Brian didn't say anything else for a while, too long, and Chilton had to break the silence.

"Brian?" He fought the urge to reach out and take the other man's hand, terrified of startling him. Brian's eyes were still locked on the seemingly never-ending wall of torture weapons. Chilton compromised by putting his hand on Brian's shoulder, leading him into the room but parallel to the far wall. Brian walked stiffly until he came to a stop at a bed frame with only a mattress and no sheets. Chilton sat down with him and released his shoulder.

"Brian?" Chilton spoke again, this time with more urgency, and Brian turned to look at the doctor. He still looked dazed, uncomfortable. Chilton covered Brian's hand with his on the mattress and began to speak.

"This is what I wanted to show you. It's my—" Hobby? Evil plan for you? Weakness? "It's what I do." He could feel the words slipping by without censorship. "You've told me how you feel ostracized at work, well, so do I. I have no control. Here…here I have control. I need control. But I need someone—" The words Frederick, say the damn words! "You have too much on your shoulders. You're working enough for ten men for a boss that doesn't even notice…always left in control. I was hoping you'd like to lose that control. With me."

Chilton had watched Brian's eyes getting wider and wider with each word. At any second he would jump up and leave, not really angry but too used to compressing his feelings to act on them. One thing allowed Chilton to retain hope: Brian hadn't let go of his hand.

Chilton had never expected himself to be the one pleading in this room…but he would. For Brian. "Don't lie to me about how you feel, Brian, but more importantly, don't lie to yourself. You've told me about your sexuality, and you blush like a schoolgirl whenever our hands happen to touch—please."

And he waited.

Brian's tongue wet his lips, an unconscious gesture that drove Chilton insane. "You'll hurt me." It wasn't a question. He didn't have to ask. Brian was neither stupid nor naïve. Chilton didn't respond except to squeeze Brian's hand.

"How do I get you to stop if I can't—?"

"You just need to tell me to stop." Chilton assured him. "But you need to tell me twice…because you need to be sure." He let go of Brian's hand. "Are you sure, Brian?"

When he found how dry his mouth was, Brian nodded. He watched as Chilton stood and walked to the basement door, closing it firmly but not locking it. The doctor began removing his tie and his vest, leaving only his white collared shirt over black slacks. Brian raised his fingers to the first button on his shirt and hesitated. "What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to do exactly what I tell you to do." Chilton said, a hard edge in his voice. He misread Brian's expression and offered a brief comforting smile. Brian hadn't felt a moment of fear or hesitation, however…he'd felt a flash of excitement.

Chilton was running his hand over his impressive collection of toys, pausing every once in a while before moving on. He selected a short, black riding crop and stuck it into his back pocket so it waved like a flag. One of the other items he selected was a plain leather cuff that he snapped around his left wrist. He shifted through several pairs on handcuffs hanging on a rack before selecting two pairs. Brian watched this without a word, his breath choking in his throat when Chilton started back towards the bed.

"I think it's safe to assume that you've never experimented with bondage?"

"No. Never."

"Then I'm going to talk you through the process." Chilton dropped the handcuffs on the foot of the bed. "First of all, no matter what you've read, never use cable ties. It's dangerous, especially for a first time. It's better to use something thicker, so it doesn't cut off circulation. Now," he licked his lips. "I'd like to use handcuffs, but since this is your first time I'm only using them on your ankles. For your wrists I can do one of two things. I can tie them to the bedposts with rope or I can have you slip your hands through loose loops. That way you'd be able to let yourself free at any time." The dangerous tone had reentered his voice. "This is the only time I'm giving you a choice, Brian. After this, you don't have any say unless you ask me to stop-or until we're done."

Brian could feel his body react Chilton's words. A steady heat was rising up throughout his whole body, centered in an area he was suddenly very glad he had covered.

"The rope." He answered in a strangled voice.

Chilton smiled. "Good…good." He ran a hand through his hair, tousling it slightly. "I want you to take your shirt off, Brian. Just your shirt for now. Slowly."

Brian's fingers trembled slightly as he sat on the edge of the bed, plucking at the buttons of his plaid work shirt. Chilton watched his every move with gleaming eyes. The cool air of the basement made Brian shiver as he cast his shirt aside and looked at the doctor. He was shocked to find that he was trembling.

This wasn't about love for Frederick Chilton, not yet, but he was overwhelmed with the sudden desire to kiss Brian then and there as if this were a normal first date. But that could wait.

For now.

Chilton stood by the bed looking at Brian, pleased to be taller. Reaching over Brian's lap, very careful to brush across his pants, he retrieved the handcuffs.

"Take off your shoes and socks. I don't care if you have intimacy issues, you probably do, both are coming off. Kick them under the bed."

Brian did as he was told, his bare feet cold on the cement floor of Chilton's basement. Somehow that made it so much more real than any of it, realer than Chilton in his dress shirt with a riding crop sticking out of his pants pocket or the excitement his own body was feeling.

"Let's begin."