Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 58623 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58623 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
“Safewords. Yeah, I know about those.” He rolled his eyes like I was the biggest stick in the mud. And maybe I was. But this was important, and I gave him a stern look as he continued. “Even some cyber Doms like those. Mine is goldfish.”
“Good. I’ll remember that. Now—”
“Do we need a minute-by-minute action plan or can I kiss you now? Please.”
I couldn’t hold my groan back. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”
“I am?” He batted his eyes in an exaggerated Hollywood actress style.
“Yes. Both cute and lucky.” I patted his leg as he went back to eating. “And this isn’t us pre-planning sex or anything like that. But it is a good chance to tell me if there’s anything that is a hard limit or really turns you off.”
Giving a weary sigh, he tore off a piece of crust, shredded it. “I don’t like being made fun of.”
“Humiliation isn’t my kink,” I assured him. The wariness in his eyes told me there was likely a story or two there, but his overall reluctance to talk had me holding back from pushing for details of his past. And my patience paid off when, after several more bites, he started speaking again.
“I don’t like weird nicknames for body parts or misgendering or being size-shamed.” As he studied his half-empty plate, his skin was the same shade as the roasted red pepper strips. “But I like it when you tell me I’m cute. Or pretty, like with the panties.”
“Got it. Thank you for telling me.” I was fast figuring out that Levi loved praise, and that was something I enjoyed handing out, to the point that it had annoyed some past partners. For all his stubbornness about this conversation, Levi still made my body hum with anticipation about how fun he was going to be to play with. “Tell me more about what crosses the line into humiliation for you.”
“Non-sexual demands. Like the Doms who want you to do fifty pushups and send the video or write on your body to show how submissive you are. Not into jumping through hoops like that.” Once he got started, Levi sped up, his list faster and more animated. “I like being shoved around and made to beg, but don’t like having my oxygen cut off. Or getting come in my eyes or any play involving bodily fluid that’s not come. Being told not to speak. Gags. Okay. Maybe I do have preferences.”
“See?” I kept my voice warm, liking how that made his tentative smile widen. “It’s good to have likes and dislikes. And trust me, I’m not going to ask you to shut up. I want you noisy. But holding still, now, that’s another story…”
He wrinkled his nose. “Hold still? I’m not exactly good at that—”
“And that’s precisely why I want you to try. If we’re talking about turn-ons, you trying to do something a little hard simply because I ask is a major one for me. But I’ll make it worth your while, trust me. I’m not going to stick you in a corner simply to make a point.”
“Good. I could try.” Levi still sounded a little unsure, but that was better than shutting the idea down. “I also don’t like being ignored.”
“You’re pretty hard to ignore.” Smiling, I bumped shoulders with him again. “How do you feel about restraint?”
“Hmm.” He wiggled his mouth this way and that. “Not super high on my list. I haven’t let someone tie me up yet. Rick kinda wanted to, but things felt a little soon and rushed the few times we met up. In my fantasies, I really like being held down, tossed around, that sort of thing, but I haven’t played with that a ton in real life.”
We were going to get along just fine, and I couldn’t hold back a grin. “I can work with that. I’ve been with people who really love bondage, and I can get into it, but my thing has always been more about control. And taking care of the sub, giving them what they need. Building trust.”
That didn’t always translate into compatibility, but I wasn’t going to get into that with Levi. He didn’t need to hear about the ex who had accused me of liking aftercare more than the scenes, or the couple of casual partners who thought I was too nice for the sort of rough treatment they craved.
Levi nodded emphatically. “See? Totally on the same page there.” Sliding more into my personal space, he gave me a downright devious smile. “In fact, if you want to test it out, you could order me to—”
“Finish your food?” I teased, even though I was pretty close to reaching the end of my patience for waiting to touch him.
“Bah. You’re no fun.” He mock-pouted, even crossing his arms and sticking out his lower lip. Damn, he was fun and sexy all at once.