Undercurrents

When Shikamaru returned with the glass of water, Neji stood with his arms crossed and his chin raised. Shika didn’t lift his eyes to meet Neji’s – he knew better – but he obviously sensed the mood change. He stopped several paces away from Neji, glass of water in his hand and uncertainly in his posture.

“Kneel,” Neji said. Shikamaru obeyed at once.

“Hold up what you offer with both hands.”

Shika held the glass up in front of him.

“Good boy,” Neji praised, taking the glass. “And this is the way you bring things to me.”

“Yes, sir.”

Neji drank deeply and then turned to pace over to the locked door. He set the glass down on a side table. When he looked back Shika hadn’t moved a muscle, and Neji felt pleasure lick through him.

“Stand up and come here.”

When Shikamaru got close, Neji reached out to hook a finger under the leather at Shika’s throat and pulled him in for a kiss. Shikamaru made a startled noise and then melted against Neji’s body, pliant and willing. The burning need to touch and stroke and feel was upon Neji like a brain fever, and he took his fill.

After a moment counted in hot breaths and gliding tongues, Neji released the collar and ran his hands down Shika’s arms only to roughly push them behind the Nara’s back. Neji shifted forward, forcing Shika’s back to bow, and Neji gripped Shikamaru’s wrists together while he licked and suckled at the front of Shika’s throat. Neji let his tongue tease along the hem of the collar and over it, tracing the pattern.

The Nara gasped and bent backward, eagerly pushing his skin toward Neji. His chest rose and fell as Neji bit and pulled at the collar with a soft growl. Shika’s cock pressed against Neji’s leg, and he shivered when Neji pulled him upright only to moan when Neji’s mouth locked onto the skin at his throat.

With harsh, sharp pulls of his mouth and lips, Neji marked Shika’s neck and upper shoulder several times. Each new mark drew a gasp and groan from the man in Neji’s arms, and it took a good deal of willpower to finally drag himself away from Shika’s addictive skin. Neji nuzzled against Shikamaru’s cheek and blew a soft sigh into his ear.

“I’m going to go change and you will wait for me out here,” Neji rumbled. Shika trembled and Neji used both hands to sooth over his bare skin, thinking he’d never get enough of the way it felt.

“When I tell you to, you will kneel, bow your head, and think of all the things you want tonight.” Neji gripped both of Shika’s wrists behind the Nara’s back with one hand and let the other one trail lightly up and down Shikamaru’s side and arm.

“You’re going to think about what giving up control to me really means. About the feel of leather, the taste of my cock, and about how you’ve been denied release for days on end.”

Neji moved his hand and lightly ran the pads of his fingers over Shikamaru’s stiff length. The Nara made a tiny noise and swallowed audibly.

“Think I’ll be nice and let you come fast?” Neji whispered before pinching the tip of Shika’s cock. The Nara’s mouth parted in a pant. “Or will I be cruel and deny you until you cry?”

Shika whimpered; a needy, lusty noise. “Any-anything you want, sir. Anything.” Neji repressed a shiver at the breathless reply. He released Shika’s wrists and pulled away to look at him. The Nara lowered his eyes.

“When we walk into that room, there is only one master of your body and your mind, and that Master is me, Shikamaru,” Neji intoned. “Give me my due and call me by my rightful name. Now kneel and think about our little chat.”

Immediately Shika went down on his knees and lowered his head. He put his hands behind his back and Neji watched for a moment while his Shika drew in several slow breaths.

Satisfied, Neji turned, keyed in the code to the garage, and went into his dungeon. As soon as the door closed, Neji flew into action. Turning to his left, he reached and found the master switch that controlled the lights and sound in the room. All the electric outlets and speakers fed into a master control panel – the same one that managed the music in the house and this room. Neji could program the lighting, save the settings, and then flick the master switch to turn on the program. Club Break had a similar system, and when Neji saw what it could do, he knew he wanted it in his own space.

With the flick of the master switch, the large room filled with blue light. Here and there were white lights that spotlighted certain contraptions or areas, but it looked almost silvery mixed with the blue bulbs. There was plenty of light by which to see – particularly over the areas where sight would matter for Neji – but it made the room seem softer. Neji also had red bulbs and stark white ones…but those didn’t seem appropriate for tonight. Soft music also came on through two dozen small speakers– it was the warm up portion of the playlist he created. Later the music would pick up tempo.

Happy with the lights and sound, Neji turned and emptied his pockets into a black, glass bowl that rested on a table to the door’s right. This wall was on an angle and next to the table was the massive wardrobe where Neji kept all his fetish clothing. Stripping carelessly out of his shirt and pants, Neji threw back one of the ash doors to reveal the outfit for tonight. Grinning, Neji pulled pieces of clothing off hangers, thinking sweet thoughts about the look on Shikamaru’s face when he saw him in this.

Gingerly, Neji unzipped the long, leather skirt and smoothed his hands over the soft fabric. The skirt was a hand-made piece of leather art that had been a gift at a convention two years ago. The hemline was asymmetrical, forming points in the front and back. Three inches of painstakingly-sewn, red-leather embroidery decorated bottom hem; the pattern looped and swirled in no particular order or direction. The loops and swirls appeared again around the waist in a narrower strip. Neji didn’t normally wear this…but given his Shika’s reaction to the short leather skirt, he thought it might go over well.

Not bothering with underwear, Neji slid into the long, distressed-leather skirt with a sigh of contentment. Next was the over-the-knee boots, also black leather. The line of the skirt showed small flashes of pale thigh if the angle was just right, but the points of the skirt fell down in front and back to Neji’s knees.

Leaving the waist of the skirt undone, Neji pulled a snug, sleeveless black shirt off a hanger. The design was Chinese-inspired, but modified. The fabric was soft and stretchy, and the round collar hugged closely to Neji’s long neck. Down the front of the shirt were silver, latch-style buckles that did actually close, but the shirt also had a hidden zipper up the front for easy-removal. Neji zipped up the shirt, adjusted the snug fit, and then finished doing up the skirt. He carelessly pulled his hair back into a low tail, tugged at the top of one boot, and then nodded at his reflection in the mirror at the back of the wardrobe.

Humming a little, Neji grabbed a leather lead off a hook next to the main door. The entire dressing process took no more than five minutes tops, but he knew those minutes would feel endless on the other side of this door. Neji shook himself all over, commanded his muscles to relax, and then wiped the grin off his face as he opened the door.

Shika didn’t look up to meet Neji’s eyes, but he gasped when he saw Neji standing in the doorway framed by ethereal blue light and accompanied by the low hum of drums and violin.

Moving with quiet grace and loud confidence, Neji stepped over to Shika. “Head back,” he commanded.

The Nara bared his throat and Neji clicked the lead through the small ring on the collar that fell right over the hollow of his throat.

“Stand and follow.”

Neji turned and led Shika into the dungeon, noting the way Shikamaru’s arms came up to cross over his chest. The room was already several degrees warmer than the rest of the house – controlled by its own thermostat – but Neji didn’t think Shika’s reaction had anything to do with temperature.

“Close the door,” Neji said and watched Shikamaru obey, the door closing with a solemn thud. Shika turned, arms crossed, and stood with his mouth slightly open as he slowly gazed around the room. With a small smile, Neji pulled on the lead with a quick jerk.

“Knees.” Neji watched as Shika nearly scrambled to get down into position, his skin looking creamy against the black floor. His chest rose and fell rapidly and his face was flushed with anticipation. Neji’s hips swayed a little as he stepped over to run his fingers through Shika’s hair.

And when we get inside, everything ceases to matter except what we’re about to do…and I want so much. I know it’s going to be a long night. And I’m terrified that you won’t do everything you promised…and I’m frozen at the thought of you doing any of it at all…

“Since this is your first time here, I think you deserve the tour,” Neji said evenly. “So we’re going to walk around so I can show you some of what I’ll be doing to you tonight. If you want to know more about this room and the things in it, you may ask. But you only get three questions. Later, I’ll answer anything you want, but for now…only three.”

Neji smiled…he really wanted to be in the Nara’s head as the man tried to narrow down the options.

“Tonight’s safewords are canary to stop one action and rouge to stop everything. Say the words.”

“Canary and rouge, Master,” Shika said softly.

“Good boy. On the tour, you will not speak except to ask your three questions. Address me properly at all times. You don’t have to ask anything at all. You may move about freely and touch things, but only within the limit of your leash and only if I pause in the tour. If I ask you a direct question, you may answer. Do you understand these terms?”

“Yes, Master.”

“Good. On your feet, then. Let’s take a walk.”

Neji’s dungeon was roughly 1000 square feet. The garage space was actually larger than that, but the six inches of soundproofing on all the walls took a toll. The floors were finished concrete and painted black, and the walls and ceiling matched. When Neji decorated the dungeon and stocked it with furniture, he decided to forgo the usual red accents in favor of silver and royal blue. Both colors looked dynamic and interesting under the lighting scheme.

The first thing people noticed after the size and color scheme, however, was that any wall space not covered in something useful was covered in mirrors. The ceiling was eight feet high, and industrial eyehooks were screwed into the support beams every ten feet or so. Around these hooks and the recessed lighting were more mirrors. Everything was reflected back on itself, making the room appear much larger than its already substantial size.

Usually the next thing people noticed was the floor-to-ceiling glass cabinets on the long wall to the left of the door and next to the control panel. Behind the glass were most of Neji’s whips, floggers, canes, and various other implements of skin destruction. Some of them were purely decorative, some of them Neji never used, but they were all carefully secured on hooks and kept clean and dust-free behind to the glass.

Neji paused to let Shika look into the case, which was spotlighted with a soft white light. The Nara reached out and touched a finger to one of the door handles before turning and looking back at Neji. He seemed about to say something, but then his expression changed.

In front of the wall of glass storage was the first area, as Neji thought of it. He divided the room into five clusters as that’s the way it’d been designed. Areas were designated by large rugs or mats and by spotlights.

Shika cocked his head to one side and stepped onto the rich, black rug. A long, dark blue couch ran along one side of the rug and in front of the couch was an odd contraption that Shika seemed to have some trouble figuring out. Neji smirked and moved closer so that Shika could take another look.

“See something you like?” Neji asked conversationally.

Shika stared at the slab of black metal that was about a foot tall, two feet wide, and four feet long. Two sets of stocks – one that fit across the width of the long slab, and one attached to the sides on an angle at one end – were the only other features of the piece.

“I’m not sure, Master,” Shika answered, remembering the rules.

Then Shika’s head swiveled to the incredibly vicious-looking electronic tower next to the slab, and he reached the point where he just couldn’t help himself.

“What are these two pieces, Master?” He sounded more curious than worried.

“That particular bit of metal furniture is called, ‘The Trap,’” Neji explained. “It completely immobilizes you. The head and arms go here,” Neji pointed to the adjustable stock that fit into slots on the metal slab. “And the legs bend and go through here.” Neji pointed to the angled stocks. “Leaving all the interesting parts exposed.”

Shikamaru swallowed.

“And that,” Neji said, pointing to the folded hunk of metal bars, steel, and electronics. “Is commonly referred to as a ‘fucking machine.’”

Shika took a step back.

“Would you like to try it?” Neji asked sweetly.

“N-no, thank you, Master,” Shika said, shaking his head quickly.

Neji laughed. “Fortunately for you, it’s not in the cards tonight. Come on, pet. I want to get to the part where you whimper and cry for me while we’re still young.”

With a small noise, Shika followed as Neji continued to tour around the edge of the room. They passed a series of wheels mounted on the wall that held various sizes of chain, two cabinets that held the more delicate toys, a St. Andrews cross, a padded bit of wall surrounded by d-rings, and several bits of art that cost a small fortune. In the back left corner of the room was a metal-framed four-corner rack with a leather sling. Shika blinked at area two for a moment before stepping quickly to keep up with Neji.

Three hanging cages – one round, one square, one oblong – were suspended from the ceiling, and Shika inched closer to Neji when they walked around them to get to the middle of the room. Neji never used the cages…but Shika didn’t need to know that. Neji smirked.

The third area –where most of the playing went on – had several pieces of heavy, oak furniture: racks, a large table, a whipping post. There was a massive chair situated at the edge of the large, black-and-silver rug – too large and comfortable to be called a throne – but it could swivel in all directions. Neji didn’t like limiting his view.

“We’ll begin here after we’re done looking around,” Neji said casually, and gestured with a sweep of his arm. Shika looked nervously at the whipping post but said nothing.

“For reference…this dungeon and the one at Club Break are very similar,” Neji commented as they slowly circled the middle area. He didn’t give Shika much of a chance to look at anything – they’d be back here soon enough.

“The same man – Tenzou, you met him at Bliss – designed both, although there are more standard pieces at Break than are in my collection. Tenzou made most of the furniture in this room by hand.”

Neji stopped to let Shika look over the seating area positioned to the right of the swiveling semi-throne. Another rich rug flowed under the couch and winged-chairs, and all the seating offered a view of not one but two spanking benches. Neji let Shika look over each bench – one an open-designed punishment bench and the other a closed horse – before tugging again on the leash.

“Master…”

Neji paused to look at Shikamaru expectantly.

“Will we be…here tonight, Master?” Shika referred to the entire section, but one hand gestured to the couch.

“Yes,” Neji answered simply. “But how long we linger will depend on you, pet.”

Shika seemed to turn that over in his mind before nodding, and he had to step quickly to catch up to Neji as they continued on their tour.

The last thing people noticed and commented on in this room was the bathroom. The dungeon was equipped with shower, toilet, sink, and tub all done in black porcelain. The bath was tiled in stark black and white and sloped in the middle to the drain.

And it was surrounded entirely by slightly-frosted glass walls that offered absolutely no privacy whatsoever.

“Why is that…” Shika started and then seemed to get lost in organizing his thoughts. “Why the glass, Master?” he asked finally.

“So I always know where you are and there’s nowhere to hide,” Neji answered calmly. “In this room, everything about you is mine, pet.” Neji raised an elegant shoulder as if that information should be obvious.

Shika seemed to consider the room and the reply before turning in place and looking to the back of the room.

In the back left corner behind the glass bathroom was an alcove that contained a massive canopy bed on a raised dais. The walls surrounding the bed were covered in more mirrors, and more stocks were molded into the head and footboards. The coverlet was a shiny black with silver stripes, and the sheets were black satin.

Shikamaru looked almost longingly at the bed, and Neji chuckled. “And that is where we will end,” Neji said as he passed behind Shika, dragging a finger across a tense pair of shoulders. The Nara shivered, and Neji tugged on the leash to turn Shika to face him.

“Tour’s over,” Neji said calmly. He unhooked the leash from Shika’s collar. “Go make use of the facilities and then come find me.”

Shikamaru hesitated, his face blanching - probably at the thought of the glass bathroom – and he took two steps in the wrong direction. Neji’s expression darkened. In half a second Neji’s fingers were under Shika’s collar, yanking the Nara to Neji with force.

“In this room, my words are not requests, pet,” Neji hissed against Shikamaru’s cheek. “They are law.” Neji released Shika with a little push, and the Nara stumbled, eyes wide.

“Stand up straight,” Neji commanded. He watched Shika obey, body seeming to move before it caught up to the Nara’s overly-enthusiastic brain.

“Spread your legs, bend over at the waist, and put your hands on the floor.”

As soon as Shika was in position, Neji stepped behind him and brought the palm of his hand down hard on Shikamaru’s backside. The Nara made a choking noise and his legs shook. This was much harsher than Neji’s usual reprimand, which generally involved Neji holding Shika or incorporating the light spanking into pleasure.

“Now get up and do as you’re told before I get irritated. You do not want me irritated this early in the evening, boy.”

“N-no, Master,” Shika replied, starting to stand.

With an exasperated sigh, Neji pressed Shika back down to the floor and brought his hand down on the same cheek. A red mark bloomed and Shika let loose an undignified yelp.

“What did you do wrong?” Neji asked as though it was the most tiresome thing in the world.

“I-I…”

Neji enjoyed watching Shika scramble for an answer for two seconds before bringing his hand down again twice – same place, same force. It earned him a gasping whine that almost sounded like pleasure.

“I suggest you answer me quickly before I’m forced to blister this lovely ass of yours,” Neji said duly.

“I spoke without permission, Master,” Shika said, quickly and with much relief.

Neji grunted and stepped away from Shikamaru. “And now you have a taste of what happens if you break the rules. Now get up and do as you were told.”

With a sharp breath, Shika stood and walked carefully to the glass door of the bathroom. He walked like a man with an erection that could double as a coat rack and an ass that burned in a dull blaze.

Neji smiled wickedly before turning to walk to the middle of the room. His boots made resonant thuds against the concrete and then went silent on the black carpet. Neji slowed his pace and ran his hand across the smooth oak of the bondage table as he walked to one end. Leather cuffs, links, and straps were already attached in strategic places to the steel rings embedded into the tables’ sides. A cart sat at the head of the table and an electric cord snaked down one table leg to plug into an outlet set in a molded box in the floor. The items on the cart were covered with a heat-resistant tarp. It just wouldn’t do for Shika to see what Neji planned before the fun began.

With arms crossed and one hip cocked, Neji waited for Shika to finish up in the bathroom. The Nara took an inordinately long time washing his hands before he pushed out of the glass room and approached Neji. When Shika saw the table, the straps, and Neji, he paused and for a split second looked caught between fight and flight.

“Come here, pet,” Neji said smoothly, one arm out and beckoning. Shika obeyed, and when he got close, he went down on his knees. Surprised, Neji blinked and watched as Shikamaru knelt forward and kissed the top of Neji’s boot before sitting up and wrapping his arms around one of Neji’s legs. Shika leaned his head against Neji’s outer thigh, face turned in, and hot breath poured over the two inches of pale skin exposed by the skirt.

…I want to be bound and at your mercy. I don’t want to be able to move or think. I want to feel. Just feel. But Sir, I don’t know if I can, and every time I think about it – every time I see it in my mind – I’m terrified that I’ll fail.

Neji remembered every word his Shika said four nights ago. He recalled every panting breath, every small whimper, the way his eyes shut and how he sought to bury his face in Neji’s body when he confessed the more difficult things. And Neji held him…stroked him…kissed him…encouraged him with body and voice.

And now Neji reached down and petted Shika’s hair, fingers gentle. “That was perfect, Shika. Now stand up for me.”

Slowly Shikamaru got to his feet, head down and one arm coming up to grasp the opposite elbow. His mind might be reeling, but his body betrayed him: Shika’s cock was hard and dripping.

“Look at me,” Neji commanded in a low voice. Lovely dark, brown eyes rose to meet Neji’s cool gray gaze, and Neji’s own knees threatened to buckle at the naked lust and heat in the gaze. There was fear, there were nerves…but the heat was stronger.

Neji stepped into Shika, forcing the naked man back against the side of the table. Pressing their bodies together and letting Shika feel his own need, Neji’s hands skimmed over skin.

“Who do you belong to, pet?” Neji asked softly, his lips a breath away from Shikamaru’s.

“You, Master,” Shika replied, eyelids lowering and throat working as he swallowed.

Neji hummed and tilted his head to one side, his hands gliding. He ran his fingers down to both of Shika’s nipples and circled them with warm fingertips. “And these? To whom do these belong?”

“You, Master,” Shika said again, voice getting rough.

Neji ran blunted nails down Shika’s sides and watched his eyes glaze over and gaze become unfocused.

“Good boy,” Neji whispered. “And this body is mine…these muscles,” Neji ran his fingers across Shika’s abs. “Hips…legs…” Neji’s hands touched as his voice intoned each part. Shika’s lips parted and his hands came up to grasp the edge of the table.

“This perfect cock is mine to use and control,” Neji droned as one hand came up to loosely circle Shika’s shaft before sliding down to cup more delicate skin. “And these are mine to do with as I please.” Neji rolled Shika’s balls carefully in one hand, and Shika whimpered as he struggled to keep his eyes open and looking at Neji.

“And…” Neji removed his hand and stepped away. “Turn around, boy,” he ordered and watched as Shika used the table to brace himself as he obeyed.

Neji went down on one knee behind Shika and bit into the flesh of the Nara’s perfect behind without warning. Shika cried out and pushed his skin back toward Neji, eager and willing.

“All mine,” Neji said as he jerked apart Shika’s cheeks and licked a slow, hot line over a tight entrance and up a narrow cleft. Beneath his mouth and hands, Shika froze and forgot to breathe.

With grace and steady legs, Neji rose and continued to lick all the way up Shikamaru’s spine until his tongue met the collar around Shika’s neck. The Nara’s head was bowed and he breathed out in a loud gush of air.

“And I take very good care of what’s mine,” Neji murmured softly as he intertwined one hand in Shika’s hair and gently tugged backward. Shikamaru followed the cue and let himself be pulled away from the table until the back of his head rested on Neji’s shoulder.

“Listen carefully, pet, because the rules are going to change again.” Neji spoke into Shika’s ear and thrilled when he felt the Nara tremble. He loved the heat rolling off Shika’s skin, the smell of lust and sweat and clean skin. Neji’s senses threatened to overload and he grounded himself with a swallow and a quick count to three in his head.

“In a moment, you’re going to climb up on this table, and I’m going to strap you down and cuff you. Then I’m going to blindfold you with soft cotton and make your body feel heat and bliss.”

Neji paused as Shika made a noise in the back of his throat. After a soft kiss to Shika’s pulse point, Neji continued.

“On this table you may speak, you may beg, you may ask for things. Failure to ask properly will earn you punishment later. But I want to hear you, pet. And if what I do feels good enough that you want to come? Then you may do so. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Master,” Shika said immediately. He was breathless with wet eyelashes and dry lips.

“What are your safewords?” Neji asked, carefully controlled and with a mind full of strategic torture.

“Canary and rouge, Master.”

“Perfect, Shika, that’s excellent. Now be a good boy and get on the table.”

~*~