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“Where did you learn to spank? You said you’d never been a Daddy, and I don’t think you’ve been a Dom, but I’m missing something.” As he stroked his fingers over my chest, it felt like he was thinking about asking for dessert just to chase away his nerves.

“I have not been a Dom, but yes, I learned some skills I thought I would need to use in the club.” Not sure how much to say, I inched us deeper into the part I thought he wouldn’tlike. “I’d heard bits and pieces about BDSM, but the parts I was exposed to didn’t do anything for me.”

Dessie let out a giggle. “Some of the stuff online or that people talk about is hard to understand.”

Oh yes.

“I won’t say it was weird because that would be rude.” It’d been weird, though. “Let’s just say it wasn’t for me. I prefer the lighter side of BDSM that I’m getting to know from you.”

If I’d found age play first, my perception of BDSM might’ve been completely different.

“I like helping you get to know it.” There was a smile in his voice but it slowly faded as his fingers shifted to just petting me back and forth. “But…but where did you learn about the other parts? You know, I was looking you up online because you’re clearly magic, but that wasn’t online education stuff.”

“Are you saying I was such an amazing spanker that it couldn’t have been just theoretical knowledge?” I wasn’t surprised when he nodded. “Well, you are very smart for picking that up so quickly.”

My slip of the tongue earlier hadn’t helped.

“You didn’t seem to date anyone and there was no one around you that I know from the club who could’ve shown you.” Fingers went back to dancing as he got the words out. “You know a few people from there but no one you would’ve been that personal with.”

He was very smart.

“Did Silas and Austin show you?” He sat up, frowning at me. “I don’t know how I would feel about that.”

“Oh fuck no.” My immediate response had him sagging against me. “There is no situation where Austin would end up being my teacher or the person I practiced on.”

Was that what he’d been worried about?

“It might be mean but I’m glad. I don’t know if I could share with Austin. He’s…and I’m…” Sighing, Dessie shrugged. “I’m just glad I don’t have to deal with that.”

“Me too.” That would not have been an easy experience. “My teacher is no one you will ever have to meet and you have not met them. They’re not in my social circle, and in fact, they’d laugh at the idea of being involved in the club or anything like this. They like their privacy.”

Shifting slightly, Dessie nodded against me. “Okay, so they’re…they’re someone you don’t know here? A friend from somewhere else?”

I really should’ve planned the conversation out better.

However, in my defense, I’d thought I’d have more time to prepare.

“I would say we’re more business acquaintances.” Dessie went very still but he didn’t move away from me. “They were someone I met when I was at my lowest and needed a situation where I felt I was in control.”

He was breathing, but he was completely silent otherwise.

After the longest moments of my life, he sat up and his expression was bouncing between confused and thoughtful. “Daddy…I…”

He paused, taking a breath before trying again. “I…shoot.”

I agreed completely.

“I know all the wrong words for what I think you’re talking about but not the polite ones.” Dessie frowned, clearly not liking his limited vocabulary, but I wasn’t much help because I was an asshole who wanted to laugh.

“Um, Daddy, are you…are you trying to tell me that you have a friend that does friendly stuff in exchange for the ability to pay their bills?” Dessie blinked then nodded to himself like he thought that was polite enough that he wasn’t going to feel guilty. “Well, that might not be the right way to say it but that’s polite.”

“Yes. That’s polite and I think it’s a good way to say it too.” At the very least it was adorable and a wonderful way to describe someone who was at the top of their field. “I do have someone I had a business relationship with who provided company and physical relief.”

They weren’t cheap but they were incredibly discreet and one of the top professionals in the entire world. Anyone on the outside looking in thought they were a slightly nerdy scientist in the right circles of New York society, but it was theirhobbythat really paid the bills.

When Dessie simply stared at me, I eased a bit further into the explanation. “They signed a strict nondisclosure agreement and helped me come to terms with a few things. They never…we never…”

Damn it all.

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