Page 104 of Redline Baby

He eases me back enough to look at me. "The battery died. Batteries die."

Oh.

"You didn't know until the overlook."

"No."

"So that wasn't a choice."

I stare at him. Soren's thumb brushes once under my eye.

"What did you do after you found out?"

Shit. I look away.

"Kit. There were people there. With phones."

"Yes."

"Did you ask to borrow one?"

"No."

"Why?"

I swallow. "I got scared."

"Of me?"

"Not exactly."

He waits.

"Of having to admit it. Of calling you when you'd probably already been trying to reach me. I don't know."

Soren nods once. "That part is the infraction."

My face heats.

"You had a communication problem you didn't create. Then you found the solution standing all around you and chose not to use it because you were uncomfortable."

Fuck. When he says it like that. "I'm sorry."

"I know." His forehead touches mine briefly. "You don't get punished for batteries dying. You do get held accountable for knowing how to fix the communication problem and deciding to disappear instead."

"Yes, Daddy."

He kisses my forehead. "It's okay, baby boy. Daddy isn't mad."

My throat tightens.

"You'll still have a consequence."

"Okay."

He watches me for a moment. "Would you be comfortable with a public spanking?"

My reaction surprises even me. I giggle. When I was with Charles, we used to do public scenes at Redline all the time. I loved them.