“I’d like that too. It’s a little dirty, but it’s actually…helpful? At the same time? There’s something about knowing you’re looking out for me and wanting the best for me. It helps me make better decisions for myself.”
I curse under my breath, gripping my thighs.
“You want to kiss me now, don’t you?” he teases.
“Boy…”
He grins, proud of himself.
“One of these days, you and I are going to get some real privacy, and I will show you exactly how I feel about all of this,” I say, lowering my voice half an octave to prove how serious I am.
He groans, tilting his hips. “Might’ve fucked myself over on that one.”
“Still, you didn’t know you could say no, which was an unacceptable omission on my part. So let’s talk about how to do that. Most people in a Dom-sub dynamic have a safeword. Do you want that?”
“Not in any place where it would be obvious I’m using a safeword with you. I just wanna be able to say what I said today. No, or that it’s none of your business.”
I narrow my eyes. “None of your business doesn’t sound all that respectful, now does it, Ignacio?”
“Well, demanding something that’s none of your business is also not super respectful, so…you tell me how to handle that, Dr. Barlowe.”
He has a good point.
“Fine. I will take whatever you say at face value when we’re in public.”
“And when it’s private?”
“We can play it by ear, but a safeword might be good for now.”
“I hate lima beans,” he says rather immediately.
“You came up with that pretty quickly. Been thinking about a safeword for long?”
He shakes his head. “I just read somewhere your safeword should be something you don’t like very much, and I hate lima beans.”
“I like it. And is lima beans good as we continue to progress sexually?”
He takes a deep breath. “Yes. But…I doubt I’ll ever use it.”
“It’s not a contest, Nacho. I want you to say it. I want to know when things are too much.”
“I will, Dr. Barlowe. I promise.”
“As you can tell, we’re playing with the dynamic now, Ignacio. Are you aware that talking about consent while we’re playing is wrong?”
“Yes, Dr. Barlowe,” he admits with zero remorse. “It’s very wrong. That’s why I like it so much.”
“Me too. But that means I have to double-check—do you have anything else you feel uncomfortable about?”
He shakes his head. “No.”
Something in his expression tells me that’s not entirely the truth, so I go quiet until he shifts his eyes to mine. I lift my brows.
After letting out a frustrated sigh, he answers, “Like, I know we have to check in sometimes, but not talking about it turned me the fuck on. Is that weird?”
“No. The not talking made it feel a little more dangerous. Taboo.”
“Yes,” he says, taking my hand.
