Page 43 of Pretty ’n Peak

Mateo supposed that was what the kink community was like. Everyone talked so easily about scenes with strangers, or even with friends, without it being anything more. You could spank someone—or in his case, be the one getting spanked—one night, and just hang out and play poker with them the next day.

So he really should get over his infatuation. Especially since he was supposed to be meeting Master Carlos soon to talk about the scene tonight.

A door opened behind them. “Hey, there you are.” It was Jamie. “Carlos was just looking for you. He’s in the atrium if you want to go find him.”

Wow. There it was. Now or never. “Sure,” he answered.

“Are you ready, Mateo?” Austin’s voice was quiet, just for the two of them. “Remember, the sub’s always the one in control.”

“Yeah.” He had to be ready. This was what he wanted.

“Come get me if you need anything. Remember all the questions I gave you.”

Mateo had to grin. Austin was so protective over him, trying to take on all of his worries so that Mateo didn’t have to.

“I’ve got this,” he promised. Anxiety still churned in his gut, though. He’d almost forgotten it with how relaxed he’d been for the rest of the day.

“Alright, see you later.”

Well, that was that. “See you later.” At least he would be seeing Austin later. That was comforting.

He rose and went to the lounge, passing Jamie going the other way.

As soon as he saw Master Carlos, his throat went dry. The man wore black jeans and a black tank top, showcasing his rows of muscles. He looked strong enough to do anything that he wanted with Mateo.

The thought sent a shiver down Mateo’s spine, a mingled rush of lust and apprehension.

“Ah, chupado.” Master Carlos’s teeth shone white with his smile.

Mateo found himself blushing. Was he ever going to live that nickname down? He liked it, though, having a nickname from such a handsome man.

“Hey,” he answered back, trying to sound casual, “Master Carlos.”

“No need for the Master right now. We’re just talking. That is, if you’re still interested in tonight. No pressure at all if you’ve changed your mind. We can change things up if you need to, or just cancel. But I am looking forward to it if you are.”

Austin had mentioned that Carlos was brash, and Mateo could already see it. He raced through topics and spoke a little too loudly for the distance between them. It made everything feel just a little jangled and abrupt, like they were negotiating a sale instead of planning a very personal encounter.

“Yes, of course,” Mateo answered belatedly.

Carlos gestured to a couch. Fortunately, not the one he’d sat on last night with Austin, though Mateo looked that way first. Just looking at the spot made his ears burn as he remembered all of the possibilities Austin had tormented him with before leading him upstairs.

Mateo tore his gaze away and followed Carlos to the other side of the room.

He sat down first, and noticed that Carlos sat across from him, a small coffee table between them. There was none of the intimacy of last night, but then again, there didn’t need to be. They were just talking.

Mateo drew in a careful breath and let it out.

“So, tell me what you’re thinking about,” Carlos asked with a wink. “¿Qué es lo que te excita?”

The familiar strains of Spanish should have been soothing, but the question was still so sudden. What turned him on? Was he supposed to already know? And just say it? Carlos seemed to expect immediate answers.

“I, ah, I’m still trying to figure that out. I was hoping you could help me.”

“Impact play, ¿sí?”

“Sí, pero…”

“Let me check out your profile. You filled it out, right?”