Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 72494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
“What about if you’re just dating someone and they’re not…they’re not your boy yet?” The question slipped out quietly. I wasn’t sure he meant to ask it, but he didn’t take it back, so I tried to answer it honestly.
“I’m not very good at turning off the caretaker part of me. I won’t lie about that, but I wouldn’t push for more than my date was ready for, and I can back off when I hit a limit.” That got a smile out of him. “I would hope that the person I was dating would be willing to explore new things with me, though. Being a Dom is part of who I am.”
I wasn’t going to let him ignore that, even if he wasn’t ready for any of it yet.
If I thought he had no interest in the lifestyle, we would’ve been having a completely different discussion but I could see the curiosity in his eyes. He just seemed to be doubting himself every step of the way.
“Payton, if I asked you out, would that be pushing a limit for you?” When he just swallowed and went very still, I inched closer to the limit I could see just out of view. “Dinner and trying to be funny and make you laugh and maybe dessert at my place?”
For some reason he went fiery red and sighed before letting his head fall back. “I need to confess something. It’s stupid. I know that. But I…”
What had he done wrong?
That was definitely the face of a sub that felt like he’d been naughty.
“You can tell me anything, Payton.” I meant it but he was so frustrated with himself, I wasn’t even going to begin to guess what it was about.
It took another deep breath and some low grumbling before he brought his hands up and hid behind them like a child who thought he’d disappear if he couldn’t see what was after him. “I’m allergic to almonds. I got so flustered when we first met, I wasn’t sure how to tell you. You’re just…you’re very distracting.”
I had no idea how to respond to that other than knowing laughter would not have been the right option. It took me a second to get that urge under control, though.
“Thank you for telling me. We’re going to have to talk about which treats I should be bribing you with, though.” I wasn’t going to let either of us feel bad about the mix-up.
He’d been flustered and I’d been pushy.
If this was the worst thing he had to tell me, we were doing pretty well.
The last time someone on a date had started a confession that way, it’d been about the fact that they were married…and their wife didn’t know what they were up to.
Nope.
Not an option.
A couple? Maybe.
A liar? No.
“I’m thinking cookies? Maybe the little ones?” I could see his cute pup side earning treats for being good. “We might have to taste test a few different things to find your favorite.”
As he peeked at me, clearly glad I wasn’t going to make an issue out of it, he seemed braver. “What…you were thinking something else…something Dommy. Can I ask what it was or would that be…”
I jumped in before he could figure out how he wanted to end that sentence or if he decided to take it back. “As long as you promise not to get offended because I was thinking something Dommy about you, but I don’t want to make you uncomfortable in a bad way.”
And the eyes went wide again.
Oh, and a nibble on that lower lip.
This time it seemed to mean good things because his silence didn’t stretch out long and his gaze looked hungry even though he tried to hide it. “I promise. I know…I know if I get too nervous, I can use…use that word.”
It seemed I had a curious sub who liked hearing what I wanted.
“That’s right.” Focusing on the practical side of things instead of how cute he was, I tried to keep the desire I was feeling out of my voice. “A safeword stops everything no matter if it’s a conversation topic that you don’t like or an activity that’s making you uncomfortable in a negative way.”
The reminder that sometimes BDSM fun led to being uncomfortable in interesting ways had a blush tinting his cheeks but he didn’t back down. “I remember. The bartender said it was red here.”
Feeling more confident this time, I nodded. “Alright, a minute ago I was picturing you as a cute pup and I was rewarding your good behavior with the small cookies we make at the bakery.”
When that didn’t have him running for the door—he just licked his lips again—I didn’t stop the honest description of my thoughts there. “If you followed orders well or if you were a good pup and did a trick for me, you’d get a reward. I think you’d love wagging your tail for cookies.”