Chapter 4

4

T obias loved ritual. He adored it. He knew that there was always a place for mixing things up, for being spontaneous and doing things in whatever way fit a situation, but in his heart he found immense comfort in ritual.

Like his morning routine. Like being called "sir" or "Master." Like knowing precisely who was doing what and why.

Like giving out morning discipline for the day and starting Wednesdays off on the right foot.

Both Noah and Phan had slipped into their proper roles when day broke, and after his morning blow job, his cup of coffee, a nice shower, and having Phan dress him, Tobias reddened both their asses and told them what they'd be wearing for the day.

Tobias liked Tuesdays well enough, but he really loved Wednesday mornings.

By the time the three of them arrived at the club, himself in a suit, Phan in leather, and Noah in business casual since his actual shift didn't start until later in the day, Tobias was downright cheerful.

"Right to the office, boys," he said, nodding good morning to Brian, who was setting tables in the dining room. Though the club didn't officially open until afternoon, members occasionally came for breakfast. Arrangements could be made for almost anything at the club. "And then we'll see if Nikki needs any help or if there are things Bradford needs done. I have paperwork before my ten o'clock member interview, and I'll need Phan for that."

He led them into his large office and rapped on the wall he shared with Bradford. It annoyed the hell out of his business partner -- it wasn't exactly dignified -- and Tobias did it as often as he dared. "Noah, did you say you had things you wanted to check out in the security office? Equipment upgrades or something?" Tobias pointed to the floor, and both of his boys sank to their knees.

"Yes, sir," Noah nodded, head up but eyes low. "Master Bradford told me that the playroom surveillance system on the third floor wasn't upgraded when the rest of the building was, and requested that I have a look and make a recommendation."

Tobias' phone rang. He didn't need to look at the ID to know who it was.

"All right," he said, leaning over for the receiver and picking it up. "Stay. Good morning, Bradford. Have you had breakfast yet?"

Bradford snorted. "I love it when the plaster comes raining down off my walls," he answered, sounding grumpy. "Why are you always so damn cheerful on Wednesday mornings?"

"Because all is right in my world." Tobias smiled and petted Noah's head. "When do you want Noah to look over the third floor? And shall we have coffee?"

"Ah. I'd like to do the upgrade next week, so if you can give him the time to look it over today or tomorrow, that would be ideal." Bradford sounded a great deal less grumpy now that he was discussing his club. "And coffee was my next order of business. I'll have Nikki bring us a pot. Your office or mine?"

"Mine, I think." Tobias ran his fingers through Noah's hair and wished it was another inch longer. "I haven't been here since Thursday; it would be a shame to run out right away."

"Good. I could use a change of scenery," Bradford joked. "Be there in a few." The line went dead as Bradford hung up the phone.

Tobias set his receiver down and let go of Noah. "Phan, when Nikki comes, I want you to help him with the coffee. Noah, can you make sure the file I need at ten isn't lost on my desk, please? I'll get to the rest of that stuff later, but I need that one on top." He crossed to where two easy chairs were positioned with a table between them and sat down to wait.

Without being told, Phan went to open the office door and knelt again, waiting for Nikki, and Tobias took a moment to watch him. Phan always looked so easy in his skin when he was kneeling, like there was nowhere on earth he'd rather be.

Noah went to Tobias' desk and searched through the stack of files Tobias had left there last week. "I'll dig it up, sir."

"Thank you, pet." Tobias transferred his gaze to Noah and watched him for a moment as well, smiling when he realized he just wanted to look at Noah's ass.

Nikki came through the door moments later, dressed much like Phan in leather shorts and a leather vest. Spotting Phan waiting, he stopped in the doorway. "Good morning, Master Tobias," he said cheerfully. He looked down at Phan. "Morning, Phantom."

"Good morning, Nikki." Tobias sat up a little straighter, eagerly anticipating his second cup of coffee for the morning.

Phan rolled up to his feet and kissed Nikki on the cheek. "Morning," he said, just as cheerfully. "I'm going to help serve."

"Thank you." Nikki nodded and moved to the table. He held the tray to let Phan remove the masculine, yet graceful coffee cups and matching pot from the tray.

Bradford arrived with his organizer and pen in hand, along with a couple of manila folders and a small plate of breakfast treats. "Brian handed me these as I passed him in the hall. Apparently Chef has acquired new baking skills." He set them down on the table. "I remain skeptical, but you never know."

He glanced briefly in Phan's direction while Phan poured his coffee, and sat in the opposite chair. "Thank you, Phan." After another, longer look, he smiled and winked at Tobias. "On second thought, Tobias, I see exactly where your morning cheer comes from."

Noah coughed over at Tobias' desk.

Tobias glanced over and raised an eyebrow. "Something to say? Thank you, Phan. Sugar, please."

Noah swallowed. "I found your file, sir." He held it up and then set it down on top of the stack so that Tobias could see where he put it. Somehow he managed not to look the least bit guilty as he moved out from behind the desk and went to his knees beside Tobias' chair.

Tobias rested a hand on Noah's shoulder and accepted the mug that Phan handed him. "I think Noah would like to spend some time with the housekeeping staff today, too." He smiled at Bradford and winked. "Really learn the ins and outs of setting up the rooms and keeping them clean."

"I'll be sure to find something appropriate to occupy his time," Bradford said easily, without sparing Noah a second glance. Noah, for his part, was appropriately quiet as well. "I've received several phone calls about the weekend at your farm, Tobias." Bradford sipped his coffee. "The feedback has been, not surprisingly, very positive."

"Mmm." Tobias wasn't surprised, either. He sat back and sipped his coffee, his boys kneeling next to him and being the quiet statues they were trained to be. "In some ways the weekend was all that I thought it could be. In others, I've discovered issues I need to find a way to accommodate so things may continue to be successful without undue... " He thought for a moment, looking for the correct word. "Without causing unneeded stress or creating a different set of problems."

Bradford nodded slowly, watching Tobias long after he'd finished speaking. "I see," he said carefully. "And these issues are related to the visitors or... are they domestic?"

"It's all one and the same in my life," Tobias said dryly, but he slid a significant look toward Phantom. "In this particular case, however, there may have been too many bodies for anything other than the actual lesson times."

Bradford nodded, now apparently aware that Phan was having particular trouble. "You might have to spell it out for me, Tobias, but I think you're saying that the number of men you had was manageable when you were working but overwhelming when the sessions had concluded? What specifically was the frustration? Just too many people? Not enough down time?"

"Too many people at meal times, not enough time to get to know anyone." Tobias glanced down. "Phantom has a very unique role within the club in general and at the farm in particular. It's important that he develop at least a passing familiarity with the players."

"So what you need is some help," Bradford suggested. "To give your boys some time to get to know people. Staff."

"That would entirely depend upon what the staff is to do. Phan and Noah spend time with the subs while they're doing chores; staff might actually be counter-productive."

"Ah. Yes, I see. Well, I had thought to offer you a couple of our staff subs on those weekends, but it sounds like what your boys might need is more time, not necessarily more help. How do you structure your sessions? Are there sessions that could be conducted without the subs present? Things that could be done in workshop style or just sitting around talking? Maybe you could structure things in a way that would give the subs blocks of time on their own? Would that help accomplish what you're talking about?"

Tobias felt his brow furrow as he thought and made himself stop frowning. He wasn't ready to have lines gouged into his forehead from thinking. "Well. This past weekend, there was a lot of one on one instruction in the ring, but that's needed, and the subs -- at the very least, Phan and Noah as examples and models -- need to be there for that. But I suppose I could structure time for the discussions that naturally crop up. Noah, do you find that you're kneeling a lot and waiting for us tops to just finish up our fascinating sidebars and get on with things?"

"I... um." Noah seemed to take a moment to think about his answer. "To be honest, sir, it's my pleasure to kneel by your side. I spend the time thinking about how I'm serving you, not worrying about whatever is supposed to come next; that's up to you. It was an intense weekend, and I spent a lot of time in subspace, so... I don't know, I guess I didn't notice?" Noah sighed and shook his head. "I'm sorry. I don't think I can answer that question, sir."

"That's okay." Tobias nodded and rested a hand on Noah's shoulder. "You did answer it, thank you." He looked back at Bradford. "Phantom tells me that he needs to have a relationship with the subs, and that it bothers him when our home feels like an inn. He doesn't like having dinner in shifts, and when there are that many people in the house, it feels less like we have company and more like..." He trailed off and glanced at Phan. "Like what, boy?"

Phan held his position and didn't slump at all, but he was clearly reluctant to say anything. "It feels like a boarding house, sir. Impersonal and rushed and stressful."

Tobias looked at Bradford. "Which isn't exactly the best way to have things. So, I weigh the needs of my sub against the success of the weekend."

"Hmm." Bradford looked thoughtful and sipped his coffee. "Adding a day would make things less rushed," Bradford suggested. "Making it a three-day workshop, instead of two? But that's assuming you stay committed to having so many Doms out at the farm at once. How tired were you after the weekend? Were you still on top of your game by Sunday night? Can you handle that many Doms at once?"

"I can. Easily. I thought the actual work went very--" He broke off as Phan patted at his foot. "Phan?"

"Please, sir." Phan's face was drawn. "I don't mean to be disrespectful. An added day would be worse. It would be another day of people trooping in and out of the house, an extra day of too many people in the kitchen, another three meals of people touching her things and in our space and just there. Too many people. It's not time, it's bodies!"

"Whoa." Tobias reached down and lifted Phan bodily into his lap. "Calm, boy. Breathe. I've got you."

"I only meant it might slow things down and make them less... what was the word you used? Rushed. Stressful," Bradford suggested, his eyes on Phan. He sipped his coffee again. "I'm concerned that this may be a sticking point, Tobias, but... if I may?" He glanced up at Tobias clearly asking permission to speak directly to Phan.

Tobias nodded slowly.

"Phan, if the numbers were non-negotiable -- and I'm not suggesting that they are, but suppose they were -- is there anything that could possibly make the weekend more manageable for you? Perhaps fewer responsibilities? More one on one with your Master?" He raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps not participating at all? Answer frankly, boy, you've my permission to speak your mind."

Phan shook his head and curled into Tobias. "I just want the house to be treated like a home and not a pit stop. Too many people and it feels like a hotel."

Tobias slid his hand down Phan's back and absently traced one of his scars. "What if the bunkhouse or barracks or whatever you want to call it had a kitchen and a common room? Would that work?"

"That's something I hadn't thought of, moving some of the chaos out of your home," Bradford sounded thoughtful.

Noah straightened up a bit beside Tobias, and Tobias dropped a hand to his shoulder. "Pet?"

"I can't speak for Phan, sir, but I think I would actually prefer that myself."

Bradford made an approving sound. "Phan?"

Phan's head lifted a bit. "We could do that?"

"Sure. It's only money." Tobias rolled his eyes. "Of course we can do it. We can almost always find a way to make things work; you know that. You're a testament to that."

"I'm sure we can find some room in the budget for improvements to the sleeping quarters," Bradford offered. "It's certainly preferable to cancelling the group sessions altogether, which was where I was afraid we might be headed."

Phan shook his head quickly. "No, sir, Master Bradford. I like it when there's two or three couples; it's fun. But four or five was just too much. I'm sorry."

Tobias petted Phan once more and urged him to go back to his usual place. "You don't need to be sorry, Phan. All you need to do, ever, is tell me how you feel. We can work it out from there. However, you and I are going to have to work through some things, I think. You're missing Mrs. Miller a lot these days."

Phan nodded miserably and sighed. "Yes, sir."

"It's okay, Phan," Noah said softly as Phan knelt beside him again.

"The offer for extra staff remains open should you decide you need it," Bradford offered, picking up one of the pastries he'd brought with him. He inspected it dubiously.

Tobias held out his coffee mug to Noah and thought about staff. "I'm not sure what I'd have them do, really. The subs do the work and care for their Doms. I suppose I could use someone in the day or so before the weekends to do things like getting the food delivered and make up the beds and such. If we're going to have a dozen people, that's a bit much for Phan and Noah to manage on top of our work here in town."

Bradford finished chewing before he spoke. "Well, you think about it and we'll set up whatever you need. Certainly we can cut down on the numbers until we get the barracks operating independently. Hey, these aren't half bad."

"Who made them?" Tobias took his newly filled mug from Noah and sipped. "And did Brian get his session with that new fellow yet? Phan, what was his name again?"

"Hayden, sir."

"Right, Hayden. Loves to spank, so I thought he'd be perfect for Brian in terms of fun. I'm not sure if they're a good match long term or not."

"Brian's begged him for another session at least three times that I know of," Bradford said, grinning widely. "If Hayden can handle Brian's energy level, I think they might well be in for a long relationship. We'll see. As for the pastries, Chef made them. Thomas. Try the little muffins."

"How long has Brian been working here?" Tobias tried to remember a time without Brian and failed, though he knew there had to be one -- Brian was a lot younger than Tobias.

"Brian started here shortly after I took over the business. He was barely eighteen then if you'll remember, and out on the street. He was much too sweet for that kind of work."

"He's never had a consistent Dom, has he?" Tobias frowned. "Noah, please get me Hayden's folder. I'm going to meddle, I think."

Noah moved quickly and searched through the folders in Tobias' large cabinet against the wall.

"He never has," Bradford said, nodding slowly. "I have no doubt that he'd like one in an ideal world, but you know how he is. He overcompensates, he tries too hard to impress, he's got issues with commitment and abandonment."

"The file, sir." Noah knelt by Tobias' side and held up the folder.

"Thank you." Tobias started reading, flipping through the application form and his own notes from their interviews. "Oh, right, I remember now. Mild, patient. Phan thought he was far stronger as a domestic dominant than a SM player." He nodded. "I think I'll invite him to have a drink with me one evening if I see him in the bar. If I call him in, he might think something's wrong."

"Oh, and 'Care to have a drink with me?' isn't at all ominous." Bradford laughed. "You're known for keeping to yourself, Tobias. Any social interaction with you is meaningful around here."

"Oh." Tobias thought about that for a moment. "Really?"

Phan giggled.

"Oh, it's a sad day when one's subs are more observant than one's self." Bradford grinned at Tobias as Nikki refilled his coffee cup. "Tobias, do you not recall the stir you made when you walked in here on your forty-first birthday? Granted, you've been a bit more visible around here since then, but the fact remains that you are the Tobias Vincent, and your reputation precedes you. Moreover, your boys are practically celebrities."

That got a snort out of Noah.

"Phan is," Tobias agreed with a roll of his eyes. "But mostly because he doesn't like to wear clothes and does like to lick my boots in public." Actually, it was probably more because of the sheer amount of pain Phantom could take, but Tobias didn't like to dwell on that.

"True enough. Though I wouldn't underestimate your Noah's reputation, either. In any case, you meddle in whatever way suits you, and the rest of us will sit back and watch with great interest. And when you're done with that," Bradford slid a file out from under his day planner and handed it to Tobias, "that is the security information I have on file for Noah to look over at your convenience, and this," Bradford handed Tobias another file, "is the draft of our new calendar. Party and theme weekend dates, new room reservation policies, and our new schedule of membership dues and special event fees. I thought you might like to look it over before I put it in final form and mail it out."

Tobias looked at the pile of paper in his hand. "Well. Suddenly I have at least an hour at my desk. Noah, you can go and see housekeeping now, and after lunch you can start on the security work for Master Bradford. Tell housekeeping that you're to change beds and do whatever they set for you. They can report errors to me. Phantom, you can help me at my desk. Naked."

"Yes, sir." Noah's feet looked a little leaden as he walked, but he left the room as ordered, and Tobias had no doubt he would do exactly as he was told.

Bradford stood and gave Nikki a wave. "Come along, boy. Looks like Tobias is going to actually use that antique desk, and I wouldn't want to discourage him."

"Should I put your name on the list for one of my technique weekends, Bradford?" Tobias smiled as he watched Phan strip down to nothing but a leather cock ring.

"No, thank you, I might be bored." Bradford winked at Tobias and then looked Phan over with a critical eye. "Come along, Nikki, suddenly I have plans for you." Bradford turned and left the room.

"Do you think I'd bore him, boy?"

"No, sir." Phan knelt by the desk, his face serene and his cock filling. "Absolutely not, sir."

"That's what I thought." Tobias took his coffee and the files to the leather chair and began to go through the list of dates from Bradford, putting things on his personal calendar and flagging events to cross reference with his own schedule at the farm. Every once in a while, he'd pet Phan or tug his hair, just because he could.

Tobias absolutely adored his job.