Jim lay face down on the bed, his wrists secured to the footboard and his ankles tied to the headboard. Spock preferred tying him with his head at the foot because he knew Jim found it subtly disorienting. The ropes wound around his wrists and ankles were in fact old fashioned curtain ties, strong enough to hold him, soft enough to prevent injury.

Jim lay facing Spock and Bones who were standing together in the far corner of the quarters, talking quietly. Jim couldn't hear them but he knew he was the sole focus of their conversation. It was the first time Bones was joining them for this particular activity and Spock was explaining how the experience generally unfolded. When Bones had arrived a few minutes earlier, Jim was already naked and tied down. Spock was reluctant to allow Bones to witness Jim being stripped but had no such reservations in allowing him to see Jim's bare form.

Beneath Jim's stomach was a wedge shaped pillow which ended at his hips, elevating his ass to make for a readier target. To Jim's surprise, Spock had not put the cock ring around his forming erection. Jim was afraid he might orgasm as he lay there and waited but he knew he'd be in serious trouble if he did.

"Yes. All right," Bones finally said with a resolute nod.

"Very good," Spock confirmed, squatting before the bureau to open the bottom most drawer, the one that made a distinctive creeeeeek as it was pulled open. Just the noise of that drawer sent even more blood rushing to Jim's erection. He did not dare shift to try and relieve any of the pressure. Spock would know and he would not approve.

"We have decided to try your new toy," Spock informed him as he and Bones approached the side of the bed that Jim was facing. In Spock's right hand was the soft leather flogger that Spock had described to Jim but not allowed him to see. The multiple strands were 50 centimeters long, black, and looked completely harmless. The textured handle was nearly transparent crystal. "Do you want to know how it feels?" Spock asked in his calm, stern voice.

"Yes, please, sir. I do want to know how the flogger feels when you hit me with it," Jim agreed, licking his lips as he looked up at Spock in hunger.

"What is the safeword?" Bones asked.

"Parking brake, sir," Jim said to Bones' nods. "Sir?"

"Yes?" Spock responded, still running his long fingers through the strands of the flogger.

"May I request that you hand spank me first, sir?" Jim asked.

"Why?" Spock asked in return.

"So he'll be connected to you," Bones said, looking down at Jim. That he understood should have surprised Jim but it didn't. He'd have to consider that later, when his entire world wasn't reduced to his erection.

"Is that why you are asking?" Spock said in question.

"Yes sir. You can't do it afterwards," Jim added, hoping Spock would understand.

"I see," Spock said with a nod. "Very well. I will strike you 10 times. Then Leonard will as well."

"Thank you sir," Jim agreed.

Spock settled on the bed next to Jim, rubbing over his firm ass, making sure Jim felt the love and devotion through his anticipation. "If you orgasm while we are spanking you, it will not go well for you."

"I understand sir," Jim said.

"Why didn't you put on his cock ring?" Bones asked in curiosity.

"Controlling his reactions is part of his training," Spock said. "He will undoubtedly come while we flog him. He must wait until then."

"His training," Bones repeated, unconsciously licking his lips as he said the word.

"This is about obedience, control, and ultimately about release," Spock confirmed.

"Yes," Bones had to agree, watching Jim who seemed uninvolved. "Have you already left?"

"No sir. I'm here," Jim assured them. He looked up at them with bright, engaged eyes, ensuring that they knew he was fully involved.

"Very well," Spock acknowledged. "You are ready then?"

"Yes sir. Will you spank me please?" Jim asked as required.

Spock nodded, hitting him 10 hard times as promised. Jim lay nearly motionless as the blows landed, firm and familiar. And comforting in their own painful way. The heat under his skin grew with each strike but it was not at all too much to take. His erection, however, was strenuously voting yesssss, the precum dripping from his tip to form shining strands of connection down to the bed sheets.

"Are you going to hold out?" Bones asked as he sat on the opposite side of the bed when Spock had finished.

"I don't know, sir," Jim responded honestly, turning to look at Leonard. "I suppose there's only one way to find out."

"True. What will you do if he comes while I'm spanking him?" Bones asked Spock.

"What will I do?" Spock asked Jim.

"Leave me tied down, sir. He will work on his computer for…a while until he determines I am sufficiently chastised," Jim said, his voice showing the strain of both controlling his arousal and wanting to avoid being left alone.

"I see," Leonard said, considering it. "Being away from him is the worst punishment he can inflict."

"Yes sir," Jim agreed in a quiet voice. It was one of his real weaknesses, one he did everything he could to keep a secret. But there were no secrets while he was submitting. That was one of the purposes of releasing control. One of the prices he willingly paid.

"You need to touch him, Leonard," Spock directed as he stroked Jim's somewhat sweaty head.

"Yes, of course," Bones agreed, carefully rubbing over Jim's too warm backside. "Does it hurt?"

"As much as you would expect," Jim responded. He gasped quietly when Spock struck his ass. "Sir."

"That is better," Spock said in approval.

"Apologies, sirs," Jim said, closing his eyes momentarily as the shame washed over him unbidden, unwelcome.

"You will remember your place or be reminded," Spock said, returning to stroke his damp hair. "Whenever you are ready, Leonard."

Bones nodded, hitting Jim and considering the sensation. It was…pleasant. Jim's ass was firm and round and made a perfect target.

"Doctor," Jim said after McCoy had hit him 4 times. It took a moment for Bones to realize that Jim was speaking to him. He didn't think Jim had ever before called him Doctor except as a vague insult.

"Yes," McCoy responded, his hand resting on Jim's bottom.

"Could you hit me a little harder please sir?"

"Harder?" Bones repeated in question.

Jim turned to look up at Spock in a silent request that he explain.

"If you fail to hit him with sufficient force, it will not penetrate his pain barriers," Spock explained.

"I'm not sure I understand," Bones admitted.

"Because of his frequent instances of being injured, he is not as receptive to pain as one who never experiences it."

"Ahh…" Bones said. "You are able to tolerate more pain than most."

"Yes sir," Jim agreed, turning back to look at Bones.

"Alright," Bones agreed. "Let me know if I go overboard."

"I will sir," Jim said, closing his eyes to wait. When Bones next hit him, it was harder and more painful, just the way Jim preferred it. Except the rhythm was wrong, the angle different, the hand hitting him more compact, the skin softer. Jim barely noticed when the blows stopped, so absorbed in considering the building pain and working on preventing his orgasm that was oh-so-close to the surface.

"Is that sufficient?" Spock asked him, long familiar fingers threading through his hair.

"Yes sir," Jim whispered, clinching his jaw and mentally counting prime numbers backward from 149. Anything to forestall his erection from betraying him.

"You are on the very edge," Spock said in a neutral voice, his thoughts carefully contained. He would not spy on his t'hy'la when he was in this condition, their bond quiet and barely felt by either.

"I am sir," Jim had to agree, taking a deep breath and attempting to back away from the pillow that was beckoning him with a promise of relief.

"We will give you a moment to recover," Spock decided, looking across Jim's prone body to see McCoy licking his lips, a bulge visible in his jeans. "You are not the only one aroused by this, t'hy'la."

"Mmm…" Jim responded, otherwise not acknowledging.

"Do you need to go into the bathroom for a moment? Before we use the flogger?" Spock asked Leonard.

"No. I'll be okay. I'll excuse myself afterwards," Bones said, gently rubbing Jim's hot backside in a nearly clinical method. "Are you going to be able to stand being flogged?"

"Yes Doctor," Jim agreed, slowly opening his eyes to look up at Spock. "Could I have some water, sir?"

"Of course," Spock agreed, pouring some from the pitcher at the ready on the bedside table. "Leonard?"

"Thank you, no," McCoy said with a shake of his head. He watched as Spock carefully placed the straw in Jim's mouth, waiting as he sipped the cooling water.

"Enough?"

"Yes sir," Jim agreed, laying his head back on the bed. "Thank you sir."

"You are welcome," Spock said, leaning down to gently kiss his head. "Are you ready?"

"Yes sir. Will you flog me, please, sir? Doctor?" Jim asked.

"Because you asked, we will," Spock said, standing up beside the bed. "This pain will be more intense than what you normally experience. You are to tell us if you are getting close to being overwhelmed."

"Do you understand?" McCoy added, still rubbing Jim's fiery backside.

"I understand, sirs. I will use my safeword if I am beginning to feel overwhelmed," Jim repeated.

"Very good. Leonard, would you care to begin?" Spock offered.

"I've never used a flogger," McCoy said, realizing he had made an unwelcome confession. Unwelcome to him. Not a surprise to either of the others.

"Nor have I," Spock confirmed. "We will learn as we go. We will not harm him."

"Okay," McCoy agreed, accepting it from Spock. The crystal handle had absorbed the warmth from Spock's hand, making it feel nearly alive to Bones. "Mmm…."

"Leonard?" Spock asked, one eyebrow raised in barely disguised amusement.

"Sorry. Lost in thought," McCoy admitted before looking down at Jim who was looking up at him patiently, only anticipation on his face. "Ready?"

Jim nodded, gasping from the pain. It was different from being spanked, this pain sharp and biting, not dull and familiar like a paddle or Spock's hand. The tendrils marred his flesh in ways the paddle never did, each strand joining its neighbor to cause searing pain to his ass. This pain would not be ignored or suppressed. It was alive, demanding attention, a cacophony of fire.

He had no idea how many times Bones had hit him when he broke. "Doctor," he whispered, his face wet from tears and sweat and quite possibly drool.

"All right, t'hy'la. He has stopped," Spock assured him, sitting on the bed to kiss Jim's head and rub over the unmarred skin of his shoulders. "You are all right."

"Hurts," Jim said, gasping for air. His breathing was labored and uneven, each inhalation causing a new wave of pain to crash over him. His arms hurt from fighting the restrains, his hips threatening to become displaced.

"I shouldn't have hit you so hard," McCoy said in apology, sitting on the edge next to Spock, studying his handiwork. The stripes of pain were red and vivid, several decorated with droplets of blood, staining Jim's skin in accusation.

"I'm sorry, sir," Jim said, burying his face in the covers.

"You have done nothing for which you need apologize, t'hy'la. It was more painful than we anticipated. You are not to blame."

"I… uhm…" Jim had to stop, the pain taking away the last of his breath.

"You're still hard," Bones said. There was a mix of surprise and admiration in his voice as he said it.

"Mmm…" Jim moaned, pulling on the restraints holding his arms above his head.

"Do you need me to free you?" Spock asked gently.

Jim shook his head, painfully moving closer to Spock's warm body.

"I understand," Spock said, laying next to Jim, careful not to jar him. He draped one warm arm over Jim's back, his hand caressing his hair. "You are safe."

"Safe," Jim whispered, turning his head to look at Spock, his eyes clouded with pain. "You disappointed?"

"Of course not. You were very brave. And you are not sobbing."

"Want to."

"I know that you do. There is no reason for you not to cry if that is how you are feeling."

Jim shook his head and closed his eyes again. He felt Spock shift next to him but he did not leave.

"Leonard is going into the bathroom," Spock said into Jim's ear. "He is very aroused."

"You?"

"I am. I can wait. When you are feeling better, I will enter you."

"No," Jim requested, shaking his head.

"Are you invoking your safe word?" Spock asked with a hard edge.

"No sir," Jim reluctantly admitted. "I'll behave."

"I will be gentle. Do you know why the handle of the flogger is shaped as it is?"

"It's a dildo, sir," Jim said, flinching slightly. He always hated that word but in his current state, he couldn't think of a different one.

"It is. I will insert it into you before I enter you."

"Yes sir," Jim agreed, taking a deep breath. "Could I have it now?"

"Not until Leonard returns. I promised he would witness it all," Spock explained.

"Yes sir."

"I do not know that you would be able to tolerate the pain of insertion just yet," Spock added.

"That may be why I want it, sir," Jim admitted.

"I see. I will check on Leonard's progress," Spock decided, kissing Jim before easing off the bed. "I will return very soon."

"Yes sir."

Spock crossed over to the bathroom door, listening for a moment before lightly knocking.

"Yeah," McCoy called.

"Are you nearly ready to return?"

"Yeah. Give me a minute to wash up."

"Very well," Spock said, returning to the bed to lay beside Jim. "Will you allow him to insert it? Or do you prefer I do it to you?"

"Will you decide, please sir?"

"I will," Spock confirmed, his arm again draped over Jim's back. "You are very obedient."

"Am I sir?"

"You are. I would go so far as to say that you are a very good boy. But I do not want you to think that I am subjugating you further."

"Oh," Jim said, trying to consider it through the haze of pain. "I want to be your good boy, sir."

"Very well," Spock agreed, watching Leonard approach in a pair of Jim's soft sleep pants. He had no doubt left them in the bathroom and they were far less constraining to Leonard than his jeans had been.

"Those are my pants, sir," Jim said with a tiny smile.

"They were originally mine. Until you stole them," McCoy reminded him sitting the bed opposite from Spock. "How are you doing?"

"Bad, sir," Jim admitted with a shrug.

"The pain is worse than he anticipated," Spock added unnecessarily.

"I want to say I'm sorry," Leonard said. "But I'm not."

"Understandably," Spock said, handing the flogger back to Leonard. "He has requested it be inserted now."

Rather than argue with Spock, Jim, or himself, Leonard accepted it and an antibacterial cloth he used to clean the handle. Once that was done, he coated it with plenty of lubricant before barely touching Jim's raw and red ass. "This is gonna hurt."

"I understand, sir," Jim replied, taking a deep breath. He could not stop a moan when McCoy fingers entered his crevice, spreading his flesh to expose the crinkled opening to his body. The tiny moan morphed into a full groan as Leonard carefully inserted the blunt tip of the handle into Jim's body.

"Is it too much?" Leonard asked when he had only an inch of the crystal inside Jim.

"No sir," Jim said, his voice strained, his hands in hard fists around the soft ties holding him immobile. He clinched his jaws against the intruding pain, lifting his hips away from the pillow.

"You need to relax," Leonard instructed, holding the handle still where it rested half way inside Jim's body.

"Are you holding yourself tightly on purpose?" Spock asked softly into Jim's ear.

"No sir. Hurts," Jim whispered, his breathing ragged.

"You were warned," Spock reminded him. "Relax so that Leonard may insert it the rest of the way."

"Yes sir," Jim said, relaxing back onto the surface of the wedge and the bed beneath his knees. "I'm sorry, sirs."

"You do not need to continually apologize, t'hy'la. Neither of us are angry," Spock assured him, watching the crystal handle disappear into Jim's beautiful backside. When it was inserted all the way to the hilt, it appeared as though he had sprouted a tail. An odd look but not entirely unattractive.

"It's in, sir?"

"It is. Does it still hurt?" Spock asked.

"Not as much as it did, sir," Jim acknowledged, shifting his hips slightly and gasping in reaction. "Oh sir."

"You are about to come," Spock said.

"Yes sir," Jim breathed. "Please sir."

"You may ejaculate," Spock said sounding surprisingly clinical.

"Help me please sir?" Jim requested, already humping the pillow with great fervor.

"No. It is up to you," Spock said, caressing his back above the marks.

"Will he come by himself?" Bones asked, shifting slightly as Jim's hips moved in an ages-old dance.

"He will come without assistance or he will not come," Spock said, watching Jim. "He is capable of coming without further stimulation."

"The pillow sir," Jim requested, trying to move closer to it but each time he shifted, it moved further away.

"If it is not at the correct angle, you will have to wait," Spock informed him.

Jim sighed, his hips slowing and finally stopping. "I can't, sir," he breathed, shaking his head. An occasional shiver shot through his body, need and pain nearly overwhelming him.

"Very well," Spock said. He carefully untied Jim's hands and ankles waiting as he slowly rose to his knees, flinching as some of the skin of his back broke open, renewing the pain in bright flares. His erection was still rock hard, strings of fluid floating down to meet his thighs.

"You're going to… make love now?" Leonard asked breathlessly.

"Yes. You will remain?" Spock asked. He was removing his clothes, Leonard's eyes wide as more warm flesh was slowly revealed. Spock considered the Doctor's expression, deciding it was an interesting mix of excitement, pleasure, and contrition. Spock stood by the bed, his erection firm and flushed a darker green than the surrounding flesh, his legs slightly spread. He watched Leonard study him, a guilty start coming from the Doctor when their eyes met. "Will you?"

"Will I what?" Leonard asked in a strained voice.

"Stay."

"Yes," the Doctor agreed with a shaky nod. He glanced over at Jim who was watching them closely, his eyes narrowed not just from the pain. "Do you need me to leave?"

"No. But you can't touch him," Jim said, all submission gone from his voice.

"I won't, Jim. You have my word," Bones promised sincerely.

Jim nodded, leaning closer to Spock and lifting up enough to whisper into Spock's ear. Spock listened, kissing the side of Jim's head when he was finished.

Spock lay on his back next to Jim, looking up at him in admiration and undisguised affection. "Take me when you are ready."

Jim nodded, looking over his shoulder. "Should the Doctor remove it, sir?"

"Do you prefer to do it yourself?" Spock asked, his hands under his head as he continued to gaze up at Jim.

"The Doctor can, sir," Jim said, twisting so his back was to Bones, his legs wide apart.

"I'll be careful," Bones promised, one hand on Jim's shoulder as the other brushed against his raw skin. "Relax."

Jim nodded, waiting as Bones very carefully withdrew the hard intruder from his body, sighing when it was clear. "Thank you sir." The removal had made him even harder although he hadn't thought that was possible. His erection bobbed against his stomach, seeking completion. He tried to suppress some of the overwhelming arousal as he accepted the tube from the Doctor. "Thank you sir."

Spock watched with mild interest as Jim coated his green erection with the lubricant. His breathing was picking up speed, his eyes growing wider as Jim continued to touch him. "That will do."

Jim nodded, returning the tube to Bones before straddling Spock's hips. "May I touch you sir?"

"Because you have asked I will allow it," Spock agreed.

Jim nodded again, leaning over to place his hands lightly on Spock's chest, enjoying the additional heat radiating up and into his own body. He touched Spock reverently, slowly, worshipping him with his hands and eyes.

"You need to let me in," Spock instructed, a thin edge of impatience coming through.

Jim automatically rose on his knees, shifting backward until he encountered Spock's hardness. When his body was positioned correctly, he slowly lowered himself, moaning in the back of his throat. It was pleasure mixed up with pain, the two sensations fighting for dominance.

Spock was finally encased in his sore body and he had to remain still to accommodate his entire length. The handle had prepared him and had made him sore.

"You will move," Spock ordered, his hands on Jim's hard thighs, letting the blonde curls there tickle his palms.

Jim nodded, slowly rocking forward before returning straight up, the pain coming more to the forefront. Jim swiveled his hips, his prostrate impacting with the tip of Spock's hardness, lights exploding behind Jim's eyes. He heard a moan and was not entirely sure who had made the sound – him, Spock, or Bones. And it didn't matter. Spock was saying his name, caressing him with his voice, the love soothing the pains and the strain Jim was feeling. The intensity of the pleasure was forcing back some of the pain, the orgasm that had been denied for too long on the periphery of his consciousness.

"Please sir," Jim begged, staring down at Spock in hunger and need and pleading. He gasped when hot hands encircled his erection, bringing him the final connection that he needed. Before he could consider it, he was exploding all over Spock's stomach, Spock's orgasm contained inside his body and filling him with heat and lust and love.

When they were both finally complete, Jim was laying on top of Spock who was whispering into his ear. Jim couldn't understand what he was saying but he knew whatever it was meant 'I love you.'

"I love you too," Jim whispered into the closest pointed ear.

"As it should be," Spock confirmed, looking over Jim's shoulder to find Leonard in a chair, his right hand inside his pants, his face slack in satisfaction. "Leonard also came."

Jim nodded against Spock's shoulder, kissing his neck before carefully rising up on his elbows. "You okay Bones?"

"Dear God yes," Bones agreed. "Thank you both."

"You're welcome," Jim said, relaxing back on top of Spock. "My ass really really hurts."

"Should I take the pain?" Bones offered, managing to stir from where he was lounging.

"Mostly inside," Jim clarified. "Spock can use the ointment when he comes back to consciousness."

"I am fully aware," Spock said, not bothering to open his eyes to prove it.

"Okay," Jim said. "Did you enjoy it?"

"I think you already know the answer to that," Bones said. "Probably I enjoyed it a little more than by rights I should have."

"But it isn't the first time you've at least watched," Jim said, no accusation in his tone. Only certainty and a little curiosity.

"I'm not sayin'," Bones said with a shrug. "You are more coherent that I expected you to be."

"Endorphins. I'll crash soon. And it won't be pretty."

"It will not," Spock agreed. "Leonard, you need to treat the cuts on his backside please."

Bones nodded and slowly stood from the chair, a telltale damp spot on the crotch of Jim's pants. He looked down at them before catching Jim's eye. "I'll get you new ones next shoreleave."

Jim shrugged at that, laying still on top of Spock, enjoying his warmth beneath him and the strong arms wrapped around him. The crash was coming closer and he did not have the strength to hold it at bay. "Spock."

"It is all right, t'hy'la. I am here. I am not going anywhere," Spock whispered to him, allowing their bond to unfurl and surround Jim with warmth and love and security. Bones watched Jim crumble as he treated the open cuts, erasing some of the marks and their pain.

Jim was shivering uncontrollably, shaking which did not diminish when Bones pulled the comforter over them. Rather than remain and witness that to which he should not be privy, he silently left their quarters, returning to his own to consider all that he had seen and all that he had done.