~ 24/7 - Part 25: The Branding ~
Pic by JenR
Many thanks to JenR for the branding iron graphic <g>
|
Well, I managed to get this one in under the wire, just before it became a year since the last chapter was posted. I did promise that I would try to finish this series in my July 4 update last year, and I'm still hoping to keep that promise - there's one more chapter left after this one. This series is close to my heart and I have always appreciated the phenomenal response it has generated and the generosity of its fans with your wonderful feedback, friendly emails, specially adapted teddy bears <g>, pics, poems etc etc <g> I want to say thank you by finishing the series if I can :-) This chapter has a bit of everything 24/7 in it - armloads of angst, reams of relationship stuff, several steamy sex scenes, a punishing amount of BDSM action, lashings of Master/slave love, and not just one but several guest appearances by everyone's favourite cat. This chapter is the longest thus far, at around 60,000 words, so kick back, get yourself a nice cold drink, find yourself a warm slave to rest your feet on, and start reading... Oh, and please don't forget to fling me a crumb or two of feedback when you're done!!!! THIS CHAPTER IS SPLIT INTO TWO PARTS FOR EASE OF POSTING BECAUSE IT'S SO LONG - THE LINK TO PART TWO IS AT THE END OF THIS CHAPTER I've created a 24/7 Fan Page as a memento of all the great things that have been sent to me during the writing of this series. The 24/7 favourite moment polls can be found here. I used my native UK spelling in this one. Quotation courtesy of my sweet Alex. Standing thanks to Emma. Very special thanks to Phoebe for your usual sound advice and beta comments - you've been wonderful as always! A little moist cheese on toast with ketchup and Boromir-friendly dedication to Emma and Penny who just visited, and to Ann who was here in spirit this weekend :-) 24/7 is an erotic fantasy and NOT a BDSM resource guide. The truth is sometimes exaggerated, or played with, for dramatic effect. For more information, please visit the 24/7 BDSM Glossary. Warning: Lots of BDSM action in this chapter although really if you've reached Chapter 25 without being phased then I'd say nothing in here will frighten you particularly! It goes without saying that this chapter is not some kind of "how to do it" guide to home branding. Don't do a home branding based on anything in this story! 24/7 By Xanthe "A
truth, still apparent, though disregarded, that
J. Winterson Chapter
25: The Branding "Fox, if you won't sit still I have ways
of making you," Skinner commented ominously. "I'm nervous." Mulder bit down on
his already worried looking lower lip. He tasted the slight tang of blood and
licked it away nervously. If Skinner saw he'd chewed into his lip enough to draw
blood then there would be trouble. "I know you're nervous, sweetheart, but
there's absolutely nothing to be scared of." Skinner gave his slave a
sympathetic sideways glance. "That's easy for you to say,"
Mulder muttered, wriggling in his seat. His elbows felt unaccountably cramped.
He shot his arms out to relieve some of the tension and caught his Master a
glancing blow on the side of his muscled arm, causing the car to swerve across
the road. Luckily it was deserted, and Skinner soon got control of the vehicle
again and guided it back to safety. "All right. That's it." Skinner
slammed his foot on the brake, and then edged the car slowly over to the side of
the road. "I'm sorry," Mulder sighed as they
came to a halt. "I really am. It's just…I don't think I've ever been more
nervous in my entire life." "I know." Skinner pulled on the
handbrake, and unbuttoned his shirt-sleeves. Mulder gazed at his Master
apprehensively as Skinner rolled his sleeves up to his elbows. "You're
just doing that because you're hot, right?" He asked. Skinner
turned to face him, a grim smile on his face. "Fox, it's November. I'm not
overheated – but your ass will be in a moment. I think it's time to give you
something to be really nervous about. Maybe a spanking will distract you
from your thoughts for the rest of the journey. We have a long way to go and I
have no intention of driving next to a whirling dervish. It's dangerous aside
from anything else. Get out of the car." Mulder
stared at his Master blankly. Skinner wouldn't really spank him just for fidgeting
would he? Here? By the side of the – admittedly deserted – road? "Now,"
Skinner said tersely, opening the driver's door and getting out. Mulder
unbuckled his seatbelt swiftly, and hopped out of the car. His warm breath
misted the cold November air the minute he stepped out. "Come here,"
Skinner said in a curt tone. Oh shit – was his Master going to throw him over
the hood of the car and spank him in full view of the world? Not that anybody
was watching apart from a disinterested horse grazing in a nearby field. Mulder
went quickly, without question, to his Master's side. Skinner exhaled loudly,
and the resulting plume of breath mushroomed in the frosty air, enveloping
Mulder for a split second in a cloud of warmth. "What
on earth am I going to do with you?" Skinner shook his head, exasperated,
placed his hands on his slave's shoulders and looked into his eyes. Mulder found
the safety and reassurance there that his Master always gave him. He managed a
tentative smile. Skinner ran his fingers over Mulder's forehead, down over his
nose, and stopped for a second on his lip, lingering on the tiny tear he found
there. "What have we said about you damaging my property?" He asked. Mulder
sighed. "She's your sister," he protested, nonsensically. "I
know – and she's very nice. You'll like her," Skinner said softly, his
large hands caressing his slave's shoulders gently. "I'm
not worried about that. I'm sure I will like her. If she's anything like
her brother I'm certain to." Mulder gave his Master another wry grin.
"It's the whole part about her liking me I'm more worried about," he
said, his teeth going unwittingly to his lip and biting down again. Skinner
entwined his hand firmly in his slave's hair and placed one finger over the lip
to prevent the action. "Tabi
very kindly invited us over for Thanksgiving. Do you think she'd do that if she
wasn't interested in meeting you? And, seriously, what's not to like?"
Skinner asked. "Plenty of people like you. I like you. Scully likes you,
Ian likes you - your weird geeky gunmen friends like you," Skinner added
forcefully. Mulder
shrugged. “I'm a disaster at social occasions. I’ll screw this up." "You've accompanied me to plenty of parties," Skinner told him patiently. "You did just fine at all of them." "They were scene parties," Mulder pointed out. "This is different. This is your family we're talking about."
"Not my whole family - just my sister." "She'll
hate me," Mulder predicted morosely. In truth, what was worrying him was
not so much that his Master's sister wouldn't like him as the fact that he
wanted to be liked – and that was something new for him to deal with. He
wasn't someone who suffered fools gladly, and he didn't have the patience to
deal with people who were obstructive or less than sympathetic to his ideas or
his quest. He knew that sometimes came over as a kind of arrogance but he
genuinely didn't feel that way – he was just too consumed by what he knew to
be right to take the time to soothe people's ruffled feathers. That, he thought
wryly, was his Master's talent. Mulder was now so used to alienating people that
he had long ago told himself that he didn't care what people thought of him –
his work was the important thing, not whether he was liked. However, now, for
the first time in a very long while, he found himself caring – and he didn't
like the feeling of vulnerability that induced. His Master had a kind of quiet,
understated charm that seemed to work on people. He had a knack for listening to
people, to seeming to empathise with them – Mulder didn't have that knack. His
relationship with his own family had been so dysfunctional that he dreaded
having to take on a whole new set of family politics with Skinner's family.
Families, as far as Mulder was concerned, were a battleground. And ironically,
it was he who had suggested visiting Skinner's sister – not his Master. In the
closeness that had followed his Master's whipping a few weeks previously, the
two men had talked frankly and candidly about their families. It was then that
Mulder realised that Skinner had an affectionate, if slightly distant
relationship with his sister – and, feeling confident after recent events, and
wanting to help his troubled Master, he had thought it would be nice for them to
get together for Thanksgiving – a suggestion that he was now regretting. Skinner
gazed at his slave for a moment, and then, without another word, he opened the
back door of the car. He grabbed Mulder's wrist, climbed inside the car, and
hauled his slave over his knee, all in one swift movement. Mulder gave a cry of
sheer surprise as his pants and briefs were pulled down, and a gust of cold air
from the open car door wafted over his naked, upturned ass. "You
can be an extremely charming man when you try," Skinner said, punctuating
each word with a sharp swat to his slave's backside. Mulder wriggled helplessly
in his Master's grasp, his long legs scissoring against the car's upholstery,
but, as usual, there was no escape. Skinner's thighs were too sturdy, his chest
and upper arms far too strong. He pinned his slave in position with seemingly
effortless ease and then began spanking him in earnest, talking the whole time
as he did so. "You can be courteous, polite, amusing, attentive and a very
good conversationalist. I know this because I've witnessed you being all these
things – frequently, and without effort. If you antagonise people it's usually
in a professional capacity, because you care too much about your work to
compromise. That's just you. I might not always agree with your methods but I
haven't sought to change you – just to help you win the respect that you
undoubtedly deserve but which your own pride and cussedness has held you back
from attaining." "Oh
shit…" Mulder held on to his Master's thighs for dear life, as the swats
became even louder and stung his exposed backside even more. Now he was grateful
that the car door was open – the cold November air cooled his glowing ass. "Are you listening to me?" Skinner demanded, his hand seemingly tireless in delivering endless stinging slaps to Mulder's backside.
"Yes! Master!" Mulder cried, desperately thankful that the road was
deserted and no passing carload of people was witnessing his humiliation. "Good. Then hear this: My sister is a very nice woman. She won't be judging you. You are accompanying me as my slave, my lover, my life partner, and my permanent companion. That status alone should give you all the confidence you need. What is your primary purpose in life, slave?" "Pleasing you, Master!" Mulder gasped. "I exist to serve you!" "That's right. You will therefore forget your insecurities, and concentrate solely on that task. And you can best please me by being yourself. That's all I ask. Tabi will love you. I already told you that she's got a thing for waifs and strays, and with your puppy dog eyes and chewed lip she'll melt the moment she sets eyes on you. Now, do you understand, or does this lesson need reinforcing some more?" Skinner's hand slowed, and began caressing gentle circles on his slave's backside instead of swats. Mulder glanced back at his red bottom. He wasn't sure he could take much more – and they still had another two hours driving ahead of them in order to reach Skinner's sister's apartment in time for Thanksgiving dinner. Oh god. Dinner. With his Master's sister. Mulder found himself biting down on his lip again, wholeheartedly regretting his enthusiasm for this visit. Why did he do these things? Why did he throw himself into these dangerous situations without thinking about the consequences?
"What if she…?" he began. He
never finished the sentence. Skinner's hand began its stinging work again,
making another circuit of his backside, paying particular attention to the
swelling under-curve of his buttocks, where he sat, purposefully enflaming the
region so that his slave would be in no doubt at all about what was expected of him
– indeed his sore bottom would remind him of this conversation throughout the
day. "You
will please me today the way you do every other day of your life. Today is no
different. You will be the beautiful, attentive, charming slave that you always
are, and that is all I ask of you. Nothing else. Nothing more complicated than
that. Pleasing me is your sole consideration today as it is every day. Do you
understand?" Skinner asked again. "Oh
god, yes!" Mulder gasped, finally giving himself up to the lesson his
Master was teaching him. "Good."
Skinner finished spanking him, and caressed his hot bottom instead.
"Hmmm…such a beautiful sight. The most erotic sight in the world,"
he said in a throaty tone. "If we were anywhere else, I'd throw you on your
hands and knees and bury myself up to the hilt inside this beautiful red ass. As
it is…I'm going to keep the memory of these glowing butt cheeks permanently in
mind today, so that every time I look at you I'll visualise your hot bottom,
waiting for me under your pants." Skinner's voice was almost dreamy, and
Mulder realised they were both hard. He moaned, and wriggled on his Master's
lap, pressing his erection into Skinner's thigh hopefully. "The
road is empty, Master," he whispered, all traces of his earlier
embarrassment at their location disappearing at the thought of being taken,
roughly and without mercy, by the side of the road. "You could use me.
Nobody would see." "It's tempting – but too risky," Skinner said regretfully. "It'll have to wait until tonight."
"Oh god. In your sister's apartment? In her spare room? No. We can't…she
might hear…" Mulder babbled. Skinner slapped down a warning swat to
silence him. "You're mine, slave. I can use you anywhere or anyhow I choose – and I most definitely will want to use you tonight after this little scene, wherever we might be sleeping, so get used to the idea."
"Yes, Master," Mulder whispered, burying his face in his arms and
surrendering himself once more to his Master's will. Just a few short months ago
he knew he wouldn't even have been able to tell Skinner honestly what was
worrying him. He would have become defensive, and angry – might even have
lashed out, run off or otherwise gotten himself into trouble. Being honest about
what was worrying him hadn't come easy to him. It felt self-pitying and weak,
but he had to admit he felt better for it. Mulder sighed happily as Skinner
stroked his bottom for several minutes, and then his Master nudged him to get to
his feet, and ordered him to adjust his clothing and get out of the car. Mulder
scrambled out, his bottom protesting his awkward and undignified exit. He tidied
himself up, tucking his shirt back inside his pants, as his Master climbed out
of the back seat. Without pausing, Skinner wrapped his big arms around his
slave's shoulders, pulled him close, and then gave him a deep, claiming kiss
that made Mulder go weak at the knees. He clung onto his Master for dear life,
then grinned at the other man stupidly when he was released, all his nervousness
banished in the face of Skinner's masterly display of ownership, comfort, and
love. "Has this little 'conversation' helped?" Skinner asked softly, caressing the side of his slave's face. "Can we drive in safety now?"
"I think so." Mulder smiled, and drew his Master back for another
kiss. Skinner's hands went around his slave's back, and cupped Mulder's
thoroughly spanked buttocks, squeezing hard, making Mulder squirm. "Stealing
kisses – I'm sure that's a punishable offence," Skinner murmured huskily
when Mulder released him. "I'm
yours, Master. You can punish me whenever you want," Mulder replied.
"Although…I would prefer to eat my Thanksgiving dinner sitting down if it
pleases you. Tabi really will think I'm strange if I insist on eating standing
up!" "You'll
sit," Skinner predicted firmly with another masterly grin. He opened his
door and got into the driver's seat again. Mulder slid cautiously into the
passenger seat, his sore bottom making its feelings on the subject of the
two-hour drive ahead very clear indeed. "'Conversation'."
Mulder made a face. "Only you could call what just happened on the back
seat a 'conversation'. What is it with tops and their euphemisms? That wasn't a
conversation." "Yeah,
like I wasn't aware of that," Mulder groused, still smiling
good-humouredly. He wasn't looking forward to sitting on his sore ass for the
next two hours but he had to admit that the spanking had worked. He felt calmer.
The butterflies that had settled in the pit of his stomach seemed to have flown
away – for now at least. He leaned his head against the car window, and gazed
at his handsome Master happily as Skinner put the car into gear and pulled back
onto the road. "Love ya," Mulder murmured, unembarrassed by the admission, and full of admiration for the way his Master always seemed to know, unerringly, how to handle his wayward slave. "I
love you too." Skinner glanced at him, with a smile curving his full,
kissable lips. "And so," he added firmly, "will Tabi." "Tell me more about your sister," Mulder requested as they drove. Skinner gave a thoughtful little smile.
"She's…different. Always was, always will be. She doesn't fit in…she's
her own person. I guess that's why we get along so well. She's a lot younger
than me as well which helped I think. There's only four years between Brian and
myself but I was 13 when Tabi came along and…well, I suspect she wasn't
planned, although my folks never said as much. Tabi kept me sane when I got back
from 'Nam. I used to sit in my bed in the family room - I couldn't walk well
enough to make it upstairs to my bedroom – and Tabi used to sit on my bed with
her colouring book. She'd make up all these stories about the people she was
drawing to keep me amused." "What
about later? When she was older? You've never mentioned her until recently so
I'm assuming you're not close." "It's
not that – we're both just busy, that's all. Tabi travels a lot." Skinner
shrugged. "And I have the Bureau – and you." He grinned. "Both
of which take up a lot of my time." "I
have no idea – they haven't invited me to Thanksgiving since Sharon
died." Skinner shrugged but Mulder picked up on the slight sense of
dejection in his body language. "Walter?"
He prompted softly. Skinner
took a deep breath. Mulder knew that his Master wasn't comfortable talking about
himself – most of their most intimate conversations had taken place after a
severe whipping had put Skinner in a state of mind in which he found it easier
to talk about his most personal experiences and feelings – but Skinner
demanded no less than total honesty from his slave and wasn't any kind of
hypocrite. He might have found it hard but he did his best to share his thoughts
and feelings. "Being
with Andrew…well, he wasn't the kind of man who could live with deception. He
knew it wouldn't be easy for me but living a lie is even harder. He didn't
insist I had to tell my family about our relationship but I knew that it was
something I should do all the same." Skinner gazed moodily out of the
window. "I
guess it was a shock to them. Their big, ex-marine son. Their Vietnam vet. And
you'd been married, had this high powered job in DC – I expect finding out
about your sexuality was the last thing they expected," Mulder commented.
Skinner smiled at him gratefully. "Yeah,"
he grunted. "You could say that. My father…I think he took enormous
pleasure in finding the news offensive. It was as if it was the chink in my
armour that he'd always been looking for. Finally, he had something he could
fail me on. Something legitimate, something that made me less than him despite
the important career, the Vietnam medals – despite all that. I was, at the end
of the day, just a fag, regardless of the fact that I had a long and happy
marriage with Sharon, which I guess makes me bisexual - although that kind of
differentiation is lost on my father and I’m not sure it matters anyway. He
couldn’t see beyond the ‘fag’ label and that’s his loss.” Skinner
shrugged, and Mulder reached over and placed his hand on his Master's neck. He
rubbed gently, easing the tension there. "His
loss," Mulder commented. "I'm lucky I never had to come out to my
father. Mind you, he was predisposed to disapprove of me anyway, so I'm sure
he'd have just grunted and taken it all in his stride as yet one more example of
how incredibly disappointing I was to him. What about…?" He paused. "The
BDSM stuff? Christ, I never even got into that with them!" Skinner shook
his head. "I figured that was really nobody's business but my own anyway.
Tabi was the only one who didn't make me feel as if I was letting the whole
family down – and she was the only one who asked to meet Andrew. They got on
well – but then it was impossible not to like Andrew." Skinner glanced at
Mulder who felt his sense of inadequacy surfacing again at that comment. He was
no Andrew Linker. He didn't possess the kind of effortless charm that had made
Andrew a man about whom nobody ever had a bad word to say. "He was like you
in that respect," Skinner commented softly. Mulder shook his head, but he
couldn't help smiling anyway – his Master saw things in him that he wasn't so
sure existed but he was glad that Skinner had such a high opinion of him.
"She's a good person," Skinner continued. "I don't think she has
a judgemental bone in her body. She just wants me to be happy and I want the
same for her." Skinner turned his head and kissed Mulder's fingers where
they rested on his shoulder. "She
sounds great. I can't wait to meet her." Mulder was surprised to find that
was nothing less than the truth. The
discussion, combined with the after-effects of the impromptu roadside spanking
calmed Mulder to the point where he was able to fall asleep. He woke in surprise
an hour later as his Master pulled up outside a large old building. "Wake
up, sleepyhead," Skinner said, tousling his slave's hair affectionately. "We
here?" Mulder gazed around blearily, confused. "Yes." Skinner made no move to get out of the car. He just sat there, watching, as Mulder roused himself. "You okay, Fox?" He inquired gently. "Ready to go in?"
"Yes. I'm looking forward to it." Mulder nodded. Skinner's sister was
the only member of his Master's family who had stood by Skinner during the
darkest days of his life. Whether she liked him or not, he was sure, from all
that he'd heard, that he would like her. Mulder
retrieved their overnight bag from the trunk of the car, and then they headed up
the steps of the large building. Skinner pushed the entryphone button and a few
seconds later the door swung open. Skinner trotted up two flights of stairs,
Mulder in tow, and they stopped outside a red door at the end of a long
corridor. Skinner paused outside, and looked at his slave questioningly. Mulder
took a deep breath, and then nodded. Skinner smiled, and knocked on the door. "Hang
on!" A female voice inside yelled. "I'm coming!" Mulder
exchanged a glance with his Master, and found the other man grinning. "Tabi,"
Skinner mouthed. Mulder rolled his eyes. "I'd
never have guessed," he murmured. That earned him a none-too-serious swat
from his Master. There was a sound akin to a miniature herd of elephants
galloping across a hard wooden floor, and then the door was opened, and a second
later something was flinging itself at his Master. "I
knew you'd be exactly on time to the minute! I knew it! What is wrong with you,
Walter? Why are you so punctual? It isn't natural," the whirlwind
protested, fastening itself around Skinner's neck, a mass of dark curls and
bright blue sweater. Skinner gave a delighted laugh and spun his little sister
around. Mulder watched, pensively, feeling suddenly detached from the family
reunion. He wondered what it would be like to have a grown-up sister like this
one – someone who invited him to Thanksgiving, and was open-minded enough to
meet his male partner. It wasn’t something he'd ever experience and that
saddened him. What would Samantha have been like, he wondered? Would she have
been accepting, like Tabi, or would she have been stiff, formal, and withdrawn?
He was suddenly aware of a pair of bright, dark eyes gazing at him
speculatively. She
disentangled herself from Skinner and then took Mulder completely by surprise by
throwing herself enthusiastically at him. Her arms went around him and she
squeezed and kissed his cheek. He was so dumbfounded that he didn't even move.
Nobody but his Master ever hugged him with this degree of enthusiasm – not
even Scully. People rarely hugged him at all – a fact for which he had always
been profoundly grateful until now. Tabi's hug was nice – welcoming, and
affectionate. "Oh god!" Tabi said, as she took a step back from him.
"You're an FBI agent too, aren't you?" "The
gun." Tabi patted his hip with a grimace. "Walter always carries one,
although exactly what kind of desperate criminal he expects to uncover in my
apartment is anyone's guess." She gave her brother a wicked smile, and then
opened the door so they could step out of the gloomy hallway. It was only when
they walked into the brightly lit apartment that Mulder got a good glimpse of
Skinner's little sister. She wasn't what he'd expected – although he had no
idea exactly what he had expected, just that it wasn't this. He supposed
that in his mind's eye he'd had a vision of a female version of Skinner; slim,
tall, self-assured, restrained…his mental image had faltered at the idea of
assigning her hair, but this creature had masses of it, tumbling from her head
in unruly dark brown curls. She wasn't slim, or particularly tall. She was of no
more than average height, and quite plump, with a homely looking face rather
than a beautiful one. Her inner beauty shone through though, in her laughing
brown eyes, and the most amazingly deep dimples that lit up her whole face
whenever she smiled, which was frequently. Mulder gazed at her, transfixed. "Fox,
this is Tabi. Tabi – this is my…" Skinner paused and then smiled,
"partner, Fox," he finished, although Mulder had the distinct
impression that he could have introduced Mulder as his slave and Tabi wouldn't
have batted an eyelid. "So
you're the famous Fox." She smiled at him, and those dimples made another
appearance. Mulder put his head on one side, and grinned back at her, fascinated
by her. "I knew it had to be someone fairly special for him to bring to
Thanksgiving – and to explain why he's been so quiet recently. It's a pleasure
to meet you, Fox. What an unusual name. Is there a story behind it? I love
hearing people's stories! Shit, I'm talking too much, aren't I? I always do when
I'm nervous." "Well,
Walter's very good at talking sense. He was born sensible. It's very sad."
She fixed her brother with a disapproving glare. "It
is," Mulder agreed. "Very sad." He sighed theatrically and then
joined Tabi in a fit of giggles. He couldn't help it – her laugh was
infectious. Skinner shook his head wryly, but was clearly delighted that his
sister and his slave were getting along so well. "I'm
dying to get to know you, Fox," Tabi said, drawing them both into the
living room. "It'll be cool having someone to tease Walter with. It's a
hard job, but someone has to do it after all," she grinned. "Uh,
I don't have to be teased," Skinner remonstrated, shooting his slave
a stern look. "Yes
you do, big brother." Tabi patted her brother affectionately on the cheek.
"Your family and friends are the only people who know you outside that big,
high-powered job you do. All you get there is 'yes, sir', and 'no, sir'. You
need us to bring you back down to reality, doesn't he, Fox?" Mulder
almost choked. "Well, all he gets at home is 'yes, sir' and 'no, sir' as
well," he winked. "I think he must like it that way," he told
Tabi in a conspiratorial tone. She gave a delighted gurgle and they basked for a
moment in their little mutual admiration society. Mulder dared a sideways glance
at his Master. He might pay for it later when they were alone in their room, but
somehow he thought that in the company of Skinner's little sister he was going
to have some fun teasing his Master without mercy. Judging by the benign look on
Skinner's face, this wasn't a state of affairs he was too unhappy about. He
looked delighted that Mulder and Tabi were clearly going to be friends, and they
all relaxed accordingly. Tabi's apartment was something of an endearing mess. She showed Mulder and his Master to their room, which, Mulder was somewhat chagrined to find, was next to her own bedroom, then left them to go and check on the meal she was cooking.
"How thin d'you think the walls are?" Mulder whispered to his Master
when they were alone, crawling onto the bed and placing his ear to the wall. "Thick
enough for us not to have to whisper," Skinner told him in a normal tone,
an amused smile on his face. "It wasn't talking I was worried about." Mulder made a face at his Master. "I know what you said in the car but I don't want your sister…I don't want her hearing anything," he muttered, flushing a bright red. "Perhaps we shouldn't…"
"Fox." Skinner placed their overnight bag on the bed. "I'm going
to ride you to within an inch of your life tonight. Get used to the idea. Now,
unpack the bag while I go and see my little sister."
Mulder
began unpacking their overnight bag, pondering the issue. He was proud of his
slavery, but that didn't mean he wanted to share the details with anyone outside
the lifestyle – and certainly not with Skinner's sister. He wasn't sure why
that thought bothered him particularly, but it did. Mulder took a deep breath.
His Master had left the door open and he could smell the scent of something
delicious cooking, and could hear the low rumble of his Master's voice,
punctuated every now and again by Tabi's warm laugh. Mulder pulled his Master's
favourite black shirt out of the bag and inhaled the scent of it deeply. The
smell of his Master's pheromones always calmed him, and the residual Eau De
Skinner clinging to the shirt was enough to distract him. He put the shirt on a
hanger and then unpacked his Master's chinos and hung those up too. He made sure
his Master's clothing was lovingly unpacked before hastily seeing to his own
clothes, and then, with another deep breath, he followed his Master into the
kitchen. Mulder
found it so easy talking to Tabi that he seriously wondered whether he might
have known her in a previous life. It was as if they'd known each other for
years and Skinner hardly got a word in edgeways as his sister and his slave
talked non-stop about just about everything over a splendid dinner of roast
turkey, accompanied by so many different kinds of vegetable dishes that Mulder
thought his stomach would explode but it was all too delicious not to indulge to
the full. He chatted to Skinner’s sister animatedly over their long, leisurely
dinner – cramming in conversation between mouthfuls of sweet potatoes,
succotash, green bean casserole and some special kind of Russian salad that was,
apparently, an old Skinner family recipe. Tabi took a keen interest in UFOs and
other related paranormal phenomenon - Mulder was surprised at her depth of
knowledge on the subject and she was clearly delighted by his. "So
how come you know all this stuff?" He asked her in awe when they
both stopped for breath. "I
researched it once for a children's book I was working on," she grinned.
"And I found it fascinating. 99% of it is crap in my view, but there were
just a few cases that I could find no explanation for – they fascinated
me." "Oh I agree." Mulder nodded his head, animated. "So many cases aren't even worth investigating. I can take one look at a photo and judge whether it's been faked in most cases. So you write children's books?"
"Factual ones, yes." Tabi grinned. "Walter says it's because I've
never grown up but then I don't think big brothers ever think of their little
sisters as having grown up, do they?" She grinned at Skinner and he leaned
over and flicked some hair away from her face affectionately, a fond smile on
his face. "I
don't know." Mulder shrugged, feeling his mood change. A silence fell on
the room. Skinner shot a concerned glance at his slave. "I had a little
sister…she was abducted when she was 8 years old. We never knew what happened
to her," Mulder said softly. "I'm still looking for her… Walter's
the only reason why I haven't thrown my life away in the search. So, maybe it's
not that they can't let you grow up…maybe it's just that big brothers can
never let go of that protective thing they have for their kid sisters." He
played with the threads on the table cloth for a moment, his long fingers
worrying at them and was surprised a few seconds later when a tanned, dimpled
hand descended on his own. "Fox,
I'm sorry. I had no idea. What a terrible thing to have happened," she said
and he looked up into her warm, sympathetic brown eyes. "I might grumble
about big brother here," Tabi continued, glancing at Skinner, "but I
wouldn't be without him for the world. I am so sorry for your loss." "Thank
you." He squeezed her fingers. "I wouldn't be without your brother for
the world either," he added softly, with a glance at Skinner. His Master
gave a small, heartfelt smile, then leaned forward and kissed his slave on the
forehead. "It hasn't always been easy reaching this point, but I'm glad that you were able to turn away in time, before it went too far, before you got yourself killed," Skinner murmured and Mulder knew from the look in his Master's eyes that they were both thinking of Krycek, and how he had so recently tried to lure Mulder away using Samantha as bait – and how Mulder had finally found the strength to say ‘no’.
"You always understood – even before we became involved. I don't think I
ever realised that. Now I've met Tabi it's much clearer to me," Mulder
said, gazing at his Master with a new understanding, meeting those brown eyes
and finding in them a dark knowledge and sense of empathy. "If
anything ever happened to Tabi I would go to the ends of the earth to find
her," Skinner said simply, with a shrug, his eyes never leaving those of
his slave. "I've always understood what drives you, Fox. Always." His
voice was firm and his expression unwavering and Mulder realised that just when
he thought he knew everything there was to know about his Master, he uncovered
more layers to this complex, intensely private man. It was almost as if
something had clicked into place, and yet another significant connection had
been made between them – this one transcending sex, or their roles, and
reaching right to the core of what attracted them to each other. Yes, of course
his Master understood his quest - Mulder had always, on some level, been aware
of that - but he hadn't fathomed the depth of that understanding until today.
For a moment they weren't Master and slave, or boss and subordinate – they
were simply older brothers with sisters they loved very much. "I've already got two big brothers but you know there's always room for another one," Tabi said softly, gazing at Mulder thoughtfully. "The two I've got are very serious and grown up. I think you would make a very amusing brother, Fox."
Mulder grinned at her. "You should watch out – I'm a teasing, tickling,
braid-tugging kind of big brother, Tabi." Tabi
grinned back and shot a glance at Skinner who was watching them both with a very
happy expression on his face. "Oh,
I'm more than used to that kind of brother," she laughed. "I
should warn you that I give as good as I get though as Walter will
testify!" "I
sure can!" Skinner said in a heartfelt tone and they all laughed out loud,
their earlier serious mood was broken. As Mulder got up to help Tabi bring in
the coffee, Skinner caught his hand and bestowed a fond kiss on it, and Mulder
in turn dropped a kiss on his Master's naked scalp. Something good had just
happened here; something very good indeed. Mulder
joked around in the kitchen with Tabi as they made the coffee, and then they
returned with it to the table where Skinner was busy clearing away the remains
of their huge Thanksgiving meal. "So,
what's Tabi short for?" Mulder asked conversationally as he put the cups on
the table. "Tabitha,"
Tabi plonked the coffee pot down on a mat beside the cups. "Nice
name," Mulder commented. "Oh
god it's not my real name!" Tabi laughed. "It's a pet name Walter and
Brian dreamed up for me." Mulder
was aware of Skinner suddenly stiffening, and glanced at him in surprise as Tabi
carried on chatting away blithely, unaware of the sudden tension in the room. "My
mother was a great fan of that show, Bewitched which she watched avidly
when she was expecting me, so she named me Samantha after the witch, but Walter
said I was just a baby so I should have been named after Samantha's little girl,
Tabitha – and hence I ended up with this ridiculous nickname!" "Your name is Samantha?" Mulder stood there for a moment, and felt his universe rearranging itself around him as he processed this new information. He glanced at his Master who looked concerned.
"Sorry, I should have told you – I just forgot to be honest. We never
call her that," Skinner told him in hurried tones. "What's
the problem?" Tabi looked from one to the other of them, her expression
confused. "My
sister was called Samantha," Mulder said softly. "Oh.
I see." Tabi made a little face. "I guess it was a pretty common name
in the mid-sixties." "Excuse
me. I need to…use the bathroom," Mulder muttered, and then he turned on
his heel and fled along the corridor. He splashed his face with cool water and
gazed at himself in the bathroom mirror. He was so many things - FBI agent, son,
slave, and the grieving brother who had never been able to let his sister go.
Now…he wasn't sure he understood it, but in some way this day was a rite of
passage. He had become a brother again, and while he hadn't found the sister he
had sought for so long, he had found someone else, another Samantha, not to take
the place of the one he'd lost but maybe to occupy the little corner of his
heart that had been frozen in time for far too long. It felt too profound a
moment for him to comprehend and he stood, gazing at himself in the mirror for a
long while, not, at this moment in time a son, or a slave, or an agent, but a
brother again. "Fox."
He heard a tap on the door and then Skinner opened it, and stepped inside,
closing it behind him. "Are you all right, sweetheart?" Skinner asked
softly. Mulder turned to face the other man. "Walter…I…"
Mulder shook his head, uncertain what he was feeling right now as he faced the
man who was his Master but who, more importantly right now, was also his lover
and closest friend. "I'm
sorry. I didn't mean that to be such a shock…I had no idea this trip would
bring up these kind of issues. I should have thought of it and warned you.
Forgive me." Skinner looked wretched. He crossed over to his slave, and put
his hands on Mulder's shoulders. Mulder gazed at him steadily. "Walter
it isn't a problem. I just needed a few moments to…deal with it. It brought up
some emotions I hadn't expected," Mulder explained. He shifted forward and
settled himself easily into his lover's arms, which closed around him gently,
clasping him close. And for a moment lovers were exactly what they were. Walter
and Fox, not Master and slave, and, for the first time since his slavery had
begun, Mulder saw a whole world beyond it, a world he had barely begun to
explore, but one which he longed to. Mulder stayed there for a long time, his
head resting on his lover's broad shoulder, swaying a little as he mentally came
to terms with these new roles: Brother and lover. "What
are you thinking?" Skinner asked, his big hands still caressing his lover's
back. Mulder sighed and burrowed in closer. These hands that could spank so hard
and deliver such delicious torments to his body could also be so gentle,
comforting and reassuring. "That
it feels almost as if…having given up everything to become your slave, having
given up on a 'normal' relationship whatever that may be, and having given up on
searching for Samantha as if my own life didn't matter, that somehow, through
that act of giving everything up, everything I ever wanted has been given to me.
I don't understand it. Kind of like those people who find love only when they
stop looking. I know she's your Sam, not mine, but…I may never find my own
sister…and…" Mulder ran out of words, blinded suddenly by tears.
Skinner hugged him close and kissed his head and they stood there, sharing a
very important moment. Finally
Skinner released him.
Mulder smiled at the other man, and nodded. As always, Skinner seemed to
instinctively know the right thing to do. Although he must be dying to catch up
with his sister's news, he was more concerned that his lover got to know her,
and began to forge a relationship of his own with her. "That sounds good. Thank you," he said. Skinner nodded and walked towards the door.
"Walter," Mulder called him back. Skinner turned, one eyebrow raised
questioningly. "For all of it," Mulder added. "Thank you for
everything. For sticking with me even when I was unbearable, especially during
those first few days of my slavery when I was all over the place, and for later,
when I screwed up so badly in LA and then again in Seattle. And thank you for
taking me as your slave in the first place. If you'd just taken me as your sub
then I'd have run the moment you got too close. This way I didn't have a choice
– so I couldn't sabotage it for myself. Thank you for all those things. I'm
not sure I've ever said it before, maybe I have in bits and pieces but it bears
saying again. Thank you – for being my Master and my lover. I think that now,
more than ever before, I can see a way to be both slave and lover to you in
return." The
expression on Skinner's face took Mulder completely by surprise. The big man
closed his eyes for a moment, and sighed – a sigh that reminded Mulder of that
first long sigh he had overheard in that room nearly a year ago, the sigh that
had signalled that Skinner was prepared to take him as his slave. When Skinner
opened his eyes again there was an expression of profound contentment in them. "You
already started on that journey awhile ago, Fox," Skinner told him softly.
"What you did for me a few weeks ago, after that crap with Krycek, that
wasn't something I ordered you to do. You stepped up the plate when I needed you
most, and took some of the weight from me. You saw beyond the roles then, and
you glimpsed it many times before that." "Yes."
Mulder nodded. "I just didn't see it clearly until today. You've
waited a long time for me to see this particular truth. You must curse me
sometimes – always pursuing the truth that's 'out there' and ignoring the one
under my nose." Skinner chuckled. "The journey has been a long one," he admitted, "but I don't regret one single second of it."
"Come here," Mulder ordered, and Skinner came, without argument or
question, into Mulder's outstretched arms. Mulder kissed his lover soundly on
the lips, and then released him. Skinner looked down on him with a tender
expression in his dark eyes. "We're not quite there yet, Fox, but we're very close now." "You have to brand me, Walter," Mulder said firmly. "I know we talked about it happening over Christmas but we haven’t discussed it since we agreed on that and I can't wait any longer. It's time."
"I know. We'll make the arrangements as soon as we get home," Skinner
promised. Mulder smiled. It was definitely time. When
he returned to the living room, Tabi was sitting on the couch, her legs curled
up beneath her, sipping her coffee as she stared out of the window. She looked
up when she saw him, her expression uncertain, and he tugged her curly hair
slyly and grinned at her broadly. "Hey,
sis," he said. "What's up?" Her
face broke into a wide grin and she patted the couch beside her. "Come and
sit with me, Fox," she said. "We have so many years to catch up
on." Mulder
sat down eagerly beside her and they started to talk, like old friends, or like
siblings catching up after a long absence, with perfect ease, as if they'd known
each other for years. Mulder relaxed back into the couch, utterly contented,
drinking in the sight of her dark eyes, and her animated expressions as she
talked. He hadn't found what he'd lost, but, after all these years, he had
finally found a sister. It
was late by the time Mulder and Tabi finally took themselves off to bed. Mulder
planted an affectionate kiss on his sister's cheek and then walked into the
bedroom he was sharing with his Master. Skinner was sitting on the bed, reading
a book. He glanced up when his slave came in and smiled. "It's
late – so I'm presuming you two had a lot to talk about," he commented. "Yeah – it's so weird. I feel like I've known her all my life. Maybe because she's so much like you in some ways," Mulder said.
"She is?" Skinner folded his glasses and closed the book he'd been
reading. "Yes – she works like crazy for a start, and she knows all kinds of stuff that you wouldn't expect her to know."
"Perhaps that's because of her job. She has to research some quite varied
subjects I believe," Skinner said. "I was just reading one of her
books." He held up the book that had been perched on his knees. "She
has a whole pile of them on a shelf over there." He pointed. Mulder
wandered over and looked at the array of books – they were factual children's
books, with a variety of interesting titles. He stared at the name on the
spines, unsurprised to find that she used her real name on her work, and not the
family nickname. "Samantha Skinner," he murmured, tracing his finger
over the name. "Kind'a catchy." "I think that's partly why Mom chose it," Skinner said with a nod. "I'm glad you like her, Fox." "I do. I'm more glad that she seems to like me though." Mulder grinned. "I'm sorry – I hope you weren’t bored in here on your own." "Not at all." Skinner grinned. "It gave me some time to contemplate what I plan on doing to my slave tonight."
Mulder flushed – he had forgotten his Master's promise to use him but his cock
told him in no uncertain terms that he liked the idea, even while his brain was
already shrivelling up in embarrassment at the idea of his Master making love to
his slave with Tabi in a room just down the hall. "Don't worry – we won't
be making any noise, and even if we did I'm sure Tabi would take it in her
stride," Skinner grinned. "I thought this would be a good opportunity
to put you into some voluntary bondage, boy." "I
know. We don't need any. That's why it's 'voluntary'," Skinner chuckled.
"Go and clean up and brush your teeth, slave, and then get your ass back in
here. I want to ride it hard tonight." "Take
off your clothes, Fox, and lie on the bed, on your back," Skinner
instructed. Mulder
did as he was told, shaking slightly from excitement. He crawled onto the bed
and lay down, then waited for his Master to come to him. "All
right, boy – your slavery goes beyond physical bond. My orders are your
bond," Skinner hissed, trailing a finger over his slave's naked body.
Mulder moaned and Skinner placed the finger over his lips. "I want you to
imagine that I've gagged you," he said. "You can't speak, you can't
moan – you can't make any sound at all. It's physically impossible for you to
do so. You have a huge gag wedged in your mouth and you can't so much as squeak
around it. Understood?" Mulder
gazed at his Master, wide-eyed, wondering if he was going to be able to manage
to do as commanded. He found his answer in Skinner's dark, uncompromising eyes.
He would obey because his Master was expecting him to do so, however hard it
might be. His Master wanted to use him without disturbing their hostess, and his
Master should be able to use his slave whenever he wanted, however he
wanted. Mulder nodded and closed his mouth firmly. Skinner smiled down on him. "Good
boy. Now, I want you to imagine that you're tied in the tightest bondage. I'm
going to attach your wrists to the bedposts." Skinner raised first one of
Mulder's arms and then the other so that they positioned over his head, and
Mulder stretched them out taut, imagining how they would feel if they really
were tied. "Relax
– you might have to keep this position for some time," Skinner warned.
"Now your legs." He spread Mulder's legs wide as if they were being
attached as well and Mulder's cock leapt to attention as he realised how open he
was for his Master's use. "Good boy. Being a slave is an attitude of mind
as much as anything else. It isn't about the equipment - the implements, the
ropes and chains," Skinner told him, running that teasing finger over his
slave's body as he spoke. "It's about what goes on in here." He tapped
Mulder's head gently. "Your slavery begins and ends here, Fox, and you're
going to demonstrate to me tonight how well you understand that. You're tied and
gagged, subject to your Master's whim. You're an offering, a slave belonging to
your Master who can use you as he pleases - hard…" Skinner slowly pinched
one of Mulder's nipples between his thumb and forefinger with increasing
pressure until Mulder bucked up beneath the hard caress, although he kept his
arms and legs in place, as ordered, and didn't make a sound. "Or
soft…" Skinner continued, releasing his grasp on Mulder's nipple and
bending to kiss the pinched flesh softly. He enveloped the abused nub in his
warm, wet mouth and gently tongued it, until Mulder began to bliss out on a haze
of pleasure. "Good
boy," Skinner murmured, his hands moving over Mulder's body like a maestro
playing with a familiar, favourite instrument. Mulder concentrated hard on
keeping his arms where his Master had placed them and his legs wide open, his
ass available for whenever his Master should wish to take him. Skinner dropped
his head down towards Mulder's body and sucked and played in earnest, pausing to
render a loving bite to his slave's body at intervals, making Mulder squirm and
long to cry out but, mindful of the mental gag in place, he remained utterly
silent. "My
beautiful slave. I love your body when it moves and writhes beneath me,"
Skinner whispered, "but I love it like this, utterly still, as well. I love
your obedience. It turns me on, slave." He
opened his dressing gown to reveal his large erection. Mulder swallowed hard. He
longed to take his Master in his mouth or to touch that magnificent cock with
his hands but that was denied him, so he feasted on the sight of it instead. Skinner
shrugged his gown away from his shoulders and returned to his task. He trailed
one fingernail down Mulder's body, pressing just too hard to be comfortable but
not so hard as to be painful. Mulder clenched his teeth together, bearing the
torment, enjoying the torment, loving his own submission. He heard his Master
reach for something on the nightstand and wondered what he was looking for, and
then a moment later he found out as something rough began to scrape its way
along his chest. He looked down, startled, to find that his Master was rubbing a
nail file over his chest – just lightly, but it was an interesting sensation.
The file moved inexorably towards his nipples and Mulder couldn't stop the
slight moan of anticipation. Skinner tapped him sharply and he nodded, and
closed his eyes, as if that would block out what he knew must be coming next.
Sure enough, a few seconds later he felt the sensitive flesh of his nipples
being rubbed by the file – just lightly, not enough to hurt, but enough to
make itself felt. Mulder was sweating now, and he pulled on his imaginary cuffs,
needing there to be something that would make him endure this without
moving or putting up some resistance, but there was only his Master's command.
Mulder hoped it would be enough because he was sure that Skinner was going to
test him to the edge of his resistance this evening. Skinner took hold of his
left nipple and ran the nail file more firmly over the tender surface. This time
it did hurt – it wasn't a sharp pain but it was a rough one, and his nipples
had already been sensitised by Skinner's earlier pinching and sucking on them.
Mulder desperately wanted to put up his hands, to push his Master away, to bring
the torment to an end. "These
are so sensitive aren't they?" Skinner murmured. "Even before we
pierced them they were sensitive but now they're even more so. Hmmm?"
Mulder knew he wasn't expected to reply but he opened his eyes to find Skinner
totally engrossed in his task, his head bent as he busied himself with his
slave's body, his eyes alight with enjoyment of his play. Mulder put his head
back, utterly turned on by the expression in his Master's eyes. "Shall we
go harder?" Skinner asked, in a husky, sexy whisper. "Hold on, slave,
let's really torment these." And so saying he took one of the nipples in
his mouth at the same time as he continued to rub the nail file over the surface
of the other one. Mulder stiffened and bucked up into his Master's painful
embrace, loving it, hating it, and needing it, at one and the same time. Skinner
swapped sides, and sucked hard on the other nipple while using the nail file on
its twin and it was all Mulder could do not to cry out. He twisted, but his arms
never moved from the position in which they had been placed, and he kept his
legs wide open, his body ever ready for his Master's use. "Beautiful,"
Skinner murmured. "You know, one day, slave, when we're home and have
plenty of time, I'll take several hours to torture these nipples. I have lots of
interesting implements to use on them – I'll devote a whole session to them.
By the end you'll be begging me to stop but I'll continue despite your pleas
until you think you can't bear one more sensation. I'll use ice and heat, and
clamps and weights." He squeezed Mulder's right nipple with one hand while
he spoke and continued rubbing the nail file over the other one at the same
time. Mulder thought he would expire from the dual sensations. "I think I'd
enjoy that, slave," Skinner whispered, releasing both nipples and calming
them with gentle lapping of his expert tongue. Mulder couldn't help himself –
he whimpered, and Skinner slapped his thigh. "Quiet, boy…remember that
your body is an offering to your Master, that you are tied and gagged, and
cannot resist your Master's attentions, however cruel they might be." Skinner
grinned and pinched hard on the already sore nipples. It took all Mulder's
strength of will and devotion to his Master's orders not to cry out. "Good
boy," Skinner said, releasing him. He kissed Mulder's forehead gently.
"That's very good. You're doing very well," he said. Mulder felt his
cock start to leak. This situation was so hot! His Master grinned down at him.
"I think it's time I put you out of your misery," he said. "Hold
tight, boy. I'm going to undo your legs but your arms will remain tied." He
knelt between Mulder's spread legs and parted his buttocks and then carefully,
slowly, inserted his cock, nudging it in, inch by inch, until Mulder's ass was
fully distended. Then he leaned forward, and, resting his weight on his
forearms, lowered his head to suck on Mulder's abused nipples once more. Mulder
wanted to scream – his nipples were now so sensitised that the lightest touch
felt like too much, and the sensation of his Master's massive cock fully lodged
in his opening, filling him to the brim, added to the sensory overload. He
longed to scream and wrap his arms around his Master, but he could do none of
those things so instead he lay there, his arms above his head, his legs open
wide, as Skinner claimed him with his tongue and with his cock. Finally his
Master released his nipples and began slowly pounding in and out of his slave's
body. He went so slowly that Mulder thought he'd expire, feeling every single
inch as it entered him and then slid out again. He looked up to find his Master
gazing down on him, a fond expression on his face. "Beautiful
slave…take me…that's it," Skinner whispered, shifting his hips for
another slow, lazy thrust. Mulder was sure that if Skinner didn't move the
action up a gear soon that he'd have to open his mouth and yell. He couldn't
bear the sensations – he was minutely aware of even the tiniest movement. His
voluntary bondage seemed to have made him more aware of every single nerve
ending in his body and he was sure he could feel the message of each one
individually. Skinner
slowed again, and came to rest once more on his slave's chest. This time, when
his mouth closed over his slave's right nipple, he used his teeth, biting until
Mulder bucked against him, although still Mulder remained in position, arms
above his head, mouth closed, even though his legs were flailing like crazy.
Skinner grinned a totally evil grin and transferred his attention to Mulder's
other nipple, biting down even harder, his hard cock still lodged deep within
his slave's body. Mulder gave a small, inarticulate cry, but Skinner didn't
release him; it was as if he was glued to his slave's body and he wouldn't
release the tortured nub of flesh between his teeth until he was good and ready.
They were frozen like that for what seemed like an eternity, neither of them
moving or speaking, bodies pressed so closely together that they were one,
Skinner's cock embedded in Mulder's anus up to the hilt, and Mulder's tortured
nipple inside Skinner's mouth. Then suddenly it was over. Skinner released him
and, although he was relieved to be rid of the feeling of his Master's teeth on
his sore nipple, Mulder also missed that warm, tormenting mouth, and perversely
longed for it to return. Skinner didn't disappoint him. A few more languid
thrusts and he returned his attention once more to Mulder's nipples, biting down
on the right one this time, and Mulder bore it as he had before, never breaking
in his determination to remain in the position in which his Master had
‘tied’ him, to offer up his body for his Master's pleasure, however harsh
that pleasure might be. Finally
Skinner released him, and began thrusting with more purpose. Mulder gazed,
transfixed as always at his powerful Master as he entered him over and over
again, faster and faster, his arm and shoulder muscles bulging as he neared his
climax, his dark eyes alight with arousal and love for his slave who was
demonstrating his devotion in the only way possible to him – with his
obedience. Skinner came with a gasp, and rested his head on Mulder's chest.
"You're still tied, little one," he said huskily. Mulder nodded,
longing to caress his Master's back. Skinner withdrew from his slave's body and,
dropping his head, took Mulder's cock in his mouth in one swallow. Mulder almost
shouted in surprise and pleasure, and only just managed to keep from making a
noise, and Skinner rewarded him by sucking him at length, before finally
allowing him to come in his mouth. His Master swallowed and then slid up his
slave's body and reached for his arms. "I'm
untying you, Fox," he whispered. "You've behaved excellently, little
one. I'm very proud of you." He
moved Mulder's arms back down and dropped his mouth to Mulder's lips, his deep,
searching kiss ending the pretence of the gag. Mulder sighed and opened up, his
arms finally going around his Master's big body, holding him close. Skinner
released his slave and looked down on him with a grin. "See – we barely made any noise at all," he said. "Nobody heard us."
"No, Master," Mulder said dreamily. "Shit that was hard," he
murmured, as Skinner flopped down beside him and pulled the sheets over them
both. "Sore,
Master!" Mulder retorted in a heartfelt tone. Skinner chuckled. "It
was so good playing with them while you couldn't move," he murmured, and
Mulder grinned. He loved knowing that their sex life turned his Master on just
as much as it turned him on. They were silent, both of them dozing towards
sleep, and then Mulder spoke again. "Master…did
you mean what you said…about having a session in the Playroom just playing
with my nipples?" He asked. Skinner kissed the back of his neck. "I'd
enjoy that – it's pretty close to edge play for you though. It isn't easy
dealing with that much attention to just one area of your body for such a long
time. I'd make sure you got some breaks but even so…it's a real endurance
test. You might find that a turn on – by the end you'll probably be screaming
for me to stop but you'd come harder than usual. Would you like to try it,
Fox?" he asked. Mulder
shuddered, his sore nipples protesting at the very thought of it – and yet, as
with all demonstrations of his Master's power over him, when it was extreme and
took him to the very limits of his endurance he found a massive sexual energy in
it. "I
don't know," he murmured. "Nipple play is so like walking a tightrope
between pain and pleasure." "Mm?"
Skinner asked hazily. "I'd
like you to give me that session in the Playroom, Master," Mulder said.
"Even though I'm sure I'll change my mind the minute it actually happens so
please make me see it through to the end." Mulder
was genuinely sorry to leave Tabi and return to DC the following day. "Oh
it's more than that, Tabi. This one's for keeps." "I
noticed the wedding ring," Tabi whispered, almost conspiratorially, with a
nod in the direction of Mulder's left hand. "It's your ring isn't it,
Walter?" Skinner smiled again and nodded. "Nothing
much gets past you, Tabi. Yes, I put that ring on Fox's finger." He and his
slave exchanged a meaningful glance – neither of them had forgotten the exact
circumstances of that particular act and what it had signified.
Skinner's smile faded a little.
"Well, maybe because he hasn't given me one yet," he murmured. Mulder
frowned. It hadn't even occurred to him to give his Master a wedding ring –
Skinner was the Master and he was the slave. It would take a very bold slave
indeed to make his Master wear a symbol of his commitment on his hand…and yet,
now that she had mentioned it, Mulder thought he'd like very much to see Skinner
wearing his ring. He wondered whether it was something that could ever happen.
Skinner's tone had been wistful when he'd made his reply, so maybe there was a
chance that it could. "Here's
my cell phone number." Tabi tucked a piece of paper into Mulder's shirt
pocket. "Call me," she ordered firmly. Mulder laughed and this time
swung her into up a brotherly hug, which wasn't something he'd done since
he was 12 years old. It felt good. "I
will, sis," he said grinning into her dark curly hair. “Oh,
and here.” She handed him a cooler. “What’s
this?” Mulder frowned. “Leftovers
from dinner yesterday – I can’t possibly eat them all up and I know Walter
has a healthy appetite and you look as if you could do with fattening up.”
Tabi grinned at him. Mulder shook his head and grinned back, before drawing her
into another hug, reluctant to leave. He
got into the car beside Skinner, and they both waved farewell to Tabi. She stood
on the sidewalk for a long time waving until the car was completely out of
sight. Mulder sat back in his seat with a sigh.
"What did you do this time last year?" Skinner asked. "I
sat in my apartment eating pizza and watching very bad science fiction
movies." Mulder shrugged. "You?" "Talking
of play parties…" Mulder glanced at Skinner. "Do you have any idea
when exactly you'll brand me, Master?" |