“I do, but I know where to put priorities.”
“I’ve been feeling uneasy, too.”
“I can feel it.”
Sophie straightened her back and met Aiden’s eyes. “This might be the wine talking…I know this sounds crazy, but I’ve never had a spark like this with someone before.”
“If the look on your face weren’t so serious, I would think you’re stroking my ego.” Aiden reached out and gently touched her hand. “I’m sorry nobody’s made you feel like this.”
“I don’t mean that.” He could easily fall in love with the way she adorably scrunched her nose. “I’ve had partners and short dynamics before. With you, it feels different. Then there’s Zack…”
Aiden leaned back and crossed his leg, giving Sophie his full attention. “Go on. I hope that I’ve established to you that your thoughts and feelings would be heard.”
“S-see, when you say that, I feel silly.”
“Why? Because you’re not used to being considered? I think now would be a good time to hear your list.”
“List?”
“Yes. I want to know all the things that make you tick.” Her eyes rounded, unsettled under his gaze. “Tell me your limits, Sophie.”
“Oh, well, while I have explored before.” Oh no, he wasn’t allowing her to shrug things off. That might have been something she’d experienced previously, but not with this Daddy around.
Aiden grabbed her jaw and sank his fingers into her hair. “Open.”
Wide-eyed, she stared at him, frozen, visibly unsure of where it was leading.
“If you’ve explored openly then you should obey since it’s within your limits.”
Sophie hesitantly parted her lips, not daring to move her gaze from his. Fear began to fill her bright green eyes as Aiden sucked his cheeks in and his tongue welled with spit.
Her heart pounded and pulsed beneath his fingers, collaring her throat. Aiden was gauging how far she’d allow him to go before she considered her own comfort.
He watched her react during dinner when the sound of someone clearing their nose made her cringe and shrink. It was a visceral reaction.
Aiden was purposely pushing a sensitive limit, not to deter her from letting him have her way, but to stand ground to her limits.
“Daddy…” Sophie’s throat bobbed. “...don’t.”
Pleased with her speaking up, Aiden relaxed his grip on her and kissed Sophie’s forehead. “That’s what I thought. This is why limits are so important.”
“But–I,” she sighed with frustration. “Are you a mind reader or–”
Aiden cupped her cheek, tilting her head to meet his gaze. “I noticed when we were at dinner.” His thumb smoothed across her lips.
“Nobody has ever read me the way you do.” Sophie shifted in the seat and tucked her legs under her, leaning her body against his. Aiden wrapped his arm over her shoulder, and her fingers quietly found his.
“While I might be good at it, little star, I’m not a mind reader and need to hear your wants, needs, and limits. Hard and soft. Not voicing what you need, you put both yourself and the dominants in the scene at risk.”
“Oh.” She sighed softly and hid her face in his shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
“Now, tell me your needs.”
“I thought I knew them but within a week that changed. I’ve never been in a dynamic–or the prospect of one–like this before. I enjoy control, and I never have before. What I do know is that I don’t like fluid play in any sense. Floggers and other implements have been okay, I’m not fond of gags.”
“That’s a start.”
The quiet of the car filled with their tales of lovers' past, the relationships that fell flat, and attachments that didn’t have a spark.
