Page 35 of The Star in Room 7

“Okay. What would you suggest?”

“Traffic lights are common and easy to remember. Green means you’re fine, yellow means you need things to slow down or be less intense, and red means the scene should come to a complete stop.”

I nod. “Okay. I can remember that.”

Gently, he puts his fingertips under my chin and turns my face so I’m staring into his eyes. “I need you to promise you’ll use them if you need to. Trust is a two-way street, Zach. You need to trust I will stop, and I need to trust that you’ll ask me to if necessary.”

I swallow and nod. I almost say it’s just a blindfold, but then I remember everything Nate said on the beach, and Puck’s answer of ‘not always’ when I asked him if he enjoyed being blindfolded. So, maybe I can’t see why safewords are necessary, or why I might want him to stop and take the blindfold off, but I trust that Nate has far more experience than me, that he knows what he’s doing, and that this is all part of making me feel safe.

“I’m going to set a timer,” Nate says.

“A timer?”

“Yes. I enjoy cuddling. It would be easy for me to lose track of time, and this is your first session, so it shouldn’t be too long. Let’s say, fifteen minutes?”

“All right.”

“Will you be comfortable in shorts and a T-shirt?”

“Are— Are you asking me if I want to take my clothes off?”

He smiles. “I’m asking if you’ll be comfortable.”

“I think so, yes.”

“Then we can begin whenever you’re ready. No rush. You can change your mind if you need to. I’ll never judge you, Zach. I’ll never shame you.” He chuckles. “Something tells me you wouldn’t be into that kink.”

“It’s a kink?”

“Yes. Some subs love being degraded.”

“Huh.” That’s not something I can understand, but I don’t need to.

“I’m ready,” I whisper.

“All right. Take your sandals off.”

I obey while Nate retrieves the eye mask and slowly and gently slips it over my eyes. They’re effective. I’m left in total darkness, suddenly aware of the hitch of my breath and the thud of my heart. Nate’s breathing is louder too, calm and steady.

“Use your safewords,” he instructs, in a soft, yet commanding voice that sends a shiver running down my spine.

“Green,” I say.

I am okay, truly. It’s odd. It feels like I’m floating. I can’t quite work out where I am in space. I can feel the bed and the floor. I can feel Nate’s hand over mine, large, warm, and rough. The sensations are more acute than before, yet also almost unreal, as if someone else were feeling these surroundings.

“Stand up,” he says, holding my hand to steady me as I do.

He guides me onto his lap, cradling me exactly like he promised he would. I curl against him, one hand resting under my cheek, the other clutching his shirt. I pull my knees up, settling my feet on the bed. He rocks me gently, his head resting against mine, his beard tickling my forehead. It’s more relaxing than I expected it to be. In his arms, I’m safe. Without sight, I’m left with no choice but to trust him, and I do. Fuck, I do.

My heart slows to match the pace of his. My breathing relaxes. The tension in my muscles slips away, allowing me to melt into his embrace. I understand now. I understand why someone would want this. Need this. I understand why someone would want a Daddy.

“Daddy,” I whisper.

My eyes drift shut beneath the eye mask. Tears leak from underneath my lids, dripping down my cheeks. Why am I crying? I’m not sad.

The alarm goes off. Has it been fifteen minutes already? I cling to him, not wanting him to let go and not wanting this to end. But I’m also sobbing, and I don’t understand why.

“I’m going to remove the eye mask now, sweet boy,” he says.