Would yāall mind if I threw some more uhā¦.. puppy jackā¦. on the timelineā¦.. just for fun šļø hereās Jack getting his collar (plus some backstory). Enjoy x
When Dennis was growing up, they had a few cattle dogs around to help with livestock and keep the coyotes and foxes out of the henhouse. They were good dogs, but they werenāt pets. They were taught from a very young age that they had a job to do, and they were damn good at it. Unfortunately for young Dennis, who just wanted a normal puppy, part of that job was to reject human affection. His dad was a firm believer that once a dog learned to be your friend, he could no longer be your worker. They had to be two separate things. So the dogs were never mean, but they were never Dennisās.
When Dennis and Jack started seeing each other, Dennis quickly realized that being with Jack was a lot like having a dog, which absolutely thrilled Dennis. Jack followed him from room to room, was always endlessly interested in whatever he was doing, missed him terribly when they were apart, and protected him more fiercely than anyone or anything Dennis had ever met. He was a perfectly loyal and doting boyfriend, and Dennis counted himself lucky every day he got to call Jack his.
The puppy stuff was really an accident when it first started, but if Dennis was being honest, he wasnāt surprised when it came up. Jack liked giving Dennis the reins. He liked it when Dennis made all the decisions for them like where they were going to get dinner from or what they were going to do at any given time. Jack really liked it when Dennis was soft with him and used his puppy voice to coo about what a good boy he was being. And Jack, being the perfectly behaved dog he was, almost never needed correction. Dennis didnāt have any crazy rules like no dogs on the furniture or no begging at the table. He liked that Jack didnāt need to be trained or taught (or untaught) any behaviors, good or bad. He just was good, all the time, almost unfailingly.
The only times Dennis needed to use a firm hand with Jack was when he picked up his old habit of not taking care of himself. Dennis always made sure that when Jack was thinking poorly of himself or treating himself badly, it wouldnāt last very long uncorrected. A firm conversation was usually enough. Jackās main concern was making Dennis happy and bringing Dennis joy and pleasure, and he knew that it upset him when he wasnāt kind to himself. When a firm tone wasnāt enough, Dennis had needed to figure out something more severe that would actually get the message through. (It turned out that making Jack watch Dennis get himself off without being able to touch either Dennis or himself was a pretty solid cure to most bad behaviors. Jack got very whiny and sad when he couldnāt be the one to bring Dennis such pleasure.)
In the beginning, Jack got insecure about their relationship a lot. He loved Dennis very deeply, but he was worried of both scaring off the kid with his feelings and dragging Dennis into a committed relationship that neither of them might be ready for. He knew that Dennis was a young, attractive, smart, successful man who could have been doing a lot better than some old guy he happened to work with sometimes. So heād began closing himself off little by little and trying to seeā¦. well, he wasnāt sure what. If Dennis would double down? If he would run? If he would laugh and say it was never that serious, anyway? If he loved Jack enough to stay and fight for them? He didnāt know. Dennis had tried correcting his behavior, but it wasnāt working anymore and neither of them knew what to do. They just knew they wanted to keep what they had.
Dennis had picked up on the fact that Jack was the happiest and most content when he had proof of Dennisās love. Whether it was his smell on the sheets, his dishes left out from a dinner theyād shared, seeing marks on either of them, or physically touching the kid, Jack liked proof. But with Dennis on days and Jack firmly on nights, they sometimes went days without seeing each other and barely talking. These times were especially rough on Jack, and promoted his mental spiraling. So Dennis had come up with the idea of getting Jack something he could keep on him all the time. Something inconspicuous, something theyād both recognize but wouldnāt register to anyone else.
Which is how Dennis ended up commissioning a custom leather collar from a local craftsman. He was insanely nervous about it. He thought Jack would like it, since theyād sort of hinted at the pup dynamic a couple times but never actually talked about it. But he knew Jack needed something he could see or feel to remind him that Dennis was his. On a few of his days off, Dennis had went around to a couple pet supply stores in the area to see what they had for collars, but they all seemed out of character for Jack. These collars were all cheap plastic, chunky designs, harsh patterns and ugly colors. Jack deserved something that suited him, that fit his personality and made sense on his person. When he was about to give up the search and abandon this whole stupid idea in the first place, he ran into a guy at the last pet store he visited who was there with his huge cane corso. The dog was wearing the most beautiful black leather collar, shiny and hand-crafted with burned and branded designs around the whole thing. He was so taken with it that he walked right up and asked the guy where heād gotten such a thing. It turned out that heād made it, and he handed Dennis his business card. Now, two weeks later, he held the finished product out of the box.
It was made of rich dark brown leather, buttery soft to the touch and made to look slightly weathered. It had faint dark designs crisscrossing the band and was finished with shiny silver hardware. It smelled amazing. Holding it in his hands now, Dennis knew this was the right thing to do. It certainly felt right. Heād gone ahead and gotten a couple tags too, one to keep on the loop of the collar and one for Jack to slip on his chain next to his real dog tags from his time in the army. They said āMAJORā on the fronts, with the one for the collar saying āif found, please return to Dennis Whitakerā on the back. Dennis was so excited.
When Jack invited him over to stay for a couple days since they both had off, Dennis knew this would be his chance. Theyād both just worked opposite shifts for about a week, meaning they only saw each other during handoff at shift change. Meaning Jack would be all in his feelings about missing Dennis. Heād seriously never met someone with worse separation anxiety. If Jack was ever going to say yes to all this, now would be the time to ask. And, yes, Dennis knew this was probably some form of manipulation, but he was so confident and excited that he was willing to overlook it.
They ate a delicious dinner that Jack had cooked for them both, the doting man that he was. Theyād caught up about work, swapped stories, shared complaints, and laughed and talked for hours. It was good. But now that it was late, Dennis was starting to get nervous again. What would Jack say? How would he react? What if Dennis was way out of line? What if Jack thought he was some kind of freak, some sex-craved kinky charlatan?
Jack noticed. The ever-attentive man never missed anything when it came to his Dennis. So of course he noticed that Dennis had begun to fidget and offer the stilted one-word responses and hums that meant he was thinking about something real hard. Jack asked if there was anything bothering Dennis, and the fact that the kid didnāt immediately say no was concerning. Now Jack was starting to fidget.
Dennis took a deep breath before he started talking. āI haveā I need to ask you something. Or, well, I need to talk to you. About something. Obviously. Um.ā He was fumbling over his words so badly that Jack would think it was adorable if it werenāt making him so nervous. He turned his body towards Dennisās on the couch, reaching out to grasp a shoulder and turn the kidās body so they were mostly facing each other.
Jack dipped his head down to catch Dennisās eye, offering a small reassuring smile when he did. His voice was soft when he said, āLook, whatever it is, you know you can talk to me. About anything. I would never judge you or think badly about you, and you know that I care about you. I want to be able to help you with whateverās going on, but you gotta let me in.ā Dennis just gave him a wobbly smile and nodded his head, clearing his throat. His voice was clearer and more sure when he started again.
āRight. Okay. Thank you, Jack.ā Jack just nodded and raised his eyebrows in a coax to get Dennis to continue. āI care about you. A lot. And I know you care about me too. Iāve honestly never met someone Iām so compatible with on every level. I love being with you, being yours, and I love that youāre mine, too.ā More nodding from Jack, who didnāt want to interrupt but was always an active listener when it came to Dennis. āI want to ask before I continue, have you ever explored BDSM?ā Now, Jack was pretty used to surprises, given how many heās had in his fifty-odd years of living, but right then he was very grateful he didnāt have anything in his mouth because he surely would have spat it everywhere at the shock of Dennisās question. He never expected this sweet kid to bring up BDSM, but he gave a slow nod anyway, eyebrows furrowed. āOkay, thatās good. Um. Have you ever heard of puppy play? Or tried it?ā Jack nodded again, and Dennis raised his eyebrows, asking for elaboration.
āWhen I was in med school, it was a good way to wind down or get out of my head for a while. There were a couple clubs I used to go to pretty often, but I havenāt done anything like that inā¦ god, like twenty-five years? A really long time. Those places probably donāt even exist anymore.ā He avoided eye contact with Dennis, not wanting to find out if there was any judgement on the kidās face. (There wasnāt. Dennis was elated at this answer.) Even though he had about a million questions, Jack put a lid on it and waited for Dennis to arrive at his point.
There was a smirk on Dennisās face that sort of scared Jack, and sort of turned him on. āOkay, thatās good. Iām glad you have some experience with that stuff. I also have so many questions, which I will be asking when Iām finished.ā He pointed an accusatory finger at Jack, who just chuckled. āAnyway, Iāve noticed that you have a lot of, um, dog-like traits? Like, you know how some people say their boyfriends are like golden retrievers? Youāre like that for me, except youāre more of a German Shepherd. And I noticed that when you have something with you that reminds you of me, youāre happier. Or more content. Peaceful, inside. So I went out on a total limb here and, um, got you something.ā At this, Dennis stood from the couch and grabbed a green velvet box about the size and shape of a thick book from out of his backpack that was sitting by the front door. When he returned to Jack, he reclaimed his spot on the couch but was back to nervously fidgeting with his fingers.
Jack gently ran his fingers over the edges of the box, admiring the texture of the velvet before flipping the top open. His heart stuttered over several beats when he realized what it was. Lying in the box was the most beautiful collar Jack had ever seen. It was one he could see picking out for himself, which just made him even more infatuated with Dennis. Heād picked the perfect one. Jack loved it. He couldnāt wait to put it on. For Dennis to put it on him, to claim him. Delicately, Jack picked up the collar and ran his thumbs across the band, admiring the leatherwork. He saw there was already a tag on it, and he felt his eyes sting when he read over the front and back of it. Every time Jack thought heād reached the limit of his love for Dennis, the kid would prove him wrong. It was perfect.
He was so wrapped up in his thoughts and trying to process what was happening that he didnāt realize Dennis had been speaking. Or, well, spiraling would be a better word for what he was doing. āāand if you hate it, we can throw it out and forget about this whole thing. Oh god, you hate it donāt you? This was such a stupid idea. I donāt know what I was thinking, Iām sorryā mmph!ā Jack cut him off with a kiss so consuming it knocked them flat on the couch and stole Dennisās breath. He couldnāt get close enough to the kid, would honestly crawl inside him and live there if such a thing were possible. But he couldnāt do that, so he settled for pressing his full weight into Dennis and trying to eat his face off.
Dennis was smiling when they finally parted. His hands came up to frame Jackās face, thumbs rubbing over the stubble on his cheeks. āSo, you donāt hate it?ā
Jack laughed. āNo, kid, I love it. I would love to wear that for you.ā
āYeah, you want to be my good boy? You want to be my puppy?ā Dennis did not miss the way Jack twitched in his pants above him. Instead of responding with words, Jack climbed off the couch and knelt beside it on the floor, baring his neck and giving Dennis the most adoring look. If they were in a cartoon, he knew there would be hearts popping over Jackās head. So he grabbed the collar and undid the buckle before slipping it around Jackās neck. When it was clasped firmly once again, a deep shuddering breath left Jack, whose eyes were closed. When he opened them again, they were filled with tears. His hands came up to feel the leather, and the tears fell down his face when it finally settled in him that he well and truly belonged to Dennis now. He gave Dennis a thank you so quiet it was almost missed.
āYouāre very welcome, baby.ā Jack shivered at the tone Dennis used. āI was doing some research about puppy play.ā Dennis laughed as Jack waggled his eyebrows. āShut up. Heathen. Anyway, it seems like a lot of people take it really seriously and focus on the punishment/reward aspect of it, but I donāt think I want that for us. Youāre already such a good boy, and I donāt want what we have now to change. I want us to be equals. I want to be your best friend, not your master. But, I still want to own you. Youāll still be mine, just as much as Iām yours.ā At this point, Jack was going to seep right through the floorboards if Dennis melted him any more. He was so perfect. Heās all Jack could ever dream of.
āOkay. Yes. A thousand times, yes. That sounds perfect. Youāre perfect.ā Jack took Dennisās face and punctuated each statement with a kiss to his cheeks, his forehead, his lips, anywhere. He pulled back and Dennis dug in his pocket for a second before pulling out another tag and handing it to Jack.
āHere, I got this one too. Itās a little lessā¦ conspicuous. In case you wanted to wear something at work, or away from home, anyway. I didnāt figure you wanted everyone at the Pitt to see you in a collar.ā
Jack just laughed. āKid, I donāt care if they see me with it on. Hell, you could write your name all over me with a Sharpie and Iād gladly parade around in front of them. You think Iām not proud to be yours? Itās possibly the greatest thing Iāve ever been.ā The blush that overtook Dennisās features was so endearing that Jack didnāt even bother resisting the urge to kiss all over his face again.
Dennis had to clear his throat before responding. āI like being yours, too. But maybe I only want you to be a good boy for me. Maybe I donāt want anyone else seeing you in that collar.ā So Jack happily obliged him by slipping the tag onto the chain holding his dog tags. He could never deny Dennis, his perfectly doting owner.
Slipping into their new roles after that was as easy as putting on an old jacket. Dennis took to being an owner beautifully, and Jack couldnāt think of a time heād been in a happier or healthier relationship. Very little about it actually changed, but there was a new understanding between them, and an expectation that underscored everything they did. It wasnāt really about the sex, but it didnāt take long for them to realize what an enhancement the dynamic was in the bedroom. Or on the couch. Or on the island in the kitchen. Or up against the wall right inside the front door. It was just good.
Almost two months have passed since Jack got his collar. He wore it every second that he was alone with Dennis outside of work, and some days when he was at home without Dennis. When he needed the reminder.
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