“I agree. But the chances of that are slim.He’s already mentioned being interested in you and as long as you have similar…interests,I think your odds are very good.” Realistically, his odds were better than mineon nearly every date I’d ever been on.
He finally looked a bit nervous and blushedfaintly. “I’ve never done anything like that. Do you think he’d mind?”
“Judging from my Master’s reactions when itcame to my inexperience, I would conclude that it will not be an issue.” Infact, the data would indicate that he’d like being the one to teach Coffee ShopGuy, but I wasn’t sure enough of that to volunteer the information.
“Did he say I was too young for him?”Coffee Shop Guy was back to leaning against the table. “I haven’t dated infor-fucking-ever, but some older guys just don’t like dating younger men. Well,the really nice guys don’t seem to like dating too young.”
I could relate to that. “It’s the weird sleazyones that seem to skew toward younger men. But I don’t think that will be anissue with Warner. He doesn’t mind that Master is older than I am…and I’mfairly certain they’re close in age.”
I should have asked more questions aboutMaster’s friends.
“What the hell.” He sat up again. “You onlylive once. I’ll do it.”
With that decided, I glanced down at myphone. “I have to get back to work. Um, is it appropriate to give you mynumber?”
If he turned out to be insane or some kindof stalker, Master was never going to make me attempt to friend anyoneagain…what were the odds of that?
“That’d be great.” His smile said nice guy,though, not stalker.
Damn.
As we started to exchange contactinformation something else occurred to me.
Maybe I should’ve talked to Master aboutthis first.
****
“I talked tosomeone today, but I might not have made the right choices. But I talked tothem so I get my reward, but I don’t know if I need to be punished too.” It wasentirely possible that I should’ve waited until after he finished opening thedoor to explain the problem.
Studying me for a moment, Stuart steppedback. “Come inside first. Did you forget you had a key?”
“Oh, yes I did.” That was a recent enoughdevelopment that I hadn’t even thought of it.
That had him trying not to smile and doinga terrible job of it. “First, is this an emergency or are you simply concernedabout your choices?”
“Concerned about my choices.” That answergot me a kiss on the forehead.
“Then put your clothes away and come kneel.When we’re ready, you’re going to tell me what happened, and I’ll decide aboutpunishments and rewards.”
Relief rushed through me. Just knowing hewas going to sort through everything made me feel better. “Thank you, Master.”
He stroked my cheek and smiled. “Making newfriends is hard.”
“It really is.” It felt like the afternoonhad been a thousand hours long.
I got another kiss, this time slow andtender on the lips, before he pulled away. “I’m going to go get dinner out ofthe oven.”
Nodding, I started stripping off my shoesand socks. “Yes, Master.”
Stripping off my clothes in the foyerseemed almost second nature now. I had a feeling that the hardest part aboutmoving in was going to be figuring out when I wore clothes and when I should benaked. Just thinking about it made me realize that wasn’t on our list of thingsto talk about.
I made a mental note to add it as Ifinished removing my clothes and folding them in the basket. Something aboutthe simple routine had the stress I’d been carrying around fading, and as Ireached up to stroke the chain around my neck, I had a hard time rememberingwhy I’d been so worried.
As soon as I felt the calm come over me, Iwent into the living room and over to my cushion. Master had it positioned bythe couch and as I took my place, the last of my frustrations faded.
“Beautiful.” Master’s voice coming from thedoorway to the kitchen made me smile, but I stayed still, resting my hands onmy thighs just like I was supposed to.
His fingers trailed over my head and downmy face as he came around me and sat down on the couch. When I was surroundedby his legs and his hands were stroking my face and neck, he smiled, kissing myforehead. “Who did you talk to today?”
