Chapter Text
Alexander lets out a soft chuckle as Henry sinks to his knees in front of him, his soft, brown eyes wide and peaceful. It is delightfully easy, to get the big, broad lad to relax like this. A few touches, a few well-timed words, and he sinks into that warm, peaceful place with a sweet smile.
‘There you go, pup,’ Alexander smiles, running a hand through those lovely salt and pepper curls, ‘such a good boy for me, aren’t you?’
Henry nods slowly, butting his head up into Alexander’s hand, his face sweet and lax with pleasure. Alexander sits back in his chair and pats his knee - an invitation that Henry quickly follows, shuffling between Alexander’s knees and resting that big, shaggy head on his thigh.
‘There’s a good pup, eh?’ Alexander murmurs, ruffling Henry’s hair gently. He so loves the lad’s hair, all soft and fluffed up. When they had first returned from the Arctic he had told Alexander he meant to cut it off, in an attempt to return (outwardly at least) to the stiff, sleek creature he had been so many years before in Greenhithe. Alexander was quietly relieved when Henry decided against it.
He strokes Henry gently, smiling down at him as his lad - his pup - breathes out and relaxes completely against his leg. He cards his hand gently through those wild, dark curls before reaching a little further down to pet his whiskers, scratching gently and smiling as Henry lets out a sweet, low moan. Henry loves this as much as Alexander, and Alexander rewards that lovely little noise by bending slightly and pressing a soft, dry peck to his pup’s darling nose.
‘Oh but you’re a sweet little pup, aren’t you? Such a lovely thing,’ Alexander hums, pressing a handful of kisses over Henry’s upturned face, ‘such a handsome boy for me.’
Henry whimpers softly, snuggling up to Alexander’s leg and rubbing his face against his hand, his eyes closed and his expression blissful. Alexander kisses him again, soft and chaste, and Henry angles his face towards them, like a flower in the sun.
‘Would you like a proper kiss, pup?’ Alexander chuckles, as Henry opens his eyes - dark and pleading and lovely , the loveliest thing Alexander has ever seen.
Henry nods, his hair falling sweetly over his face, his tongue sticking out between those soft, pouting lips.
‘Aye?’ Alexander taps Henry’s nose with his index finger, then runs it over his upper lip - which sticks out in a charming overbite - teasing him, ‘you want a kiss from your daddy?’
Henry whines at that, his eyes growing impossibly wide, his mouth hanging open. Christ but he’s a lovely thing. Such a big, soft-hearted lad, he may as well have been gift-wrapped for Alexander’s enjoyment, but adding in this lovely, pleading, submissive side as well? Alexander couldn’t imagine a more perfect creature.
‘C’mere then, pup,’ Alexander cups Henry’s face gently, scritching into his muttonchops as he does so, and presses their lips together.
Henry is soft and pliant against him, leaning wholly into the kiss and snuffling softly as Alexander tilts his head upwards. Alexander chuckles as Henry whimpers against him, and pets his hair softly as Henry begins to lap into his mouth, his tongue sloppy and uncoordinated - a perfect little pup. Alexander enjoys when Henry kisses like this; it’s as if all the fear and uncertainty has melted away, leaving only this sweet, animal joy and enthusiasm, and he hums happily as Henry’s tongue tangles with his own.
Henry whines as he pulls away, but he does not press - he is far too well-behaved for that - instead he sits back on his haunches and stares up at Alexander with those deep, dark eyes, waiting for whatever Alexander decides to do next.
‘Oh you’re such a good boy, aren’t you?’ Alexander chuckles, ‘so well-behaved for me, and good boys get rewards, do they not?’
Henry whimpers, and cocks his head to one side. He still isn’t brave enough to ask for a treat, or any kind of reward really, even when Alexander coaxes him, it is something they’ve been working on.
‘Ah now, come on, pup, don’t good boys get rewards? I certainly think they do,’ Alexander strokes Henry’s whiskers gently, running the tips of his fingers through them with a soft, teasing smile, ‘but what do you think, sweet boy? Do you think good boys should get rewards?’
Henry blinks up at him, his eyes wide and nervous.
‘C’mon, pup, show me what you think,’ Alexander presses a kiss to each of Henry’s delightfully flushed cheeks, then presses a quick, chaste kiss to his lips, ‘show me, sweet thing.’
Henry whines softly, nuzzling into Alexander’s touch, and slowly - ever so slowly; he is such a charmingly shy little thing - nods. Alexander beams down at him, ruffling his hair and his whiskers with glee.
‘Good boy!’ he exclaims, laughing as Henry grins up at him - soft and dopey and delightful, ‘such a good boy! Oh but I’m so proud of you, pup, such a good little lad for me, aren’t you?’
Henry nods again, still slowly, but growing a little bolder as Alexander lavishes him with soft, wet kisses and excited praise. He is proud of him, terribly proud; he knows how hard it is for Henry to really ask for what he wants, and he is thrilled that the lad has managed this.
‘And, as we’ve established,’ Alexander chuckles, between breathless kisses, ‘good boys get rewards, and I have just the thing.’
He presses his lips to Henry’s one last time, before nudging him gently away with his knee. Henry looks crestfallen for a moment, his lip sticking out a little in concern, but Alexander quickly kisses that away, ‘I need to get your reward, pup! I’ll be back in just a tick! Don't you worry.’
Henry nods, his shoulders relaxing and his face settling back into that lovely, peaceable expression from moments before.
‘Good boy, now lie down and I’ll be back in a moment.’
Henry lies down immediately, belly-up, his hands curled upwards to form sweet little paws, his legs askew. Alexander winks at him as he heads over to the little box he has hidden on the mantelpiece, and pats Henry’s belly with his foot as he returns to his seat. Henry smiles up at him, his tongue lolling out sweetly between his lips, and Alexander feels his heart skip a beat. He must have been a saint in a previous life to deserve such a soft, handsome lad to call his own.
Alexander settles back down in the armchair, and gestures for Henry to resume his position between his legs. Henry lets out a happy little sigh as he rests his head on Alexander’s thigh, and Alexander chuckles softly, holding the box in his lap. He had spotted this a while ago, nestled in the window of an old antique shop in the town centre, and with a few tweaks here and there he had eventually created something he was confident Henry would adore.
‘Are you excited, pup?’ Alexander grins, mussing Henry’s hair with his free hand - it is sticking up every which way, now, and he looks utterly adorable.
Henry nods, his mouth open and his tongue hanging out, his eyes glittering in the golden lamplight. He is warm against Alexander’s leg - a large, furry hot water bottle - and Alexander pats his lap with a wink, encouraging him to jump up onto the chair. Henry does as he is bid - he always does - and snuggles down into Alexander’s arms, nuzzling under his chin and curling in on himself, making himself as small as those lovely, broad shoulders will allow.
‘Now, pup, would you like to see what your daddy’s got you, hm?’ Alexander murmurs, talking into Henry’s hair, ‘I reckon you’ll like it something awful.’
Alexander wraps his arms around Henry, pressing warm, soft kisses to the top of his head, and unlatches the box. Henry cranes his neck to see, his large, heated body twisting awkwardly in Alexander’s lap. Alexander laughs softly as Henry nearly falls from his position, scrabbling at the arms of the chair, and at Alexander’s shoulders until he is righted again. He looks up at Alexander with a sad, apologetic expression, and Alexander kisses that away immediately. He won’t have his pup apologising tonight.
‘Easy does it, little one,’ he chuckles, ‘here, have a good look.’
He holds up Henry’s present with a grin. It is a collar, made of thick, dark brown leather. The interior of it is soft, like suede, and it has a lovely, sturdy brass ring at the centre. Henry’s mouth falls open as he takes it in, his eyes roaming over the collar and coming to a rest on the little, golden tag that is looped through the ring. They have spoken about this before - Alexander would not spring something like this on his pup without establishing that it was desired - but the little tag is something that Alexander had made in total secrecy.
On the front, there is the name ‘Henry’ engraved in a neat, swirling font, and on the back - Alexander turns it in his hands, so Henry can see - their address has been stamped in, proof of Henry’s home, of where he is safe, and loved. Alexander strokes Henry’s face gently as the lad takes it in, and Henry looks up at him with wide, tear-damp eyes, darker than the ocean.
‘D’you like it, pup?’ Alexander asks, softly, scratching behind Henry’s ears, ‘d’you think you’ll look handsome with it on? I certainly do.’
Henry lets out a sweet, low moan, and his body goes limp against Alexander. His hands roam over Alexander’s body, wrapping around his neck and holding him close, nuzzling into the curve of his neck with an array of soft, lovely little snuffles. Alexander chuckles, rubbing his hands up and down Henry’s broad, warm back, encouraging his enthusiasm with a smile.
He can feel his prick hardening beneath the heavy heat of Henry’s body, responding eagerly to the lad’s attentions, and Henry appears to have noticed as well. He looks down at Alexander’s lap with a bashful, soppy smile, and blinks slowly, his movements soft and sleepy as he shuffles back onto the floor and begins to nose at the hard line of Alexander’s cockstand.
‘Ah but you’re an eager little thing, aren’t you pup?’ Alexander smiles, placing a soft peck on the tip of Henry’s nose, ‘d’you want me to pop this on you, hm?’
He holds up the collar with a teasing grin, and laughs as Henry nods enthusiastically.
‘Good boy! Here you go then, turn your head up for me a tad, there’s a good boy,’ Alexander fastens the collar deftly, the heavy, brass buckle doing up nicely at the back of Henry’s neck. It fits beautifully, as he had expected, and the look on Henry’s face is worth more to him than all the tea in China. He looks as if he is praying; his eyes closed, his face upturned, kneeling at Alexander’s feet so sweetly.
‘Oh but you’re such a handsome little lad, eh pup? Such a handsome boy!’ Alexander croons, his breath hitching as Henry nuzzles against his prick, ‘and such an eager boy as well! So lovely for me, puppy.’
Henry whimpers, looking up at Alexander through those sinfully thick eyelashes, his gaze filled to the brim with adoration. Alexander’s prick twitches in his trousers, and he palms himself gently, sighing at the blissful pleasure, letting Henry’s eyes follow the movement of his hand. He has other plans for this evening, things that he is certain Henry will enjoy, but first, he needs to get his pup upstairs.
‘Shall we go to bed then, pup?’ Alexander smiles down at him, letting out a chuckle as Henry nods with a wide, dopey smile, ‘aye? Would you like that?’
Henry nods again, his messy curls - entirely Alexander’s fault - bouncing over his brow. He looks so at ease there, kneeling at Alexander’s feet, all his Earthly cares melted away to the soft, animal joy of a pup. He is beautiful. Just beautiful.
‘Aye, well come on then, sweet boy, show your daddy the way,’ Alexander laughs - not unkindly (never unkindly), it is a laugh filled with affection and encouragement - as Henry bounds awkwardly up the stairs, his arms and legs tripping over one another in his enthusiasm.