Page 21 of Pretty ’n Peak

“Ohhhhh….” Master Carlos followed his gaze. “The Saint Andrew’s Cross? Maybe some impact play?”

Mateo shrugged. He knew he should speak up, but really he was just feeling overwhelmed. Too many things—exciting things—were happening too quickly, and he didn’t know what he was supposed to say. His stomach was in knots.

Master Carlos’s meaty hand came down on his shoulder. “You think about it, and let me know. No pressure.” He turned toward the front of the room where Jamie was organizing the next game. “Austin, let’s catch up soon.”

“Looking forward to it.”

Mateo followed Master Carlos with his eyes. Yes, his backside was glorious—muscular, thick, and powerful—but he wasn’t really thinking about it. Jamie was announcing the winners of the contest, but he couldn’t think about that either.

“How are you doing, boy?”

“Fine,” he responded absently, mind still churning. Did he want Master Carlos to whip him? On that big saint-whatever X over there?

Of course he did.

Probably.

Austin sighed beside him. “This is one of those times when I really wish I could see. Because you say you’re fine, but you don’t sound like it.”

Austin’s careful perusal and a warm hand around Mateo’s elbow shook Mateo from his spiraling thoughts. “I’m… I guess I’m a little overwhelmed.”

“That’s what I figured, and there’s no shame in that. Would you like to take a break, though? Get out of here for a bit?”

“Are we allowed to just leave?” He looked around. Jamie was calling the Daddies to the front of the room.

“Not only are we allowed, but no one will think it’s strange. Consent and boundaries, remember?”

“Right. In that case… yeah. This is a lot of people.”

Austin’s fingers slipped down to loop around his wrist. His smaller hand couldn’t even wrap the full distance around, but it felt extraordinary.

When Austin started walking and Mateo followed behind, he knew what it had to look like. Austin was practically claiming him. As a sub. In front of everyone.

It wasn’t true, but Mateo liked to imagine it.

Austin cut across the room like he owned the place, weaving around clusters of people who either ignored them or occasionally gave Mateo looks that were either envious or impressed.

Someone gave a wolf whistle.

Mateo looked around one last time, still a little concerned about leaving so blatantly in the middle of the party games. But when he caught Jamie’s eyes, they glinted with mischief. His naughty smirk gave Mateo all the permission he needed.

It was a little embarrassing that they were just going somewhere to take a break. But still… he had a scene set up for tomorrow, didn’t he?

That dizzying thought was too much again.

So he did what he wanted to do anyway and followed Austin out the door.

5

Mateo

As soon as he reached the hallway, Mateo felt his shoulders slump. The butterflies settled down to gentle flutters.

“Better?” Austin asked gently.

“Yeah.”

Austin ran a hand down the panel with the elevator buttons, apparently checking the placement of the tiny dots on them before hitting the Up arrow.