Page 122 of Pretty ’n Peak

Austin laughed with him. “I know the feeling. You know he was the reason I was at the Cuffd thing.”

“I remember. Did he actually tell you to buy me those things?”

“No. Not at all. He was reading your kink list to me and… I just thought it would be a nice thing to do. Something for you to try out, along with the whips and handcuffs. You marked it all as very interested or whatever it is on the checklist.”

“Oh, because he’s constantly telling me that if I want something, I should ask you to buy it for me.”

“Really?” Now that was a fascinating idea. “What else is on your list?”

“I’m afraid to tell you.”

“It’ll be worse if I guess.”

Mateo turned in the chair. “No one’s ever gotten me such perfect gifts. But I really, really don’t want you to spend so much money on me.”

“I’ll take that into consideration.” And he was totally going to ask Jamie for that list. He could still spoil Teo without spending as much.

Which was a whole other thing to consider. Did he want to keep seeing Teo?

Actually, that was a stupid question. Of course he did. He just needed to keep things easy. No commitments. And no jealousy or disappointment if Teo decided to explore things with someone else.

“At any rate,” Teo continued. “I’ve been trying things out. The make-up, mostly. But one day I’d like to try it outside my room. Jamie said I could come up to the lodge for some ‘girl time’ as he calls it, or that his trio would take me to a club in Portland.”

Austin was not going to admit to any jealousy. Especially when he was so happy that Teo had a good friend and was feeling so confident. “I’d be happy to take you out sometime, too. Dinner and dancing?”

Right. Because that was how you kept things simple.

“Like this?” Mateo sounded shocked.

“No.” He squeezed his shoulders. “With more clothes on. At least for dinner. For the dancing… It depends on where you want to go. I could take you to my usual kink club where you don’t have to wear anything at all. Your sexy panties would fit right in.”

“Really?” Mateo squeaked.

Austin’s imagination was already growing. “Really. Let me know when you want to come up.”

“And, um… for dinner, though. I mean, would you want me to wear makeup? Is that what you were talking about?”

“Makeup and something cute.” He didn’t want to give Teo’s fears any room to grow. And he absolutely needed this opportunity to walk around proudly as himself. “We’ll hit up Mississippi Avenue or the Burnside Triangle. Or maybe the Hawthorne District. I don’t think anyone would give you trouble in most places, but in those neighborhoods, no one will even blink.” He shrugged. “If anything, you might get hit on.”

“Really?”

Austin chuckled. “You’re saying that a lot. Yes, really. You’ll be perfectly safe, and I’d be honored to have you on my arm. Or, the other way around, probably.” He chuckled. “Let’s make a day of it sometime. Or an evening. You could come up after work.”

“I’d like that.” Mateo’s voice was soft and shy.

“Good. Let me know when you’re free.”

“Alright. Um, I’m almost done with this.” He screwed the cap on whatever he was holding.

“Really? That was fast.”

“I went for something simple, since I didn’t trust you.” Teo’s voice was back to teasing.

Austin squinted toward the mirror, but as usual, all he could make out was a brownish, face-shaped blur. He’d be able to see more once Mateo turned around, but he didn’t want to interrupt him. “Tell me what you did.”

“Um, just foundation, eye liner, mascara, and now I’m doing my lips.”

“What colors?”