Page 49 of Pretty ’n Peak

Assuming Mateo was still spending as much time with him on Monday as he had today, Austin wanted to give it to him in person.

And if Mateo had a good time with Carlos tonight and then went off looking for the next Dom on Monday? Well… Austin would give it to him anyway. No expectations, no strings attached.

Hell, why was Austin even thinking about strings anyway?

“Excuse me.”

Austin turned toward the door. He hadn’t expected Carlos to return so quickly.

“Austin, do you have a minute?”

“Of course. Is Mateo alright?” Panic raced through him. He knew this was too many steps for Mateo all at once. And Carlos, with the best of intentions, had probably walked all over him with suggestions.

Carlos swung into the deck chair to his left, the one Mateo had been sitting in. “Calm yourself. Your baby sub is fine. He says he wants you to do aftercare.”

“Huh?” Never mind that Mateo wasn’t his anything, or that Carlos should have checked before bringing that up in front of others. But… Mateo wanted him to do aftercare?

Actually, the idea was perfect. In fact, maybe he could even be nearby for the whole scene—help Mateo get settled in, make sure he was in the right headspace… hold him while he drifted, and kiss that salty-sweet skin again.

“Yep. Your boy wants you to do aftercare. I think I scared him off.” Carlos gave a hearty laugh. “He’s a timid one. Makes me scared I’m going to break him before he gives a squeak. Not that I ever would, we’ll just have to go over safewords and signals a million times. I’ll take care of him,” he added, reassuringly.

Austin was not assured. He still trusted Carlos, but… Carlos did tend to play with the feisty, experienced subs who knew exactly what they wanted. Austin knew Mateo would enjoy everything more with a calming influence in place.

“So, you’ll do it?” Carlos prompted.

“Yes, of course.”

“Which brings me to ask…” Carlos charged on, “why aren’t you the one doing the scene with him? Why bring me in at all?”

“Uh…”

“He asked about you, you know. Wanted to know what you liked to do.”

“He did?”

“That boy’s panting after you like a little puppy. Didn’t have the time of day for me. It was all Austin, Austin, Austin.”

Austin felt his face grow warm. He knew Mateo was hanging around him because he felt safe. And there was definitely a spark, which had grown when he had the privilege of giving the sweet man his first scene.

But he hadn’t expected Mateo to bring that up with another Dom.

Maybe he could just look at it logically. At this point, Austin could probably do a better job with Mateo than Carlos would. Not because he had more technical skill, but because he would listen better. He would make sure Mateo could communicate exactly what he needed, so he could give it to him.

“Well?” Carlos prompted. “You gonna do it? I’m happy to give up my place. Or maybe just arrange another scene. I met someone this morning when we were kayaking who’d be ready to volunteer. Is there a limit on scenes, Jamie?”

“Nope. We can have scenes all night. I’m putting skill workshops first, but then it’s anyone who wants to sign up. So, you in, Austin?”

“I don’t know,” he had to admit.

There was a silence, that had to be all three of them looking at him like he was insane.

Maybe he should tell them a little bit, so they’d understand. Maybe they’d even have some better ideas.

He clenched his fingers on his knees while he waited for the words to come. Inhaled, then exhaled. It felt like something was cracking open in his chest.

“You guys have known me for a long time. Well, Jamie and Carlos, you have. And… I used to love kink. It used to be my world. For the past couple years, I just… I don’t know what to say. I haven’t been feeling it.”

He drew in another breath. It felt good to say it out loud. Scary, but good. “Sometimes I’d be getting ready for a scene and just… wish I was somewhere else. Or start a scene that I knew I wanted and… kind of finish by rote. I mean, I was always careful. I probably checked that anyone I was playing with was having a good time about a million more times than I would have otherwise. But… yeah. I lost interest.”