Payne entered the room a few minutes later. He’d taken off the leather pants and vest, and while he hadn’t scrubbed off the eyeliner, he looked far more casual in a pair of gray sweatpants, a black t-shirt, and bare feet. His eyebrows climbed when he saw Hunter kneeling, and a pleased smile curved his mouth.
“Someone’s been paying attention,” he said as he sauntered closer. “I like it.”
Hunter smirked, which probably wasn’t something a “proper” sub should do. “I’m glad, sir. I can’t promise to be a textbook submissive, but I can try — especially if you like it.”
“I don’t want a textbook sub,” Payne said, running his thumb across the lingering remains of Hunter’s smirk. “I want you to be yourself and enjoy what we do together. Well, outside of our therapy sessions, at least,” he added wryly. “Those won’t be fun.”
“I understand. But this isn’t a therapy session, right? This is… us.”
“This is us.” Payne’s pale eyes were warm and full of affection as he sifted his fingers through Hunter’s hair. “I want to give you pleasure tonight, not pain. Well, maybe a little pain,” he said with a mischievous smile.
Tilting his head to one side, Hunter grinned wickedly. “Actually, I was hoping for one big, hard Payne at some point tonight.”
Laughing, Payne buried his fingers in Hunter’s long, dark hair, tightened his fist, and tugged Hunter’s head back just hard enough for Hunter to feel it without it being outright painful. “If you’re good, that can be your reward,” he said, leaning down until his lips hovered over Hunter’s, almost but not quite touching.
Hunter felt breathless, Payne’s display of forcefulness affecting him in a way he’d never felt before with anyone else. Staring up at Payne, he licked his lips. “If it will get you to fuck me, I’m prepared to be very, very good. Sir.”
“Good to know.” Payne smirked and gave Hunter’s hair another tug before releasing him. “I’m going to get set up. You sit here and watch. If you have any questions, you may ask. If you have any concerns, use your colors. Got it?”
“Got it, sir,” Hunter said, disappointed Payne hadn’t kissed him again. But they had all evening, so he told himself to be patient and wait.
The gray sweatpants were tight enough to give Hunter enticing glimpses of Payne’s ass as he moved around the playroom. Sometimes he seemed to be putting himself on display as he bent over to rummage in a cabinet.
Hunter’s anticipation was building as he watched Payne walking around, but he was also curious. “What are you planning to do to me?”
Payne flashed a wicked smile. “I’m going to let you choose.”
Payne didn’t take long to set up the room and gather his equipment. He placed a large cushion made of forest green velvet on the floor near Hunter, and then he brought over his rolling cart, on which he’d placed several items.
“For now, I want to reserve the cross for our therapy sessions,” he said. “Putting you on the spanking bench means I couldn’t reach your nipples, so you’re going to kneel on the cushion instead.”
Hunter drew in a breath, his imagination more than able to supply him with images of Payne playing with his nipples. “Do you want me to kneel on it now, sir?” He hoped he didn’t sound quite as eager as he felt.
“Not yet. First, you have to choose what you want me to use on you,” Payne said, an anticipatory gleam in his eyes. He picked up a small bowl from the cart and showed Hunter it was full of ice cubes from the mini fridge. In his other hand, he held out a candle. “Ice or hot wax. This is a special candle made just for this kind of play, so the wax won’t damage your skin.”
He put down the bowl and candle and picked up a black handled flogger that was a mix of thin black leather strips and red faux fur. “This would be used to stimulate your skin. I wouldn’t strike you with it. This time,” he added with a little smirk as he put the flogger back on the cart. “One last thing,” he said, holding up a black glove. It looked like any other heavy winter glove — until Hunter noticed the thumbtack sized spikes covering the palm side. “The vampire glove. Pick two.”
“Ice,” Hunter said without hesitation. “I spent so long in the desert, dreaming of ice.” He looked at the three remaining items, wondering which would complement the ice best. “How about the vampire glove? I assume you’d use it lightly, not turn me into a human pincushion?”
“I’m not into drawing blood.” Payne picked up a piece of ice and tapped it against his lips, and then he darted out his tongue and licked it. “So you want ice and the glove?”
Payne’s actions were an erotic enough sight to make Hunter’s body tighten. “Yes, sir. Unless you wanted to use your tongue instead. I’m good with that.”
Payne widened his eyes in the way Hunter knew meant trouble. “Sure, I can use my tongue.”
Holding the piece of ice against his tongue, Payne moved to stand in front of Hunter, and then he dropped into a squat and flattened his cold tongue against Hunter’s nipple.
Hunter gasped at the intensity of the sensation, and he reached out instinctively to grasp Payne’s shoulders. “Oh, God,” he groaned. “That feels so good.”
“We’re just getting started,” Payne said as he sat back on his heels. “But maybe I need to bind your wrists first, hm? We don’t want you getting too grabby.”
“There’s such a thing as too grabby?” Hunter asked, trying to look innocent.
“Under other circumstances, no,” Payne said, chuckling. “Under these circumstances, yes. Considering I plan to use new and different sensations on sensitive parts of your body, I’d rather not risk getting punched in the face thanks to your reflexes.”
“I can see your point,” Hunter chuckled. “Too bad you don’t have a bed in here you can tie me down on.”
“That’s an excellent idea.” Payne stood up and went to retrieve a set of sturdy leather wrist cuffs connected by a short chain. “If things go well, maybe you and I can customize one together.”
