Page 7 of Fire & Ice

Once the initial shock wears off, he begins to digest the details, and certain things start to coalesce and make sense. Sure, Lee's playroom bed looks like a dream to crash out on, but there are heavy-duty hooks mounted above (and all across the ceiling leading towards it). There is a Saint Andrew’s cross propped against the wall facing the bed, perfectly stained to match the dark color of the wooden floor.

There are multiple side-by-side armoires to their right, all with closed doors and drawers, and a random, two-foot metal cube sitting innocuously on the floor. A couple of leather chairs and an upholstered ottoman are scattered around the space, and there’s a small, leather-covered bench of some sort shoved flush against the wall with the windows. Tripp’s fairly certain that the bench has restraints attached, although their location leaves him equal parts scared and aroused. He’s pretty sure that thing isn’tjustfor spanking, although he hopes that might be part of it.

“Holy shit,” he manages to say, knowing that he’s gaping and completely unable to rein it in.

Instantly, Lee is at his side, hand on the small of Tripp’s back. The warmth of his presence is reassuring on its own, although Tripp isn’t scared—not really. It’s just abuttloadto swallow,and he’s processing.

“If this feels like too much, we needn’t start in here,” Leander offers, but Tripp shakes his head in the negative.

“No way,” he reiterates after another minute, once his eyes have conquered the urge to continue roaming over each and every new item they land on. He blinks, finding himself easily able to focus on Leander’s face instead. Lee looks curious and only has eyes for Tripp, so Tripp offers him the widest, most sincere grin he can muster.

“It’s awesome, Lee. Seriously.” Dropping his gaze for a moment, Leander nods, his shoulders lifting and squaring off as he takes his own deep breath before turning his back on Tripp and moving fluidly across the space.

“In this room, and when you have your collar on, you should address me as ‘Sir’.”

His reminder is gentle but firm, and Tripp instantly craves to obey. “Yes, Sir,” he parrots back swiftly, watching in fascination as Leander stops dead in his tracks with his back still turned, and shivers.Hot damn.

“Good boy,” Lee says quietly, and that’s it—Trippandhis dick are definitely on board withallof this. “Also, just for your information and as we talked about before, I’ve replaced anything in this room used previously by anyone else.”

“Thank you, Sir,” Tripp tells him, and Leander makes a strangled sort of sigh that Tripp can only take as satisfaction, since he doesn’t turn around. Instead, he busies himself withrummaging through the top drawer of one of the armoires, looking for God knows what. Tripp takes advantage of the moment, circling back to his original plan to repay Lee for working so damn hard to make him comfortable.

He strips quickly and dumps his clothing off to the side, kneeling quietly on the hardwood floor. It’s not exactly a natural position for him, but Tripp forces himself to adjust, keeping his eyes down and his hands behind his back, just the way they talked about in last night’s negotiations.

It’s strange—Tripp’s not entirely sure what he expected tobein this moment. Exposed or embarrassed, maybe. Self-conscious and awkward, definitely. But none of those feelings rise. Right now, waiting impatiently for Lee to turn around and notice his offered submission, all Tripp feels isexcited.While this is a whole new facet of his relationship with Lee, something completely foreign and as-yet unexplored, Tripp is still perfectly comfortable with the man as his best friend, and he supposes that translates.

Weirdly, the only thing he can seem to focus on specifically at the moment is the vague hope that he’ll have the chance to earn Lee calling him a “good boy” again—preferably soon. His dick agrees, plumping up against his thigh without permission, and Tripp wonders if Leander will mind. The thought that he could end up punished by Lee’s hand is almost as thrilling and enticing as the alternative.

The shuffle of Lee's bare feet against the floor and the sharp intake of breath that follows are the only clues that his offering has been noticed, but they’re more than enough. Tripp may be a newbie in practice, but over the course of their friendship, he’s losthourstalking to Lee about the BDSM community and scening in general. Additionally, he’s spent even longer parked in front of his laptop researching and reading,filling in the blanks Lee didn’t (or couldn’t) regarding what it means to be a submissive.

After all, when a topic truly catches his interest, Tripp can be an excellent student. Devouring each piece of new information, he’ll then file it carefully away for some theoretical future moment that he assumes will never actually come to pass.

As such, today, Tripp is ready. He knows very well what Lee is looking for and what he wants to give. Eyes trained on the floor and head slightly bowed, he works hard to control his breathing, to keep calm and remain still. He can do this—he can be good for Lee, and in return, Lee will give him what he wants (and then some). Tripp believes that wholeheartedly.

The sound of soft footsteps is followed closely by Lee's feet appearing in Tripp’s field of vision, and thankfully, Lee hasnicefeet. Well-kept toes and soft-looking skin, at least, what’s not hidden by the drooping cuff of his sweatpants. That certainly fits with the image Lee projects to the world: he’s neat and orderly, he takes care of himself in ways thatmostemergency service providers let fall by the wayside or never consider to begin with. Tripp’s always known that about Lee, but kneeling naked and willing in front of the guy definitely gives him a whole new appreciation for it.

The fingers scratching through his hair are unexpected, and Tripp—for all his surety that he can be still and perfect for as long as necessary—breaks almost instantly. Internally, he curses himself for leaning into the touch, but the quiet growl that comes out of Lee's mouth suggests that he doesn’t mind. As Tripp stares determinedly at the floor, Lee's fingers tighten and Tripp’s head jerks back, his face abruptly tipping up towards the ceiling.

With the bright lights still set to full-blast, Lee is essentially haloed. Framed from behind like the angel he is,come to rescue Tripp, to pull him from his own mind and his own personal hell, in a way only someone with Leander’s particular skillset can. Tripp lets himself be tugged around, subconsciously wetting his lips and watching as the lust on Leander’s face transforms his entire demeanor. It’s hard not to react, because Tripp haswaited,he’s wanted for Lee to look at him likethatsince the first day they met.

Fuck me,he thinks, willing Lee to hear him.Take whatever you want.

Unfortunately, to Tripp’s dismay, Leander releases his hair and steps away. Closing his eyes, he shakes out his head and hands, seemingly trying to center himself. Not that Tripp’s ready to be hog-tied and fucked raw from both endsjustyet, but the loss is still somewhat disappointing. The idea that Lee was close to losing control over just seeing him kneeling is intoxicating. It makes Tripp feel powerful,wanted,and he’s nottoofar above considering acting up just to have Lee's laser-focused attention directed his way again.

In the end, he sits quietly, watching his friend pace and waiting for him to say something.

“I reviewed our lists again today,” Leander says finally, almost conversationally, as he moves towards one of the three huge armoires up against the wall. Tripp watches with interest as he selects the middle one, opening both of the cabinet doors closing off the top half, sliding them back and out of sight so that the interior is fully-exposed. Inside is…a stereo?That’s not exactly what Tripp was expecting, but itisinteresting, he’ll give Lee that.

While fiddling with the buttons and what looks like a freaking CD straight out of 2004, Leander continues speaking. “I struggled somewhat, to come up with a satisfying first scene. Something that wouldn’t scare you or be too overwhelming, butwould spark both your interest and mine. It’s been longer than I would prefer since I’ve scened, and I fear that my desires may be clouding my judgment. So for first-time purposes only, I thought that I would ask: is spanking with a bare hand—”

Lee turns away from the armoire and holds up his right palm, flicking his wrist in demonstration as if Tripp might not be following. As if hisentire fucking worldhasn’t narrowed to Lee and hisfreakinghand,hello?!

“—something you’d be amenable to tonight? Followed by penetration, so long as we both remain interested and consenting.”

Tripp’s mouth is suddenly dry as the Sahara, his brain supplying various images of how Lee's scenario might play out in rapid succession. Caught up in considering the possibilities, he nearly forgets to reply, forgets that Lee iswaitingfor him to do exactly that, to ensure that he’s on board.

“Yes, Sir,” he rushes to say, eager.

Leander nods with satisfaction. “Very good,” he affirms and Tripp preens, even though it’s hardly directed praise. Much more likely a casual colloquialism that Lee didn’t even consider Tripp might take a certain way—he can still enjoy hearing it.

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