10. Blaise

When Toby had floated the idea of punishments, countless ideas had run through my head. Scenes of him spanking me. Using clamps on my nipples. Maybe forcing a massive dildo up my arse while I begged him for mercy.

Not once had I imagined that he'd tease me into a frenzy before getting himself off without me.

Behind a closed fucking door.

While I knelt here.

Alone.

I had to hand it to him, it was certainly a fucking punishment. My cock was so hard it hurt. It was a good thing I was a supe who spent most of his life in the gym. If I weren't, I had to imagine holding this position for so long would be painful.

I mean, it certainly wasn't comfortable, especially not with an erection hard enough to break bricks.

Toby's moans echoed through the door, making me grit my teeth. Was he being purposefully loud? Or was he naturally vocal in bed?

Fuck. I hoped he'd let me find out.

The schlick of his hand over his dick had me closing my eyes. He had such a nice cock. Thick and long, just the right size to stretch me wide. I didn't bottom as often as I would have liked. Most guys took one look at my size and bent over. I knew without asking that Toby wouldn't expect that of me. After the way he'd made me feel with just his fingers last night, I was desperate to learn how else he could make me feel good.

Another loud groan echoed through the walls, making my dick twitch. Fuck. I could stroke myself. Just a few times. How would Toby even know?

I dug my nails into my palms until I felt the sting of pain. Toby might not know, but I would. Some part of me didn't want to disappoint him—a part of me I hadn't even realised existed until he'd pinned me to the floor with a stake at my throat. He'd awoken a whole new side of me that night, and like hell was I letting it go now. Not when it was the first thing to make me feel alive in months.

I was doing pretty well right up until Toby reached his climax. Until the moment he cried out my name.

"Blaise."

Disappointment flooded my stomach as reality settled in. I could've been part of that experience if I'd held my tongue.

I'd fallen at the first hurdle, and now I was the one missing out.

My shoulders slumped as the sense of shame became overwhelming. I'd let him down. I'd promised to do as he said and failed almost immediately. Maybe I should just leave. Toby wouldn't want to be lumbered with a sub who broke a rule so soon.

Before I could get up though, the door opened and Toby was before me. His long fingers smoothed over my hair, petting me lightly. "You can relax now. Come on, I'll help you up."

I couldn't look at him as I stumbled to my feet. I lurched to the side, my muscles protesting at being still for so long. I didn't go far, Toby's steady hands catching me and holding me. He led me to the couch, nudging me gently until I sat down.

I gave a small huff of surprise as he straddled my lap. My face was burning, my gaze firmly fixed on his chest.

Toby's cool palm pressed to my throat. "Boy, look at me."

I responded instinctually. I didn't know if it was his touch, his tone, or just him, but everything in me screamed to obey.

"That's it." He smiled broadly. "I'm so proud, Blaise. You did fucking brilliantly and you've made me very happy."

My mouth gaped open. Proud? Was he taking the piss right now?

Toby grinned, like he could read my thoughts. "I am, Blaise. You took your punishment like an absolute pro, and now it's over."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that." He removed his hand from my neck to boop me on the nose. "That's the great thing about being in a contract. If you break one of the rules, you can rely on me to punish you for it. But once that's done, it's forgotten about and we move on."

Huh. Moving on was a foreign concept to me. I was still stuck in a classroom, watching a man bleed to death. "That wasn't what I was expecting a punishment to be like."

Toby rubbed his hands over my chest and shoulders in soothing motions. "Did you enjoy it?"

"No." I scowled. "Of course I didn't. I'm still hard now and something tells me there's no chance of you getting me off any time soon."

"You're correct there. Not all punishments are going to be physically painful, Blaise. In fact, it'll be rare if ever that they are. Why would I do that when that's what you crave?"

"I don't."

"You do," he countered calmly. "Because you think you deserve that type of punishment. And that's why you won't be getting it from me. Not as a punishment, anyway."

"So what happens now?"

"Now we cuddle," he said matter-of-factly, scooting close until his chest was against mine. "You do know how to cuddle, right?"

"I mean…yeah." Everyone knew how to cuddle. "I just don't…do it often."

That was an understatement. I was struggling to remember the last time I'd so much as hugged someone. River, maybe? He'd always been more openly affectionate than me.

Toby lifted my hands and put them behind his back. Even with cotton between us, I could feel the coolness of his skin. It was soothing, like a balm under my naturally hot hands.

"There, see? You're doing brilliantly. Now all you need to do is relax."

He nuzzled his face into my neck, pressing an open-mouthed kiss right over my pulse point, making it jump in response. A distant part of me pointed out that I shouldn't feel this relaxed with a vampire's fangs so close to my throat. If Toby chose to, he could end my immortality in an instant.

I wasn't worried though. It wasn't until I examined that thought further that a startling realisation hit me. It wasn't because I didn't care if I lived or died, but because I trusted him.

I trusted him.

Was that naive of me? Perhaps. But Toby had promised me the one thing I was more desperate for than anything else.

Peace.

For that, I'd follow him anywhere. Do whatever he said. Let him do whatever he liked to me.

I had to trust him for this to work. He'd asked me to be honest and communicate, and he was going to do the same for me.

Maybe, just maybe, this contract could be the start of a new path for me.

I just had to remember Toby would only walk along with me for twelve months. After that, I'd be on my own.

Just as I'd always been.

After snuggling for a while, Toby made me some lunch before flicking on the TV.

"Time for the first thing on your list," he informed me, cueing up a Marvel film. "No sleeping during this, I expect a full report when I wake up."

"When you wake up?"

"Yep." He grabbed a blanket, draping it over us both before settling back in my lap. "I don't need much sleep, but I do need some. If I'm going to be staying up at night to guard you, I'll need to take naps in the day. The ghasts only come when mages are asleep, so if you stay awake now, you'll be safe."

"That's fine." Last night had been the best sleep I'd had in months, I felt better rested now that I had in a long time. "You don't need to stay up and guard me though. I'll be fine."

One of Toby's eyes flew open and he glared at me. "I wasn't asking your permission, boy. I was informing you of what was happening. Now watch your film while I snooze."

"Sorry."

He reached up to tweak my nipple. "Sorry, what?"

"Sorry, Master."

"Good boy," he said drowsily. Within seconds he was asleep, his face pressed against my chest.

I watched the movie with a half smile on my face and a small flame flickering in my chest.