Page 35 of Audiophile

“Maybe this isn’t a good idea,” she whispers. There’s a small splash of movement behind the curtain, the shadow of her hand comes up to her face. She’s crying. This was an awful idea. I’m dying to pick her up, carry her to bed, and replace her sadness with bliss.

“Let’s come at this from another angle.” I slide to the floor to sit against the bathtub, hoping that taking her out of my view will help me focus.

“Reed?”

I’ve miscalculated, because the heat at my back and Petra’s voice in my ear distract me in new ways. But if she’s not ready to take charge, I will. “Lay back for me. How do you set the mood at home?”

“Oh no,” she groans. But then she giggles quietly, and the water ripples around her while she shakes. Her chagrined reaction is familiar now. She’ll move past it, if given time. We have plenty of time.

“I’m curious. Tell me, baby.”

Sure enough, her giggles slow into sighs that drift across the back of my neck. “I light candles and add bubbles. Have a glass of wine.”

“What kind?”

“Whatever we have. We stock some pricey wines forBella Vita, but drink the best of the cheaper ones at home.” She relaxes while she speaks, and the water ripples as she slips lower.

“Do you drink it beforehand, or in the bath?”

“Both. And I save a little for…after.”

Something primal in me perks up. “After what?” I ask. She squirms. “I need you to use your words, Pet. I only have words to give you, and you’ll need to do the same.” At my firm tone, she sucks in a sharp breath.

The water shifts behind me. Is she pressing her thighs together? This wasaterribleidea because, though I can’t see her, her smallest moves are amplified. Deafening.

“After I come.”

I wish I could see her to check if I’m pushing too hard. I want to push harder. Want to see if my doe thrives under pressure. “Good job, baby.”

“Oh.” She sighs, and water splashes against the side of the tub. She’s torturing me.

“There she is,” I murmur, letting my voice drop down. “What’s your favorite nickname? Baby? Kitten? Sweetest? Darling?”

There’s a loaded pause, but I wait her out. “Anything is fine.”

“The foundation of trust here is honesty, Petronia. I’m trusting you to be honest with me. To tell me your favorites and what your limits are. I’ll ask again: what do you want me to call you? Am I going the wrong direction? Do you want to be my filthy little slut instead?”

“Baby is nice. Darling is…” she clears her throat. “I like when you call me Pet.”

I swallow my moan as my cock swells. She wants me to talk toher, not someone interchangeable.Kinley always preferred DK, and I was nothing more than an afterthought. But it’s just Petra and Reed in this bathroom. I can’t tell if she’s caught in my trap or I’m caught in hers. She could do anything now and I’d still be putty at her feet.

“I appreciate your words, Pet. Keep using them and you’ll be rewarded. Now, lay back.” There’s a ripple of air as she does, without question. “Do you want an imaginary scene, or do you want me to tell you what to do?”

Her voice is shaky. “Your choice, Reed.”

Her surrender sends electricity down my spine. It’s hot, powerful, and dangerous. I want to ground her to this moment with me. “Lift your foot, flex and point your toes. How does the air feel?”

The water drips as she obeys. “Not freezing, but the water is much warmer.”

“Switch,” I command.

“But I—”

“No arguing.” I have to hide my smile. “Foot on the tap, Pet. Is your hair up or down?”

“Up. Would you prefer it down, sir?” she asks. Maybe she is a natural submissive, but we need to move at a pace she can handle.

“How considerate. Hair up is fine. Breathe deep with me. With the pads of your fingers, massage around your hairline and your temples. Move down your cheeks, your jaw. Easy little circles.” I follow my own commands with one hand to provide me the feedback I need to guide her. She sighs as water drips into the bath from her fingers, wrists, or elbows. It destroys me that I can’t tell from where. “What a deep sigh, baby. Feeling tense?”

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