'New' takes place after A Christmas Auction.

Trying to catch his breath, Gil smiled at his new boy, the words "Yes, Master," still ringing in his ears.

Xan was beautiful. Shaved all over, and the lack of hair allowed the tattoos and multiple peircings stand out, let them shine. The man's torso was
covered in spiky black ink -- the patterns were fascinating, one flowing into the next and the next, leaving only that glowing ass bare. Add that to the
double rings in each nipple, the genital piercings -- Xan was stunning.

And his.

New: A Hammer Story - 1

Three years in a row he'd bid on Alexander at the Hammer Charity Auction. The first two times had been that one night only. Hell, the first year he'd
been with someone, though they weren't exclusive.

This time, though, the third time, they'd gotten it right.

Xan was going to stay because Xan was his.

"I'm going to make love to you now." He'd worked Xan over, plugged him, put a cock ring on him, set weights on his piercings. Now it was time to
take the beautiful ass and make it his.

"Yes, Sir. Please." No. Not Sir. Xan called any Top Sir. Gil had never heard 'Master' from those lips until tonight.

"That's not what you call me." There'd be no making love until Xan got it right.

"What do you want to be called?" Always pushing. Always.

"You know very well what I expect you to call me, boy." He was in for a wild ride, he could tell; he hadn't had a challenge like this in... maybe ever.

Xan moaned, the long body rippling beneath him. "I've never called anyone that before." No, and Xan never would call anyone else Master again.

"That's because it's what you call me. No one else, no one ever. Just me."

"Yes. Yes, Master." Xan shivered, the arousal and need and happiness in those eyes fascinating.

"Good boy." He brought their mouths together, rewarding Xan with a kiss.

Xan pushed into the kiss, trying to take control, needing him. He grabbed Xan's ass, squeezing it as he pushed back; this was his kiss, Xan was

his boy. His boy who needed like no one else.

He ran his hand along Xan's back, feeling the heat and welts from his earlier beating. Xan gasped, twisted and groaned for him, whimpering into
the kiss. He slid one hand down to grab the base of the plug inside Xan and twisted it. His boy jerked, pulled away from him.

He tugged Xan back up against his body. "We're not done here yet."

"I just... wow."

"Get used to it." He watched Xan's eyes as he twisted the plug some more.

"What if I can't?"

New: A Hammer Story - 2

"Then it's going to be very interesting for a very long time."

Those ice blue eyes flared for him, lit from within. "I can handle interesting."

"Yeah, so can I, boy."

The challenge was coming, he could feel it. "Can you handle me?"

"If I couldn't, we wouldn't be here right now."

"You're not with anyone else now, right?"

He growled. "I would have never asked you to stay if I was. And you'd better not accept if you aren't free and clear." He wasn't the type to share.

"Don't snarl at me! I haven't been with anyone but you in a year!"

"Good." He wouldn't be ashamed of wanting his boy to be exclusive.

Xan stopped, staring at him. "Good?"

"I'm glad there hasn't been anyone else."

"I wanted you."

"And now you've got me."

"I." Xan looked at him. "I have no idea of what to do now."

"You don't have to." That was his job now.

He cupped Xan's face and brought him in for another kiss. That clever, hungry mouth was worth a thousand troubles. He rubbed his prick against
Xan's belly, groaning into that sweet mouth.

Xan's fingers traced along his belly, down toward his cock.

He bit Xan's lower lip. "I didn't say you could touch."

"You didn't say I couldn't."

"You're going to keep me on my toes, aren't you?"

"Yes, S...Master."

"Good." He pushed Xan down onto the bed. "You can touch."

New: A Hammer Story - 3

Xan reached up to stroke him with one hand, free hand sliding down the front of the inked body.

"No, I think you can only touch me." He took Xan's hand and held it up over his head.

"You said I could touch." Xan's fingers were magic, sliding over his skin.

"And I changed it to you can only touch me." Definitely a challenge. Xan was going to keep him excited and interested for a very long time. Not to
mention the man had an amazing touch.

"You know that's cheating, right?" Xan's eyes danced, lit up and happy, challenging over and over.

"Not at all, I was simply clarifying." He grinned down, bent to bite on Xan's lower lip.

"What do you want?" Xan moaned, licked at his mouth.

"To blow your mind." It didn't even take any thought to come up with that answer.

Xan's cheeks went a deep, sweet pink. Giving a happy growl, he bent to draw up a mark on Xan's throat, his tongue sliding on the warm skin.

"Master..." What a sound.

"That's right, Xan." He bit at the skin he'd just marked, and then licked, watching the bruise slowly appear within the pattern of ink. He wanted to bury
himself in that perfect heat, wanted to feel Xan's body. "Gonna make love to you." Just like he'd promised before he'd promised Xan everything
else. Even if only tacitly.

"Yes. Yes, Master."

"I know that pretty little hole of yours is ready for me." The plug he'd put in made sure of that.

He reached over for a condom and opened it up.

"Pretty?"

"Yep. Pretty and pale and tight and perfect." He handed over the condom. "Put it on with your mouth."

"What if I bite you?"

"You won't like what happens next." He had a few tricks up his sleeve, and Xan hadn't seen any of them. Yet.

"I wouldn't do it on purpose. I'm a bitch, not mean."

New: A Hammer Story - 4

"Then you don't have to worry about it. I know that mouth of yours is clever." Gil didn't punish for mistakes that weren't deliberate.

Xan nodded and took the condom, humming some song deep in his throat. Gil braced his knees, anticipation making his cock bob.

"Come up here, then."

"Oh, no, boy. You know that's not how it works. You come to me." Cheeky, pushy, lovely boy.

Xan chuckled, fingers sliding up his thighs. He grinned back, not at all worried to let Xan see he was having a good time, too.

"You smell so good. Like the best sex."

"Thank you." He ran his hand over the bald head, stroking the smooth skin. He imagined there would be bristles by morning, but right now there
wasn't. Xan pushed into the touch, rubbing sweet and slow. "Sexy minx." Someone needed touching.

He kept his hand there on Xan's head, and let his other hand drift down to Xan's shoulder. Xan moaned, lips heading for his cock, the look on the
fierce face blissful. He wanted to see that look there often and, like today, he wanted it to be there because of him.

His cock wasn't bitten. In fact, Xan's lips were soft and hot and perfect. He was almost disappointed when the condom was in place, but he
reminded himself that he'd soon be buried in the tight heat of Xan's ass. He kept moving his hands over warm skin as he encouraged Xan onto his
back on the bed.

Soon, he would have Xan tested and he'd have that fine, tight ass without the condom between them.

He watched his boy's face as he reached down and began to play with the plug. He twisted it inside Xan's body, bumped the base, pushing it in a
tiny bit deeper. Xan screwed his eyes closed, a soft moan filling the air.

"Let me see," he demanded. He didn't want Xan hiding from him.

"Hmm?" Those odd blue eyes opened for him.

"Don't close me out. I want to see what effect my touches have on you." Every part of Xan was his.

"I... Fuck." Xan shuddered, bit at those swollen lips, hard enough to draw blood.

New: A Hammer Story - 5

"I'm your master now, Alexander. You don't hide from me, boy." He pulled the plug right out as he said it.

"No one calls me Alexander..." Xan arched and twisted.

"That's my prerogative as your master." He climbed onto the bed and settled between Xan's legs, pushing them wider apart.

"You... you don't even know if that's my name."

Gil let one eyebrow go up. Xan held his eyes, for a long moment, then one leg slid up along his thigh. Gil took Xan's leg and pushed it back against
his chest. "So what is Xan short for, then?"

"I... You know it's Alexander."

"Then why pretend it might not be?" He leaned in and bit at one nipple, taking the piercings between his teeth and tugging. "You don't have to
always push."

"I don't know how not to."

Gil thought that was, in all probability, the truth. He brought their mouths together in a hard kiss.

Xan's cry pushed into his lips, deep and necessary.

"It's okay," he murmured, cock bumping against Xan's hole. "I'll always push back."

"Please. Please." Xan arched, begging for him.

He pushed harder, and the head of his prick stretched Xan's hole open as it popped inside. He got a gasp, a soft cry, and his prick was sliding into
perfect fucking heat. "Fuck." He groaned and pushed all the way to the hilt, his hips hitting Xan's ass.

"Oh. Oh, fuck. Fuck. Please, yes. I feel you."

"That's right. I'm deep inside you."

Xan's eyes closed again, skin turning pink, flushed. He pressed biting kisses on Xan's face, getting lips and cheeks and chin. Xan was crying out,
the sounds perfect and soft and hungry. Gil began to thrust, hips snapping over and over again. His. His boy. His sub. Alexander. Fuck yeah.

He tweaked one set of nipple rings, and then the other.

"Master. Fuck." Xan grabbed his hips, slammed him in harder.

Growling, he moved even harder, faster. "Mine."

"Yours. Yours. Fuck me. Fuck me."

New: A Hammer Story - 6

He was. Oh, how he was. He fucking pounded into Xan with everything he had. Xan sobbed for him, hands opening and closing against his skin. He
found the zone and rode Xan through it. He knew Xan wouldn't come. The man was well-trained, mostly.

If he'd wanted to be truly evil, he'd have taken off the cock ring and reinforced the no coming with an order, but he didn't want that tonight. Tonight he
just wanted to make sure that Xan would fly and would feel this for days.

He pounded in even harder, his own orgasm building inside him. Xan moaned, ass clenching around his cock and squeezing tight. Looking into
Xan's strange eyes, Gil held that gaze, let Xan see how much he was turned on, how big this was.

He could see the shock, the worry, as Xan fought to decide what to trust, how to trust. He just held that gaze, taking Xan's body. Xan's eyes closed,
the boy hiding from him. He growled, hand wrapping around the top half of Xan's cock, fingers running over the ladder. Those beautiful, swollen lips
parted, tongue licking at them.

"Sexy fucker." He could hear the need in his own voice.

"Thank you, Sir. Master."

"Open your eyes for me." He pressed his thumb into Xan's slit.

Xan grunted. "I... Oh..." Those eyes cracked open, the pale blue glinting.

He smiled, moaned and came hard.

"Let me. I need to. Fuck."

"You want something, boy?" He panted, watching Xan.

"You know what I want. I need to come."

"Is that how you ask for a favor?"

Xan blinked at him like he was utterly insane. "Fuck..."

"No. Ask nicely, or you don't get to come."

"Jesus." Xan twisted, groaning low. "How can you be so fucking coherent?"

He chuckled. "I just came. Go on. Ask."

"Let me come. Please."

New: A Hammer Story - 7

"Oh, very nice." He stayed buried inside Xan, holding the beautiful eyes in his gaze as his fingers toyed with the cockring.

"Evil..." That little ring at the tip of Xan's cock was dripping wet.

"Me? If I was evil I wouldn't let you come today." He flicked the ring back and forth.

"Please..." Xan was panting, fingers clenched in the sheets.

He nodded, slid his fingers down to release the leather band at the base of Xan's prick.

"Please. Please, fucking tell me this isn't a lie."

He stopped, eyes meeting Xan's again. "This isn't a lie, Alexander. I'm your Master now."

His boy cried out, body bowing up, spunk spraying between them at his words. He slid his hand through it, rubbing it into Xan's skin. Xan moaned,
the inked flesh shifting under his touch. Gil slid out reluctantly, pressing kisses over Xan's face.

"Wh...what happens now?"

"Now we sleep, and in the morning you come home with me."

He could see Xan, deciding whether to trust him, whether to begin to believe. "Yes, Sir."

One day his boy would remember he was only Master. Hopefully soon or that un-inked ass would bruise.

"Yes, who?"

"What?"

He whapped Xan's hip. "What do you call me, boy?"

"Master. Master. Fuck." Beautiful boy.

"Better. You'll get a spanking any time you forget."

Xan groaned, protesting, but that beautiful body snuggled into him, seeking comfort. He pulled the covers up over them and let himself relax. Fall
asleep.

***

Xan woke up with a start, eyes searching the room. Where was he? Where? Fuck. Breathe.

Where? Shit. Okay. Okay. Breathe. Lights. Lights. You're okay.

New: A Hammer Story - 8

A large, warm hand patted him. "Shh. Shh."

"I... Am I late?" No, he didn't have anywhere to go, right? Right.

He breathed in, the scent of Gil hitting him and he moaned, melted.

"No. Not late. Just perfect." That hand stroked now, up along his belly.

"You're real." He pressed closer. "Merry Christmas Eve-Eve."

Gil chuckled, arms tightening around him. "I am. And Merry Christmas Eve-Eve to you, too."

"Mmm." They'd never had a morning together, and Xan lifted his face, offering Gil a kiss.

Gil's kiss was warm and eager, not hard, though, not now. He carefully ran his fingers through Gil's short hair, smoothing it. Gil smiled and nuzzled
into the touch. He kept touching, kept stroking and exploring. The man was well-muscled from hammering and lifting and working. It was
spectacular, hot.

"You like what you see? What you feel?"

Xan nodded. He could paint Gil for hours. Days.

"Good." Gil took his lips in another soft kiss, tongue pushing into his mouth and exploring it thoroughly.

His heart began to pound, waves of pure melting pleasure flooding him. Gil's fingers slid over him, going from piercing to piercing. One nipple was
stroked, the ring in the tip of his cock twisted, the ladder rungs tugged so carefully.

"Fucking fascinating, boy."

His cheeks heated, and he kissed the corner of Gil's mouth. "Thank you."

He wasn't sure how this all had happened, how Gil had decided to keep him. The strong fingers slipped behind his balls to play with his double
guiche.

A soft little groan left him and his toes curled. "Those are the newest."

"Which one's your favorite?"

"For beauty or play?"

"Both."

New: A Hammer Story - 9

Xan knew the answer, immediately. "I like the look of the ladder. I like the toys for the PA. I like the nipple rings for play."

Gil's fingers tugged at his left nipple piercings as soon as he'd answered.

He grunted and arched, pushed into the touch. "I should have lied."

This time Gil tweaked very hard. "No, you shouldn't have."

"I didn't!" His prick started to fill. "Fuck!"

Gil chuckled. "I know. I was just warning you not to start." Gil twisted the other nipple's piercings. This time the sting was slow, deep, and he moaned
low, the sound bubbling out of him. "There you go, boy. Feel it all."

"Feel you. I feel you."

"Uh-huh." Gil brought their mouths together again, kissing him as those fingers twisted and flicked and drove him wild.

Pressure slid up his limbs, made his center heavy. Gil rolled them, pressing him against the mattress. The sheets were almost rough under his
bruised ass, the sensations making him buck into Gil's strength. Growling softly, Gil pushed him back into the mattress, rubbing their cocks
together. The sting on his ass made him nip Gil's bottom lip, bite down hard. Gil jerked back, grunting.

"Shit! Sorry! Jesus." He pulled away, then reached for Gil. "Are you all right? I didn't mean to hurt." Damn it.

"S'okay." Gil petted him.

"I didn't mean to hurt you. I wouldn't. I'm not mean." He stroked Gil's lip, forehead wrinkling.

"I said it was okay."

He nodded. "I'm sorry." God, what a mess.

Gil bit his bottom lip. "Stop apologizing."

"I'm a little off-center." A little. A lot.

"We should go home, get you settled."

His belly went tight; his heart started racing. "We should?"

New: A Hammer Story - 10

"Yes, we should. I assume you no longer have a home here as you were on your way east?"

"Everything's in my SUV." His entire life.

"Then it should be an easy move." Gil stood and stretched, the tall body looking even taller from Xan's vantage.

"Is there room for me, where you are?" No one had ever moved him in.

"Of course. I have a room for you, and there's also a guestroom if you need a studio."

He blinked, surprised. "You know what I do?" Of course, he knew all about Gil. He'd researched extensively.

"I was interested, so I asked around."

"Oh." Was interested good?

"Was I not supposed to be curious about the man I couldn't forget?"

"I. No. Yes. I mean, I'm glad."

"Good. Now, home or breakfast in bed?"

"Home?" God, this was confusing.

"Yes. My place -- our place. Or we can get Xavier to serve us breakfast here."

"I think I need to settle. I just. I'm very." He shrugged. Fuck. He needed a drink. A wake up whiskey.

"Okay, let's gather our stuff and go, then. I'm eager to get you settled in as well."

Xan stood and went to clean up, to splash water on his face.

Gil whistled from the bed. "That ass is something else."

"It's the next thing to get inked, I guess."

"Hmmm. I don't know. It's pretty spectacular how it is."

"It's like a target."

Gil's laughter was damn sexy. "It is."

New: A Hammer Story - 11

His cheeks were burning as he dressed, hiding himself in his layers.

Gil got dressed as well, covering the long, rangy body. "Are you a coffee or a tea in the morning person?"

"Irish coffee." Although after noon, he liked tea.

"As in with whiskey?"

He shrugged, but didn't answer.

"Is that what it takes to wake you up in the morning?"

"I work at night, drink in the morning, sleep in the afternoon."

"Ah, you have a backward schedule."

"I don't do schedules, really, but that's usually how it is."

"We'll have to see how we can merge our lives without too much disruption to either of us."

He almost hid his laughter. He was disruptive. He couldn't help it.

"You're laughing at me, boy."

"No. No, I'm laughing at me."

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing. I just... I am disruptive, you know?"

"Ah... not in the way I'm talking about, I think."

"No?" He pulled his sweater on, cuddling in the warmth.

"I guess we'll see. I don't want our schedules to mean I only get to see you on weekends."

Weekends? He didn't celebrate weekends. He painted when he needed to paint. "I haven't ever lived with a lover."

"And I've never lived with an artist." Gil smiled at him, finished dressing. "I guess we'll learn together."

"I guess. I'm a little freaked." Excited, but freaked.

New: A Hammer Story - 12

"Yeah? About moving in with me in particular or this whole thing in general?"

"Twelve hours ago I was leaving. Now you say I'm yours." It was wig-worthy.

"Twelve hours ago you were leaving. I had to make a major move or you'd have been gone."

Xan nodded. "I'm glad you did. I... I wanted." Needed.

Gil came up to him, cupping his face and turning it up. "I did, too. I still do. I can feel you in my gut."

He searched Gil's eyes, shivered. "No shit?"

"Yeah. Deep in my gut."

"Okay." Okay. Wow. And damn. And fuck.

Gil's mouth covered his, kissing him like Gil wanted him to feel it all the way to his toes. Xan's world stopped; his entire world going tiny, pin-point
tiny. Gil. Gil. Sir. Master.

When Gil's mouth left his, they were both breathless. Xan couldn't stop looking into Gil's eyes, couldn't stop staring. Gil didn't seem inclined to break
eye contact either. The hand on his face stroked his cheeks, knuckles brushing back and forth across his skin. They started to sway together, their
breath coming sweet and slow. Gil's other hands moved up to run over his scalp, warming his head. He leaned back into the touch; he could feel
each and every finger, each callus.

"I love how sensual you are."

He didn't know how to respond to that. He needed to be touched, but he'd needed that for so long.

"You crave touch, don't you?"

"Does it matter?"

"We'd be in trouble if you hated touch."

Xan snorted, the humor surprising and welcome, all at once.

Gil gave him one more quick kiss. "Let's go."

"Okay. Yeah." He nodded, grabbed his wallet and his jacket.

Go.

New: A Hammer Story - 13

***

Gil pulled into his driveway, watching Xan's SUV pull up behind him. He'd never moved anyone in before.

The place was big enough, though. He'd had it custom built just outside the city on a parcel of land. He'd paid in kind for the work, building and
remodeling more kitchens than he cared to remember before everything was just the way he wanted it.

He got out and met Xan beside his vehicle. "So, what do you think?"

"I like the lines." Xan's SUV was black, windows tinted dark, the interior packed with canvasses and boxes and easels.

"The back bedroom looks out onto the back and it's got windows and a skylight. Did you want it for your studio?"

"I'd have to see it, but I like the sound of it. Or I can rent studio space in town. It can get loud."

Gil tilted his head. "Painting can get loud?"

"Yes." In the sunlight, it was easy to see exhaustion in Xan's face, stress and old layers of unhappiness.

"You'll have to explain that to me. I know putting in a kitchen can get loud, but I'd never realized painting could, too." He nodded his head toward the
SUV. "What do you absolutely have to have in? We'll grab that first."

Xan stared, then took out two canvasses, both wrapped in cloth.

"Is there a suitcase with clothes you want to bring in as well?" This was going to be very interesting.

"I have a few of those, but these are important."

"Okay, how about you bring those and I bring your clothes and we can drop the latter off in your bedroom on the way to the potential studio?"

"Okay..." Xan nodded to a couple of duffels in the front seat. "Those are clothes. Are you sure about this? That you want me here?"

"What did I tell you about my gut?"

"That you trust it." Xan nodded. "Okay. Lead the way."

New: A Hammer Story - 14

"And that it's giving me some pretty strong signals about you." He grabbed Xan's duffels and let the way in. "I'd like you to sleep with me in my
room, but I believe you should have your own bedroom, a space that's just yours."

Xan hummed softly behind him.

He took that to mean that Xan approved. "I'll give you the proper tour later, for now we'll just go upstairs to your bedroom and studio."

"Okay. Sure." He could hear the worry in Xan's voice, the stress.

They needed to do another scene, something to settle Xan, tire him out so he could relax.

"You have amazing light in here..."

"Thanks." He led Xan up the stairs. "That's my bedroom there to the right. We'll see it in a moment. On the left here, first door is your bedroom."

Xan looked in. The room was warm, simple, masculine.

Gil tossed the duffels on the bed and then headed to the second room on the left. "And here's the room I thought we could convert." At the moment
there was a bed and dresser in it, but they'd be easy enough to move.

Xan stepped in, eyes searching the room. "There's an ocean view."

"There is. Light from the windows and above." He pointed to the skylight. "Will it work for you?"

"It's lovely. I'll need to take the furniture out."

"Yeah, that's what I figured. I can't remember the last time I actually used this as a guest room."

The two canvasses were gently laid on the bed, the coverings removed. They were identical, barring the colors. A beautiful, bound nude man stared
into the sky.

"Wow." He walked closer, taking in the details. The man was in pain, in ecstasy, in need. "Is this a self-portrait?"

"It doesn't matter. It's my new series."

Didn't matter. Of course it did.

"Does it have a name?"

New: A Hammer Story - 15

"Hope."

"Well, they're stunning. How many more are in the series?"

"I think four."

"Do you have a buyer already?" They'd look lovely in the study downstairs.

"No. No, my agent will find somewhere to display them, sell them. I don't handle that part." Xan waved his hand, like the money, the entire sales
issue was ridiculous.

"Let me know when they're done." He went back out into the hallway. "Come on. I'd like to show you my room." He wanted to fuck Xan into his
mattress.

"Okay." There was a hint of panic in Xan's voice.

He took Xan's hand and led him back down the hall. "Time to center you, Xan. Help you settle."

Xan's hand was cold and clammy, trembling in his. He tugged Xan around, pulling him up against his chest. Then he brought their lips together. He
didn't allow his boy the luxury of fighting, the luxury of thinking. His tongue pushed into Xan's mouth, even as he backed his boy up against the wall,
grinding against him.

He felt Xan's soft cry, pushed against his lips, then Xan tried to take control of the kiss. Gil wrapped his hand around the back of Xan's head and
tilted it as he plunged his tongue in, keeping control. Such a pushy boy. Gil wanted to control that fire, focus it, let it be pointed at him.

Grabbing Xan's hands, he pulled them up over the bald head, pressing them into the wall as he continued to grind their bodies and mouths
together. Xan groaned, arms tugging, pulling at him, challenging him. He growled and tightened his hold, pressing Xan harder against the wall.

"Fuck." Xan shivered, eyes rolling. "So strong. I don't know what to do next."

"Looks like you're going to have to submit."

Xan rolled his eyes. "I am a bottom, after all."

Yes, but taking it up the ass didn't equal submission. "A very pushy one, yes."

"I just need. You don't know. I need."

"I'm here to find out all about your needs, boy. Find out and take care of."

He loved that little, needy sound Xan gave him in reply to his words.

New: A Hammer Story - 16

He transferred both of Xan's wrists to one hand and used the other to start pulling off Xan's clothes. Xan tugged at his hand, eyes burning, staring
up at his fingers.

"I have you."

Xan's eyes closed, shuttering that need away from him.

"Don't hide from me, boy."

"Not." Those eyes didn't open.

"I'm not going to argue with you -- open your eyes."

Pale-pale blue stared at him, searching his face.

He smiled. "Thank you."

"I'm sorry. I'm a little overwhelmed."

Gil imagined it was more like a lot. "Then let's get you in bed and doing something that feels familiar." Still holding Xan's wrists, Gil tugged him
along to the bedroom.

Xan stopped, eyes wide as they entered his room. Oh, right. There was a huge canvas of Xan's --

an erect man covered in welts, a huge bronzed god behind him, filling him. He probably should have mentioned that he had that.

"As you can see, I'm a fan of your work."

"I... Yeah. Yeah. I painted that after. I mean, in late winter..."

"It felt familiar. Yes."

Xan's cheeks went bright, bright red. Gil chuckled and began to tug Xan's shirt up over his head.

The sweater was loose, soft, designed to be comfortable. He pulled it off slowly, his fingers lingering on Xan's skin as it came off. The inked skin
fascinated him, fascinated his fingers.

"Is there a story to go with these?"

"Sometimes I have to get outside of my head. This helps. I just lie back and let them work."

"You don't have any input at all as to what they ink in?"

"No. I don't care. I'm the canvas. The canvas doesn't care."

"But now I'm molding the canvas and

I

might care."

New: A Hammer Story - 17

Xan's eyebrows lowered. "I don't know what to say to that, really."

"Well, let's play it by ear. You tell me the next time you want to go get more ink."

"I never want to. I need to, but I'll let you know." Xan laughed. "You'll probably know."

"Yeah, probably." He pulled Xan in and took his mouth again.

Xan's lips parted, the man letting him in, letting him taste. He pulled on Xan's tongue, sucking it into his mouth. The stud there fascinated him, drove
him a little crazy -- it always had. He played with it, let it run across the top of his mouth. Groaning, he pushed Xan back a little, toward the bed.

Sweet, hungry little pain slut.

His

sweet, hungry little pain slut. He squeezed Xan's ass through his pants, knowing it had to sting. The skin was still

hot, still burning. He wanted to feel it skin on skin, not muted by Xan's pants, so he undid them, pushing them off the slim hips.

That pierced cock bobbed, reached up for him. So pretty. He hummed happily, reaching down to wrap his hand around it. Xan arched, cock sliding
over his palm.

"Sexy fucker." He could watch Xan move for days, years.

"Your hands."

"You like them, hmm?" He could touch Xan for days as well.

"Need. I need them. Please."

"All yours." He continued to stroke Xan's cock as his other hand found the rosy ass.

"Mine." Xan whimpered, moaned.

"Uh-huh." He pushed Xan down onto the bed, following the man down.

"Master."

Yes. Yes, he was. "That's right, boy. Your master." He knew Xan didn't believe it, not yet, but that was okay. That trust would take time. At least the
man knew now that it was his intention; they'd both taken the step to commit to it.

He took Xan's mouth again, hand working the sweet prick hard. Xan started rocking, moving into his hand, cock leaking and dripping for him. The
piercings slipped and teased him.

He moved down Xan's body, suddenly wanted to explore the ladder piercing more closely. Every inch of skin was marked or pierced or inked, all
the way down. He kissed each piercing,

New: A Hammer Story - 18

explored the ink with his tongue. Once he reached Xan's cock, he explored the thick ring in the tip of that pretty cock, then the three tiny rings around
the ridge. He manipulated them with his fingers, and then with his tongue, the taste of metal overpowered by the musk of Xan's pre-come.

His fingers headed for the ladder, while his tongue continued to play. He needed to talk with Treat, discover his options. He touched each point of
the ladder, manipulating the piercings. The skin was so thin, so delicate, and Xan made the best noises.

"Did they hurt?" he asked.

"When they went in? Fuck, yes. Not so much on the testicles, but on the shaft, I wanted to die."

"Why'd you have them done?"

Those pale eyes met his. "I needed to scream, and I wanted to remember why."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"You said you wanted to remember why -- why what?"

"Why I needed to hurt. What I'd done."

"And what was that?" It was like pulling teeth.

"I let the art take over, completely."

"I take it that isn't a good thing?"

Xan looked down at him. "I ended up in the psych ward. They found me painting with my own blood."

"Whoa! Definitely a bad thing." He held Xan's gaze. "We'll make sure you don't get to that point again."

"I'm not crazy. I just... it can be huge. You have to respect that. Art is my true master, in so many ways."

"But when it gets so huge that you're painting with your own blood, you need a master who can make it back off so it doesn't consume you." Gil
wouldn't allow his boy to hurt himself, not like that.

"Yes." Xan looked at him, open and honest. "Yes."

"Yes." He kissed Xan's belly, and returned to his exploration of Xan's cock; the man himself was

New: A Hammer Story - 19

a work of art, really. He licked Xan's shaft, tongue grabbing each and every piercing. Gil tugged on them, slapped them, loved every sound touching
them produced.

"Stings." It didn't sound like a complaint.

"All the same?"

"No. No, they're all different."

"Good."

Xan wiggled, shivered. "Your mouth is hot."

"All the better to eat you with."

"Big bad wolf."

"That makes you little red riding hood." He gave Xan a wink. Xan did have the best laugh.

Gil made it stutter as he began to tongue the studs of the ladder again. Licking the sweet, soft balls made Xan hum, moan softly. His tongue pushed
past those balls, flicking at the little rings back there. There were two little guiche rings, hidden from view. He flicked them back and forth with his
tongue and then took them in his mouth and tugged. That made Xan arch, earned him a tiny grunt. The piercings certainly made everything uber-
sensitive. It was another mark in the plus column.

He loved the musk and heat scent of Xan, loved how the man spread for him. Moving further down, he licked at Xan's hole, the heat there almost
burning him. It was soft, swollen from last night, and he groaned in pure pleasure. He licked again, and then blew against it.

"Sir!"

He smacked Xan's hip. Hard. "What was that?"

"What? What?"

"What do you call me?"

"S... Master. Master." Xan moaned, hands reaching down for him.

He grinned and went back to licking the hot little hole.

"Oh, fuck. Fuck, so good." Xan started moving, pushing into his mouth.

There was that sensuality again. He loved it. Pointing his tongue, he pushed it in deep as Xan moved.

New: A Hammer Story - 20

"Yes. Master. Master, I feel you..." The words were like little prayers.

He continued tongue-fucking Xan, each sound coming from the man making his own cock grow harder.

His. He couldn't believe it. Couldn't fucking believe it. This was all his.

Groaning, he searched blindly, looking for the lube he kept on the bedside table. He found it, moaned as Xan's hole twitched against his tongue. It
only took seconds to pull on a condom before lubing himself up.

He gave Xan's hole one final lick and then moved up to push the head of his prick against that hot, wet hole. Xan bore down, taking him in.

"Sweet fuck!" Groaning, he sank all the way in.

"Yes. Yes, take me." Demanding boy.

"I am. Taking what's mine."

"I want to be."

Gil knew that.

He pulled slowly out and then just as slowly pushed back in. Xan moaned for him, cried out as he was grabbed, drawn closer. He brought their
mouths together, tongue pushing into Xan's mouth as he continued to thrust slowly. Xan's body dragged at him, pulled at his prick. It felt so fucking
good. He could lose himself in this, stay right here forever.

"Harder."

"Pushy." He thrust harder, though, his own body wanting to take Xan's as hard and fast as he could.

"Yes. I can't help it."

That made him laugh; Xan made him happy all the way down.

"God, your laugh. I fucking painted your laugh for

days

."

That had him stilling. "And what does my laugh look like?"

"It's purple and green with pure red in the center."

"Mmm. Sounds sexy."

New: A Hammer Story - 21

"More than." Xan moaned, body moving faster.

He started meeting those motions again, thrusting hard. He watched his boy, his own, lost in the way they moved together. He found Xan's mouth,
tongue pushing in as his cock did. It was different, knowing this wasn't the end, knowing that he could do this again -- tomorrow, the next day, the
day after that. That was almost as heady as what they were doing with their bodies.

Groaning, he pushed harder.

Xan's hands slid down his back, fingers digging into his ass and tugging him deeper.

He bit at Xan's ear. "Come for me, boy."

"Yes..." Xan arched, humped his cock twice more -- short, sharp thrusts that left him gasping --

before heat shot between them.

Groaning, he jerked and came, too, filling the condom.

Xan blinked at him, moaned softly, then fell immediately and deeply asleep. Boom. He couldn't help but chuckle as he pulled out and got rid of the
condom. It looked like he'd managed to relax Xan after all.

He stroked the lean body, smiling as Xan turned toward him, murmuring, "Master."

He kissed Xan's lips softly. "That's right," he murmured.

He might have to work a little harder at getting Xan to trust him this easily when he was awake, but Xan clearly already trusted him instinctively.

He closed his eyes and held his boy.

***

Xan woke at dusk, the house new and odd and quiet. He headed to the bathroom first, then to the room that was going to be his studio. He looked
out the window, considered the view. It was lovely. The fading light gleamed with pinks and oranges and yellows. His eyes fell on the canvasses,
sitting on the bed, fingers reaching toward them immediately.

There was a soft noise behind him and he turned to find Gil leaning against the doorway, smiling at him. He smiled back, drawn by the look in Gil's
eyes.

"It's a good room, isn't it?"

"It is. The light is stunning. Thank you."

"You're welcome." Gil came toward him, arms opening.

New: A Hammer Story - 22

Oh. Oh. He stepped forward, letting Gil envelop him in those arms. Strong, solid, the man held him close and those big hands slid down to grab his
abused ass. His hips rolled, pushing back into the touch, the burn perfect.

"Mmm." Gil didn't say anything else, just swatted his ass. That made him grunt, eyes meeting Gil's. Fuck that ached. "I think I have an idea or two to
how to keep your attention." The man hit his ass again, the sensation going through his whole body.

"I..." He arched, fingers digging into Gil's shoulders. Fuck.

"Yes, you, my strutting peacock." Gil's fingers dug into his ass, the other hand moving around to play with his penal ladder, none too gently.

"Not a peacock." Fuck, that was good.

"You look like one. With all this ink and metal. A beautiful, subby peacock."

"Peacocks have feathers."

"You'd look strange with feathers, Xan."

He nodded, but let his mind imagine that. He wondered if feathers hurt like ingrown toenails.

Gil flicked the rings in the tip of his cock. "Stay with me."

Oh. Oh, fuck. "Yes, Sir. Master." Master. His Master.

"Better." Gil's mouth descended on his, the kiss no holds' barred, devouring him.

The new house, new studio, world dissolved and Xan bent, glorying in that need. Gil's arms were solid around him, holding him up; he didn't have to
worry about falling. It was safe to get lost in Gil's kisses and touches. He moaned, opened easily, eagerly.

Before he knew it, he was pressed up against the wall, Gil rubbing up against him. He pushed back, giving Gil something to feel, some friction.

"God, you're sexy." The words were a bare growl, rough like sandpaper.

He was need more than sex. He knew this. Knew it. Gil had a hold of his cock, jacking him, fingers rough over his ladder. Xan went up on tiptoe,
balls drawing up.

"No coming until I give the order."

"I'm not new at this. I won't."

New: A Hammer Story - 23

Gil chuckled. "I'm not new at this either, and I'm a quick learner. You like to push, you like to find the loopholes."

"I don't know how not to." He thought Gil deserved the truth.

"That's cool, Alexander. I'm looking forward to every push, every little thing that your mind is going to come up with." The man looked like he meant
it, too.

Alexander. His eyes closed at that, his abs muscles tensing.

"It's what you want, what you need. Someone to stay when you push, to push back."

He didn't answer, swallowing his moan.

Gil's nose slid along his cheek, back toward his ear. He could feel the man's breath against his skin. "I know you, Alexander. I feel your need in my
gut."

"Master." He couldn't breathe. He backed away a step, or tried to.

"You can't run away from me, Alexander. You can't hide." Gil pressed him up against the wall again, mouth latching onto his neck.

Soft little cries pushed out of him. Gil's teeth scraped along his skin, hot tongue following and soothing the almost bite. Xan panted, chin lifting at the
nibble. Gil growled, hand back on his cock.

"What do you want?"

"You. Every inch of you."

"I'm here." He was paying attention. Mostly.

"You're here, but are you committed?"

"Not for a long time."

Gil tilted his head and then smiled, chuckled. "I meant to me, Alexander."

"I'm here with you." Hell, he'd let the man come into what was going to be his studio. This room would be off-limits, once the work started.

"You are in body. How about spirit? Mind? Emotion?" Each word came with tug to his cock.

"You ask the impossible."

New: A Hammer Story - 24

"We'll never be bored trying to achieve it, then, will we?"

"No. No..." What was he arguing about?

"That's right." Gil's mouth closed over his again, stealing his breath, his sense.

Those hands seemed determined to make him fly. The rings at the tip of his cock were tugged, twisted every time Gil's fingers slid by. He went up
on tiptoe, almost pulling away. With his free hand, Gil grabbed hold of the piercings in his right nipple, twisting them hard.

"No..." Fuck, that burned so good.

"No what?" Gil twisted the rings in the other direction.

"Fuck. Fuck. Stings." He groaned, baring his teeth a little.

"You love it."

He nodded, toes curling on the ceramic tile. "Yes."

"Which one's better?" Gil asked, fingers moving to tug on the rings in his other nipple.

"Better how?"

"More sensitive."

"The right stings, the left aches. It's just different." Jesus, it was hard to think.

"Both good." Gil played one and then the other, twisting and tugging, using the jewelry to make him crazy.

He didn't know where to put his hands, where to focus, and it agitated him, aggravated him.

"Touch me, Alexander. Distract me with your hands and mouth."

"My name is Xan." His hands found Gil's body, exploring, learning, adoring it.

"Your nickname is Xan. Other people call you Xan. I call you Alexander." Gil's voice got this husky little catch when he was turned on.

Xan moaned, leaned forward to lick along the line of Gil's collarbones. Salty and musky and perfect.

"Yeah, you can give as good as you get, can't you?" Gil's hand stayed on his cock, fingers working the ladder, pushing the studs back and forth as
far as he could, one after the other.

New: A Hammer Story - 25

He let his teeth drag along Gil's collarbone, let them sting. Grunting, Gil pushed up hard against him, shoving him into the wall. Xan shuddered, then
bit again.

Gil growled this time, hips jerking. "Wanna fuck you, right here up against the wall."

"I'm yours." He'd let Gil in and in and in.

"You sore?" Gil asked, fingers sliding around to his crack.

"Stretched. It's been a while."

"Then you're ready for me to do you again." One finger pushed between his cheeks, into his hole.

He went up on tiptoe before sliding back down and taking that finger in. "Oh, fuck. Hot, tight. So good, Alexander."

The praise made him arch, made him lick his lips. "Thank you. Please, Master. I need you."

"I know. You've got me. Right here." A second finger pushed in, his body definitely still stretched from earlier.

He couldn't fight his groan, his body squeezing tight.

"Get on your knees and wet my cock." Gil's fingers popped free as he spoke.

"Yes, Sir." He jerked at the sharp slap. "What?"

"Who am I?" growled Gil, eyes intense.

"I. Fuck. Fuck." He growled back. "You're Gil. Damn it." He hated fucking up.

Gil shook his head, hands moving to cup his head; there was nowhere to look but into Gil's eyes.

"And what do you call me?"

His heart slammed in his chest, the urge to struggle, to scream, sudden and sharp. He didn't want to ruin this, not yet, but something in him wanted
to just push.

Jesus, Gil's eyes were stunning. "I'm waiting."

"Master." His entire body rippled at the single word. He could see the pleasure the word gave Gil in the man's eyes.

"Very good. Let's try this again. On your knees and wet my cock."

He didn't answer; he knelt, lips opening for the hard prick. Groaning, Gil put a hand behind his

New: A Hammer Story - 26

head, palm warm against his scalp. He leaned into the touch, tongue slipping over the tip of Gil's cock.

"Your mouth is so hot."

He rubbed the tongue stud over the slit, pushing in a little.

Gil's hips jerked, pushing the thick prick deeper into his mouth. "Fuck, that thing's incredible."

He slapped Gil's shaft with it, letting his Master feel it.

"Fuck yes!" Both Gil's hands found his head, not quite pulling him onto his cock. He did it again, then again, pushing hard. "Careful. I don't want to
come before I fuck you."

He met Gil's eyes, let his stud drag all along Gil's shaft. Gil laughed, the sound broken and rough. His hands stroked up along Gil's thighs.

Gil let him do it, and then pulled away. "Let me get a condom."

"Do you want me to stay here?"

"I do. Because I'm going to do you up against the wall as soon as I'm back. Which will be in two shakes."

Xan nodded and stood. He wouldn't allow Gil in here once the work started, but it hadn't, right?

Right.

Gil took a quick, hard kiss, and then left the room, cock hard, ass firm. Xan leaned back, hand rubbing down along his ribs. He couldn't believe that
this was real.

A moment later Gil returned, cock leading the way. It was thick, red at the tip. He held up a condom and some lube. "Once we're both tested,
wetting it with your mouth will be enough."

"I haven't ever gone bareback."

"Good boy. It's not safe unless you're with someone you trust, someone who's going to stick around. And you've both been tested."

He didn't trust easily. Not that that was Gil's business.

Gil handed over a condom. "Put it on me."

"Pushy, pushy." He took the rubber and opened the package.

"Yep. Maybe even as pushy as you are." There was no meanness in the words.

New: A Hammer Story - 27

"Maybe." He reached out, cupped Gil's balls.

"That's not where the condom goes." He could hear the grin in Gil's voice.

"No? Man, had you not told me..." He chuckled. Gil's laugh was sexy as hell.

He eased the rubber over the heavy, thick cock, fingers smoothing the latex. The way the man's laughter morphed into a moan was even sexier.

"You have a beautiful cock."

"Thank you. I know how to use it, too."

"I know." He stroked a couple of times, slow and easy.

Gil moaned for him. He leaned forward, lips on Gil's throat, tongue lapping the salt off the man's skin. Gil moved him up against the wall, muscling
him over. The wall was cold against his ass.

He arched into Gil, head clunking against the wall.

Growling, Gil cradled his head in one big hand. "Careful."

He blinked, confused. "Did I hurt you?"

"No, you hurt yourself."

"Oh." He waved that off, unconcerned.

"That's my job." Gil gave him a wink, mouth closing over his.

This kiss stole his breath and captured his entire focus, leaving him shuddering. Gil kept kissing him, even as the man put an arm around his waist
and hauled him up off the ground a couple inches. He flailed a bit, finding places for his hands. Fuck. Strong.

Gil spread his legs, cock slipping, sliding between them, pushing toward where they both wanted it to go.

Xan got his legs around Gil's hips, eyes wide. "Is this cool?"

"Fucking perfect." That thick cock found his hole, started to push in.

"Fuck, yes." The burn pushed all through him.

Gil kept pushing, filling him until the man was all the way in. Then the man leaned their foreheads together and groaned softly. He brought their lips
together, whimpered softly. Gil's

New: A Hammer Story - 28

hands slid down to hold his ass, then Gil started humping up into him. His shoulders pressed against the wall, leaning hard and giving himself
leverage.

"Yeah. Fuck." Gil just kept pushing into him, humping into his body.

"Please. Fuck, it's so good."

"It is. It is." Gil's mouth covered his again, tongue pushing in.

He rocked, fucking himself between cock and tongue. One of Gil's hands let go of his ass to grab his cock. The grip was firm, rubbing his ladder
hard as Gil jacked him. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. He grunted, bearing down on Gil's cock, riding hard.

Gil was down to grunts and clicks, feeding the sounds into his mouth as the man drove him wild.

The friction made him crazed, made him burn.

"Wanna feel you come on my cock."

"Yes." He could manage that. Possibly. Probably.

Gil growled, thumb pressing into his slit. That made him almost crawl up the wall, his hips jerking. "Come on, give it to me." Gil hooked his pinky into
one of the rings in his cock and tugged.

Xan howled, hips driving furiously as he shuddered and came.

"Fuck!" Gil shouted, jerking a few times before pushing deep and freezing. Xan could feel the man fill the condom.

He blinked at Gil, still holding on, trembling a little bit.

"I've got you," growled Gil, sounding more than a little out of breath. Gil rubbed his come into his belly, hand warm on his skin.

There'd never been anyone like Gil. Ever.

Still buried inside him, Gil wrapped both arms around him and stumbled to the bed, landing on his ass, but still holding on, still deep.

"Master." Xan moaned, fought for his breath.

"I have you," Gill said again. "You're mine."

"Am I? You swear it?"

"You are, I swear." Gil's eyes met his, serious and sure.

New: A Hammer Story - 29

He couldn't answer, he couldn't look; he just had to believe.

***

Gil woke up Christmas Eve with his arms full of his boy. He was glad Xan had agreed to sleep with him; he hoped to make it permanent -- that Xan

would consider his bed theirs, even if he wasn't in it when Xan actually went to sleep.

He yawned and stretched, pondering going to IHOP or something for breakfast. They had to set up the studio and bring in the rest of Xan's stuff, but
breakfast first might be nice. Xan murmured softly, hands stroking him. They hadn't done much but fuck and sleep. His Alexander had been
completely exhausted, no reserves left, and he'd been encouraging the rest.

He patted Xan gently, his fingers randomly tracing tats. He still couldn't quite believe that he had the sub here, willing and eager and wanton. Two
years he'd been dreaming of this, wanting it.

Looked like the third time really was the charm.

He ran his hand along Xan's spine, right down to the amazing ass. Those lean hips rolled, pushing up into his touch like a huge cat. He loved how
sensual Xan was; it was one of the first things he'd noticed. Xan turned, lips on his chest, open and searching, hungry. That hunger was the second
thing.

He tilted the man's chin, bent to meet that hungry mouth with his own.

"Master." The heat between them was wild, Xan pushing him, tongue pushing into his lips.

He grabbed the back of Xan's head and sucked on his tongue. Those light eyes stared at him, looked into him. He looked right back. He'd nearly
lost this man, so he wasn't going to hold anything back now. His boy held his gaze, then melted beneath him, lips parting as Xan submitted.

Groaning, he rolled his hips, sliding their pricks together. Xan wasn't hard, but that pierced flesh was responding, steadily, surely. He loved the
feeling of all that metal against his cock, it felt dangerous, exciting. The amount of pain Xan had gone through for them stunned him. Awed him.
Inspired him.

He found Xan's hands and tugged him up over his head, stretching the painted and pierced body.

The man arched beautifully, bucking and spreading beneath him. Putting both wrists in one hand he let the other wander, stopping to tease skin and
piercings. His sub's body was warm, muscles long and lean.

He nuzzled into Xan's neck, breathing in the musk and sex and man smell there. The heartbeat there was strong, steady, pulsing against his lips.
Groaning, he began to pull up a mark, not caring that it wouldn't be noticed among the black ink. He'd know it was there. So would Alexander. A
dark mark that he had placed, that was his. His will.

New: A Hammer Story - 30

He licked it, nosed it, then kissed it before sliding his mouth back up to meet Xan's.

He was learning many things about his new sub, the primary of which was that, just out of sleep, the man was sweet, warm, laughing and happy.
Malleable and eager. He would have to take advantage of Xan in this state of mind as often as possible.

One kiss led to another and another and yet another, Xan beginning to push moans into his lips.

He moved his hips, pushing up and down along Xan's belly; their cocks bumped, rubbed. Each one of those little piercings drove him crazy. He
didn't need to reach down and jack them with his hand, the sensations were already enough.

Each thrust earned him a sound -- some low, some soft, some shocked. It was so good. So good.

He kept moving, hips grinding down harder and harder. Xan's cock leaked, making him wet, heating him. He was getting close, but he wasn't going
alone. He met Xan's eyes, held them. Xan offered him a smile -- honest and warm and more than a little wild.

He smiled right back. "Let's come together."

"Yes, please." Xan moaned, licked and lapped at his lips. "Master."

He beamed. "That's right. Your Master." Groaning, he moved faster, pushing them harder together, Xan's piercings becoming almost painful as
they rubbed against his prick. One of Xan's hands slipped down his back, nails scraping his skin. "Fuck! Come on. Give it up for me."

His boy arched, snarled softly, then shot, heat spreading between them.

The smell of it -- strong and musky, all male and something he'd only ever smelled with Xan --

made him shout and buck and he added his own heat between them.

Those long arms held him close, cradled him and rocked him. He let Xan have his weight, and nuzzled their cheeks together as he caught his
breath.

"Mmm. Bristly." Xan didn't seem to be complaining.

"Yeah. I'm a need to shave every morning or else kind of guy. How often do you need to do your head?"

"I do it every three or four days, when I'm not working hard."

"Have you ever had lovers do it for you? Have you ever waxed?"

"I've been doing it for years, since I was a teenager."

"You like waxing or shaving better? Can I do it for you?"

New: A Hammer Story - 31

"I like the sting of waxing, but I won't let it grow out long enough to."

He chuckled. "Of course you like the sting better." He turned his head to kiss Xan's scalp.

"You're a beautiful, amazing pain slut." He loved how Xan nodded, accepted the praise, agreed.

"And you're all mine," he added, smiling against Xan's cheek.

Xan chuckled softly. "Merry Christmas Eve, Master."

"Yes. Yes, Merry Christmas Eve."

Very merry.

***

It was simple to remove the furniture from the studio, less simple to arrange his paints and canvasses in a way that made sense. In a way that they
were workable and not in the way. Where he could find things and... His hands landed on the brush box and he popped it open, the wood and metal
and horsehair sliding through his fingers.

"That's the last of your stuff in your bedroom," said Gil as he came in. "Though, really, I think you're going to need a few more things, like underwear,
if you don't expect to be doing laundry every two days."

"I work in the nude." He didn't look up; he dug through the brushes again. They were going to have to talk about boundaries.

"Oh. That's quite the image."

"Hmm?" He headed for the paint, a large fan brush in his hand. He could do a little work before Christmas.

"You painting in the nude -- I like the thoughts it puts in my head. Anyway. Now that we've got you all in, did you have anything you needed? If we're
going to go out we need to do it sooner than later, it being Christmas Eve and all."

"Needed how? I'll put shelves in eventually, cover the floors..." He headed for a canvas.

"I don't know -- brushes, paint, food you want to make Christmas special for you..."

"I haven't celebrated in years." He stopped, looked at Gil. "My mother used to make me gingerbread. Can we buy that?" Gingerbread with whipped
cream.

Gil smiled warmly. "We can. Do you like turkey and all the fixings? Or would you prefer to go out to a restaurant for our main meal? I usually wind up
with friends or at the Hammer. I like to mark the day somehow. And now I have more reason than ever."

New: A Hammer Story - 32

Wait. Presents. He hadn't gotten Gil presents. "I have to go out." Now.

Chuckling, Gil nodded. "That's the idea."

"No. Alone. Tomorrow's Christmas." Oh, God.

Gil frowned. "I know. I don't get why we can't go buy gingerbread together, though."

"I haven't... I didn't know we were going to be together and I don't have anything for you, man. I have to go." He headed for the door.

"Wait, Alexander." Gil's hand landed on his arm, stopping his flight. "You don't have to buy me anything; you've already given me the one thing I
really wanted more than anything else."

"It's Christmas, though. There should be presents. Opening." Shouldn't there?

Gil smiled, nodded. "It would be fun. You want to go separately, or drive to one of the big malls and meet back up after for drinks at a certain time
after?"

He looked at Gil. "What do you like? Do you realize that I'm here and we don't know each other?"

"We know what's important, Alexander. We know that I'm your Master and you're mine." Gil slid that hand along his arm, warm, solid. "I think you
should buy things for me you think I might like, and I'll do the same for you and we'll learn about each other as we open the gifts."

His body responded to that touch. No. No. His

soul

responded. He needed to paint Gil, paint this feeling, over and over and over. Gil smiled, fingers

curling around his arm and tugging him closer. He searched Gil's eyes, looking for something. There was warmth there, heat, all aimed at him,
along with the fact that Gil

saw

him.

"Tell me this is real?"

"Yes."

Xan felt an edge of panic bubble up inside him, but he refused to let it take him.

"So, shall we?"

"Yes. Yes, let's go." There was, undoubtedly, a bunch of trouble he could get into.

Gil's arm went around his waist, his new Master leading the way down to the front door. "I have a few ideas for gifts for you. I think this is going to be
fun."

"What was the best gift you ever received?"

New: A Hammer Story - 33

"Is it cheating to say you?"

"Yes." He chuckled.

"I had a feeling it might be." They went out the front and Gil locked up the door behind him.

"Well, when I was sixteen, I wanted a car. It was all I wanted, all I talked about. Everyone knew how much I wanted a car. You know what I got?"

"A car?"

"Nope. A bicycle."

"And that was better than a car?"

Gil laughed. "God, I was pissed. But I needed wheels, so I had to use them. And then I got run over. I know it sounds terrible, but I wasn't hurt and the
guy who ran me over was my first lover."

Xan chuckled. "Now that's a first meeting story."

"It is. My father was nearly apoplectic when he found out. Doubly so when he realized if he'd just bought me the car it probably never would have
happened." Gil opened the car door for him.

"Do you see them often?" He ducked into the car, buckled up.

"No, they passed away awhile ago."

He nodded. That sucked. The story about the wreck didn't, though. He liked circles. Wheels.

"How about your family?" Gil asked as he started the car and backed out into the road.

"They're not dead." His mom talked to him at least once a week and his brother texted every day.

"That's a good thing, huh? You get along with them?"

Xan nodded. "We're very close."

"You didn't want to spend Christmas with them?"

"No. We don't speak at Christmas." They hadn't in ten years. They'd made a pact.

Gil glanced over at him, one eyebrow raised.

Xan felt his cheeks heat, and he looked away. "It's very complicated."

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"I'm betting everything with you is complicated." Gil didn't sound mean when he said it, just matter of fact.

"Yes. Yes, it always has been." He remembered his last Christmas with his family, the pain, the sounds, everything. It had been the darkest night of
his life.

"You want to tell me about it?"

"Do you need to know?"

"Hmm. No, I don't

need

to. But I want to know everything about you."

"I had leukemia, when I was eighteen. I almost died." He told the story quickly, not thinking about it too closely. "My brother donated bone marrow
and, on Christmas Eve, the doctors said I wasn't going to make it. My family made a promise. We'd never see each other on Christmas again,
never, if I lived. I did."

"Oh, wow." Gil reached over and held onto his thigh for a moment. "I'm glad you made it."

"I am, too. I've been in remission for a decade. I'm good."

"That's great. And that's a promise worth keeping, hmm? It doesn't preclude you from making traditions with your new Master, though, does it?"

"No. No, it doesn't." Xan looked over at Gil, winked. The man was much less intimidating on a minute-to-minute basis than he was during a scene.
"We've had one for three years, after all."

Gil chuckled and nodded. "It's a good one, too. One that we can keep going in the future. A lot of the items up for bid go back to their masters."

"I wouldn't want to be given to another master." They hadn't discussed any of the particulars.

None of them.

"That wouldn't happen." Gil growled and his hands tightened on the wheel. Then he pulled over into a parking spot and cut the engine.

Gil turned to him. "You are mine, Alexander. And I don't share. I like the tradition of buying you at the Christmas auction every year, but make no
mistake, I am the only one who will buy you."

"I wanted to be yours from the very first year." His heart raced, ached. He'd wanted to be Gil's and he'd found out Gil was committed, had a sub, had
someone full-time and they were playing.

He needed to remember that. To Gil, this was a game.

"And I wanted you, but I was with someone." Gil shook his head. "I knew from how badly I wanted you that there was a problem with my current
relationship."

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"Did you both... explore outside?"

"We did. We both had things we needed the other couldn't provide and we thought no problem, the club is a safe place to get what we need." Gil
shook his head. "And it is, but I never once felt that wave of possession for Lukas in three years that I felt for you in the first five minutes we were
together."

"Lukas wanted you." He should know; the man had been waiting for him the first morning after.

"I couldn't give Lukas what he needed, though, and he wasn't you."

"Good. We need to shop. Come on." He headed out of the car.

Gil got out and locked the car, the beep following them as they walked. "You want to meet at the pub on the corner there in a couple of hours?"

"Sure. Two hours. I can do that." Maybe. Time was sort of... fluid for him.

"It's a bar, so if we're not exactly on time, we can drink while we wait." Gil gave him a wink and a wave.

He nodded to himself, turning from the mall and heading to the little stores lining the streets.

Malls were soulless.

He'd find things to gift. He would.

***

Gil made eggnog coffee and put the mugs on a tray along with peanut butter toast cut up in long strips. He added one of his wrapped presents, a
collar made of chain links with a simple, industrial lock on it, and headed upstairs to wake up his boy. He was more than a little in love with how
Alexander woke up and couldn't wait to share this morning with the man.

Xan had managed to be mostly on time from shopping last night and had surprised him with a hilarious night of chess and checkers, pizza and
Christmas cartoons. It had been magical.

"Merry Christmas!" he called out as he went into his room.

"Merry Christmas." Xan was wrapped in a robe, chin on his knees, still blinking himself awake.

"I have breakfast and a present." He climbed onto the bed and slowly sat cross-legged, managing not to spill a thing on his tray.

"Oh, peanut butter bread. Too fucking cool."

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"I thought it'd be perfect." Light and filling, easy to make, easy to eat. Smiling, he picked one up and held it up for Xan to eat.

"Thank you." Xan hummed, lapped it up and moaned over the toast.

He stretched out and ate a couple of fingers of the toast himself.

"Is that coffee?" Xan lapped crumbs off his belly.

"Mmmhmm... half coffee, half egg nog."

"Mmm." Xan's mouth moved south.

Gil groaned, his prick taking notice right away. Xan took a long drink of the coffee, then that hot mouth dropped over his cock.

"Fuck!" He jerked, his hips thrusting up, pushing his cock deep into Xan's mouth. Why hadn't he gone to get this amazing man sooner?

Xan took him in and in and in. He reached out, ran his hand over that bald head. Xan moaned, then that mouth popped off his cock. The man took
another drink, then took him in again.

"Merry fucking Christmas to me." He growled out the words, on fucking fire, his balls pulling up close to his body.

Over and over, Xan repeated the actions. Sip. Suck. Swallow. It was making him crazy. By the time Xan was finished his coffee, Gil was humping --
Xan's mouth, the air, Xan's mouth, the air.

"I'm out of coffee..."

"My mug's still full." His voice was rough, needy.

"Oh, good." He got a wicked, happy grin, and Xan started the process again. He made a whimpering noise, one hand staying curled around Xan's
bald head, the other fisting in the sheets. Xan was trying to blow his mind. Was succeeding, too.

Jesus, no one had ever made him so crazy. He was the one that drove subs crazy. Him. Xan swallowed again, and again, throat working the tip of
his cock.

"Fuck! Gonna!" He pulled his cock out of Xan's mouth, his balls two tight little stones in his sac.

Xan groaned. "Let me. I want you."

Fuck. He knew he was clean, and he'd told Xan as much. Groaning, he nodded and slammed

New: A Hammer Story - 37

back into Xan's mouth. He shouted as he emptied down Alexander's throat. His boy. His sub.

His. Fuck. Fuck, so fine. The room seemed to sway a little bit and Gil just grinned.

He stroked Xan's head. "Good. That was... yeah." He chuckled and petted some more, lying in a boneless pile, his free hand still clutching the
bedding.

Xan's head rested on his hip, cheek warm, damp.

"There's a tradition I don't think we should save just for Christmas."

Xan snorted, then started laughing, hard and deep against his thigh.

He patted his sub's head, and then slid his hand down to Xan's shoulders. "There's a gift for you on the tray."

The tip of his cock was kissed, then slapped with that wicked tongue as Xan sat up. "Yeah?

What?"

He propped himself up on the pillows and grabbed the blue-wrapped collar. He patted the bed next to him, wanting Xan to sit up near him so he
didn't miss his sub's reaction as he opened the present and discovered the collar.

"One of the last two slices of toast was handed to him, then Xan took the other and looked at the wrapping paper. "I like the teal. I like it a lot."

"Good. Colorful seemed to suit you." He munched on the toast. God, he felt good, easy in his bones and lazy.

The paper was carefully removed, the box with the heavy, industrial collar opened. "Oh. Look at that." The chain was lifted, admired, explored.

He put his hand on Xan's back. "I wanted you to know I'm serious about this." He waved his free hand between them. "I had the collar made last
year after our second night together. I didn't know if I'd ever be able to give it to you, but it was important that I had it." He reached out and touched
the links. "I'd like you to wear it."

"Last year?" Xan's head tilted, fingers sliding against the metal, against him.

"Yes."

Alexander smiled, handed him the chain. "Put it on me."

"It'll be my pleasure." He wrapped the heavy links around Xan's neck and threaded the lock through the two end links, and locked it.

"It's heavy." Sort of like his sub's prick.

New: A Hammer Story - 38

"It is. But it suits you. And no one can miss that you're wearing it. That you're mine." He slid stroked the collar and then slowly slid his hand down
along Xan's body, stopping to tweak the rings in Xan's nipples.

Those little bits of flesh went tight, hard, dark. "Mine," he said again, leaning in to take one into his mouth. Xan's skin tasted metallic, wherever he
licked it.

He licked his way down farther, tongue dipping into the dimpled navel. The inked skin ought to taste different, he thought. Honestly, it ought to, but it
didn't. He looked up to meet Xan's eyes as the thick cock nudged his chin. Xan was watching him, legs sprawled, pretty inked belly tight.

He smiled and then turned his head to swipe at the tip of Xan's cock, the flavor of him exploding across Gil's tongue. The piercings there were
fascinating, moving against his tongue as Xan's body responded. Humming, he licked and nuzzled, playing with the rings and exploring the ladder.

"You like them." It wasn't really a question.

By way of answer, he took the end of one into his mouth and sucked on it, tugging it as far to the right as he could. Xan's body arched, shifted to the
right. "So many possibilities." He could put small weights on each one. He could use ribbon to wind around them -- it would be so pretty. For now he
kept sucking and licking.

"You're the only one who plays."

"I let you play with mine -- and your food."

"Mmmhmm." Alexander's hips rolled up, body pumping restlessly.

"So, I'm hardly the only one playing." He licked at the tip again, pointed his tongue and pushed it into the little slit.

"I. I. I meant with the metal. Oh, fuck..."

"Ah... really? It's fascinating and wonderful."

Xan murmured, but he didn't think the man was listening. At all.

Chuckling, he sucked on the tip, pulling drop after drop of Xan's pre-come onto his tongue. One of his gifts was a lovely sound, meant to be worn for
hours, that attached to Xan's Prince Albert.

Another was a plug, thin but long, it vibrated at the tip and at the base. They were going to have so much fun.

He wrapped his lips around Xan's prick and slowly, carefully went down on the pierced cock.

New: A Hammer Story - 39

"Master." Xan's legs spread, the long body like a bow on his bed.

The metal felt weird, but interesting and he got the tip into his throat and swallowed around it.

He pressed his tongue against the shaft, against the piercings. He played with them, tongue working them hard.

"More. More, please." Xan twisted, pushed close to him.

He pushed his fingers up against Xan's lips, pushed them in. Those swollen lips wrapped around his fingers and sucked, hard. Groaning, he
imitated the rhythm around Xan's cock. Every moan could be felt around his fingers, Xan's tongue stud teasing his skin.

He finally tore his fingers away and moved them to press against Xan's hole. That tight hole was hot, swollen from their games earlier. He teased
one wet finger in, stroking the silky inner walls.

Xan gave him a soft, soft moan that made his toes curled. He sucked harder, the barbells rough against the sides of his cheeks.

"Master..."

Gil smiled at the word, pulling harder. He tapped at the tip of Xan's cock, and then pressed the tip of his tongue in again. Those tight balls drew up,
skin shifting around the rings. He pushed his finger in deep, finding Xan's gland.

The convulsion that rocked Xan's body was something else and spunk poured into his lips. He swallowed it down, enjoying the flavor of his boy.
That was his, that taste. Every inch of this man was his now, to care for, mark, drive crazy.

He pulled off the amazing prick and reached up, fingers sliding on his collar, locked around Alexander's neck. His eyes met his sub's. "New
beginnings, new traditions."

"Absolutely. This one's better than last year."

"And I'll bet my last dollar they're just going to get better from here."

End

Look for more of Xan and Gil, coming soon.

New: A Hammer Story - 40

New: A Hammer Story

Copyright © 2010 by Sean Michael

All rights reserved. No part of this eBook may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in case of brief
quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information address Torquere Press, PO Box 2545, Round Rock, TX 78680.

Printed in the United States of America.

ISBN: 978-1-60370-966-8

Torquere Press: Color Box first electronic edition / April 2010

Torquere Press eBooks are published by Torquere Press, PO Box 2545, Round Rock, TX 78680.

http://www.torquerepress.com

New: A Hammer Story - 41