"Tell me how you feel."
"I'm okay," Frank whispered, his voice cracking from disuse. He cringed at the sound as Gerard pulled his boxers up and turned to face him again. Gerard's face cracked with a tiny smile as he put an arm around Frank to help him up from the bed.
"Let's get you fixed up a little, hmm?" Gerard offered as he helped Frank across the room. He opened the door and walked into Frank's bedroom, guiding the submissive into the ensuite bathroom. Frank felt goosebumps rise on his skin as his eyes threatened to close. He watched through a molasses-thick gaze as Gerard fiddled with the knobs of the shower, getting the water running. Gerard turned to look at him with a pointed gaze and gestured to the torrent, a clear indication that Frank was meant to be under it.
He slipped around the glass separator and stuck his leg under the water, grimacing at the temperature. He adjusted the water to a slightly less hellish degree and stepped in. He sighed out at the heated patter of water over his skin, closing his eyes. The door closed and Frank opened his eyes, wiping water from his face, when he yelped and looked up to see Gerard staring down at him.
"What, did you think you were showering alone?" Gerard smiled slightly as he put his hands on Frank's shoulders to shift him over, "This is how we bond during our aftercare, Frank. I look after you. I wouldn't leave you alone."
"Oh," Frank whispered as arms wrapped around him, pulling him closer and right up against Gerard's wet chest. He closed his eyes as a wet hand stroked over his slicked-back hair, "Yeah, I like this more."
"I have no doubt." Gerard whispered quietly, "I hope you're aware that not all aftercare is a shower. Like previously when I put the lotion on your skin. It's all about making sure you're okay."
"This hot water is still making my ass burn a little." Frank replied as he looked up at his Master, "I mean, the aloe stuff did help but it's still a little... Tender."
"Poor boy's whining about a spanking." Gerard taunted in a genial mocking tone. Frank looked up with a scowl to see Gerard trying to hide a smirk. He glanced down at the boy before adding, "Just you wait until you're given a thorough whipping, dear boy. A spanking would feel much akin to a light breeze."
"Jesus." Frank mumbled as he rotated himself in Gerard's strong arms, pushing his back against the latter's chest. He closed his eyes contently, tilting his head as Gerard peppered his shoulder with soft, idle kisses, "You're a lot cuddlier after sex."
"Am I?"
"Well, look at you." Frank muttered as he leaned back fully, putting almost all of his weight on the tall man behind him, "Mr. Thunderface is loving me because he's recently repainted my insides."
"A beautiful analogy."
"Why thank you." Frank sighed as Gerard moved, straightening the submissive back onto his feet before he turned him around. Gerard pursed his lips as he turned to pick up a bright red bar of soap. Frank's eyes widened with surprise as Gerard began to lather a sponge with the perfumed bar, "You're gonna wash me?"
"I think it's only fair that we take turns, hmm?" Gerard asked as he lifted Frank's arm and began washing his skin with firm but tender flux. Frank couldn't help but smile at the richly sweet smell that curled into his nostrils. He watched Gerard's hand as he rubbed the sponge in circles over Frank's skin. He looked up as he washed Frank's chest, "Tell me what you're thinking, boy."
"I like it when you're naked." Frank replied unabashedly, grinning as he looked at his Master's quirked eyebrow, "You asked."
"Your lack of a vocal filter is astounding sometimes." Gerard whispered softly as he moved the sponge along to was Frank's other arm, scrubbing over his fingers.
"I thought you loved my mouth." Frank pouted as he was turned around and pushed gently out from under the jetstream of water. He looked down at the water splashing on his feet as Gerard began to clean his shoulders.
"I cherish that mouth of yours, as it were." Gerard stated, his lips far too close all of a sudden. Frank felt his heart stop in his chest at the proximity, a hand on his hip made him swallow instinctively, "But the things that come out of it are very different from what you do with the things that go into it."
"I bet." Frank replied shakily as Gerard stepped back to continue, dropping down onto his haunches as he continued to clean his submissive's skin.
"Tell me, boy." Gerard took Frank by the thighs and turned him back around to begin scrubbing over the front of his legs, "You just experienced your first scene. I take it you've never experienced anything like that previously?"
Frank couldn't help the small snort that immediately left him. Gerard glanced up when the sharp sound reverberated through the shower. Frank rolled his eyes, "Yeah, right. Like I've experienced anything remotely similar to what's just happened. Did you not see what I was previously dating? He'd turn whiter than Nicole Kidman if I even so much as suggested my mouth on his asshole."
"That's still confounding." Gerard frowned as he straightened up to pull Frank under the water, letting the soap wash from his skin, "Your previous sex life sounds like it would put someone to sleep."
"Yeah, it usually did. Me." Frank muttered as he took the sponge from Gerard's outstretched hand, lathering more soap onto it with his fingers, "He got upset because I wanted to eat cream off of him."
Gerard's eyebrows rose exponentially, his face a maw of genuine surprise as Frank started to clean him, starting with his arms just as Gerard had done. Frank couldn't help but blush a little when he noted the pale color of his Master's skin and how exquisitely perfect his arms were. They weren't overly muscled or chiseled and toned but Frank knew just how powerful they were; the thought had his mind fade over for a moment until he resurfaced, realizing he had stopped moving.
"Just cream? Nothing else?"
"Just cream." Frank pursed his lips, his blush darkening as he soaped over his Master's chest and flat stomach, staring way too hard, "But I liked it."
"You liked the cream fiasco or your first scene?"
"Definitely the scene." Frank muttered, "I really enjoyed it. It was all new for me, even the blowjob."
"I could see so." Gerard's tone took a shaded edge to it and Frank blanched when he remembered what he had done. Frank ducked his head down as he slowly went onto his knees in front of Gerard to clean his lower half. Frank paused when he realized how he was positioned. He glanced up at his Master from under his lashes and saw Gerard looking back at him, their eyes locking in a gaze that shared an unspoken understanding. Frank let out the softest whimper, his eyes darting between Gerard's gaze and what was so close to his face. Frank knew that he had literally just come, he knew that his body probably couldn't recharge that quickly, but he couldn't help the flutters that sparked in his lower stomach when he looked at his Master's dick.
He so badly wanted to lean in and taste Gerard all over again, even if it didn't end in a full blow job. He was astounded by the hunger and need to be around his Master's length, surprised by himself and his earnest urge to please. And it was as if Gerard had read his mind, his hand sliding through Frank's wet hair to tilt his head back, "I know that look. Don't even think about it, runt."
"I-I didn't-"
"You need to compose yourself, boy." Gerard chided, "I feel like you need to realize that just because we're naked, it doesn't necessarily mean we're going to have sex."
"I-" Frank flushed darkly, his eyes widening as he realized that Gerard had caught on to his exact thoughts, "I'm sorry..."
"Don't apologize, sweet pup." Gerard tugged on Frank's hair pointedly, slicking his fingers through his locks, "But we need to work on your self-control."
"Yes, sir."
"Come on now, boy." Gerard leaned back against the tiled wall of the shower and lifted his leg up, "Finish what you've started and we can get out."
"Yes, sir." Frank flinched at the pain of the shower tiles on his knees. He didn't quite realize how much the porcelain floor had been cutting into his skin until he moved. Frank held Gerard's foot in his hand, scrubbing over his Master's leg with as much deliberate efficiency that he could muster. He repeated the process with Gerard's other leg and looked up with a smile, proud of his work.
"Very thorough." Gerard snickered lightly as he helped Frank gingerly back up onto his feet. He turned off the faucet and reached out, grabbing one of the beige fluffy towels that were hanging on the nearby rack. He wrapped the towel around his waist before he stepped out to grab a second one.
Frank smiled as he took the towel from Gerard and secured it over his hips. Gerard took his hand and led him out of the bathroom toward his bedroom when Frank spoke, "Sir?"
"Yes, boy?"
"Is the aftercare done?"
"Not quite." Gerard pulled Frank into his bedroom and took the towel from around the boy's hips, drying his arms and shoulders. Frank blushed as he was dried, biting on his lip as he reveled in the attention, "Frank?"
"Sir?"
"Was there a time, at all today, that you considered safewording?" Gerard asked as he walked around his submissive to dry the planes of his back and down over his ass with a delicate touch.
"Honestly," Frank sighed as Gerard dried his legs, "It crossed my mind right in the beginning but just for a second. I didn't actually want to but it was more... The surprise of it all than the pain or anything."
"Understandable." Gerard nodded as he came to a stop in front of Frank with a smirk in his lips. He reached down with the towel and gently dried Frank's hips. Frank stifled a whimper when he felt the material of the towel skate over his dick and between his legs.
"Oh, fuck." Frank whispered softly, his eyes widening, "Sir, I-I didn't even ask... How are you? Are you okay?"
Gerard looked up and put a hand into the back of Frank's hair, bending him over a fraction before he draped the towel over Frank's head. He yelped lightly in fright at the harsh touch, staring down at his Master's feet as Gerard began towel-drying his hair. After a moment of vigorous fluffing that had Frank almost purring, he was lifted back up into a standing position. He stared up at his Master with a dopey smile, "Thanks."
"Your adrenaline is wearing off." Gerard commented, "I can see it in your eyes. You need a nap, my boy."
"I..." Frank frowned, "I do, don't I?"
"It would be highly advised." Gerard grabbed a pair of boxers and bent down, holding them open. Frank stepped into the material and pulled them up himself, "Sit on the bed for me, boy. Back to me, if you would."
Frank nodded wordlessly and climbed up onto the tall mattress of his Master's bed, sitting on the sex-rumpled sheets with his legs crossed. He glanced around when Gerard came to stand behind him, his eyes closing as Gerard began to brush his hair slowly. Frank involuntarily leaned in to Gerard's hand in his neck and jaw, sighing at the touch as his damp hair was brushed back and untangled with surprising ease.
"To answer your previous question," Gerard spoke, his voice a shade quieter than it had been, "I'm very okay. I'm proud of you for accomplishing so much today."
"Thank you, sir." Frank stifled a yawn, "Wanted to make you happy."
"That you did." Gerard ran the wooden brush through Frank's hair one last time before he set it down on the bedside table, his thumb stroking over his submissive's cheek, "Get into bed, boy. Get comfortable."
"Yes, sir."
"You mention how I change after sex," Gerard noted as Frank climbed underneath the comforter. He pulled the blanket up to his chin, his legs against his chest. Frank watched Gerard dry himself as he continued to speak, "You also seem to do somewhat of a one-eighty."
"I do?"
"You're usually so rambunctious," Gerard commented as he slid himself into a pair of black sweatpants. He went to stand in front of a mirror and began brushing his own hair with a completely different hairbrush, "You're so obedient and timid at the moment. It's startling."
Frank didn't reply, his eyes unmoving from his Master, completely engulfed as he stared at him in awe. He watched how Gerard would run the sleek black brush through his fiery locks, he watched how Gerard's back muscles would rise and tauten as his arm moved. Gerard stopped what he was doing and Frank looked up, his eyes locking with Gerard's gaze in the reflection of the mirror. Frank felt his cheeks grow warm when he realized he had been caught staring. The wave of emotions that overtook his insides had him feeling breathless and faint, emotions that he didn't understand- That he didn't want to comprehend just yet. It was so overwhelming, and if he had any sort of mental capacity left, he would have attempted to understand them.
He pulled the comforter slightly higher as he lay back against the headboard, his eyes still locked with Gerard as the latter stared at him in the mirror. Gerard turned to look at him and put his hands on his hips, "And all that?"
"Nothing." Frank mumbled, his voice muffled from within the blanket, "I swear."
"It looked an awful lot like staring, boy." Gerard fluffed his damp hair with his hand, "Is there something unappealing that would warrant your incessant gawking?"
"Fuck no." Frank whispered as he dropped the blanket from his hands and leaned forward, "The exact opposite."
"Oh, really now?" Gerard's lips tugged at one corner, his eyes alight with devilish mischief, "I think you're in a daze. You need some sleep."
"I don't wanna sleep."
"Is that because you're being stubborn?" Gerard asked simply as he walked around to his side of the bed and sat down, "Or are you so adamant to remain awake simply for my benefit?"
"What'll you do if I sleep?"
"Who said I wouldn't sleep, too?" Gerard countered as he slid underneath the blanket, "What if I, too, felt just as physically exhausted from my own physical exhaustion."
Frank looked down, guilt welling in his chest, "Didn't think of that. I'm sorry, sir."
"Quiet, boy. Lay down and rest." Gerard lay down on the bed and pulled the blanket up before he reached over to grab a worn paperback novel from his bedside table. He opened it and tucked the bookmark right at the back of the dust jacket. He looked at the page and then at Frank, who was staring at him, unblinking, "Can I assist you with something, pup?"
"What you reading?"
"War and Peace." Gerard held the book in one hand and glanced over to see Frank edge closer. He sighed dramatically and lifted his arm without a moment of hesitation. Frank scooted closer, curling himself up against his Master, breathing in the scent as the mere proximity and skin-on-skin contact seemed to abate his selling anxiety.
"What's it about?"
"'War and Peace' broadly focuses on Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812." Gerard explained as he closed the book to show Frank the blue cover, "It follows Pierre Bezukhov, the illegitimate son of a count who is fighting for his inheritance and yearning for spiritual fulfillment; Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, who leaves his family behind to fight in the war against Napoleon; and Natasha Rostov, the beautiful young daughter of a nobleman who intrigues both men."
"Uh-huh." Frank uttered as he closed his eyes, "Tell me more."
"As Napoleon's army invades, Tolstoy brilliantly follows characters from diverse backgrounds; peasants and nobility, and civilians and soldiers as they struggle with the problems unique to their era, their history, and their culture. And as the novel progresses, these characters transcend their specificity, becoming some of the most moving, and human, figures in world literature."
"...'S cool." Frank barely managed as he felt himself slowly slipping into sleep, wrapping an arm around Gerard's stomach to keep him close, his head resting just above the crook of Gerard's armpit. The last thing that his fatigued brain could process was the arm around his back that pulled him in tighter and the hand that was stroking barely-there circles in the skin of his hip.