Page 27 of Rogue Royal
Reining in his libido because he knew what needed to be done first, he cupped Maverick’s chin with his forefinger and lifted his face to his. “Maverick, we have things to discuss before this can go any further.”
“Mav.”
Maverick’s eyes were heavy-lidded, and it took everything in Douglas to keep from closing the gap. Douglas blinked a few times and frowned. “Sorry?”
“Please, call me Mav.”
Douglas licked his lips and pulled back, releasing Mav. “Okay. Mav, take a seat. We have things to talk about.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Maverick—Mav—stumbled over to the sofa opposite, which was much farther than Douglas wanted him to be, but a suitable distance to allow Douglas to think properly. When Mav sat, Douglas took a breath.
“Before we go any further, we need to decide what it is you want from this relationship. What do you like? What don’t you like? And safe words are a few questions.” Mav cleared his throat, but Douglas held up a hand. “Let me ask you one at a time, and you need to think before you answer. I will take whatever you say as truthful unless your body language says otherwise.” Mav nodded. “I think I have an idea, but tell me, whatdon’tyou want?”
Mav gripped his own hands, rubbing the thumb of one over the back of the other as he contemplated Douglas’s question. “I don’t want to be hurt. Pain for me is just that, pain. I don’t have a high pain threshold, I don’t think.”
“I beg to differ.” When Mav raised his eyebrows in silent question, Douglas continued, “You manage to continue working when you have a migraine. Now, I’ve never suffered from them before, but I know they can be debilitating. If you have the strength to work through those, then your pain threshold is higher than you think.”
Mav tilted his head, and Douglas could see his brain whirling. “Regardless, though, I don’t like pain. I don’t find it sexy. I don’t find it arousing. I find it painful. It’s why I’ve shied away from BDSM in the past. I thought it was all about pain.”
Douglas narrowed his eyes. “What made you decide to research?”
Mav’s cheeks darkened until red stained his cheeks and neck. “After thinking about the massage and what you did, I was curious.” Douglas wasn’t sure if Mav was aware he was skimming his fingers across his own palms as he spoke, but the action heated Douglas’s blood. “I know I’m a tactile person. I like the feel of things.”
“Do you know what a safe word is?”
“Something a sub can say if what’s happening is too much for them.”
“Good. You will need to decide on a safe word, or we can use the traffic light system, which is green to keep going, yellow to slow down and red to stop.”
“The traffic lights are fine.”
“Okay. What about penetrative sex? Is it something you want to be part of the relationship?” Mav chewed his bottom lip. “Be honest. Either way is fine with me.” It might kill him to hold back, but he would.
Douglas watched him swallow. “It’s not off the table.”
“We can work up to it and decide at that moment, then there’s no pressure for you. How does it sound?” Mav nodded. “I need words, Mav. One thing I will be strict about is you must use your words unless I’ve told you otherwise.”
“Yes. That’s fine, Your Highness.”
“And call me Master or Sir. Your Highness is a bit of a mouthful.” Douglas stood, pushing the coffee table to the right, out of his way. Stepping closer to Mav, he dropped to his knees in front of him, eliciting a gasp from Mav.
“Let’s try something simple. See if you like it. Close your eyes and rest your head against the back of the sofa.”
He waited while Mav examined his face, the slight tightening of his features expressing his nerves, and he didn’t think Mav would do it, but after a small nod, which Douglas ignored this time, Mav did as he had asked him. The trust Mav was showing in him floored Douglas.
“Now, all you need to do is feel. If you want to say something, say it. There are no restrictions on anything this time. Talk, make noise, move, whatever you need. Feel what your body is showing you.”
Douglas rested his hands on Mav’s knees, which jerked in reaction. He rubbed his palms against Mav’s legs, getting him used to being touched, moving higher up his thighs. As he returned to Mav’s knees, he lightened his touch bit by bit until he was skimming his nails across the fabric of Mav’s trousers. Although the touch was light and through fabric, Mav should feel it and, hopefully, it would send tingles along his nerve endings.
Bypassing Mav’s groin, which was showing the effects of Mav being touched, Douglas continued further up, tickling his fingers across the silk fabric of Mav’s shirt. Mav’s hands fisted against the sofa cushions, and his chest lifted and fell faster. Douglas made a circuit from Mav’s abs, around his pecs and down the centre of his chest and back to his abs again, each time circling closer to his nipples but not touching.
The first time he skimmed over the stiff nubs, Mav exhaled a breath and arched his back. Douglas left one hand continuing its movements, and the other reached to the coffee table, where he silently picked up a teaspoon. Flipping it so that he was holding the spoon part, he rested the handle below Mav’s earlobe, dragging the chilly edge down the column of his neck. Mav gasped and tilted his head to the side, giving Douglas better access.
Douglas followed the edge of Mav’s shirt, around to his throat, then over to the other side and up to his ear. By this point, Mav was trembling and panting.
Removing the spoon, he tossed it aside and stood, always keeping one hand on Mav. Douglas rested one hand against the back of the sofa and leaned down, gliding his nose above Mav’s five o’clock shadow, his heated breath blowing against his skin. The scent of Mav enveloped him, and his eyes fluttered shut as fire shot through his veins. Mav whimpered, turning into him.
