Page 75 of Pretty ’n Peak

Jamie returned triumphantly, placing a nondescript cardboard box in front of him. It was much bigger than he expected. How much was in there? Or was it all packaging?

There was no way he was opening this here.

Never in a million years. Even with all the support.

“Want to take that upstairs?” Austin asked quietly.

He nodded, then hummed agreement in case Austin couldn’t see.

“Want me to come with you?”

A million thoughts crashed through his head. What if he opened the box and started crying again? Or worse, what if he looked ugly in everything?

It would probably look horrible on him. With his beer belly, flabby arms, and pudgy thighs, he’d be bulging out in all sorts of unattractive ways around any cute lacy things Austin had bought for him.

But God, he craved them at the same time.

Maybe it was good that Austin couldn’t see. That Austin might still think he was beautiful if he couldn’t use his sight to disabuse him of the notion.

Then there was the other side of things. When a man bought you lingerie—a sexy, dominant man who’d whipped you to orgasm and held you while you cried—were you obligated to open his gifts and wear them for him?

He loved the idea of it, of having Austin’s worshipful hands on him cooing about how attractive he was… but would that really happen?

The conversation he’d just shared suggested yes, but years of doubts settled in his belly like stones.

He must have waited too long to reply, because Austin offered a gentle alternative. “Jamie could also join you if you’d like that kind of support.”

“Mmmmm…. I’d support that all over the place,” Jamie leered, hamming it up.

“Be good,” Sebastian scolded, a grin on his face.

Mateo rolled his eyes, but that over-the-top reaction was what he’d needed to shake off the paralysis. He’d chatted with Jamie enough now to know that there would be a welcome invitation if he wanted one, but the flirting was really just that.

Someone else who thought he was attractive and wanted to see him dressed up, even if he wasn’t interested in the same way. “That didn’t even make sense, Jamie,” he managed to snap back.

“Sure it did. You know, support…” Jamie made a lewd stroking gesture.

“That’s five.” Sebastian looked dangerous, probably keeping track of some system of punishments that clearly wasn’t a deterrent.

Neil laughingly mimicked the gesture at the same time. “Really? I hope that’s not what it looks like.”

“I could show you…” Jamie cooed.

“And on that note, I’m out of here,” Ty broke in, starting to stack the plates left on the table. “And if you three are going to be naughty in the laundry room again, at least put the sign up this time.”

Laughter rippled down the table. Others stood up, talking about hikes, climbs, and reserving the dungeon for the afternoon.

Alright. Mateo could do this. It was just underwear. No big deal.

Just pretty, soft underwear that he’d craved all his life, purchased just for him by the sweetest, sexiest man he’d ever met.

“Could you come with me?” he asked Austin softly.

The word Daddy lodged behind his lips. He said it after the caning, when he was too out of it to realize what he was doing. But he wasn’t going to add it now.

“Of course.”

They left the room together, accompanied by wolf whistles from Jamie.