Page 8 of Experiments in Love
That didn’t surprise me one bit.
“Oh, and I like talking, so it takes a lot to get me to the point where I can’t respond to something.” Shrugging, Kennedy sighed. “That’s annoying to some people.”
“Not to me.” I found him to be wonderfully refreshing. “I work by myself a lot, so talking to you is recharging my social battery.”
“That’s very helpful.” Inching closer, probably thinking he was being subtle, his gaze dropped to my lap for a second. “I didn’t think batteries could work like that.”
Such a naughty cutie.
“The chances of you seeing my erection through these pants while I’m sitting are slim. Eyes up here, please.” Kennedy pouted but his eyes met mine again. “Thank you.”
“Do I say you’re welcome?” His confused look was so cute I wanted to kiss it off him. “Some of the subs in books do and some don’t. I don’t really understand why they don’t. Oh, some books don’t have the Master saying thank you either.”
I wasn’t going to ask what he’d been reading…he’d tell me in great detail.
“I will say thank you when you’ve been obedient and when it’s appropriate at other times. I think you’re going to say you’re welcome because it’s what you’re used to, so that’s fine.” I wasn’t going to try to make him filter what he said just to jump throughhoops. “But it’s not something about a sub’s behavior that would be a hot button for me. Intent counts more to me than actions.”
And I was pretty sure that was going to be the only way he got called a good boy often enough to make him feel confident.
Kennedy made a few thoughtful sounds and inched closer again. “So, if I’m trying to be a good sub but something goes cockeyed, you’re not going to be angry?”
“No.” We were going to end up with some interesting rules. “As long as I can see that you were trying to behave, that’ll be what’s important.”
I wasn’t sure Kennedy believed me even though he didn’t say that directly. Something about his expression looked very skeptical, even if he was trying to hide it. “What kind of questions did you want to ask me?”
It seemed to be a very Kennedy way to change the subject, so I let him. “First of all, I need to know your safeword and then where you’re comfortable with me touching. Can I touch your hands? Your face? Over your clothes?”
Kennedy’s needy shiver said more than enough even before his mouth opened, but I wanted to clarify a few things first, so I kept talking. “There are no right or wrong answers. I can thoroughly enjoy my time with you tonight keeping my hands to myself.”
Sitting up straighter, Kennedy looked like he was giving himself an internal pep talk of some sort. “The stoplight system, please, and I would enjoy being touched on my hands and my face. Over my clothes is also a very reasonable limit.”
Hmm.
“I’ll use the stoplight colors too, but Kennedy, what was your first thought when your answer popped into your head?” His sigh said he didn’t appreciate the question.
“But I answered honestly and appropriately.” Frowning, he slumped over and couldn’t seem to decide if he wanted to pout or glare at me. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Oh.
“I agree, but I don’t want to worry about you censoring yourself. That means honest answers, not carefully constructed ones.” I needed to know exactly what he was thinking, not the socially approved version. “So be a good boy for me and tell me what you were thinking.”
The pout that took over his face was adorable, even though I probably shouldn’t have thought he was so cute when he was frustrated. “Okay, I guess I understand.”
He didn’t agree with me, though.
“My first thought…but I only said the appropriate ones…but my first was wondering how much touching you could do in the bar and not get in trouble and then I wondered if naked things were allowed or if you’d think that made me…well, not nice things.” The look that flashed through his eyes said he’d heard a lot of not nice things. “Then I realized I should just stick with answering your question.”
So he wouldn’t get in trouble in some way, more than likely.
“Thank you for being very clear with me.” Testing the waters, I leaned in and gave him a soft peck, barely brushing my lips against his as a reward. “You did a very good job and I’m proud of you.”
He sucked in a breath before another shiver raced through him and he almost melted into me. “Thank you, Sir.”
Well, he’d learned something from his foray into dirty books.
“You’re welcome.” Bringing my hand up, I cupped his cheek and softly stroked it with my thumb. “Put your hands on the table for me and don’t move them while we talk. Yes, flat on the table like that. Good boy.”
When his palms were pressed against the wood and he was doing his best to keep them still, I nodded and ran my fingers down one arm, tracing over his bicep and down his forearm. “You’re going to stay just like this while we get to know each other. If you’re a good boy, I’ll reward you at the end of our conversation. Do you understand the rules?”
