“I’m working on it.” I give her a half smile. “I don’t usually second-guess myself this much. I’m afraid of taking things too far with you, considering how new all of this is. If I’m going to be totally honest, I’m also really afraid I’ll do something that upsets you, and that will put an end to all of this.”
Kas laughs.
“Is that funny?”
“No, it’s not.” She grins at me. “It’s just that I was thinking the same thing.”
“What do you mean?”
“I was afraid I didn’t do well enough and that you might be upset with me.”
“Didn’t do well enough?” I narrow my eyes. “Did you hear me when I said I was proud of you?”
“Yes.” She blushes.
“I meant that, you know.”
“Fine.” She huffs a breath through her nose.
“Fine?” I grasp her chin and lean in close. “Do you like this, Kas? Do you like being submissive to me? Be honest.”
“Yes,” she replies sheepishly.
“Good. I like you this way, too.” I lean in and give her a light peck on the lips. “Do you want to continue this relationship wherever it might lead us?”
“Yes.” Kas grins and blushes again.
“I’m glad to hear that, too. That being the case, let’s try this again.” I back off and straighten my shoulders. “Did you, in fact, hear me say I was proud of you? The correct answer is, ‘Yes. Thank you, sir.’”
“Yes. Thank you, sir.”
“There’s a good girl.” I lean forward again, placing my hand on the back of her head as I pull her to my mouth. I kiss her until we’re both breathing hard.
“I might actually need a break,” Kas says with a chuckle.
“Rebuffing my affections already?” Kas looks horrified for a moment before she sees me smiling. “You’re right. We do need a break. Come here.”
I take her hand and pull her to her feet. I straighten the towels out on the floor again, and we both lie down near the wall. Kas curls up against me, and I wrap one arm around her shoulder and rest the other on her arm. I am exhausted, and my eyes start to close as soon as we’re settled down.
Kas is still in a talkative mood.
“Do a lot of your friends go to that dungeon place you were talking about?” she asks.
“A few.”
“Anyone I know?”
“I don’t hang out with anyone from our high school,” I say, “so I’m not sure if you’d know them or not.”
“Is it all a big secret?” she asks.
“Secret might be too strong a word,” I say, “but most of us are somewhat private about it. You never know who’s going to decide you are something you’re not. Some people don’t care who knows and make it very public. That can backfire.”
“How so?”
“Ivan’s very open about his preferences.”
“Ivan?”