Chapter 12
Ferris
“I really don’t understand why that waiter went from polite to rude so quickly.” As we walked out the door, I turned to look at Palmer who’d gone very quiet. “Alright, what did I do?”
“Nothing bad, boy.” Master squeezed my hand and looked a bit like he wanted to kiss my head if I was reading his expression right. “It was cute.”
Ugh.
He was trying not to smile too.
Leaning my head toward him, I sighed when he kissed my hair and nearly giggled. “You’re so smart. I’ve been wanting to do that all night.”
“I don’t think I mind but I’ve never done that in public, so I don’t know.” I needed to read more about male-on-male relationships before I was sure. “What did I do that was so cute?”
Master was still very pleased with the situation, so I knew he wasn’t frustrated and that made it easier to ask.
I didn’t like the not-knowing feeling that was coursing through me, but something about Master or maybe his delight at the situation made it easier to process.
“The waiter spent half the meal trying to get your attention. He seemed to think we were on some kind of business dinner and it crushed his dirty little heart when he heard you ask me what kind of dessert we should have for our first date.”
Oh.
Really?
“He wasn’t just being polite for a better tip?” People did that all the time. “Waiters are generally nice. It’s dates that are terrible.”
Hmm.
“Not this one, of course.” It’d gone fairy well so far and I’d been promised a reward and to be able to explore his body more. “You’re a very good date.”
“Thank you.” He squeezed my hand as he walked me over to my car, but he had the same look that he’d had on the bed at the club, giving me the impression he was ready for more touching.
“But no. He was not just being polite for a better tip. Um. Let’s see.
Oh. How close he was standing to you was one signal.
Another would be the way he kept brushing his hand against yours every time he did something like refill your water.
Also the amount of eye contact he made before studying your body. ”
“Oh.” Oh dear. “Thank you for explaining that. Women don’t flirt that way.”
Men flirted differently.
Why hadn’t anyone explained that?
Oh.
Master laughed, shaking his head. “What did you just realize?”
“That my barista seems to have been trying to get me to ask him out for months.” Master’s grin said he wasn’t frustrated but I wasn’t sure how I felt. “He does the same things. I thought it was just how all waiters acted.”
There seemed to be a scale of how strangely polite they were and it went from boring polite to a more enthusiastic kind.
Enthusiastic meant looking for a male-on-male relationship, evidently.
Someone should’ve explained that better.
“I think the problem is that your calm, let’s call it stoic demeanor is throwing them off and putting you into a more dominant category for them.
” Master must’ve realized I had no idea why that was because he immediately explained without my having to ask.
“Entertainment media always portrays Doms as stern-faced and serious. It’s given an inaccurate image of what it means to be someone on the more dominant side of relationships.
Your barista is probably waiting for you to sweep him off his feet and take charge of his life. ”
Good grief.
“That’s...” Terrible and confusing. “How was I ever supposed to know that?”
Master frowned as his head cocked. “That’s a very good question that I’m going to need to think about.”
At least it wasn’t a stupid one?
“Dating has been difficult, and if at all possible, I’d like you to stick around long enough that I don’t have to do it again for a very long time. Very long.” Very. “Um, and I’m enjoying our date, so that’s another reason I want to make sure things work out.”
Master laughed again, so I hadn’t been rude. “Deal. I don’t like dating either.”
If he didn’t like it, the problems I’d run into might not have been just about me.
“I like dating you and I’m going to like getting rewards too.” I wasn’t worried about being subtle. “Have you decided how our evening should go?”
“I have a few options planned out.” Master leaned back against the hood of my car as we stopped at the back of the parking lot. “But questions first to establish limits. How do you feel about the idea of coming to my home?”
“Green.” Conner had made it clear that anyone at the club had gone through a background check and he’d promised not to introduce me to anyone questionable.
Considering how many of their members worked for the government or were government-adjacent, that was a good way to explain it.
“Are you comfortable with me coming to your home?”
That seemed reasonable to know as well.
“Yes, I’m green with that too.” Master’s fingers started stroking mine as he studied my face, but I wasn’t sure what he was thinking. “Are you comfortable with the same type of touching and limits we had at the club when it comes to intimacy?”
“Yes. I’m green.” Nothing he’d done had been negative or too confusing. “I’ve also thought about touching you and I haven’t discovered any negative thoughts or limits around that.”
Even my dreams had been neutral to positive, so it looked like my subconscious was green as well.
“That was going to be my next question, so thank you for explaining that.” Still looking thoughtful but not negative, he nodded to himself. “I would like you to follow me to my home so we can relax there and have our scene and your reward.”
“That sounds like a good plan.” Something made him smile again, but I thought that might’ve been because I hadn’t waited long enough to reply. “I’ve spent a lot of my free time over the last couple of days looking for problems and haven’t found any.”
The date had been my biggest issue and it’d gone smoothly so far.
“I’m glad.” Swinging my arm, his smile grew wider. “And I’m glad we’re going to get some privacy because I don’t think you realize how hard it’s been to keep my hands to myself. Those pants, boy.”
Ha.
I’d dressed right.
“They’re the tightest I own that don’t make my skin uncomfortable, so I thought you’d like them.
” Master’s chest jerked but he didn’t laugh out loud.
It would’ve been okay if he had, though, because I could understand why this time.
“I haven’t gotten enough chances to walk in front of you yet, but the internet said you’d probably enjoy it if I did. ”
Oh.
He groaned.
Research was paying off.
“I would’ve liked that, boy, so I’ll make sure you get more chances when I’m showing you around the house.” Master looked aroused but huffed. “Now we need more privacy because I should not adjust my erection in public.”
I’d turned him on.
“If we were living in one of the pornographic movies I found online, you’d have pushed me down to my knees so I could handle that for you.
” That didn’t seem to be hygienic at all, but his soft moan said not understanding the passion behind that idea was a me issue.
as people would call it. “My real Dom wouldn’t do that, but fantasies aren’t always practical. ”
“They’re hot, though, and we just found a new one for me to test out later this week.” Somehow looking like he’d gotten bigger and more powerful, Master’s stern gaze sent a shiver through me. “Not tonight, though. Why?”
I knew the answer to that question.
“Because you’re going to get an orgasm with me tonight.” Probably when I got to kiss his cock, but we’d have to see what else he had in mind. “Can I give it to you?”
“Can you give me my orgasm?” When I nodded, he let out what was obviously a needy sound. “I would love that, boy.”
I really should’ve found a Dom to date a lot earlier in life.
Realizing that the waiter had been flirting proved that not all men were good at being clear, but Doms were another story altogether.
“Good.” We had a plan. “Will you put your address in my map app to make sure I don’t lose you?”
I hadn’t seen him drive yet, so I wasn’t going to take any chances.
“Yes.” Releasing my hand, he smiled and straightened as I dug for my phone. “Is there anything else you want to know about me before I take you to my place or anyone you want to text to let them know where you’re going?”
Oh.
“I’ve had women on dates do that.” It hadn’t occurred to me to be the worried one in this situation. “I don’t have any family and my work colleagues are too strange and nosy to be my in case of kidnapping person.”
When Master laughed, I realized how that sounded. “A woman a couple of years ago described it that way and it was the most helpful explanation anyone gave me.”
I wasn’t sure why someone well over a foot taller than me who played semi-pro basketball would think I was a threat but fear wasn’t logical at all. Luckily for her, I was smarter than that and had just done a quick background check to make sure she was reasonably safe.
She was not.
So I’d made sure not to go alone with her anywhere. However, the Thai restaurant she’d wanted to try had been worth the slightly odd adventure.
I’d met a very nice man once on work release who’d shown me that not all people with a criminal past were bad people, but he’d also given me a few safety tips like not leaving public areas with individuals who had impulse control issues.
Oh.
Master laughed as he looked up from my phone. “Found another one, huh?”
“Yes.” Men needed to be a lot clearer. “That’s frustrating.”
“No, that’s just better for me.” Waggling his eyebrows, he had a teasing smile that made me want to shake my head. “I like being your first date with a man.”
“This has gone so well, I think it’s worked out as it should.” One of my foster mothers had said that sometimes things just worked out like they were meant to. “From a very practical standpoint, the other men who seemed to have found me attractive enough to date weren’t good communicators.”
Still chuckling, Master handed my phone back. “That would’ve guaranteed problems, but we’re both very good at communicating.”
“It’s making this much easier.” All of it. “I think my favorite part of communicating with you so far is you clearly explain what you like and what you want.”
No guessing.
It was actually amazing.
“What do I want right now?” His grin and something about the tone of his voice made his teasing clear, but I knew the answer.
“Primarily, you want cuddles and to be able to touch me because you like interacting physically when you’re relaxed and happy.
Secondarily, I think you’re looking forward to rewarding me.
” He seemed to enjoy exploring scenes and touching with me, so I had a feeling that would be at the front of his mind.
“Having a smart sub is very sexy.” He was probably still teasing in one form or another, but I was just glad he didn’t mind me being smart.
I’d run into a lot of people who’d found that frustrating.
“Keep that in mind when you’re ready to reward me.” Getting another laugh from him had pride running through me. “I have it on good authority that reminding you of all the good things I’ve done over the past couple of days is also helpful.”
His chest jerked but he tried to look serious. “I think I need to question what you’ve been researching online.”
Anything and everything.
“I will admit to having a more interesting internet search history than I’ve ever expected to.” The memes about being on watch lists were starting to make more sense. The search for knowledge led down strange paths. “Education is very important to good communication.”
So I didn’t look stupid.
I might not understand everything I’d read, but I hopefully had a varied enough reading history not to be startled no matter what we discussed.
“That sounds sexy.” Something about his tone said he was half serious about that, but he didn’t give me enough clues before he distracted me again. “Do you have any questions about what we might do tonight?”
Well, yes.
“What side of the gagging debate do you come down on?” I wasn’t sure how doing anything poorly could be arousing, but I knew I didn’t see anything the same way most men did. “Some men find it sexually arousing but some men found it to be too close to the sound of someone vomiting.”
I’d never run into it, so I had no idea how the sound would affect me.
Master’s head cocked. “I guess it could be close to that sound if someone was disturbed by it.”
That was good to know.
Giving himself a moment to think, Master finally straightened.
“I’m on the side of it being situationally dependent.
If gagging got a negative feeling from you, then we won’t do anything to give you that reaction.
If you’re simply focused on making me happy or exploring my erection, I would definitely enjoy it. ”
Perfect.
“Thank you for being flexible until we figure that out.” The internet didn’t agree with much but it did agree on being able to fully take an erection was the top way to appreciate one.
And there was no reason to aim for second place.