Fic: Turning the Tables (Lucius/Severus) by kittylefish

[hpsscmods]

Title: Turning the Tables
Author: kittylefish
Pairing/Character(s): Severus Snape/Lucius Malfoy
Rating: NC-17
Contains: D/s, cross-dressing, bondage, blindfold, wax play, spanking, wanking, anal.
Word count: 6,287
Summary: After months of winning every bet with Lucius, Severus finally loses one. What are the consequences?
Author notes: Many thanks to isalie964 for the alpha read and lady_karelia for the beta. This story is a sequel to Losing the Bet, archived elsewhere, but can certainly stand on its own.




Severus glared at the parcel that sat upon the table. When it had arrived via owl post that morning, he had immediately stuffed it into the closet and tried to forget about it. Alas, with no success. Again he wondered, perhaps for the thousandth time, how he could have been so foolish.

They'd been going along for some time now, making occasional bets that had grown ever more ridiculous as the months passed. In the beginning, he had realized he might one day lose. And as time went on, it was not as if it had never occurred to him that perhaps Lucius might be letting him win. He couldn’t remember when he had grown so complacent that he forgot to consider the possibility he might lose, but grown complacent he had. And now the unthinkable had happened. He had lost, and it was his turn.

And Lucius had sent him a parcel.

And time was running out. Swearing viciously, he forced himself to open the package. He carelessly tore off the brown paper, then opened the box. Pulling tissue paper aside, his fingers brushed—the smoothest, silkiest fabric he'd ever felt in his life. Perhaps it won't be so bad. Then he caught a glimpse of it. Pink. The color of the roses on the enchanted bushes at Hogwarts. The bastard. Still, his fingers could not resist stroking the delicate fabric. Carefully, he removed the item from the box. It was a truly lovely rose-colored silk corset. He would have loved to see it on someone else. On Lucius, perhaps. Or even a woman. He could not believe Lucius expected him to wear it. He picked up the note that had fluttered to the ground. No, not expected—required him to wear it.

His frown deepened as he read:

Severus,

You are required to wear every item in this box. Leave nothing behind, or I shall be most displeased.

I will expect you at my club at precisely eight o'clock. I'm sure you do not need me to remind you any tardiness on your part will meet with most severe consequences.

Lucius

Somehow, the words "Leave nothing behind" struck him as ominous. What else was in that box? A skimpy g-string that matched the corset—he supposed that was to be expected. A pair of stockings in the same rosy hue. With bows on the backs. Stockings with bows on the backs. He growled his distress to the empty room, hoping that was to be the extent of his humiliation. As he picked up the box to discard it, something shifted inside. He reached in and pulled out one last item. It, too, was pink, but it was not clothing. He swallowed. He can't be serious! He stared at the item in question and pondered the location in which it was to be inserted, then looked at the time. Now he wished he had started getting ready sooner. He didn't relish completing that particular task without sufficient time to warm up to it.

Without further ado, he divested himself of his clothing and then stood there, stark naked, wondering where to begin. He decided to start with the stockings, as they would not hinder his access in any way. He shook them out and tried to slip his foot in. Unfortunately, his toenails caught on the delicate fabric, and he lost his balance, barely managing to avert a fall. Apparently this would not be as simple as it seemed. Not that it seemed all that simple—he eyed the small, pink rubber plug again.

He sat down and gathered up the stocking as he vaguely remembered having seen ladies do in movies so he could insert his foot directly into the foot of the garment. There, now, that worked much better. He pulled the silky fabric up over his pale leg. Odd, but the pink color actually looked rather pleasant against his skin. He scowled. He was not inclined to feel positively about this at the moment.

He grabbed the other stocking and repeated the maneuver with his other leg. As the silk slid up his leg, his flesh tingled from the contact, and he broke out in goose bumps. Right, he thought. Well, perhaps I'd better make the best of this. As he pulled the silk up to his thigh, he allowed his fingers to graze lightly over his cock, which twitched obligingly.

He reached for the corset. It was a little difficult to decipher—it hooked in the front, and then had laces in back to adjust the fit. He stalked to the mirror in hopes that seeing what he was doing would help. He pulled the garment on, did up the hooks, then pulled the laces and tied it. The top of the corset came just below his nipples, which somehow seemed very provocative. It emphasized the deep V shape of his torso, nipping in at his waist. He glared at his image. Bollocks. Why was there that ridiculous—ruffle?—no, he believed the proper term was a peplum. Though why he knew that term, he could not say. However, he knew there was indeed a small peplum flaring out from his waist. It was so wrong. And even more wrong—apparently, rose was his color. He stared at himself in the mirror, noting the way it somehow brought out a faint blush of pink on his pallid cheeks. Bollocks, he thought again. Well, I had best get down to business.

He summoned the tiny g-string. Looking in the mirror, he brushed it over his cock, enjoying the softness caressing his flesh. He thought back to the last time Lucius and he had played their games together. Still holding the bit of silk, he wrapped his hand around his length and began stroking himself. The trick was to become sufficiently aroused so he would be able to insert the plug without getting to the point where he needed to come. He couldn't risk that at the moment. Lucius would undoubtedly be livid if he realized Severus had gone that far without him, and in any case, he didn't have time enough to properly enjoy it.

He could feel his heart beating faster, his hand wanting to pick up the tempo. He summoned the small rubber implement and some of his special lubricant. He smoothed some over the plug, then rubbed a little over his anus, teasing it with one long finger. His breath hitched. Bastard. I will have my turn again, and when I do … He took the plug and placed it at his entrance, then began to press against the resistance. He glanced at himself in the mirror, at his nipples peeking at him over the top of the corset, at his cock pointing straight at his reflection. No time like the present. With a groan, his hand pressed hard as his hips thrust towards the plug, forcing it past the tight ring of muscles. Another groan as he felt the pressure filling him. He wriggled his hips a little until the intensity lessened to a manageable level. Gods, he could kill Lucius. He wanted nothing more than to milk his cock of every last bit of come right this minute. He took a deep, shuddering breath as he got himself under control.

Right. And now, the knickers. He shook out the crumpled bit of silk and stepped into it, pulling the skimpy garment up his legs. As he tried to contain his now raging hard-on in the entirely inadequate garment, his hand took the opportunity to fondle himself again. With another groan, this time of frustration, he forced himself to stop.

He grabbed his boots and started to put them on. Then he looked at what he was wearing. He couldn't bring himself to spoil the effect with these boots. Telling himself that it was because Lucius would surely require it, he subtly Transformed his boots, making the heel taller and slimmer, the leather shinier, and lengthening them so that they reached just over his knees, but stopping beneath those ridiculous bows. There, surely Lucius would approve. He pulled on his boots, wrapped his robes and cloak about him, and Apparated to just outside the exclusive club where Lucius had his membership.

Severus had been here before to have drinks with Lucius, occasionally in company with others, but usually just the two of them. He rang the bell, and the door was opened by a tall, slim man who was still rather handsome, though the hair that waved back from his chiseled face was now white.

"Professor. Good evening," he said as he stepped back from the door to allow Severus to enter.

"Good evening, Jules. Is he …?"

"Master Malfoy is waiting for you, sir," Jules said smoothly. "This way."

As Jules led Severus along a corridor he had never been down before, he glanced about, taking in the details. Though the atmosphere was as opulent as in the rest of the establishment, the staid and conservative environment elsewhere here gave way to nude statues ensconced in velvet-curtained niches and erotic paintings which grew ever bolder as they moved further along. His eyebrows rose as he considered this newfound knowledge. He had never known about this aspect of the club, and discovering it now, in this particular situation, he was uncertain whether to be excited or terrified. Who knew what sort of … accoutrements these rooms might be equipped with. His heart began to pound in his chest, and he forced himself to draw a deep breath to calm down. Unfortunately, the deep breath only reminded him of the corset and … other things, so the effect was not as calming as he would have wished.

Jules stopped at a door, and Severus nearly ran into him. "We're here." He rapped twice sharply; the door swung open, and he gestured for Severus to enter, then turned to leave.

"Thank you," Severus said to his retreating back as he disappeared out of sight. He hesitated at the threshold of the room.

"Severus." Lucius's voice came from across the room, quiet but firm. "Come inside and close the door. Now."

Something about the way Lucius said that last word made it clear to Severus that he had better do as he was told. He shut the door and stood just inside the room for a moment.

Lucius was seated in a leather armchair in front of a large fireplace. The light from the flames danced over his long, blond hair.

"Come here. Let me have a look at you."

Severus hung his cloak on a hook by the door. He hesitated for only a moment before he removed his robes and hung them, too. He felt awkward as hell walking toward Lucius in his modified boots, wearing only the skimpy clothing Lucius had provided, but he refused to allow the other man to see how uncomfortable he was.

"Well, well," Lucius purred as Severus approached. "Rose really is your color, isn't it? I knew it would suit you." He took in every detail of Severus's appearance. His gaze lingered on Severus's nipples, peaking out above the corset, and they promptly hardened. When Lucius's eyes dropped lower, Severus felt his blood rushing southward, his burgeoning erection threatening to break free from the constraint of those skimpy knickers.

Severus stopped in front of Lucius, horrified to realize his body responded to the man's frankly appraising inspection as if to a touch.

Lucius's gaze lingered on Severus's modified footwear. He nodded his approval. "Nice boots. Very … feminine." He reached out and traced a finger from Severus's collarbone to the top of the corset. "Do you feel pretty, Severus, in your pink fripperies?" he asked.

Severus's breath caught in his throat. "I …"

Lucius conjured a mirror and held it up. "Look at yourself. The bloom of color on your cheeks, the way your skin glows against the silk. Have I not chosen well for you?" His hand trailed down the front of the corset to Severus's waist, over his hip and across the exposed skin at the top of his thigh. Severus shivered. "Who would have thought you'd make such a pretty girl?" Lucius smirked, his finger tracing along the top of the stocking.

"I wonder, did you follow all of my instructions?" Lucius asked. "Turn around."

Severus turned, nervous about what would come next. Lucius's hands brushed the backs of his thighs beneath the bows. "So pretty." Severus heard the smile in the pale man's voice. He hated the way his insides seemed to melt into a warm puddle of goo when Lucius called him pretty in that soft voice, but did not have time to dwell on that fact as Lucius brushed aside the flimsy fabric that did little to cover his bum and found the bit of rubber protruding. "Excellent," Lucius said, his fingers closing around it and twisting ever so slightly. "Good boy."

Severus gasped; he felt as though his knees might give out. One moment, he wondered whether he'd be able to hold himself upright; the next, a pair of leg irons appeared and closed around his ankles, and his hands were raised above his head and constrained in chains that hung from the ceiling. "What the …" Severus couldn't hide his confusion.

"Did you not wonder why I had you meet me here instead of at the Manor?" Lucius asked, a tiny, satisfied smirk playing about his lips.

"I assumed—Narcissa—"

"—knows better than to disturb me in the dungeons during any of my 'games,'" Lucius interrupted. "No, I … invited you here because this room is very special."

"In what way?" Severus asked, refusing to allow his uneasiness to show.

"It reads the desires of the occupants. And then, it can bring into existence that which is desired. Rather like the Room of Requirement, in a way."

That didn't sound so bad. "I see."

"To be clear, in this instance, the room answers to me and only to me."

"Meaning what, exactly?" Severus inquired as if he weren't standing there nearly naked and they were discussing nothing more important than the weather.

"Meaning that the room will reveal to me your desires as well as my own, and I will control which desires are to be fulfilled. Do you understand?"

"I believe so. It is not a difficult concept." Severus smirked.

"You are feeling quite bold, are you?" Lucius swept to his feet with the grace of a panther, and Severus felt a tad less secure. Still, he met Lucius's gaze. Mere inches separated them.

Severus found himself wondering what Lucius might require of him. His thoughts turned to some of their past encounters, and he wondered vaguely if he would have done anything differently had he remembered that one day he might find himself on the losing end. In the beginning, he had certainly entertained the possibility, but as time went on and he always won, he'd grown overconfident. He felt very vulnerable, standing there with his hands stretched over his head. Surprisingly, the feeling was not unpleasant. He felt warmth suffuse his body.

Lucius seemed to notice his flush. He stared into his eyes, then reached his hand up and pulled a black scarf out of thin air. He trailed the scarf over Severus's chest, wrapping it over his nape and around his neck.

Severus felt his heart begin to pound. Surely not …

Lucius leaned his face very close and whispered in his ear, "Scared, Severus?"

Severus forgot how to breathe for a long moment; he felt quite relieved when Lucius proceeded to pull the scarf from his neck and wrap it around his eyes instead.

"Just remember who's in charge now," Lucius cautioned.

Severus stood quietly for a moment, staring into the blackness, then remembered to say, "Yes, sir."

"Hmmph," Lucius huffed.

Then … nothing. Severus waited to be reprimanded or punished. But he heard nothing. Given that he also could see nothing, it was truly disconcerting. He found himself straining for the slightest hint of movement—any sound however faint, any flickering shadow that might be Lucius.

Nothing. He drew in a deep breath and tried to relax—a difficult proposition with his hands stretched over his head. He began to notice things. Things like the corset digging into his ribs and those damned knickers climbing into his arse crack. His boots felt uncomfortably high; his feet were killing him. The cold metal chafed the delicate skin of his wrists. Still, the silence stretched on in the dark. He wondered if perhaps Lucius planned to drive him insane. If so, he hoped he would be quick about it.

He heard a pop, like the sound of Apparation, and for one brief, awful moment he wondered if Lucius had left. How humiliating to be found like this by one of the house-elves or other staff. Then he heard ice cubes tinkling in a glass. The bastard was having a cold drink. He licked his lips. He was thirsty, himself. He heard the ice cubes approaching. The cold glass touched his lips, and the strong drink flowed over his tongue, cool and bitter. He gulped it down, even as he realized Lucius still had not said a word. He felt his tension mount to an unbearable pitch. Lucius held the glass to his lips, tipping ever more liquid into his mouth. He couldn't swallow fast enough, and the spirits ran down his chin, dripping down his neck. He felt the liquid trickling under the corset.

"Why, Severus, how very messy of you," Lucius tutted. "You need to be careful. One would think you were a child instead of a grown man." He moved to Severus's side, standing so close Severus could feel the heat from his body and smell the warm, musky scent of his skin. "If you are going to act like a child, perhaps I should treat you like one." He brought his hand down hard on Severus's bum.

The contact sent a jolt of electricity straight to Severus's cock, and against his volition, he wriggled his hips.

Lucius laughed softly. "You like that?" he asked, his hand hovering just over Severus's flesh, barely touching him.

Severus drew in a breath, but did not reply quickly enough. Lucius smacked Severus's arse again.

"Your manners are appalling," Lucius said mildly. "It's very rude to ignore a direct question, you know." He administered another blow on the other side of Severus's bum. "I repeat, do you like that, Severus?" He added, "I hope you aren't tempted to lie to me," as his hand trailed lightly over the curve of Severus's thigh.

"Yes, I like it," Severus was forced to admit.

Lucius brought his hand down on Severus's rump again. "And apparently we have not resolved the matter of address. What do you think you ought to call me?" He spanked Severus's bum again.

"Master," Severus replied, chastened.

"That's better." Lucius rubbed his hand gently over the hot flesh. Then he scraped his fingernails over the muscles, softly at first.

Severus found the sensation somewhat pleasant. Lucius scratched at the front of his thighs, then snapped the suspenders that held up Severus's stockings; that stung a bit. He felt his cock twitch. I hope he didn't notice that, he thought.

Lucius chuckled. "You liked that?" He snapped the suspenders again.

"Yes, Master," Severus replied, feeling blood rushing to his cock and then suffusing his face in his embarrassment at his obvious arousal.

"You are learning, aren't you?" Lucius said.

"Learning what, please, Master?" Severus asked.

Lucius's breath was a hot tickle near his ear. "You have known the pleasure of taking control. Now you are beginning to understand the thrill of giving up control. Of surrender."

The words filled Severus with a wanton longing. He stretched, his body arching instinctively as if offering himself to Lucius. In that moment, he thought it would be such a relief to have his control wrested from his grasp, to be able to relax, to give in, to let go. All of those things which as a spy he could never do. He heard Lucius's sharp intake of breath. Remembering the properties of the room, he realized Lucius was now privy to all of those thoughts, and that knowledge offered its own kind of freedom. Knowing his desires were laid bare to the other man heightened his sense of vulnerability, but also, paradoxically, intensified his feeling of liberation from the conventions that usually bound him. He felt his nerve endings tingling, his blood pulsing through his body in time with his heart beat, and he realized he'd never felt more alive.

He waited. Then—Cold!—an ice cube against his lips, rubbing, trailing down his neck, over his chest, to his nipple. He gasped—and then gasped again when Lucius allowed what remained of the ice cube to slip through his fingers and fall down the front of Severus's corset. Severus barely had a moment to react before Lucius repeated the torture on the opposite side.

His nipples hardened, and he wondered if Lucius noticed. He felt the small bits of ice trapped in the corset melting, cooling his heated flesh. He thought about how good it would feel if he could touch himself—or better yet, if Lucius would touch him or maybe even fuck him—but he knew that was out of the question at this point. It was too soon.

Lucius reached behind him and grabbed the plug, first twisting, then pulling and pushing it gently. Severus moaned. "Such a good, little slut," Lucius murmured, then stepped away, putting more space between their bodies.

More silence and blackness. Again, Severus waited. After a few minutes, he felt something tickling. A feather? How cliché, he thought as it trailed over the side of his neck. But still, he shivered when it reached his nipple. Then he felt something scraping again—the shaft of the feather, he suspected. He could feel the hairs on his arm standing up. I suppose it's a cliché for a reason.

He felt the feather trailing between his legs, brushing over his bollocks, which had never been effectively contained by that ludicrous scrap of silk and had now completely escaped their confinement. He sucked in a shuddering breath, and his hips writhed sensuously.

Lucius removed the feather from that sensitive area—only to return, slipping under those useless knickers, scraping the shaft of the feather lightly along the underside of Severus's shaft.

"Gods," he hissed.

"You are too easy, Severus," Lucius said.

The feather was removed, and then—"Fuck!" Severus cried, as Lucius rubbed an ice cube over Severus's prick.

"I thought perhaps you needed to cool down a bit," Lucius said, his voice laced with barely contained laughter.

"Still, that was hardly necessary," Severus sniped. Then literally bit his tongue, as he realized what he'd done.

Lucius's hand stopped moving. "What was that?"

Severus held his tongue, but alas too late. The damage was done.

Lucius grabbed a handful of Severus's hair and tilted his head back as if to look in his eyes, which of course was impossible as he was still blind-folded. "Were you questioning my actions?" When Severus failed to reply, Lucius shook his head slightly. "Come now, Severus. It's not as if I've gagged you. Though that could certainly be arranged," he threatened.

Severus drew in a breath. "I'm sorry, Master," he said. "I forgot my place."

"Yes. You did." Lucius's voice was hard and as cold as the ice cube he shoved into Severus's mouth. "You can suck on that while you think about what you've done," he said.

A moment later, Severus felt the cold ice rubbing his bollocks. He bit hard on the ice cube, unable even to gasp, let alone cry out as the freezing cold cube trailed past his balls and along his arse crack. His hands twisted to grab the chains that bound them, fists tightening in his efforts to control himself; he had no interest in discovering what the consequences would be if he let the ice cube fall from his mouth before it melted. For a moment, as the man toyed with him, he was convinced Lucius planned to shove the cube up his arse. He held his breath, determined not to show any sign of discomfort, but he allowed himself a small sigh of relief when Lucius let the ice cube fall to the floor with a clatter.

"That was better. But I'm afraid you still need to be punished."

"Yes, Master," Severus muttered past the melting ice cube.

Severus heard a sort of hissing sound that he knew he should recognize, but did not.

Then—hot! "Fuck!" he cried, letting the cube fall from his lips.

"And here I thought you were learning," Lucius reprimanded, administering several sharp blows to Severus's bum before once again drizzling the melted wax onto his already smarting flesh.

Severus forced himself to hold his tongue. It was hot, so hot—but only for a second. Then it was just—he found it impossible to complete the thought as the next sizzling assault was launched against his tender bottom. Severus had done the same to Lucius on more than one occasion and had watched as Lucius seemed to fall apart at the seams, but he had never been on the receiving end himself, so he'd had no idea what it felt like. Until now. As Lucius dripped the hot wax on him, he found himself wanting more. Now, instead of fighting his shackles, trying to turn his body away from the hot wax in an effort to escape, he arched towards the candle, towards the heat, towards the intensity. Lucius dripped it on his nipples, on his thighs. He quivered in anticipation, waiting and hoping …

Just as suddenly as it had begun, the exquisite torture was over.

He could not hold back the guttural moan of frustration that escaped his lips.

Lucius began to pull patches of wax off his skin. It stung. It smarted. It did not stop his cock from twitching.

Lucius caught one nipple in his fingers and pinched it hard, and Severus yelped. Lucius held it, twisting and pinching, and somehow, before long, instead of being too much, it wasn't hard enough.

"Please," he panted.

"Please what?" Lucius asked, sounding a little breathless himself.

"Please, twist it harder, Master." There was a lengthy pause. Severus knew he should have kept quiet, but he couldn't seem to help himself.

Finally, Lucius broke the silence. "Happy to oblige," he said, twisting so hard Severus thought he might actually break it off.

Maybe not that hard, he thought, but by then, it was too late. When Lucius finally released him, Severus sighed in relief. Too soon, however, as Lucius replaced his fingers with his teeth and bit down hard on the same nipple.

Severus cried out, whether in pain or pleasure he was not entirely sure. Lucius flicked his tongue over the abused nub lightly, lapped at it delicately, then stroked the broad, flat surface of his tongue over it before he sucked hard. Severus pulled at his bonds, wanting to grab Lucius by the hair and kiss him fiercely. He was more shocked by that desire than by anything else he had felt so far this day. Lucius stopped sucking, and Severus remembered the magical properties of this room. Lucius knew what he wanted. The only question remaining was whether he would give it to him, would allow such an intimacy. Severus could feel Lucius's breath, hot on his skin.

He could feel Lucius moving slowly, very slowly straightening until he was standing in front of him. He could feel the heat of him standing close, so close Severus could feel his breath against his lips. He could barely breathe. His lips parted in anticipation. He felt something—Lucius's finger, maybe?—whisper over them. He knew he shouldn't, but he couldn't prevent his tongue from darting out, trying to catch him. The object of his desire instantly moved away.

"I'm very disappointed in you, Severus," Lucius said, sounding sad. "I thought I had explained the rules very clearly. I decide which desires will be fulfilled. And when."

"I apologize, Master," Severus said. Perhaps if he acted contrite, Lucius would reconsider.

His apology met with silence. That complete silence, yet again. A silence as complete, as devoid of sound as the blackness that let in no light. A silence that stretched on until he began to wonder whether Lucius had tired of his little game—tired of him—and had left him there, alone in the dark. He wished that Lucius would say something, do something, just so he would know he was still there. It would be too humiliating for it to end like this.

He felt rather than heard Lucius approach, silent as a cat. His breath caught in his throat, his vast relief almost eclipsed by his nervousness as he wondered what would happen next. He did not have to wait long. He felt something scratching along the skin of his inner arm. It felt almost like a hairbrush or something, gently abrading the tender flesh. It was slightly more than a tickle, but not enough to be really scratching. It caused all the nerves beneath the skin to stand at attention. It trailed down his arm, then picked up again at his thigh and down the inside of his leg. Of course, it darted tantalizingly near to his bits before traveling on.

Lucius moved behind him and brought something—perhaps the hairbrush—down hard on his bum. He hadn't been expecting that, and it stung. He blinked at the pain.

"I gave you credit for more intelligence, Severus," Lucius said, smacking him on the other cheek. "I expected you to learn more quickly." He brought the hairbrush down with a thwack!

Severus felt something prickling behind his closed eyelids. The suggestion that he was inadequate to the lesson at hand stung more than the physical pain of the spanking. Exhausted from the effort of keeping his emotions in check, he sagged against the chains holding him upright.

The blows to his bum ceased. After a moment, he felt something hot and smooth—a stone, perhaps—rubbing over the muscles in his back. It felt delicious, soothing after all the uncertainty he'd been feeling, and he allowed himself to relax into the sensation. Then he felt something cool and wet slipping between his legs. He had no idea what it was. It felt too soft and smooth to be cloth, but it was quite pliant. As Lucius rubbed whatever it was over his bollocks, he decided he didn't care and practically purred his contentment.

"You just have to remember who's in charge, Severus," Lucius whispered into his ear.

"Yes, Master," Severus sighed.

Lucius moved behind him, allowing him to feel the whisper of his silk robes against his back. Lucius's teeth nipped his earlobe lightly before sucking it into his mouth and biting it hard. Severus moaned. It felt almost as good as the kiss he had longed for earlier.

"You have to trust that I know what's best for you. That I will take care of you. Can you do that, Severus?" Lucius asked.

Severus's feelings warred within him, stubborn resistance butting up against his tremendous desire—need, even—to let go. After a long moment, he said, "I trust you to know what's best for me, Master."

"What if I sent you home now, like this, unsatisfied?" Lucius asked. "Would you still feel that way?"

A part of him wanted to rage, to cry. He was shocked to hear this other small part of him say quietly, "I trust you to know what's best for me, Master."

Apparently he'd earned a reward; he felt Lucius's hands on his shoulders a moment before the man sank his teeth into the soft flesh on the side of his neck. The contact rekindled his wanton desire from earlier.

One of Lucius's hands moved to tweak the plug in his arse. "I know what you want," he said. "Do you think you deserve it? That you've earned it?"

"I don't know, Master," he answered. "Somehow, I rather doubt it."

Lucius gave a husky laugh that tickled Severus's ear. "At least you are honest." He grabbed the rubber plug and tugged hard.

Caught off guard, Severus struggled to relax his muscles to allow its removal. Before he'd even caught his breath, Lucius replaced the plug with his cock, pressing the tip against Severus's entrance.

"This is what you want, isn't it?" Lucius demanded as the head began to slide in.

"Oh, yes, Master!" Severus replied. His hips writhed of their own accord, desperate for more, and Lucius pulled away.

"Now, now," he said. "Haven't you learned anything yet? Has all of my effort been for nothing?"

"I'm sorry, Master, I—" Severus began, but Lucius interrupted.

"I don't wish to hear any more excuses, Severus. I've been lenient with you, and clearly that was a mistake. How many times do you think you've talked back or disobeyed me?" he asked. "Five times? Ten times?"

Severus thought back to his actions that evening, but he knew he could not afford to take too long to answer. "Perhaps eight times, Master."

"Eight, then," Lucius agreed.

This time, it must have been a paddle, and Lucius did not hold back. Severus bit his lip, but managed to hold his tongue as the blows rained down on his bum and thighs. He knew he had been pushing the limits all evening, despite his best efforts, so he could not say he was surprised.

After the last one, Lucius said, "I just don't know what to do with you, Severus."

"Whatever you wish to do with me, Master," Severus replied meekly.

"You are lucky, Severus," Lucius said in his silky voice as he positioned himself behind Severus once again. "In this instance, your interests and mine coincide precisely." He placed his tip at Severus's entrance. "This time, I trust you will remember who is in charge."

"Yes, Master," Severus said, his voice barely above a whisper as he waited for Lucius to take him and end his torment.

Sadly, Lucius seemed to be in no hurry. He rubbed the tip of his cock against the muscled ring; then instead of penetrating him, he moved so his prick lay squeezed between Severus's arse cheeks. Severus forced himself to stand still, drawing in deep breaths as he struggled for control.

"Better," Lucius said, and at the approval in his voice, Severus began to believe the torment might turn out to be worthwhile.

Lucius lined himself up again, and Severus held his breath, wondering if this time …

Lucius pressed in just the tip, and Severus willed himself not to move a muscle. Slowly, Lucius gave him more. Severus wished he would just drive deeply into him. Lucius pulled out, rubbing the tip against his anus again.

Severus bit his tongue to keep from saying anything.

"Who is in charge, Severus?" Lucius asked.

"You are, Master," Severus panted, struggling to keep his frustration out of his voice.

This time, Lucius wasted no time as he sheathed his warm, hard length completely inside Severus's eager body. Severus could not stifle his cry of pleasure. Lucius wrapped his arms around him, holding him tightly as he began to move, driving into him, fast and hard.

Pinioned, enveloped in Lucius's embrace, impaled by his cock, Severus decided it was well worth giving up control to be rewarded with such bliss. He'd never have believed he could so thoroughly enjoy finding himself in such a position. As furiously as Lucius was fucking him, he wanted more, harder, faster, deeper.

"Yes," Lucius hissed into his ear. "Now you understand."

Severus strained towards Lucius, moaning incoherently as the tension mounted. He yearned to feel Lucius explode inside him, to be the means of the other man's fulfillment, the vessel to contain his essence. But he also longed to be able to touch himself.

At the thought, his left hand was released from its bond.

"Go ahead," Lucius said, his voice sounding strained.

Severus thought he must be close. "Thank you, Master," he gasped as his fist closed around his swollen, aching cock, which leapt eagerly to meet it. Severus felt Lucius's grip on him tighten, his breath coming in hot gasps next to his ear. Several more wild thrusts, then Lucius moaned against his neck as he reached his release. Severus, blindly fisting himself, followed him over the edge a few strokes later.

They stayed like that for some minutes, panting, each trying to catch his breath, before Lucius finally released his hold on Severus and stepped away.

Moments later, Lucius stood in front of Severus and removed the blindfold. Severus noted that he was completely dressed, not a hair out of place, much as he had looked when Severus had arrived. With a wave of his hand, Lucius released Severus's other arm. The two men stared deeply into each other's eyes for a moment. Lucius leaned in until his lips hovered near the Potions master's. Severus stared at those soft, pink lips, hardly daring to breathe.

Lucius moved back a step. He Summoned Severus's robe and held it for him.

Severus shrugged into the garment, feeling wrong-footed and not liking the feeling.

Lucius gave him an enigmatic, Mona Lisa smile. "Maybe next time," he said as he showed the Potions master to the door.

Next time. As he left, Severus felt his lips curve into an enigmatic smile of his own.