Markus POV

Another week passed before Owen had finally gotten himself an appointment with a therapist, and with a somnologist. He saw the somnologist first, and was gone for the night. He’d basically moved himself into my home in this past week, and I was all for it. So that night he went to the sleep study, I felt weirdly lonely. I took comfort in the fact that the study was for his benefit, and decided not to complain about my loneliness. I did decide that it was about time to talk to Owen about officially moving into my house. I really wanted him here in a safe place where it was easy for me to comfort him, and I was really hoping he’d accept me asking him to move in with me. Now it was just a matter of waiting for him to get home from his therapy appointment.

It was around three in the afternoon when I finally heard the front door open. I got up from the couch where I was reading the book 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus. It was an interesting book for me, about the history of America before Columbus “discovered” it. I enjoyed having a quiet afternoon, reading a book, over a loud, noise filled afternoon where it felt like my brain couldn’t relax.

“Hey Papà.” Owen greeted me happily as I approached him.

“Hey beautiful boy.” I smiled back at him and pulled him into my arms so I could kiss him. “Did you have a good talk with the therapist today?” I asked.

“Mmhmm. We didn’t get into the deep stuff today, but I was able to explain a little more about my high school days. I mostly stuck to talking about Lewis and his uncle because I don’t really feel ready to tell a complete stranger about the stuff I went through and what it lead me to almost do…” Owen told me.

“That’s okay, you don’t have to tell therapists anything you aren’t ready to tell them. Go at your own pace, so you feel more comfortable.” I smiled.

A huge part of me was so proud of him for getting the help he needed to get through this hard time. I wasn’t expecting him to get over it quickly now that he’s seeing a therapist, I do have a realistic concept of how therapy works slowly over time. And I didn’t want him to just get over it either, I wanted him to work through it and find a way to cope that’s healthy for him. I was hoping a therapist would guide him in the right direction.

Owen set all his things down on the table in the foyer, and began making his way toward the kitchen, “I’m snackish, would you like me to make you something as well?” He asked.

I smiled to myself, wondering if that was just manners, or if it was the training I’d been giving him – that he is well aware he’s receiving – to be my submissive.

“No, I’m good. Thank you for asking me. What will you be making yourself?” I asked, curious if he’d remember my rules on snacking. I’d been pretty lenient lately, given the things he’s dealing with. I usually only enforce bedroom rules, because that’s when I know he’s up for it. But day-to-day house rules have been on the back burner until we can sit down and discuss whether or not he’s ready to reintegrate them.

“I was thinking of just slicing up and apple and getting a little peanut butter to dip it in.” He paused to look up at me as he set the apple he’d already pulled out on the counter, “Is that an okay snack?” He asked. Maybe he was ready to bring a few rules back.

“Of course it is, Mio Tesoro. Healthy, and it’s got protein. A perfect snack for you.” I told him with a proud smile.

I was proud of him for picking a snack that was good for him without me having to remind him. When I first explained snack rules, he asked me if it was because I though he was too chubby. I gaped at him in shock. I had never once considered him ‘chubby’. He wasn’t straight muscle like Roy and I were, or lean like Vinny. But he was a far cry from ‘chubby’ – and even if he was ‘chubby’, it’s not like I had anything against that body type. I think the term he once told me he thought of himself as was ‘skinny-fat’, whatever that meant. I explained to him that the healthy snack situation wasn’t about his weight, or his body type. It was about him maintaining a healthy diet not for his weight, but for all his organs and such. Healthy food was good for his heart, and his gut, and blood sugar levels, and everything in between. He didn’t question it again after I explained that.

I walked over to him and kissed the top of his head, “You’re doing an amazing job with your healthy snacks, Mio Tesoro. I’m proud of you.”

Owen leaned into my chest, “Thank you, Papà.”

Owen turned around and lifted himself onto the countertop next to his snack. I took a tiny dallop of his peanut butter on my finger and licked it. He caught me off guard by immediately grabbing me from the back of my neck and pulling me into a kiss. Our tongues collide in frantic passion. I propped my hands on either side of him on the counter, to hold my balance a bit better. Owen suddenly broke away, but his lips were replaced with another dallop of peanut butter smeared across mine. He smirked at me, then began licking my lips clean. I smiled at his silly antics.

“Food isn’t the only thing you’re hungry for, is it?” I asked, rhetorically. I didn’t need an answer to that, since it was already pretty clear the answer what the answer was.

“Just the hungry for the food.” Owen smiled as he pulled away for another slice of apple.

He was teasing me. Naughty little boy. I would have to teach him a lesson or two about teasing me. I was more than happy to teach him why it’s a bad idea to tease me. It was becoming increasingly clear to me that Owen absolutely had a praise kink. So I knew that a good punishment would be to condemn him for being naughty.

“Hm. I guess you aren’t such a good boy after all, are you?” I remarked, pulling away from him entirely.

“What?” Owen looked at me, shocked.

“Well, a good boy wouldn’t deliberately tease his Papà like that, now would he?” I raised a single eyebrow at him.

“I – but – wait that’s not what I was –“

“Oh yes it was,” I interrupted him, “you were teasing me, and you were doing it on purpose.” I stated, leaning against the counter that was behind me, directly across from Owen. Owen scowled at me.

“Says the king of teasing.” He retorted with a roll of his eyes.

“Owen. That’s your first strike. You know better.” I warned him. I don’t know what it was, but I honestly could not stand it when anyone rolled their eyes at me, Owen is just the only on I can punish for doing it.

“Shove your strike up your ass.” Owen got snippy. I desperately wanted to react with so much speed, he’d get whiplash, but I was working on controlling myself these days. So I very calmly turned and walked away from him.

“Where are you going?” He called after me. I ignored him as I made my way back to the couch where I’d been reading earlier, sat down, picked up my book, and continued reading. I heard Owen whisper under his breath, “asshole.”

I took in a sharp breath, and shot him a ‘this-is-your-final-warning’ look, daring him to test my patience one more time. He tsked at me, and yet again, rolled his eyes.

“Come. Now.” I ordered, in a voice so angry sounding that it left zero room for arguing. As he walked toward me, I gave a hand gesture that signaled him to strip his clothes off. I didn’t watch. Instead I lifted my book back up and read another paragraph until he was naked standing in front of me. I blindly signaled him to kneel where he was until I was ready to give him my attention. Out of the corner of me eye, I saw him do as I told him.

“You will stay there in that position until I tell you otherwise. Understood?” My voice was still angry sounding.

“Yes sir.” Owen’s voice was meek.

I continued to read my book until reached an image of what is describe as an ‘East Coast village surrounded by a palisaded wall’, which gave me an opportune pausing spot. I looked down at Owen, who was waiting patiently for me to address him.

“You have lost your privilege of speaking for the next hour. If I hear you utter a single syllable in the following hour, I will add more time to your punishment. During this hour of silence, you will write me a paper telling me exactly why you’re being punished, and an apology for your behavior. You will only nod your head to answer me, do you understand me?” I dulled out.

Owen nodded his head yes.

“Get up and go sit at the table. I will bring you a pen and paper.” I ordered. He obeyed.

I grabbed Owen a small stack of paper, and a few pens, just in case one stopped working, he had extra to continue his punishment without interruption. As I handed him the pens and paper I said “You will spend the entire hour writing. Your hour starts now.”

After only twenty minutes of Owen’s punishment, there was someone ringing the doorbell. I was grateful Owen chose a seat that hid him from the view from the front door, because I was surprised to see that it was his roommate, Manny, at my door.

“Manny?” I answered the door, “How did you know where my house is?” I asked, confused as hell as to why he was even here.

“Owen gave me the address for emergency purposes.” He told me.

“And is this an emergency?” I asked, looking at him in in a mix of concern and confusion.

“Er… well no,” Manny turned to look back toward the driveway as if he were looking for something, “Um, is Owen here?” He asked as he continued looking around the outside area. His behavior was strange. Like he was on something. I’d seen it a lot in my line of work. He’d definitely taken something that was making him jittery.

“Didn’t he tell you what’s going on?” I asked, unsure of what he was looking for.

“Not really. Just said he’d be gone a little while. I’m just wondering if he’s at work or here.” Manny was trying to peak around me into my house.

“Manny. Why are you here?” I demanded.

“Well here’s the thing. I’ve waited a couple weeks now. Things should have settled with him and those weird fits he was having. So I figured now that he’s settled, and okay, I’d take my shot.” Manny stated, stepping forward. I stepped back away from him, which unintentionally gave him space to slip past me into my home.