Much later that afternoon, House woke up from a light doze, the book he'd been reading splayed across his chest. He'd spent the morning just reading and thinking about everything that had happened yesterday. Master Lucius was nothing like he'd dreaded and imagined. He'd imagined someone harsh and dressed in leather. Why, he wasn't sure. Marius was classy after all, it wouldn't make sense for his master not to be classy as well. But to have found him to be understanding and caring of all of them, including House…that was beyond his comprehension. It was still new and odd that Marius cared about him, let alone anyone else. But House had to admit, to himself anyway, that Lucius had stepped into Marius' role easily when House had called last night and done exactly what Marius would have done. Now he was more curious than anxious about Lucius and definitely curious about the relationship between Lucius and Marius. Setting the book aside, he got up, stretched, and headed out into the main house to search them out.

Marius and Lucius were in the study, Marius working at a table and Lucius on the phone at the desk. House hesitated in the doorway, unsure what he was disturbing, but Marius noticed him and smiled.

"Come in," Marius said quietly, gesturing to the other chair at the table. "How are you this afternoon?"

"Feeling good," House answered, slipping into the chair. "What are you working on?"

"Filling out payroll for the pub," Marius answered easily. "Lucius is speaking with his lawyer right now about your arrest. Your bike is in the garage, we picked that up at lunchtime."

"Thanks." They sat in silence for a moment, House waiting until Marius put the payroll paperwork into the envelope and sealed it. "So, how long have you known Lucius?"

"Mmm, I met Lucius when I was still in college. He's seven years older than me, your age actually. We met in a club, one that catered to the bondage crowd. I'd only done some light experimenting, just what could be cobbled together when the mood struck with a date. It was enough to spark my interest in learning more, so I went to a few different clubs," Marius answered, settling back in his chair and giving House his complete attention.

"Did you know he was 'the one' when you saw him?" House asked with a smirk.

"Gods, no," Marius chuckled. "He scared me when I first saw him. A lot of the people in the bar were either in couples looking for a third to play out a scene or to publicly play out a scene, not to say that they weren't serious in the lifestyle, although there were plenty others who were curious and looking to dip in a toe to test the water, so to speak," he said with a smile. "Lucius was alone in the club, scanning the crowd but turning away those that had the chutzpah to approach him."

"Did you approach him?" House asked, glancing over at Lucius curiously, trying to picture the scene in his head.

"No. I thought he looked far too serious and intimidating. I was talking to a couple looking for a third to act a scene out with when he came up to us and told the couple to get lost. The dom husband looked about to protest until he met up with Master Lucius' icy glare then they left without a word. I was a bit irritated to tell the truth, since the scene had sounded potentially fun. Lucius took me by the back of the neck and turned me to face him. He said, 'you'll never be satisfied by a casual play scene. Follow me.' Then he released me and walked away, toward the play areas at the back of the club."

"Did you follow him?"

"I wasn't going to. I was angry and insulted and then next thing I knew I was standing in front of him at the play area. Despite all my internal protests, I was drawn to him and had to know what it was that he offered. He was so different. He looked at me like there was no question in his mind that I wouldn't follow him. That caught my full attention."

"Because he was confident," House said, half-guessing.

"Because he had read what I needed and was deep down interested in. I had come to the bar looking for a sub to play out a scene with. Lucius had no intention in playing the sub role and there were no other participants."

"So what you actually wanted was to be a sub?"

"Yes. I enjoyed the dom role with the dates that I'd been with but, yes, I was more interested in being the sub at that time," Marius openly agreed.

"Wait…you said you followed him to a play area. You mean one of the back rooms?" House asked and then blushed and turned away when Marius raised his eyebrows at House's question.

"All right, I've been in a few bars like that and played a little," House grudgingly admitted.

"That's all right, you know," Marius said with a chuckle. "It's nothing to be ashamed of, especially in this company. But no, it wasn't one of the private rooms. It was a public play area, where anyone can watch the scene playing out."

"Whoa. I've seen that done but…for a first contact?"

"Well, Lucius has never been half-hearted I anything he does. He was laying down a challenge to me, to deny what he had seen in me. I couldn't do that."

"So, what happened?" House asked, now extremely intrigued in this first encounter between Marius and Lucius.

"Once I stepped into the play area, Lucius knew I'd accepted his offer. Lucius laid down a couple of guidelines, including a safe word and then began the scene."

"What did he do?"

Before Marius could answer, Lucius spoke up as he'd finished his phone call. "No giving away trade secrets, Marius," he said with a grin as he came over to join them at the table.

"We did them in public, they're hardly secret," Marius said with an answering grin.

"True," Lucius responded. "Suffice to say that I more than satisfied his curiosity for the sub role and only fanned the fire of his tendency toward exhibitionism."

"Exhibitionism, eh?" House repeated, looking at Marius with a smile. "Well, that makes sense now that I think about it for a second."

"And you have a touch of exhibitionism in you, although only in small known groups, not a public place like Marius prefers," Lucius remarked watching House's reaction closely.

House paled and swallowed hard at Lucius' comment, shifting uncomfortably in his chair as he shook his head in denial.

"No? Well, perhaps I'm wrong," Lucius said casually, although he had seen what he was looking for; arousal mingled in with fear and a desire to have that mastered. "At any rate, you did quite well with Marius earlier this morning," Lucius added, deliberately reminding House that Lucius had been watching.

House frowned and looked at Marius in a silent appeal for help. Marius chuckled and poured a shot of bourbon for them all, which House took gratefully.

"I was thinking perhaps we three could go down to the pub this evening," Marius remarked.

"I would enjoy that very much," Lucius responded and talk turned to lighter topics until they parted company to prepare for the evening.

House didn't ask Marius any other questions and Marius didn't push the topic nor did Lucius bring it up again. The evening at the pub went very well, the three of them enjoying a pizza while watching a game and challenging each other in both darts and billiards, not arriving back at Marius' house until well after midnight and all sought their beds.

The next day House spent some time talking to the lawyer Lucius had hired, giving a formal deposition and pleased to hear that the lawyer had full confidence that charges would be summarily dismissed by the end of the week and that he was going to push to have the arrest itself expunged from his record. House was relieved and feeling much more hopeful after the meeting and he sat down to play the piano for a while. Marius and Lucius were both out tending to something at one of the other businesses that Marius owned so, left to his own devices, he went back into the master bedroom and pulled out the box of 'toys' kept there.

There were basic items in the box, bit and ball gags, blindfolds, wrist and ankle cuffs, and an assortment of crops, floggers and paddles. These he set aside without much thought, more intent on reaching the second layer. The second layer held bars that he quickly worked out were to keep arms and legs spread apart. Some elaborate harnessing both for the body and for the head was there, with rings every few inches for all sorts of attachments. There were also clamps, cock rings, and harnesses that had plugs and dildos attached. House carefully laid them all out around and examined them closer, thinking through how each one could be used and imagining what it would feel like. What would it make the person wearing it feel and what would it be like for the dominant?

So far, Marius had only used a single wrist cuff on him and he had to admit that just that much restraint had made everything more sensitive and the bang at the end pretty impressive. And he had to admit that wearing the necklace and collar every day set up anticipation whenever Marius called for him and of the two, the solid weight of the collar was better for that. He wondered what it would be like to find a way to wear the collar all day but dismissed that idea at once. He didn't want to have to explain that to anyone at work. He picked up a set of the nipple clamps and put it on the side of his finger, pulling it off in surprise at the bite it gave. He heard the door open and turned his head to see Timmy coming in with fresh linens for the bathroom.

"Those take a bit of prep to get used to," Timmy remarked as he passed by to put the towels away.

"Does he use them on you?" House raised his voice to ask.

"Yes, he does," Timmy answered as he came back into the room. "I've had all these used on me actually."

"And you like the way they feel?"

"I do, although that doesn't mean they don't hurt, particularly the floggers and paddles, if he puts some force behind them," Timmy said, taking a seat on the floor next to House. "Which of these items catches your attention the most?"

House looked over the implements surrounding him and picked out a bit gag, a flogger and a harness with a plug attached.

"So, let me see if I can practice reading someone okay?" Timmy asked and House nodded for him to continue.

"Okay. You picked up the bit gag so that your words are controlled but you aren't silenced as you would be by the ball gag. You want to be able to communicate with the master but not be able to hinder him outside of the safe word or signal."

House nodded, impressed at the assessment. "That strikes me as right. Go on."

"The harness and plug, I think you want to feel what it means to be penetrated outside of being taken by Master Marius. You strike me as needing to analyze things on your own."

"What about the flogger?"

"That I think you want to experience some pain that's different from the pain your leg gives you. Something that can be limited and stopped."

"Pretty good. Two out of three," House said, actually impressed by the young man's insight. "You've learned from Marius pretty well."

"If you want to try going beyond the pace that Marius is setting, or even just to let him know you're thinking about more, then keep those three pieces out to talk to him. He'll be home in about an hour," Timmy suggested. House thought about it for a moment then nodded. Both masters had proven to be able and willing to talk and explain things when he asked. He packed everything back into the box save for those pieces and went in to take a shower.

Marius came into the bedroom with Timmy and greeted House with a smile. "Did the meeting with the lawyer go well?"

"Yeah, yeah it did. He's pretty sure the charges will be dropped and he's going to see about getting the arrest struck from my record," House answered.

"Excellent. It should never have happened in the first place," Marius responded. Timmy completed the usual sponge down and robing that Marius preferred and left the room quietly.

"Something on your mind?" Marius asked as he looked over the tense way House was sitting on the bench at the end of the bed.

"Yeah. I, uh, I looked through the toy box today. More thoroughly than I did that first night," House began slowly, looking down at his hands.

"Yes?" Marius said, as he poured them both a drink.

"Well, I was thinking…Timmy suggested… damn. I want to talk about maybe… maybe… trying these three things," House said, moving a towel that he'd covered them with as he accepted the drink from Marius.

"All right," Marius said after looking to see which items House had chosen. "What can I help you with?"

"Well, I don't know if I can really explain it, but… I was thinking about what these things might feel like and what they might bring out. But I… I don't want to push and find out I can't go on from that point," he haltingly explained. "And I don't know what it will bring out."

"And that frightens you," Marius observed. House's kneejerk reaction was to deny it but he caught Marius' eyes and nodded. "Well, a lot of emotions and fears come up when bondage is used, especially in the beginning. I think you need to decide whether you are at a point where you're willing to risk those emotions coming up and whether you trust me enough to help you through them."

"Does the safe word still count?"

"Absolutely. And if you choose the bit gag, you'll have a safe signal as well," Marius answered. "After the session, we'll talk about what it brought up for you and work at helping you understand those emotions and fears."

House nodded and looked silently down at the three items for a long moment. Marius sat quietly and waited for his decision. He was both surprised and pleased that House was willing to consider moving forward at a quicker pace.

"I want to try it. I have to know, now that the question's in my mind," House said at last.

Marius nodded agreeably. "Lucius had mentioned doing a session tonight. He will defer for a new training session however you might consider whether you want him present. As an observer, he might see other things that neither of us would pick up. Either way is all right with me. Think about it during dinner."

Marius broached the topic of a new training session with House right at the beginning of the meal and Lucius easily accepted deferment of his plans for the night. Conversation was light throughout the meal and just before dessert and wine was served, House decided to go for broke.

"Master Lucius, would you observe tonight?" House asked barely daring to breathe he was so nervous.

"Yes, I will, if you wish," Lucius answered seriously.

After they had each had a glass of wine, Marius led the way into the master suite, which Timmy and Sidney had already arranged. Lucius took a seat in a comfortable chair off to the side, in a bit of shadow so he wouldn't be too much of a distraction.

Marius stripped down to his trousers and ordered House to strip down completely. Marius walked around him, trailing his fingers over his skin and raising up gooseflesh while causing the occasional shiver.

"You do have a very fine and desirable body," Marius purred as he stroked his chest. A light snort from House said he didn't believe it.

"Do not sell yourself short or impugn my judgment," Marius rebuked him firmly reaching down to take House in hand and roll his balls for a moment. "You are desirable to me."

House sucked in his breath at the touch which sent shivers of arousal through him. "Now tell me. Tell me that you are desirable to me."

"I…I'm… I'm desirable to you," House mumbled.

"Say it louder," Marius ordered. House repeated himself a bit louder. Marius moved around behind him and pressed against him, letting House feel his erection against his ass while Marius stroked House to full hardness. "Now feel it, say it and mean it."

"I'm desirable to you," House said, voice now husky with arousal.

"Yes you are," Marius agreed, giving him a few strokes as reward before releasing him and moving around to the table where the toys were placed.

Marius put cuffs on his wrists and bound them together in front of him then stroked his chest, letting his hands convey his pleasure and keep his sub settled and grounded.

"From this moment on, I want no more words from you until I end this session. If however you feel you cannot go on, you will raise your hands above your shoulders. That's your safe signal. Do it now, if you understand that."

House obediently raised his bound wrists above his shoulders.

"Very good," Marius purred as House lowered his hands again. He turned and picked up the bit and held it up to House's lips. "Open and bite down on this," he said, buckling it into place once House had it settled in his teeth. He studied House's reaction to the gag, noting a sizeable level of anxiety now that it couldn't be spit out and he could no longer form words. House's hands fidgeted and lifted slightly as his breathing increased but he didn't use the safe signal. Marius stroked his arms and murmured reassurances and was pleased to see House settle down and meet his eyes.

Marius walked around him and cupped his ass cheeks, squeezing them lightly letting his fingers slip in between them for a moment then swept his hands back up and over his body. He played with his nipples, pinching and teasing them to hard nubs before circling downward, leaning House forward and pressing against him as he brought House to a high level of arousal, enough to leave him moaning and gasping. Marius picked up the plug and dipped it into a container of warmed lube sitting on a side tray and quickly spread his ass cheeks and put the smallest bulb of the plug in before House had a chance to tense up in anticipation.

House let out an 'oh' of surprise and stiffened up. "Relax," Marius urged, returning to stroking his cock. House was breathing harder around the bit, trying to reconcile the idea of the plug in his ass although with just the smallest bulb in place, he really didn't feel too much yet and, as Marius planned, arousal quickly distracted him. Marius moved at an even pace, alternating setting the plug in a little deeper with stoking the fire to allow him to adjust to the progressively larger bulbs on the plug.

"Now use these lovely muscles and keep that plug in place," Marius ordered as he released his hold on the plug and reached over to pick up the flogger. House could feel the plug filling his ass and clenching his muscles to hold it in place sent a frisson of pleasure through him as it brushed against his sweet spot.

Working from behind, Marius lightly tossed the strands of the flogger over House's shoulder, startling him a little but the gentle draw of the leather strands felt nice. Marius did the same over his other shoulder then let the strands trail down his back and off his ass. After a moment's absence of touch, Marius gave him a very light slap over his shoulders, not even causing so much as a sting. Still House hunched his shoulders in anticipation of pain.

"Relax, don't clench your shoulders," Marius said. "That's it, relax. I won't hurt you," he crooned, stroking him again and giving him another light slap with the flogger. "Remember you have a safe signal. All you have to do to stop is raise your hands above your shoulders. Do you want to stop?"

House struggled with old memories and the trust he had in Marius for a long moment but then shook his head firmly. He knew Marius wouldn't do anything to truly hurt him and…he was ready to have those old ghost memories driven out for good.

"Very good. Relax," Marius said, pleased that House was going forward. Marius stroked him a few times and then used the flogger again, this time letting it sting just a bit. "Don't let that plug come out. Feel how much I'm enjoying seeing you plugged?" he asked, moving in close and pressing his own erection against House's ass and feeling an answering twitch in House's own straining erection. "Yes, I feel you glad to be wanted by me. I do want you. I want you opened up and ready for me," Marius crooned, taking hold of the plug and shifting it, letting the sensations build as he continued to talk quietly in his ear.

After a moment, Marius stepped back and gave a few more strokes of the flogger, each one building a step in intensity until House was giving little moans and gasps, as sharp stings covered his ass cheeks, the muscles clenching around the plug as he reacted to the slaps. The last slap stung the hardest and he sucked in his breath, curling his toes to hold himself in place but he was startled to be still fully aroused. Marius set the flogger aside and stepped right up to his side, grasping his balls in his hand and landing a flat palmed slap on his sensitive ass. House jerked and moaned, snapping his head sideways to glare at Marius but there was desire in the look as well. Marius chuckled.

"Nice and hot and sensitive now. It feels so wonderful under my hand," he said, taking long full strokes now as he alternated slaps from one cheek to the next, occasionally playing with the head, increasing intensity until, with a deep groan, House came hard, hips bucking convulsively as the slaps continued. As he finished, Marius released the buckles holding the bit in place and rubbed his hand in circles over his reddened ass while House caught his breath.

"Are you all right?" Marius asked after he had.

"Yeah," House answered hoarsely. "I'm all right."

"You did so well," Marius said with a full smile.

"Huh. That was…not at all what I expected," House commented.

"Better or worse?"

"Better. Way better," House said, meeting his eyes honestly.

"Good. Because we still have this to deal with," Marius added with a smirk, lightly moving the plug, still buried deep in House's ass. House sucked in his breath and took his lower lip in his teeth.

"Does it hurt?" Marius asked.

"No. No it doesn't hurt," House answered. "It…uh…it feels good."

"That's all the better, nothing to hide or be ashamed of," Marius reassured him. "While I pull back, relax and push it out," he instructed and soon enough the plug was removed. "There. All good?"

"Yeah," House responded, though he had a puzzled look on his face.

"What is it?"

"It…I feel…empty. Like it…like it isn't complete," House answered haltingly. "You… do you… I mean…" he took a deep breath and blew it out. "You wouldn't want to…I mean you didn't plan to…would you want to…"

Marius took pity on House and unzipped his fly, releasing his erection and pressing against House's ass.

"Would I want to take you right here, right now? Yes, I would indeed," he answered lustfully. "The same safe word and signal apply, do you understand?"

House swallowed hard, unable to speak now with the moment of truth asked for, but he nodded immediately.

Marius quickly pulled on a condom, dipping his fingers in lube and giving himself a couple of quick strokes to coat himself then set the head against House's ass. Marius wrapped his arms around House's hips and pushed himself inside, setting himself right up to the hilt as House was prepared already from the plug. Once in, he slid his arms up to House's chest to hold him close and help to stabilize him as he began to move. He tweaked and pinched House's nipples as he thrust, keeping enjoyment high for him, increasing pace fairly quickly until he reached his climax. Marius rested his forehead on House's shoulder and caught his breath then pulled out and helped House sit down. House looked exhausted but more at ease than he had been since he'd arrived at Marius' house.

"I will send in Sidney and Timmy to help you both get cleaned up," Lucius said, coming over to caress Marius' cheek briefly in praise then did the same for House before leaving the room. Sidney and Timmy came in to help them both into the shower and then into the hot tub, bringing them orange juice to drink.

Marius sipped the juice and watched House out of the corner of his eye. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling totally wiped out," House answered tiredly, "But surprisingly enough I'm not hurting."

"Good, I wouldn't want to leave you hurting," Marius answered. "How do you feel emotionally?"

House puffed his cheeks then blew out the air as he thought it through. "It's like I've been carrying this big weight my whole life. And tonight, I put it down for a while."

"I'm so pleased to hear that," Marius said honestly. "I was concerned. It could have been the opposite reaction. Now, we can work together to try to help you not to pick that weight back up again."

"Yeah," House answered bemusedly. "I can't even imagine that."

"I can understand that," Marius replied. "For now, we'll work at glimpses now and then."