Page 44 of Pretty ’n Peak

He had, taking someone’s advice and using the Cuffd Communicator app that let him put in a lot more information about how much experience he had—which was none—and how comfortable or interested he was. It was so much nicer than the basic checklist on the dating app.

“Yes, Sir,” he answered. Where had that Sir come from?

“Good boy.” Carlos was already looking at his phone.

Those were the same words, good boy, that Austin had said last night, when it made everything in Mateo light up inside.

From Carlos it was… not quite condescending. He just sounded distracted. Like he said it without thinking about it.

“You liked the Saint Andrew’s Cross, I think. The big X?”

“I mean… yeah. It looked really, um…”

That thought was finally enough to distract him from Austin.

God, what would it be like? Chained up to those wide beams, helpless and exposed, the heat of the lash across his back… It looked intimidating and sexy, all at once.

“Oh, yeah…” Carlos winked. “I think we can work with that. So, since you marked here that you don’t have any experience and you’re willing to try everything on the impact play list, I was thinking we could just try out the collection. Impact implements come in two major varieties—more sting on the surface, or more thud that goes a bit deeper. You might like one or the other, but you won’t know until you try. We can work our way through, or if you find something that’s really good for you, we’ll just settle in with that.”

OK. Yeah. That all sounded like what he wanted. It was just… it was all coming at him so rapidly. Austin had told him not to be shy about asking questions, and even given him some examples, but he didn’t even know where to begin.

“Austin told me, uh… he said I should ask to walk through the space with you.”

“Oh he did, did he?” Carlos was grinning, like he was in on a secret. “And what else did Master Austin help you figure out?”

“Oh, um… we did… a scene? Last night? Or I guess it was a scene, so I have some experience. He spanked me.” And left him floating in ecstasy, every cell in his body singing to the dance of Austin’s hands.

Carlos rubbed his hands together. “I knew it! How was it?”

“Good?” Amazing. Breathtaking. Earth-shattering.

“You must have some magic about you, boy. Austin hasn’t done a scene since… Well, that’s his business, but not for a long time. We were getting worried about him.”

That was the sense that Mateo had been getting. Everyone worried a little about Austin, and Mateo could see it sometimes, too… a wrinkle across Austin’s smooth brow, a frown of worry at the oddest moments.

But Austin had been nothing but kind to him. Not just kind, but generous. Caring. Focused completely on their conversation, and then on Mateo’s pleasure.

“Do you think Austin will come to the demo tonight?” That hadn’t been one of the questions he’d prepared, but now it was the one he most wanted the answer to. “That wouldn’t be weird, would it?”

“Weird, no. The point of a public scene is having people watch. Though I think Austin doesn’t usually come to them. He told me once that there’s no point since he can’t see the stage.”

“Ah, of course.” That left Mateo feeling more disappointed than he’d expected. Almost bereft.

“But I’m sure if you asked him, he’d attend. We haven’t talked about aftercare yet, but you could do aftercare with him if you prefer. Not that I’m trying to get out of it.” Carlos waved his hands broadly. “It would be my pleasure to hold you while you’re coming down from the scene. But if he’s the one you want instead, all you have to do is ask him. I don’t think he’d say no. A little bird told me you’ve spent the whole day together.”

It was another long information dump. The little bird must be Jamie, and… Well, the important thing was that Austin could be there. Austin could maybe guide him through it, and then hold him afterward. “I’d like that,” he admitted. “I mean, con todo respeto, I’m sure you’d do a good job…”

It was just that Carlos was so fast-paced, so competent that he didn’t slow down. Nothing like the cozy warmth that Austin had created between the two of them.

“Oh, I’m not offended. That’s fairly common in the kink world, if you do a scene with someone else’s sub. In fact, Austin and I have both done scenes with each others’ partners. Aftercare is when you want to relax and know that you’re completely cared for. You should be with whoever will make you feel that way. I’ll make sure to arrange that with him.”

Mateo tried not to react outwardly to that statement. There was something about the way that Carlos had just assumed he should arrange Mateo’s aftercare for him that rubbed him the wrong way. Mateo hadn’t asked him to do that, and what happened to subs having all the power?

Or maybe that’s how it was usually done. He imagined the two Doms would have important things to talk about, details they needed to share but he didn’t need to worry about. Maybe it was better if they coordinated.

He let the thought go, which led him back to what Carlos had said just before. “What type of scenes did you do? You and Austin?” He was burning with curiosity. Austin talked about everything with such deep knowledge, but it was all very generalized—nothing about his own preferences or experiences.

Carlos raised one eyebrow. “What did Austin and I do? Or what did Austin do?”