Page 25 of Celebrating the Season

“Can I ask you something?”

He hummed in response, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on my arm. “Of course, sweetheart. What’s on your mind?”

I took a deep breath, feeling my cheeks heat. “In the shower, when you…? I mean, the way you took charge. Do you…? Is that something you’re into? Like, being dominant?”

Ellery was quiet for a moment, and I worried I’d overstepped. But when he spoke, his voice was thoughtful and measured. “I wouldn’t say I’m a Dom, but yes, I do enjoy taking control. It’s more a…mild form of domestic discipline, I guess.”

My breath caught in my throat. “What does that mean?”

Ellery shifted, turning to face me more directly. His blue eyes were intense as they met mine. “It means I like to set boundaries, provide structure. Sometimes, that involves discipline, like spanking. But it’s always consensual, always discussed beforehand.”

I couldn’t help the shiver that ran through me at his words. “Oh,” I breathed, my mind racing with possibilities.

“It’s not about humiliation or pain. For me, it’s about care, about helping my partner feel safe and cherished. Does that make sense?”

My mind was racing, filled with a heady mix of excitement and nerves. I couldn’t stop fidgeting, my fingers tapping an irregular rhythm on Ellery’s chest.

“So, um,” I started, my words tumbling out faster than I could control them. “When you say discipline, like, what do you mean? Is it spanking, or are there other things? And how often? Would it be, like, a regular thing or just when I mess up? Not that I mess up a lot, I mean, sometimes I forget stuff, or I talk too much, which I’m doing right now, aren’t I? Sorry, I just?—”

Ellery’s deep chuckle vibrated through his chest, cutting off my rambling. His hand came up to cup my cheek, thumb stroking over my skin. “Breathe, sweetheart,” he murmured, his blue eyes twinkling with amusement and affection.

I took a deep breath, my cheeks heating under his gaze. “Sorry, I get a little…overexcited sometimes.”

“I like your enthusiasm.” He paused, his expression growing more serious. “But to answer your questions, yes, it could involve spanking or maybe no devices for a day. It’s not about punishment though. It’s about helping you feel grounded, giving you structure.”

I nodded, drinking in every word. “That…actually sounds kind of nice,” I admitted, surprised by how much the idea appealed to me. “Or is that not something we could do in the time we have? I mean, I am leaving right after Christmas, so we only have, like, six days or so. Is that enough to even try this?”

Ellery’s smile was gentle. “We can experiment with it for sure, sweetheart. We’ll take it slow, I promise. We’ll talk about everything first, set clear boundaries. Your comfort and consent are the most important things to me.”

My heart swelled at his words, a warm feeling of safety washing over me. “Thank you,” I whispered, leaning in to press a soft kiss to his lips.

The fire crackled, casting a warm glow across the living room. Outside, snowflakes drifted lazily past the window, blanketing the world in white. Ellery had told me the forecast was for a foot of snow and that it would take a while before the road was cleared. Who cared? Not me.

I nestled deeper into Ellery’s embrace, relishing the solid warmth of his body against mine. My fingers traced lazy patterns on Ellery’s chest, feeling the soft hair beneath his shirt. “This is nice. I could get used to this.”

Ellery’s chuckle rumbled through his chest. “Yeah?” he asked, his hand running up and down my back. “Even with all this snow trapping you here in the middle of nowhere?”

I tilted my head to look at him, a grin tugging at my lips. “Are you kidding? Trapped in a cozy cabin with a hot older guy who wants to spank me? This is like every fantasy I never knew I had.”

His eyes crinkled with amusement. “Is that so?” he asked, his voice dropping to a low, teasing growl that sent shivers down my spine. “I’ll have to remember that.”

I felt my cheeks flush, but I held his gaze. “Please do.”

Ellery’s expression softened and he pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. “You’re something else, Boaz,” he said quietly. “I hope you know that.”

I ducked my head, overwhelmed by the emotion in his voice. “I’m just me.” I fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. “Nothing special.”

“Hey.” Ellery tilted my chin to meet his eyes again. “Don’t sell yourself short. You’re bright, talented, and full of life. And in case you haven’t noticed, I’m pretty fond of you.”

My heart swelled, and I blinked against the sudden sting of tears. “I’m pretty fond of you too.”

9

ELLERY

The snow that had started drifting down as Boaz and I drove back from the Winter Festival was still falling the next day. It had a serene beauty, especially when watching it from the comforts of my cozy and warm cabin. The fire was crackling and Boaz and I were lounging in my living room after sleeping in, followed by a late breakfast. I was reading a book, and he was nestled against me, doing something on his iPad.

He had trouble sitting still, which amused me. How did that kid have so much energy he was bouncing? Yet it didn’t bother me. I found it adorable.

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