Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
“No, that’s just mean.” He pouted, resting his elbows on the table so he could cradle his head in his hands. “Can’t you spank me?”
I scoffed. “That wouldn’t be a punishment.”
He’d been clear about that in our limits talk the other night.
Thankfully he’d been very open about what he wanted and enjoyed, so I didn’t have to worry about not knowing what he liked and what was a solid no.
Grinning, he shrugged, but I could see the sparkle in his eyes. “That’s not the point. We can still call it a punishment.”
Rolling my eyes, I sighed. “No.”
When he whined, I shook my head and stayed firm. “Punishments will be something terrible like writing lines or standing in the corner, depending on how little you are. If you’re big and you need to be punished, it will be based around helping you learn a lesson, not getting off.”
Hunter winced. “That’s terrible.”
Laughter would send the wrong message and encourage him, but it was hard to hold back. “Then don’t get in trouble.”
I’d made it clear that my big issues were being treated with respect and for him to treat himself with respect, so I didn’t anticipate having to actually punish him. When he wanted attention, he might act out, but we had to figure out the right language for him to express his needs.
Studying the idea for a moment, I reached out and stroked the back of his hand. “I understand the point of pushing my buttons just enough to get a spanking or something rough but still desirable. However, instead of you asking if you’re going to be punished for doing something, let’s work on differentiating the two ideas.”
The teasing pout faded as he listened to what I was saying. “So different vocabulary to show what outcome I’m hoping to get?”
“Yes.” I wasn’t sure how it would look, but I searched for a jumping-off point. “So instead of teasing and asking if you were going to be punished, the tease could be followed by asking if you were naughty or cheeky or a brat. We’d save the words related to punishment for actually crossing a boundary that we both agreed to.”
I wanted him to be able to be cheeky and push my buttons to get a reaction without us ending up miscommunicating.
His head bobbed slowly as he thought about it, but I liked that he wasn’t just reacting to the first thing that’d popped in his head.
As I trailed my fingers over his, I waited and soaked up the atmosphere of the small bistro restaurant. The food was good and the moody atmosphere was attractive, but my favorite part was the privacy and the space between the tables.
No one was going to overhear our conversation, and no one would notice how his foot was teasing mine…or what I might do to him as the evening continued.
“I think that makes sense.” His thoughtful tone was accompanied by a gentle smile. “And this way I don’t have to worry about coming across confusingly.”
“And I don’t have to worry about not reading the situation right.” Eventually I’d get over misreading our first time together so badly…but it wasn’t going to be anytime soon.
I knew myself well enough to acknowledge that.
There was a flash of something tender and understanding on his face before the teasing side bounced to the surface again. “And I get to drive you nuts and be naughty.”
Whatever he was thinking sent a shiver through him as he whimpered, and I found myself shaking my head. “You’re going to end up spanked so often I’ll have to find a new way to discipline my cheeky sub.”
“Oh.” His eyes widened, and he licked his lips. “I like that word.”
“Discipline?” His faint nod said I’d guessed right, but the way he shivered and the needy look on his face would’ve said I’d hit the nail on the head without the sexy sound effects.
Squeezing his hand, I lowered my tone and looked right into his eyes. “I plan on thoroughly disciplining my naughty sub once we finish our date.”
The sexy whimper he let out sent a flood of desire through me, but it was his barely restrained frustration as our waiter came over that had me chuckling. “Naughty boy.”
Oh yes, he was going to make sure I had a reason to spank him later, but for the time being, he played the polite date. It wasn’t until we’d ordered and had our privacy again that his cheeky side came back.
This time he peeked up at me through his lashes and rubbed his foot against mine. “I was very polite to the waiter. I didn’t even say anything naughty.”
He was as subtle as a two-by-four, so I nodded. “You were. I think a reward will be in order if you keep up the good behavior.”
That had another shiver running through him, so I could only assume that rewards were going to be just as important as punishments and presents.