Page 29 of Disciplining Dana

“Dana, come on. I know I’m good at what I do, and I know I’m an equal partner in this relationship, but let’s be real: when it comes to the discovery side of things… that’s all you. I’m simply along for the ride.”

“That’s… that’s nonsense,” she said self-consciously, focusing on the table.

“Except it isn’t. It’s true, and there’s nothing I’d do to change that.”

“Nothing?” She looked up.

Kurt pursed his lips for a second. “Okay, maybe not nothing. I think you could do with some self-discipline, or if not that, then maybe with some help, but otherwise…”

Discipline. Dana frowned internally. Similar to when he’d told her “no,” she felt a tremor flit through her at his use of that word.

But why?

“Anyways, if it sounds like I’m trying to be self-deprecating, I’m really not. I know my strengths, and I know yours. I think we work well together as a team, and I’d hope you do, as well.”

“Of course I do.”

“And—again—I mean that both professionally and… personally.”

Dana caught the look in his eyes, and her pulse rose in response. “Work well together as a team” was hardly romantic language, and yet…

Kurt changed the subject, and for the remainder of the meal, the conversation was light, mostly centering on what an unusual place Rawhide Ranch was. Once they’d both finished eating, he stood, reaching for her hand.

“Come on, I’ll walk you to your room.”

She hesitated for a second, then accepted the gesture, slipping her fingers into his.

They headed through the lobby, stopping for a second to contemplate the massive fireplace, the flames flickering sinuously, the reflection in the windows casting patterns of orange and yellow throughout the space. Kurt tugged her gently, and they moved down the main hallway of their wing until they came to her room’s doorway.

“Come inside?” she asked quietly, staring at him.

Kurt offered only half a breath’s pause before he answered, “Sure.”

Once she’d opened the door, she slipped into the room, and Kurt followed. She tossed the keycard onto the dresser before moving to the foot of the bed and turning to face him.

“So, are you going to be stupid and leave me alone tonight?”

He cocked his head. “Do you want to be left alone?”

She sighed. “So, you are going to be stupid.”

“Oh, c’mon, Dana. That’s some bullshit, and you know it.”

“Oh, do I?”

“Yeah. You were the one who kept telling me nothing’s going to happen while we’re at Rawhide, and now… this.” He made a sweep of his hand.

“All I said was I knew what you were hoping for.”

“And you also said that wasn’t going to happen because you ‘had your reasons’.”

“Okay, you know what, if you don’t want to fuck me again”—she shot him a pointed look—“that’s fine. I mean, we’re here at a BDSM resort, but if all the sudden you want to stop acting like a Dom and let me top from the bottom?—”

She gave a soft “oof!” as Kurt grabbed her by the shoulders, turning her back to the wall and pressing her against it. As his fingers dug in and his waist pinned her in place, what pressed into her answered her original question fully.

“Consent is a fucking thing, Dana,” he growled into her ear. “I’ve never done anything without your consent.”

She drew in a breath, forcing her voice to sound unruffled. “Then I’m telling you I consent to you fucking me tonight. Now whether you can Dom up enough to do that or not is entirely up to you.”

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