Chapter Text
After several months having settled into a home life that was entirely, blessedly, new to him, travelling again did Dream no favours. It wasn’t just the international flight, or the clinical feel of another hotel room, or even the grasping loneliness that pulled at him when he returned every day after having to be his best self in public that got to him the most. He missed leniency more than anything which, for someone who got off on being subjugated and told what to do, Dream found more than a little amusing, at least in the abstract.
Here there was no accounting for his moods and whims, being tired one day and awake at three in the morning the next. Hob would just shrug and change their plans, always happy to have a lie in with him, or take advantage of Dream wanting to go out to dinner or the club when the original plan had been a lazy night in. At home in London he was allowed to be himself with very few deadlines. The privilege of that did not escape him, it would likely be worse if he were in a more stable industry, but Dream very quickly began to realise that the reason his mental health had trended upward so sharply hadn’t been only Hob but the framework of a life that he represented, one where his personal, emotional failures were shrugged at and accommodated for. Not snapped at and berated about when he was unable to summon the will to be at the absolute top of his game. Still, he knew his value - his bad days were many others best in this world, but he could only tell himself they could deal with it for so long before self-reflection caught up with him.
His first six days in New York, well before the official start of fashion week, had been booked solid with shoots and later as events loomed closer castings for major shows - most of which he landed. Lucienne had congratulated him, he had shrugged. At least the brand that wanted a more rugged look had been one of the first things and he’d been able to shave shortly thereafter and feel more like his old self, but then another had requested a haircut. A reasonable request, but one that displeased him a little. It wasn’t bad, just different; the sides and back very short although the top at least was long enough to fall in his face if not styled back.
Stress ate at him, and guilt. Hob had texted him every day and only sometimes got a reply -although often because Dream didn’t have his phone on him until late and then he tumbled into bed without even a goodnight. His promise to send some work related selfies had fallen by the wayside, and exhaustion wasn’t real rest so it had very nearly slipped his mind.
Jessamy’s arrival had helped; he knew she at least was reporting back on him to some extent. That and she had supported his plan to not go out with friends that evening, to just take his free night and crash. If he was this worn out at the start, how would he handle the next month of events lined up in front of him?
It was quite possible that a hot meal and an extended good night’s sleep would put his head back on straight. More so if Hob were there, but he wouldn’t fly in until the coming weekend. The night was still young, he could call. Or more, in apology, or something like it.
Hob had called him vain more than once in the last few weeks, mostly related to his annoyance at being told not to shave, but his boyfriend wasn’t wrong. Right now especially, Dream would call himself vain. Despite his exhaustion, he had to admit he looked fantastic. Today’s work had been a shirtless shoot, or more like mostly naked, and even after thankfully chugging a bottle of water immediately thereafter the sharp lines of his abs and pectoral muscles were clearly defined. Yes, Hob deserved a little treat for being ignored, and Dream deserved it for not having a complete and utter mental breakdown.
With his mind now firmly drawn down that particular path, he left the bathroom still naked and grabbed his phone out of his jacket pocket on the way to the bed where he flopped down with an extreme lack of grace. Setting the phone aside for the moment, he reached instead for the case he’d left on the bedside table that morning which held his collar, and the jewellery he’d had to take out for work.
The piercings were still new enough that they were a pain to put back in when left out for a while, but the anticipation turned it from annoying chore to something more erotic. with the silver bars and his collar back where they belonged, he relaxed back against the pillows and reached for his phone. According to Hob’s texts, he’d be working at the club tonight, probably just keeping his mind off being alone more than anything else.
Knowing Hob was more likely to expect more work related things, or him being out with Jessamy, he started his panning video with the camera pointed at the unassuming wall before sweeping the view down his body. A brief pause on his face so Hob could see his new hair and, more importantly the collar, and then down - following the movement of his free hand across the defined muscles of his chest, brushing over his nipples that were still reddened and puffy from forcing the piercings back through, to his abs, and finally his cock that was already hard and resting against the crease of his thigh. He only brushed his fingertips lightly up the underside before cutting off the video, and promptly sending it through. He wished he could see Hob’s face, and how quickly he managed to excuse himself from tending bar.
~!~
Hob was damn near beside himself with worry for Dream as the daily check in texts became nothing but silence. He heard from Dream often enough to keep him from jumping on a plane the next morning just so he could see Dream once a day and make sure the bastard was alive, but only just. Distracting himself with work (and the ever-broadening search for a second location), and updates on a few of the lawsuits he was still embroiled in was just enough and it allowed him to pass out in a bed that was far too big without his octopus boyfriend in it.
By the second week, when Jessamy arrived, Hob was at least getting regular updates about Dream being alive and how their work was going while they were in full prep mode. Dream had somehow moved on to texting him even less, sometimes going days between messages, if Hob hadn’t had Jessamy reassuring him, he might have thought something bad had happened. Hob pushed his fingers through his hair and scheduled himself for a few bartending shifts, because at the very least if he was tired, he wouldn’t be able to worry nearly as much and his employees could either have help if they didn’t want the night off, or take an extra night and enjoy the time.
Getting a message on what was a relatively slow Thursday night (where his staff had spent most of the evening mocking him for how distracted he was) was a relief, and Hob grinned as he saw the ping come through from Dream. He leaned back against the counter and swiped it open, chuckling at the shot of the wall. That chuckle abruptly changed to his throat going dry as he caught sight of Dream’s new haircut, the needy look in his eyes, and the slow pan down the rest of his body. He stared and watched as it panned lower and lower, past puffy nipples, and down to a clearly hard cock, before cutting out, leaving him staring at it in shock. Dream hadn’t sent anything else, only the video.
Looking up at his employees, and Oberon who was staring at him with a grin starting, Hob spun on his heel. “Taking the rest of the night off,” he called, and marched up to his office, even as Oberon laughed behind him. Hob sent Dream a quick text in response, asking if he could call, and shut the door to his office, leaning back against it, palming his cock with a groan as he waited to see if he needed to calm himself down and jerk off to this at home, or if he was going to bring Dream off from the privacy of his office.
~!~
Dream had been lounging comfortably, waiting for the reply. Still, the sound of his phone buzzing shot a pang of anxiety through him. Maybe that hadn’t been the play; he’d meant it more teasingly, or as an apology, but as soon as he’d sent the video he realised it may come across as demanding. In person that was not a bad thing, after not responding to Hob’s texts or having the time and energy to call him for several days, it certainly could be. Hob would forgive him, this wouldn’t be the thing that fucked up their relationship, not by a long shot, but tell that to the intrusive thoughts.
After checking his messages, he called Hob immediately and his boyfriend picked up on the first ring. There was no noise of the club in the background so either he’d changed his plans and was home, or he’d run off to his office before replying.
“I suppose you watched my apology,” he said by way of greeting, with far more confidence than he actually felt, then added; “I miss you.”
~!~
“Not to kill the rather lovely erection you have,” Hob started, his voice softening as he moved over to his office chair. “But you don’t have anything to apologise for. I’m glad you messaged me. I’ve been worried about you and I’ve missed you too.” He sank into it and let out a quiet chuckle. “And yes, that video was… quite something and I definitely booked it back to my office so I could enjoy it, and calling you properly.”
Hob closed his eyes and let himself imagine the video again. “I’d take my time with you if I was there. If you were done working, I’d leave bite marks all around the collar, if you weren’t, and what I’ll do next week, are soft kisses, reminders of where I want to mark you. I plan to lay you out, give you a proper massage, and then make love to you until you’re boneless.” He paused and grinned, chuckling despite himself. “Though I have every intention of finding a way to have you nice and rough my first night there. Maybe have you prep and plug yourself before I land so you can be nice and ready for me.”
Hob settled back in the chair and spread his legs. “But why don’t you tell me what you were thinking about while you sent that video of you showing yourself off, hmm?”
~!~
Now with the expected confirmation that Hob was not angry with him, he could relax again, his heart rate slowly returning to near normal listening to his boyfriend tell what he’d do if he were there. Being wanted like this was still novel enough to him that he felt a little embarrassed sometimes, mingled now with the same feeling over thinking even for an instant that Hob would be anything but understanding about how busy he was. Hob’s question caught him off guard and he laughed wryly; the truth of the matter was probably not what Hob was thinking. For once it wasn’t any particular fantasy or desire. Frankly, he was too tired for that.
“You’ll feel truly vindicated in your beliefs, I think,” Dream said amusedly, “I was looking at myself in the bathroom mirror after I’d showered and thinking that I looked bloody fantastic, and it would be a crime not to share it with you when I’m this cut.”
His only shoot intentionally booked for him to be shirtless and fit was over, and it was a look hard gained and quickly lost once he began eating normally again. For the rest of his work here, he merely had to be his usual self and fit the measurements already given.
“My vanity knows no bounds, as you have said,” he continued, “but I do think my collar rather improves the look.”
~!~
Hob laughed despite himself and sank back against his chair and grinned. “I have to agree with your assessment. You do look bloody fantastic. I want to trace every line of your abs with my tongue in an entirely inappropriate manner. I want to leave marks all down your navel and all over your thighs.” He groaned and resisted the urge to open up the video again. “Wanted to kneel between your freshly bitten thighs and suck your pretty cock. I know very few know just how pretty your cock is, beautiful, but oh, it’s just as pretty as the rest of you and I want to see you come apart in my mouth.”
He took a moment to rub himself through his jeans, hard and getting harder, but focusing on Dream was always his favourite thing to do, and hell if he wasn’t going to continue that here. “And yes, your collar looks magnificent right now. If I were to ever to convince you to do boudoir shoots, it’d be some variation of what you sent me, I have no doubt.” On the other hand, he also imagined a version with Dream covered in marks.
Hob debated undoing the button and zip on his jeans, but he refrained, at least for a few minutes. He could wind up Dream more. “So, how much have you been jerking off with me not there? Or have you been too tired for it?”
~!~
Dream sighed heavily and rested a hand back low on his stomach, close but not touching his erection, not yet. Hob had managed to instill at least a little appreciation for delayed gratification in him over the last few months. For the moment, his voice alone was enough to keep Dream’s body interested.
“I need no convincing, love. If you would like quality pictures of me wearing your collar and whatever else of your choosing, all you need do is ask,” he replied, smiling as he thought about it. That could be fun, the club certainly had the spaces for it already. Perhaps on his next long break from work that could be arranged, although there was a fear in the back of his mind about those sort of photos getting out somehow. A worry for another day. He was relaxed, he had the following morning off, and Hob was clearly willing to stay on the phone despite the late hour - perks of his line of business.
“Is that a trick question?” Dream asked in reply, “I have been too tired, but I have also been staying alone so I’ve put the collar back on the moment I returned and you are either definitely asleep when I’d need your allowance, or I’ve simply fallen into bed and barely woken for the alarm.”
~!~
Hob hummed in consideration. “A thought for another time then. I have a few ideas, and I could do the photography myself, so you wouldn’t need to worry about anyone else seeing the pictures.” He grinned and decided he would leave that for another time. Instead, he could focus on what Dream was clearly interested in having.
“Not a trick question, as much as I hoped you would wear the collar, I didn’t know how much, and you’ve clearly had some busy days, so I didn’t know if you’d jerk off to help yourself sleep,” Hob said, shrugging as he settled in more thoroughly. “But if you were hard up, you should have called me and let me know, you know I would have talked you off in a second.”
He licked his lips. “For example, have you been a good boy for me and not touched your cock yet? Or did you get a bit greedy and too eager and had to go ahead?”
~!~
Dream made a derisive noise at his question, and rolled his eyes despite the fact that Hob couldn’t see him. He’d know. But that did make him think he should switch to a video call, but that took more effort than he wanted to expend right now; Dream just wanted to relax and drift on the sound of Hob’s voice calming him down. Once he’d come down from that high of stress and anxiety, then he could put on more of a show.
“It may come as a shock to you, but my vanity does have bounds. Sorry to disappoint you if that mirror mention had your mind going off in other directions,” he said dryly, “No, only what you saw. I had the feeling when I sent the video I would have you on the phone in moments.”
“I was correct, as I usually am,” Dream continued. He knew liking to listen went both ways, and Hob would have missed the sound of his voice too. “I am… spoiled, with you, for anything else. No matter how hard up I may be, I would rather wait and see you, or at least speak to you.”
~!~
Hob raised his eyebrows at Dream’s pushback and let out a low whistle. Dream was in rare form if he was snapping and hiding behind that kind of sarcasm. It usually took him longer to get there, but it was clear that he needed something, but it truly only made him a bit worried about what Dream was dealing with outside of him being horny.
“You did assume right, I watched that video in public at the bar and damn near sprinted back to my office,” he said with a chuckle, smiling as he listened to Dream shift over the phone. At the mention of his boy being spoiled, about wanting to wait for him, wanting to wait for permission, Hob fought down a smile.
“You deserve to be spoiled, beautiful,” Hob praised quietly. It was the truth after all. “Just want to spend all of my days taking care of you, making you feel good, making you come for me again and again so I can see you all happy and blissed out.” He licked his lips and grinned. “I’m glad my good boy waited for me. I can see how much you want. I wish I was there to take care of you, but since I’m not, you’ll have to fill in for me.” Another moment of consideration. “You going to tell me what you want?”
~!~
After a long moment of silence, Dream wistfully replied; “I want you here with me already, or I want to come home.” That wasn’t what Hob was looking for, not at all, but upon being asked all thoughts he’d previously had about showing off, or just getting off, had fled his mind in favour of simply not wanting to be alone, tired, and hungry. Two of those things he could fix once they were off the phone, one had no immediate solution.
This trip wasn’t like the last. Maybe Paris and Milan would be, he had less superfluous work planned there, but he was bone-tired and it reminded him far too much of before when he didn’t have anyone to come home to - that and some people whom he truly did not want to see had made this city their base of operations and he’d avoided awkward situations purely by being based out of London and Paris for so long.
He sighed and sat up, running a hand through his hair. Maybe he shouldn’t have called Hob until he’d slept and the melancholy had gone back where it belonged, at least a little, but he’d felt bad, and needy. The former was solved, the latter… not so much. Hob’s praise had a way of cutting through the rest of his mood and sparking at the very core of him.
“I don’t know what I want,” he said eventually, “Can you not just tell me for once? Surely the video was inspiring enough to give you some ideas.”
~!~
Hob blinked his eyes open and stared at the wall of his office for several long moments, parsing through all of that. Dream was lonely, wanted him there, and wasn’t in the mood to truly play, he just wanted to be taken care of, and was clearly, very obviously exhausted by the way he kept snapping about everything. He tossed around a few separate ideas for a second, because not being able to see and hold Dream like this would make toeing the line Dream needed very hard.
“I do believe I’ve tossed out several ideas for things I want to do to you, having seen that video,” Hob teased back, keeping his voice gentle. “But yes, love, it’s okay that you don’t know what you want, and I’ll tell you what I want to hear, and that’s all you have to do.” If he couched it in things that he wanted to hear, and wanted Dream to do to himself, that would be much easier for Dream to obey, probably.
“Think it’s time we finished that fantasy from the other day. Lay back on your bed, legs spread. Don’t touch yourself yet, you’re putting yourself on display for me. I want you to take your time playing with your piercings. Both sides,” Hob ordered. “I want to hear how you sound when you’re playing with them. I know how you sound when I do it, let me hear what you sound like when you tease yourself. I want your cock dripping and you desperate to touch it.” He licked his lips and let himself fall into the fantasy that he was painting for them both.
~!~
Dream gave a contented sigh at the tone of command creeping into Hob’s voice. He sat up a little, repositioning himself more comfortably against the pillows before doing as Hob asked and spreading his legs. Just hearing Hob take that tone with him quieted his head, if only a little, and he was quiet for a moment, not starting what he was told to do, yet.
“Do you want to see?” Dream asked, that had been his original plan, thus the video. He pulled the extra pillows to the side and propped his phone up and against them. It wasn’t exactly the best angle, but beggars can’t be choosers and he knew Hob had missed him equally as much, and now here he was being rude to him despite his best efforts. He deserved some sort of reward for his patience.
He tapped the video call button and relaxed back against the pillows, slowly running his hands up and down his body, over his inner thighs and up his sides. “Talk to me,” he said, his tone a little sharper than he meant it, so he belatedly tacked on, “please.”
~!~
Before Hob could reply that he always wanted to see, a video call was coming through and Hob answered it, watching as Dream positioned it to give him as much of a view as possible. He set his phone on his desk and did the same, balancing his against two of the decorative anal plugs he kept on there to fuck with people. Dream’s demand that he talk had him huffing and he shook his head. “You’re lucky, or unlucky, rather, that you have another few months. Should be spanking your ass red for all the demands and attitude.”
Hob settled back and watched the video again, and how Dream was stroking him. “And I believe I told you to start touching yourself, love, so maybe you should get on doing that and give me something to talk about.” He smiled faintly as he heard Dream’s breath hitch and his hands began to slide further upward. “Since you don’t want to tell me anything you want, guess you’ll have to put up with hearing fantasies of what I want. Think when I see you for the first time, I’m not going to give it to you hard like you want.”
Hob grinned faintly as that got a whine from Dream. “No, love, I’m going to put your collar on you, pin you to the bed, and kiss you, letting you get off grinding against me as many times as you want while I do nothing but kiss you.” The idea had him smirking. “I think that’s a fitting way for us to come back together, don’t you?” He licked his lips and chuckled into the phone as Dream whined again. “Maybe then, if, and I do mean if, with the way you’re behaving now, you’re good, I’ll give you what you want.”
~!~
Dream was naturally always very vocal, but Hob made it easy. In a way he could almost forget that he wasn’t alone, closing his eyes for a while as he drifted along on Hob’s voice, imagining everything his lover told him in vivid detail as he ran his hands over his body. He did do as he was asked, toying with the piercings that were still overly sensitive from being taken out and put back in more frequently than they should be. Sensitive enough that he kept trailing his hands away, tracing over the lines of his abs and resting a hand over his collar, running a finger along the edge of it and wishing very much that it was Hob’s hand on his throat. His lover had, at least, instilled in him a greater appreciation for his own body beyond the aesthetics of it, for what it could feel and do and endure.
“I am sorry,” he murmured, opening his eyes finally and glancing over at the camera to try to gauge Hob’s mood, which was so much more difficult without him being near. Emotions were always difficult, his or others. “I want to be good for you, I’ll give you anything when you arrive, anything at all. I won’t… I’m not mean when you’re with me.”
That was not strictly true, he had let his emotions get the better of him quite a few times over the last few months but at home they could be mitigated, or Hob could help in ways that would here be a detriment to his work. But he did, at least, try.
~!~
Hob smiled at him and made a low, soothing noise in his throat as he watched Dream on the screen. “Oh sweet boy, my Dream, you don’t have to promise to give me anything, I’d take care of you regardless. I love you, even when you’re a bit bratty for me. It only means I’ll take what I want first, and you’ll wait until later. No part of our relationship is going to be leveraged against you for being snappy.” He blew another kiss into the phone and settled himself more easily in his office chair. “Your apology is accepted. Now, let’s get back to what you wanted, because you very much want something, don’t you?”
He didn’t make Dream answer, instead launching directly into his next fantasy. “You’re looking a little sore, since you keep avoiding teasing yourself properly. And clearly a little pent up if you haven’t come since you left. So I want you to slip two of those very lovely fingers of yours under that collar and pull it nice and tight against your throat, just like I would.” Hob watched as Dream did exactly what he’d asked and he let out another soft coo of praise. “There, that’s my good boy. Just need me to take care of you and let you not think for a while, I understand.”
Hob licked his lips and unbuttoned his shirt, so Dream would have something to look at, leaving it open (and making cleanup afterward easier, but that was between him and his office). “Okay love, no touching your cock yet, but I want you to trace your abdomen again, the lines of your hips, and imagine it’s my lips. Since I can’t leave marks there, nice little bites that make you squirm, you’re going to imagine soft kisses. I plan to kiss every inch of you I can reach when I see you again. From the top of your head to your feet. Make sure you remember who you belong to when not even the collar is enough.”
~!~
For now the collar was more than enough. Dream did as he was told without question, tracing his fingertips in slow, drifting patterns over the soft smooth skin of his stomach, pausing to brush repeatedly over the jut of his hip bone, imagining his lover’s lips. He kept the fingers of his other hand in his collar, although instead of tugging at it like he had on command, as Hob often did, he rested the palm of his hand against his collarbones and throat, tipping his head back into the pillows to slide his fingers underneath. His hand was a warm weight that he felt the press of every time he swallowed, but not a hindrance. Something like this, or hand clasped on the back of his neck if he were on his front, was one way Hob made him go still, urged him to relax and enjoy instead of squirming and demanding.
“I know who I belong to,” he whispered, almost too quietly to be heard, and sighed contentedly as he brushed his hand over the sensitive skin of his inner thigh. Still he was obeying, he was being good, and didn’t even brush over his cock as he moved his hand to the other thigh, repeating the same motions.
“You can leave marks here,” Dream said thoughtfully, “Just a few. No one will see them, but I would know they are there. I know you want to - you prefer me marked so everyone else knows where I belong; you don’t hide that well.”
Nor did Dream want him to. No matter that he had looked at himself as he was and admired his own beauty, but it was too perfect like this; pale and smooth and unblemished. A body that belonged in a magazine or on a runway, not one that was lived in and owned by himself or anyone else. A week alone in his head being commodified had done little more than make him want to destroy something beautiful in defiance or, more preferably, bait Hob into doing it for him. It didn’t help no one had called him Dream since he’d left London; hearing his legal name, being on his best professional behaviour, and having everything micromanaged down to the hour had left him adrift.
~!~
Hob let out a low pleased groan at the soft confirmation that Dream knew that he belonged to him. He tried (sometimes) to avoid that kind of possessive speak with Dream, but knowing how well his boyfriend responded to it, he was happy to lean into it. He watched Dream continue to touch and tease himself, only to raise an eyebrow as Dream. “I do like seeing you marked. But even more than that, I like seeing how much you enjoy being marked, love.” He grinned and licked his lips. “But I promise, I’ll leave some marks there, right on the crease of your thigh where no one sees it unless you’re starkers.”
Reaching down, Hob unzipped his jeans and let out a rough sigh, palming himself through his boxers. He made sure that Dream could see him if he looked. “I can see how much you want to touch yourself love. So keep that hand on your throat, and use your fingertips to start to tease your cock. Make sure you let yourself make noise if you want, I want to hear you, beautiful boy.”
~!~
Dream ran his fingertips ever so lightly up the underside of his cock, much as he had in the video he’d sent Hob, but this time he repeated the motion back and forth a few times before rubbing soft circles over the slick head with the pad of one finger. That did make him let out a soft groan of relief. After months of frequent sex he hadn’t realised how spoiled he’d become until they were apart again, and how stressed he was without it.
Unfortunately this also was where the fantasy broke down; his hands were much softer and finer than Hob’s and he failed to imagine it was him. He wanted the real thing, but Hob was very far away and his voice would have to do.
“Next time, I need you with me from the start,” he said softly as he continued to tease himself, “I don’t… I can’t go on as I used to, now that I know what can be.”
~!~
Dream was going to break his damn heart if he kept up with the declarations like that. Hearing, and even seeing the evidence of just how much his boyfriend was struggling was heartbreaking and all Hob wanted to do was wrap Dream up in his arms and hold him tight and make sure he knew how loved and worshipped he was. Dream deserved the damn world, and up until he decided to give up modelling, Hob would do whatever he could to make things easier on them both.
“Okay love,” Hob soothed softly, watching as Dream teased himself, but it was clear that he’d thrown himself out of the painted fantasy. “Next time, I will make sure, even if I can’t fly out the same flight, I will be right behind you. I promise. Even if I need to be house husband to you as a super model for a bit.” It was an easy promise to make, and it would ease Dream. “But for right now, I want you to put on a show for me. I want my good boy to show me how good you can feel. Rather than imagining it’s me, show off for me. You’re so good at showing off when you want to be.”
Hob groaned, and gave himself another rub through his pants. “Wrap your hand around your cock now, beautiful. Show me how wet you are, how much you want me to touch you.”
~!~
Dream eagerly did as he was told, letting out a soft, needy noise as he took himself in hand and began stroking his cock with the aim of getting off quickly rather than merely teasing. It had been over a week and he wouldn’t last long if he put his mind to it; the high would help, make him relax enough that if Hob wanted more, wanted to actually play with him, he’d be of a mind to do it. Although he would probably want to wait until they were together again in a few days, there was a certain tone to his voice, though he tried to hide it, that showed worry seeping through. Now was… not the time to unpack that.
“I want–” he began, letting out a shuddering breath, “I want you to wake me like this; kissing my neck, touching me, so I come out of my dreams peacefully.”
He turned his head slightly, as much as the strain of the collar he was still holding onto would allow without truly choking him, so he could see Hob on the phone screen. At least he was clearly as interested as he sounded, and Dream hadn’t turned him off with his miserable attitude. He could be good and give his boyfriend a show, just close his eyes again and pretend this was one of the many days at home when Hob had interrupted his reading and asked him to show off.
~!~
“I can do that love. First morning I’m there, I’ll wake you up. Hand on your cock, my lips on your neck, against your collar, and cradling you close as you come out of your dreams,” Hob said, licking his lips as he shoved his pants down and took himself in hand, unable to look away from the sight of Dream stroking himself so hard and eager. He’d clearly been hard up for it, more than he’d mentioned in the first place.
Catching Dream watching him made him grin, and Hob put himself on display as much as he could. “I don’t have your eye for angles,” he said with a laugh, running a hand down his chest, against a nipple, and down to his cock, groaning. “But I wanted to give you a bit of a show you could watch if you wanted to. I’m always flattered when you stare at me like you want to eat me alive.” He licked his lips and groaned again.
“That’s it, darling, keep stroking yourself nice and fast, get right to the edge for me. All you have to do is let me know when you’re about to, and you can come. I want to see my good boy come for me, so that’s all you have to do,” Hob promised, licking his lips again as he watched Dream and how he hitched his hips up and into his fist, chasing more. “My good boy, come on now.”
~!~
Dream let out short, desperate little gasps as he touched himself. It had only been a week alone, a week without Hob’s voice, his soft commands and the comfort of his body, but he was every bit as spoiled as his lover teased that he was. Spoiled and needy and a little ashamed for both, but Hob was there murmuring encouragement even from so far away. He could be good for Hob, that was the easiest thing to do.
With his lover continuing to praise him, coaxing him on, calling him good for every little noise that Dream let past his lips, he was teetering on the edge of climax quickly. After denying himself and pushing his lust away like all of his other emotions, he needed this with every fibre of his being.
“I’m close,” Dream managed to whisper, opening his eyes again to look to Hob even though he had already been granted permission as he slowed his hand and arched his back, finding just the right touch. He spilled quickly over his hand and across his stomach before lying still, his chest heaving.
The hand at his throat released the collar, stroking over it leisurely rather than pulling at it as he slowly began to come down, still trailing his fingers over his cock teasingly more for Hob’s benefit than his. Only a few more days, then they wouldn’t have to be apart again for a long time.
~!~
For all that he’d been a little hard up in Dream’s absence, Hob hadn’t been nearly as wound up as Dream clearly had been, and it took him a little over a minute, panting praise the whole while. He admired Dream’s wrecked and decadent picture, before he followed his boyfriend over the edge and sagged back against his chair panting. He took a few seconds to enjoy the high of the moment, before he brought his full attention to Dream, who looked relaxed for the first time since their call.
“Take a minute to clean yourself up, love. You never like being sticky, no matter how tired you are at the moment,” He urged, waiting a few seconds longer until Dream had managed to wipe himself clean, for the most part. “Now wrap yourself around a pillow. I know it’s not me, but I’ll be there in a few days. I’d like to talk to you for a little while if you’re feeling up for it.” He finished cleaning himself off and tucking his dick away, though he left his shirt open, because, well. Sometimes he liked the vanity of Dream being hot for him.
“How are you, love?”
~!~
Dream rolled over onto his stomach and smiled slightly as he faced the camera. He folded his arms over a pillow and rested his chin on them, finished showing off his body for now.
“I’m… as can be expected. Alright, I suppose,” he said with a sigh, “Tired, hungry, still dehydrated despite my best efforts. But I do want to talk to you, not just have you talk me off. It’s still quite early here, are you heading home?”
The selfish side of him had wanted Hob to stay on the phone with him until he fell asleep, which wouldn’t happen for quite some time despite his exhaustion. The horny side of him had very intentionally wanted to call him at work for the amusement of it all.
“I have a late call time tomorrow, nearly noon, so I am at your disposal as long as you want me tonight,” Dream continued, his gaze locked on Hob as he talked.
~!~
“I’ll probably head home in a bit, talk to you while I grab a cab,” Hob said, leaning back in his chair with a sigh. “If only so I can fall asleep with you on the phone.” He smiled faintly as that got him a grin and a proper smile from Dream at the mention. So that was still on, at least. “I want to talk to you as long as you’re willing, as always. I miss you like crazy, love. And I suppose I am obligated to say that your kids miss you just as much. I’m pretty sure that cactus you insist likes me has wilted without you there.”
He lifted both of his feet up on his desk and picked up his phone, balancing it on his knees a moment later. “Was working the bar tonight to stave off some of the pining I’m doing at home while you aren’t there. Which I have a feeling you knew. But how have you been? You haven’t been replying to my texts much, so I figured you were busy.”
Hob winced and pushed his hair out of his face. “Actually, yeah, maybe if we could exchange texts once a day? That’d help me with the worrying quite a bit until I’m able to be there.”
~!~
Dream’s face fell and he looked away, nodding sharply. “I truly am sorry, I wasn’t only saying that because I was horny,” he said dryly, deflecting with humour as ever, “I had nothing to say that wasn’t miserable, I didn’t want to complain and worry you more. Then too much time had passed and I was worried I had upset you.”
Now that he put it out there it felt stupid even to say, but it was the truth and Hob generally was big on that. It was the least he could give him, for all that Hob did for him. Dream absentmindedly reached up to brush his fingers over the collar again, and the ruby that nestled in the hollow of his throat. That should have reminded him that Hob wouldn’t be angry, nor even upset if what he contacted him with wasn’t positive, or sexual.
“I am alright, Hob, really,” he said, “I have been working a lot and it’s… there are some people I did not wish to see, plus long days and weird hours, I’ve woken minutes before I need to leave and fallen dead asleep the moment I return from whatever afterparty I was obligated to attend.”
~!~
“I know love, and like I said, apology accepted,” Hob said, keeping his voice soft. “I wouldn’t get angry at you for being busy at work. But I would rather hear your complaints, and rants, and anything else you want to throw at me, snapping and all, than not hear from you at all.” He swallowed and debated about what he was going to say next, but it was the truth, and Dream needed to hear it, if only to understand.
“I never want you to be in a situation where someone doesn’t notice you’re gone for days again, not even a chance of it,” Hob started, chewing on his lip. “And if Jessamy hadn’t been around to tell me you were okay, I, I wouldn’t know, Dream. I wouldn’t know if you were okay, just exhausted and tired and grumpy.” He looked at Dream and gave him a tired smile, not wanting to linger on the history behind that. “So once a day text, yeah? Even if it’s just an angry face emoji.”
He took a deep breath and did what he knew Dream would need to - he changed the subject and offered another smile. “Well hopefully once I’m there you can get some proper sleep, so that’ll help. And you can drag me to any after party you wish to make it bearable.” Hob continued to smile at Dream, wishing he could pull his boyfriend into his arms. “Who is giving you trouble at work events? Complain to me a little. I’m here to listen, long as I can until I fall asleep.”
~!~
Hob had changed the subject and changed it right back again without realising, and Dream huffed in annoyance. “That’s not important right now; a great deal of very fake or very stupid people are just wearing at my senses,” he replied, which wasn’t really an answer, “I fear my tolerance has lowered quite drastically from last season and the only changed factor is my own perception. Nothing is wrong, and yet everything is.”
Dream sighed and sat up, asking Hob to bear with him for a moment as he muted the call and reached for the hotel phone. He planned to stay on the phone while Hob made his way home and longer, but he couldn’t put off the rest of his plans for the evening, few as they were.
“My apologies,” he said once he’d picked up his mobile again and found Hob giving him a quizzical look, “I rather desperately needed for the hotel restaurant to bring me some chips before I’m an arsehole to you solely by virtue of hunger. You know what it means when I look like this.”
Dream vaguely gestured at himself, not wanting to start that conversation right now either. Hob had at least learned to shut up and appreciate his body before he rehydrated himself like one of his own houseplants. Which reminded him to look at the spreadsheet and make sure those in the study had been rotated - not that he didn’t trust Hob, but he wasn’t certain he’d noted it.
“There is a party the night you arrive which I truly can’t skip,” he said regretfully, “I will be working, then attending shortly thereafter, so I will not be here when you arrive… but, I can get you on the guest list so if you want to decompress here for a while, then join me so I can show you off a little for once. If it makes a party after a transatlantic flight more palatable, I may be convinced to wear something fun for you.”
~!~
“Honestly post-wank chips sound amazing and I’m rather jealous,” Hob said with a huff, grinning at Dream. He’d learned to pick his battles (sometimes) and this was one of them. He could just be happy that Dream was eating something.. “I’ll have to have some of my left over takeaway when I’m home and just be jealous of your chips.”
Dinner for the evening decided, Hob turned his attention back to Dream and the mention of a party the night he arrived. “Please do get me on the guest list,” he agreed. Hell if he was going to let Dream suffer at a party any more than he needed to. “I will absolutely be there as soon as I have a chance to check in and shower.” He hummed in consideration. “You’ll have to tell me which suit you want me to wear to it, and who, precisely, am I going to be deflecting for you?”
Hob dropped his voice to a more teasing lilt. “Come on, tell me which designers and photographers are bothering you. You’ve said a few times they have sticks up their asses, I’m looking forward to giving that right back to them.” He shifted in his seat again and pulled a water out from the fridge under his desk and raised an eyebrow at Dream before getting comfy again.
~!~
Dream heaved a sigh and flopped back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. “Alex Burgess,” he said, before turning his face to the camera again, “And others, some his associates some not. There are a lot of catty people who are jealous of success in this industry, and make pointed jabs at my reputation or my past…”
He trailed off and tried to relax, to not let the conversation get to him and undo the comfort he’d gained by Hob’s distant presence and finally finding some physical release. The last thing he wanted to think about was Alex, or his father.
“With your flight time, you’ll have time for a nap when I’m working beforehand. I want you awake,” he said, abruptly changing the subject back, “the burgundy suit I think, but with a casual shirt. That’s the most fashion forward of your options, and it’ll fit in at the launch party…. Also I haven’t seen you wear it finished yet.”
~!~
Hob very, very carefully, did not react to hearing that Alex Burgess was one of the people giving Dream trouble, along with his associates. When Dream took a deep breath, Hob jotted down a quick note and then turned his attention to talking about far more pleasant topics, like what suit he would be wearing to this party where he was going to have to do his utmost best not to punch the bastard in the face. Well, if he wanted to show up while Hob was there and not run the fuck away, that was his own business. Hob had a restraining order on him for a reason, and he wasn’t above enforcing it with his own fists.
“You just want another excuse to ogle me in that suit, and I am more than willing to give it to you,” Hob said with a laugh, grinning at Dream. “Especially with you wanting me awake. I promise to sleep on my flight, because I am weak and sprang for first class, so I’ll pass out properly.” At the mention of Dream not seeing him in it and finished yet, Hob gave him a sly smirk. “You know, if you jump me at the party, everyone might actually keep their hands off of you.”
Another considering hum. “I’ll wear the ruby earring, of course. If you could wear something that lets you wear the necklace… that’s what I’d like. Everything else I don’t care in the slightest, but I’d love to see you wearing the necklace, openly.” He gave Dream a shy grin. “If you’re okay with that, of course.”
~!~
“Ah, well, I was thinking along the lines of far more intimate things but I can certainly manage a necklace,” Dream replied dryly, “anything for you. One moment.”
He got up from the bed and disappeared from view, returning after the sound of a door opening and closing, now clad in a white terry cloth bathrobe and carrying takeaway boxes from the restaurant downstairs. “I may love you but sometimes chips take precedence,” he said by way of explanation as he sat back down cross legged on the bed and grinned at the phone before opening up his food.
Besides the aforementioned chips, he’d gotten a salad and soup which no longer looked particularly appetising in comparison but food for breakfast without leaving the room or making a phone call was paramount. Dream glanced up and rolled his eyes at Hob’s almost wistful expression, even though it warmed his heart that Hob missed him just as much.
“Just think; in a few days you can watch me eat chips in a bathrobe in person,” he teased, “Among other things. They left my hair long enough to grab this time.”
~!~
Hob laughed, grinning at Dream. “Chips are always allowed to take precedence, love. I am quite happy to come second to those in your life. At least while I’m across the pond.” He gave Dream the sappiest of smiles, he just knew it, and he almost missed the implication of his hair being pulled, and the fact that Dream wanted to wear something naughty under his suit. Hob shook his head and snorted.
“I am happy to pull your hair to your heart’s content, love, and even if your hair was too short to manage it, I’d figure something else out, that I promise.” Hob licked his lips and watched Dream eat another chip, imagining sinking his teeth into Dream’s neck and sighed wistfully. That’d have to wait a little bit longer if that was what he wanted. “More than anything else, I’m just going to be glad to sleep with you again, sex aside. Bed’s too big without you in it, and I miss my boyfriend. More than is supposedly proper.” He paused and laughed again.
“But if you wanted to wear something lovingly dirty under that suit for me, I’m sure I’d enjoy peeling it off of you. Did you have something in mind?”
~!~
Dream smirked at him and didn’t reply for a moment, focused more soundly on his food than Hob, even with the discussion turning toward what they’d do when they met up again. Now that he had food before him, he realised how hungry he was and couldn’t clearly recall his last proper meal before this after a couple of days of meal shakes and then dehydrating to strip down for the camera. At least that was over. Dream knew it worried Hob, even if everyone else was doing it.
“That would be telling, wouldn’t it?” He asked, tilting his head to the side as he studying Hob through the video, “Unless you have any requests, I think I’d like to surprise you. I could even wear a high-neckline shirt to hide my collar if you would like… although showing the necklace is it’s own delight.”
He sighed heavily and reached out of view for a moment for the water bottle that was sitting on the bedside table. Again he thought about the comparison of him to his plants. Maybe he should get some sunlight tomorrow, probably needed it.
“You’re a lucky man, Hob Gadling,” he said, amused, “I’m luckier, but the point stands. I doubt any of your friends have supermodels who send them naughty videos.” If he said that just to see if he could make Hob blush, that was his prerogative.
~!~
“I’m all for you surprising me with all manner of clothing and kinky things,” Hob said with a laugh, grinning in delight at Dream. “And if you want to wear your collar, of course you can, I just want the ruby visible so it matches my earring and no one has any doubts.” All the different things that Dream could surprise him with were rushing through his mind and he couldn’t wait to see Dream.
At the mention of being lucky, Hob’s smile softened and he nodded at Dream, his cheeks flushing as he bit his lip. “I know how lucky I am, love. I promise. Not a day goes by that I’m not grateful you decided to call me that night. Or that you were bold enough for both of us to suggest that we be boyfriends the next morning.” Hob’s smile grew cheekier and he winked. “But yes, the bonus of a world famous super model sending naughty videos is one that I don’t take for granted.”
Dream knew the truth - that even if he gave up everything tomorrow, Hob would still want him, still want to be with him, still love him, despite all of it. He didn’t love Dream because he was a model, that was just what Dream did for a living, so it didn’t matter nearly as much as it might have to others. “I am flattered that you think you’re lucky too. I love you, Dream. Even if I’m not as good at sending the same sexy videos back.” He took another long swig of his water bottle and yawned, sitting up in his chair.
“Okay, I’m not actually tired, but I’m going to fall asleep in a post-wank nap if I don’t get up and get moving. So I’m going to head home. Your turn - you tell me about some of what you’ve been working on?” Hob asked as he started to button his shirt. “Then I’ll crawl into bed with you and we can talk until I fall asleep.”