1

"Do not move. Nod if you understand."

I take a deep breath and nod my head in response. He leans over and picks up my jacket and then drapes it carefully over the back of the couch next to his black shirt.

I look over my shoulder as he walks behind me.

"I did not give you permission to move. Now, still your body, and keep in mind, I will only warn you about an offense twice. The third time, you will incur a punishment. Consider this only a verbal warning. Nod if you understand."

It takes all the will power I can muster not to turn around and face him. I nod my head, listening attentively, to any noise, no matter how minute, resonating in the air.

The sound of his shoes no longer makes a soft tapping sound on the stone floor. I think he's taken them off, which makes it harder for me to tell where he's now standing. My body feels as if it has been engulfed by pins and needles.

The warmth of his breath on my lower back makes me shiver. When his lips brush up against the trembling flesh of my back, I gasp and take a step forward.

"I did not tell you to move," he states in a firm voice, expressing his displeasure. He takes hold of my hips, pulling me back in place as he unbuckles my trousers. "That is the second time you have moved. Consider this your first warning. So, do not move unless I tell you to do so. Otherwise, you will incur another warning. Do you understand? I want a verbal answer from you this time."

"Yes," I reply with a slight quiver to my voice. "I understand…sir."

"Lift your right foot," he commands. I comply, and he slips my boot off along with the trouser leg and then guides my foot back onto the floor as his hands glide up and down my legs. "Now, lift your left foot."

Sliding the boot from my left foot along with my trousers, he kisses and nips at the skin behind my knee.

My body tenses, but I manage to remain standing in one spot. I gasp when he wraps an arm around my waist, drawing my body into his hard lean frame. He grabs a handful of hair, tilting my head sideways to expose my neck. I quiver and close my eyes as he kisses my jaw line and neck. My body melts in his arms like butter on a warm summer's day, and I sigh.

"Undress and lie down on the bed," he orders, releasing my body from his strong arms.

I stroll across the cool stone floor dropping clothing, fully aware his eyes are raking over my body as I walk away from him. When I reach the bed, I realize the comforter and top sheet have been peeled away. I wrack my brain, trying to recall when he pulled them down.

Taking a deep breath, I sit on the edge of the bed and lift my feet onto the mattress. I lower my body and lie my head down on the dark blue pillow against the headboard.

When I look up, our eyes lock and my breath hitches in the back of my throat, which makes him grin.

The mattress shifts under his weight as he inches closer to me. I jump when he places a single kiss on top of my right foot. My body tenses and my eyes widen because I moved. I hold my breath waiting for him to say something.

"Breathe. Do not hold your breath," he commands, softly as he leaves a trail of kisses from the top of my right knee to just below my hip. "You have a beautiful body, Ianto. I am going to enjoy touching and tasting every delectable inch."

He nips at the skin around my hip, sliding his hands over my abdomen. I bolt upright in bed, catching him off guard as my knee makes contact with his ribs and he groans.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to move," I stammer, almost forgetting to address him.

"Sir, I'm really sorry, sir." I look up at him with eyes as wide as saucers.

"Lie down, Sweetling, and close your eyes," he commands firmly. "Do not move again. Consider this your final warning."

I ease back down onto the bed.

Every muscle in my body feels tense and on alert.

The mattress shifts around me, and I feel him straddle my legs above my thighs. My eyes fly open, and I peer up at him.

"I did not tell you to open your eyes. If you do not leave them closed, I will blindfold you."

Reluctantly, I close my eyes. I focus on what I can hear and feel which, only makes me feel more anxious and tense. He takes hold of my wrists, pulling them above my head.

"Do not move your hands, Sweetling. Nod if you understand."

I nod in response. The warmth of his breath on the side of my face and neck makes me shiver. I cry out when his lips trail a path from the base of my jaw to the tip of my chin. His mouth covers my quivering lips. Urgently, his tongue probes the inner recesses of my mouth.

I sigh and press my erect dick up into his muscular stomach. He breaks our kiss and leaves a trail of quivering flesh from my neck down to my left nipple. My body draws closer to his mouth as my back arches. He takes the erect bud into his mouth, suckling as he explores my body with his hands.

My body jerks and I start giggling.

The forward movement of my legs almost topples him from his perch. He growls and takes hold of my hips, pressing them back down onto the bed.

"This is not going to work unless I restrain your legs," he says, peering down into my open eyes. "There are still other parts of your body left to explore, and I do not know how you are going to react."

"No. I promise I will try harder to keep them still. Please don't tie me," I say as my voice raises several octaves. "I don't want you to do that, Jack."

He breathes a heavy sigh. "It is only for my safety. I am more than four inches taller than you. Plus, I probably outweigh you by more than fifty pounds, but even then you almost knocked me over. You are stronger than you think. And Ianto, you must address me properly."

"Please, I don't want to be tied." I tremble under his body and push on his chest with my hands. "Please, Jack…please, let me up. I can't breathe."

Tears brim my eyes, threatening to spill over onto my cheeks. I am mortified but can't stop struggling with open fear. Jack sighs and lifts his frame off my body, and then rolls onto his side next to me.

"What is wrong, Ianto?" He caresses my face. "What is going on in that busy mind of yours? Please, tell me."

"I don't want to talk about it," I say, barely above a whisper, turning away from his gaze.

He inhales sharply and sighs again.

"Ianto, talk to me. I want to know what troubles you…even if it takes all night," he says with a warm timbre to his voice. "The rope?"

He draws me into the warmth of his arms. I close my eyes and lay my head against his chest, breathing in his scent. When my shoulders relax, it starts a chain reaction as my body melts in his arms. My breathing becomes steady, and I drift in and out of sleep.

Jack lays awake as he ponders what to do with this enigma in his bed.

Who hurt him?

Who bound him and made him fear the very thought of being restrained?

Tosh needs to look into it.

There must be something in that military file she hasn't uncovered yet to explain Ianto's scars and flinching at the silk cords not used.