Page 149 of Pretty ’n Peak

He’d done his lips again and—daringly—added a bit of blue to his eyelids.

Daddy had presented him with a gauzy, navy blue scarf, and given him the choice whether to wear it or not. On the promise that it wouldn’t wrinkle, he’d stuffed it in his pocket.

So here he was, out on a date—or a date-like thing—with another man. Wearing eyeshadow.

The host led them immediately to a little patio table set in from the sidewalk. She had thick, round gauges in her ears and half of her violently blue hair shaved off, so he figured that nothing he was wearing would shock her.

No one else seemed to notice them either. The straight couple next to them looked up when they neared, and the woman gave them a smile and moved her purse out of the aisle when she saw Austin’s cane.

The next table down had two butch women, one covered in tattoos, who were tasting each others’ desserts. And he was certain there was another gay couple on the other side of the awning.

“How are you doing, babe?”

Austin reached out his hand, and Mateo, slowly, slid his fingers into it. “I’m good. I’m… I can’t believe I’m actually doing this!”

Austin’s eyes shone, magnified by his glasses. “I’m honored that you’re doing it with me. Want to take out your scarf?”

Mateo’s chest warmed. “Uh, yeah. Alright.” He let go to pull it out of his pocket. It was filmy and light, somehow shifting colors in the candlelight, though that shouldn’t have seemed possible with such a deep blue.

“Can you see anything here?” he asked Austin, mindful that the flickering glow of the candles, while romantic, barely illuminated their menus.

Austin shook his head. “Not a damned thing.” His foot rubbed along Austin’s leg. “But I like knowing that you’re wearing my gifts.”

“Alright. I’m going to put it on.” He pulled it across the back of his neck. What was he supposed to do now? It was too long to just trail down, and it wasn’t exactly a winter scarf.

He finally settled on one low loop around his neck. It fell just below the open third button of his shirt.

“I’m not sure if it looks right.”

Austin chuckled. “Take a selfie. Hell, you might as well send it to Jamie. The little busybody is probably dying to see it.”

“I knew you two were conspiring!”

“Yup. You got me. I hope that you don’t mind that all of your gifts have gone through a… procurer.”

“A personal shopper, you mean? I bet Jamie is eating this up.”

“He really is. I think it’s his dream. But I don’t want you to think I’m not putting thought into this. Or that I’m just throwing money at him. Or, God, I’m trying not to over-share with him either.”

Mateo giggled. A flustered Austin was adorable. “It’s fine. I think he’s been involved since the beginning. Out of curiosity, how did you shop for all your other boys in the past?”

Austin blinked a few times, then looked sheepish. “I have to admit that this is my first time being a Daddy.”

Mateo slapped the table. “No way!”

That turned a few heads for a moment, but they all went back to their dinner conversations.

He continued in a quieter tone. “Seriously? This isn’t, like, what you usually do?”

“Nope. Ask Jamie. I’ve always been a more straightforward Dom. Ropes and whips and all that.”

“What changed?”

“A certain timid new sub with an adorable laugh said he wanted a Daddy.”

Mateo mouthed the words. Me?

But of course it was him. His pulse fluttered as he leaned forward. “Austin, are we…” At the last minute, he chickened out. “Is this a date?”