Of course, I'd like to thank Raa, Shu and Jenner, all of whom drool over their computers. It's sad, really. (no, who am I kidding? I do it, too.)
Well, it was my birthday, I was bored, I have a dog collar. So I got a little carried away. So sue me. Or thank me, I don't care which as long as I hear from you. ;~P
*Disclaimer* These hot guys belong to Alliance &c. They're not mine. Really, I'm just borrowing them. If they were mine, I'd be rich by now. I'll let them out for some air once in a while. Oh, and Cal is mine.
************
It was a slow week. Ray sat at his desk, staring off into space. The case he was working on was not as important as the event coming up--Benny's birthday. This was special. This was when he'd sweep Benny off his feet (perhaps literally, he thought with an inward grin) and tell him how he really felt. He'd seen those little sidelong glances Benny had been shooting him over the past months--and he'd been careful to note them, because each glance bolstered his confidence. He thought about the circumstances under which Benny had first told him he found Ray attractive. Ray had been shocked at first, but now he was beginning to realize that what he had once dreaded in himself he could now accept. He thought about Benny's perfect, rare little smile. He thought about kissing those lips, tasting Benny, longing to be tasted himself. He imagined what Benny would say.
"Have you got that under control yet?" A man's voice asked. Ray looked up. It was Lieutenant Welsh. Ray shuffled some papers, attempting to look busy.
"I'm on it, Sir." He stammered. "I'm waiting for a search to come back. It shouldn't take long."
"I don't want you getting too distracted, Detective." Welsh said sternly. Ray nodded. Welsh moved off. Then he took a step back towards Ray's desk. "Next time, look busy before I get there." He smiled, and left.
Ray sighed, and picked through the photos of the crime scene on his desk. It had originally been a robbery, a group of thieves attempted to smash the front window of an adult specialty store, but the couple who lived above the storefront came down to investigate. They caught two of the thieves with their arms full--full of bondage gear and a bag of cash from a stash under the register. The couple had singlehandedly defeated the remaining thieves and tied them up properly until the police arrived. These were photographs of the trussed thieves, wriggling and snorting through the ball gags and leather harnesses as the police gawked and snickered at them. No one had died. Nothing serious had happened in the past two days, and so Ray had to tie up the case himself. He caught himself laughing at his pun. Now all he was waiting for was a list of inventory from the store's owner, and an i.d. on two remaining suspects. It was boring work.
The phone rang. Ray snatched it off the hook with a desperate "Vecchio!". It was the store owner.
"You got that list for me?" Ray asked her.
"I can read it to you. Most of the stuff was recovered by my tenants, but this is the merchandise that was missing."
Ray got a pen and a piece of paper. "Shoot." He said.
"Okay. One 12" riding crop, black leather, three pairs of handcuffs, a set of black studded leather ankle restraints, with 12" chain, one small red ball gag, a 2" black studded collar with attached ring and two foot chain, three medium cock rings, in brushed, galvanized and surgical steel, a quilted silk blindfold and a box of condoms, cherry-flavoured."
Ray raised an eyebrow at the last one. "You sure that's it?"
"We took inventory on Sunday. That's it."
"We'll do our best to recover the merchandise, ma'am." Ray said. "Thank you for calling."
"Thank you." She said. "Goodbye."
Ray hung up, then looked again at the list he'd copied down. What sort of thieves would break into a store like that? Exceptionally horny ones, he figured. He gathered the photographs back into the file folder, slid the list on top, and went to get a coffee.
So what was he going to plan for Benny's birthday? As he watched the coffee cup filling in the machine, a gloriously mischievous idea came over him. He grabbed the coffee, nearly spilling it, and rushed back to his desk. A perfect birthday idea. Benny would never know what hit him. He sat at his desk, pulled out a phone book and made calls for the next half hour.
***
Benton came home at about 6:30, too late to hitch a ride from Ray, but he'd enjoyed the walk home. And at 6:30, he opened the door to his apartment to find a small square box on the end of his bed. It had not been there when he'd left, he knew. He picked it up. It was light, and when he shook it he could hear a faint jingle of metal. Perplexed, he opened the box.
Inside, nestled in a sheet of white tissue paper, was a black studded dog collar. This confused him even more. There was a small card beside it. He read the cramped printing.
"It's not for the wolf, it's for you. Try it on." There was no signature. He stared at the card, trying to think who it could have possibly come from. Even Franchesca would never go this far.
Shrugging, he put the collar on the table, and just looked at it. It would fit his neck, but--he didn't want to think what. It was strange. It was strange, but intriguing. He ran a finger along the cone-shaped studs. They tickled his finger. The collar was well made, double stitched around the buckle, and next to the buckle was a small metal plate engraved with something. He looked closer. "Ben" it read. He didn't know what to do with the collar, so he left it there.
It sat on the table all night, and when Benton got up the next morning, it was still there. He looked at it while cooking bacon and eggs for his breakfast. He couldn't just leave it there. He ate, rubbing the studs with his thumb, smelling the faint scent of leather cloy to his fingers. He washed the dishes, thinking about the strange gift. And before he left, he tucked it under his pillow where no one would see it.
***
Ray was bored again. The two suspects from the day before had been identified by the tenants from above the store, and the missing merchandise had been recovered. And, despite the proximity of Benny's birthday, he was still bored. He was thinking maybe of waxing down the Riv after work. He could work off a little steam, maybe stimulate his brain back to thought again. Maybe, he thought, he could ask for Benny's help.
And speaking of Benny, where was he? It was well past noon, and his shift was over. Ray strained his neck looking for a glimpse of red serge. No luck. He wasn't here yet. Still, he did have a job. And Ray had one as well, he reminded himself. Back to work.
He rearranged the piles on his desk, sharpened a few pencils, and fired his rubber bands at a smudge on the wall. Still bored. He counted his paper clips. Twenty-six. Still bored. He shuffled through old receipts and bills that should have been thrown out months ago, and added a new one from his coat pocket. His stomach growled. He got up from his desk, and walked over to Elaine.
"I'm going out for a sandwich, anything you want?" He asked.
"Not right now, thanks." She waved him away. "Maybe some other time."
Ray dug his keys out of his pocket, and walked to the Riv. Benny came around the corner as Ray was unlocking the door.
"Hello Ray." He said.
"Hey Benny. Where's the red?"
Benton looked down at his clothes.
"I needed to dry clean my uniform." He said matter-of-factly. And I have the afternoon off. I was just coming to find you."
"Well ya found me. I was just gonna get some lunch. Wanna come?"
"I'd love too."
They got into the Riv, and pulled out of the parking lot. Ray glanced over at Benton. Ben caught his glance and held it. Ray looked back at the road.
"So." Ray said, attempting to start up a conversation. "Anything new?"
"No, Ray." Benton said. Ray nodded.
"Your birthday's coming up, isn't it? Got any plans?" Ray watched him out of the corner of his eye.
"No, Ray." Benton said. Ray saw a flicker of something like apprehension cross his face.
"Has my sister sent you a birthday card yet?"
"No, Ray. A card, I think, would be too subtle. I should think she'd be much more flamboyant about it." Benton looked uncomfortable for a moment. "A lot less mundane."
"If she knew about it", Ray thought to himself. Frannie didn't know. He wasn't going to tell her. She'd just embarrass Benny further anyway.
"So you don't have any plans, huh?" Ray grinned. "I'll have to throw you a party or somethin' won't I?"
"Ray, please don't make a fuss about my birthday, it's not that important."
Ray wasn't listening to him. This was going to be the best birthday present ever!
***
When Benton got home there was another box on his bed. He picked it up, noting its weight was more significant than the first. And it made a lot more noise. He pulled off the lid and saw a metal chain with rings every six inches down its length. On one end was a lobster claw clip, and on the other a black leather loop. Frowning, he pulled out the collar from under his pillow. As he suspected, the clip attached to the ring on the collar. He clipped the chain onto the collar, and stood there, not sure whether to be amused or afraid. A smile flickered across his lips, and he put the chain back in the box, and stuffed the collar in his pocket.
He looked around the room. Diefenbaker wagged his tail happily from underneath the kitchen table. Benton went over to him.
"I know you saw something, Diefenbaker. You've been here all day. Who was it?" He looked deep into the wolf's eyes. There was a smudge of something white on Dief's nose. Benton touched his finger to it. Icing sugar! Someone had been feeding Diefenbaker donuts, presumably to buy the wolf's silence. Someone who knew Diefenbaker very well. He mentally ran through his list of people who gave Dief donuts. There were several, but only one who gave Dief jelly donuts. Ray.
This made him sit down on the edge of his bed. Ray was giving Dief donuts so he could sneak into his room and leave him presents? He pulled out the dog collar again. But why? This didn't make much sense any more. Now he was embarrassed that maybe Ray was mocking him. Of course Ray knew how Ben felt about him, and maybe the events of the past few weeks were getting to him. Ben had spent a lot of time with Sean. And so this collar was a gift from Ray. He felt a bit better knowing who it was from, but he was still apprehensive. He rubbed his thumb down the row of studs, pausing to caress the metal engraved with his name. Of course. If it had said 'Benny' he'd have known who it was from instantly. Ray wanted this to be a surprise. Well, he'd keep it a surprise. But he'd surprise the dickens out of Ray while doing so.
***
When Ray got to his desk on his next shift, a small box was waiting for him. He was intrigued, and picked it up to open it.
"Vecchio?" He heard a gruff voice behind him. He slid the box into his pocket, and turned to face Welsh.
"Sir?"
"Someone's reported a body in a stairwell at Central and North. A custodian found it this morning. Messy job, a shotgun to the chest. You want it, don't you?"
"Yes Sir." Ray wasn't going to hang around the precinct all day. He'd rather be on a scene. "I'm on my way."
"Good."
Ray hurried to his car, pleased finally to be able to get away from his desk. On top of that, he loved driving the Riv. The car had balls. He smiled as he pulled up to the crime scene. Yellow tape had already been strewn liberally around the stairwell and its doors, and a photographer was already snapping pictures. Several cops were hanging around, reluctant to go back to their cars or their desks.
"Hey Ray!" The photographer called. "Better than desk work, huh?"
Ray smiled as he looked around.
"As much as I hate to say it, Cal, I appreciate a well-executed crime. Whadda we got here?"
One of the other cops gave him the rundown.
"A Mr. Evans found 'em this morning. Shotgun to the chest, and probably beaten at the time of death. Not surprising, though. Apparently this guy's a prostitute."
"Guy?" Ray had seen the curly blonde hair and skirt and assumed it was a woman.
"Transvestite." Cal said, moving past Ray. "Flashy dresser though. Good taste in clothes. A little on the trampy side, but still a bit classy."
"What so you're suddenly a fashion designer?" Ray smirked. "Wait, oh, I guess, the camera. It's your day off, isn't it?"
"Yeah." Cal sneered. "I only moonlight as a cop. By day I'm a fashion photographer. Get to work."
"Any witnesses? Anyone see something suspicious?" Ray asked the two cops.
"We brought in this guy's street partner. He was part of a group doing this sort of thing. She-- uh--he gave us a description of the guy who went off with--uh--Ms. Keegan there. He's been taken back to the precinct for questioning and to work with the sketch artist." The cop shifted uncomfortably. "But no one actually saw or heard anything."
By the time Ray had finished examining the scene, it was lunchtime. As the coroner and her assistants took the body away, Ray motioned to Cal.
"You wanna get a sandwich?" He asked.
"Sure. Can I catch a ride with you back to the precinct?"
Ray nodded.
While they were eating their lunch, Ray remembered the box in his pocket. He pulled it out.
"What's that?" Cal asked, wiping his mouth.
"I'm not sure." Ray opened it, then blushed violently. Inside, on a bed of tissue paper, was a coiled studded collar. He hastily shoved it back into his pocket. Cal snickered.
"Got yourself a girlfriend?" He asked.
"Huh?" Ray stammered. "No, no, um I'm not sure where I got this from."
Cal smiled. "Yeah sure. I remember your ways. Just don't do anything stupid."
"So now I get sex advice from a photographer? What gives you the right, Dr. Westheimer?"
"Hey nothing, nothing." Cal backed down. "Just teasing you. Didn't mean to offend you."
"Let's go."
They paid their bills, and Ray drove back to the precinct. As Cal left to go to the darkroom, he called back to Ray. "Have a good time!"
"Very funny." Ray groaned. He'd never live this down.
When he got back to his desk, there was an update on the case. There was nothing left to do but wait. As he sat down, the phone rang.
"Vecchio!"
"Ray?" It was Benny speaking from a pay phone. "I wasn't sure if I should phone you at work. Am I interrupting anything?"
Always thinking of someone else, Ray thought. "Not anything but getting older. What's up?"
"I was--ah--thinking about tomorrow evening, Ray." There was a hopeful note in his voice. Ray gulped.
"What is it, Benny?"
"I was thinking that I was going to get a cake." Ray could hear the strain. This was hard for Benny. "And since Diefenbaker and I can't eat all of it, I was--ah--wondering if you would like a piece."
"Don't worry about it, Benny." Ray said quickly. "I'll get a cake for you tomorrow. You want me to bring it over?"
"Please."
"Then it's a date." Ray said. "How does noon sound?"
"It sounds fine." Benny said quietly.
"I'll be there with bells on." He smiled.
"I don't think that will be necessary, Ray."
Ray laughed. "Loosen up, Benny. I'll bring you a present."
"That's really not necessary."
"Of course it is. Don't argue with me, I know what I'm doing. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yes, Ray."
Ray hung up, a smile on his face. He had everything he needed at home in a paper bag. All he had to do was get the cake, and--the anticipation made him shiver. This was going to be fun!
***
Benny hung up the phone, overjoyed that Ray had accepted his invitation. He was so happy just knowing things were shaping up. He got to his apartment, and bounded up the stairs. When he opened the door, there was another box on his bed. He carefully pulled off his boots and stowed them in the closet. He wanted to open the box, but let the anticipation grow. As he hung up his red coat, his leather jacket dropped off the hanger. He picked it up to hang it again, and remembered the collar in the left-hand pocket. He ran the length of leather through his fingers. Ray. Ray had given him this. He cautiously raised it to his neck, looking at his reflection in the mirror on the inside of his door. Despite himself, he buckled it at the back of his neck. He looked at his reflection. It was startling, a band of black across his throat, incongruous with his suspenders and white shirt. He smiled, and ran his hand over the row of studs. He felt different wearing the collar. More aware of his body, more aware of the sensitive skin on his throat. On a whim, he got the chain and clipped it on to the ring. It was a bit much, he thought. But the collar--that he could deal with. Thus steeled, Ben took the box off his bed.
It was not heavy, and when he shook it, it made no metallic noise. He pulled the lid off, and pulled out a length of black fabric. He twisted it over one hand. It was a blindfold, made with several layers of black silk to keep the light out. A smile broke across his face. He had expected something like this. Ben folded it carefully, and pressed it to his face. He felt the smooth silk slide on his lips, and cautiously sniffed it. A wave of excitement ran through him. It smelled like Ray's aftershave, faintly, but still recognisable. He wondered if Ray had tried it out first. He placed the black silk underneath his pillow, and put the chain back in its box. He felt the collar again, feeling the once-cold metal now warmed with his body heat. Reluctantly, he pulled it off and put it under his pillow. He was going to be a year older. So why did he feel like a child again?
*****
Ray hummed a tuneless refrain as he climbed the stairs to Benny's apartment. On any other occasion, he would have been grumbling by the time he reached the second floor, but today was special. He carried a cardboard box, a paper bag and a basket of food his mother had insisted he take with him. His hands were full, so he tapped on the door with his foot. Benny opened the door almost immediately, as if he'd been waiting for him to knock.
"Hello Ray." Benny said.
"You haven't eaten yet, have you?" Ray asked as he bustled into the apartment. "Ma insisted I bring you and your wolf some lunch." He looked around. "Where is Dief?"
"Diefenbaker's gone to visit Maggie this afternoon." Benny said. "He was quite eager to go. I didn't tell him about the cake."
"We'll save him a piece, then." Ray began setting food out onto the table. "Now, we've got-- um--fettucini parmesan, fresh bread and butter, red wine--you don't drink, though--"
"Ray." Benny said calmly.
Ray looked up from his fussing.
"Anything we have is fine." Benny said.
"Okay, let's eat." Ray said.
"Fine."
They ate quickly, avoiding uncomfortable silence with inane small talk, until Ray cleared the table and placed the cake and the paper bag in the centre.
"Now, no peeking. Close your eyes." Ray said. "I'm gonna get your birthday present."
Ben closed his eyes, a faint smile in his lips. Ray nearly melted at the sight of Benny, blissfully unaware of what was about to happen. Ray took a deep breath.
"You are under arrest.." Ray said, pulling Ben's hands behind his back and snapping handcuffs around his wrists. "You have the right to remain silent." From the paper bag, he pulled a handkerchief, which he twisted into a rope and put between Ben's teeth. "Anything you say or do can and will be used against you in a court of law." Ben bit down on it, his eyes still closed, and Ray tied it behind his head. "You have the right to an attorney--where are the presents I gave you?" Ben indicated his bed with a shrug of his shoulder and a nod of his head. Ray ran and collected the blindfold, chain and collar. He tied the blindfold around Ben's eyes, and buckled the collar around his neck. "If you cannot afford an attorney, the court will provide you with one." He snapped the chain onto the collar. Then he leaned very close to Ben's ear, and whispered "You will be held until your trial--", grabbed the paper bag with one hand, and physically led Ben closer to the bed. He pulled down on the chain, forcing Ben to drop to his knees on the floor. Ray heard him moan once, muffled slightly by the makeshift gag. He pulled the blanket off the bed, spreading it on the floor. Then he upended the paper bag.
Ben listened as he heard the rustle of the bag and several objects falling onto the blanket. Effectively blinded, his remaining senses strained to determine exactly what Ray was doing. He felt warm hands fumbling at his collar, unbuttoning the first three buttons. Ray's mouth kissed the hollow of Ben's throat, and Ben tilted his head back, encouraging him. He felt the next two buttons go, and another kiss further down his chest. His shoulders tensed as Ray undid the last few buttons, and kissed down to Ben's navel. Ben leaned back, but a tug at the collar pulled him back. "The sentence--" Ray breathed, pulling Ben's shirt from his pants, "--is incarceration--" He pulled the shirt off Ben's shoulders, and left it hanging from his wrists behind him. Then he moved away. Ben waited, his skin tingling, aware of even the slightest breath of air moving around him. He could feel Ray close to him, but not yet touching. He felt a breath of warm air at his neck. Ray was behind him now, standing over him. Ben craned his head back attempting to catch a warm kiss from Ray's lips. Ray trailed a finger along Ben's bottom lip as his mouth kissed the soft place behind Ben's ear. The warm kisses moved across, over the gag, closer to Ben's waiting lips, and came tantalizingly close, stopping short of their destination. Ben stifled a moan. Carefully, Ray coaxed Ben forwards onto the floor. Ben lay with his cheek pressed against the bedroll, his hands still cuffed behind his back.
In a swift movement, Ray straddled him, feeling Ben's back and ass muscles tightening. He grabbed one of the objects he'd dumped out of the bag--a bottle of aromatherapy oil. He squeezed some into the palm of one hand, and rubbed his hands together rapidly to warm the oil. He heard Ben sniffing the air, trying to determine what it was. Ben tried to say something, but it came out muddled. Ray shushed him, stroking his shoulders with scented hands. The smooth scent of sandalwood filled the silence between them. Ben's shoulders twitched, and Ray unlatched the handcuffs. He massaged both wrists tenderly, his fingers sliding softly over the faded scars, and kissing them both in turn. Ben whimpered. His muscled shoulders tensed as Ray trailed his fingers up the ridge of his spine. Ray massaged Ben's neck and shoulders, working down the smooth back. He treated the area around the bullet scar with reverence, kissing it and stroking it, before moving on. He could feel the warmth of Ben's body between his legs and under his hands. Ben was groaning in pleasure, muffled slightly by the gag. Ray stood up only long enough to roll Ben over.
Ben's pleasure was clearly indicated by the obvious bulge in his blue jeans. Ray squeezed more oil into his hands, and stroked Ben's smooth chest. He preceded each lightly lubricated stroke with a kiss to the attended area. By the time he reached Ben's navel, Ben was groaning louder and practically writhing under him. Ray grabbed Ben's belt. Ben laid back, his neck muscles taut. Ray teased him, unbuckling the belt very slowly, and taking time with each of the buttons on Ben's button-fly blue jeans. Finally, Ben's cock was freed from the denim, and was separated from Ray's touch only by a thin layer of cotton. With scented hands, Ray slid under the elastic waist of the boxer shorts, and eased them further down to join the blue jeans around Ben's lower legs. Ben writhed again, and Ray grabbed another one of the objects beside him.
Ben froze as he felt something cold along his breastbone. Ray was tracing circles around each nipple with something cold and hard. He could feel Ray's oiled finger against the nub of one nipple, while the cold object traced around the other. He moaned again, and Ray began to trace the cold object down his belly, towards Ben's cock. Ben felt it move around the base of his cock, and gritted his teeth. Then it moved away.
Ray watched the expression on Ben's face as he withdrew the teaspoon. It had taken him forever to find it, but it was perfect for the job, its handle round and blunt and, more importantly, cold. Ben had enjoyed the change in sensation, and Ray realized he was very close to coming. He rubbed one nipple with the handle, while he licked the other one. Then, trailing kisses down Ben's flat belly, he ran his tongue up the shaft of Ben's cock. He heard Ben gasp sharply, and he began to caress the soft skin with his tongue. Ben thrust with his hips, and then Ray put both hands firmly on them, holding Ben down. He worked to the tip with his tongue, and then curled his tongue under it as he sucked gently. Ben's panting grew louder, until Ray applied the final suction, and then with a cry Ben came, filling Ray's mouth. Ray swallowed involuntarily, then withdrew.
Ben lay back on the bedroll, breathing heavily, strands of hair straying onto his sweat- dampened forehead. Ray carefully untied the gag, and threw it away. Ben's arms snaked around his waist, and pulled him down beside him. Ray pulled off the blindfold. Ben's blue, blue eyes looked back at him, dark with satisfaction.
"Well?" Ray breathed.
Ben's answer was to pull Ray closer to him, his mouth locking over Ray's in a deep kiss. Ray's eyes closed. Ben rolled over, pinning Ray beneath him. Ray opened his eyes. Ben was kneeling over him, a smile on his face. Then Ray saw he had the handcuffs.
"You have the right to remain silent--"
THE END.
By Jen Coe
jesterangel@hotmail.com
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