Page 24 of Pretty ’n Peak

“Embarrassing in a bad way,” Austin finished for him.

Because apparently it was possible to be embarrassed in a good way.

“I think you should cancel that scene and ask for something else. It’s too many new elements for a first time.”

“But…” Mateo spluttered, almost pulling his hands away. He didn’t know why he was disagreeing, because it was good advice. He knew it was too much.

What if it was his only chance, though? What if he loved it? What if it was everything he’d been dreaming of and he let it slip away?

“Shhhh…” Austin pulled his hands closer, stroking gently along his palms with his thumbs. “That was just a suggestion. I don’t make the decisions here, you do.”

Yeah, but he kind of wanted Austin to make the decisions. Or to… make it all better, somehow. Wasn’t that what a Dom was supposed to do?

“Tell me what you’re thinking right now.”

Mateo closed his eyes. “I guess I… In my mind, I want to do it. Like, I really do. I just wish I could know beforehand if I would actually enjoy it.”

“So… maybe a practice run first? Something with lower stakes?”

“Yeah.”

“We could ask Master Carlos about doing a scene in the morning. But if it turns out that you do enjoy impact play, you might be too sore, or even reach your emotional capacity for doing it again tomorrow night. A scene like that is intense for both mind and body.”

“That makes sense. Is there something that’s a lot lower intensity but still… I dunno. Like, a test run?”

Austin’s fingers played over the back of his hands. He seemed to be thinking deeply about something.

“If you like… I could give you a spanking tonight. Just as a test run,” he quickly cautioned.

Really? Seriously, really, really? He still didn’t know why Austin had said he wasn’t interested in a scene earlier.

But if he was now…

Lightning ran through Mateo’s body. That was what he wanted more than anything. The man he already trusted, who he’d been wanting to touch all night… would be the first one to touch him.

Well, not in some ridiculous virginal way, but… yes. That was how he wanted his first scene to be. Austin would be gentle in all the right ways, but stern and rough with him too. He’d give him what he needed. Mateo was sure of it.

“Unless you don’t want to,” Austin added, face clouding. “No pressure.”

Mateo had taken too long to answer. He shook his head frantically, then nodded. Then he realized that Austin was still waiting expectantly for him to answer. “Yes!” That was too loud, echoing in the wide atrium. “Um, yes. I want that.” Oh, God. Fuck, yes. A million times, yes.

Austin grinned. “Good. You had me worried for a minute.”

“Sorry, I’m just… I swear I’m usually not this bad at talking.”

“It’s alright. Everyone was new once. You just let me know when you’d like to try this. Tonight? Tomorrow morning?”

“Tonight?” God, he was dying for it. He couldn’t believe it was actually happening. “Um… soon?”

Austin laughed, but it wasn’t mean. More amused. Even fond. “Alright, boy. You finish your lemonade and then we’ll go upstairs.”

Mateo grabbed for the glass, sucking it down without tasting it.

“Slowly. I want you to savor it while we talk about limits and safewords. Choking yourself won’t get us there any faster.”

How did he know?

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