Page 8 of Marking Micah

“Things? Like what?” she asked, looking genuinely confused, as if she truly had no idea how insanely attracted to her he’dalways been. But her cheeks were also turning a pretty shade of pink, and he swore it was more than just embarrassment.

He cleared his throat once more. “I guess it depends on exactly what we’re negotiating,” he answered truthfully, but also trying to shift the focus. “Can you tell me what you think you’ll be okay with? Or what you’re not okay with?”

“Um… I don’t really know where to start. It would be a lot easier if you’d just ask me questions. Is that okay?”

“Sure. Of course.” Damn, she had to make it harder on him, didn’t she? “All right. Let’s start with kissing. Is that a yes, a no, or a maybe? Kissing can be more intimate than even sexual contact for a lot of people, so if that’s a no, I understand.”

“I feel like there’s a sweetness about kissing that I… I might need.” Her cheeks were really going red now, and she looked so fresh and innocent with her eyes brightening at talking about nothing more than kissing. “Is that okay, Arrow? I know it crosses into new territory for us. But I think if us scening in the dungeon here is going to help me to trust again, then I sort of need to get that vulnerable. I mean, I feel like if it comes up naturally during a scene, then I want to be sure we’ve already discussed it. I’m not saying I’m asking for it to happen.” She paused and he could see the confusion on her lovely face. “But if you’d rather not… well, as you said, we’ve been friends these last five years, so…” She stopped and shrugged.

He nodded. “Yeah, I get that—all of it. That you might need to feel that close in order to really open up.” But how vulnerable was kissing this woman he’d wanted since the moment they’d met going to makehim? He was going to need every ounce of strength he possessed to keep himself in control of the situation. But he also couldn’t deny her. “And yes, it’s okay. Of course it is, friendship or not.”

“But… this might be a stupid question, but do you want to kiss me? Because if not, then I really feel like an idiot for even bringing it up.”

“Micah. I can’t imagine anyone on this planet not wanting to kiss you. I already feel so close to you, and Lord knows you’re a beautiful woman. Yeah, I’m not that dumb.”

She let out a long breath and even smiled, her face lighting up in a way that made his pulse run hot and his heart beat like a drum in his chest.

“Okay. Okay. Good. What else?” she asked.

“What about playing naked? What level of nudity will be comfortable for you?”

“Can we start with some lingerie, maybe? And to be honest, I’m so uncomfortable with my… with my scars. When I played with Tracy and Darla at The Rodeo, I always kept them covered with a long-sleeved top and thigh high socks. And I’ve never played naked at the clubs. But I want you to… to be able to touch me. Plus, I know impact play feels different with clothes on.”

Her pretty skin flushed again, and she bit her lip, her white teeth coming down on that plush, pink flesh. This woman had no idea how enticing she was. But his body sure as hell knew. Every nerve was on fire with the idea of putting his hands on her, with the thought of coming to know exactly how silky her skin was, what her softly curved frame would feel like under his hands.

He nodded. “Of course. And yeah, impact play always feels thuddier through fabric, and I know you prefer sting. Or, you used to, at least. I guess we’ll see if that’s changed. We can always renegotiate if and when you change your mind about it. Just know I’m going to check in with you regularly during a scene, on all fronts—about any sensation play, and the type of contact, and especially your head space,” he said, wondering what the hell was wrong with him that he was tap-dancing around talking about touching her. “This will be new for bothof us, and while I’ve watched you play, and I’m somewhat familiar with your breath patterns and subtle signals, I’ve never experienced it first-hand. I may not initially be able to read you completely, so it’ll be important for you to use your safewords with me.”

“Yes, of course.”

“And as far as that sexual contact, let’s put some limits on it for now. Because you’re already in a vulnerable spot even being here.” And apparently, so was he, but he wasn’t about to say that out loud. “I think we should revisit it in a day or two—or longer, if I think you’re getting too raw to make a decision about it.”

“I guess that makes sense,” she answered.

Was that disappointment he saw on her face as she lowered her lashes for a moment? Or was his imagination working overtime because of his own desires?

“Arrow?”

Her sweet face looked nervous again. He hadn’t meant to make that worse, for fuck’s sake.

“Did I say the wrong thing somewhere along the way, darlin’?”

She shook her head. “Not wrong, no. But… I asked to renegotiate sexual contact for a reason. I totally trust you to know if it’s not right for me, but I just want to be able to… to do whatever needs to happen, whatever feels organic, without any unnecessary constraints. Without having to stop the scene. But you have to let me know if I’m asking for too much because I can’t… If I am, I need to know why. Please.”

Her eyes were damp with unshed tears, and he suddenly felt like the biggest asshole on the planet. He sure as hell knew how to get in his own way sometimes.

“Shit. I’m sorry, Micah. I only suggested that because I’m concerned for your well-being. It’s not that I don’t want to go there with you. I didn’t want you to feel pressured in any way,and maybe I went too far in the other direction. Is that it? Did I make you feel rejected? Because I wouldn’t want to do that, not in a million years.”

She shrugged, and he felt like even more of an asshole.

“You don’t need to say it. I’m sorry, honey. Whatever feels right is on the table, okay? I’m sorry for being an overprotective Neanderthal.”

That made her smile a bit. “You’re not hairy enough to be a Neanderthal, but okay.”

He gave her hand a squeeze. “Thanks for putting up with me,” he said, lifting her hand to brush a kiss across the back of it, and hell, her skin was like satin under his lips. “Okay, then. Is there anything else you feel we need to address tonight?”

“I don’t think so. What about you?”

The woman was perceptive. And a good bottom always understood that negotiations were as much for their Top as for them.

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