Undercurrents

A/N: And now a note from Your Demented Tour Guide!
I like to keep the smut - particularly the BDSM smut - to a "reasonably possible" level. Now, sex is like golf: You never perfect your game (but gods it's fun to try, yeah?), but I'm, shall we say, familiar? with enough of what I write to make educated guesses as to what's "reasonably possible."

However, I like fantasy as much as the next Yaoi reader, and these next two sections definitely delve into that. In real life, there'd be nothing else after this scene. Screw like bunnies on the table and pass out happily.

But these guys are displaced ninja, and darn it, *I'M* the tour guide for this section of the cruise, and ya know what? I say ONWARD! And forget reality for a while.

Now then. Disclaimers noted, I do so hope you enjoy. Thanks for reading.

~*~

Neji watched his praise wash over Shika and make his body relax. Shikamaru boosted himself onto the cushioned vinyl that covered the top of the table and quickly lay down. Not giving him much time to think, Neji gently took each of Shika’s wrists and secured them in leather cuffs. The angle pulled Shikamaru’s arms toward each corner of the table but left his elbows bent for comfort.

Next came the straps: across upper chest, mid-torso, hips just above sex, and the final one across Shika’s thighs just over his knees and the bit of leather on Shika’s right leg. Before he secured each strap, Neji bent and kissed Shika’s skin, the gesture both comforting and telling. Neji knew that the straps would be hard on Shika…Kabuto was fond of them.

“You look so good like this,” Neji said as he buckled the last strap. “The black leather over your skin…perfect, Shika.” Neji sighed. “So very good.”

Shikamaru shivered and blinked slowly before closing his eyes. Neji smiled and walked to the cart, grabbing a silver spreader bar from underneath the tarp. Moving back to Shika’s feet, Neji bent and kissed the inside of Shika’s ankles before cuffing each foot to the bar and then securing the cuff to a chain attached to each side of the table. The position spread Shika’s body wide, and Neji’s cock twitched hard at the sight.

“Oooh…” Shika half-moaned when he tried to close his legs and couldn’t. Neji looked up sharply, gaze appraising, but Shika’s eyes were still closed and his lips were parted as he breathed.

Neji smirked and ran his hands up Shika’s shins, fingers kneading. “Dirty boy…you like being spread wide for me?”

“Yes, Master…oh yeah…” Shika breathed and licked his lips.

Trailing his fingers over the Nara’s skin as he walked, Neji returned to the cart to grab the soft, cotton blindfold. It was recently made of one of Neji’s old t-shirts. Moving to the top of the table, Neji brought the fabric down across Shika’s eyes gently. The Nara raised his head and Neji wrapped the cotton around Shika’s face twice before tying it to one side.

“It…smells like you, Master,” Shika said, voice surprised and soft.

With a pleased noise, Neji bent over and kissed Shika upside-down, sucking the bottom lip into his mouth and biting down before pulling away. For a moment he just stood and looked at Shikamaru bound, strapped, and spread. With a shudder, Neji reached down and fisted his cock through the leather and remembered how to breathe. The heady rush of power lapped at his nerves and he turned to rip the tarp off the cart in a violent flurry. The music – previously just background noise – was now faster and full of heavy bass. Neji focused on it as he looked over the items on the cart.

…and I don’t want to fail because I’m dying to feel some of the things you’ve talked about. That night, when you said you would pour wax on my balls…I’ve gotten off just thinking about you holding a candle, Sir. I want it so bad…

Picking up a lighter, Neji lit two black, paraffin-wax pillar candles about two inches wide. He hummed a little to let Shika know he was still nearby and lifted the lid on what looked like a stainless-steel cooking pot. It was actually a double-boiler meant for melting wax and maintaining temperature. Hot water surrounded a narrow container full of liquid wax, and a thermometer ran up the inside of the internal chamber and told Neji the wax was 102 degrees Fahrenheit.

Neji made a pleased sound and Shikamaru turned his head toward Neji, a semi-curious noise coming from his lips. He breathed through his mouth and Neji thought Shika knew exactly what was coming; or exactly what he hoped was coming, anyway. However, he didn’t know when or how or what it would be like.

Perfect.

Next to the double-boiler was a small, round warming plate with a camping thermos on top. Made just like the double-boiler but on a smaller scale, the thermos was insulated with heat-sensitive material that kept the internal liquid – or, in this case, wax – hot. It didn’t get above about 90 degrees or so, but it made an excellent pouring instrument thanks to its slotted lid.

And, as another bonus, it didn’t burn the shit out of the pourer because it was designed to be held. Everything was easy to clean with a bit of patience, and Neji practically vibrated as the equipment satisfied his sincere urge to control everything in this environment.

Humming a little, Neji turned back to Shika and bent over his prone form. Murmuring incoherent bits of praise, Neji touched the wings of Shika’s collarbones before sliding his hands over neck, arms, chest and sides. Shikamaru’s breathing paused and then sped up to make up for lost time. He made soft noises that sounded confused and urgent.

“Your skin is addictive, pet,” Neji mumbled, loving that he could draw this out and make Shika wait. He dropped light kisses just above Shika’s navel, and when the muscles jumped Neji kissed down and plunged his tongue into the depression. Above him, Shika moaned and Neji heard the clink of chain as Shikamaru pulled at the wrist restraints.

Making a mental note, Neji continued downward and almost carelessly kissed the top of Shika’s cock before covering the head with his mouth and swirling his tongue.

“Master!” Shika cried and pushed against the straps when Neji released the skin to kiss the tops of Shikamaru’s thighs, just above the leather that held him down. Shika whimpered at the loss of contact and he turned his head from side to side.

The need in Shika’s voice was simply lovely. With unconscious grace, Neji danced back to the table and picked up one of the pillar candles carefully. He didn’t care if the wax got on him – he rather liked the sensation – but he didn’t want it all to spill before he got it above Shika.

“Be still, boy,” Neji ordered even as he touched Shika’s sternum with two fingers. Shikamaru went still and his head turned a little back toward center as if he was trying to figure out what came next and why Neji touched him like that. Neji waited and watched with a perfectly devilish smile as Shika’s chest rose and fell.

With a practiced tilt of his hand, Neji moved his fingers away and poured the black wax over the spot. Three drops hit and splashed, and Shikamaru went completely still and tense. He sucked in his breath and raised his head just a little.

Neji touched another place over Shika’s ribs and repeated the drip, the wax making a pretty pattern as it fell, hit, and ran in a dark rivulet before drying. Shika breathed out only to suck in another breath and hold it.

Watching the wax melt, Neji used his fingers to arc a line that ran just under the bottom of Shika’s ribcage. He traced the line back and forth a couple of times before dripping wax along the invisible pattern left behind by his touch. Drop after dribbling drop fell onto Shika’s skin, and the bound man jerked once before he finally let out a long sigh and relaxed into the table.

“Oh…my…God…” Shika breathed.

Neji smiled a slow, knowing smile and breathed with Shika before leaning down and kissing a wax-free bit of skin. He sucked it between his teeth and marked Shika with a rough bruise. Shikamaru’s breath hitched and sounds spilled from his lips: encouraging, pleading, responding.

“Be still,” Neji reminded without bite as he set down the pillar candle and noted the amount of wax gathering on the top of the other one. Dripping was nice and he could go back to it in a minute, but Neji thought Shika could handle what came next without a problem.

Picking up a ladle, Neji dipped into the melted wax in the pot. This wax was a mixture of white and pastel and was also pure paraffin. He ladled the wax into the steel thermos with quick motions and capped the thermos fast before moving back to Shika. Neji didn’t use fingers this time. Instead Neji bent down and drew Shika’s nipple into his mouth – fast, hard, wet.

Shika cried out softly but remained perfectly still as Neji nibbled. No other part of Neji’s body touched the Nara, and after a few seconds, Shika sucked in a sharp breath.

“Oh-oh god…your mouth is where…” Shika muttered in understanding. Neji smiled around the hardened flesh between his teeth and lips before he drew back and carefully poured the white wax just the left of Shika’s wet nipple. The Nara’s body tried to bow, but the straps held him steady as Neji moved his hand and poured directly over the sensitive flesh.

“Mm-ah, shit, Master…” Shika called out, voice loud and shocked.

Neji chuckled and cooed as he dug through the hardening wax with his fingers and pinched the overly-tender flesh. Shika’s head made a dulled noise against the vinyl pad and his muscles danced in incredible responsiveness.

And when Neji poured the wax over the other nipple without warning, Shika cussed like a drunken sailor too long at sea. His cock dribbled onto his stomach and the leather strap holding down his hips, and his knees tried to bend. Neji sent up a silent prayer of thanks to the gods of leather and chain.

“More…please…god, Master, more…” Shika begged.

With a perfectly evil smirk, Neji poured a careful amount of wax onto Shika’s stomach. He let some of it drip onto his own hand to check the temperature and took a finger and began to trace lazy circles around Shika’s navel. It was easy to burn the skin here, but this wax was cooling enough that it was only good for one more pour. Neji watched Shika’s face with enough heat and intensity to boil water. He watched as the Nara stilled and panted at the feel of Neji’s fingers circling and tracing.

“Good boy,” Neji crooned just as he pulled back his hand, turned, and poured a tiny amount of the wax onto the dripping head of Shika’s cock before pouring the rest into Shikamaru’s navel, filling it.

Shika all-but screamed through clenched teeth and pressed lips, and Neji nearly came from the sight and sound alone. He bit off a moan and moved back to the table before his brain caught up with his body. He reached down to a lower shelf on the cart to remove the lid of a small bucket. Inside was a rather dull knife chilling in the remains of ice and water. The ice was mostly melted, now – sitting since this morning – but the water was very, very cold. Neji grabbed a small paper cup and scooped up some of the freezing liquid before grabbing the other pillar candle and stepping back to the panting Shika.

Without giving warning, Neji tipped the candle over and dribbled molten black heat onto Shika’s beautifully straight length.

“Oh god…oh please…no…yeah, god – oh…” Shika babbled and moaned, body relaxed into the sensation but leg muscles trembling.

“Would you like more, boy?” Neji asked as though inquiring if Shika would enjoy another cup of tea.

“Fuck yes…please…Master, please…”

Neji chuckled. “Then hold still,” he nearly sing-songed and dribble-poured a generous amount of wax over cock and balls. He interspersed the hot splashes with drops of the cold water, and Shika tried to jerk away from and into the sensations at the same time.

“Wha…?”

Neji laughed a little at the confusion in Shika’s voice as his nerves tried to sort out sensation. Neji carefully dribbled cold water a drop at a time onto the half-covered head of Shika’s dick even as he poured two tiny drops of wax onto the same skin. Shikamaru whined and chains clanked as he shook.

Neji paused to admire his handiwork. Shika struggled and moaned and breathed. His cock was a deep purple and covered in a hardening shell of wax. Neji counted to three else he take Shika there and then – rest of the night be damned.

And then Shika whimpered, and it did Neji in. He withdrew to blow out candles and set down cup and pillar before bracing one hand on the table. Moving with the grace inspired by years of martial arts, Neji pushed up and over the flat surface and Shika’s body, catching himself with his other hand and the toes of his boots. He dove down to cover Shika’s lips with his own, tongue diving into the Nara’s mouth with urgency and a harsh sigh.

Shikamaru groaned and strained up to meet Neji with everything he could. The kiss went on for ages, both men breathing heavily through their noses and the corners of their mouths as their tongues battled, teeth bit, and lips crushed.

Neji finally pulled back, gray eyes dark with lust, and Shika’s head tried to follow.

“More…more, more…” Shika whispered.

Neji licked Shikamaru’s lower lip. “That’s one, pet…”

Shika just moaned.

“Oh, now, this is my favorite part,” Neji murmured, settling his body to one side of Shika’s.

Shikamaru made an interested noise as Neji’s fingers moved down his chest to the edges of the dried wax.

“What goes on must come off, after all…”

Neji scraped with his nails and pulled away a drip of wax. He watched realization wash over Shikamaru. God but he loved playing with first-timers…it was infinite amounts of fun.

“Come…off? Master?” Shika asked quietly, barely remembering his manners.

Humming in affirmation, Neji slid his nails under the larger drip over Shika’s ribs and slowly sliced it away from the Nara’s skin.

“Ooh fuck,” Shika cursed, voice hoarse.

“Later, pet. Later.” Neji leaned over to nibble Shika’s chin and with his free hand he circled the uneven mess of wax surrounding one of Shikamaru’s nipples. Immediately the bound man began to pant, and Neji thrilled at the reaction.

“These are so sensitive, aren’t they, boy?” Neji asked conversationally, fingers pressing over hardened wax and tender skin.

“Yeah…” Shika whimpered. Neji grinned. He knew Shika was entirely his when the Nara forgot to follow the rules.

Neji bit Shika’s chin and made him shout in shock.

“That’s two, bitch. Remember to whom you speak.” Neji’s voice was a coarse growl and Shika openly panted even as he rushed to apologize.

“Yes, Master…yes…s-sorry…Master, but oh god…oh…”

“Mm,” Neji hummed. “That’s more like it. I love it when you moan for me.”

Neji worked his fingers under parts of the wax and began to slowly peel them off. He watched the wax grab and the skin pull and saw sweat form at the hollow of Shikamaru’s throat. Bit by bit, Neji worked toward the center of the mound of wax. His own body tensed even as he slid a nail under the final edge. Naked need laid bare on Neji’s face, he ripped away the last bit of wax with sudden speed.

Beneath Neji, Shika howled.

Neji repeated the same treatment on the other nipple, not bothering to be slow or methodical, and Shika cursed and bit his lip hard enough to draw blood. Neji knew this was about so much more than the pain…this was about being bound with sight removed and not knowing what was going to happen to your body next. This was about falling into a deep well and letting someone else worry about how high the water was. Shikamaru craved praise and touch and Neji…but he also craved giving in with such greedy abandon that Neji wanted to break something in half in sheer lust.

Swooping down, Neji licked over the very tip of the reddened flesh and Shika choked on his own air while Neji’s tongue swirled.

“Oh pet…” Neji said as he dismounted the table with the same easy grace he used to ascend. “We’re not even half done…”

Shika went quiet, mouth open and hands clenched in fists. Neji grabbed the dulled knife out of the bucket. He put the freezing tip on Shika’s flank and then pressed a line running the length of his body to stop at his thigh. The knife was silent on skin and scraped on the leather, and Shika went absolutely and completely still.

“I suggest you don’t move,” Neji said calmly and slid the cold blade under the wax that had spilled over his side from the pool on Shika’s stomach. The knife wasn’t sharp enough to cut unless pushed with quite a bit of force. But to Shikamaru’s hyper-sensitive skin and sightless senses, it could feel like a razor.

With the focus and calm of a surgeon, Neji began cutting away the dried wax on Shika’s stomach and legs. When he exposed new skin, Neji leaned down and dropped a kiss or two as he moved the blade with expert skill. Shika’s flesh jumped more at the kisses than the knife, and every breath he exhaled was a soft, keening whine.

Neji used nails and knife to clean all of Shika except his navel and sex. He let himself touch, pinch, and stroke skin as he worked, and beneath his hands, mouth, and tools, Shika was a mess of incomprehensible need. His cock never flagged once, and Neji knew Shika was close. And he knew that if he timed it right, this could be his favorite kind of torture.

I want to know if wax’ll hurt…how it feels…if it can make me come…

“Let me hear you, boy,” Neji husked as he slowly dragged the end of the blade around Shika’s navel.

The Nara groaned loudly and then hissed as Neji dug the knife down into the soft skin. Neji expertly slipped the knife under the wax and began to slowly scrape in a circle, following the shape of Shika’s navel. It would feel like someone was carving into Shika’s insides.

Slowly.

“Fuck, fuck – FUCK!” Shika yelled, voice loud and raspy over the music. “I can’t…oh holy – stop, god, STOP!”

But Neji didn’t. “That’s three,” he said calmly and dug deeper with the knife. The wax peeled slowly away from the skin, and Neji used his fingers to push down and scrape more of it away. His own legs trembled even as Shika struggled not to thrash.

“Please…oh, please…Master…I’m…I can’t…”

The desperation in Shika’s voice was beautiful, and Neji continued to torture his Nara for a while longer even after the wax was gone. He kept circling the skin with the knife in his right hand and casually cupped Shika’s balls with his left.

And as Neji scraped gently into the tender flesh in his hand with his nail to peel off some of the wax, Shika froze with a high-pitched cry –

“Ah!”

- and choked on a loud sob as he came. Neji licked his lips and swallowed thickly before laughing a low, devilish, chuckle. Ignoring the way Shika’s body trembled and tried to relax, Neji pulled the knife down to begin working to remove the wax on Shika’s balls and cock.

“No!” Shika yelled loudly, head coming up off the table and body trying to follow.

“That’s four,” Neji replied.

“Fuck that shit, Master! Please, please – No, Master!” Shika begged and tried to shut his legs and escape but the spreader and the straps held him in a firm, unforgiving, grip.

Neji ignored the angry curses and delighted in the pleas for mercy as he continued working. He moved with deft efficiency, thrilling in the cruel and the unusual. Shika sobbed, and Neji crooned at him – murmured praise and gentle words – and that made Shikamaru thrash harder.

But when Neji’s blade carefully scraped over the underside of Shika’s still-hard cock, the Nara’s tone changed from angry to surprised with a sudden, startled syllable.

“Master – oh my nngh -…Master?” Shika sounded like he wanted to ask a question and Neji nearly laughed at the innocence in his voice.

With one hand, Neji began to stroke Shika. He stopped every third stroke or so to skim the knife over the head of Shikamaru’s dick to remove the last bits of wax. Shika’s mouth opened and closed silently and his body tensed. And the third time the metal scraped over skin, Shika’s spine stiffened, and he yanked cruelly against the wrist cuffs.

“Oh my fucking god!” Shika yelled as his head smacked against the vinyl and he came again, surprise evident even in his breath. His skin slid slickly under the straps, and the Nara panted hard enough to make Neji’s lungs hurt in sympathy.

As the Nara came down from his second orgasm, Neji finally released Shika’s overwrought skin and put everything down on the cart. He unplugged equipment before turning to start unbuckling straps.

“That’s my good boy,” Neji praised. “Perfect, Shika…you did so well…”

Shikamaru didn’t move and didn’t speak, his breath starting to slow. His skin was flushed and patches of aggravated pink covered most of his body. His chest rose and fell in a sweaty rush, but his limbs were completely pliant as Neji unbuckled his ankles, removed the spreader, and undid the remaining restraints. He took a soft cloth from the cart and cleaned Shika’s skin, touch gentle and slow.

Leaving the blindfold on, Neji climbed back up onto the table with Shika and pressed the line of his body along the Nara’s.

“Beautiful,” Neji whispered as he began to feather-kiss Shika’s skin. “So beautiful…”

Shikamaru turned his head toward Neji’s warmth, the movement languid. Neji reached over and pulled Shika into his arms, cradling him even as his lips kissed over Shika’s hair and shoulder. Neji didn’t crush Shika to him like he wanted to do, but his arms were tense around the Nara’s softened body. His hands petted and stroked over Shika’s back, and Neji let himself wallow in a heady mix of heat and possessiveness.

For several moments the two men stayed like that, and then Shika swallowed and fisted one hand in the soft fabric of Neji’s shirt. Shika pulled himself closer and Neji felt the lightest brush of lips just above his collar, and in response Neji turned his head and kissed the shell of Shika’s ear. He positioned one of the Nara’s legs between his own and ground himself down against Shika’s thigh with a soft groan. Neji felt like he’d been hard for months.

“Touch me,” Neji ordered softly, eyes slipping closed.

Hesitant fingers unwound from Neji’s shirt and quickly ran down to touch the bare skin of Neji’s leg that was exposed by the angle and the skirt. Shika turned his head up into Neji’s neck and kissed with more confidence. With a soft sigh, Neji pulled Shika closer, his hair growing damp at the base of his skull.

Shika’s hot breath blew hard against Neji’s neck as the Nara’s hand pushed under the skirt and traced up Neji’s thigh. The touch was light – teasing, and Shika caressed Neji’s backside with the pads of his fingers. Neji’s body relaxed and he gave in to the simple touch, even as it tickled down over the base of his spine and traced his cleft before moving down the back of Neji’s leg.

With one hand, Neji reached up and tugged the blindfold away from Shika’s face, tossing the bit of fabric aside.

“Look at me,” Neji ordered softly. Shikamaru blinked up at Neji, his fingers still dancing along pale skin without purpose or plan.

“You’re a tease,” Neji said, voice low. He looked into Shika’s damp and heavy-lidded eyes and reached down to cover the Nara’s wandering hand with his own.

“Take your hand…” Neji intoned, eyes still fixated on Shika’s. The Nara seemed to gain more focus when Neji started to move him, and he looked back at Neji with a slow blink.

“Wrap your fingers around my cock…” Neji said, tone level and controlled. He moved the Nara’s hand to suit his words, and Shika returned Neji’s stare with a shaky breath.

“And stroke me, pet…like this.” Neji moved Shika’s hand on his shaft exactly as he wanted, gaze full of searing heat.

“Yes…Master…” Shika whispered, obeying.

Neji panted, lips parting as his hand fell away from Shika’s. He brought his mouth to Shikamaru’s, lips hovering and breath meeting and mixing in the millimeters of space between them. Neji’s lips pressed together when Shika squeezed with a tiny extra amount of pressure, and a small sound rose from Neji’s throat.

“Fuck,” Shika whispered, barely audible over the thrumming music in the background. Neji let the Nara work him until his world threatened to narrow to the feel of Shika’s hand on his skin and the release it promised. He loved teasing himself as much as he enjoyed teasing others; pushing limits and finding they stretched further than before was one of his favorite things. But Neji knew himself well, and he tensed on the table when the sweet motion of Shika’s hand became too much.

“Stop,” Neji ordered, a growl through clenched teeth. Shika obeyed at once, hand ceasing to move on Neji’s dick and his eyes falling away from Neji’s.

“Good boy,” Neji sighed before rolling them so his body lay on top of Shika’s. He didn’t want to separate himself from the other man. Neji wanted to kiss him, slide fingers and tongue and cock inside him, and watch him writhe in pleasure. He leaned down to kiss Shika’s mouth, lips sliding wetly and leaving trails between them when he pulled away. For the second time that night, he promised himself that he would be inside Shika’s tight heat soon enough.

Because right now, there was something else Neji wanted to do. Needed to do.

…and then I do something bad. Not truly unforgivable…because the only thing that matters to me when we play is making you happy. But I forget something small or I do something the wrong way, and you punish me for it…

Neji slid off the Nara’s body and off of the table. With an imperial raise of regal chin, Neji pointed to the ground.

“Kneel here.”

Moving slowly but surely, Shika sat up. He swung his legs over the side of the table and then sank to the floor on his knees where Neji pointed.

“No looking at me, no speaking unless asked a direct question. Understood?”

“Yes, Master,” Shika said immediately. He sounded eager again.

…and God, but I want it, Sir…I want you to take me over your lap and…make my skin glow red, Sir. Please…

“How many times did you forget the rules, boy?” Neji asked calmly.

“Four, Master,” Shika answered.

“And what did I tell you would happen if you didn’t address me properly?”

“Punishment, Master.”

Neji made an agreeable noise. “Get up.”

~*~