Page 43 of All Tied Up

When he realized who was calling him everything changed. The next step brought his feet closer together, his hands cupping the phone. “Oh, hello Sir.” Sebastian didn’t think Neil was doing it on purpose, this natural way of making himself smaller, of showing his deference and vulnerability. It was more like something that came from within and expressed itself through his form.

Neil moved to put the phone away, but Sebastian was curious. “Can I see your pictures?”

“I… I suppose so. Sorry, it must be weird having people take scenic pictures of your backyard.” He handed over the phone, even while he apologized. “They’re not very good.”

Sebastian flipped through a few. A cluster of azaleas opening, brilliant pink against the deep green of the leaves. A pale rock shaped like a seahorse beside a trailing vine. Several panoramic views that captured the vibrancy of the space and the depth of perspective. “We built the lodge here so we could wake up to this view everyday, so please snap away. And these are really good, actually.”

Neil shrugged. “I think it’s just the phone. There are three lenses, so when you point at something and click the little button it makes it look like you know what you’re doing. I’m definitely not a photographer or artist of any kind—these are just for my own memories. I don’t get out of the office much, so when I do I try to take a little bit of it back.”

Sebastian's first impressions yesterday afternoon had clearly been wrong on a number of counts. But then, he’d been seeing that more and more.

He returned the phone. “If you take more, I’d love to see them.”

Neil’s eyes positively glowed with the praise. “Thank you, Sir. I mean, if I should call you Sir, that is. I can stop if it’s not appropriate.”

Sebastian found himself grinning. He wasn’t huge on titles, but this was an opportunity for both of them to play out their fantasies. So if it meant that much to Neil, even if the boy was just testing it out, that made it a treat for him as well. “Have you ever called anyone Sir before?” he asked, curiously.

“Only in my head. It just seemed appropriate last night when it was more like… a scene. Not that it really was, or at least not to you. But I mean, it probably isn’t appropriate now.” That sweet blush was back.

“Actually, I’m enjoying it. As long as it feels right for you. Are you usually this open with all of your thoughts?”

“No, never.” He laughed, a warm, hearty sound. “I think I went so far past my comfort zone that I’ve just given up feeling nervous. It feels like a dream, and since I know I’m going to go back to my dreary life on Tuesday, I’m just going along with it.”

Neil was staying through Monday? That had all sorts of potential. “That sounds like a good attitude. Also, there are a range of things that a scene can mean. And we get to choose where we take it at any moment—even now.”

“Yeah, that’s the part that feels too good to be true. I still don’t understand why you or Jamie even gave me a second glance, but my plan is to consider myself very lucky and remember this for the rest of my life.”

Neil said it with such honest enthusiasm that Sebastian was charmed again. And hopefully by Monday Neil would realize that he was worth more than just an extended scene. There was some Daddy out there who would be very lucky to snatch him up for the long haul.

“Have you thought more about the public scene tonight? I know that you and Jamie talked.” Sebastian had already heard the report from Jamie, but he wanted to hear all of it again in Neil’s own words.

“Ummm… It would just be the people who are here for the Cuffd thing?”

“There might be a couple kinky folks who I know personally from outside of Cuffd, but that would be it. And just so you know, you don’t have to agree to any of this. Jamie and I could do something together and you could watch in the audience or on stage. We could also cancel. If you’d rather do something in private, there are others who could fill in. We could even all watch together. Or–” he stepped a little closer, “–I could show everyone what a good boy you could be for me on the stage.”

“I…. um… God, I think I would really like that.” He looked a bit away, but his breath was shallow and rapid.

“You’d like to do the public scene?”

Neil nodded sharply, like he couldn’t quite believe he was agreeing.

“Words.”

“I want to do it, Sir,” he blurted out. “If that’s still OK. Whatever you two are doing… I want to be part of it.” The more he talked, the closer he hugged the phone to his chest, rocking back and forth on his feet. Yet his eyes were wide and guileless, watching Sebastian’s face.

Good. That was clear and enthusiastic consent. “Was there any particular activity that called to you more than the others? Bondage? Role play? Pain? Sensory stuff?”

Neil looked down at the sidewalk, ears pink. A quick glance at the front of his shorts suggested that his embarrassment stemmed more from arousal than anything else.

Sebastian gave him a little prompting. “You’ll have to tell me, sweet boy, otherwise we can’t do it.”

“Um, it’s just… I like the idea of… of everyone watching.”

Ah, so he had a little exhibitionist on his hands. “So you want to be the star of the show? You want people watching while I take you apart?”

Neil’s eyes grew round, the lines fanning out from them only adding to his allure. “I don’t think… I mean, I don’t want to be the star. Jamie would be the star, right? But I always liked the idea of… maybe someone finding out. Or of my… my Dom choosing who would see me.”

A pulse of desire raced through Sebastian’s body. Sebastian was confident enough with his kinks that he never minded performing for an audience, but what was really sexy about this was Neil asking for what he wanted. There was something about that hesitant expression and filthy ideas that just sent Sebastian into overdrive.