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Charlie had been hesitant to bring up the topic for a while, even after they had been in this new era of trying things they were both curious about and interested in. But they had tried bondage and liked it. They were playing their dominant and submissive roles, and those came so naturally. Charlie had gone as far as to punish Nick and that had turned out well, too. It doesn’t seem as out there to bring it up anymore, not when Nick tilted his head and kneeled below him and took commands like “stay” and “sit” and responded to Charlie snapping his fingers to get him to follow him along somewhere. It doesn’t seem as out there anymore because it feels like they were already doing it. “I don’t think I’m a pet player, Charlie.” Nick disagreed, though, shutting it down whenever his boyfriend brought up the idea. “I just- I like serving you and embarrassment but I’m not…I’m not a puppy .” And no matter how many times he repeated the sentiment, the brunette couldn’t help but notice the sprinkles of doubt and layers of shyness in his tone, like this was an idea that was just too much to grapple with. He could admit to liking being tied up and scolded and all of these other things, but admitting to being a bit into pet play was just a step too far. “But we’re basically doing all of the things people in pet and handler dynamics do, baby.” Charlie tried, “The only real difference is defining it. Accepting it and leaning into it.” Nick’s face flushed, and his gaze fell to the basket of clothes he was folding. Charlie had been the one to run all of the loads through the washer and drier earlier in the day, so he got to sit on the bed while the ginger-blonde put forward his contributions to keeping their apartment functioning. “Maybe you see something I don’t Char.” Nick hummed, and it’s such a quiet, gentle admission, “I don’t think I’m like that.” “Like what, honey?” Charlie coaxed, trying to understand what was going through his brain. “Submissive? Curious? Sweet? Desperate? Because those are all common traits among puppy players and I’m just saying that you fit the bill.” “Charlie.” Nick sounds whiny now, and while the embarrassment is sweet, he’s also starting to get annoyed. “Just think about it, okay?” The brunette compromised, “I don’t- I never want to push you into something you’re not comfortable with, but I think you’re shutting this down on principal instead of actually considering it. I wouldn’t be so persistent if this were just for me- I really do think you’d like it.” And there were thoughts going through the ginger-blonde’s head, emotions that his boyfriend couldn’t quite see all the way through, but Nick nodded slightly. “Okay. I’ll think about it.” --“We can try it.” Nick was the one to bring the topic back up a few days later while cooking dinner for the two of them. Charlie looked up from his phone screen, furrowing his eyebrows.“Try what?” He questioned, and when Nick turned towards him so that the brunette’s not facing his back anymore, he put down his phone and gave him his full attention. “What’s up, baby?” “The puppy… thing .” Nick clarified. “I saw you looking at collars online yesterday.” “Oh.” It was Charlie’s turn to flush, “It was just- I’ve been thinking about it. You’d look so cute collared, don’t you think?” Nick shrugged like he didn’t care either way, but Charlie could read the the curious but nervous look on his face like it was nothing at all. “Maybe.” “What made you change your mind, darling?” the brunette pushed, leaning forward slightly. Nick kept his focus on the pan in front of him even while he was stood so that he was partially facing his boyfriend, pushing the ingredients around with a wooden spatula. “I didn’t. I don’t think I’ll be into it any more than I am submitting to you typically.” The ginger-blonde answered, and Charlie went to say something but couldn’t before he continued, “But I love submitting to you. Serving you. Being embarrassed. So I’ll enjoy pretty much anything you want to try to some degree. And you clearly really want to try this.” “I don’t want you to do it just because I told you we should.” Charlie frowned. “It’s not against any of my boundaries or anything. It won’t make me uncomfortable or upset.” Nick assured, “And I’d do anything to make you happy. So you can buy a collar or whatever, and we can try it.” “You’re sure about this?” Charlie checked in, “You can change your mind at any point, even if I spend money on it. You’re allowed- no, I encourage you to say no even if you’re a little bit unsure.” Nick chuckled, and it’s the first time he’s laughed while talking about this subject instead of shutting down and getting shy about it.“Are you gonna keep talking out of trying your fantasy or are you gonna go buy me a collar?” and it’s teasing and lighthearted, so Charlie doesn’t feel bad when he picks up his phone again and responds cheekily, “Oh, I’m gonna buy you a collar, obviously.” --“Honey, I’m home.” The ginger-blonde’s favourite thing in the entire world seemed to be saying that line in that specific, playful, and stereotypical tone of voice whenever he let himself into the apartment after work. Charlie ended his work-from-home-days as a publishing house assistant around the same time his boyfriend’s nursery job ended, but Nick had a commute back to the apartment to account for. In the extra time, Charlie usually started on tea or a snack for Nick or spent some time on chores, but he had been much too distracted to pull any of that off today. “Hi, baby.” The brunette sat up a bit from his spot on the couch so that Nick could lean in to kiss him after he discarded his shoes, coat, and bag at the front door. “How was work?” “I was put in the infant room today. It’s a lot calmer than the toddler’s playroom.” He mused, “There’s not a lot to do with the babies, though, once they’re fed and changed and all. And the parents always come back right on time for the tiny ones, so there was no late pick-up stragglers.” “So that’s why you’re actually home on time for once.” Charlie chuckled, watching as Nick sat down, letting out a breath as he settled into the couch next to his boyfriend. “You seem ready to start your weekend.” “I am.” Nick confirmed, “You’re not working on the weekends anymore and everyone else is too busy so it’s just us. Are we doing anything special?” “We could have gay sex.” Charlie suggested, and his boyfriend tilted his head as if he actually had to consider this, “That is a viable option.” he hummed, leaning in to kiss him again. When the brunette pulled away, he stayed close to Nick’s face and scanned over his features- his expression, as if gaging it for any stress or complicated emotions before saying something that would definitely complicate things. “The collar came in today.” he revealed, “It’s- I put it in the bedroom. Just so you know.” “Oh.” Nick hummed, blinking a few times. “I kind of forgot about that, to be honest.” “If you don’t want to try it anymore, I can forget about it too.” Charlie offered immediately, and it’s genuine. “And we don’t have to do it tonight either way.” “I still want to do it just for the sake of proving you wrong about me being into it.” the ginger-blonde teased, and it causes Charlie to roll his eyes. “And if we don’t do it tonight, I’ll just be thinking about it- and I’d rather get it over with.” “Alright, then.” Charlie hummed. “I was thinking that we could take it easier than usual tonight. We usually end things with sex and if that’s not where it goes tonight, that’s okay. I think just existing while trying the slightly different roles would be nice. I’ll be extra gentle and everything.” “So like a normal Friday night, but I’m your- your puppy , and you’re my handler. And you’re less strict than usual.” Nick stuttered over the words, which was odd because he didn’t used to have any issue with his boyfriend comparing him to a puppy before it was put in the context of pet play specifically. “Yeah.” Charlie confirmed with a nod, “Dinner, tv, relaxing. Just that stuff.” “Can the sex part change?” Nick questioned, and his boyfriend smiled lightly, “If you feel okay with that, yeah. I just wanted to clarify so that you didn’t feel pressured- to perform that way if you really aren’t into it.” he explained, and the ginger-blonde hummed. Charlie quickly added, “And I’ll check in more than usual, stoplight colour system like always.”“Okay, I think I get it.” he chuckled, “You’re a great dominant and boyfriend who’s trying not to make this too scary for me.” “I am.” Charlie confirmed, leaning in to kiss the tip of his nose, “I just wanna take care of you, baby.” Nick’s face flushed as his boyfriend pulled away, and the other man could see that helpless, wide-eyed look taking over like when he was beginning to slip into that submissive headspace. Charlie cooed at him a bit, “How about you go and change into something a bit more comfortable while I get dinner started? And bring the collar out with you when you come back- you’ll find it on the bedside table.” Charlie let his voice slip into something a little more guiding, giving orders rather than suggestions. And Nick, ever the obedient, nodded and found himself standing up to go to their bedroom. --Nick told Charlie that he was just trying this for him, but it was actually so much more complicated. When the ginger-blonde wasn’t feeling submissive and easily-moldable and so, so open, there was so much self doubt about how weird it was to like the idea of being treated in the way that the brunette was suggesting. And he knew that it was illogical, because his boyfriend was suggesting it and it wasn’t any more out-there than anything they had already done, but it feels different. Wanting to be treated like an animal feels like a whole different world compared to what they were already doing. That doesn’t mean he didn’t want it- or that he wasn’t curious about it, at least. Nick wasn’t thinking so clearly as he changed out of his work clothes and into what he had slept in the night prior, which happened to be pyjama pants and no shirt at all. It was the blue and white patterned pair that Charlie said looked good on him when he came out of the bathroom from his shower with them on, which makes him feel more confident about the clothing choice somewhere in his mind. It was hard to focus on any of that, though, because he found the collar Charlie had bought for him right where he told him it would be on the bedside table. He had let his dominant take full control of it and told him to pick something out, not wanting to think about the fact that were were trying something so scary, so soon. So, he hadn’t been prepared for what the thing would look like. The ginger-blonde had been lying when he said that he had forgotten about it. Charlie would scold him for it if he knew, at least when Nick was feeling like this. He’d make that tsk noise and shake his head and it would send shivers through his body and he would beg for forgiveness in the same way he always did. The dark blue collar with a small, silver bone-shaped charm was having a very similar effect on him, though. Nick found himself walking out to the kitchen entirely wordlessly with the thing delicately clutched in his hands. It takes a moment for Charlie to look up from where he was chopping vegetables, but he eventually does, and he smiles in this proud sort of way that makes Nick’s chest light up. “Oh, there’s my good boy!” he greeted, and it makes Nick realise that maybe they were already pet-playing because this wasn’t an abnormal way for him to be greeted whenever he submitted to him. “Come on, baby. Sit.” Nick made his way over to the counter and went to pull out one of the stools to sit on. “Oh, not there, silly.” And this correction causes him to tilt his head because he didn’t understand. He paused, furrowing his eyebrows while he watched his boyfriend for clarification, “Down here, baby.” Nick’s eyes widened, and he nodded because that made more sense. Puppies sat on the floor. “Kneel?” he asked, and Charlie smiled, “Yes, baby, if you’d like to.” the brunette confirmed, reaching forward to take the collar from him, and his motions are gentle and soft like he wanted to avoid scaring a baby or small creature. It feels easy for Nick to move down to the floor by Charlie’s legs. He spent a lot of his time there already, and he always took the same kneeling position because the brunette said he looked so, so pretty that way and it felt so, so nice to physically show how he served his love. It’s just as nice then, too, when Charlie crouched down and lifted the collar up. Before pressing it to the ginger-blonde’s neck and securing it, though, “Are we still green, honey?” Nick nodded eagerly, “Yeah, yes, yes. Green.” “Okay, baby, I got it.” Charlie chuckled, the laughter falling on Nick’s ears like it was the most wonderful sound he had ever heard because he had pulled it out of him. The ginger-blonde straightened his neck and held very, very still without needing to be told as his boyfriend reached over his head and fastened the thing blindly. It takes him a couple of tries to get it right, but Nick doesn’t mind because he gets to stare at Charlie’s eyes in the mean time. “You admiring me, sweetheart?” the brunette teased as he finally pulled his hands back. Nick’s face flushed. “A little.” he whispered, “Love you.” “I love you too.” Charlie responded, and it’s immediate. “You’re gonna stay with me here in the kitchen while I make us dinner, okay? And then we’ll eat in the living room.” Nick nodded to show that he understood, but he still pouted whenever he stood up, leaving him with a series of head scratches and hair ruffles before returning to cutting up the vegetables. Nick spent a bit of time staring up at his boyfriend, tilting his head every once in a while as if the action would silently tell Charlie that he wanted his attention again. Every time he did, he became aware of the fabric around his neck and the metal charm that shifted in it’s position against his chest. If he leaned forward just right, the bone-shaped thing would dangle for a moment before falling against his skin again and Nick thinks that maybe, he could get used to the feeling of being collared like this. And every once in a while, Charlie would glance down at him and give a little smile or raise his eyebrows as if to question ‘what’re you up to?’ and it never went further than that, but the momentary acknowledgement still made him light up and yearn for more. The ginger-blonde shuffled closer to him, sticking his tongue out of the corner of his mouth and bracing himself as he gently tapped on his boyfriend’s leg. “I didn’t say you could touch me, honey.” Charlie starts to speak before looking down at him and making contact with those glossy, puppy-dog eyes. Nick whined, just slightly, and curled back in on himself. The brunette let his bottom lip stick out a bit from the other one, pouting in sympathy, “Oh, baby. You’re just such a sweet boy- I can’t deny that face.” And Nick is soaking in all of the attention and pity and affection as Charlie crouched down again and ruffled his hair and pressed a kiss between his eyebrows. “I did say that I was being gentle with you today, hm?” the brunette seemed to be justifying his own rule-bending actions, and Nick nodded along because as much as the scolding and restricting was attractive, there was something warm and sweet about the praise and affection. “Sweet boy. Are you my good boy?” Nick leaned forward wordlessly, planting kisses on Charlie’s face- starting by his temple, trailing down his cheek, and ending at the corner of his mouth. He pulled back, then, because he wasn’t sure how much he was allowed to take. “Is that yes, then, sweetheart? Are you my sweet, good boy?” he chuckled, and Nick hummed. “Yes- yes, sir .” he said out loud, and maybe he’s blushing because there was so much focus on him in the moment. “Good.” Charlie was smiling as if Nick had hung every star in the sky just by pathetically whining at his feet in a collar, “You’re so pretty like this. Not just cause you’re collared, either. Whenever you submit for me- you kneel, and you’re gorgeous, baby.” He trailed his hands down Nick’s bare chest, causing his breath to hitch. He kept going until his hands laid over his breasts, and the other boy doesn’t reach out for him or do anything other than take in panting breaths and watch for Charlie to give him an order. He wonders, distantly, if his love could feel his heart beating through his chest. This thought drifts away, though, as Charlie pulled his hands back and began to stand up. It’s replaced entirely by a series of whimpers that are chastised by the brunette clicking his tongue, “Quiet down, honey. This won’t take me long if you let me focus.” Nick knew that he should be good and take his orders, but he still whined quietly as Charlie continued moving through the kitchen. The dominant doesn’t hesitate for a moment before saying the sentence that effectively gets him to shut up: “Be a good puppy, Nicky.” --By the time Charlie has put together their meal and done all the dishes, dancing around his boyfriend, who eagerly watches him as he works through all these tasks, Nick was still thinking about being told to be a ‘good puppy.’ “Come on, baby.” Charlie ordered easily, grabbing an overfilled plate from the counter with one hand and using the other to pat his thigh and snap to call him like he had done before they ever talked about pet play. Nick perked up but hesitated, not wanting to crawl against the floor on all fours but feeling decidedly odd about coming to his feet again. He paused for a moment before using the counter to pull himself up, stumbling after Charlie on clumsy feet. His boyfriend chuckled and shook his head, letting him pass before following him to the couch. Nick waited for further instruction before doing anything, watching as the brunette laid the same pillow he always did on the ground for him to kneel on before taking his spot. Charlie sat next to and above him on the couch, placing their food on the coffee table in front of them. “Is that more comfortable for you, honey?” the brunette asked, referring to the pillow, “I’m sure the kitchen tiles weren’t great for your knees.” Nick nodded even though he hadn’t noticed until it was pointed out, shifting slightly so that he wasn’t exactly kneeling anymore and instead leaning against the base of the couch, “I’m okay, though.” Charlie would usually correct him on his position, but he was being gentle and lenient today because they were trying something scary and new. The brunette turned on something on the television on a low volume, but Nick had a feeling neither of them were going to pay any attention to it. “I should’ve put your serving in a bowl and made you eat it that way.” The brunette teased as he took his first bite of their dinner, “Would you have taken it that way, sweet boy?” Nick flushed a bright pink colour, the image of him leaning over a bowl and eating from it without any utensils filling his head. It was an embarrassing thing to imagine, but it’s not unappealing. He whined instead of answering, deciding to hide his face in the fabric of Charlie’s pants and lean into the contact instead of trying to speak. He felt a hand in his hair a moment later, scratching at his scalp. When he glanced up to read Charlie’s expression, the dominant continued, “I was only kidding, puppy. I wouldn’t make you do anything you didn’t want to. And, I wanted to feed you.” That’s almost just as bad. Nick glanced at the plate, realising that he hadn’t paid all that much attention to what dinner actually was. It was vegetables, slices of chicken, and garlic bread, apparently- all foods that could be eaten by hand instead of with a fork. The ginger-blonde had a feeling that Charlie had grabbed the utensil to further the difference in how they were taking in the meal, as pet versus handler. It worked wonders on Nick’s brain, who was stuck on Charlie calling him ‘puppy’ yet again. “Is that okay, baby?” The brunette questioned, and Nick knew that he was expected to answer. He whined, but he nodded, “Yes, sir.” he managed and Charlie smiled, leaning down to kiss his forehead. “Good boy.” Oh, this was going to be the death of him. And it is, pretty much. The routine is simple, really. Charlie takes a few bites and pretends to watch whatever it is that was playing on the television in front of them while Nick stares up at him, just waiting for a glance in his direction. And then, Charlie would give in and say something playful and pitying about how he looked so, so pretty and so, so good down there, just like that. On his knees. And he’d pick up a few pieces of something on the plate, holding it in front of the ginger-blonde’s mouth and expectedly waiting for him to take it. Nick would, so gently, and chew through it obediently because they were supposed to be eating dinner and he couldn’t think of much else beyond following his love’s orders, just then.These were all steps that the submissive had expected when he pictured being hand-fed, but the next part hadn’t been. “Lick the rest off, baby.” Charlie had told him, nodding down to his fingers which were coated in one thing or another- garlic butter from the bread, maybe. Nick whimpered, glancing up at his boyfriend as if to ask ‘really?’ The brunette nodded insistently, “Lick it clean, puppy.” And the corner of his mouth twitches upwards just slightly like he knows what his words are doing to the bigger man beneath him, but he upholds the straight face and watches as Nick leans forward again and follows through.His face is flushed and he’s embarrassed and whiny, but he does it anyways. And Charlie praises him and scratches as his head and Nick melts.Somewhere so, so distantly in the back of his brain, he realized that his boyfriend had been right about pet play and him being so, so fit for this role and everything else, too. It’s too muddled to really be thinking about it all that clearly, though.Eventually, they finish the food and Charlie leaves him to go wash the dishes and clean up around the kitchen. Nick had moved to follow him but the brunette stopped him in his motions with a tsk and a, “Be patient, love. I’ll come right back.The ginger-blonde whimpered quietly and rested his head on the seat of the couch, tucking his face in the crook of his elbow as if to hide away entirely. He let himself melt into the hot all over and electric feeling that was drumming up in his body because if he didn’t focus on something , he’d be left to beg incomprehensibly for his lover to do something to him and that wouldn’t lead him anywhere good.Or maybe it would, because Charlie was being gentler than usual with him and he did like it when he begged.Nick isn’t sure how much time passes before he feels a hand tangle itself into his ginger-blonde hair and tug lightly because he’s only vaguely aware of the clinking of dishes and the sound of running water and footsteps trailing back to the living room.“You hiding from me, sweet boy?” Charlie’s smooth and comforting and almost demanding voice affected Nick in the same way it always did. Nick lifted his head obediently, sitting up straight. The hand in his hair was pulled back, and his dominant chuckled while walking around him.“Not hiding.” he shook his head, watching as his boyfriend sat down again, next to but still above him. “No?” Charlie tilted his head, and Nick mimicked the movement. This caused the brunette to smile again, and that made Nick’s chest light up like it was nothing at all.“No, sir.” Nick adjusted his position so that he was kneeling properly again, like it would get him whatever it was he wanted. “Just…feeling a lot.”Charlie’s eyes flicked over his whole body, from his collar to his shirtless torso to the pyjama pants that didn’t hide his arousal.“Yeah?” Charlie encouraged simply, dragging his eyes back up to meet his again, “What’re you feeling, baby?”Nick whined, and it’s a repetitive, pathetic sound. He planted his hands on the pillow in front of him, leaning forward and shifting his kneeling position slightly so that he looked like an actual puppy when they were sat down.The bone-shaped charm in his collar dangled from the ribbon around his neck and there’s something about it that’s sweet and intense and flowery soft and electric hot. This does something to Charlie, because his breath hitched and he kept watching the boy, waiting for him to say something.“Hot. Hot, for you, sir.” Nick managed words even though it felt so, so hard and so, so useless because why were they talking when Charlie’s hands could be all over him?When the ginger-blonde could be kissing him, just then?“And?” The brunette pushed further, and Nick kept his eyes trailed on his boyfriend above him. He had to have looked pathetic from Charlie’s angle- kneeling in all fours and in a collar and looking up at him through filtered eyelashes and begging eyes. He was beautiful .Charlie doesn’t say this just then, though, because they had roles to play.“I want you. And I want you to want me.” Nick doesn’t know if he’s making any sense any more, but he doesn’t think he cares all that much. He whined, “I need you, Char.”And he’s referring to Charlie out of title, which feels purposeful and important. The brunette hummed, patting his leg, “Get up here, baby.”He says it like an order he expects Nick to fulfil, but he moves to help pull him up and then down again to the couch once he starts to move. The ginger-blonde is all but deposited onto the cushion next to him before Charlie mounts himself over his lap, taking the straddling position they mutually loved.Nick’s hands found themselves at his boyfriend’s waist easily, and he held him there tightly. Charlie chuckled in a playful-dominant way that made Nick worried he was going to be scolded for reaching out and taking without asking for permission.Instead, he just smiled, sugar sweet, and said, “I’m not going anywhere, baby.”“No?” Nick questioned, and it’s desperate and clingy and begging. He squeezes his hips, pulling him in closer so, so desperately.If Charlie had been doing it to him, it would be demanding and commanding and dominant but when Nick did it, it was a sweet shade of pathetic. Charlie furrowed his eyebrows and held eye contact with him while he oh, so gently laid his hands over his chest- which was moving up and down with each panting breath because Nick was nothing if not entirely worked up,“No, honey. You’ve got me, all to yourself.” Charlie assured him, and the ginger-blonde’s face lights up like this was the most exciting news he could possibly hear.He moved to lean in for a kiss, but the brunette tsked lightly, causing him to pull back like a pet trained by a bell. His eyes were wide and anxious and guilty in that beautiful way they did, and he tilted his head, “Hm?”“What colour are we at, sweets?” Charlie checked in, “And what do you want, right now?”“Green, sir.” Nick answered, “And can’t you order me around?”He’s practically begging for an order of some sort- to be told what to do next. It’s sweet and pathetic and lovely.“I could.” Charlie mused, “But I want you to get what you want out of this, since we did it for me. I don’t need anything special, baby. You sitting there like this with a collar is all I wanted.”Nick flushed at the mention of doing this for Charlie- the lie he had been holding up since agreeing to try this. His gaze fell from his boyfriend’s eyes to where his hands were laid over his breasts. “You’re flushed all down your neck, baby.” The brunette teased, “Look at me. Why are we so shy, all the sudden?”“I was lying. About trying this for you. And when I said that I forgot about the collar.” he admitted, and it’s quick and apologetic and honest, “I’m sorry, sir.”“Oh.” Charlie hummed, and then Nick heard him chuckle instead of tsking or clicking his tongue or sighing in disappointment. He glanced up in confusion.“You’re not upset?”“It’s not something to be upset about, really.” Charlie shrugged, leaning in slightly as if to reveal a secret, “I sort of knew that, sweetheart.”“Oh.” Nick muttered, “I was lying to you, though.”“You were scared.” Charlie told him, “We can talk about it later, if it’ll help you feel better. But for now, I’m being gentle with you today- remember? You can get away with little things like that.”He slowly and gently trailed his hands up the sides of the submissive’s neck until he was holding the sides of his face. He swiped one of his thumbs back and forth, enjoying the feeling of added pressure when he leaned into his palm on that side.“Okay.” Nick nodded, “I’m still- still a…good puppy?”He paused and drew in a breath before using the term Charlie had used to refer to him a few times earlier as if it overwhelmed him and he had to power through saying it.And even though it clearly overwhelmed him, it was also clear that he needed Charlie to confirm it.The brunette tsked and shook his head playfully at him, letting his hands slip down and back so that his hands ended up on his muscly shoulders, “Yes, Nicky. Do you want me to ask you, like you would a dog?”“What do you mean by that?” Nick was blushing again, and it was sweet and hot and he was doing everything in his power not to rut up against his boyfriend and pull him in closer.Charlie seemed delighted that he asked, smiling widely, “Who’s a good puppy? Is it you? Is it you?”He fell, so easily, into that playful tone that people did with dogs and it does something to Nick’s brain and body.Charlie moved one hand up to quickly to ruffle his hair and scratch his head like if you were to pet an energetic dog, and the ginger-blonde doesn’t have enough time to get over one thing before being introduced to another and it’s all so, so much and so, so good.“Yes, yes- It’s me.” Nick nodded, and then his boyfriend is laughing again and even though it’s embarrassing, it’s such a lovely sound. Charlie’s hand fell back to where it had been positioned behind his neck, and he shifted slightly against his erection, “You never answered me, honey. If you’re such a good puppy, I think you deserve whatever it is you want. What do you need from me?”“Just…you.” Nick answered, and his desperate and glossed over eyes were darting all over Charlie’s face and body like he was trying to soak in every inch of him. “Can you just kiss me, please?”Charlie pretended to pause to think about this, just to tease him, and Nick quickly and obediently added, “ Sir ?”“Okay, baby.” And that’s all Nick needs to dive in head first in the way he always does whenever he’s finally given permission. They had a routine of Charlie working him up and then helping him work himself down, and this was part of it.And the dance of lips moving from mouth to corner of mouth to cheek to neck, and of hands moving up to waist and back to pull the other in closer and down to grab- that’s part of it, too.Nick’s panting breaths never stop, but they’re layered with a steady stream of whimpering and begging and whining that Charlie was growing dependent on, at this point.The brunette grinds against Nick without breaking their make out session at all, the ginger-blonde following his leading motions with his hands.There was another part of their routine that the submissive always pivoted to at one point or another because it was one of those things they started so long ago that it felt weird not to do it.Nick starts to bite at Charlie’s neck, moving quickly enough that he had managed to leave marks in a few spots before the dominant could hiss and gasp dramatically, “Nick!”The ginger-blonde pulled pack with wide, panicked, and confused eyes. Charlie’s gaze hardened, but it was still playful, “You’re biting me like you need to be trained, love.”Nick’s panic subsided when he realized that there wasn’t actually anything wrong and that his dominant was just deciding to be dominant and take the chance to tease him.And the idea of being trained throws itself around in his brain in the same way the idea of being punished had before they tried that. There’s so many images- of cages and treats and every other pathetic, little thing he could be told to do at the mercy of his boyfriend. There was a loop where his collar could be connected to a leash and so, so many possibilities. His face flushed for what was probably the millionth time that night, and he whimpered, “I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry, sir.”He leaned back in to leave gentler kisses on the spots he had bitten, running his tongue and pressing his lips over the forming bruises. Charlie drew in a sharp breath at the way he trailed down, and Nick glanced up at him without stopping, letting his eyes flutter shut as he continued on with his sweet, honey-dipped kisses.“Oh, you’re such a sweet boy.” The brunette mused, “I’m not all that hurt, baby. Come up here.”He used one hand to hook the ginger-blonde’s jaw and guide his gaze up, up, up until he’s able to press their lips together again. And just like that, their sweet and slow movements turn back into fast paced, desperate ones. Nick squeezes at Charlie’s hips, and the brunette goes back to grinding on top of him.The dominant took a turn leaving kisses down his neck and bare chest, mumbling nonsense praise about how pretty his muscles were between each kiss pressed against his flushed, freckled skin.“You’re such a good puppy, Nicky. So good, just for me.”Nick throws his head back and for a moment, Charlie thinks it’s just because he’s kissing his neck and it made things easier for him, but then he hears his series of moans and felt the way he seemed to give out under him, falling back into the cushioning of the couch.“Oh, there we are.” he hummed like he was satisfied, gently pushing Nick against the cushioning as if to encourage his rest, “You got what you needed, then?”Nick’s eyes are still shut as he nodded, clumsy and grateful and delighted. He trailed his hands up a bit to his waist, opening his eyes, “Do you need-““No, I don’t, baby. You’re such a pretty thing and all I need is to look at you.” Charlie cut him off. He trailed his hands up and down his chest, creating symmetrical patterns with his motions, “You make such a mess out of yourself for me. You’re making a habit of cumming in your pants.”Nick didn’t say anything in response to that, just whimpering. His boyfriend sighed, deciding to not continue torturing him, “Okay, baby. We should get you cleaned up.”The boy beneath him whined, holding him tighter again. “Tired. And cozy. We should cuddle here for a bit, please.”And even though Charlie started to move off of him so that they could lie down for a little while instead, he still teased, “In your soiled pants, darling?” Nick covered his face with his hands like he did sometimes in the immediate come down, “Leave me alone.” Charlie positioned himself next to his boyfriend, “You don’t actually want that, my love.” The ginger-blonde let his hands fall slightly, even if it was just to soak in the sight of the other man, and he smiles, “I don’t.” And that moment is so, so sweet and so, so gentle and that feeling is a part of their routine.--Charlie takes the lead through the process of getting them both in the shower and washed off, letting Nick’s mind wander and body melt under his hands as he rubbed the washcloth covered in honey-lavender scented soap all over. It’s when he’s getting him dressed that they start speaking past small praises and instructions and affirmations that one understood the other. The brunette noticed the ginger-blonde’s expression at some point between drying off his torso and pulling his shirt over his head. “What’re you thinking about, sweets?” “A lot.” Nick admitted, letting his arms fall once his shirt was pulled over him. He watched as Charlie moved to put everything they had used away- to put hygiene products back into baskets and dirty clothes in laundry hampers. “All good, though. Mostly.” “Yeah?” Charlie encouraged. “I am thinking all good things, too. Mostly.” “But you’re worried about something?” the ginger-blonde tried, and when Charlie didn’t shut him down, he continued, “You’re worried about me lying and being shy about this.” “Yes, baby.” the brunette sighed, “We agreed to try new things and to communicate about what we were interested in. If you were curious about pet play and had even the lightest idea that you’d like it that much, then how come you shut me down every time I brought it up?” “It’s just-” Nick struggles with his words for a moment, and his gaze falls down to his hands, where he started to fidget with the fabric of the pyjama shirt Charlie had picked out for him. He whispered the rest of his thought, “Wanting to be treated like an animal feels different than everything else we’ve done and- I guess I didn’t want to be into it because that’s a lot.” Charlie’s gaze softened, and once the wash cloth was placed with the rest of the dirty clothes, he came back over to stand in front of his boyfriend. He gently pulled his hands from the fabric and pulled them towards him, waiting for Nick to look up at him before speaking, “Maybe it is different than the other stuff we’ve done, officially speaking, but that doesn’t make it bad. And it being ‘a lot’ doesn’t, either.” The brunette told him, and it’s very firm but still so, so loving, “Everything else we’ve done could also be described those ways, by normal people.”Nick chuckled, and it feels sweet in a moment of seriousness. It breaks up the clear anxiety that was settled over him, “I know that, logically speaking. I’m sorry for lying.” “No s-word, honey.” Charlie stood on his toes to kiss the corner of his mouth, “I’m not mad at you, and you’re not in any trouble. I just thought that we should talk about it, okay?” Nick nodded, “Next time, I’ll be more honest with you. And you’ll do the same.” “I will.” The brunette confirmed, and he glances back to the bathroom door before pulling Nick along gently towards the hallway so that they could go back to their bedroom. “And you really did like everything we did today?” “Charlie, I don’t know how you could even think otherwise.” Nick joked, letting himself be pulled along easily. Cuddling after everything was a part of their routine, too, and it was a part that the ginger-blonde greatly cherished. “I suppose that’s fair.” Charlie let go of his hand once they were in the bedroom again, “You did come in your pants again.” “I hate you, you know.” Nick claimed, making his way over to the bed first and taking his side easily. The brunette joined him, “Would you also hate me if I found a way to make you finish without touching you at all?” his boyfriend questioned as he settled down next to him, “You seemed into the training idea. Maybe next time you decide to keep a secret from me, I’ll lock you up in a cage. How’s that sound?” Charlie falls into a series of giggles at Nick’s wide-eyed expression and entirely flushed face, “You give me so many ideas with your reactions to my jokes, love.” the brunette informed him. Nick rolled his eyes, “Whatever. I wouldn’t…mind the whole training thing.” He admitted stubbornly, crossing his arms. Charlie narrowed his eyes, “No lying.” he reminded. The ginger-blonde all but glared at him.“I think the idea of being trained is super hot.” he tried again, and it’s pouty and grumpy and it makes his boyfriend really, really happy to hear. He sat up to kiss his cheek, “That’s better. Good boy.” “Charlie!” Nick grumbled, “I’m not even in that headspace anymore and if you keep teasing me-” “You’ll get on your knees and beg for me again?” Charlie eventually does stop his teasing so that they can get comfortable and a bit later, drift off to sleep, but there’s a lot of playful back and forth bickering before that happens. Nick knows that he doesn’t mean anything by it- that it’s just a part of their routine and how they functioned and how love was mixed into this new element of their relationship. And it’s all so sweet, each part of that routine.