Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Everest
I’d rushed to Penny’s cabin, excited by the news we’d pried from Atlas, and was swinging my arm to knock as I took the final step to her door. Momentum was not in my favor.
As her door opened, my hand flew forward, passing through the threshold, failing to meet wood. Worst timing ever.
“Ahhh!” Penny screamed.
My hand continued forward, as did my step while trying to catch myself. My other hand slapped the door out of her hands and I contorted my body the best I could to fall into it rather than crash into Penny or let the door bounce back and hurt her.
The only part I couldn’t course-correct fast enough was my fist, which lightly grazed her.
Fuck!
“Owww!” Penny shouted as she brought her hands to her face and stumbled backward into her room.
Oh no! Did I hit her harder than I thought? Quickly steadying myself, I grasped her shoulders. “I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
Her eyes remained closed while she took deep breaths.
“I didn’t mean to hit you. I was about to knock on your door when you opened it, and well… terrible timing.”
“That’s a much better explanation than coming in here to hit me.”
Her words seemed to hold levity but I didn’t know her well enough to be sure. My gut was in knots. Of all the things she might enjoy trying at the Ranch, getting hit in the face wasn’t likely to score high even for someone who’s interested in impact play.
“Here, sit on the bed, let me take care of you.”
She shook her head, rubbed her fingers over her non-bloody nose, and took a deep breath through it. “Still works.”
Relief washed over me. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine. You barely touched me, mostly just shock value.”
Our gazes locked, and I sensed a longing.
Did she want me to punch her? Was she into blood play?
No, oh my god, I couldn’t think straight around her.
She wanted to be touched. I let my fingers trail along her arm until I was holding her hand.
Then I brought her fingers to my mouth, picked a fingertip to plant a gentle kiss on, then turned it to touch her nose.
Her eyes flitted downward, and her smile, which had seemed hesitant to form, broke free. “Thank you.”
“I’m sorry we didn’t get off to a better start. I came to offer a massage. If there’s any chance you trust me to touch you?”
She lowered our hands, studied them, and didn’t pull free. “Here in my cabin?”
“No… I mean, yes, we could do it here. But if you’d prefer neutral ground, Master Derek offered a private room in the Dungeon.”
Her breath hitched at that last word. Too much? Too soon? Atlas had said she wanted to meet people and try new things. The only guiding point was that she thought she might be a sub and welcomed firm encouragement.
I took Atlas at his word. He may come across as a callous, cocky ass at times, but he was honorable. He wouldn’t do anything to risk offending a Ranch guest.
Soothing my thumb over her hand, I tried to regroup. “Or we can find somewhere else if that’s not for you.”
She pulled away. “Could we set up an appointment for later?”
The sudden stiffness of her body language more than her words alerted me to her mood shift.
What had I done wrong? Think. Think. Think.
The breath hitch—that meant she liked the Dungeon option.
Stupid me, I’d missed it and gave too many options, no guidance.
As much as I hated to admit it, I needed to channel Atlas’ confidence.
“We could set up an appointment, but if we’re both free now…” Walking a tightrope of being confident but not cocky or assumptive, I remembered that she was opening the door, presumably going somewhere. “I’m sorry, I forgot you were leaving when I…”
“Before you showed up and punched me.” She looked up at me from under her lashes and we burst into laughter.
“You’re not going to let me live that down, are you?”
She composed herself and said, “I might bring it up again, unless you’ll punch me for it.” All composure vanished as her laugh filled the room, but this time she put her hand over her mouth and forced it to stop.
“Don’t stop laughing. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard. So carefree. So pure.”
She ducked her head again. “I don’t normally laugh so hard.”
“Are you blaming me for knocking you senseless?”
“Maybe.” Her smile was as radiant as her laughter.
Dad would kill me for falling for my stepsister. Wait. Was I falling for her? Fuck! Out of all the women in the world, why did I feel like I was head over heels for my stepsister?
My dad’s voice echoed in my brain. “When are you going to grow some judgment, stop acting on every whim?”
There was truth to what he’d told me—I acted on whims, and my father didn’t give out awards for wearing your heart on your sleeve. I’d learned to hide that years ago. But the location of my heart didn’t change how it felt.
And her presence compelled me to be myself.
I pondered her answer. “Maybe, huh… is that your way of saying you’re into impact play? Minus the senseless part.”
A blush crept over her cheeks.
Be confident. I tucked a finger under her chin and lifted her eyes to meet mine. “Impact play… do you want to try that… while you’re here?”
Damned if I couldn’t just stop instead of adding the last part.
“I would consider spanking, but don’t think I want to try anything else. And no mean, hurtful spankings.”
A huge mental exhale was accompanied by my worry that I might not be educated enough on all of these kinks. I’d have to learn fast . “I can assure you, I’d never touch you with the intent of hurting you.”
She pointed at her nose, and her mouth opened to say something, but we cracked up before she got a word out.
She was so sweet, funny, and engaging now that we were alone. Must not be a crowd-loving kind of person.
Grabbing her sides, she gasped for air. “I can’t breathe.”
I ran with the light-hearted mood. “Breath play? Is that a good thing? Being at a kink camp sure can make for confusing conversation. I’m going to need you to be clear.”
“That’s the only type of breath play I could enjoy—laughing.” She caught her breath “I’m wound so tight most of the time. It feels good to just laugh.”
“It’s good to hear you laugh.” Something told me I needed to cherish this moment, keep it simple. “Where were you headed when I showed up?”
“Out for a walk, to explore the grounds and get some air.” Her words were slow at first but quickened to a normal pace.
Offering my hand, I asked, “Could I accompany you on that walk, and when you’ve had enough air, if you’re up for it, I can take you for a massage?”
She worried her lower lip. I wasn’t overstepping. Was I?
“I understand that you want some guidance while you’re here.”
Her eyes widened. Her body stiffened, “Yes, I put that on the form.”
“I hope it’s okay that Erika mentioned it.”
“Yes, I noted that it was fine.”
“Okay, then, I’m guiding you. Walk with me and I’ll show you the private room Master Derek allowed me to set up in. No strings attached.”
She stared at the door then at me. “Sounds like exactly what I signed up for.”
Putting her hand in mine, she dropped a bomb. “I’ve never had a massage.”
A confident guy wouldn’t overreact. So while my heart was jumping for joy out there on my sleeve, I played it cool. “I’ll be happy to be your first.”
I caught how not cool that was at the same point she grimaced and said, “No strings.”
“Right, I meant that I would be happy to be your first masseur.”