Page 2 of Bondage Play

Terry reached up, wrapped his hand around Phil’s nape then pulled him down before plunging his tongue into his Master’s mouth. Since he needed permission to touch when they weren’t making love, Terry used every opportunity he could to physically express how much Phil meant to him when they were. It couldn’t only be about Terry getting what he wanted, even if it felt so fucking good after being disregarded the way he’d been their first time around as a couple. He wanted to show Phil how much he desired him—even if Phil insisted the submission and respect were what truly fulfilled him as a Master and as a man.

The kiss remained languid, each of them taking turnstasting the other until they were both breathless. Soon, they slowed, until their lips were merely brushing each other’s mouths, then their skin. Phil eased his body off Terry until he was flush to his side, one leg and arm draped over Terry. Phil’s breathing deepened almost immediately, and Terry snuggled against his lover, holding on.

I’ll never stop.

****

“I’m sorry Phil, but the project has stalled. The other production company we’d counted on to complete the financing has pulled out.”

Ellery Vaughn, a longtime buddy of his—as well as his co-producer on what he’d thought would be his first major film—tossed a paper across his desk in Phil’s direction. Phil slid it close enough to read but didn’t feel the need to pick it up. He skimmed the contents of the letter from the company that had originally begged to be a part of the project. Phil pushed it back toward Ellery.

“What about Roaming Star Films?” Phil kept rubbing his forehead with two fingers as if he could force the piercing headache out of his brain. “This seems like the type of thing they tend to invest in.”

“Yeah.” Ellery sighed. “Too much like it. In the few years you’ve been out of town, they’ve released one very similar and according to the trades, have another sci-fi in pre-production. The talk is they want to branch out into contemporary suspense thrillers.”

Phil nodded, wondering if he could hit Ellery up for some Advil or something. “I guess I can understand their reasoning.”

Ellery leaned forward, placing his elbows on his desk as he stared intently at Phil. “Haven’t you been keeping up on thebusiness? Nothing I’ve said to you is any big secret in the industry right now.”

“Um…” Phil folded his hands in his lap but couldn’t stop the frown he was sure didn’t radiate confidence to his friend. “I’ll confess I had a lot going on in Toronto, not just with the series, but in my personal life.”

Ellery let out a surprised chuckle. “Holding out on me, huh? You told me you weren’t seeing anyone while you were gone.”

His foray into the world of Dominance and BDSM wasn’t something he’d shared with any of his vanilla friends. The idea had popped into his head on occasion, but he’d ultimately decided he should keep it to himself for professional reasons. As it was, Terry had already been spotted at Gerard’s BDSM gathering by one of his photography clients, but so far, Phil had remained under the radar. However, Ellery was his closest friend in Hollywood. They’d met fifteen years earlier at the beginning of their careers.

“I wasn’t. At least, not romantically.”How to put this?“I was in training for something that’s become a major part of my life.”

Ellery arched his eyebrows. “You mean like martial arts?”

Phil coughed into his fist then readjusted his body in the navy, plush velvet chair. “No. Not like martial arts.”

He must’ve been telegraphing his hesitance to Ellery. The expression he radiated back at Phil appeared a bit confused, hurt even.

“I didn’t mean to pry.” Ellery plucked the letter from the surface of the desk then laid it on a carved wood tray with a stack of other papers. “It’s been a while since we’ve really had the chance to socialize. You’re right. This industry does keep us busy with our own concerns.” Ellery wouldn’t meet his gaze ashe made a show of organizing the pens and sticky notes that cluttered the top of his desk.

This sucks.Ellery was not only his closest friend but had always had his back as well. Even if he’d transferred most of his attention to his trainer for the majority of his time in Toronto, it didn’t mean he no longer cherished his friendship with Ellery. In Hollywood, there was a plethora of acquaintances, but very few genuine friends.

“Ellery, you’re not prying. I’ve been a shitty friend the past few years, was probably a shitty one before that.”

“Hey, I didn’t mean to—”

“It’s okay. Really.” Phil cleared his throat before continuing. “I’m still wrapping my brain around how much has changed for me these past few years. I guess I didn’t communicate that much while I was gone because I was afraid this conversation would come up. It has nothing to do with me not wanting to tell you about my life, it’s more about me being afraid you’ll laugh at me or think I’m a…” Phil searched or the right word.Freak? Weirdo? Sicko?

“A what?” Ellery tilted his head, his eyebrows scrunched together.

“A man in need of professional help.”

Ellery’s eyes widened a bit, but to his credit, he maintained a calm demeanor. “Okay. I’m listening.”

“I met a guy while I was there and he introduced me to the world of BDSM. It wasn’t sexual, not specifically. It was me learning something about myself that’d always been there. He merely helped bring it to the surface.”

Ellery’s eyes widened further, his lips parting in surprise. “Oh. I see.” He seemed to be considering what to say. “I guess you always were an aggressive man.”

Phil winced. That was exactly the sort of assumption he didn’t want people, especially someone close, to have abouthim. “The emphasis in what you said should be on the ‘was’. When I trained as a Master, I learned how to control my temper, to explore my selfish and arrogant behavior. I believe I’ve come out on the other side of that educational experience a better partner, friend, and overall, a better man.”

Silence stretched out between them and Phil thought it might be time to cut his losses and leave. While he was sure there were plenty of kinksters to be had in the unique world of Hollywood, his friend obviously didn’t embrace that mindset.

“Wow.” Ellery gave him a crooked smile. “Then I apologize. I’ll admit, you’ve seemed a lot more mellow, centered I suppose, since you’ve been back.”