Jonathan Sims

John had phrased the question very deliberately. It wasn't 'do you think you deserve this' — he knows the answer to that one already, and after casting himself as the arbiter of what Martin deserves, he isn't necessarily seeking a second opinion on the matter. But that's part of the game, isn't it? If Martin wants to surrender to John's control, then he can surrender to John's perceptions, as well. He can acknowledge the legitimacy of them, even if it's something he finds difficult to accept. It isn't so different from John's acceptance of when Martin fell in love with him: well before he would have ever deemed himself worthy of it, but not a truth he gets to dictate.

Still, he doesn't expect acquiescence to be easy, or comfortable, and he listens to Martin struggle without knowing if he'll be able to bully past his own self-doubts or not. His patience is informed by the simple fact that a 'no' wouldn't be the end of the world. He has a few ideas on how to handle that, up to and including 'biting,' and he thinks a little persuasion might end up being more fun than a straightforward reward.

But there is no room for regret when Martin finally, softly agrees with him. Astonishment, certainly — John's eyebrows shoot up and he feels a swell of startled warmth in his chest as Martin stammers out his 'I do' — but he's far too busy being delighted that Martin managed it on his first go to regret the lost opportunity to torment him a bit. Not least of all because the line between 'torment' and 'reward' is so conveniently thin in the first place.

"You do," John agrees, before putting his mouth to other uses: pressing one last kiss to Martin's chest and then sealing his lips around his nipple and sucking once, firm and pointed. His right hand, meanwhile, closes in on its own target, and he pinches Martin between the pad of his thumb and the curled knuckle of his forefinger, tugging in concert.