My teasing had him chuckling but I wasn’t sure he understood where I was coming from.
“When you’re dancing at the club, that has one set of rules and expectations. I’m expecting to see you in provocative clothing and I’m supposed to keep my hands to my fucking self unless you approach me and tell me otherwise. It’s alook and admire but don’t touchsituation.” His snort said people didn’t always realize that.
But I wasn’t going to let myself get distracted by his dramatic reactions no matter how cute it was when he bitched about morons.
“When we’re at my club together, there would be another set of limits and expectations depending on where we were in our relationship.” His eyes twinkled, but he didn’t call me out on my planning ahead. “The Queen of Drama rules the masses, but he also submits to the Brass Man when appropriate and when fun.”
That had the wheels turning again, but he didn’t ask anything, so I stayed on task. “That means when we’re dating or in private like this, it is perfectly reasonable to expect you to have different limits.”
I was still bowled over by the idea that he thought this was weird, but I tried not to show it. “So…back to the question at hand. How clothed would you like to stay tonight? Let me say that I can figure out a scene that lets you stay completely clothed, so if my pretty bird would like to keep his sexy feathers, I’m not going to complain.”
That had him rolling his eyes again. “The idea of you stripping my feathers is not erotic. Find another example, for god’s sake.”
Okay, he might’ve had a point.
“Drama queen.” Now it was my turn to roll my eyes and give him the teasing he was more comfortable with. Yep. It had him relaxing back into the couch and letting out a deep breath without seeming to realize it.
“I guess my answer is still what I thought to begin with even though I do understand what you were saying better now.” He paused, probably waiting for me to challenge him, but I just waited, which made him grin again. “I don’t have any problems being naked when it is safe and not weird.”
As I chuckled, he winked. “I’m not going to the grocery store with everything hanging out, but I don’t have a lot of issues with nudity, just with idiots.”
Looking down at himself, he frowned. “And most clothes are kind of itchy. Well, most men’s clothes are itchy. I spend so much time in ugly, boring clothes that when I’m not working, I like being naked or in something fun.”
“I can understand that.” My response had him looking up and studying me.
I knew the drama queen was waiting for me to ask what he did for a living, but I wasn’t falling for that trap. I didn’t care what he did. I’d double-checked with Niko that it was legal and wouldn’t lead to questions about moral judgments, and he’d said we were good to go.
Now, the laughter in his eyes was another story, but for the time being, I trusted Niko and I was fascinated by my birdie.
“You’re insane.” When he gave me his standard comeback for when I’d confused him, I just tried not to smile. “So if I’m comfortable with being naked, how does that change your plans? Is it okay to ask that?”
As the wheels turned again, he was clearly thinking about what he’d read or seen online. “We’re supposed to negotiate all this, but what that means seems to vary.”
Smart men were so sexy…and curious ones were even hotter.
“Your questions are always welcome and wanted.” Making that clear, I paused before I continued. “When we’ve been together a few years, we’ll be able to read each other better and you’ll have an idea of what my go-to scenes are between us.”
As he scoffed, clearly thinking I was insane again, he shifted to lean his side against the back of the couch as he studied me. It wasn’t a response, but I loved that he hadn’t outright said I was planning too far in the future.
I was very good and didn’t mention that at all. “For now, is there anything you were curious about or that you really don’t want to explore?”
With his brain going a thousand miles an hour, I waited and drank more of my water as I tried to convey that I wanted him to be honest with me. There would be a learning curve for both of us, but as we started out, I wanted to make him comfortable with this, not push him too much.
“There’s a ton of shit out there that I don’t think I’m interested in.” His answer wasn’t surprising if he’d been doing as much research as I thought he had. “Some of it feels too extreme for me, but after reading up a bit and watching a few videos online, I’m starting to understand what you see in it.”
And what I thought he would like about it?
Reading between the lines, I thought that was what he was trying to say without actually saying it. If I was right, it was a big step between our first conversation and our first scene. I just hoped I was right.
“I’m glad you’ve been reading up on it and not just trusting what I’ve said. That makes me feel more comfortable.” Coming at it from what seemed to be an unexpected direction had his head cocking again.
It took him a second to process something, but after a moment, he reached for his water bottle again, mostly just playing with it. “I’ve read a few things about nonsexual forms of domination. You know, rules and ways a Dom can assert his control without it relating to sexy fun.”
We were clearly leading up to something, but I wasn’t sure if I should be guessing or not. When he paused and looked at me, I knew I had to say something…but what?
“Yes, there are lots of simple and nonsexual ways a Dom and a sub can each get what they need—rules, specific times and ways of contacting each other. There are also kinks that don’t necessarily feel sexual to both parties.”
I knew that didn’t make sense, so I quickly explained. “I met one guy who’s straight or at least straightish and he’s got a thing for being used like a piece of furniture. His Dom uses him like a footstool a few days a week and the rest of the time they have some rules that make the sub feel owned without them having sex.”
