## Preface

Jute
Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/32954074.

Rating:
  Explicit
Archive Warning:
  No Archive Warnings Apply
Category:
  M/M
Fandom:
  Critical Role (Web Series)
Relationship:
  Shaun Gilmore/Vax'ildan
Characters:
  Vax'ildan (Critical Role), Shaun Gilmore, Kima (Critical Role), Allura Vysoren
Additional Tags:
  Alternate Universe - Modern with Magic, BDSM, Fluff and Smut, Submission, Suspension, Rope Bondage, Corsetry, Eyeliner, Subspace, Competence Kink, Blow Jobs, Hand Jobs, Office Sex, Minor Kima/Allura Vysoren
Language:
  English
Series:
  Part 7 of Fabric
Stats:
  Published: 2021-08-01 Words: 14,413 Chapters: 1/1

# Jute

by the_deep_magic

Summary

> Vax takes a deep breath before they step out on the floor together. The room’s not packed yet, but the eyeliner application led to enough kissing that they’re fashionably late. There’s no proper collar around Vax’s neck, nor is there a leash in Shaun’s hand, but it couldn’t be clearer that he’s Shaun’s pet.

Notes

> How obvious is it that this has become my comfort pairing? No, don’t answer that, I know.

> In addition to the tags, there are a few kinks that are referenced but not described in detail, including daddy kink, spanking, flogging, caning, petplay, piercing play, and public sex.

## Jute

When Shaun tells him “I have some exciting news,” Vax sets his phone down and leans forward eagerly.

“I’m all ears.”

“We’re having a play party at the club.”

The enthusiasm on Shaun’s face is obvious, but Vax still can’t quite glean the context for it. “Sounds fun,” he says. “What’s it like?”

“I don’t think we’ve had one since you’ve been here. It’s sort of a kinky open house. There’s a small cover charge, but nothing like our normal fee. Lots of members put their skills on display. Of necessity, it’s quite a bit… tamer than an average night, but it can be all the more titillating for it.”

“Huh, I think I still remember how to juggle,” Vax says, drawing a soft snort out of Shaun. “What’s the occasion?”

“We use to have them fairly regularly, but they’re a beast to organize, and some of our community members who liked dealing with the logistics moved away, so they became a rarity. But I’ve been feeling… ambitious lately, so I think it’s time to have another.”

“Sounds good,” Vax says, not missing the gleam in Shaun’s eye. “What can I do to help?”

“Nothing substantial in the planning stages – I’m paying the right people to take care of a lot of it. But I would love to have you there with me.”

“Of course, no question.”

“However, you’ll have a choice. You can, of course, attend the event as my boyfriend. You’ll have at least met many of the people there, and you can take your time mingling and seeing what’s on offer.”

There’s a pause, so Vax asks, “There’s an ‘or’?”

“Or…” Shaun says, followed by a dramatic pause, “you can accompany me as my pet.”

Perhaps that shouldn’t shock Vax, given the obvious context, but it’s not a word Shaun has used before, and it brings to mind images of submissives in full gimp suits being dragged around on leashes. Vax’s knee-jerk reaction is negative, and it must show on his face, because Shaun says, “If that’s not appealing to you, I understand completely. It involves interacting with people in your role as my submissive, and that’s not something we’ve done before in any formal sense.”

Vax’s second thought is a more reasonable one, taking into consideration their existing relationship and how little it resembles the picture in his head. “Well…” he says carefully. “I guess I’d want to know what it entails.”

“We’d work it out ahead of time with your input included, of course, but I can tell you what I’m picturing.”

“Yes, please do. I think it might not be the same as what I was picturing.”

Shaun chuckles. “I don’t mean actual petplay. In fact, I’m not a fan of leashes in this context, though of course that’s up for negotiation. And I already know your feelings on humiliation. I thought perhaps I would get to choose your outfit – and for this occasion, genitals of all varieties must remain covered, though nipples are allowed. You would accompany me where I go and only participate with my permission. I will have some official responsibilities, and I’d ask you to wait patiently with me as I discharge them – in whatever position or circumstance I desire. You’ll see some Doms loaning out their subs for various purposes – I wouldn’t do that without your permission. In fact, I’d prefer that you remained with me.”

Shaun pauses, clearly waiting for Vax’s response, and Vax nods. “That’s… a lot more appealing than what I was picturing, yes.”

“We have plenty of time to prepare, and you don’t need to give me an answer today,” Shaun says with a gentle smile, leaning in to give Vax a quick peck on the lips. “I just wanted to let you know so you could start thinking about it.”

&&&

And think about it Vax does.

Vax has been Shaun’s sub in public before, though to a somewhat limited extent. Of course, they’ve opened up a few scenes for viewing at the club, but there have been social occasions, too. They’ve gone to a few munches and other informal gatherings together, and he’s met some of Shaun’s friends who know Vax specifically as Shaun’s submissive as well as his boyfriend. But while Vax might have been a little quieter than usual on those occasions, it was because he was still learning the territory, not because he was actually acting as Shaun’s sub at the time. He’s met and spoken to a few people who do their thing 24/7, and that’s not really what Vax wants (at least not right now – he’s intrigued enough with the lifestyle not to rule it out in the future).

So the thought of being paraded around beside or behind Shaun isn’t repellent, given how carefully Shaun respects his boundaries, but it does require a sort of mental adjustment. Given his and his sister’s relationship with their father, Vax has always been proud of his independence. That doesn’t really come into play in the bedroom – or the cushion-strewn club chamber, as the case may be – but a public event feels different. It even feels different from the scenes they’ve done in public, which felt much more performance-like. Inhabiting a role for the stage is different from interacting in unstructured ways with others in that role.

Of course, there’s always the very small but non-zero chance that someone he knows could wander into this thing.

And then there’s the tiny voice leftover from his childhood telling him that the whole thing’s emasculating. A sign of weakness. Vax is usually good at shutting that voice right the fuck up, but that doesn’t mean it goes away entirely.

Suffice it to say that Vax does put a lot of thought into it. The prospect of being Shaun’s pet in public scares him a little – and ultimately, that’s why he decides to do it. Shaun is always saying Vax is fearless, but Vax doesn’t think that quite captures it. The truth is that Shaun makes him feel safe enough to face his fears and doubts, and Vax has to admit that the results of that speak for themselves.

So the days pass, and he watches Shaun’s excitement for the event grow. Maybe Vax drags his feet a little on giving Shaun his answer, but he’s already committed to going in one capacity or another. He waits until Shaun asks specifically if he’s given it anymore thought to take a deep breath and tell him, “I’d be honored to be your pet for the night.”

Shaun’s grin is wide and wicked, and it makes Vax’s stomach flutter. “I would’ve been happy either way, little bird.”

“I know,” Vax says.

“We’ll talk it through as much as possible in advance, but this isn’t a scene. I can’t control all the variables.”

“I don’t expect you to,” Vax says. “Not with something like this. But I don’t mind the occasional surprise, you know.”

Shaun’s grin becomes something smaller but warmer. “I do know,” he says, taking Vax’s hand and squeezing it. “With a little luck, they’ll all be good surprises.”

&&&

The event itself doesn’t begin until 8, but Vax takes a half-day at work, and he and Shaun spend all afternoon getting ready. He only manages to make Shaun sit down long enough that Vax can put some small but intricate braids into his hair. After that, Shaun suggests a bath to help Vax wind down some of his nervous energy. Vax takes him up on it, but gets gently shot down when he tries to entice Shaun into the tub with him.

“Too many last minute things to do, my darling,” Shaun says, kissing Vax’s damp forehead and sighing sadly. “I’ll have time to play, later. Plus, I think we’ve proven that the tub just isn’t big enough for the both of us.”

It really isn’t, but Vax had to ask anyway.

Shaun has to be there early, of course, and Vax wants to be with him, so they’ll finish getting ready at the club. Vax has given Shaun permission to choose his outfit, but Shaun’s thus far refused to give him any clues. So Vax is on tenterhooks by the time Shaun takes him by the elbow and says, “I hope you don’t mind, but I did get you something special for the occasion.”

Vax sort of hates the hesitance in Shaun’s voice, because he knows he put it there. Weeks ago, when he’d finally stopped to think about it – and done some Googling to figure out how much good, custom lingerie cost – Vax had been embarrassed by the sheer amount of money that Shaun was spending on him. As much as Shaun protested that he didn’t require any kind of reciprocation, Vax had been privately humiliated by the idea that he couldn’t have reciprocated, even if Shaun had wanted him to. Vax simply didn’t – and still doesn’t – really know how to handle such extravagant gifts. Vax is willing to admit to himself that his upbringing may have left him with some lingering issues around money, even if he hasn’t quite gotten up the nerve to work through them.

It had all blown up over a designer watch Shaun had gotten him to celebrate their six-month anniversary. Of course, the fight lasted all of one night before Vax came to his senses and realized it was more about his own insecurities than anything Shaun had done, and they talked it all out. And the makeup sex had been fucking spectacular.

Still, Shaun’s slowed down on the unsolicited gifts, though Vax agreed that “special occasion” gifts were still perfectly fine. Since the fight, Shaun has discussed any lingerie purchases with Vax before actually making them.

Until now.

But the twinge of uncertainty in Shaun’s voice, small as it is, hurts more than any lingering embarrassment Vax might feel, so he lets his sincere excitement show with a grin. “Yeah?”

“It’s something we’ve discussed before,” Shaun says, leading Vax to the bedroom where a flat, unassuming white box rests on the bed. “And I thought now was a good occasion for it.”

Vax lifts the lid and immediately gasps – it’s an underbust corset, finely embroidered silk brocade with black detailing over a very, very dark shade of purple. There are three fine silver clasps down the front, and Vax turns it over to see the black lacing that runs down the back. The fabric is butter-soft in his hands, but the boning underneath is firm enough to make him suck in a tight breath at the thought of it caging him in.

“Do you like it?” Shaun asks softly, coming up behind Vax to slip an arm around his waist.

“Shaun, it’s beautiful.”

“It’s mostly ornamental – it shouldn’t be uncomfortable to wear or restrict your—”

Vax cuts him off by spinning around in his arms and planting a firm kiss on his mouth. Then he pulls back to look him in the eye. “I love it. Thank you so much.”

“You deserve the best,” Shaun says, cupping Vax’s cheek in his hand.

The little bit of discomfort is still there, telling Vax it’s too much, he doesn’t deserve yet another thing this nice. But instead of listening to it, he asks, “Will you put it on me?”

It’s not quite as much a production as he had anticipated – he doesn’t have to hold onto the bedpost while Shaun plants a foot on his back and yanks – but once Shaun has him properly laced in, the arousal hits Vax immediately. The corset is tight in the best way, and while it doesn’t keep him from taking a full breath, there’s just enough constriction to make Vax lightheaded in a way that has little to do with oxygen.

When Shaun leads him over to the full-length mirror, the feeling only gets stronger. “Oh, I like this,” Vax breathes.

“I thought you might,” Shaun says with a chuckle, putting his arms around Vax again and kissing his neck.

“Oh my gods,” Vax whispers, tilting his head to give Shaun better access. Much more of this and they aren’t going to leave Shaun’s bedroom for another few hours, no matter what’s going on at the club. Vax is already starting to feel a little floaty.

But when Shaun’s lips reach the crest of Vax’s shoulder, he pulls away, saying, “This will have to wait.” Vax whines without meaning to, and Shaun chuckles again. “I know, my love. But think how nice it’s going to feel, that soft buzz of arousal under your skin all evening, knowing what you have to look forward to.”

“And what exactly do I have to look forward to?” Vax asks dreamily, leaning back into the comforting bulk of Shaun’s body.

“Satisfaction,” is all Shaun will say.

&&&

Vax throws on a loose shirt and hoodie so he won’t get stared at on the way into the club, but he insists on leaving the corset on underneath. It just feels good in the way it makes him sit and stand straighter, and under his clothes, it feels like a naughty little secret. Perhaps not as blatantly sexual as the bra and panties had been – he only wore them all day that one time, because he doesn’t need to get fired or arrested for public indecency for what he’s constantly thinking about doing when he’s got them on – but it still makes his cheeks heat to think no one can tell he’s got the corset on.

By the time they arrive, the setup is already well underway. The dungeon area has been cleared, turned into a large, open space by what Vax can only assume is magic, as the walls partitioning the area into cubicles are now gone. Gilmore’s various managers are supervising the catering arrangement and the placement of various types of furniture, both sexy and mundane. Someone goes in one direction with a spanking bench and returns with a card table.

Shaun talks to a few people, and Vax is secretly relieved that the staff already has things well in hand. He doesn’t want to take the corset off, but he doesn’t think it’ll mesh well with manual labor, either. He ends up striking up a conversation with an elvish woman setting up a table helpfully labeled “Dungeon Medic.” She’s a cleric by profession, but given her elaborate black robes and familiarity with the space, Vax is willing to bet she’s a regular at the club herself.

Before long, he and Shaun retire to one of several small dressing rooms off to a side hallway to finish getting ready. Make that two small dressing rooms – Shaun hands Vax a bag containing the rest of his outfit for this evening, which is still a complete surprise to Vax.

And Vax has to chuckle as he unpacks it. Instead of pairing the corset with something lacy like Vax was expecting, Shaun has packed a tight pair of black patent leather booty shorts that leave little to the imagination. Vax’s ass is mostly covered and the material is thick enough that he’s probably not breaking any public indecency laws, but nor does it present a particularly subtle picture. There’s something delightfully lighthearted about the choice of shorts, and it makes Vax smile.

His new corset has garters that are longer than the shorts, so Shaun has included a pair of thigh-highs – and there’s the lace Vax was expecting. Spiked heels would probably round out the look, but Vax has yet to learn to walk in them, so instead, Shaun has him wearing a well-loved pair of black leather boots. Vax isn’t sure about the look at first, but as he puts it all on and looks at the full effect in the mirror, it starts to grow on him, the ruggedness of the boots set against the elegance of lace and brocade.

Once Vax is ready, he peeks out into the hall before quickly sneaking into Shaun’s dressing room next door. Maybe it’s a little silly, but he wants Shaun to be the first person to see him like this. He finds Shaun set up in front of the dressing room’s counter and mirror, putting the finishing touches on his face. Shaun usually wears at least a little makeup at the club – eyeshadow, maybe a little mascara on his already criminally-long lashes – but tonight, he has his whole palette spread out in front of him. He turns to look at Vax, and it stops Vax dead in his tracks.

Vax knows very little about makeup, but he knows a devastatingly good smoky eye when he sees it. There’s some kind of shimmery gold powder spread under Shaun’s browbones, giving depth to the look and making Shaun’s eyes look even darker and more striking than they usually do. Even here in the blazing light of the dressing room, Shaun looks like some kind of emperor from an ancient civilization, like he wouldn’t look out of place on a throne made entirely of gold. In the dimmer light of the club, he’s going to look like a god.

And when he turns his eyes to Vax, they practically glow. “My Vax’ildan,” he says softly. “You are stunning.”

“You,” is all Vax can get out at first, and he takes three long strides until he can drop to his knees at Shaun’s side. “You look amazing,” he groans, nuzzling against Shaun’s hip.

“What are you doing down there, little bird?” Shaun asks with a gentle laugh, resting a hand atop Vax’s head.

“Worshipping you,” Vax sighs. He tries to bite at Shaun’s hipbone, but the loose pants and the robe over top of them don’t allow his teeth to get much traction. Instead, he tries to shift to the side and shoulder his way between Shaun’s hips and the counter, putting his mouth right in front of Shaun’s groin. There, he nuzzles again, smiling when he feels Shaun’s cock respond, even under all that fabric. Feeling wicked, he looks up with hooded eyes. “Will you let me? Please?”

Shaun’s eyes go dark and the next breath he takes through his nose is slightly ragged, and it sends a bolt of heat right through Vax’s body. They lock eyes for a moment, but then Shaun’s look turns to one of frustration, and he looks at his watch. “We haven’t got much time.”

Vax grins. “I don’t need much time.”

Shaun looks conflicted for all of two seconds, and a shiver of pride goes down Vax’s spine when he sees Shaun relent. “I suppose it would help take the edge off,” he says, resting a thumb against Vax’s lower lip. “Mind you, you still won’t be getting anything until later.”

Vax can barely manage more than a wordless noise of acknowledgement – his mouth is already starting to water as his hands delve through Shaun’s robe to draw it apart and tug his pants down. He suspects Shaun is at least a little turned on by the prospect of the evening’s events rather than just Vax alone, but it just means Shaun’s well on his way to getting hard before Vax even takes him in his mouth.

He wishes he had more time to tease, to kiss and lick and show his adoration for Shaun’s gorgeous cock before getting down to business, but Vax is entirely adaptable, and he knows how to work Shaun up quickly. It’s easy, especially since he’s free to use his hands, too, and soon Shaun is stifling moans as the head of his cock presses against the back of Vax’s throat. He opens his throat and swallows Shaun down a few times until Shaun falls forward, catching himself with his hands on the counter. He isn’t fucking Vax’s mouth, though; he’s merely allowing Vax to worship him unfettered, and when Vax pulls back to suck hard, he knows Shaun isn’t going to last much longer. Flicking his eyes upward, Vax feels another surge of pride at the sight of Shaun’s face utterly lost in the pleasure Vax is giving him.

Just before he comes, Shaun murmurs Vax’s name and cups a hand around the back of Vax’s head, not to hold him down but to add another locus of connection between them, and Vax groans as he feels Shaun’s balls tighten. He swallows everything Shaun gives him easily, motivated to keep things as neat as possible, and keeps mouthing at Shaun’s cock until the man draws him away.

After that, he kisses Shaun’s belly and gently tucks him away, pulling the robe back around Shaun’s body, leaving him as presentable as he was before. Well, almost as presentable – Shaun is panting a little as he reaches down and helps Vax up to his feet, and then shoves his makeup back on the counter to allow Vax to sit on the edge.

“My perfect little bird,” he murmurs as he pulls Vax close and presses his mouth to the top of Vax’s head. “What could I have possibly done to deserve you?”

Vax knows what Shaun means, but the mood is too heavy for the beginning of a party, so he attempts to lighten it. “You smothered me. And then you tied me up. And then you briefly spanked me – even though I never did manage to stop laughing. And then you—”

Shaun silences him with a quick kiss, but he doesn’t pull away, so Vax can feel the smile up against his mouth. “I suppose I did, my darling. I suppose I did.” Then he does pull back, the smile still there. “Oh, that reminds me, I have one more gift for you. It’s a small one, I promise, and you don’t have to wear it tonight if you don’t want to.”

Shaun reaches into an inner pocket of his robe and pulls out what looks like a small length of velvet ribbon, but when he holds it up, Vax can see it’s got a clasp on each end. Whereas the purple of Vax’s new corset is nearly black, this is a bold, bright purple – the same color as Gilmore’s robe, with similar gold embroidery around the edges. Vax gasps happily. “Of course I want to wear it.”

He tips his head back, letting Shaun fasten the choker around his neck and then tug it around so the clasp is in the back. Shaun steps back and takes in the whole effect, and Vax sits up straight, proudly showing off both the corset and the choker. “Just in case anyone doesn’t already know I’m yours.”

“Some of my other subs will be here tonight,” Shaun says carefully. Vax already knows – they’ve discussed it at length, and how Vax feels about it. “But no one else…” He runs his fingers along the nap of the velvet, and Vax leans into the touch. “No one else. Just you.”

“I know.”

Without another word, Shaun steps into his space and kisses him again, more fiercely this time, though he pulls away before Vax can deepen the kiss. “I love you, Vax’ildan,” he murmurs. “I’m so proud to have you here by my side.”

“And I’m just as proud to be here,” Vax whispers back, setting his hands on Shaun’s sides. “Now we better get out there if you plan to show me off today.”

Shaun laughs warmly. “I can’t wait.”

“But first, uh,” Vax says, cheeks coloring a little. “Could you do my eyeliner? I haven’t tried since high school, and all I ever did was make myself look like a raccoon.”

&&&

Vax takes a deep breath before they step out on the floor together. The room’s not packed yet, but the eyeliner application led to enough kissing that they’re fashionably late. Choker aside, there’s no proper collar around Vax’s neck, nor is there a leash in Shaun’s hand, but it couldn’t be clearer that he’s Shaun’s pet.

Shaun guides Vax gently around the floor with a hand on the small of his back, and it keeps Vax at his side as surely as if he did have a leash attached. A few people here know and recognize Vax, but every single one seems to know Gilmore. Normally, Vax is only an introvert when compared with someone like Gilmore, but here in this room where he’s met only a few people before, it’s nice to let Shaun take the lead. There are some subs, Shaun has explained to him, who aren’t allowed to speak without their master’s permission, and it’s fairly clear when that’s the case.

While they’re still crafting the public side of their D/s relationship, Shaun has put no such rules in place for Vax, but still, it’s easy to let Gilmore take the reins as he greets one friend after another. He doesn’t speak to each one long enough to introduce Vax, but nearly everyone who comes up to them gives Vax the whole once-over at least one time, and it makes Vax’s chest swell with pride for the man he loves. He’s not sure how to properly show it, other than to gaze adoringly at Shaun much of the time, but that seems to be enough.

Together, they greet all manner of people, couples, and groups in all manner of relationship arrangements. Obviously, Vax knows that there’s a huge variety in what BDSM relationships and practices look like, but he’s never seen the whole kaleidoscope on display quite like this. There’s quite a lot of leather, obviously, and some people engaged in literal petplay crawling on the floor beside their Doms, but there are also people in casual evening wear who wouldn’t be out of place at any vanilla gathering. There’s no alcohol, but there are some mocktails and light snacks, and lots of people are simply standing around and socializing.

Others are getting set up in staging areas. Shaun has described this to Vax, that there will be displays of rope work and impact play and other skills – though far tamer than would be on show on a regular night. Many of these people, of course, are friends of Shaun’s, and Vax has met some of them. He’s pleased to see Kima and Allura again, and they look like they’re setting up some kind of sturdy metal framework. A dragonborn whose name Vax can’t remember is laying out a selection of needles, a sight that make Vax cringe a little. (He’d never shame anyone, of course, but he’s personally of the belief that “piercing play” are two words that don’t go together.) These people only get quick greetings, as they’re seeing to their own activities.

Shaun and Vax make a broad circuit of the room together, and even that takes long enough that Shaun is soon making his apologies as he heads toward a small stage set up in the corner of the room. It’s clearly in public view, but it’s off to the side enough to prevent a gathering crowd from blocking foot traffic in the area. However, when the partygoers see Shaun, they part deferentially to let him up to the stage. It’s only a few inches higher than the floor around it, but it allows for significantly better visibility. There’s already a spanking bench set up, along with a small black trunk and a number of cushions from Shaun’s private space in the club.

It looks like a small line is already forming, and Shaun greets a woman that Vax recognizes as one of the club’s managers. He kisses her on each cheek and exchanges a few words about the people in line before asking for another moment, and then turning back to Vax. “Let’s get you settled, little bird,” he says, and Vax recognizes the flush on his cheeks as one of excited anticipation.

Shaun has Vax kneel on a cushion off to the side and then sit back on his heels. “I have a very important job for you tonight, my pet,” he says. “Hold out your hands.”

Vax obeys, and Gilmore starts taking off his many gold rings one at a time, placing them in Vax’s cupped palms. “I want you to keep these safe for me. You may rest your hands on your thighs, but you must keep them there. Both hands at all times. I don’t want to risk you dropping a single one. I can’t check in with you while I’m working on someone else, so you need to be a good, useful pet and stay nice and still while I’m busy. Do you understand?”

Vax grins. It’s definitely more patronizing – and louder – than Shaun usually is, but it sends a little shiver down Vax’s spine. Other people are listening and watching. He can be good for Gilmore. He can be useful. “Yes, sir.”

Titles aren’t usually part of their roles, but it feels right to Vax in the moment, and Gilmore gives him a slight nod as if in approval. “Good boy.” And then he mouths love you.

Love you too, Vax mouths in reply.

Shaun had explained the process to Vax weeks ago: short, five to ten minute scenes with a variety of submissive participants, most of whom Shaun already knows, at least socially. He’s also expecting a few of the subs he still plays with on a regular basis. None of the scenes are to involve intimate touch or be overtly sexual in nature, but Vax has his doubts about how that’s going to play out in reality. Then again, he has to admit bias – it’s hard for him to imagine anyone not getting turned on by what Shaun does.

Especially when Gilmore whirls around – mindful of his audience, as always – and whips off his robe. Underneath is a sleeveless tunic that shows off his thick arms and the broadness of his shoulders quite nicely, and Vax doesn’t think he’s imagining the murmurs running through the crowd at the sight. Mine, thinks Vax proudly, squeezing the rings in his palms as he watches Gilmore beckon the first sub to join him.

First up is a sturdy-looking tiefling in leather pants and a harness made out of a series of delicate metal chains. Vax watches as he and Gilmore take a moment away from the crowd to discuss the scene – what the tiefling wants, where his limits are, what Gilmore can offer him. Vax knows, in an abstract sort of way, that what Gilmore does with other subs is often pretty different from what the two of them do, particularly as Vax isn’t into pain. But it’s been an exciting thought as he’s prepared for tonight, getting to watch Shaun dish out punishment, watch him do and say things he’d never do or say with Vax.

So when the tiefling refers to Gilmore as “Daddy,” Vax just barely manages not to laugh.

It’s a playful scene to start, with Gilmore calling the tiefling “baby boy” and bending him down over the spanking bench. There’s no bondage, just some spanking that starts with Gilmore’s bare hand and graduates to a paddle over the course of a few minutes. The feeling of the paddle must be muted by the leather of the tiefling’s pants, but it makes a nice loud smack as it hits. Shaun looks like he’s having a blast, calling the tiefling a naughty boy and spanking him until he’s wriggling on the bench until he’s gasping “Daddy, please.” His tail flutters and writhes in the air, and at one point, Gilmore grabs it and slaps his ass with that.

Just when it seems like it’s starting to get good… it’s over. Vax doesn’t have a watch, but he imagines that it was probably close to ten minutes, though it seemed to fly by. As Gilmore gently helps the tiefling to his feet, Vax feels himself coming out of a sort of tunnel vision – he hadn’t realized how deeply into the scene he’d gotten just watching it. And that’s to say nothing of the way the tiefling’s trousers are clearly tented in the front.

Gilmore whispers something to the tiefling and kisses his cheek before another club assistant helps him down off the stage. Vax knows there’s an aftercare room set up with blankets and water and snacks, and that the tiefling’s needs were part of the pre-scene negotiation, but Shaun will just go right to the next sub. It’s a little awe inspiring, watching him switch gears so quickly.

But before he does greet the next person, he makes a point to come over to Vax and drop to one knee. Despite the scene, he’s not even slightly out of breath. “Well,” Shaun says softly, pitching his voice low enough that only Vax can hear. “What did you think, little bird?”

“You’re amazing,” Vax gushes, chest warming when Shaun’s mouth curves up into a smile.

“Want to watch a few more?” Shaun asks, and Vax has a feeling he only phrased it in the form of a question because he knows exactly what Vax’s answer will be.

“Yes, of course.”

“Good.” He reaches out and sets a warm hand on Vax’s shoulder, letting his thumb idly rub at Vax’s neck. It’s all Vax can do not to purr with contentment. “It’ll slow things down if I have to check on you between every scene, but if you need me between scenes, just say my name.”

Vax grins wickedly. “Yes, sir.”

He sees the way Shaun reacts to being called sir in this context – and it doesn’t escape Shaun’s notice, either. “You’re still not getting anything until later, you know,” he says with a chuckle.

“I know, sir,” Vax says. “I’m just enjoying myself.”

“Me, too, my love,” Shaun says, and gives Vax’s shoulder a quick squeeze before turning back to the stage.

And it goes on like that. None of the scenes are particularly rough or emotional. The hardest play is probably a caning scene with someone Vax recognizes as a regular at the club, though he doesn’t know her name. She’s clearly an experienced sub – the caning looks absolutely brutal from where Vax is sitting, but she endures it eagerly, and from the way she falls into the arms of a waiting partner after she leaves the stage, she’s clearly flying pretty high.

As the scenes go by, Vax barely feels the discomfort of kneeling in one spot for so long. If Vax thought he couldn’t be more in awe of Shaun and what he does, this is conclusively disproving it. Shaun is an artist, and Vax feels like up until now he’s only seen what the man can do with watercolors.

While Vax doesn’t find himself feeling a latent desire for impact play, he does understand the appeal of it much more while watching Gilmore mete it out to others. The caning was a bit much, but Vax likes the way Gilmore uses floggers, expending minimal energy for maximum effect. He seems to be nearly ambidextrous with them, which must be almost a necessity given how much he uses them in one scene after another. Vax can see the careful way Gilmore uses pain among other types of stimulation to great effect, drawing sounds out of each sub as varied as they are.

Vax has heard the phrase “competency kink” before, but he thinks maybe he didn’t understand it until right now. He doesn’t quite want Shaun to flog him, but he absolutely wants to jump his boyfriend while watching him flog someone else.

Even the scenes with verbal humiliation are fascinating. It’s still not sexy to him, per se, but Vax finds himself focusing on the subs in those scenes, the way they react and the gratitude they seem to display, both during and after. And Vax doesn’t think he’s imagining the way that Gilmore spends a few extra moments comforting them and whispering to them afterwards.

Though he’s not sure he’ll admit it to Shaun, Vax’s favorite scenes are the ones Gilmore does with women. It’s probably more than a little fetishizing on Vax’s part, but if he’s going to fetishize anywhere, he figures a dungeon party is probably the place. Vax has known that Gilmore occasionally Doms women even though his appreciation for them isn’t sexual, and there’s something that really gets to Vax when the female sub’s pleasure in participating in the scene clearly is. He’s pretty sure at least one woman comes without being touched while Gilmore is binding her. Maybe the reasons why would be best left to a therapist, but Vax finds the idea of Shaun dispassionately getting women off arousing in the extreme.

When it comes to Gilmore’s regular subs, Vax doesn’t actually know their identities. He knows there are five of them, and he’s heard vague things about what they’re into when Shaun says things like “I wore out another riding crop today.” Vax tries not to guess whether each new sub Gilmore plays with tonight is one of his regulars, but he sees an ease of manner when Shaun greets a few of them: a drow woman, a halfling man, and the goliath Vax had seen coming out of Gilmore’s room at the club the night they met.

Vax and Shaun have talked about jealousy – and not only in the context of preparing for this party. It’s been a necessary ongoing conversation given that Shaun still works intimately – though not sexually – with other subs. It’s something that Vax has been insistent about, not just so that Gilmore can keep a strong connection to this community, but so that he can keep doing something he loves. Shaun doesn’t get to do everything he loves to do with Vax, and Vax is okay with him playing that out with someone else, particularly when he can see how talented Gilmore is at it.

That doesn’t mean Vax’s heart doesn’t clench a little when he hears someone else moan his boyfriend’s name, particularly his first name. Though he introduced himself to Vax as Shaun, he’s known to most of the community as Gilmore, and it makes Vax calling him by his first name seem a little more intimate, a little more special.

Some of the praise, too, sounds a little strange when it’s not being directed at Vax. Gilmore doesn’t use anywhere near the breadth of endearments that he uses for Vax – and he certainly never calls anyone else “little bird” – but there are still enough “darlings” and “my beautiful boys” sprinkled in that it makes Vax’s stomach clench unpleasantly.

But those instances are, by far, worth the general experience of seeing Shaun in his element. Scene after scene, he seems to draw energy from it instead of tiring, and Vax knows he made the right choice in attending. And in doing so as Shaun’s proud pet, bearing witness to his master’s considerable talent for turning pain and submission into pleasure. Shaun belongs to him as much as he belongs to Shaun, and Vax grins proudly whenever Gilmore glances at him between scenes.

Eventually, though, even Gilmore needs to take a break, and he comes over to Vax still breathing a little hard from delivering his most recent flogging. He holds out his hands. “Have you kept them safe for me, my pet?”

“Yes, sir,” Vax says, unable to keep the wicked grin from spreading across his face. Above all else, Shaun looks fucking hot like this, his blood clearly up from all the activity. His long tunic and loose trousers obscure any obvious signs of arousal, but if he were to tell Vax to get on his hands and knees right now and pull his shorts down, Vax wouldn’t be surprised. And he’d be more than willing.

But Shaun just gives him a lusty grin in return and winks. “Good boy.”

Vax hands over the rings, and Shaun puts them on quickly before extending his hands and helping Vax to his feet. Vax is suddenly aware of how numb his lower legs have gone, and he’s grateful for Shaun’s firm hand on the small of his back keeping him steady. “My apologies,” Shaun murmurs softly. “I should’ve had you get up and move around between scenes.”

“S’okay,” Vax says, shifting his weight slowly from foot to foot so he can move his toes around in his boots. “I was not thinking about my feet, trust me.”

Shaun chuckles and pulls Vax close, kissing his forehead indulgently. Feeling the heat of Shaun’s body, the smell of his sweat, Vax is sorely tempted to try to grab him and drag him off the stage and into some abandoned alcove for a little tension relief, but Vax is being good for Shaun tonight. Plus, Vax has still got so many pins and needles that he’d probably just topple over.

After a few moments, though, feeling returns to Vax’s lower legs, and Shaun leads him to start to circulate through the crowd again. The party’s in full swing now, and there are more people for Gilmore to greet. Hoping he’s not overstepping, Vax flags down some snacks and a drink for Gilmore, who gives Vax a grateful look in return. And then he feeds Vax a grape, straight from his hand, with several people watching, and Vax can feel himself blushing all the way down to his toes.

It’s utter bliss.

As they slowly make their way around the room, the various kink demonstrations quickly become Vax’s favorite, as certain practices he’s only read or heard about come to vivid life in front of his eyes. In addition to the piercing, which Vax steers clear of, two elves are demonstrating the different marks and sensations that come from different impact toys, and there’s a display of tickling torture that makes Vax laugh and cringe in equal measures.

Vax has been curious about Kima and Allura’s display under that large framework, but when he and Gilmore get to their station, it’s just the two women looking frustrated. “Shaun,” says Allura with a sigh, “just the man we wanted to see. There’s been a bit of a glitch in the plan.”

“Our rope bunny fuckin’ bailed on us,” Kima huffs, folding her arms over her chest.

Allura nods. “Quite. We’ve given it some thought, and we don’t want to overstep, but we couldn’t help but notice your lovely pet. He’s had a decent amount of experience with ropes before, correct?”

“And he’s about the right size,” Kima says, giving Vax the once-over. He suddenly feels like a piece of livestock.

“We wondered if we might borrow him for a bit.”

“We’ll give him back in one piece. With a bow on him, if you want.”

Gilmore chuckles. “Let me ask him.” He turns to Vax. “What do you think, pet? I know we didn’t discuss this in advance, so there are no expectations here. Suspension bondage isn’t my strong suit, but if you want to try it, these two are the best in the business.”

“Suspension bondage?” Vax practically squeaks. That has his undivided attention.

“Mm-hmm,” Shaun says, eyes sparkling as he sets a hand against Vax’s neck. “It’s not without risk, and I wouldn’t even entertain the idea if I didn’t know how experienced and meticulous Allura and Kima are. And if I weren’t aware of your very admirable flexibility and core strength. But it’s entirely up to you, little bird.”

Though the thought of anyone but Shaun tying him up is strange, it’s certainly not unwelcome. He’s only had brief conversations with either Allura or Kima, but he knows they’re old friends of Shaun. Besides… he really, really wants to try it. “I… yes, please, sir.”

Chuckling again, Shaun leans down for a soft kiss. “Very well. Listen to these ladies as well as you listen to me. I have a few more functions to serve as House Dom, but I’ll come back and check on you.”

“Unfortunately,” Allura cuts in, “as stunning as that corset is, I’m afraid it will get in the way. Do you mind taking it off?”

That takes a bit of the shine out of the moment, and Vax glances at Shaun, a little unsure. But Shaun’s gaze is open and level, clearly leaving it up to Vax. He adores the corset… but he really wants to try this. “Can the choker stay on?” he asks Allura at length.

“Yes, of course.”

“Okay,” Vax says, confidence returning. He turns back to Shaun. “I only want the corset off if you’re the one to take it off.”

Shaun chuckles, arching an eyebrow playfully. “That sounded strangely like a demand.”

Vax just barely stops himself from rolling his eyes – he did agree to this public role, and he is actually enjoying it. “Sir, will you please take my corset off?”

“With pleasure,” Shaun says, already reaching for the laces. It’s a more intimate touch than Vax has gotten from him in a while, but it’s a quick enough process to be little more than a tease. With the corset off, Vax can breathe easier, but he immediately misses the reassuring pressure of it, of Shaun’s touch against his skin even when they’re apart. As if he can sense it, Shaun sets a firm hand on Vax’s lower back and murmurs, “I’ll keep it in a safe place, my love, and I’ll put it right back on you after.”

“Thank you,” Vax says, only loud enough for Shaun to hear.

And with that, Shaun leaves Vax in the care of the two women.

“Thank you so much,” Allura sighs as Vax joins them at the station. “You’re really helping us out of a tight spot.”

“Ally,” Kima sighs, rolling her eyes. “You’re being too soft on him.”

“I’m being polite,” she retorts.

“He’s not dressed like a little bitch boy to encourage you to be polite to him.”

“He’s a sub, but he’s not our sub.” Allura rolls her eyes and turns back to Vax. “As you can see, we don’t usually do our first scene with a new rope bottom in public. But we do appreciate your help."

Vax grins, enjoying the dynamic between the two of them. “I’m just here to go where you put me.”

Allura does most of the talking, explaining the process to Vax while Kima starts threading ropes through the metal framework. It’s a six-foot cube with the bottom edges bolted right into the floor and some complicated gridwork on the top.

“Since you’ve never done this before, we’ll stick to static poses and start with a few partial suspension positions,” Allura says. “You’ll be able to keep at least one foot on the floor. Let us know how you feel after that – we can keep doing variations on those, or if you feel comfortable, we can run through a few full suspensions.”

“Oh, okay,” Vax says. “I guess I sort of thought you were just going to tie me up, hoist me in the air, and leave me there.”

From behind him, Kima snorts. “Sure, if you wanted to lose a foot to gangrene.”

Allura shoots her a stern look, but says, “That would be an extreme consequence of cutting off your circulation for a long time, which we are not going to do. It’s generally not a good idea to be suspended for more than a few minutes at a time, especially if you’re new to it. And we won’t do any inverted suspension. We rarely do that anyway, since it comes with the highest risk.”

“Here,” Kima says, gesturing for Vax to come over to her where she’s standing at one of the frame’s corners. “Try to give it a shake.”

Vax does, and the thing doesn’t so much as wobble. He nods, impressed.

“It’s reinforced with steel and magic,” Kima says almost proudly. “We give it thorough structural checks before and after every use, so I’d say you’re good to go. Take off your shoes, though – you’ll see why in a minute.”

For a few moments, Allura and Kima just look Vax over and exchange a few words that sound like some kind of spy code before seeming to agree. The first part of it is familiar to Vax, a relatively simple box tie harness that secures his forearms together folded behind his back. The two women work astonishingly quickly together – Allura standing in front of him with Kima behind him, passing the ends of the rope to each other as the harness progresses.

The process has none of the foreplay quality that he’s used to with Shaun, but it’s exciting in a different sort of way. He doesn’t know exactly what the end product is going to be, but if Shaun trusts these two, then Vax does, as well. He’s been on the scene long enough to recognize when someone knows what they’re doing, and Vax’s instincts tell him he’s in safe hands.

Before Vax knows it, Allura’s stepping back from him, looking the harness over with an appraising eye. “Does anything pinch or chafe?”

A quick shrug of his shoulders and tug at from his wrists shows Vax just how securely he’s tied, and oh, okay, now his body responds to the constriction of the rope in an intimately familiar manner. Turns out there is a little bit of a sexual element to this. He feels himself start to blush as he says, “No, everything feels fine.”

Allura nods. “Okay, great. Stand up on your toes, please, and Kima will start lifting you.”

Vax glances at his shoulders – he hadn’t realize that the some of the ropes forming the harness were also draped through the suspension frame over his head. He lifts his weight up onto the balls of his feet – much easier without boots on – and feels the ropes start to pull taut. They tighten to hold him just enough that most of his weight is still under his control… and then they tighten about an inch more and hold.

“Whoa,” Vax says without meaning to. It feels like he should be off-balance, just about to topple over – and yet the harness holds him in place. His weight is half-supported by his feet and half-supported by the loops of rope under his arms. It’s not comfortable, exactly, but it is secure.

“How about now?” Allura asks again, looking carefully at the ropes holding him up. “Does anything hurt now?”

“Uh, no,” Vax says, still distracted by trying to find his equilibrium.

“Great!” Kima says, coming around his side and slapping him jovially on the outer thigh. “Think you can stay up there for… oh… three minutes?”

Vax nods.

As he’s glancing around blankly, trying to stabilize himself, he feels Allura take his chin in her hand and point his face toward her. “Vax, if you need to come down before then, just say ‘mercy’ and we’ll have you back down in an instant. Do you understand?”

He smiles, recognizing and reacting to the firm tone of her voice. “Yes, Allura.”

“Wonderful,” she says, and even that little hint of approval is enough to make him blush harder.

Still, the first minute or so feels like an eternity as Vax fights to stabilize himself. He finds himself straining downward against the ropes, as though he could get that extra inch of slack to get his weight back on his feet, under his own control again. It isn’t until he stops fighting and relaxes into the hold of the harness that it clicks. This isn’t supposed to be under his control – that’s the whole point. It’s only then that the ropes stop feeling like restraints and start feeling like an embrace.

Vax has no idea how long that takes, but it feels like only seconds before he sees Allura wave her hand and feels the ropes start to slacken. “Oh. Was that really three minutes?”

“A little more, actually,” Allura says, shooting a sharp look at Kima, and Vax realizes he must have missed something entirely as his feet settle back on the floor.

“How did you like it?” Kima asks, ignoring Allura’s glare.

“It was… nice,” Vax says, a little challenged for vocabulary at the moment. “I think I was just starting to get into it there at the end.”

“Excellent!” Kima says, clapping her hands together. “Five minutes on the next one?”

Vax is excited at the prospect, but he does have the good sense to ask, “Shouldn’t I see what the next one is first?”

“A prudent question,” Allura says, giving Vax a distinctly indulgent smile. “I was thinking of use the same upper body harness, but we’ll suspend you with one knee up so you’re only balancing on one foot this time.”

As soon as he says, “Sounds good,” Kima is already wrapping rope around his lower thigh. It’s firmer, rougher rope than Shaun uses, but Vax supposes that makes sense, given that it needs to support his weight.

Only moments later, he’s being lifted up again, body in a jackknife position with only the ball of his left foot still on the ground. Once again, there’s that feeling of being unable to stabilize himself, but he’s able to recognize it faster and relax into it. This position takes more core strength than the last to keep upright and in contact with the floor, and the leather shorts certainly don’t help much, but it feels good to be able to focus on something and use his body, especially after spending so long still and on his knees.

Once again, the time passes quickly, his muscles only slightly starting to burn before the ropes go slack. This time, though, Allura starts taking off the chest harness and checking Vax’s skin where the ropes had been. “You look just lovely up there,” she says with a smile. “How do you feel?”

Vax knows the smile on his own face is probably a bit dopey, but he doesn’t particularly care. “Good. I think I like this."

“You’re a natural, kid,” Kima says, freeing the rope from his wrists.

“I don’t really feel like I’m doing much of anything,” Vax says with a shrug.

“Don’t worry,” she sing-songs, “we’ll have you suffering before too long.”

“Kima is joking again,” Allura says, shaking her head. “Some of these positions might test your flexibility and balance, but we’re not aiming for suffering.”

“Not yet,” Kima says lightly.

Allura takes Vax by the shoulders – gently, but with a surprising amount of authority – and says, “You’re doing beautifully, Vax. If you showed even the slightest amount of hesitation or nerves, Kima wouldn’t be teasing you. Now stretch out and move around a bit while we get set up for the next position, please. There’s a bottle of water for you over on the stool.”

The next position turns out to be seated, almost like a swing made out of rope. There’s a harness around his hips that looks like something a mountain climber would wear and is surprisingly comfortable considering how close it gets to his groin. A few lengths of rope wind around his chest, leaving his arms free and letting him lean back as he hangs with his feet only a few inches off the ground. It’s a little awkward in the sense that he’s not quite sure what to do with his arms.

He’s settling in when he realizes Allura is trying to ask him something. “Hmm?”

“I said,” she begins, and Vax thinks maybe she’s tried to ask him more than once, “does that feel secure?”

“Oh.” He can tell he’s got that dopey grin on his face again. “Yes.”

“Good,” she says, the indulgent smile returning. “Five minutes.”

Now that his entire weight is supported, he doesn’t have the distraction of trying to balance, and Vax is more aware of his surroundings. Nearly everyone who wanders by stops to glance at him, and he’s not entirely sure where to look. But they rarely look at his face. Some even gaze at his suspended body from multiple angles, like he’s a particularly interesting piece of art in a museum. It’s equal parts silly and gratifying, and he finds himself relaxing and staring into the middle distance more often than not.

He’s also aware of a few admirers stopping to talk to Allura or Kima – though at least one of them seems to have eyes on him at all times – and he tries not to pay attention to what they’re saying when they’re talking about him. After all, art doesn’t eavesdrop on museumgoers.

Eventually, they lower Vax until he can get his feet under him and stand again.

“Just go ahead and stretch between every position, please,” Allura says. “I’m watching the clock a little less closely now, and I want to make sure you get proper circulation back every time.”

Vax nods. As good as it feels to be suspended, the slight pins and needles in his limbs tell him why he can’t simply hang up there for long periods at a time. He glances at the two women as they set up for the next position. “Can you bind my arms, too? I like not having to think about them. It feels… more secure.”

Kima looks up at him and whistles. “Damn. I’m starting to get why Shaun’s ass over teakettle for you.”

“Thank you for speaking up,” Allura says with an enigmatic smile. “Anything else that would make you more comfortable? A gag or a blindfold, perhaps?”

It’s asked so casually that Vax nearly laughs. “No thanks on the gag, but yeah, a blindfold might actually be nice. Please.”

Special cuffs get clipped around his wrists this time, and Allura binds his arms together as Kima works on a complicated ladder-like pattern down his legs. This part is meditative, too, between the skilled, methodical touch and the simple commands, Vax finds it easy to lose himself in the experience. If the gentle words of praise Allura peppers in are like sprinkles on top of an already delectable ice cream sundae, Kima’s very occasional muttering of “yeah, hold it like that” or “hot damn” are like a cherry dropped on top.

After the binding is finished and blindfold goes on, his arms are stretched over his head and hooked in place, and he’s raised up to simply dangle in the air, unable to spread his limbs. It’s a sudden plunge into something like sensory deprivation, though he can still hear the conversations and general bustle around him, and he’s got the slightly rough feel of the ropes against his skin.

The noises from people around him seem to get farther and farther away, and the sounds of his own heartbeat, his breathing fill his ears. Every time he’s tempted to scratch his nose or adjust the blindfold or even just twitch, the ropes hold him fast – the small movements barely even make his body weight sway. He’s almost surprised to feel no real desire to struggle, as he knows it would be pointless, knows it would distort Kima and Allura’s hard work on the precise ropework, if even that.

Once again, it seems like he’s barely up there for long before he’s brought back down, but when he can lower his arms, he’s surprised to feel his fingers are numb. The feeling in them comes back quickly, but Vax wonders if this isn’t messing with his internal clock. Pretty heady stuff.

The experience repeats itself with each new position and harness that Allura and Kima put him in. Well, almost each one – there are a couple of sideways positions that aren’t quite comfortable enough to lose himself in, but none of it really hurts. There’s an easy sort of flow to it: stretching, getting tied, being lifted, hanging, coming down, and starting it all over again. They could be going through six poses or sixty – Vax loses track of time entirely.

When he hears Kima say, “Okay, last one,” he feels a little disappointed, but then they rig a series of knots down the front of his body, put the blindfold back on him, and direct him to lie down on the mat on his stomach. He ends up in a full hogtie, wrists bound to ankles behind his back, and it feels like the most vulnerable position they’ve put him in so far. As he’s lifted, the way his weight is balanced means he can’t keep his knees together for very long, leaving him hanging with his thighs spread. It’s not like he thinks anyone’s actually going to come up behind him, tear his ridiculous little shorts apart at the seams, and…

But somebody could.

Shaun could, if he were here.

He could slick Vax up easily and have Allura and Kima position Vax at just the right height. Vax would have no leverage at all, not even a solid surface to brace against. Shaun could grip Vax by the hips and take him exactly as he pleased. Shaun has never actually fucked him in public, and he wouldn’t even suggest it if they hadn’t thoroughly talked it over in private first. But he could, right now, and there would be nothing Vax could do about it.

Vax shivers so hard the ropes creak against each other.

He’s experienced various levels of arousal throughout this whole process, but he’s pretty sure he’s officially sporting a semi now. His brain can’t quite seem to focus enough to fantasize about specific scenarios, but just the feeling of being spread and immobilized and defenseless is enough to make his cock start to throb.

After some time and no time at all, he feels a hand cup his cheek and lift his head gently. It’s an intimately familiar hand, with a broad palm and thick, strong fingers. Vax smiles. “Shaun.”

“Little bird,” comes the familiar voice to match, hushed and reverential. “You are exquisite.”

Vax can still move his head like this, and he presses into the warmth of Shaun’s hand, suddenly hungry for touch, shivering with relative cold everywhere that Shaun could be putting his hands.

“I think it’s time,” he hears a female voice say.

They lower him to the mat again, and Vax makes a disappointed sound when Shaun’s hand pulls away. “I’ll be right here, my love,” he hears. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Perhaps it should be difficult to be patient as he waits for Allura and Kima to remove the ropes. But somehow it isn’t – he knows the women are working quickly, and he swears he can feel Shaun’s presence next to the mat even before he can see him. When the blindfold does come off, he blinks up at Shaun’s face, seeing the warm smile he knew would be there. “Hi.”

“Welcome back,” Shaun says with a chuckle. “Need a hand?”

Shaun offers his, which Vax takes as he steadies himself first on his knees before rising to his feet. He feels fine save for some tingles in his hands and feet, and he should probably stretch, but he finds himself unable to do anything but press forward into Shaun’s arms, which come around him immediately.

“I take it you enjoyed yourself,” Shaun says with more than a little amusement, dropping a kiss on the top of Vax’s head.

“Mmm-hmm,” is all Vax can manage, as his face is currently buried against Shaun’s throat, breathing in the scent of his sweat and the barest lingering hint of the cologne he always wears. Gods, he just wants to climb inside Shaun’s robe with him. That’s a normal thing to want, right?

Through the warm, comforting fog in his brain, Vax feels a tap on his thigh. “Hey, princess, we gotta check you out one last time and make sure you’re okay.”

Vax feels Shaun’s chest rumble with laughter. “My darling, can you pull yourself together for a moment? I promise I won’t let go of you.”

With a slight grumble, Vax nods, and one of Shaun’s arms uncurls from around him. The other gently turns him so his back is pressed to Shaun’s chest and he can see Allura standing there.

“Thank you, Vax,” she says lightly. “Can you move your hands and feet for me, please?” He does, too blissed out to feel ridiculous. “Perfect. Now please stretch and tell me if anything hurts or feels wrong.”

He stretches his hands over his head, careful to avoid hitting Shaun, and presses up onto his toes. Even then, it takes him a moment to find his voice. “My shoulders might be a little sore tomorrow, but they feel okay now.”

“Good. Now, ordinarily I’d apply some salve to any skin that’s still red, but—”

“But I can take care of that,” Shaun says, tugging Vax close again. “That is, if you don’t mind, Allura.”

“Not at all,” she says with a knowing smile. “I think you can take better care of him than either of us could manage.”

Kima looks like she wants to add something filthy to that, but instead, she plops Vax’s boots down by his feet and helps him put them back on. “Thanks for helping us out. You were a lot of fun to string up.”

“I can’t help but agree,” Allura says. “You took to it beautifully. We can talk about this later, but if you’d ever like to work with us again, we do demonstrations from time to time, both here and elsewhere.”

“I—yeah,” Vax says, grinning dopily. Getting praised in front of Shaun is almost making him dizzy. “I’d like that.”

Kima snorts. “Okay, that’s settled. Now you two crazy kids get out of here and find somewhere private to fuck like bunnies.”

The mental image of Shaun with long ears and whiskers strikes Vax as so funny that he giggles, and Shaun chuckles too as he puts an arm around Vax’s waist and leads him away.

Vax doesn’t really pay much attention to where they’re going – as long as he’s close to Shaun, he’s happy. Everything that isn’t Shaun is a little fuzzy at the moment, anyway. A few people try to greet Shaun, but he doesn’t stop to talk to any of them, intent on wherever they’re going. Vax does notice that they exit the main room through a small, nondescript door in the back that leads to a staircase. Going up the stairs is more effort than he really wants to give at the moment, but if it’s where Shaun wants to go, it’s worth it. The top of the stairs leads into a hallway, and Vax is sure he’s been here before, but his brain’s too hazy to place it. “Where’re we going?” he manages.

Shaun laughs again, a full-throated sound that echoes in the empty hallway. “You’re really floating right now, aren’t you, my sweet?”

“Mmm.”

They stop at a door, which Shaun unlocks. “This is my office. We’ll have our privacy here.”

Shaun’s office. Yeah, Vax knows Shaun’s office. They don’t usually go up here, as they typically aren’t meeting at the club for business purposes, but Vax will sometimes stop by with food or coffee if Shaun has to work late. Still, it takes a little effort for Vax to make his eyes focus on the individual features of the room: the desk. The elaborate closed curtains. The fancy ergonomic desk chair.

“Shaun,” he says seriously. “I think I might be a little bit high.”

Another laugh. “I think you might be right, little bird. Endorphins are wonderful things. Now sit right here while I get what you need.”

He deposits Vax carefully in the chair, and Vax tries his very hardest not to whimper when Shaun pulls away, but he fails.

“I’m not going far, my love,” Shaun says, kissing Vax’s knuckles before letting go of his hand entirely.

It really is a very nice chair – Vax’s lumbar region has never been so well-supported, and there’s the loveliest memory foam cushion under his ass. Unfortunately, it’s not really anything he can sink into like Shaun’s wonderful sofa at home, but it’s still very nice. And Shaun really doesn’t go far, just to a cabinet, where he grabs a few things Vax can’t quite identify because all he can think about is how Shaun needs to be touching him.

Shaun sets the items down on the edge of his desk and finally turns back to Vax, who puts his arms out like a needy child before he can think better of it. Gratifyingly, Shaun bends forward and steps into them, wrapping a hand around Vax’s back. “Switch places with me, please.”

Vax is up and allowing Shaun to take a seat in a flash, since then he can climb right back into Shaun’s lap. The armrests of the chair don’t really allow for a comfortable place to put his legs, but Vax finds it hard to care. Shaun laughs at his sudden burst of speed. “No need to rush, beautiful one. I’ve got you.” All Vax can do is hum in assent and bury his face against Shaun’s neck again as Shaun puts strong arms around him. “There you are. Gods, Vax’ildan, you looked utterly sublime up there. How did it feel?”

Right now, Vax feels vague frustration at having to put his fragmented thoughts into words. The most he can manage is “Good. So good. Like flying.” With a soft snort of irritation, Vax kisses at Shaun’s neck. “No more talking.”

Shaun laughs, a warm rumble of a sound, and his hands slide down to Vax’s waist. “Alright then. No more talking.”

He rubs his thumbs in soft circles over Vax’s sides and lets Vax kiss his way up to his mouth. That’s as much allowance as he makes, though, and soon Shaun’s taking easy control of the kiss, plundering Vax’s mouth with a casual possessiveness that makes Vax clench his thighs where they’re resting on either side of Shaun’s hips.

Shaun’s satiny tunic feels wonderful against the bare expanse of Vax’s chest, but not as good as Shaun’s skin would. He tugs at the hem of Shaun’s shirt, trying to express what he wants without having to resort to words, and luckily, Shaun indulges him.

Vax already can’t get as close as he wants with the arms of the chair in the way, and Shaun has to put more space in between them to pull the tunic over his head. Vax is vaguely proud of himself for not whimpering even a little bit at the break in contact, though the sound he makes when he finally gets to press himself against Shaun’s bare chest is no less needy. Shaun is so delightfully hairy, and Vax adores the way all that soft hair feels against his own mostly-bare body. Without it ever rising to the level of conscious thought, Vax’s hips start to rock on their own, and later he’ll feel a bit mortified that he was practically humping Shaun’s belly.

But Shaun just makes a soft, amused noise. “You’ve been so patient for me, little bird. I think that kind of patience ought to be rewarded.”

He pushes Vax back again, but this time it’s so he can pop open the fly on Vax’s shorts and ease them down enough to pull Vax’s cock out. Just the feeling of finally being free of the constriction – leather really doesn’t breathe – makes him moan. He nearly gets frustrated when Shaun reaches around behind him for his desk instead of going right for Vax’s cock, but then Shaun’s hand comes back slick, and Vax forgets all about it. He moans even louder when one of Shaun’s big hands closes around him and starts up a slow, steady pace.

Vax lunges forward again, eager for Shaun’s mouth, but with the sheer number of limbs already crammed into the overtaxed chair, Shaun can barely move his hand. Vax kisses him until he can’t stand it anymore and tries to thrust up into Shaun’s fist, but the angle’s all wrong for it, and he just ends up getting frustrated again.

At his irritated grunt, Shaun chuckles and kisses the tip of Vax’s nose. “Office furniture isn’t quite as conducive to this as what we’ve got downstairs.” He pauses and glances behind Vax. “Here, I’ve got an idea.” With his dry hand, he picks up one of Vax’s, and after kissing his knuckles, he moves Vax’s arm straight back until his palm comes into contact with the edge of the desk. Shaun smiles up at Vax. “Think you can hold on?”

Vax brings his other hand back as well, and oh, it just so happens to arch his back a little, leaving his chest and stomach exposed to Shaun’s hands and mouth. How thoughtful. Shaun gives another slow, tight stroke, up and back down again, and Vax feels no shame at wriggling happily in the new position.

“Beautiful boy,” Shaun murmurs. “Just hold on.”

Vax does, sighing with bliss as Shaun’s hand speeds up, little by little. Shaun’s eyes are warm when they meet his, giving him silent permission to be a little selfish and just enjoy the moment without needing to reciprocate. Bits of Shaun’s hair are starting to come loose from his braids, and his eye makeup is smudged just a touch, but all it does is make him look hotter, more dangerous. Like he could devour Vax if he wanted to.

Vax wants to watch Shaun’s face, but he finds his eyes keep sliding closed of their own accord. It just feels so good, Shaun’s hands on him after so long, it’s hard to focus on anything else. And then he feels Shaun’s lips press against his stomach, just under his ribs, and Vax lacks the strength to even keep his head from lolling back. All he has to do is hold on, though, so he locks his elbows and lets the sensations wash over him.

With Shaun’s warm, slick hand stroking him so expertly, Vax feels time begin to dilate again, where he couldn’t say whether it’s been only moments or half an hour before he starts to feel the end approaching. He groans softly, squirming in Shaun’s grip to try to get him to speed up without having to use his words. But Shaun, of course, just hums softly, nipping at Vax’s belly, and once again, Vax has to wait. He has to wait as the pressure starts to build low in his gut, wait as his balls start to draw up, as his thighs tighten against the impending release. Even as Vax whimpers with impatience, his arms starting to tremble with expectation, Shaun refuses to break pace, holding Vax on the precipice for longer than he thought possible, stalled out at the point where his body screams out for release.

It’s not until Vax finally starts to tip over the edge, muscles fluttering, that Shaun suddenly speeds up, sending Vax over with a hard shove. Vax’s head tilts back on a long, forceful groan as all that tension gets released at once, warmth spattering his belly as Shaun draws pulse after pulse out of him.

Perhaps locking his elbows wasn’t the best choice, because then Vax’s arms do buckle. Luckily, Shaun’s other hand is supporting the small of his back, and Vax is able to catch himself before he really does fall. By then, he’s with it enough to laugh, shakily, as Shaun wrings him through a few lovely, bone-deep aftershocks. When Shaun finally lets go, Vax musters his senses enough to sit forward again, sliding back into Shaun’s embrace where he can rest his forehead against Shaun’s and just enjoy the closeness.

His heartbeat is finally starting to slow when he hears Shaun say, “Back with me, my darling?”

Vax chuckles. “Yes.”

“How do you feel now?”

“Mmm, very good. A little more… with it. Back in my body.”

“What a wonderful place to be,” Shaun murmurs.

Vax waggles his eyebrows, even though Shaun probably can’t see it, and grinds down into Shaun’s lap. “You wanna join me in here?”

Shaun laughs and kisses Vax happily, but lightly. “Always, my love. But not just now – we have a party to get back to. Things should be winding down soon, and then we’ll have all the time we want. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

Vax glances down at his stomach, splattered with drying come. He’s struck with a sudden, silly impulse. It’s not like literally everyone won’t know what they’ve been up to in here anyway. “Do I have to?”

“It’s not that type of party,” Shaun chuckles, then tugs Vax’s head down gently so he can murmur in his ear. “Though if it was mine drying on your skin, I might let you leave it.”

The thought makes Vax’s balls throb, even though it’s far too soon to get hard again, and he lets out a tiny whimper.

“But if we’re going to get you back into your corset tonight, you need to be clean,” Shaun says, rummaging around behind Vax and coming back with a wet wipe.

“You just happen to keep wipes and lube in your office?” Vax asks archly as Shaun starts cleaning him.

“Condoms and dental dams, too,” Shaun says with a grin. “Where do you think the club’s stash comes from?”

“Yeah, but literally in your office?” Vax says, trying not to giggle as Shaun hits a ticklish spot on his ribs. “In with the Post-its and paper clips? Right at hand at all times?”

“You never know when the mood’s going to strike,” Shaun says, but he’s laughing, too.

It’s a petty, jealous thing to say, even as the joke it is, but Vax hears it coming out of his mouth anyway: “Mm-hmm, for all your subs you bring up here.”

Shaun’s hands slow and his smile doesn’t fade, but he meets Vax’s eyes with an intense gaze. “Only you, little bird. I’ll say it as many times as you need to hear it.”

“I know,” says Vax, quietly. “Thank you.”

After the wet wipes, out comes some salve, and Shaun applies it carefully to any rope-burned skin. There’s surprisingly little of it, considering the number of times Vax was tied up and suspended, but there is some irritation on his wrists and underarms. And now that Vax is starting to come down from his high, he can feel some incipient soreness in his shoulders and back.

Still, once Shaun finishes and magics the wrinkles from his discarded tunic, Vax is eager to go back in the corset. It feels just as good as it did the first time, and he sighs happily as Shaun tightens the laces. It’s maybe not quite as tight as it was before, but Shaun has been using his hands and arms a lot tonight, and it’s plenty tight to keep Vax happy.

Back in the corset, he stretches his arms over his head and finds himself yawning. Then, without thinking about it, he rubs his eyes, and his fingers come away smudged with eyeliner. “Shit,” he groans. “Just fucked up my makeup. Ugh, and I was doing so well to leave it alone.”

Shaun grins, but it’s more lascivious than it is amused. “You look thoroughly debauched, sweet boy, just as I prefer you.”

&&&

In actuality, only a few heads turn as they come back out onto the floor, but Vax is sure they know exactly what he and Shaun have been doing. Kima certainly does. She and Allura are gathering up their ropes, but Kima stops to shoot Vax a thumbs up and an eyebrow waggle as he walks by. He makes sure to wink back at her. Other than that, though, the festivities are winding down. A few scenes are still going, but most people are packing up and chatting.

Shaun makes a final circuit of the room, handing out goodbyes and well-wishes and invitations to come back. Vax isn’t tired, exactly, but he’s got a little bit of the hollow feeling that comes after an intense scene, and it feels good just to cling to Shaun, to be an obedient little pet and gaze adoringly at his master. It’s truly impressive how Shaun can keep going with the schmoozing, even when Vax knows he’d rather be elsewhere. Vax takes this last opportunity to enjoy the selfish pleasure of just being Shaun’s arm candy, his concubine to be paraded around and shown off. Shaun keeps him close, an arm wrapped around Vax’s waist, and that’s all that matters.

Eventually, when the last scenes have finished and appropriate aftercare has been given, Shaun speaks up and lets the stragglers know that the party has officially come to an end. Everyone leaves relatively quickly after that, but there are a few groups that Vax suspects are headed to some kind of private afterparties. Vax vows to be patient through any boss stuff Shaun still has to do before they leave, but after a brief conversation with his managers, Shaun assures him that everything else can wait until tomorrow.

The car ride home is a surprisingly quiet one, but comfortably so, Shaun’s fingers linked with Vax’s where they rest on the center console. Though Vax would swear he wasn’t sleepy when he got into the passenger seat, as they drive, he finds each blink lasting longer and longer until his eyes slip closed.

The next thing he knows, Shaun is squeezing his hand and calling his name. “Vax’ildan,” he says quietly, a gentle smile on his face. “We’re home. Do I need to carry you in?”

Vax quickly wipes the drool off his chin with the shoulder of his hoodie. “You offering?”

Shaun laughs ruefully. “I would if I could, but to be honest, my shoulders haven’t had a workout like that in ages. I stretched the best I could, but I can already feel it.”

“Mmm, I’ll give you a nice long massage tomorrow,” Vax says, yawning.

“I look forward to it,” Shaun replies, fingers still threaded with Vax’s. “I’d also like to debrief a little bit, but that can also wait until tomorrow. Did you enjoy yourself tonight, little bird?”

“So much,” Vax says with a grin. “I didn’t quite know what to expect, but it was fun. And I’d really like to work with Allura and Kima again sometime. Y’know, if that’s alright.”

“That’s perfectly alright,” Shaun says, bringing Vax’s hand to his mouth and kissing his fingers one by one. “They do photoshoots sometimes. You could see just how enraptured you look up there.”

The thought of seeing pictures of himself like that is… a lot, but he knows Shaun well enough to know that was the opening to a future conversation, not the end of one. He’ll have to think it through when his brain feels less fuzzy. For now, it’s enough to peel himself off the seat of the car and stagger into Shaun’s apartment.

Vax gets a bit of a second wind in time to help Shaun take his eye makeup off and usher him into the shower. Vax’s own eyeliner is pretty badly smeared, and in the harsh light of the bathroom, he thinks he was pretty much right about the raccoon thing. As for Shaun, he’s been keeping it together well, but when he steps out of the shower, it’s clear that he’s fading fast now that they’re home. He helps Vax take off the corset and then offers him “help” in the shower, but Vax just chuckles.

“Get in bed, Shaun,” Vax says fondly, swatting his boyfriend’s hand away. “You’ve already thoroughly exhausted me. Anything more and I’ll need the whole weekend to recover.”

“Perish the thought,” Shaun says while suppressing a mighty yawn. Still, Vax has to all but shove him out of the bathroom himself. It occurs to Vax that he’s not the only one who benefits from a little looking after.

After that particular revelation, Vax’s thoughts are sluggish as he cleans himself off. He saw and did enough tonight that he’s going to need a few days to process, but it was almost all good. He decides he should probably talk to Shaun tomorrow about the bits of jealousy he felt watching Shaun with his other subs. It wasn’t too unexpected or overwhelming, but he figures it’s better to get it out in the open – and Shaun will probably ask him directly about how he felt during that part, anyway. Vax smiles to himself – that’s all the kind of thing he’d be horrified at the thought of trying to put into words before he met Shaun. Now, it’s just tomorrow’s lunchtime conversation.

The bathroom is a mess of makeup and jewelry and various items of clothing, but that’s another problem for tomorrow. Vax dries off as much as he cares to and then wanders into the bedroom, thinking lustful thoughts about Shaun’s massive four-poster bed with the eiderdown mattress topper.

He’s not surprised to find Shaun already asleep, but he is a little surprised to see that the bedside lamp’s still on and Shaun’s phone is resting against his chest, like he was trying to stay awake until Vax got there. He doesn’t stir when Vax pries the phone out from under his hand and sets it on the nightstand, nor when Vax turns off the light, slips under the covers, and slides up next to him.

Vax’s eyes take a moment to adjust to the dark, but as tired as he is, he keeps them open until they do. Shaun doesn’t snore, exactly, but his breath is whistling a bit through his nose, and it makes Vax smile to himself. He’s never been the watch-your-partner-while-they-sleep type, but he wasn’t the get-hogtied-and-strung-in-the-air type until recently, so maybe a bit of a domesticity kink isn’t such a bad thing.

It’s so easy to be overwhelmed by Shaun’s presence, even when it’s just the two of them, that Vax hoards little moments like this. Shaun’s handsome face is little more than contours barely highlighted by the moonlight leaking in between the curtains, smoothed by sleep into a portrait of serenity. Vax finds he has no defenses at all against the wave of tenderness that sweeps over him, the all-encompassing love that makes him want to wrap his arms around Shaun and never let go. The way he feels seems like nothing short of its own kind of magic.

Between the warmth of the comfortable bed and the steady sound of Shaun’s breathing, Vax soon finds his eyes slipping closed of their own accord, and he doesn’t fight it. Instead, he kisses Shaun’s shoulder, whispers “love you” into the warm air between them, and lets sleep take him.

## Afterword

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