Olly surveyed the bombsite that had once been his and Joe’s bedroom. There was a certain satisfaction in seeing his entire wardrobe strewn across the bed and over every inch of the floor.

“I have absolutely no idea what to pack.” He stuck out his lower lip and stood, hands on hips, waiting for inspiration to strike.

“We’re only going to be away for two nights, how hard can it be?” Aiden reclined on the bed, partly covered by a collection of brightly colored T-shirts.

“Oh, it can be very hard, believe me.” Olly twitched his nose and smirked.

Aiden groaned. “There’s an image I need to bleach from my brain.”

“You left yourself wide open,” Olly said. “That’s not like you.” He scratched at his arm. “Christ, these stitches are driving me insane.”

“I’m tired,” Aiden said. “My brain’s not working. And if you don’t stop messing with that cut, Joe will lock your hands into bondage mittens.”

Olly gulped. “There’s a pair of those around here somewhere. I hate them. They make my hands all sweaty and I don’t like it when I can’t touch Joe. I should hide them.”

“If Joe can’t find them, he’ll know you are responsible and when he asks you where they are you’ll have to tell him the truth.”

“Then I’ll be in even more trouble.” Olly sighed. “Being a submissive involves far too many ethical decisions for my liking. Why are you tired?”

“Because I didn’t get enough sleep last night.”

Olly gave his friend a more detailed examination. There were dark shadows beneath Aiden’s eyes but he didn’t seem tense or unhappy. “Tell me all the juicy details. What did Heath do to you? Come on, spill! I’m your best friend in the whole wide world and therefore entitled to know about every kinky facet of your love life.” Olly gave Aiden a stubborn stare. “Besides, it beats making packing decisions.”

“Oh, I’m so glad that my private life is more titillating than your underwear choices.”

“Well…” Olly considered that for a few seconds. Underwear selection for a mini-break with Joe was a very serious matter. “It’s a close call, but my natural curiosity needs satisfying.”

Aiden grunted. “More like rabid nosiness.”

Olly clambered onto the bed, shoving clothing out of the way as he went. He sat cross-legged and stared Aiden down. “You have to tell me now. It would be cruel not to. I would have to report you to the RSPCS.”

Aiden squinted at him and raised an eyebrow.

“Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Subs. It’s a thing.”

“You’ve met Heath,” Aiden responded. “I should have an honorary membership.”

“What did your big bad Dom do now? Tell Olly. I’ll kiss it better.”

“You will not!”

Aiden’s indignant exclamation had Olly dissolving in a fit of giggles. “Well, that gives me a clue as to which part of your anatomy is involved. How about we play the yes no game?”

“What are you talking about, Olly?”

“Well, you’re too shy to tell me straight out, so just answer my questions yes or no. That’s all you have to do. You don’t really tell me anything but I get the information I need. It’s a win-win solution to our mutual dilemma.”

“I don’t have a dilemma.” There was a delicate blush staining Aiden’s well-defined cheekbones.

“I disagree. Your dilemma is that if you don’t tell me what I want to know, I will aggravate you until you cry like a little girl.” Olly blew on his fingernails and polished them against his shirt.

“Jesus.” Aiden banged his head against the mattress. “Fine. But you only get ten questions. After that you suffer in silence. Agreed?”

“Agreed. This is fun!” Ten questions should be enough, Olly reasoned.

Aiden shifted up the bed then made himself comfortable against the pillows. Olly drummed his fingers on his thigh, impatient to get started.

“Okay, question one.” He held up a finger. “Did Heath keep you awake with the assistance of sex toys?”

“Yes.” Aiden sighed heavily.

“That was an easy one and gives me a clue that more than one item was involved.” Olly licked his lips. “So was your sadistic Dom indulging himself with a little CBT?”

Aiden groaned. “Yes.”

“Mmm. Delicious. Of course cock and ball torture can be achieved in so many ways. However, I credit Heath with a particularly inventive imagination. Was some sort of predicament play involved?”

Aiden apparently had to think about that one. “Yes.”

“Ah, another clue. You weren’t sure how to answer so that tells me it wasn’t a complicated setup, but you must have been put in a position where movement had consequences. That wasn’t a question, by the way.”

“Olly, get on with it.”

“Wow. You whine almost as well as I do. Not quite, of course, because I am the world champion. Now, knowing you as well as I do, you probably gave Heath some cheek. He would have wanted to screw you hard but punish you at the same time. Am I getting warm?”

“Yes, and that was a question.”

“Gloating doesn’t suit you.” Olly flopped onto his front, folded his arms then rested his chin on them. He peeked at Aiden from beneath a few stray curls. “I still have six questions left. I don’t think Heath would use one of those clamp thingies that squash your balls flat. He cares about your bits too much.”

Aiden blinked. It was enough of a tell to convince Olly he was right.

“He’d want to stop you getting away from him because I know how you like to run. So, possibly a spreader bar…but that’s too boring for Heath. Something that gave him easy access to your arse but was suitably humiliating.” Olly frowned, mentally listing all the possible options. “I’ve got it!” He chuckled.

Aiden closed his eyes, his expression a picture of abject misery. “God, this is painful.”

“I’ll bet last night was, too!” Olly crowed. “Did he use a humbler?”

Aiden’s blush deepened. “Yes.” He spoke so softly, Olly barely caught the word.

“That’s so hot! Joe has a stiff rubber one, but I bet Heath’s is made of wood because that’s much more uncomfortable.” He giggled. “So there you are, on your hands and knees, unable to get up. The humbler is digging into the backs of your thighs and your balls are trapped and exposed.”

“Stop with the vivid descriptions, Olly. I was there, remember. God, I wish I had a gag handy. A big rubber ball gag.”

“Heath didn’t use one of those, though, because he would have wanted to hear you scream. He wouldn’t have been able to resist flogging your balls. Next question—did he use a flogger on you?”

“No!”

Aiden was far too triumphant for Olly’s liking. He was convinced Heath would have used something, so if not a flogger… “A crop! He used a crop.”

Aiden shifted on the bed. “You haven’t asked a question.”

“Don’t need to waste one. I can see from your face I’m right. I’ll bet you my next custard donut that he took his time wrangling you into that contraption, then he cropped your balls. I’ll add another donut, a jammy one this time, if he didn’t edge you for hours before fucking you into oblivion.”

“Do you have a camera hidden in our bedroom, Olly?” Aiden scowled.

“He probably chained your hands to the end of the bed, as well.” Olly smirked when Aiden rubbed at his wrists.

“I hate you.”

“You love me. I’m adorable.” Olly rested his chin on Aiden’s knee. “I’ll save the rest of my question quota for another time.”

“For that, I’m eternally grateful. Now, for goodness sake, finish packing. If you’re not ready by the time Joe wants to leave, he’ll probably tie you up and stuff you in the boot with the luggage.”

Olly thought about that for a moment and decided it was quite likely. He scooted off the bed, panic rising in his belly. “I don’t know what to do, Aiden. I can’t seem to think straight about anything at the moment—it’s all too confusing. Everything I look at reminds me of what happened at the hospital, even the silliest things like a pair of nail scissors, Joe’s razor, even a balled-up pair of socks for Christ’s sake. Then I think about what could have happened and I just want to curl up and cry.” Hot tears welled.

“That’s because you went through a significant traumatic experience and you’re suffering from a form of PTSD.”

At the sound of Joe’s calm tones, Olly whirled around. “Sir!” He threw himself into Joe’s welcoming arms.

“Thank you for keeping an eye on him for me, Aiden,” Joe said.

“What?” Olly rubbed at his eyes then peered at Aiden who was sliding off the bed. He edged around the room, keeping well out of Olly’s reach. “You were babysitting me for Joe?”

“I, um, maybe?” Aiden made it to the door.

“We’re leaving in an hour,” Joe said to Aiden. “Heath’s expecting you at your place.”

Aiden made his escape, mouthing ‘sorry’ at Olly before he left.

Olly tilted his head back to get a proper look at Joe’s face. Joe’s expression gave no indication of remorse or guilt, just his usual serene certainty that everything was under control. His control. He pressed a finger against Olly’s lips preventing him from forming them into a pout.

“Who knows what’s best for you, sweetheart?”

Olly ducked his head, escaping Joe’s finger. “You do, Sir.” In Olly’s mind, nothing was more certain. Joe only ever acted in Olly’s best interest, even to his own detriment. “But you don’t have to worry about me.”

“That’s for me to decide, Oliver. After everything you’ve been through recently I didn’t want you to be on your own.”

“Because you’re a psychologist and you were analyzing me?” Olly asked.

“No, because you needed a friend. I know what you’d do if you had too much time on your own to think. You’d mull over every detail of what happened and start to blame yourself, wish you’d handled things differently. Then you’d start worrying about all the what ifs with that creative imagination of yours, and end up having nightmares for weeks.”

“You know me too well, Sir.” Olly nuzzled against Joe’s chest, absorbing his warmth.

“I have better things to do with you in bed than watch you toss and turn in your sleep.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“So no sulking with Aiden. He’s a good friend.”

“The best. Now I understand why he didn’t run away when I interrogated him about what he and Heath got up to last night. I think you did me a favor, Sir.”

“That grin is far too wicked. I suspect you need to be punished.”

“Ooh, yes please!”

“But you have packing to finish because we need to get on the road if we’re going to make it to Hampshire in time for dinner.”

“You’re no fun, Sir.” Olly was torn between wanting to play with Joe and his curiosity about their destination. He would also get to see Carey and Alistair. Maybe some of his other friends, too. “What do you want me to take?”

Joe gave him a curious glance. The press of Joe’s fingers under his chin tilted Olly’s head back.

“This isn’t like you. Usually you’d have two enormous suitcases stuffed to bursting by now. What’s going on?”

“Sorry, Sir.” Tears that seemed to come all too quickly stung Olly’s eyes.

“Hey, now. None of that.” Joe kissed away a tear. “Are you having a tough time making decisions at the moment?”

Olly nodded. He worried that if he spoke he’d have a full-on nuclear meltdown.

“Well, it’s a good job you have me, isn’t it?”

Olly bobbed his head, feeling a bit like a nodding dog toy. His head felt too heavy for his neck and a wave of exhaustion washed over him. He wanted to grab a pillow, one that smelled of Joe, hug it tight and drift off to sleep.

“Where’s your bag?” Joe rooted around on the floor until he uncovered a bright purple suitcase on wheels. He put it on the bed then flipped the lid back. “Right. Important things first. Go to your underwear drawer and fetch the black silk thong, the powder-blue shorts and the white satin briefs with the open back. Unless they’re somewhere on the floor, of course.”

The order cleared Olly’s head. He went to the drawer and collected the underwear. “All your favorites, Sir.”

“We’re having a well-earned break. I think I’m entitled to indulge myself a little. For the evening, I want you to bring the navy leather trousers. Match them with that cerise shirt.”

Olly’s jaw dropped.

“Is that a problem?”

Olly caught the mischievous glint in Joe’s eye. “Sir, you’re teasing me. You know they don’t go together and you wouldn’t want me to turn people’s stomachs just by walking into a room, would you?”

“Why don’t you choose something more appropriate then?” A smile ghosted across Joe’s lips.

Olly burrowed into his pile of T-shirts and extracted a dip-dyed V-neck that was almost the same midnight blue as the trousers at the bottom, fading to the palest blue around the neckline. “This one!” He held it up triumphantly.

“That’s a little better than my option, I suppose.” Joe grinned. “You can bring the sheer slave-boy trousers, as well. You won’t need a top to go with those. I’ve already packed your white leather harness.”

Olly swallowed. His cock perked into life. “Aww, Sir! I don’t want to spend the entire journey like this.” He stared at his bulging jeans. “No fair.”

“If you pick out a couple of pairs of jeans, a warm sweater and two more T-shirts in the next three minutes, there just might be time to do something about that.”

Clothes flew through the air as Olly made his choices.

“Don’t forget socks and some comfortable boots for walking. That’s all you’ll need. I predict most of this will be brought back unworn because you won’t be needing clothes for much of what I have in mind.”

Olly gaped. He dropped his boots into the case and slammed the lid down. “I’m packed, Sir.”

“Jeans off. Lie on the bed, hands above your head.”

If there were an Olympic event for bed-mounting, Olly would have the gold medal sewn up. He kicked off his jeans before taking a flying leap toward the mattress. Naked from the waist down, he stretched his arms over his head to grasp the headboard. His cock strained skyward, jerking with excitement. Joe climbed onto the bed and straddled him. Olly came close to hyperventilating. Breathing became impossible when Joe ducked his head and took Olly’s swollen shaft into his mouth.

Olly tried to keep still, he really did, but it was a lost cause. The man he adored was sucking his cock in a way only a Dom could manage. Totally in control, Joe played Olly’s body like a finely tuned instrument. Powerful suction followed delicate puffs of air or the press of teeth. When Joe fondled his balls, Olly screamed.

“Sir! Sir…please… You can’t… I can’t… I have to…nng.” Permission to come became Olly’s reason for living. He needed it more than he needed air. Joe had trained him patiently and well. There was no way he could come without Joe’s order.

“Let it go, sweetheart.” Joe released him only for as long as it took to utter the words. Olly came on command into the heat of Joe’s mouth, body spasming, the burn of release flooding every vein. It took a while for Olly’s eyes to regain their focus. Joe leaned over him, licking his lips. He bent forward for a kiss and Olly could taste his essence in Joe’s mouth. Joe gave Olly’s sensitized cock a final squeeze. “I want you downstairs in the hall in five minutes. The mess in here can wait until we get back…when I’m certain you’ll be cleaning it up naked, on your knees.”

Olly’s cock gave a valiant twitch. “You said that on purpose, Sir!”

Joe climbed gracefully off the bed. “Of course I did.”