Page 9 of Pretty ’n Peak

He had no idea why he was thinking of that now.

Then, because his brain was clearly trapped and being held for ransom, his mouth blurted out, “How does it feel?”

“What?”

“Uh, never mind.” His face was burning. He was just so curious about the skirt.

But Jamie could apparently read his mind. “Oh, this?” He ran his slender hands down his belly, wriggling seductively as his fingers got lost in the gathered folds.

Mateo nodded, eyes following. It looked so soft.

“It feels amazing, especially when I walk. Or if I’m not wearing anything underneath.” He winked. “More importantly, it lets me express part of who I am. I’m a man, and to me, that includes looking soft and pretty sometimes. When I’m all dressed up, I feel powerful too, you know? Plus, my Daddy can’t take his eyes off my ass.”

Wow. Just… wow.

“What are you into, Mateo?”

Mateo blinked at the directness of the question. “I don’t know,” he finally choked out.

Jamie’s voice softened. “Hey, first time doing something like this?”

Mateo nodded. “I won the prize.” That was obvious. Jamie had just checked him in. “I probably wouldn’t have come otherwise.”

“I’ve got you, boo. Any questions you have, just ask. Makeup tips, kinky insights, bosom buddy to spill your secrets to… You’ve got a friend here. And I can’t say that everyone’s a perfect human being, but the kink community is pretty supportive. If you spend the whole weekend just watching and chatting with people, that’s great. If you want to try something out, no matter how unusual it seems, there’s going to be someone else into it. If you need help finding your way, just let me know.”

That was comforting. He pushed the thought about makeup tips firmly to the back of his head. About how wearing a skirt made Jamie feel powerful. And especially about Jamie’s Daddy—his Daddy—looking at his ass.

“Thank you. I might take you up on that. I, um… There’s a mixer tonight?” He already knew there was. He’d read the agenda a million times, speculating on each event.

“Yep. Eight o’clock, in the basement. There will be some light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. We’ll play a few ice breaker games, but they’re more silly than kinky.” Jamie’s eyes went soft. “My boyfriend was too shy for the first one last year, but he still got himself the best Daddy in the whole world.”

Mateo felt his face going red again. He knew that some people were poly. He wasn’t an idiot. He’d just never met anyone like that. And the way Jamie just talked about it like that.

He’d never have that kind of courage.

Fuck, he was going to spend the whole weekend red-faced and tongue-tied.

“Oh, you’re just the sweetest little thing, aren’t you? The Daddies are gonna be all over you with that blush.”

“Thanks?” It was encouraging and terrifying. Like jumping out of an airplane—the exhilarating freedom of empty space stretching out to the horizon, with just the tiniest scrap of fabric to keep him safe. He hoped he didn’t crash.

“Listen, babe.” Jamie handed over a few sheets of paper and a key card. “You’re in room 305. Take some time to relax. Order dinner if you haven’t eaten, then make yourself pretty and come down when you’re ready.”

Mateo accepted the papers, thanking Jamie again.

Maybe if he took a shower, he could start to wrap his mind around all of this.

He just needed to remind himself why he was here, and accept whatever he saw without being shocked by it. He could play a few ice breaker games and chat with the other guests.

Yes, that’s what he’d do. Just like in a bar, but without the liquid courage. And the Doms this weekend were supposed to be Daddies, which meant that they should be hot older guys who were nice too, right?

He totally had this.

And then he saw a display table with whips, handcuffs, and butt plugs displayed carefully over a white tablecloth in the middle of the lobby… and tripped over a suspiciously solid chunk of air.

He did not have this.

But he’d already made it this far. And he wasn’t going back.