Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 76603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Oh, Dessie.
He’d been hidden behind Silas and was standing there with his mouth open and just blinking like Austin had.
Oops.
“Um, how much of that did you hear?” I thought it was a reasonable place to start but he jumped ahead.
“Did you really say that just to fuck with him?” Dessie didn’t seem like he was going to get past that point anytime soon, so I nodded.
“Yes, but in my defense, he was driving me crazy. I’ve been here twenty minutes because he lied to me about the time we were supposed to have dinner and he’s been lecturing me since I arrived. I was really nice for the first fifteen minutes.”
Hmm… more blinks.
“I honestly do know what a safeword is. He was making me insane.” Had I already fucked up? “Okay, you have to remember that he’s fun to wind up too. He just goes bananas.”
Long blinks…did that mean something?
And he took a breath.
Had he been breathing before?
“You are kind of like Silas.” He seemed sincere when he uttered the abominable sentence, but once I started to groan and glare, he grinned. “Yep.”
“I’m so insulted you’re going to have to be nice to me to make it up.” I wasn’t sure what bribes I could get out of him, but starting off on the he owed me foot seemed like a good idea.
For when I fucked it up later.
Pinching his lips together, he took a second before he nodded. “Yes, I was naughty. I’m sorry.”
Oh yes, that was a much better way to take things.
“I’m sure you’ll find a way to make it up to me.” Yes, kind of sexy but still vague enough that he wouldn’t think I had no idea what I was doing.
“I will.” His eyes were sparkling and he was barely holding back a laugh. “I’ll be good.”
That wasn’t any more believable than my lies had been but it seemed like one of those white lies all subs told…because I’d heard Austin say it and he was the least good sub I’d ever met.
“I’m looking forward to that.” It wasn’t exactly referencing something dirty but his blush said he took it that way. “Naughty boy.”
For a moment I thought I’d pushed too far but his cheeks just got redder and his gaze dropped as he shifted back and forth. That was not anger or the bad kind of embarrassment, so I let myself off the hook. But I was going to try to be a little more careful.
Try being the operative word.
“But for the time being, I’m going to pretend you’re not as naughty as Austin is and we’re going to get to know each other.” His giggle said he wasn’t upset by being compared to the ridiculous omega. “And as part of that getting to know one another, I’m going to need you to tell me if I cross a line or make you uncomfortable.”
Nodding slowly, he straightened and met my gaze again. “Yes, I can do that.”
“Good.” Good boy? Nope, that might be rushing. “I understand the concept of safewords, but outside of a scene, I’m not sure how they’d be used. So for now, if you set a limit or tell me no outside of a scene, that stops whatever we’re doing. Alright?”
Dessie went still for a moment before his head slowly bobbed. “Safewords for scenes because you understand that part, but when we’re just talking and doing date kind of stuff, no will mean no because that’s what you’re more comfortable with?”
“Yes.” Shit. This wasn’t just about me. “Is that something you’re comfortable with?”
His lips turned up at the side without going full on into a smile. “You’re making very reasonable limits right now and nothing you’ve said makes me uncomfortable.”
Hmm.
“You know, if everyone agreed with me that clearly, the world would be a much easier place to navigate.” My response was probably ridiculous—and definitely Austin’s fault for getting me wound up—but Dessie smiled wider.
“It would.” Nearly bouncing, he shifted back and forth again and shifted from flirty and blushing to excited and adorable. “I work in the governor’s office and no one ever says what they mean clearly enough. It’s crazy.”
Working in government at all was crazy.
“I think that’s my favorite part about the BDSM lifestyle that I’ve learned about so far.” Gesturing toward the spread laid out for us, I raised one eyebrow. “Can I get you a drink?”
Austin had everything from hot and cold foods to a full bar, so I knew there’d be something he’d enjoy no matter what.
“Um.” Peeking over at the drinks, his brows came together. “Is there lemonade?”
Interesting.
“Let’s look.” As we both moved toward the table with the drinks, I decided honesty was the only way to move forward. “I’m going to admit that my biggest flaw is being nosy, so please tell me if this isn’t polite to ask, but is your drink choice random or a socially acceptable way of being little?”