Page 57 of Steel & Thunder
“Yes, it was very hard on you.” He’s being sarcastic but at least he’s smiling. “What... What is something else you would want to change?”
“Well... What about your name?” I’m happy he’s at least talking about it with me now. “I’d like to be able to use it sometime.”
His eyes go wide at my request. “David, I am so sorry. I just...enjoyed hearing you call me Sir, and after that started, it never occurred to have you do anything different.” He hesitates before continuing. “I never should have had you do that. Of course you no longer have to call me Sir—”
“Woah, I never said that. I just want to be able to use your actual name too.” Honestly, given the number of men I’ve called “sir” on a regular basis over the course of my life, there’s probably something to unpack there. “I like calling you Sir sometimes. It suits you. It just might be nice to cry out a ‘Khazak’ now and again.” I bite my lip and wiggle my eyebrows. For the record, I’ve always been great at flirting—I just wasn’t trying to before.
He reaches a hand out and runs it through my hair affectionately. “I like hearing you say it.”
“Good.” I lean into his hand a bit. “So... Where did we stand on me calling you ‘Zak’ again?”
He narrows his eyes. “You need discipline.”
“So, there is something you’ll talk about.” Ha, he fell right into my nonexistent trap! “What’s going to happen when you want to punish me?”
“I am not sure that will be necessary.” He shifts uncomfortably.
“What do you mean not necessary? We’ve met, right?” I’m not saying I’m gonna cause trouble on purpose but come on. “What happened to the hard-ass that just said I needed discipline?” I can’t believe I’m asking for this.
“I am not a hard-ass,” he grumbles. “I just find that some boys require a certain amount of structure in order to be properly looked after.” He looks at me, making sure I know what “boy” he’s talking about. “Besides, you clearly do not mind it as much as you protest.”
“Did your parents spank you as a kid or something?” That earns me a cocked eyebrow. “It would explain a lot.”
“No. My parents did not believe in spanking children. Neither do I.” He’s smirking. “Only adults who insist on acting like them.”
“I don’t act like a child. I just have an adventurous spirit.” I cross my arms. “But uh, maybe when I do screw up, you can take it easy on me?” Note that I said when, not if.
“That depends. Will this be a ‘walk out of a store’ screw up or a ‘drug me and steal my keys before breaking into the jail’ screw up?” The joke is said with a hint of anger, but then his face softens and he reaches a hand over to my thigh. “I understand that this is only temporary, but are you sure this is something you really want, David?”
“You mean the thing where I don’t have to pay rent or feed myself for the next two months?” I give him an overly-cheesy smile.
I can see his eyes wrinkle, holding back a smile as he huffs. “David.”
“Okay, the thing is, I’ve never really been in a relationship before, not a real one. I had girlfriends in school, but it was never serious. They never made me feel like...this. This thing between us is so unlike anything I have ever done that I have no idea what I’m doing. Before I met you, I didn’t just not know that I liked this stuff, I didn’t even know it existed. I don’t even know what to call it.” There’s only so many times you can say “stuff” and “thing” before you start to feel dumb.
“I know they may seem more common in our city, but relationships of this type are not unheard of in other parts of the world. Even yours,” he starts explaining. “I have known since I was younger where my interests lie. Not just in regards to men, but also in things like bondage and discipline, power exchange, submission and dominance.” Okay, the way he just said that was kinda hot. “But being dominant also means taking care of my submissive’s well-being. Something I failed to do with you at every turn.”
“That’s a little harsh.” Things got a little humiliating at times, maybe, but it turns out that’s not something I mind all that much either. “Doesn’t the fact that I want to talk to you about it count for something?”
“I am not sure I can agree with that logic.” He shakes his head.
“Look, I’m only going to be here for two months, right?” He nods that I am correct. “So, if it doesn’t work out, then it doesn’t work out. I can go back to sleeping in the guest room until I leave, and we can just be friends. Right?”
“Right.” The sad look he’s wearing tells me he doesn’t think it’ll be that easy.
“So can’t we just give it a shot?” I have yet to hear a compelling argument against. “Take it slow, ease back into things?”
He watches me for a few moments, his face unreadable, before he nods. “Okay, David. We can try.” I get just the barest hint of a smile. “But my offer to live here with no strings attached still stands, and the guest room is still yours. As much as I liked having you in my bed, I think it is more import—”
“I like sleeping with you.” I can tell he’ll be tiptoeing around things for a while. “In bed, I mean.”
“If you insist.” He huffs a small laugh, but I can tell he’s happy about it.
“So... Does that mean this discussion is no longer hypothetical?” I try my best not to let my stupid grin engulf my entire face.
“I suppose it does.” His face is more guarded.
“Good.” I sit up and lean over, trying to pull him in for a hug but instead get pulled onto his lap. Works for me. “So, you wanna go fool around, Sir?”
