Page 1 of Pain Play

Chapter One

Phil ladled crab bisque into two soup bowls, then sprinkled toasted croutons and chives on top of each one. The salad greens with grape tomatoes were coated in his own homemade Italian dressing and had already been placed on the kitchen table alongside the sparkling water.

No wine tonight.

Phil planned to rock his boy Terry’s world and they both needed to be present and clearheaded. He grabbed the handles of the crockery bowls they’d purchased together on a coastal weekend getaway to Solvang and added them to their place settings. Or rather, the one place setting. He grinned to himself, anxious to see how Terry would react to yet another dynamic being introduced into their D/s relationship.

After he’d verified that everything was ready for their meal, Phil tapped on the door that led from the kitchen into Terry’s photography studio. Terry had converted it from the garage after purchasing the nineteen-thirties, Spanish Revival home three years prior.When I left him. Struggling to forgive himself over his callous behavior still nagged at him, but he’d been moving closer to absolution.

Terry’s unconditional love was the main source of his continued success in self-forgiveness, and Phil remained grateful for every single day Terry was in his life. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, placing his palm against the wooden barrier between him and Terry, splaying his fingers across the surface and remembering how only a month before Terry had almost been torn from him by two serial killers.

The door opened and Phil was snapped out of his reverie. Terry greeted him with a smile, his cheeks flushed, sweat beading at his hairline as if he’d been giving himself a workout. Phil wrinkled his brow as he gathered Terry into his arms.

“You’re all worn out. You could’ve asked me if you needed help, baby. I’ve been right here the whole time.”

Because I lost that damn film. Phil swallowed down his shame as he regarded Terry.We’ve discussed this and agreed on our temporary roles, just like any couple would under similar circumstances. Being an unemployed Master who was working toward a fulltime situation with his boy had left him with a bit of a complex over his inability to take care of Terry’s finances the way he’d promised—despite his boy’s reassurances.

Terry nuzzled his neck as he squeezed him tighter. Phil chuckled. Their journey to a 24/7 lifestyle was still a work in progress, so he would call ‘scene’ before they dropped into their roles. One of the rules he’d imposed was that no touching was allowed without permission. Terry didn’t like the rule, so he took advantage by touching Phil as much as he could when they weren’t on protocol.

“Baby? I asked you a question.”

Terry took one more whiff of Phil’s skin before lifting his gaze. “Huh?” He drew his eyebrows together. “Oh! Sorry. Well, I didn’t want to bother you since I’ve been dying for that amazing crab bisque you’ve been telling me about. Mmm. Smells awesome.”

Phil framed Terry’s face with his hands. “Promise me you’ll ask for help next time if you really need it? Use me while you can.” Phil winked, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and guiding him to the table.

“Okay.” Terry offered him a contented smile. “I promise.”

Phil knew the moment Terry spotted the throw pillow on the floor next to his chair, because their forward motion abruptly stopped. He tracked Terry’s gaze as it went from the cushion, to the bowls of soup sharing the same placemat, to the pillow, then up at him.

“Uh, does this mean what I think it means?”

Phil chuckled as he pressed a light kiss to Terry’s temple. “Yes, it does. I told you I’d want to do this with you some day.”

Terry shifted on his feet as though he’d lost the ability to remain still. “Right, so are you going to… you know, how should I…?”

Phil locked eyes with him. “Scene.”

Terry froze, holding Phil’s gaze. He blinked a few times before answering. “Yes, Master.”

Terry used the honorific each time they began to drop into the correct headspace. Phil gently extricated himself from Terry’s arms. He gestured to the cushion.

“It’s time to eat, baby. Eventually I’ll want you to serve the meal then call me to dinner. But for your first experience of being fed, I only want your focus to be on how it makes youfeelbeing fed by me.”

Terry inhaled deeply then let out a sigh. “Oh boy.”

He’d muttered the words under his breath, but Phil picked up on them. “Anything you’d like to share with the rest of the class?” Phil quirked an eyebrow as he held in a laugh at Terry’s wide-eyed expression.

“Nope. I’m good.”

Phil held Terry’s gaze. “The soup’s getting cold and lukewarm bisque makes me cranky. Just saying.”

“Got it, Sir. Headed for the pillow now.”

Terry scurried to the cushion. He dropped to his knees, but appeared uncertain. After a moment, he rested on his heels and placed his palms on his thighs. His eyes remained cast down, his back straight and shoulders back—Terry’s display of the position they typically used being perfect, as always. However, it wasn’t the one Phil wanted Terry to employ for the next step in their D/s journey.

Phil took a minute to admire Terry. From their first shared glance across the room at an industry party, Phil had beencaptured by Terry’s grace. The way his body moved was with a natural elegance that complemented his lean frame. Once they’d drawn nearer, Terry’s bright green eyes were what had held Phil in his thrall, although the rest of his boy—from his dark wavy hair to his kissable lips—had also made Phil determined to get closer to the beautiful photographer.

A smile tugged at the corner of Phil’s mouth.Yet he doesn’t see himself that way at all.