Chapter 19

19

T obias thought that Noah's dinner had perhaps been stretching into territory that might have been a bit too complicated, but he had to admit -- as Bradford and Phan and Nikki had -- that Noah had pulled off a marvelous meal. He'd had Phan and Nikki to cut and chop and wash for him, and it seemed that he flourished with a pair of sous chefs.

Of course, a fancy meal meant a lot of dishes and a lot of washing up. Tobias and Bradford had left them to it and, armed with brandy, glasses, and cigars, had taken themselves out to the front veranda to watch night settle around them.

"Nikki seems calm," Tobias said, making himself comfortable. "I trust you found everything you needed?"

Bradford smiled and snorted softly. "Nikki is in sub heaven right now. I spent a full hour telling him how much I care about him and how special he is and validating all the things he does right, all the while teasing him with that marvelous feather. I even let him come." Bradford sipped his brandy. "The second hour took on a different tone, however."

"It usually does." Tobias laughed softly and leaned way back, putting his foot up on the rail. "Was it what you needed?"

"I think so. I gave him a chance to tell me anything that was on his mind, and all he said was how grateful he was to have been forgiven and how much he wants to make it up to me. I let him." Bradford grinned more broadly. "I feel a great deal better myself."

Tobias laugh grew more full. "Nice. Actually, very nice. I could do with that, myself."

"I have a feeling you'd get little objection from your boys," Bradford suggested, rolling his cigar between his fingers. "We could stay out of your way tomorrow if you'd like to use the stables."

"Don't be ridiculous. Or are you suddenly growing shy around me?" Tobias grinned and sipped his brandy. "It's a big place."

"Ha!" Bradford laughed. "Hardly. I was trying to be a good house guest. Emily Post would be proud."

"Emily Post would run screaming from this farm." Screaming. Hmm. "We should make them scream."

"In chorus," Bradford agreed, chomping on his cigar.

"Synchro torture." Tobias nodded. "Or synchro fucking. I could probably do that if I had another cock. Two boys is hard work sometimes."

"Oh, I feel so sorry for you." There was no hint of sympathy in Bradford's voice, naturally. "Two boys to fuck, woe is you."

"I know, it's horrible. And when they gang up on me in the mornings, it's a wonder I ever get out of bed." Tobias smirked. "Seriously, we should plan something for tomorrow. Any ideas? A full role-play scene or just toys and tools that happen to be around?"

"Hmm. I'm kind of liking the torture in tandem idea." Bradford swirled the brandy around in his glass and took a sip before continuing. "Perhaps some creative bondage and some heavy hitters? Give them something to listen to? I'd say we could see which one begs to be fucked first, but we both know who that will be."

Tobias snorted. "No bet, there. I do like this bondage and flogging idea. Need tools with sound, a lot of snap. Say, like a bull whip, or a really whippy crop. The cane."

"Nikki loves the cane, though I will say it takes it out of him. If we go for canes or bull whips, then we need to keep at least that part of it fairly concise. If we come up with some snappy cats or crops, then we've got more time to play. What appeals?"

"Longer play, lots of noise -- and if I make Phan wait and listen, things might get very interesting. We can be across the hall from each other -- or I can even keep my two from seeing each other." Tobias pondered that for a moment and smiled. "This has wonderful potential. We should tape it."

"Why, you're a pervert, Tobias."

"I think I might be, yes." Tobias turned his head and winked. "Don't tell anyone. Deviant to pervert is such a leap, and one that should only be taken behind closed doors."

After swallowing down the last of his brandy, Bradford put his cigar out. "That does it, then. If we're going to walk that perverted road tomorrow, we'd best get our rest. We're old."

"You're old. I'm the Master of two. It takes a lot out of me." Tobias stood up and stretched. "I look forward to it." Enough that he was eager to get to bed, actually.

"Fine. I'm old and you're a lunatic." Bradford followed Tobias inside, where they gathered up their boys. "Good night, Tobias. See you at breakfast," Bradford said with a wink. "Good night, boys," he added before leading Nikki back out to the guest house on one of Tobias' weighty leather leashes.

In his wake, Noah and Phan seemed to sense something was going on and were suddenly on their best behavior. The went upstairs silently, and Tobias found he was so eager to begin that he took more pleasure than usual in fastening the boys' collars and chains and ordering them to sleep on the floor.

Oh, yes. Tomorrow was going to be a good day.

Tobias' day started on a particularly lovely note with a two-mouthed blow job. He didn't let either of his boys get off, and after handing out their morning discipline, he had them don heavy leather cock rings.

For added measure, he put leads on their collars and made Phan carry his leash between his teeth. By the time he phoned Bradford at the guest house, both Noah and Phan were aroused, eager to please, and dying of curiosity and anticipation.

"Have you had your morning coffee yet?" Tobias asked Bradford. "We've had our breakfast, but I like to take my coffee outside in nice weather. Or we can move along, if you wish."

"I was just about to indulge." Bradford sounded equally as cheerful. "Where should we meet? Your deck or mine?"

"We'll come to you, I think." Tobias grinned and looked down at Noah kneeling at his feet. "Give us a few minutes." He hung up and poured his own coffee into a travel mug. "Okay, let's go."

They both handed him their leads, and he walked them across the yard. Naked. They were gorgeous in the sunshine, wearing collars, leashes, and rings, and Tobias was smiling broadly as he climbed the steps to the deck. "Good morning."

"Good morning. Oh, my, don't your boys look stunning." Bradford stood as they arrived and gestured to a chair for Tobias.

Nikki was kneeling at his Master's feet, wearing a belt that likely held a plug in place and a silver cock cage that would prevent the sub from achieving an erection. He held his leash in his lap.

Bradford was dressed only in leather pants, heavy boots, and a pair of soft, black leather suspenders that crossed in the back. "Everyone sleep well?"

"I did." Tobias sat down and glanced at his boys, who immediately knelt; Phan put his lead back between his teeth. "I don't want to see marks in that leather."

Phan shook his head and then nodded.

"He's a little excited." Tobias sipped his coffee and made himself comfortable. "How was the bed? You're our first guest, you have to report on everything so we can make any changes before members start coming out."

"The bed, the house, it's all quite comfortable. Your boys even set the coffee maker for me so I woke up to fresh coffee. Very thoughtful. It's just so damned quiet out here in country; I'm not used to it. Even Nikki said he had a hard time getting back to sleep at one point because there was no white noise. Can't take the city out of the man, I guess."

"I had to soundproof my bedroom in the city," Tobias said with a laugh. "Soundproofing for various reasons is always my best investment, I think."

"So have you told them anything?" Bradford asked. It was a deliberate tease for their boys' benefit.

"Not directly, but I think they get the point. Should we tell them, do you think?" He was deliberately teasing as well, especially Phan. Noah was usually content to do as he was told and trust that he'd find out everything in due time; Phan was a curious cat, though, on about life six.

"I don't think so. They'll find out soon enough." Next to him, Nikki made a soft sound. Bradford grinned. "Something on your mind, boy?"

"No, sir."

"Very well." Bradford leaned back in his chair and sipped his coffee. "Nikki's wound up, Phan is excited... what about Noah? He looks so calm all the time. Almost too calm. I'm looking forward to seeing his feathers get ruffled."

Tobias ran his hand through Noah's hair and then tugged at it thoughtfully. "I've managed it a time or two. It's been a while, though, I must admit. Which of course means that it's overdue. What do you think, pet?"

"I'm yours, as ever, sir," Noah replied respectfully. Then, a bit more playfully, he added, "But it sounds good to me."

"It does now," Tobias said with a smile. "We'll see how you feel when we get things set up and the blows start raining down."

Phan, it was hard not to notice, wiggled, his cock bobbing.

"Yes, you, too. Maybe. Maybe you'll just have to listen." Tobias finished his coffee as Phan made a noise that was half moan, half laugh. "They think this is going to be easy, Bradford."

"Hmm." Bradford upended his coffee mug, swallowing down the last sip. He set the mug on the patio table. "They'd be wrong," he said in a steady, commanding tone. Then he looked at Tobias. "Shall we?"

"I think so, yes." Tobias abandoned his mug on the railing and stood up, his hand held out for leashes. After a short scramble on Phan's part and an easy roll to his feet on Noah's, he curled his fingers into a fist around the straps. "Come."

He smiled smugly to himself when both leashes met with a moment of resistance as he swung his arm. The next time he swung it, his boys had sorted themselves out and there was only slack.

He didn't quite march them across the yard, but it was close. Bradford fell in alongside him, matching his stride, and the confidence between them -- the anticipation of the scenes to come -- was almost palpable, the creak and stomp of their boots the only sound until Tobias opened up the stables.

Tobias spoke pleasantly with Bradford as he let them all in, but instead of sending Noah to turn on the lights, he slapped the switches up himself and immediately took his boys down the aisle to the plain black stall. "In here, faces to the wall, arms out. Keep still while I chain you."

Phan and Noah hurried across the stall to take their places facing the wall, their leads still dangling from their collars. Bradford paused in the entry for a moment.

"I'll pick one next door, shall I? Or across the way? I don't believe there is room for both of us to swing our arms in here." That had been the plan all along, of course, but now at least the boys would know it.

"Whichever you prefer, my friend; there's chains and cuffs in all of them, so it's more a matter of aesthetic taste." He leaned into Phan, shoving him up against the wall none too gently as he bound Phan's hands. "Down low; you'll be here a while, and I don't want your arms going numb."

"Thank you, sir," Phan gasped, his face against the wall.

"You can thank me later."

"In that case, I'll be just across the hall, here." Bradford gestured to the white stall that was essentially everything the black stall was, only sterile and white. "Boy," Bradford ordered, gesturing toward the stall. "Face the wall, legs spread, arms out to the sides. Move!" Nikki sprang to his feet at Bradford's shout, and Bradford reached out and clapped Tobias on the shoulder. "Enjoy."

"Oh, I think this will be something to enjoy for a long time." Tobias let Phan go and grinned at Bradford. "Don't be too quiet, okay? There's no need."

Phan whimpered.

"I wasn't talking to you." He left Phan as was and moved to Noah. "As for you, my lovely. You're far, far too smooth these days." He stroked a hand down Noah's spine and slapped his ass, hard enough that his palm stung. "Hands on the wall, now."

"Quiet wasn't on the agenda." Bradford stepped into the white stall, and Tobias heard chains rattle and Nikki whimper.

"Yes, sir!" Noah answered, his voice sharp with the sting of Tobias' blow. He placed his hands flat on the wall, instinctively widening his stance for balance.

Bradford laughed at something Nikki must have said, and answered, "You may beg all you like, boy, but don't expect to get anything you're looking for."

"What he said," Tobias told Noah. "Although I do like the begging. But this isn't about you or Phan. Not today." Of course it was about them. It was always about them. But sometimes they needed a scene that wasn't funny or about getting off. There were dark edges to playing, and they were just as important and necessary as the other.

Plus, it made Tobias' cock hard to be rough.

He got Noah bound, the chains hanging loose in a loop and then welded to the huge rings in the wall. "Do I need to bind your feet as well, or will you stay still?"

"I'll do my best without the chains, sir." Noah's voice was a great deal less amused than it had been back at the guest house.

"Oh, very nice, Tobias. You've white instruments to match your white room. I approve." Bradford said from across the way. "How's the cat?" His question was followed by a swooping sound as Bradford tested the tool in the air.

"Well, it's one of Phan's favorites. That should tell you something." Tobias went to the corner nearest the door and grinned out at him. "I'm sure Nikki will let you know." From the corner, Tobias picked up a crop, a whippy little braided one that he knew hurt like a son of a bitch when it came down at full strength. "After you."

"How polite," Bradford joked, and then his tone changed entirely. "Settle down, Nikki. I'll start lighter, but it'll build up quickly. Tell me when you're ready."

"Ready, sir."

Bradford swung, the first blow making a muted slapping sound, the second much the same. Nikki was quiet at first, but as the speed and intensity built, there was a whimper or a soft cry every third or fourth stroke. "That's it, boy, let me hear you."

"Yes, sir." Nikki answered quickly. "Thank you, sir!"

"Very nice," Tobias murmured. He turned back to his own boys and saw Phan trying so hard to be a good boy. He was standing still, face to the wall just like he'd been told, but long practice helped Tobias read his body language. He was listening very hard to Nikki.

Tobias thought he needed something a bit closer to listen to. "Noah. Prepare. It's a crop, and I won't go in hard, but it'll get there."

Noah tested his footing, checked his balance on the wall, and then took a deep breath. His chest and shoulders expanded and tensed, and then, as he exhaled, everything relaxed at once, from his shoulders to his toes. A familiar physical sign that Noah was grounded. "Ready, sir."

Across the hall, Bradford's steady blows continued, and Nikki moaned.

"Thank me for giving you the time to do that." Tobias struck fast across Noah's thighs. The crop was loud, the sharp snap echoing off the walls so quickly it sounded like the crop had rebounded.

Phan's ass tightened and his head dropped, but he made no sound.

"Thank you, sir!" Noah shouted, followed by a heavy exhale. He shook his head, likely chastising himself this time. "I'm sorry, sir... thank you."

"You're welcome." Tobias did it again, adding a red stripe below the first. "You've been unmarked for too long. Entirely my fault, of course." Once more his arm came down, and this time a welt rose up on Noah's ass across both cheeks.

Phan twitched each time the crop fell, and Tobias could see his hands clenching. If the boy could have willed himself to feel the crop, he would have, Tobias was sure.

Noah cried out as the crop hit his ass and moaned after, and Tobias was reminded why they did this, why they needed to, sometimes. Noah's cock was hard, his fingers curled and flattened again against the wall, and he actually stuck his ass out farther. "Thank you, sir," the boy responded, his voice low and rough. He wanted this as much as Tobias did, and that made it so much better.

Again, Tobias brought his hand down, his concentration narrowing to Noah's skin and reactions until there was a lacework of marks over his thighs and ass. Worried that he could easily push too far, Tobias finally backed off, his own breath coming in harsh pants.

There was a particularly loud crack in the other stall, and Nikki shouted "Master!" at the top of his lungs.

"Good boy," Bradford told him, and the sound of his cat went quiet.

Noah, meanwhile, was starting to babble the way he always did, telling Tobias how he felt, what the sting was like, where his ass burned. "Sir... stings like hell. Ah, God." He shifted his weight and moaned again. "Thank you, sir."

Tobias nodded to himself and moved to Phan. "All right, boy?"

Phan nodded. "Yes, sir." His voice was ragged. "Please, sir. Please."

"Please what?"

"Please touch me." Phan swayed and his chains rattled. "Please hit me. Anything."

Tobias pressed a kiss between Phan's shoulder blades. "There you go."

Phan sobbed, his hand curling around the links of his chain. "Thank you, sir."

Smiling, Tobias went to look out at Bradford, who was leaning in the doorway to the white stall drinking from a bottle of water. He looked over at Tobias and grinned.

"Did I hear Phan begging? It was lovely."

"You did." Tobias smiled, showing his teeth. "He's feeling the sting of being left without pain or attention, poor thing."

From inside the stall, one of his boys whimpered, but he wasn't sure which one it was. "Nikki is holding up?" he asked, looking past Bradford to the white stall.

"Oh, yes, very well."

Bradford let Tobias look. Nikki was standing much the way Noah was. His back and ass were red hot and marked, though the cat hadn't caused any real welts to form the way a crop would. He had his forehead pressed into the wall and his hands braced for balance. He was breathing hard, too, but silent.

"Oh, very nice. Maybe I'll do that to Phan when I get around to him." That time the whimper was definitely Phan. "Excuse me," Tobias said politely. "I need to go and gag him."

Bradford laughed and put the top back on his water bottle. "Enjoy."

"I always do." Tobias went back into the stall and grabbed a gag from the corner. "Open up, Phantom." He pushed his body against Phan's, making sure to grind his cock along Phan's ass as he gagged him from behind. "Be a good boy, and I'll use a very nice cat on you. Be exceptional, and I'll fuck you."

Phan nodded, his eyes wide as he let Tobias buckle the gag.

Smiling again, Tobias rubbed on him once more before going to examine Noah's back. "Hmm. Tender, pet?"

Noah nodded. "Yes, sir. Especially my ass, sir." Noah shifted from foot to foot. "Burns. It's good."

Tobias looked at Noah's ass. "It looks a little raw. Very pretty. I have some cream for that, later. When I'm done."

"Yes, sir." Tobias watched Noah lean in his direction, trying to get closer. "Thank you, sir."

In the next stall, Bradford hit Nikki again with what sounded like a crop this time.

"Thank you, sir! More, please!" Nikki's voice sounded softer, but every bit as needy.

"Want something, pet?" Tobias ran his finger over the untouched skin between welts and then down Noah's crack. "Nikki does. Phantom does."

Noah groaned, arching into Tobias' touch. "So hard, sir."

"Why, yes. You are." Tobias left him, picked up the cat he had waiting, and walked to Phan. "Boy," he barked. "Be ready." Without waiting for a reply or a twitch, he brought it down on Phan's back and immediately set a hard pace.

Phan howled, his head coming back and his back arching eagerly. "Yes, sir! Thank you, sir!" Relief and adoration shone on his face as he held himself open to every stroke.

Chains rattled and Nikki groaned deeply, and moments later, Bradford was making his own deep, low sounds. There was no mistaking what was happening in the white stall.

Noah's eyes were on Phan, and he wasn't unaffected by Phan's look of euphoria or Nikki and Bradford's moans. "Fuck," he whispered. "Fuck, sir."

"Soon enough. Perhaps." Tobias was a man well aware of his years and his capabilities; he also possessed enough toys to satisfy a very, very large number of men. Noah would be satisfied.

Phan's yells had not abated, and with every swipe of the cat across his back, he got louder. His skin was growing rosy, which was Tobias' intent -- but his arms and legs were beginning to shake and his head hung low. He was on the very cusp, at the top of the wall Tobias had forced him to climb.

Listening to Bradford was the final key, really. Everyone but Tobias had reached a state of intensity. The crop was thrown aside and Tobias tore open his pants, reaching for the lube. With only a swipe of it over his cock, he plunged into Phan's ass and reached around to unsnap the cock ring.

"Please, sir. Oh, God," Noah moaned. When Tobias looked over, Noah was looking away and appeared to be trying very hard to control himself.

Across the aisle, Bradford was making no such effort. "Tell me," he said, his voice tight.

"Yours, sir," Nikki answered quickly.

"Louder."

"Yours, sir!"

"That's right, boy. Mine."

"Noah." Tobias stayed where he was, buried in Phan and listening to the muffled yells around his gag. "Look at me."

"Yes, sir." Noah turned his head and looked, eyes on Tobias' chest.

"You will wait for me. I will take care of you." He circled his hips and fucked Phan slowly, holding Phan's prick in a loose fist. "Yes?"

Noah nodded. "Yes, sir," he said softly. "I will wait for you."

Tobias had to wonder if things really were just easier to do with orders, or if Noah was just that obedient.

Then he decided it didn't matter. He leaned forward and bit at Phan's shoulder, shoving in hard. "You can come whenever you want," he said, tightening his grip. "But it's the last time you'll come for ten days." The number was completely random, but it seemed to work. Phan shoved back, Tobias slammed in, and then Phan's cock flexed as he shot all over the floor.

"Yes!" Tobias' eyes closed as he fucked Phan through his orgasm. Finally, heat spreading through his body, Tobias pulled almost all the way out and used very tiny, short, and shallow thrusts to get only his sweet spot, right under the head of his cock. It was selfish fucking, but it was insanely pleasurable, and when his orgasm rushed over him, he could hear himself yelling over the ringing in his ears.

Everything in the barn went still. Apart from Phan's soft sounds and Tobias' own breathing, the barn was quiet. Even Noah was quiet, his eyes on Phan and his body still. Moments later, Bradford appeared in the doorway of the black stall, and Nikki knelt next to him. The sub was no longer wearing his belt and plug, but the silver cock-cage was still firmly in place.

"Hope I'm not interrupting," Bradford said quietly, a grin in his voice.

"Not at all." Tobias panted for a moment, then pulled out. Without particularly cleaning up, he did up his pants and went back to Noah. "You're in time for the end." Kneeling, he took off Noah's ring and then licked one of the welts before parting Noah's ass and rimming him.

"Oh, God!" Noah shouted, and he spread his legs open even farther. "Sir! Permission to come, sir? Please, sir?"

Tobias lifted his head long enough to say, "Granted," and then he went back to tonguing Noah's ass.

Behind him, Nikki whimpered.

Noah arched and groaned, and then his breath started to come in shallow, ragged gasps. It was just a few seconds more before he shot, coming hard with a shout. "Yes! Sir! Ah, God! Thank you, sir!"

Tobias licked him again for good measure and then kissed his way up Noah's spine. "Good boy, sweetheart. Good boy." He tugged the buckles open and let Noah sink to the floor, then went to collect Phan.

Bradford looked down at Nikki. "You see, boy? That is the reward that very good boys get."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

Noah knelt, hands on his knees, still catching his breath, but he watched as Tobias let Phan out of his chains.

"Come here, dear," Tobias whispered. He almost had to carry him the few steps to Noah, but Phan made it. "There you go, snuggle for a few minutes."

Phan did as he was told, curling right up to Noah as Tobias turned to grin at Bradford. "Well. That went well."

"Oh, very well," Bradford agreed, smiling smugly. "Very well, indeed. Your boys give over so prettily."

"Nikki did well, and you were inspiring." Tobias' grin grew. "Are we done with the admiring yet? I need to tend to Noah's back, and then they need to clean up in here."

"Oh, don't be so logical." Bradford snorted. "Nikki, darling. You'll clean up our stall. Noah and Phan can show you what you need."

"Yes, sir." Nikki stood up and went to kneel beside Phan.

"Tobias, I'm going to shower. Shall I join you up at the house when I'm through?"

"Yes, absolutely." Tobias nodded and looked at his submissives. "I love it when they're like this. I'll meet you up there, Bradford." Right then, he wanted to collect a few kisses and make sure they'd both gotten what they needed. He also wanted a bit of cuddling himself; the softness after a scene was like dessert.

Bradford walked over to Nikki and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Good boy," he said softly. "That," Bradford pointed to Nikki's cage, "will come off when you get up to the house. Be good for Master Tobias."

"Yes, sir. I promise, sir." Nikki smiled.

With that, Bradford strode from the stall and whistled his way up the aisle and out of the barn.

Tobias smiled at Nikki and motioned him over. "Come here, son. They're very affectionate at this stage." He went to Noah and Phan, slid down the wall, and opened his arms. "A few minutes before cleaning up. Careful of your back, Noah."

Phan immediately curled into Tobias' side, one hand out for Nikki, his smile still slightly unfocused and goofy.

Noah moved more slowly and was sure to stay facing Tobias so his tender skin didn't touch anyone. He sighed as he settled, not smiling like Phan was, but glassy-eyed and relaxed. He gave Nikki a light pat as Nikki took Phan's hand.

Nikki seemed caught between intruding on something and obeying an order, but he let Phan draw him in. "Thank you, sir."

"I couldn't bear to see you working while we had the luxury of this." Tobias smiled down at the three of them. "Phan, I was intending to get a bit more pain in there for you, but I couldn't resist your ass. Sorry."

Phan giggled. There was no mistaking the sound. "You're forgiven, sir." He giggled again. "Hear that, Noah? Irresistible. Told ya."

"Ah, no. Sir said your ass was irresistible," Noah joked. "Which it is. The rest of you... well." Noah laughed.

"Yeah, exactly. My ass. Which I was trying my very best to tempt you with last week." He looked mournfully at Nikki. "Noah resists out of principle, I think."

Tobias rolled his eyes.

"Phan has a thing about breaking rules, Nikki. Don't listen to him. Believe me, if Sir hadn't told us no fucking, I'd've been all over him." Noah grinned broadly. "Seriously."

Nikki's eyes grew wide. "Ohh," he said, as if learning something about Phan for the first time.

Phan sighed. "Don't listen to him. Well, yes. Listen to him. He's a good boy. I get myself in trouble rather a lot. It's a very, very good thing that Sir loves me."

Noah laughed. "Ow."

Tobias shook his head. "I do love you, brat. You make my life very... exciting." That was a kind way of putting things. "And you keep me on my toes, for sure."

"I think I've broken enough rules for now, I better listen to Noah." Nikki sighed.

Tobias waited, fully confident that Phan would pick up the ball.

"It's a smart move," Phan said with a nod. "But you pretty much have to trust your Master to mean exactly what he says. In my case, it's that he loves me, he'll protect me, and I'm safe with him no matter what. Mistakes are forgiven and made up for, rule breaking is punished and discussed, and as long as I respect him and myself, we can get through anything. The very fact that we're where we are is proof of that."

Noah looked right and then left, then shifted and looked behind him. "Wait, who said that? Some sub who's finally confident in his place? Who could that have been? That wasn't Phan... couldn't have been. Who was that?"

Phan, to Tobias' deep amusement, turned pink. "Shush, you. It only took me a few years."

Tobias smiled and slid his hand over Phan's shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "I do love you. And I'm proud of you, dear."

The pink turned red, and Phan buried his head in Tobias' chest.

"Me, too. And me, too," Noah added.

Nikki seemed to have missed most of the banter somehow and was apparently still mulling over what Phan had said. "I do trust him."

Tobias squeezed Phan's shoulder again and hoped Phan would get the point.

"Of course you do," Phan said immediately. "And you love him. Everything else flows out of that. You respect him, and you know he's ultimately got your best interests at heart."

Nikki nodded. "I'll do better."

Noah petted Nikki's knee. "We can always do better."

"But your best is all he asks for, Nikki," Tobias said softly. "If you do your best, he'll be honored and pleased."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." Nikki blushed almost as red as Phan.

Tobias smiled. "All right, boys. Time to clean up. Floors, walls, each other, and all of the toys. I want every flogger used to be cleaned up. Noah, come with me and I'll spray your back first."

"Yes, sir," Noah answered easily, but standing didn't seem to be the easiest of tasks. Nikki got up readily enough despite his still-pink back, ass, and thighs, and he reached out to help Noah straighten up. "Thank you." Noah smiled at Nikki. "I think I'm okay now."

Tobias smiled at Nikki and said, "Phan, you help Nikki find the supplies." Taking Noah's hand, he led him up the aisle to the big first aid kit. "How did that go, in your opinion?" he asked softly.

"The scene, sir?" Noah asked. "I feel fabulous."

Tobias laughed. "I can see that, sweetheart. I meant with Nikki. Was that what he needed, do you think? Talking to Phan?"

Noah nodded. "Phan is... well, Nikki loves him. They were together at the club for a long while, and Nikki kind of idolizes him. I think Phan is just the right person for him to talk to. He has a way of making everything seem so simple."

"Except for in his own head, sometimes." Tobias knew that it was hardly Phantom's fault that he got tangled in his own feelings -- it was the human condition, really, and Phan had more excuse than others. "However, on that note... he seems better, too, I think."

"I think so, sir. He seems more relaxed, more... open. It's interesting to me how important it is to him that he reassure Nikki. Maybe taking care of Nikki is helping him with his confidence a little."

"Perhaps." Tobias examined Noah's back under better light and nodded to himself. "This looks okay -- you'll have some bruises, though. I think Phan is perhaps handling his grieving a bit better."

"I like bruises," Noah replied in a low voice. "And yes, sir. I think your idea about going to the cemetery is a good one, sir. It might help him get some closure. Maybe you, too?"

Tobias sighed softly and kissed Noah's shoulder. "Maybe me, too." He spread arnica over Noah's back after making sure there was no broken skin and kissed him again. "Go clean up, pet. I'll see you back at the house."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." Noah turned away and headed back down the aisle. He was moving a stiffly, but Tobias was sure his sub was enjoying the effect of the whipping as much as he himself was.

Tobias watched him go, smiling to himself. Noah wore stripes and bruises so well. Finally, though, Tobias roused himself and went up to the house. He needed a shower in the worst way, and then perhaps he and Bradford could talk about business for a while. It was time to open the new and improved farm up again.