This is what happens when I'm bored at Christmas. Couldn't be bothered to proof read. If ya think spanking is bad don't read lol. And remember pals if you want it, it gotta be consensual. Leave reviews if you like / want more.
It had been a busy two weeks. The case they were working on was possibly the biggest one that Mike had encountered, and as fate would have it, it brought the most complex and difficult clients, too. It was emotionally wearing, for Mike, and intellectually overbearing, for Harvey. He was having to anticipate not just the opposition's next step, but the whole series of next steps they might make. Harvey had very nearly met his match.
As such, there was no time for anything. They left Harvey's flat at 7ish, and didn't get back until 1 or 2 in the morning. They collapsed in bed, slept, then did the same thing all over again. Harvey ate food that Donna provided for him, Mike ate on the move as he caught cabs all over the city on errands for Harvey. And Harvey was so caught up in the case, that he barely acknowledged Mike. He'd given him a couple of sharp reprimands when he was being sassy, but that was it. And, there had been absolutely no sex. Which, Mike told himself, was fine. But some attention would have been nice.
Mike thought that perhaps he was finally experiencing the mysterious sub drop. He had never come close before, what with the Harvey's overbearing attentiveness. There was never a day where Harvey wasn't possessing him, guiding him, making sure he was alright. Until the case happened. And Mike felt neglected and moody. And sad. And lonely. A week and a half into the case, Mike had decided that he had completely had enough, so he decided to test the limits of Harvey's distraction.
"Mike, can you proof read these?" Harvey asked, not even looking up from his computer as he used one finger to prod a pile of files towards Mike.
"Later," Mike mumbled after a pause, a pause in which he had considered whether or not to respond like that or to play it safe. "I'm busy."
There was a pause, in which Mike imagined a whole host of possible painful deaths.
"Look at me."
There it was. The voice. Mike nearly giggled in glee. Sub drop, fuck you. He slowly raised his eyes, meeting Harvey's which had gone cold with rage. Harvey's eyes bored into Mike's for a good thirty seconds, long enough to make Mike's mouth go dry with nerves and lust. That's it, Harvey. Control me.
"I'm going to let that slide, this time," Harvey said, his tone measured. "I know that we are busy, and I know it is hard. But if you ever disrespect me like that again, Mike, you are going to regret the day God gave you an ass."
Mike wondered if the disappointment he felt was written on his face. Not that it mattered, because, sub reprimanded, Harvey had gone back to his laptop. He hadn't even forced a yes sir out of him. Mike sat there for ten more seconds. He considered throwing a fit, and refusing. He considered ripping up the files. And then he got up and went off to do as he was told. He knew, deep down, that he was scared that even if he did go completely off the deep end, Harvey might not do anything. There was no bigger concern for a sub than that his dom might just fail to bring him in line. That would be, quite literally, the end of the world.
Anyway, he reasoned to himself, maybe Harvey would think about it and decide that tonight, Mike needed to be dealt with.
Mike's hope was short lived. When he left at 12.30am, Harvey said he needed to stay a bit longer. He told Mike not to wait for him. "You're looking a bit peaky," he'd told him, absent mindedly snaking an arm around his waist and gently rubbing his hip. In his frustrated state, it was enough to give Mike a semi. Which of course, Harvey was too busy to notice. "Go sleep, Mikey," Harvey continued. "Keep the bed warm for me."
Mike tried not to be stroppy, but he felt very neglected. Stupid Harvey.
When it reached the two week mark, Mike completely lost his mind. That was the only explanation he could come up with for his actions. He must have gone insane. He was sure that no sub in the history of the world ever had so willfully flouted the rules of their dom and lived to tell the tale.
He was supposed to be going across the city to fetch some records from another law firm, and Harvey had told him to be back within an hour and a half. Harvey knew that was pushing it, given the traffic at lunchtime, but he could have done it just about. Mike caught the elevator down to the carpark, because he knew that there was a passageway that went straight through to the cab rank which would be quicker than trying to cross the road. He had good intentions, he really did. But then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimmer of silver. His bike. He hadn't ridden it in months - not since the day Harvey forbade him. There had been an accident in the centre, with a bike and a bus and three cars.
"I won't have it anymore," Harvey had said. "Not through the city. It's too dangerous."
"Harvey, I've ridden it every day for-"
"No," Harvey had said, authority seeping into his tone. "A boy died on his bike yesterday. It's not going to be my boy that's next. If you ever get on this contraption again, without my permission, I will make sure that you can't sit on anything comfortably for a week. Am I clear?"
He had reached out his hand and grasped Mike's chin, glowering at him. Mike would have been annoyed, but it was impossible to ignore the surge of happiness that flooded through him when Harvey referred to him as my boy. Plus, he didn't need the bike, not when he was basically living at Harvey's. So, the bike got abandoned in the law firm's car park.
The conversation was a the front of Mike's mind as he approached the bike. He yearned for that Harvey back, right now. The stern, glowering, insistent, bossy, arrogant Harvey. The Harvey that uttered the words my boy and cared fiercely for Mike, overreacting to everything because of his passion for Mike. The Harvey that kissed him and held him and punished him and fucked him. He hadn't seen that Harvey in fourteen long, painful days.
Which is why Mike did something completely stupid. He did the one thing he had so far never dared to do. He willfully disobeyed a direct, non-negotiable order. To make matters far worse, he didn't even have his helmet or his reflective gear. It was the ultimate idiotic move. And Mike didn't think twice as he fished out the keys from the front slot of his messenger bag and unlocked it. Cycling through the city at speed felt a lot like freedom. He cut all the traffic by using the pedestrian crossings, and didn't get stuck in the stupid one way system. He liked the air on his face, the speed of the bike, the feeling of flying. It was almost like the feeling he got when he was in subspace. Which, his brain sniped, he hadn't been for a while.
He was back at the firm within 50 minutes, exhilarated and happy. He bounded up the steps to the elevator, and was beaming when he entered Harvey's office. He dumped the records in front of Harvey and flopped down on the sofa, having grabbed a croissant from the basket at Harvey's elbow. Harvey was within the box of records within seconds, eyes feverishly scanning pages. And then, within ten minutes, Harvey exhaled.
"Thank god," he said. "Thank god!"
"That's awfully religious for a gay man. Do I need to be worried?" Mike remarked round a mouthful of croissant.
"Don't talk with your mouth full," Harvey admonished, looking at him properly for the first time in so long. "You aren't an animal."
"Actually, humans are-"
"Shut up," Harvey interrupted with a roll of his eyes. "We've won the case."
"We...have?"
Harvey tossed him the file, his face relaxed at last. Mike picked it up and his eyes picked up the figures quickly, his brain converting them. Embezzlement. Barely there, but there. Bingo. It was over. It was finally over. The loooooong nights, the celibacy. The sub drop, the neglect. Yay for Mike.
"Finally!" Mike beamed.
"I need to get to court," Harvey said, standing bolt upright. "Do I have time? Final call in is at 2, can I-"
Harvey had paused, his eyes on his watch and confused look on his face. His eyes travelled slowly to Mike, who had returned to gnawing on his croissant, his other arm tossed behind his head as he lounged on the sofa. He took in the boy's happy demeanour, flushed cheeks and tousled hair, and a suspicion dawned on him.
Mike was still in too good a mood to notice the sudden shift in Harvey's energy, and was shocked when the man sat down on the sofa next to him and dragged him up by his shoulders so they were eye to eye. Mike's insides went funny at the look in Harvey's eyes. It wasn't annoyance, or even anger. It was pure unadulterated rage.
"Err, are you okay?" Mike squawked, his breath catching in his throat.
"It's 1o'clock," Harvey said, his voice low and dangerous. It was the voice he tended to use on criminals in court. Mike was dead. "I asked you to go and get those records around 12. How are you back already?"
"The traffic was-"
Harvey's hand moved faster than the speed of light,as he grabbed the back of Mike's neck and forced the boy to look at him. Mike's heart practically stopped. And then it started hammering. Shit he knows.
"Choose your next words carefully, Michael," Harvey whispered, his grip tightening. "You know I will not tolerate you lying to me."
Mike's head was a big mess. He knew he had messed up, but now he was feeling even more stupid because the case was over. He would have got Harvey back today, anyway. His stunt had been unnecessary. And now, on the the first day he got him back, Harvey was mad at him. That's all he had time for, Mike decided. Being angry. He didn't want to love Mike, or pet Mike, or even go home at the same time as Mike. He just wanted to be angry with him. The rational side of Mike's mind was screaming at him, trying to tell him he was wrong and he was being an idiot. But the sulky sub side of Mike's mind still felt neglected and resentful.
"What?" Mike snarled, reaching back and grabbing Harvey's hand. He wrenched it off him and glowered. "I haven't done anything. I did what you asked like I always do! So what if I was quick, that's not my fault. Why are you always assuming I've done something wrong? God you're such a twat sometimes."
And then there was silence. Loud silence. Mike could see Donna through the glass, her eyes wide in shock. But he was still angry. It wasn't fair. He'd only done it because Harvey wouldn't pay him any attention. It wasn't his fault. It wasn't.
Harvey was trying to keep his temper. He knew that Donna was listening, and he also knew that he needed to get to court. He didn't have the time he needed to deal with Mike, and he was far too angry to do so, anyway. The boy was looking at him so brazenly that he wanted nothing more than to force him to his knees and make him submit. Clearly, Mike needed more of that than Harvey had been supplying. He waited until he could trust himself to speak.
"You are tired," Harvey said, his rage poorly concealed in the way his voice shook. "We are going to go down to the car, and Ray will drop you off at home on the way to court. You are going to shower, get ready for bed and go to sleep. When I get back home, we are going to talk."
Mike, despite his earlier display, knew better than to disobey direct orders. He swallowed and nodded, following Harvey's direction to stand up. Harvey gathered up the files he needed for the court and picked up his phone, before sweeping out of the door. Mike trailed behind him like a sad puppy, not sure if he was scared or still angry. Donna gave him a sympathetic grimace as he trailed past her and mouthed you silly boy at him. He spared her a tired grin. He knew that she would try and fight his case for him, she always did.
When they got down to the carpark, Mike saw Harvey's eyes go straight to his bike. He knew that Harvey would notice that it was facing the other direction than it had been in the morning. He'd done that deliberately, back when he'd wanted to be caught. Now, though, he intensely regretted those decisions. In the elevator, Harvey had put a possessive hand on the back of Mike's neck. Now, his hand tightened in fury. Mike, sensing he had pushed far past his limits, kept quiet.
They got in the car in silence, Harvey pushing Mike in like he was arresting him. Harvey asked Ray to go to court, dropping by the flat first. And then they were away. Surprisingly, Harvey scooted into the middle seat, so he was next to Mike. As angry as he was, he was also hit by an overwhelming sense of relief. Since it clicked in his head what Mike had done, he'd been imagining a terrible set of scenarios. Mike, ran over by a bus. Mike, with his head split open. Mike, in hospital, strapped to a machine. Mike, dead upon impact. His boy, gone. Because he, Harvey, had failed in his ability to enforce limits and keep him safe. His love overpowered his anger and he grabbed Mike's face, pulling him in for a kiss.
Mike kissed back, shocked at the affection. He had been expecting anger, fury, punishment. Not a kiss. When Harvey pulled away, the look in his eyes was unreadable. He reached a hand out and gently caressed Mike's face, studying it like he had never seen it before. Just when Mike didn't think he could bear the tenderness of the moment, Harvey pulled away.
"We're here," he said, his voice oddly gruff. "Do as I told you. I shouldn't be hours." He kissed Mike on the forehead, then leant over him and opened the car door.
"Okay," Mike said. He didn't say sir like he was supposed to when Harvey gave him orders. He was sure they both noticed the foreignness of the absence. He got out slowly, shut the door behind him and made his way up to the apartment. It was only when he was inside that he started to shake.
His head was a complete mess. He had screwed up. This was definitely the worst thing he had done yet, and he knew that he was deserving of whatever Harvey chose to dole out. But on the flip side, he was still angry at Harvey. He had neglected his sub. All Mike had needed was a little bit of control, to keep him anchored, to stop him spiralling. And Harvey had forgotten to keep him in check. Mike knew it wasn't a good excuse. But he also knew that he had felt really shitty which is why he made his shitty decision. Insides squirmy, he headed for the shower. When he was done, he dressed in jogging bottoms and a loose t-shirt, figuring that must be what Harvey meant by getting ready for bed.
He tried to sleep, but it was impossible. He was wound too tightly. He wandered around the empty apartment, idly tidying things up as he went. Then he tried to watch TV. Then he concocted a brilliant plan in his head where he went and hid in his apartment, sent hostage letters to make Harvey think he had been kidnapped and then return a couple of weeks later. Harvey would be so relieved he was okay, all thoughts of Mike's bike ride would be eradicated. He was worryingly close to trying it. His stressed brain eventually turned off, and he fell asleep on the sofa, the TV remote still clutched in his hand.
Harvey's head was a jumble of contradictions as he stood in the elevator on the way up to his flat. On the one hand, he was ecstatic that the case was finally over and won. One the other hand, he was exhausted and it had been a long two weeks. He'd been unable to spend quality time with Mike, and it had been killing him. It was hard to see that cute little face look at him eagerly, and have to send him off continually to get the things they needed. It was even harder to come back and find him already asleep, or worse, the nights where they didn't even get to lie next to each other in bed.
But now, to make it all worse, Harvey could see that he had failed Mike. He had been too busy to give Mike what the boy needed, and now his sub was running wild. He couldn't even begin to imagine how needy Mike must have been feeling to disobey him so severely just to get attention. Harvey shook his head, an ironic laugh bursting from his lips. His boy had the worst timing. If only he had held on for 2 more hours, everything would have been fine.
His heart twinged when he saw Mike, asleep on the sofa in a too big t-shirt. He put his keys down silently, shrugged off his suit jacket and slipped out of his shoes. He padded over to his Mike, and sank down on the floor next to him. He looked positively angelic when he was asleep. Harvey sighed. All he wanted to do today was gather the boy in his arms, watch TV with him and have a conversation that didn't involve the damn case. But he knew that wasn't what Mike needed. Mike had clearly gone off the deep end with the lack of structure and the lack of Harvey's attention. Harvey was suspicious that he had experienced sub drop, which was unfortunate because Harvey had tried to keep Mike in line with reprimands and firm touches, but clearly it hadn't been enough. Mike needed more.
Mike woke up after about twenty minutes of Harvey watching him sleep. He looked like a small duckling, resurfacing after going under water for the first time. It was unbearably cute.
"You're back," Mike said, rubbing his sleepy hand on Harvey's chest. Harvey smirked and grabbed his hand.
"Astute, as always," he replied gently. "It's all over. We won."
"Well done," Mike yawned, sitting up. Harvey moved up off the floor to sit next to him, and without thinking, drew the boy into his side. He was allowed to be nice first, right?
"What am I going to do with you, Mikey?" he sighed, knotting his fingers through Mike's fluffy, strawberry scented hair. "Hmm?"
He was expecting sheepishness, or contriteness, or begging. Those were usual, from Mike. However, Mike instantly stiffened and pulled away, scuppering Harvey's plans to have a sane, gentle conversation about wrongdoing. He looked every bit as angry and disrespectful as he had in Harvey's office.
"Nothing," Mike hissed. "Because I didn't do anything wrong, you're just looking for an excuse to have a go at me."
"Mike, you're on thin ice," Harvey said quietly, still trying to be lenient and understanding.
"No I'm not!" Mike bellowed, standing up with both fists clenched. He looked every bit like a toddler having a tantrum. "I didn't do anything!"
Mike wasn't sure what was wrong with Harvey. Why was he being all calm and nice? Did he just want to cuddle on the sofa or something? Where was his goddamn dom when he needed him? Usually, Harvey was in dom mode the second Mike even said a swear word. And now, when Mike needed the release, after two weeks of pent up frustration, Mike disobeying a huge rule wasn't enough to snap him into it?
"Mike," Harvey stood up slowly, exhausted. What was Mike doing? He leaned forwards, getting into Mike's personal space, projecting his power without having to exert any effort. "Stop."
"NO!" Mike screeched, losing it completely. Why was Harvey being so calm? It was so annoying. "YOU CAN'T MAKE ME DO ANYTHING! YOU CAN'T-"
"Get in the corner," Harvey interrupts, his voice low and cold. It's the voice that gives Mike goosebumps and makes the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. It's the voice. Finally. But Mike is too far gone now. Mike is a whirling ball of frustration and anger and headstrong pride.
"No," he snaps obstinately. "No I won't. I didn't do anything."
"Corner."
"Why don't you stand in the corner," Mike spat out, although his insides are shaking. Why doesn't he know when to stop? Harvey's eyes are swimming with fury, and then he's moving towards Mike. Mike tries to run, but the sofa is in the way and he's stuck. Harvey grasps his upper arm firmly, and Mike can hear that he is breathing hard. He hauls Mike across the room, his grip deliciously tight. When they get to the corner, Mike is expecting Harvey to let go. Then he plans to run.
But Harvey doesn't do that. Harvey knows Mike. He spins him round so they are face to face and he stares him down, his eyes cold and his face impassive. Mike stares back obstinately, but he knows he is losing. His insides are melting. Every instinct in him is telling him to drop his eyes. Harvey knows that Mike will drop them himself in about ten seconds, but Harvey wants it on his terms.
"Submit."
One word is enough. The mess in Mike's mind fades away. Submit. He has to. He chose this life; he chose Harvey. Submit. This is the exact reason he needs this life; Mike can't handle things. Harvey helps him. Submit.
Mike shuts his eyes, looks up at Harvey and then lowers his eyes to floor.
"Good boy," Harvey whispers, relieved. He was starting to think this would be a breaking in exercise like when Mike first asked for this. He can tell that, even in the world up state Mike has got himself in, being called a good boy reassures him. His stiff muscles relax slightly. And Harvey knows. He didn't need kind, reasonable Harvey. He needed his dom.
"Face the wall. On your knees." Harvey's tone leaves no room for negotiation. Mike, to show that he is submitting now, kneels first. He pauses for five seconds, kneeling at Harvey's feet with his head bowed, and then he turns to face the wall. Without needing to be reminded, he puts his hands on his head. Harvey's pride is indescribable.
"Now," Harvey said, making sure to keep his tone at deadly. "You are going to kneel there, on the cold hard floor, where you belong and have a long hard think about why you are there. If you are unable to supply me with adequate answers, Michael, you are going to spend the next two weeks wishing you had."
With that, Harvey turned on his heel and stalked away to the bedroom. Mike swallowed and let out a shaky breath. Already he felt more stable. It was going to be okay. Harvey hadn't given up on him. He shut his eyes and let himself retreat into his mind. It was time to let go. Harvey had him.
Harvey left Mike there for twenty minutes. Usually he left him longer, but they were both tired and Harvey wanted nothing more but to get to the aftercare bit. When he returned, the boy was just as he had left him, looking like he hadn't moved a muscle. Harvey walked up behind him and reached down, hooking his hands under Mike's armpits. He helped him to his feet; he was unsteady due to his legs having become numb.
He turned him around, keeping his face unreadable. Mike kept looking at the floor, waiting for Harvey to speak. Harvey just looked, astounded that this boy was his. His beautiful eyes, looking at the ground, waiting to do whatever Harvey bid him. Fuck.
"Come with me," Harvey instructs, fastening his fingers around Mike's wrist. He leads him to the bedroom, and stops in front of the bench at the bottom of the bed where he has laid out a hairbrush, a belt, a leather paddle and a cane. They are in order; from what Mike finds easiest to handle, to least. Mike had only ever earnt the cane once, early in their relationship, when he was stressed with work pressure. Instead of going to Harvey about it, he had gone to Trevor. Trevor had given him some strong stuff, and Mike was AWOL for three days. When he showed up on Harvey's doorstep, he was dangerously dehydrated and delirious.
Mike stiffens perceptibly when he sees the cane. Harvey doesn't like using it, either. He put it out for show, and tonight he's praying to every god in the sky that Mike doesn't make him use it. Harvey feels the same swell of pride as early when Mike halts himself from voicing his misgivings.
"We are going to have a conversation," Harvey informs Mike lightly. "Look at me."
Mike swallows roughly and drags his eyes up to meet Harvey's. It's far harder to look at him in this context, when all of his angry bravado is gone and he's just a naughty little boy stood in front of his dom. But he holds his nerve, and tries to look contrite. He can see pleasure and pride flickering beneath Harvey's stern demeanour and it stirs arousal inside him.
"We are going to have a conversation," Harvey repeats, stepping forwards so that their chests are almost touching. Mike swallows. "I am going to ask you some questions. You are going to answer. You are already getting this," he points at the hairbrush. "For every question that you do not answer satisfactorily, you will go up a level. You know how this works. Do not make me use each on you, because I will. Believe me, I'm in the mood to, given your actions. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir," Mike answers without hesitation. They've done this before. The worst he ever got to was the paddle, but the cane wasn't even in question that time. He wonders if Harvey expects him to answer wrong. He hopes he won't.
Harvey sits down on the end of the bed, within reaching distance of the instruments and beckons Mike to him. Mike goes quickly. He stands close enough to Harvey that his legs are pressed against his. Harvey looks him in the eyes, squeezes his hand once and then shakes away all feelings of pity. He knows why he must do this. Mike cannot flout his authority.
"Pull those down," Harvey instructs.
"I-"
"Did I tell you to speak?" Harvey asks, delivering a harsh slap to the back of Mike's thigh. Mike squeaks slightly and hurriedly shakes his head. "I said, pull those down."
Mike hooks his thumbs into the waistband and pushes them down with a sheepish look. He's not wearing any boxers. He looks very embarrassed at that development, and Harvey nearly scoffs. If the boy knew he would be getting spanked, why on earth hadn't he worn boxers?
"That doesn't matter," Harvey told him as he pulled him across his knee. "I would have pulled them down anyway. You know my naughty little boy gets spanked on his bare bottom."
Harvey feels the swell of Mike's cock at those words and smiles. He can smile now Mike can't see his face. He adjusts the boy so that his upper body is on the bed, his ass over Harvey's left leg only. That way, Harvey can use his right leg to secure him if he starts thrashing. Harvey ran his hand over the smooth white lobes of Mike's ass, marvelling as he always did at how such a skinny man can have such a fat ass.
He lifts his hand and brings it down hard against the middle of Mike's ass, making both cheeks wobble. He hears a sharp intake of breath, feels another twitch against his leg, and then he begins full force. He landed several incredibly hard smacks to the bare skin, enjoying the loud slapping noise that filled the room. It didn't take long for Mike's skin to turn from white to pale pink, and as usual, he goes from having a semi to a complete hard on. He knows better than to rub it against Harvey's leg though. He did that once and it didn't end well for him. His ass was burning, but he knew that it was just the beginning. He knew that by the time Harvey was through with him, it would be throbbing.
Harvey carried on spanking Mike, keeping a steady pattern up. Left cheek top, left cheek bottom, right cheek top, right cheek bottom. Repeat. Mike was wiggling around, but not too much, which meant that Harvey had to keep going. The questions would come when Mike thought he couldn't take anymore. That was the point. He would take more, because Harvey would give more. Mike would submit.
Harvey increases his swing, and the strength of his hits. Each smack comes harder than the next, leaving handprint outlines on Mike's skin. For his part, Mike is in a horrific state of pain and arousal. He's sure that Harvey has never spanked him this hard and fast before but also his cock is rock hard. He hasn't been touched in two weeks and now he's over Harvey's lap, the warmth of the man's muscular leg pressing against his erection as he dominates him and shows him who's boss. Fuck it's too much, it's so hot and Mike needs him. Mike doesn't intend to come. He would never deliberately come without permission, not after the times he did early on in the relationship. Harvey had taken great pleasure in edging him to oblivion to get him out of that habit.
But, when Harvey landed a particularly harsh swat to Mike's ass crack, his fingers brush slightly inside and the sensation is too much and suddenly against all control, Mike came. Harvey doesn't notice immediately, although Mike isn't sure how given that he can feel the sticky wet patch spreading over the man's trousers. Fuck he's screwed. For a brief second, he considers safewording out. Everything would end, Harvey would clean up, they would watch films and cuddle. But he didn't want to. He wanted to keep going; he wanted Harvey to give him what he had earnt. He was a disobedient sub being punished the way it should be. So instead he decided to do something a little dangerous and speak.
"Harvey," he mumbled, his voice an embarrassing whine. "Harvey."
Harvey paused with his hand in the air and saw Mike's big eyes looking up at him nervously. He was going to reprimand him for speaking and then carry on but something in the man's tone stopped him. He didn't sound like he was trying to get out of anything, more like he needed something.
"Yes?"
"I-uh-I-" Mike had gone bright red and that's when Harvey felt it on his leg. Mike saw the comprehension on Harvey's face and went into panic mode. He started to wiggle and try and push himself off Harvey's lap. "I didn't mean to, I didn't even know it was going to happen, I couldn't tell - I wasn't - I didn't-I swear I didn't even know it was-"
Harvey cut off the babble with a really sharp slap to Mike's thigh which made him howl and then look at Harvey again with those puppy dog eyes.
"I'll give you the benefit of the doubt," Harvey says, rubbing his back. "It's been a while, I understand. But if you do it again, I will spend the weekend teaching you self-control. Understood?"
"Yes sir," Mike breathed, relieved.
"And if the stain doesn't come out of these trousers, you're going to be the sorriest little sub in the whole world," Harvey said darkly. Mike didn't doubt that. Harvey was maniacal when it came to his clothes. He made a mental note to take them to the dry cleaners and pay extra for the deepest possible clean. "Now, where were we?"
Mike groaned, the momentary reprieve had been bliss on his burning buttocks. He buried his face in his arms, took a deep breath and tried to keep quiet as Harvey continued his onslaught. Harvey tried to ignore the arousal he felt at Mike's lapse of control. Before, he'd just been feeling tired. Now, he was imagining tying Mike to the bed and fucking him till the morning came.
He shook his head, trying to clear the thoughts away. He summoned up an image of Mike getting hit by a bus whilst riding his bike, and his former broodingly annoyed mood returned. Mike notices the change in Harvey's mood when the smacks suddenly become unbearable, each one harder than the last. Harvey's other hand is pressing firmly on his back, keeping him held down so that he can deliver as much sting as possible.
Mike is aware that he is being stubborn. Usually, he gives up struggling within two or three minutes. But for some reason, today, he can't. Maybe it was because he had gone so long without attention, and his stupid subconscious wanted to drag this out or something. Either way, he willed himself to give in to Harvey. He knew, from experience, that the real punishment wouldn't begin until Mike submitted to Harvey and stopped struggling. The longest warm up he'd ever had had lasted over half an hour. If Harvey was anything, it was persistent.
"I have all night," Harvey reminded him, clearly on the same wavelength. "Stop fighting me."
Mike doesn't know if he is supposed to respond to that, so he doesn't.
"You know better than this," Harvey lectured as he began to deliver hard smacks to the tops of Mike's thighs. "I am your dom. If I decide that you need to be punished, then you do. You do not continue to fight me."
Mike's ass is on fire. Harvey's stern voice fills his head, making him feel grounded and calm, even with his butt burning like it is. And Mike gives in. Mike lies still as Harvey lands some more stinging slaps to his red skin. He drifts.
"Good boy," Harvey murmurs, "Good boy."
He stops, running his hand over the burning skin before reaching for the hairbrush. Mike bites back his whimper, reminding himself that he is submitting. Harvey presses the wood against Mike's cheeks and it is nice and cold. Mike knows it won't be nice for long.
"Question time," Harvey whispers coldly. "Kneel in front of me. I want you to look me in the eyes when you tell me what you did."
Mike slides off Harvey's lap, flushing slightly when he spots the dried white patch on the suit trousers. He shuffles so that is he is on his knees in front of Harvey, but he can't make himself look at him. His bum hurts.
"Mike," Harvey growls. Mike swallows harshly and drags his eyes up to meet Harvey's. Harvey motions for Mike to move closer, so he is literally kneeling between his legs and then tightly grasps his face, tilting his head back so his neck aches slightly.
"Question one," Harvey growls, his eyes menacing. "How did you get across town and back so quickly?"
"I...I - cycled," Mike whispered in a broken voice. "Sir."
Harvey can feel his rage swelling, and reminds himself that he needs to be calm to mete out punishment. If he loses his temper, he will have to step away and delay. Mike needs discipline, not mania. Harvey's fingers tighten slightly on Mike's face and the boy has the decency to look ashamed.
"Question two," Harvey grinds out. "Are you allowed to ride your bike?"
"No sir," Mike replied instantly, chewing on his lip. Harvey uses his thumb to stop him, knowing that he will worry at it till it bleeds without realising.
"Because…"
"It's dangerous," Mike mumbled, looking utterly miserable. "And you want me to be safe."
Harvey doesn't speak. He just looks at Mike, allowing the boy to see the anger and disappointment in his eyes. The moment stretches until Harvey can tell Mike is close to tears.
"Why?" he asks quietly, his voice still laced with warning.
Before he can stop himself, embarrassed by the truth, Mike shrugs. Harvey takes a deep breath and shuts his eyes. He clenches and unclenches his jaw. Mike still doesn't offer an explanation.
"After I have paddled your ass with the hairbrush, I'm going to strap you with the belt," Harvey stated, opening his eyes. Mike winced. "And if you haven't explained yourself in the next ten seconds, we go on to the paddle. I expect complete honesty from you, you know that. When I ask, you tell. One. Two. Three. Four-"
"I was trying to get your attention," Mike blurted out. Harvey stopped counted and tipped his head to the side, indicating for Mike to continue. "I...we...there was no time for us," he whispered, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Now, he realised just how stupid his actions had been. "I thought if I messed up then you would...er...be forced to pay me attention."
"And do you like this attention?" Harvey asks smoothly as he reached a hand behind him and grabs a handful of Mike's stinging ass. "Is this what you wanted? Me to pay attention to my naughty, disobedient little boy?"
Mike shakes his head no.
"So. When you were on your wild ride across the city, disobeying me in the process, were you wearing a helmet?" Harvey asks, and his voice is the most low and dangerous it has been so far.
"No sir," Mike whispers, his eyes dropping to the floor.
"Look at me," Harvey snaps. Mike feels ill as he raises his eyes to meet molten fury. "How dare you disobey a direct order? How dare you? Even if we haven't touched in two weeks, even if you think you are being neglected, how dare you disobey me? You are mine. If I tell you not to ride a bike, you don't even goddamn LOOK at a bike. Do you know how I would feel, if you got hurt? Can you imagine how I would feel if you died on your bike? I would have to live with that forever. I would have to live with the fact that my sub disrespected me so much that he disobeyed me."
Mike was silently sobbing by the time Harvey had finished. The pain in the man's voice was too much, the disappointment too overbearing. He couldn't deal with it. He wanted to lie down on the floor and disappear. Harvey cupped Mike's face in both hands, eyes boring into his soul.
"Don't you worry though, Michael," he says. "As long as you got your attention."
"Harvey-" Mike chokes out, distraught.
"No," Harvey snaps. "I haven't finished. If you need something from me, Mike, you come and tell me about it. Were you aware that you were experiencing sub drop?"
"Yes sir," Mike whispered dejectedly.
"What should you have done?" Harvey asked slowly.
"Come to you," Mike whispered. "I should have come to you and told you. I should have done. I should have known that if I needed you, you would have been there. I'm so sorry, Harvey, I didn't think, I just didn't think."
"Good boy," Harvey said, running a gentle hand through Mike's hair. "At least you know what you did wrong. In the future, Mike, I can't have this. You don't disobey me. If you need me, you have to tell me, okay? I can't tell what's going on inside this big brain if you're pretending you're fine whilst going crazy. Okay?"
"Yes sir."
"Now. We've been over the worst thing you did, Mike, but I think you know that there is more," Harvey says smoothly, raising an eyebrow. He removes his hand from Mike's hair and crosses his arms.
"I was rude to you," Mike concedes. "Very rude."
"You were," Harvey nods. "I think someone forgot his place."
"I'm sorry," Mike said. "I just lost it. I just went mad."
"Don't worry," Harvey purrs, his eyes glinting dangerously. "I'm going to take care of it. I'm going to be just like I had to be at the beginning. You've clearly forgotten how to behave, so I will remind you. There will be no more leniency. Maybe that was my mistake in the first place. I have been too kind on my boy. For the next month, I'm going to be watching you like a hawk. Every word out of line that you speak, every dodgy tone or slight hesitation to follow my rules will earn you punishment. If you miss even one sir, you will be punished. If you stare back at me as obstinately as you did earlier, you will be punished. In short, when I say jump, you jump. Or you will have a very sore ass. Are we understanding each other?"
"Yes sir," Mike replies. He feels elated. Things are back to normal. No more loneliness, no more business. Just him and his dom. His elation is dulled slightly when Harvey picks the hairbrush up again and shifts himself back onto the bed.
"Up," Harvey instructs. Mike stands slowly, wincing as the blood rushes back to his knees. Harvey stands too, moves to the head of the bed and gathers up the pillows. He places them on the edge of the bed in a pile and gestures for Mike to lay across them.
"What are you being punished for?" Harvey asks, the hairbrush resting on Mike's butt.
"I disobeyed you and cycled across the city," Mike said, his voice muffled by the pillow he had buried his head in. "And I was rude and disrespectful to you as well."
"Good boy," Harvey praised. "And why are you going to get the belt?"
Mike was silent for a moment, and Harvey dealt a sharp smack of the brush to his butt. Mike squawked and had to catch himself from springing up. Fuck he forgot how much that hurt.
"Because...er...I shrugged at you instead of explaining myself?"
"Exactly," Harvey said. "You know better than that. It all comes down to disobedience. Refusing to answer me is also disobeying me. You will get twenty for the belt for that, at the end, am I clear?"
"Yes Harvey."
"The hairbrush is for the disobedience over the bike," Harvey explains. "This is going to be the worst hairbrushing you've had so far. Do you want me to tie you hands?"
"Yes please," Mike whispers. Harvey had been expecting this, and he is proud of Mike for his acceptance. He picks up the cuffs that he had got out with the rest of the instruments and Mike puts his hands behind him, on the small of his back.
"You're such a good boy," Harvey whispers as he gently fastens Mike's hands together. Mike swells inside at the praise. He'd lost count of the number of times Harvey had uttered his favourite phrase. "What is this for?" He tapped the brush against Mike's ass and knelt down next to him, to get a good swing.
"Disobeying you," Mike answered and then screwed his eyes shut. The first swat lands in the centre of his ass and it is like fire. Mike holds still though. Harvey places his spare hand on his back, and this time Mike knows it is to reassure him, not to hold him down. Mike sinks into subspace properly as Harvey paddles his ass, the hairbrush raining down hard and fast on his tender flesh. Mike will never ride a bike again. Mike will never look at a bike again.
Harvey can tell that Mike has given himself completely. The boy lies relatively still, whimpering slightly at each swat but not trying to slither out of the way. His ass becomes a deep red under the sting of the hairbrush, but doesn't blister. Harvey is an expert. He never blisters Mike's ass. That would ruin it. He keeps smacking the brush down on Mike until he can hear the boy sobbing quietly into the pillow. He can hear him whispering i'm sorry i'm so sorry and he knows it's over. The lesson has been learnt.
"Mike," he whispers, setting the brush down. "Mike."
It takes a moment for Mike to come out of his head, and he blinks tears away, turning his head to look at Harvey.
"Last bit now," Harvey tells him. "You've done so well, Mike. So well. What are we doing the belt for?"
"Because I didn't answer you," Mike said. "Sir."
"Good boy," Harvey said. "Now. I want you to count these ones, to keep you focussed. Okay?"
"Okay Harvey," Mike says as Harvey picks up the belt and folds it in half. Damn the boy for that shrug. If only he had answered the first time, this would all be over.
Harvey delivers the whipping as fast as he could, definitely not using the full force he is capable of. He reckons that Mike can't tell though. His ass looks done for. Harvey aims at the lower bits of Mike's butt, where he has more fat, to cushion the blows. And then it is over. Harvey drops the belt to the floor and reaches over, gently undoing the restraints around Mike's wrists. He drops the cuffs on the bench at the end of the bed, and gently rubs his hand on Mike's back.
"M'sorry Harvey," Mike sobs. "I was bad."
"Ssh," Harvey soothed. "You just made a mistake. It's over now."
Harvey continues to rub Mike's back until the sobs begin to subside and then he reaches down and gingerly slides the jogging bottoms up over Mike's red skin.
"At least there's no boxers to come up," Harvey teased as Mike wiggles his bum to get the trousers on. "Seeing as someone goes commando."
Mike propped himself up on his elbow and narrowed his eyes at Harvey, screwing up his face.
"You're not funny," he said.
Harvey grinned then stood up, undoing his belt. He slipped out of his ruined trousers and folded them up, putting them in on top of the chest of drawers. He picked out a pair of jogging bottoms (but black ones, much less chavvy than Mike's grey ones) and slipped them on, before scooping Mike up and carrying him through to the living room.
Mike tangles his fingers in Harvey's hair and snuggles into the man's warm chest. He feels safe.
"Can we have pizza?" he asks sleepily.
"We can," Harvey grins.
"And then sex?"
"If you're up to it," Harvey smirks, shaking his head.
"Is that a joke?" Mike mumbled.
"You are a fiend," Harvey chuckled, kissing his boy on the forehead. Finally. He has him.