushed his chair back from the table and stood. "Up, boy, and give an old man a hug, then. Congratulations!"

Phan's smile was as sudden and as bright as the tears in his eyes as he flew into Bradford's arms. "Thank you, sir," Tobias heard him whisper.

Smiling, Tobias stood up as well, grinning as Luca nodded approvingly.

"Well done, Tobias," Luca said. "They both look utterly delighted to be yours. Adjusting well?"

"They are," Tobias said softly. "We all are." He petted Noah and watched Phan, still hugging Bradford.

Bradford held Phan close for a long moment and then kissed his cheek as he let the boy go. "I am thrilled for you, Phantom, and I couldn't be more proud." He gave the boy's shoulder one more pat and then made his way down the table to Tobias, offering him his hand and a positively jovial grin. "I'm thrilled for you both. Congratulations."

"Thank you, old friend," Tobias said quietly. "It was a bumpy road, but we seem to have smoothed it a bit." He reached out for Phan and pulled him in for a fast kiss. "Haven't we, boy?"

"Yes, sir," Phan said happily. He sank down beside Noah and kissed his cheek quickly. "We have."

"Congratulations," Danny whispered, peeking at Phan under the table. Noah gave Phan a silent pat on the knee.

Phan blinked and leaned down lower, tugging Noah with him. "Thank you," he said softly. "Hey, Nikki?"

Nikki had been watching them and smiling. "Congratulations, Phan."

"Hey, you. We gotta hang sometime soon, 'kay?"

Nikki nodded, still smiling. "Soon. I'll talk with Master about it."

"Master says yes, we'll work out the rest later." Bradford shifted his gaze to Noah. He leaned down and gave the boy's shoulder and squeeze and spoke softly. "Proud of you too, boy. Quite a long way you've come."

Noah looked more than a little surprised at the praise. He cleared his throat. "Thank you, sir."

Bradford winked at Tobias and headed back to his seat. "I hardly know what to say. All this good news has made me work up quite an appetite."

"That's your cue, boys," Tobias said with a smile.

"Yes, sir," Phan said, jumping up and heading to the kitchen. His skirt had ridden up again, and his cock was poking out, hard and leading the way.

"Noah, take care of that for me."

Noah stood up and followed. "Yes sir, but it's so pretty." He caught up close behind Phan and tugged his skirt back down around his hips.

"They play together?" Luca asked, looking curious.

"God, yes." Tobias rolled his eyes. "They play a great deal, actually. I think Phan is actively trying to wear us both out."

Bradford chuckled. "Ah, yes. That's why Noah is so easygoing about him these days. Clever, clever man." He grinned. "Well, if anyone can manage to wear the both of you out, it's Phan. Besides, you're an old man now. Maybe you should have your heart checked out."

"My heart is fine," Tobias said with a mock growl as he sat back down. "Maybe we should talk about the state of yours? Hmm?"

"Perhaps another time." Bradford growled right back. His growl sounded more serious, and to ensure that was an end on the conversation, the man even changed the subject. "Luca, what have you been up to?"

"Mostly thinking I should stay in town and see how this all works out," the man teased. "Things seem to be... changing."

Tobias beamed at him. "Love to have you around, old man; a partner in crime, as it were."

Noah began serving dinner plate by plate. He started with Luca, then Bradford, then Tobias and lastly he produced a smaller plate with bite-sized portions for Nikki. He sat the plate in the boy's lap along with a glass of water and a napkin.

"I don't know, Tobias has become exceedingly smug and proud these days," Bradford teased. "He might be bordering on insufferable."

Tobias might have heard Noah snicker, but he couldn't be sure. He raised an eyebrow. "Is that a complaint?" he asked Bradford waspishly. "I was planning on letting you do unspeakable things to Nikki in my tub..."

"Hardly. I've been damn near insufferable half my life." He winked at Tobias. "I'm sure Luca would agree." Bradford glanced down at Nikki and ran fingers through his hair. "My goodness, my boy seems to like the idea of some time in your tub."