My hand continued forward, as did my step while trying to catch myself. My other hand slapped the door out of her hands and I contorted my body the best I could to fall into it rather than crash into Penny or let the door bounce back and hurt her.
The only part I couldn’t course-correct fast enough was my fist, which lightly grazed her.
Fuck!
“Owww!” Penny shouted as she brought her hands to her face and stumbled backward into her room.
Oh no! Did I hit her harder than I thought? Quickly steadying myself, I grasped her shoulders. “I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
Her eyes remained closed while she took deep breaths.
“I didn’t mean to hit you. I was about to knock on your door when you opened it, and well… terrible timing.”
“That’s a much better explanation than coming in here to hit me.”
Her words seemed to hold levity but I didn’t know her well enough to be sure. My gut was in knots. Of all the things she might enjoy trying at the Ranch, getting hit in the face wasn’t likely to score high even for someone who’s interested in impact play.
“Here, sit on the bed, let me take care of you.”
She shook her head, rubbed her fingers over her non-bloody nose, and took a deep breath through it. “Still works.”
Relief washed over me. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine. You barely touched me, mostly just shock value.”
Our gazes locked, and I sensed a longing.
Did she want me to punch her? Was she into blood play? No, oh my god, I couldn’t think straight around her. She wanted to be touched. I let my fingers trail along her arm until I was holding her hand. Then I brought her fingers to my mouth, picked a fingertip to plant a gentle kiss on, then turned it to touch her nose.
Her eyes flitted downward, and her smile, which had seemed hesitant to form, broke free. “Thank you.”
“I’m sorry we didn’t get off to a better start. I came to offer a massage. If there’s any chance you trust me to touch you?”
She lowered our hands, studied them, and didn’t pull free. “Here in my cabin?”
“No… I mean, yes, we could do it here. But if you’d prefer neutral ground, Master Derek offered a private room in the Dungeon.”
Her breath hitched at that last word. Too much? Too soon? Atlas had said she wanted to meet people and try new things. The only guiding point was that she thought she might be a sub and welcomed firm encouragement.
I took Atlas at his word. He may come across as a callous, cocky ass at times, but he was honorable. He wouldn’t do anything to risk offending a Ranch guest.
Soothing my thumb over her hand, I tried to regroup. “Or we can find somewhere else if that’s not for you.”
She pulled away. “Could we set up an appointment for later?”
The sudden stiffness of her body language more than her words alerted me to her mood shift. What had I done wrong? Think. Think. Think. The breath hitch—that meant she liked the Dungeon option. Stupid me, I’d missed it and gave too many options, no guidance. As much as I hated to admit it, I needed to channel Atlas’ confidence.
“We could set up an appointment, but if we’re both free now…” Walking a tightrope of being confident but not cocky or assumptive, I remembered that she was opening the door, presumably going somewhere. “I’m sorry, I forgot you were leaving when I…”
“Before you showed up and punched me.” She looked up at me from under her lashes and we burst into laughter.
“You’re not going to let me live that down, are you?”
She composed herself and said, “I might bring it up again, unless you’ll punch me for it.” All composure vanished as her laugh filled the room, but this time she put her hand over her mouth and forced it to stop.
“Don’t stop laughing. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard. So carefree. So pure.”
She ducked her head again. “I don’t normally laugh so hard.”
