Fic: Two Masters - 8/22

[xanthefic]

Two Masters
By Xanthe
Part Eight

Gibbs left work at 6 p.m. – the earliest he’d left in years. He found himself whistling as he drove home and smiling benignly at the other drivers on the road. He couldn’t remember when he’d last felt this good. He’d expected Tony’s training to be intensive and possibly difficult, but he hadn't expected it to be this much fun. He’d forgotten how exhilarating it was to spar with Tony, and have Tony give back as good as he got. Gibbs would always be in charge, and Tony would never forget that, but Tony could be so damn funny.

Gibbs realised that he’d dug himself into a dour little world of his own making these past few years. He remembered a time, before Kate had been killed, when he’d joked around with his team and life had seemed less grim and serious. He'd still got the job done but with more of a human face. Back then, he’d handed out head-slaps by the dozen to Tony and laughed at his often amusing responses. For the most part, it had been a game – and one that made them both happy.

Now he felt as if he’d got that old relationship back – only even better. Of course, it had been an easy work day – no cases to solve, just paperwork. There was no way Gibbs would have allowed himself the indulgent pleasures of the day if they’d been working on something more important.

Gibbs drew up at his house, parked the car, and went inside. He had instructed Tony to follow him and sure enough, a few minutes later, he heard Tony’s car outside. He'd left the door open as usual, and Tony sauntered in, looking as bright-eyed and relaxed after their first day at work as dominant and submissive as Gibbs felt.

Tony grinned at him, all jaunty swagger and bright, shiny smile. Gibbs’s gaze fell on the bite marks on his sub’s neck, and his cock swelled at the sight. He crooked his finger to beckon Tony over, and, as eagerly as a bouncy puppy, Tony trotted up to him. When he got close, Gibbs reached out, grabbed the front of his shirt, and pulled him the rest of the way.

He wrapped one hand in Tony’s hair, drew him in with his other hand, and then plundered his mouth in a long, deep kiss. Tony moaned, bucking against Gibbs’s groin hopefully. Gibbs released him, and Tony stood there, gasping pathetically.

“Strip. Now,” Gibbs ordered, removing his own jacket and throwing it onto the couch. Tony obeyed him instantly, and within seconds he was standing in front of his top – naked except for the chastity device wrapped around what was clearly a straining, eager cock.

“Please say you’re gonna take this thing off me, Boss,” Tony begged.

“Sure. I want to see my sub in all his glory,” Gibbs grinned, fishing the key out of his pocket and unlocking the little padlock.

He removed the leather device, and Tony’s cock immediately leapt to attention, hard, needy and leaking. Gibbs grasped it firmly, and Tony gave a moan of pure frustration. He thrust against Gibbs’s hand, rutting into it, desperately seeking release.

“You need to get used to being handled, Tony,” Gibbs said, sliding his hand along Tony’s cock in time to his sub’s thrusts.

“Handled?” Tony gasped, as he moved hips frantically.

“Handled,” Gibbs confirmed. He slid his hand down and cupped Tony’s balls firmly. Tony gave a strangled yelp.

“Boss, please, I swear you’ve gotta let me come, or I’ll go insane,” he begged.

“You can come.” Gibbs shrugged.

“Oh thank God!” Tony immediately slapped his hand down on his cock and began pumping.

“But if you do, you go straight on punishment detail,” Gibbs reminded him.

Tony gave a yell of sheer frustration. “No! C’mon, Boss. Please! C’mon!”

“I’m training you, Tony. You gotta get used to being handled without expecting to get off,” Gibbs told him. “It’s a state of mind – and you’re nowhere near it right now.”

“But I want SEX!” Tony protested. “I want to come. I want to come now. Right now. Right this minute!”

“I know.” Gibbs shrugged. "But you don't get to make that decision any more. I do. And I say no."

Seeing Tony like this was testing his own limits too. He wanted nothing more than to bend Tony over the couch and fuck him into it until they were both boneless and sated, but that wasn't the way to do this.

Gibbs was testing himself as a dom – it had been a while, and he had to find his own sense of sexual power and control again. This was a good way of grounding himself and doing just that.

After his relationship with Jenny had broken down, he'd spent some time with Walter Skinner, and his former gunny had taught him a lot about how to inhabit his top space – amongst other things. He'd learned that he had to master himself before he could master a submissive, and refusing to give in to his own desire to fuck Tony right now was a good way of achieving that mastery. It was hard – he wanted Tony so much – but he knew that by holding back now, and increasing the sense of anticipation for them both, it would be all the sweeter when he finally got to sink himself into his boy's fine, tight ass.

“Your body – this body…” Gibbs ran his hand down Tony’s hip and stroked the warm, soft skin on his flank appreciatively. “Is mine. I can handle it however I like – and you have to learn to accept that. Whether I’m spanking you, kissing you, or jerking you off and telling you that you can’t come.”

He slid his other hand along Tony’s straining erection, and Tony let out a shaky breath.

“What’s the matter, DiNozzo? Can’t take the pace of being my sub?” Gibbs demanded. That worked, as he had known it would. Tony’s eyes flashed, and then he gave in with a groan. He rested his head on Gibbs’s shoulder, surrendering to him.

“I can take it, Gibbs. I told you that you can do anything you want to me, and I meant it. I can take it,” Tony said hoarsely.

“Good boy.”

Gibbs stroked Tony’s flank again, loving the feel of the solid muscle under his fingertips. He allowed Tony the brief seconds of comfort and then drew back.

“Training first – then dinner,” he said. “Stand up straight – I want to examine you.”

Tony stood to attention, eyes straight ahead, hands by his side, his stance Marine-perfect. Gibbs gazed at him approvingly.

“Forgot you went to military academy,” he commented. Tony’s eyes flickered unhappily – and his cock drooped downwards. Gibbs frowned. “Not good times, Tony?”

Tony gave his bright, shiny smile. “Actually they were, Boss,” he replied cheerfully. “They were very good times.”

Gibbs got in close, right into Tony’s space. “What’s rule number two, Tony?”

“Don’t lie to you, Boss,” Tony replied immediately. “But I’m not lying to you! Military academy was cool. Definitely good times.”

Gibbs knew that Tony was telling the truth – so why the reaction when he’d mentioned it?

“Anything you want to tell me, Tony?” he asked quietly.

“Nope.” Tony shook his head, that bright smile still on his face.

Gibbs gazed at him for a long time, but Tony’s expression didn’t change. His gut told him that something was wrong, but he didn't want to push too much too soon. They’d only been in this new relationship for a couple of days – it might take a while before Tony felt comfortable enough to open up to him.

He understood his sub's reticence; it wasn't as if opening up was particularly easy for either of them. Gibbs was making a real effort to be more reachable in this relationship than he had in any other since Shannon, but it wasn't his natural inclination. He wanted this relationship to work though, and he was fully committed to making that happen, however hard it might be.

“Okay…inspection.”

Gibbs kept one hand on Tony’s flank as he circled him. He observed every tiny thing about his sub’s body. He was a hard dom, but he was conscientious, and he wanted to be aware of even the slightest mark on Tony’s skin, or the smallest area of concern. He fingered Tony’s back, examining the almost faded marks from the whipping he’d given him the other night. Then he crouched down and ran his hands over Tony’s buttocks. He examined them intently, enjoying the sight of those very round, very white, globes of flesh.

“I didn’t use the paddle or the strap hard enough or for long enough to mark you yesterday,” he said.

“Uh, felt pretty hard, Boss.”

“Not hard enough to mark you. And you need to be marked, Tony.”

He felt the tremor pass through Tony’s body as he said that, and he stroked his sub’s bottom gently.

“Has to be done, Tony. Biting’s one thing…but these…” he pinched Tony’s left buttock firmly, and Tony gave a little whimper. “Need something more. Time you found out how the cane feels."

“It is?” Tony swallowed hard. “You sure? ‘Cause, you know, I’m fine with not knowing how that feels.”

Gibbs stood up and patted his sub’s face affectionately. “I’ll mark you after you’ve taken your day’s discipline,” he said.

“After?” Tony protested. “You’re going to cane me as well as use the strap and paddle?”

“Sure. Marking isn’t punishment. Marking is…” Gibbs put his fingers on one of the bite marks on Tony’s neck. “It's more personal. It’s about you and me. It’s about being owned. It’s not about punishment or discipline. I’ll mark you 'cause you’re mine, and I like seeing my marks on your body - and 'cause you need to know they’re there.”

“Really?” Tony looked unconvinced.

Gibbs gave him a wolfish grin. “Oh yeah. You’ll see. Position One.”

Tony blinked. Gibbs raised an eyebrow, and Tony scrambled immediately to get into position as he had been shown the previous day. He put his hands against the wall and thrust his ass out. Gibbs stood behind him and placed his hands on it, smoothing his thumbs over the firm flesh. He reached down, took hold of the butt plug, and removed it slowly and carefully. Tony exhaled in relief when it was gone.

“What’s the day’s tally, Tony?”

“Fifteen, Boss,” Tony replied, glancing at him over his shoulder.

That was what Gibbs made it too. “You’ll take them blindfolded,” Gibbs said, fastening the strip of leather over Tony’s eyes. “I want you to feel each stroke, so I'm gonna take my time.”

“Trust me, Boss, I really do feel each stroke!”

Gibbs grinned and reached for the paddle. He stood beside Tony, put one hand on Tony’s back, and swung back the paddle in readiness.

“What’s your safe word, Tony?” he asked. Tony’s body stiffened slightly under his fingertips, as if he wanted to throw off the hand that Gibbs was resting lightly on his back.

“Magnum,” he replied, after a moment’s beat.

Gibbs decided to let the almost imperceptible hesitation pass. “Count the strokes out loud this time,” he ordered.

He swung forward, making the first stroke firm, but barely more than a warm-up swat. Tony gave a little gasp.

“One,” he said.

Gibbs swung again, taking care to judge Tony’s reactions. He liked spanking his sub, but, just as importantly, he could tell that Tony liked it too. He might not always like the actual physical sensation, but he did like the act of surrender, and he liked the endorphin rush that came with a well applied spanking. Gibbs swung again, stoking the pain levels expertly with each new swat laid onto Tony’s rapidly reddening ass.

Halfway through, Gibbs swapped to the strap. He swung it down with a satisfying thwap, and Tony jumped. Gibbs waited. Nothing. Gibbs tapped Tony’s back with the strap.

“Count?”

“Uh…” Tony frowned.

Gibbs sighed. “If you forget the count, then I *will* make you start from the beginning.”

“Uh…eight!” Tony replied quickly.

Gibbs stroked his back briefly in acknowledgement and then laid down another one on Tony’s red ass. He loved the way Tony’s bottom glowed and warmed up as he worked.

“This looks good,” he told his sub, running a hand over Tony’s burning buttocks. “One day I'm gonna spend a few hours raising some colour on you.”

“A few *hours*? You’ll spend hours just spanking me?” Tony whimpered.

“Sure. We’ll take breaks, but yeah. Start off slow with my hand and build up to something really heavy.”

“Oh God,” Tony moaned, resting his head on his arms where they were pressed against the wall.

Gibbs grinned and swung again. His shoulders were loosening with each swing; it was so damn good to have a sub again!

Gibbs finished the day’s discipline tally, and Tony made to stand up. Gibbs put a hand on him to push him back down. “Not yet.”

He pushed Tony’s legs further apart and then knelt down behind him. He had been enticed by the changing colour of those firm globes of flesh, and even more so by his glimpses of the dark hole between them.

“Hold still,” he ordered, as he pried Tony’s butt cheeks apart. They were hot to the touch, and Gibbs felt his cock harden. God, he wanted to fuck this ass so much! He wanted to slide into all this slick, tight warmth and take Tony, hard and fast, without mercy. That wasn't an option right now – but there was something else he also wanted to do. He slid his tongue between those burning buttocks, and Tony let out a hoarse, incoherent shout. Gibbs drew back.

“I said, hold still,” he growled. “And remember, however good this is – and trust me, it’ll be good – you can’t come.”

“Got it, Boss!” Tony said swiftly, but Gibbs didn’t think he had. Not yet. Right now it was all new to him, and he was still playing at it. Gibbs hoped he really had got it by the time it came to fuck him. He wanted to know, when he finally sank his hard cock into Tony’s tight, virginal hole, that Tony understood what it meant to truly surrender to his dom’s will. He wanted to look into the eyes of a sub who was giving everything up to him, without expecting anything in return.

That was another reason why he had to wait. Tony needed this week, not only to be sure this was what he wanted, but also to learn how it was going to be. Gibbs wouldn’t fuck him until he was sure that lesson had gone home. And once he did fuck him…Gibbs knew it'd be a lifetime commitment for him after that. Once he'd fucked Tony, he'd want to keep him – forever - and he had to be sure that Tony really *got* that. It wasn't just fucking to Gibbs – it meant a hell of a lot more. And he wasn't sure that Tony, with his casual approach to sex and relationships, had really got his head around that yet.

Gibbs held Tony’s warm butt cheeks apart and dipped his tongue into that enticing hole again. He circled it, enjoying the scent of Tony’s inner body and loving the ecstatic moaning sounds his sub was making. He rimmed Tony for a long time, making his sub take the pleasure just as he’d made him take the punishment. Tony’s cock was hard again, and his whole body was quivering with the agony of not being able to come. Gibbs kept him shivering on the brink of that precipice for a long time, before finally drawing back.

He stood up and surveyed his sub approvingly. Tony was resting his forehead on the back of his hands and his body was bathed in a light sheen of sweat. His ass cheeks were still red, and he was moaning pathetically. Gibbs grinned. He’d get Tony ready for his ultimate surrender by the end of this week – it might not be easy, but he’d do it. He wouldn’t accept anything less.

“Well done.” He pulled Tony around, and Tony came into his arms, shuddering and gasping.

“That was just…oh God,” he whimpered.

“You did good.”

“You really aren’t going to let me come any time soon, are you?” Tony asked mournfully.

Gibbs pushed him back and unfastened the blindfold from around his head. “Nope,” he said. “Do you want to know *when* I’m going to let you come, Tony?”

“Damn it, Gibbs, yes!” Tony growled, blinking as he opened his eyes.

“When I’m inside you for the first time – when I’m fucking your ass like there’s no tomorrow and popping your sweet cherry. That’s when I’ll let you come, Tony. And from then on, you’ll only ever get to come when I’m inside you, unless I give you special permission some other time. Got that?”

Tony gazed at him, his mouth open, looking stunned. His cock was ramrod hard, sticking out straight in front of him.

"But don't worry," Gibbs grinned. "I'm gonna be making good use of your tight asshole at least once a day, sometimes more. So that’s how often you’ll get to come."

“Oh shit,” Tony whispered.

Gibbs grinned and patted his face affectionately. “C'mon – time to mark you. Then your day’s training will be over, and we can eat.”

He picked up the cane he’d bought the previous day and examined it carefully. It was good quality – he wouldn’t use anything but the best on his sub. He motioned Tony in the direction of the couch.

“Position two,” he ordered.

Tony walked over to the couch and arranged himself carefully over the back of it. He was bent from the waist, and Gibbs pushed him forward even more so that he presented a better target.

“This is a good position for marking,” Gibbs told him, running his hand over Tony’s still warm ass cheeks. “The angle keeps the ass firm and makes the mark clearer. Legs wider apart – I want the ass muscles held really tight, so you can’t clench.”

Tony did as he was told, and Gibbs adjusted him so that he was exactly in the right position. Then he took hold of the cane. It had been a long time since he’d marked a sub with a cane, but he’d always had a superb aim. He rested the cane on Tony’s buttocks.

“This will hurt,” he warned bluntly. “But it isn’t about the pain. It’s about taking the mark. As it’s not punishment, I won’t hold you in place, and I’ll give you time to get your breath back after each one. I’ll put three welts on you, but I won’t ask you to count.”

Tony shook in anticipation. Gibbs concentrated, and then he drew back his hand and delivered a hard stripe to Tony’s waiting backside.

There was a pause - and then a loud hollering sound. Tony stood up, his face red, his eyes startled.

“No!” he said in a strangled tone. “That was…that was…”

“Yeah. It hurt. I know.” Gibbs pointed back at the couch. “When you’re ready. Unless you want to say your safe word? If so, I’ll stop – and we'll do one a night for the rest of the week – you'll end up taking five instead of three, but it'll be spread out.”

A completely indecipherable expression settled into Tony’s eyes. His entire body convulsed in a shudder, but he looked grimly determined as he bent over the back of the couch again.

“You sure?” Gibbs asked, resting the cane against his ass a second time. The first welt had created a fine line across the centre of Tony’s ass, and he aimed the second one a little lower.

“Yes, I'm sure,” Tony replied, his voice muffled by the couch cushions. His knuckles whitened as Gibbs swung again, but this time he held position, panting to himself and whimpering in the aftermath of the stroke.

“Last one.”

Gibbs decided it would go easier on Tony if he delivered it quickly, before his sub had too much time to think about it, so he brought the cane down fast, marking the skin a little bit lower again. Tony gave a strangled yelp and just lay there, panting, spread-eagled over the back of the couch.

“Good boy,” Gibbs said approvingly.

He took a moment to appreciate the beauty of seeing his marked, shaking boy just standing there, bent over, head down, submitting to him. It took his breath away. Tony looked so *good* marked, and he had taken the marking well.

Gibbs crouched down and licked the welts he’d just made, fascinated by how they felt and tasted under his tongue. Tony stayed in place, his body quivering, but Gibbs felt him begin to relax. Gibbs lapped at the welts soothingly for some time, until Tony’s ragged breathing had returned to normal. Then he drew him up, turned him around, pulled him close, and kissed him. Tony sagged against him, and Gibbs kissed him for a long time, knowing Tony needed the reassurance after the caning.

When he finally released him, Tony looked dazed. “That was intense, Boss.”

“I know, but you did good.” Gibbs tousled his hair affectionately. “Training is going really well.”

“Show me.” Tony glanced over his shoulder. “I have to see them.”

Gibbs led him along the hallway to the mirror at the far end. Tony took a deep intake of breath as he caught sight of the marks on his ass, and his face positively glowed.

“Good?” Gibbs asked, intrigued.

“Yeah. Good,” Tony replied, in a dreamy tone of voice.

Gibbs felt a surge of affection for his sub for learning such a hard lesson this evening. He'd never had a sub respond to him like this before. Jenny had always fought back, making every order a challenge, while Stan had acquiesced to everything without a murmur. Neither of them had responded like Tony, who was taking in each new aspect of his own submission with wonder and excitement. Gibbs pulled his sub close and gently spidered his fingers over the welts on his ass.

“My marks on my sub,” he purred into Tony’s ear. “Like it?”

“Yeah…like it.” Tony grinned. “Hurt like hell, but…damn it, I don’t know why, but I like knowing you put them on me.”

Gibbs ran a possessive hand over his sub’s body. “I know why,” he said, in that same low, throaty growl, straight into Tony’s ear.

“Why?” Tony asked, his face almost buried in Gibbs’s shoulder.

“Because you’re my sub, Tony, and you’re just getting a glimpse of what that really means. Not playing at it – but the deep stuff. It’s about being owned, Tony, about surrender, about taking whatever I hand out just because I’m your dom, and you wanna give it all up to me. It’s about finding out the kind of sub you are – the kind of sub you *really* are - deep inside.”

Tony nuzzled into his neck. “But I already know what kind of sub I am, Boss.”

Gibbs raised an eyebrow.

“I’m yours, Boss. Being your sub – that's not just what I am – it's who I am.”

~*~

Tony felt out of it as he pulled on his sweatpants and then perched cautiously on the side of the couch to start eating the pizza that had just been delivered. Gibbs had warned him about how addictive sub space could be, and he was definitely aware of that right now. They ate in silence, both of them still deep into the headspace of the night's training. Tony wasn't sure what he'd expected when he'd first blundered into that S&M bar a few nights ago, but it wasn't this. He'd had no idea that it would feel this *good* for a start. His entire body was humming with wellbeing, and he had a warm, relaxed sensation in the pit of his belly.

They finished eating, and Gibbs stuck a movie in the DVD player. Tony didn't even care what it was. He found himself moving, dream-like, so that he was lying on his side, stretched out full-length on the couch, his head on Gibbs's lap. He had been there a couple of minutes before he remembered that he'd told himself he wasn't going to do this needy, cuddling shit again.

He was about to move when Gibbs's hand came down and began stroking his hair. He battled with it for a moment, but in the end inertia won out. It just felt too good to keep lying here in the warm intimacy of his dom's embrace.

His ass was throbbing, but he liked how that felt. It was a symbol of Gibbs's ownership. His world was hazy and happy. He felt comfortable and at peace for the first time in years.

The movie ended, and, still in silence, they climbed the stairs together. Tony got undressed and cleaned his teeth, and then Gibbs bent him over the end of the bed and inserted a new plug. When he was done, Tony got up and kissed his dom's hand absently, without even knowing he was doing it. Gibbs looked surprised, but then he gave a little grin and tousled Tony's hair.

"Bed," he said, pointing at the mattress. Tony went without a word, still feeling hazy. He was asleep before Gibbs even turned out the light.

Tony woke at dawn. He lay there for a few minutes, wondering why he felt so good, and then he remembered the events of the previous night and smiled. His ass was still smarting, but his body felt relaxed. He'd slept better on this mattress on the floor than he ever had in the comfort of his own bed back in his apartment.

He got up to use the bathroom and then walked quietly back towards his mattress. He paused on the way – Gibbs was fast asleep in the bed, sprawled out on his back, snoring softly. Tony wondered what it would be like to crawl into bed beside him. He stood there for a moment, contemplating it. Could he do it without Gibbs waking? Maybe. But supposing he fell asleep, and Gibbs woke up to find him in the bed? Tony wasn't sure what the penalty for that would be, but, knowing Gibbs as he did, he was pretty sure it'd be severe.

He sighed and returned to his mattress on the floor. As he settled down, he realised that although Gibbs had plugged him the previous night, he hadn't put that God-awful chastity device on him again. The knowledge that his cock was *here*, within reach of his hand, made it spring hopefully to attention.

Tony slid his hand down and grasped it eagerly. He knew how to take care of it quickly and silently – years at boarding school had taught him both skills. There was no reason why Gibbs should ever find out. Tony was good at hiding things; he'd been doing it for most of his life.

He rubbed down hard, and then harder, keeping his breathing as regular as he could so as not to wake or alert Gibbs.

His mind went back to the previous night again. That rimming had been so damn hot. His cock ached at the thought of it. His mind wandered to later, lying with his head on Gibbs's lap, having his hair stroked – Gibbs had praised him for the way he had taken the caning… Damn it, his cock softened in his hand. He tried to focus on what had happened in the elevator and how hot it had been to have Gibbs's cock in his mouth. He was just starting to harden again when he remembered Gibbs telling him that he could only come when he was in his ass from now on. How would it feel to have Gibbs's big, hard cock thrusting into him? He touched the bite marks on his neck again. What would it be like to wear that soft leather collar Gibbs had bought for him? What would it feel like to be collared, and naked, and being fucked by Gibbs? How would it feel to come with Gibbs inside him, riding him hard?

His cock was rigid just from thinking about it…but…but…Tony removed his hand with a growl. He'd spent the past eight years obeying the man implicitly. He liked obeying Gibbs's orders. It made him feel safe and grounded. Gibbs was the centre of his universe, and obeying him had always made Tony happy.

He wanted to come – God knows he wanted it so badly – but would he be able to look his dom in the eye tomorrow if he did? Gibbs was holding out the prospect of being collared, fucked and reaching orgasm as a reward for his behaviour during training this week. If Tony did this, right now, then he'd screw that up. Not that he was a stranger to screwing things up but not on purpose. Not with Gibbs. He always wanted to impress Gibbs and win his approval and praise.

Tony muttered a little curse, the palm of his hand hovering over the hard flesh of his cock. Gibbs had said that being a 24/7 sub wasn't easy, and right now Tony was aware of just how difficult it was. He stared at the ceiling, weighing it up.

Gibbs had said that Tony's body belonged to him now, and Tony loved that idea. If he did this, then he'd be chipping away at the power and control that he had given up so willingly to his dom. Tony *liked* the way surrendering to Gibbs made him feel. If he jerked himself off right now he'd win something but lose a whole lot more.

Tony growled and turned over onto his front. He put both his hands resolutely under his pillow. He wasn't going to do it. He belonged to Gibbs now, and only Gibbs got to say when he could come. It wasn't his choice any more.

Relieved by his decision, he fell asleep again.

Tony was surprised, the next day, when Gibbs inserted a new plug into him and then told him to get dressed.

"No chastity device thing?" Tony raised an eyebrow.

Gibbs gazed at him thoughtfully. "Don't think you need it today, Tony."

"Why?"

Gibbs patted the side of his cheek. "Because I trust you."

"You do? Why?" Tony asked, alarmed. "I mean – I'm me! You know me! I'm not sure you should trust me."

"Well I do," Gibbs shrugged. "Training's gone well, Tony. You're a damn good sub – and I trust you not to come without permission." He moved away to throw his plate and cup into the sink. "Do *you* trust yourself?" he asked, coming back to where Tony was standing. "If not, if you think you'll give into the temptation, then you can ask me to strap you into that thing again, and I will – but it comes from you this time. Not me."

Tony remembered that struggle he'd had with himself in the night. He'd fought that battle and won – he thought he could do so again.

"I trust myself," he said quietly.

"Good." Gibbs grinned at him. "Then go get dressed. I'll see you at work."

Tony took the stairs two at a time, feeling elated. Gibbs trusted him! He might have only been a sub for a few days, but he was good at it. He looked at himself in the full length mirror and did a little naked dance of glee.

"TO-NY, TO-NY," he chanted, moving his hips back and forth. He grinned as he caught sight of the marks on his neck, and then he turned so he could look at the faint red lines on his butt. He gazed at them, fascinated, and then traced one finger along them. "See, Stan – he marked me, and he trusts me," he told the empty room. "I'm gonna make him forget that you ever sucked his dick. I'm gonna be the best damn sub in the whole world. Just watch and learn, Stan-baby. In fact – I'm gonna get through today without one single mark going on that chalkboard, and tonight he's going to be so damn impressed that's he's gonna let me sleep in his bed. Well – maybe."

He winked at himself in the mirror and then got dressed, putting on his favourite navy blue suit with the deep blue shirt and navy blue tie. If there was one thing that came easy to Tony, it was knowing the right clothes to wear to flatter himself to best effect. He pulled on an expensive pair of shoes, threaded his favourite cufflinks through his shirt sleeves, and surveyed himself in the mirror again. He looked good. It wasn't just the expensive cut of his suit and the fact that the colours suited him so well. It was something about him. He looked younger – the years seemed to have fallen away, and there was a happy glow in his eyes. He gazed at himself, surprised by just how good he looked. Yeah, today was going to be good.

Tony had barely arrived at work when the call came in.

"Saddle up, people. Dead officer downtown," Gibbs announced. "Lieutenant Mark Adams. They found him in a park." Tony was on his six before he even passed his desk, eager and ready, like the good little sub he was. Gibbs threw him some keys. "DiNozzo – get the van gassed and ready."

Tony caught the keys and threw them straight back at him. "Did that already, Boss! Took care of it last night before I left. Figured things had been quiet for a few days so something might come up today."

Gibbs caught the keys and shot Tony a swift smile of approval as they all entered the elevator.

"I am trying to think of the right word," Ziva muttered to McGee as the elevator went down to the parking garage. "Is it 'blue' nose?"

"Oh, I'm pretty sure the word you're looking for is 'brown'," McGee muttered back at her.

Tony ignored them. He was in his happy subby bubble. There was no way anyone was going to spoil that.

He hadn’t anticipated Detective Isla Shale. She was the tall, shapely, blue-eyed police detective from Metro homicide who met them at the crime scene. She also had red hair - lots of it, down to her waist - tied back but no less long and red for that. She shook Gibbs's hand, giving him a predatory look that set Tony's teeth on edge.

"Special Agent Gibbs?" Even her voice was sexy. A year ago, Tony would have tried to hit on her, but not now. "Wow! You're something of a legend at Metro. I've heard all the stories about you. Always hoped you'd show up on one of my cases one day, so we could have a pissing contest about jurisdiction."

"Really?" Gibbs grinned at her, and Tony could see his dom visibly melting under her charm offensive.

"Hell yeah!" She laughed out loud, a throaty, sexy kind of sound that Tony knew would go straight to most men’s cocks.

"Naval officer's been murdered," Gibbs shrugged. "Not sure we need to have a pissing contest. Seems like an open and shut case to me. We'll handle it."

"Thing is – your lieutenant isn't the only one who's dead." Shale gestured with her thumb at the crime scene. "We have two corpses. The other one's a civilian. Guy named Charles Lamb."

"Connection?" Gibbs asked.

Shale grinned at him. "They said you don't talk a lot. I like that in a guy. Strong, silent type, huh?"

Even Ziva rolled her eyes at that.

"Connection?" Gibbs asked again, but with a little grin all the same. Tony felt his good mood evaporating.

"Lieutenant Adams and Mr. Lamb both used the same gym. Place called Ironman a few blocks away."

"You figure they knew each other from there?" Gibbs asked.

"Apparently," Shale shrugged. "We've only just started investigating. But hey…why don't you and I share the workload on this?" She put one hand on Gibbs's shoulder and left it there. Gibbs looked at the hand, and then at her, and then he gave another of those little grins.

"Okay – but you get in my way, and I promise you we'll definitely have that pissing contest."

"I'll do my best not to get in your way then," she purred, her hand still resting on his shoulder.

Gibbs shrugged off the hand and walked over to the dead bodies, his team trailing along behind. Tony looked down at the corpses of the two men lying beneath a tree – one of them had been badly beaten and the other looked like he’d been garrotted.

"Ziva – you and McGee handle the crime scene,” Gibbs barked. “DiNozzo!"

Tony turned, slowly, one step short of insolent. "Yeah?" he drawled.

"Get your ass over to the Ironman gym and start asking questions. Find out how well the dead men knew each other, and if anyone knows a motive for killing them."

Tony stood there, glowering at his boss. Great – so Ziva and McGee got to hang around the crime scene, while Gibbs conveniently sent Tony away, leaving him free to get close to the very beautiful, very red-haired Detective Shale.

"Was there something in 'get your ass over to the Ironman gym' that you didn't understand, DiNozzo?" Gibbs barked.

Tony gazed at him sullenly. "Nope. Nothing. Nothing at all," he replied, in a hard tone of voice.

He turned on his heel and began walking. When he looked back, he saw that Isla Shale was leaning in close, laughing girlishly as she filled Gibbs in on her investigation to date. And Gibbs – the bastard – was just standing there, with an amused look on his face as he listened. Tony wanted to go over there, grab his dom by the hair, and put a bite mark or two on *his* neck to remind him who he damn well belonged to.

The Ironman gym was a nice place – shining, clean, modern, and full of state of the art equipment.

"I'm sorry – I'm new – I don't really know any of our clients yet – you need to talk to Jason," the duty manager told him.

"Jason?"

"Jason Tulley. He's our top personal trainer – knows all the guys who use the gym."

"It's a men only gym?" Tony glanced around. "No chicks?"

"No – just guys," the duty manager said, looking him in the eye and raising his eyebrow slightly.

"Right. Okay. Gotcha." Tony nodded. "Popular place," he commented, glancing around at all the fit young bodies pumping iron.

"Well you know what they say – no pecs, no sex," the duty manager grinned. "And who doesn't want to get laid?"

Tony glared at him. He hadn't got laid in nearly two years, he hadn't come in days, and his dom was refusing to fuck him because he wasn't convinced he was ready yet. Although that same dom didn't seem to have any such qualms about hitting on some random redhead he'd just met.

"Do *not* talk to me about sex," Tony hissed.

"Uh…okay," the duty manager squeaked. "Uh - Jason's over there." He pointed, clearly glad to hand Tony over to someone else.

Jason was two inches taller than Tony and built like a tank. He had short, spiky blond hair, and muscles growing out of all his other muscles. Tony felt small standing next to him, and there weren't many people who could make him feel that way – although Gibbs managed it all the time despite technically being an inch or so shorter than him.

"Yeah, I knew them both," Jason said, looking visibly shaken by the news of the two men's deaths. "Nice guys. Why would anyone want to kill them?"

"That's what we're trying to find out. I suppose it's possible they killed each other," Tony mused. "We won't know until we do the autopsies."

"Why would they want to kill each other?" Jason asked blankly. Tony had the feeling that the one muscle Jason never exercised was his brain.

"I have no idea," Tony replied. "Tell me about them."

"Well, Charles had been coming here a long time – few years. Mark Adams was new. Only been coming here a few weeks."

"Either of them seeing anyone?" Tony asked. "Anyone from the gym?"

"It's a gym, not a pickup joint."

Tony laughed out loud. "Seriously? Look at this place. It's kind of both." He gestured to the young, beautiful men with their perfect bodies, working out and none-too-subtly eyeing each other up in the process.

"Okay – look – Charles saw a few guys, but like I said, Adams was new, so I have no idea about him," Jason said stiffly.

"Any chance they hooked up with each other?" Tony asked.

Jason glared at him. "I don't fucking know."

"Whoa – you're on kind of a short fuse there, Jason. You take steroids?" Tony asked. "Just - they can make you kinda grouchy."

Jason's face turned red. "No, I don't fucking take steroids."

Tony grinned at him. "Just asking. Well, thanks for your help – if you think of anything else, here's my card."

Tony wandered around and asked a few more questions and then returned to the crime scene. Ducky had arrived and was busy examining the bodies, while Ziva and McGee were equally busy taking photos and bagging up evidence. Gibbs, on the other hand, was just standing there, listening to Isla Shale talk.

Tony barged straight on over to them. "Been to the Ironman gym, Boss," he said, interrupting Shale in mid-sentence. "Asked around the neighbourhood as well. Everyone knew the gym was a gay place – could be Lieutenant Adams and Charles Lamb were victims of a hate crime. They were both working out until late last night. Maybe they came over to the park after, and were making out, and some homophobic bastard saw them and killed them. Oh, I'm sorry, Detective Shale – did I interrupt you? My apologies – I'm sure that whatever you had to say to Agent Gibbs was riveting, but some of us are actually working here."

"DiNozzo!" Gibbs snapped.

"Boss?" Tony stared at him insolently, through narrowed eyes.

"You got any evidence for your hate crime theory?"

"Nope – just conjecture." Tony shrugged.

"Then what the hell are you doing standing there? Go find me some evidence!"

Tony glared at him, but Gibbs turned his back on him pointedly and resumed his conversation with Shale. Tony gave up and stomped over to look at the dead bodies.

"It's such a shame," Ducky was lamenting. "Such fine young men, in the prime of their lives."

"Do you actually know anything useful – like how they were killed, Ducky?" Tony demanded.

Ducky looked up, clearly startled by Tony's unusually snappish tone. "My, my, someone did get out of the wrong side of bed this morning," he said pointedly. "And yes, Anthony, I do know how they were killed. This one was beaten to death." He pointed at Lieutenant Adams. "And he seems to have been laid out in a somewhat ritualistic manner, as if the killer wanted to display him. This one, on the other hand, was tied up, gagged, and then strangled."

"Why did the killer change his MO?" Tony asked. "Think he was disturbed – didn't have time to beat Lamb to death so strangled him instead?"

Ducky shrugged. "I have no idea, Anthony. I just tell you the facts. You are the investigator, my dear boy, and I'm sure you'll reach your own conclusions. In time."

He smiled benignly and then accompanied one of the gurneys back to the van.

Tony turned to see Gibbs still chatting to Shale. What the hell could they have to talk about for so long? His gaze went over to the small crowd that had gathered by the yellow tape they'd used to keep the crime scene clear. He saw the tall, muscular blond guy from the gym standing there, and some devil caught hold of him. Two could play at this game. He walked over there.

"Hey, Jason," he said when he got close. "Sorry about earlier – just doing my job."

"No problem." Jason grinned at him. "I'm sorry too – I guess I was just shocked by what happened to Charles. Poor guy. Had to come down here to see what was going on."

Tony turned and glanced in Gibbs's direction to see that although he was still talking to Shale, his dom's eyes were on him.

"Hey – how much work does it take to get a body like yours?" Tony asked, reaching out to squeeze Jason's biceps appreciatively. Jason grinned even more.

"You thinking about getting in shape, Tony?"

"You don't think I'm in shape?" Tony pulled his shirt up a little way to reveal his abdomen. "How about these?" He sucked his belly in.

"Not bad," Jason replied. "But with a little work I could give you a real six pack."

"Really?" Tony smiled coquettishly. He'd never flirted openly with a guy before. He'd had years of experience with girls though, and he didn't see that it was much different.

"Sure." Jason's eyes were gleaming.

"How about my biceps?" Tony took hold of Jason's hand and placed it on his upper arm. "How do they feel, huh?"

"Like they're about to get hauled off, along with your ass," a voice hissed in his ear, and Gibbs knocked Jason's hand away, grasped Tony’s bicep hard, and dragged him over to the privacy of a clump of trees, away from the crowd. He shoved Tony against one of the trees and glared at him.

"Have you forgotten rule number five, DiNozzo?" he demanded.

"Rule number five? Is that, 'Never be unreachable'? Or is it, 'Always be specific when you lie'?" Tony replied flippantly.

"Neither," Gibbs ground out. "And it's not a work rule, DiNozzo, as you damn well know. Rule number five – nobody touches you but me."

"Well, it's interesting you should mention that, Boss, because I haven't forgotten it, no," Tony snapped. "I think you have though – and that rule works both ways."

Gibbs gave him a look of disbelief. "That's what this is about? Detective Shale?"

"No, it's about the pretty redhead who's all over you, who you keep talking to all the time, and who, apparently, makes you laugh – which is more than any of the rest of us can usually manage, no matter how damn hard we try," Tony growled. "How is it okay that she can touch you…" he thumped his hand onto Gibbs's shoulder, where Shale's hand had been, "But a guy can't touch me in the same way?"

Gibbs's blue eyes suddenly turned dangerous. "Okay – first off, I didn't *invite* Shale to put her hand on me, she just did – and I shook it off pretty damn quick. Secondly, she's making me laugh because she's blatant as all hell - not because I'm interested in her. Thirdly, I'm talking to her about the damn case because I'm gonna dump Metro as soon as I can, and I want all the info I can get out of her before I do."

"Oh." Tony stared at him.

"Yeah. Oh." Gibbs's jaw was tight, and his expression was furious. "You might trust yourself, DiNozzo, but it looks like you don't damn well trust me."

Tony winced and looked down at his own feet. Gibbs's fingers were still pressing hard into his bicep, keeping him shoved up against the tree. Finally, he glanced up again to find Gibbs still glaring at him from those pissed off eyes.

"So, I was hoping to get by without anything going on the chalkboard today, but I'm guessing I fucked that up," Tony said, still feeling angry.

Gibbs raised an eyebrow. "Ya think, DiNozzo?"

"What is the penalty for breaking rule number five anyhow?" Tony muttered. "I'm thinking it's bad."

Gibbs leaned in close. "You pulled up your shirt and let him look at you, Tony. You know how I feel about people ogling my sub's body. And you got him to put his big paws on you – do you have any idea how that made me feel?"

"Same way I felt when Shale was all over you?" Tony suggested defiantly.

"Difference being, I didn't ask her to do that!" Gibbs growled.

Tony rocked back on his heels, his anger cooling. "Yeah. I know. I'm sorry," he sighed. "Look, I screwed up. What can I say?"

"Nothing." Gibbs took a step back. "I have a case to solve. You – get back to work and don't screw up for the rest of the day. We *will* talk about this tonight."

He finally released his tight grasp on Tony's bicep, and Tony watched him stalk away. That had been bad. Christ, he was such a screw up. His cell phone rang, and he fished it out of his pocket, still berating himself under his breath.

"DiNozzo," he snapped into it.

"Hey – it's Jason. I saw your boss haul you off and bawl you out. That looked heavy, man."

Tony glanced over to see Jason still standing by the tape, waving at him.

"It was fine. I was supposed to be doing my job. I screwed up."

"Looked more personal than that," Jason said. "Want me to take care of him for you?"

"What?" Tony frowned. "What the hell does that mean?"

"I work in a gym, Tony," Jason reminded him. "He looks like the kind of guy who likes to fight. Send him over sometime, and I'll kick his ass in the ring."

Tony laughed out loud, a bitter, mirthless sound. "Trust me, Jason, you wouldn't," he said as he began walking back to the crime scene.

"Hey – I'm bigger than him and a hell of a lot younger," Jason said, in a smug kind of voice. "I'll pound him into the ground for you, Tony."

"No – seriously, you won't," Tony replied. "Nobody's ever beaten Gibbs in a fight."

"Nobody?" Jason sounded incredulous. "Ever?"

"Nope." Tony couldn't help but feel a weird kind of pride as he spoke about his dom. He had no doubt that regardless of how big Jason’s built-up body was, Gibbs could take him down. "Thanks for the offer though."

He closed his phone and returned to where Gibbs was talking to Shale again.

"Talk about tail between your legs, DiNozzo," he muttered, feeling like a whipped puppy. He wondered what would happen when he got home this evening. His ass was still sore from last night, and he really didn't want to take another spanking, but he guessed that decision was up to Gibbs. He'd definitely *earned* one, and if his dom made him take one then he would. He'd screwed up; he deserved to be punished.

They returned to the office to find Vance waiting for them.

"Any progress?" he demanded. Tony glanced at Ziva and McGee – Vance didn't usually involve himself in their murder investigations.

"We only just got back from the crime scene," Gibbs replied. "You'll have my report as soon as I have anything to tell you. Any reason for the interest, Leon?"

Vance sighed. "Lieutenant Adams’s father is an admiral – and a personal friend of SecNav's – so there's pressure on us to do our best work here, Gibbs."

"I *always* do my best work," Gibbs snapped. "No matter who the victim's father is."

Tony winced. This was turning out to be a very bad day – and he really didn't need for Gibbs to be in an even worse mood than he already was.

End of part eight
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Two Masters - Part Nine