Page 56 of Pretty ’n Peak

Maybe if he could avoid jizzing in his pants right now. He nodded jerkily.

“Good boy. They’re going to need about fifteen minutes to clean up, maybe more. If you want to use the restroom one more time, this is a good opportunity.”

Mateo shook his head, a motion that he knew Austin could catch when their heads were pressed so closely together. He’d used the bathroom, at Austin’s recommendation, just before entering the room.

“Alright, then from now on, I want all of your focus on me.”

Mateo took one last look at the front of the room. The Dom was gently stroking the sub’s shoulders, his other wide hand possessively cradling the sub’s spent cock. They were whispering together, words of quiet praise and the plan to lower the ropes.

Mateo tried not to hear, since this part seemed to be more private. Quiet conversations had already begun to swell behind them.

Anticipation fluttered in his belly as he turned back to Austin—the man who was going to put him on display in just a few moments.

Austin continued at a soft volume, explaining more than commanding. Wrapping him in a cocoon of safety. “We’re going to go over to the cross now. Don’t worry about anyone watching you. They’re talking with each other.”

Mateo nodded, then remembered to speak. “Yes, Austin.” He liked saying the words. It made him feel shivery.

“Good boy. Lead the way.”

There was a hush when both of them stood. People were looking at them.

The hazy glow of desire that had surrounded him was ripped away.

Mateo knew that he’d chosen this because he wanted people to watch. But it felt different now that it was real. What if he messed up? What if he couldn’t do this?

“Focus on me, boy.”

How did Austin always know? But the instructions made sense now.

All he had to do was focus on Austin.

They cut across the part of the floor designated as the stage. The buzz of conversations resumed.

They reached the large metal X, imposing and tantalizing.

“Take off your shirt.” Another velvet command, just loud enough for Mateo’s ears.

Mateo stripped the t-shirt off with one motion, leaving his jeans and boots on, like they’d agreed.

Anxiety jangled with desire now. This was really happening. It was real.

He looked around for a place to put his shirt.

Just to the side of the X was a table laid out with the toys they’d looked at earlier. Two floggers. A paddle. A crop. A cane. Each was placed carefully in a row, a buffet of potential pain.

When they’d come down to the basement before, Austin had made him hold each one, stroking and touching it, while he told him in that gentle, melodic voice just how each one would feel on his skin.

It had been an intoxicating combination of education and foreplay. The leather trailing over his fingers and the smooth finish of the wood. Austin’s breath against his ear and gentle hands stroking him. Austin’s soft chuckle every time Mateo gasped or whimpered.

He’d stayed hard all through their relaxed dinner at the restaurant down the road. He’d never been aroused for so long. He was aching for what was about to happen now.

Mateo set his shirt on the far edge of the table, out of the way of the implements and next to a few folded towels.

He expected another command, but instead all he felt was Austin’s sure hands on his back. God, that felt good. “Left hand up.”

A burst of laughter came from somewhere behind him, shaking him out of the mood again. He jerked around automatically.

He didn’t think they were laughing at him. In fact, he was almost certain of it. Almost.