“Love has nothing to do with how much demonstrative emotion you show to someone. Everyone expresses themselves differently. I’m not a tears kind of guy either. Are you going to doubt my emotions if I don’t cry?” Something about the way he went still said he’d barely stopped himself from saying something.
But what?
“Neither party has to cry to prove anything. You’re right.”
Oh.
Dom versus sub.
Got it.
“That’s correct.” And I was glad he realized it fairly quickly. “Partners, especially anyone in a BDSM relationship, can show their love and feelings in different ways.”
Hmm.
He was just staring at me.
“Like today.” Hoping I wasn’t rushing him, I kept my voice steady as I gave him an example. “You were upset and you knew without overthinking that you needed to come here. Thatshowed me you trusted me and that you have strong emotions for me.”
Did this have anything to do with our earlier conversation?
“It made me feel good and it brought out protective feelings.” And more, but we’d start there. “I’m not going to assume I know all your feelings toward me, but you make me feel special and I think I do the same for you.”
And...I got a nod.
That was progress, so I waited to let him gather his thoughts.
Waiting was hard.
“You take me to Olive Garden without lecturing me and you sit with me in your chair.” Letting out a breath, he nodded slowly. Something was going on in his head and it wasn’t the same as what I was getting out loud. “And I make sure to cuddle with you a lot.”
Oh.
“I appreciate that.” I just hadn’t seen it the same way he did. “It makes me feel taken care of and I like that you see my needs and you take them seriously.”
What else?
“You also make me feel important because you really pay attention to me. I never feel like I’m boring you or that you’d rather be someplace else.” I wasn’t the most exciting Dom and I’d lost out on a lot of second dates because I didn’t usually go to dance clubs and places like that.
“I...” Pausing, he took a long moment to sort out his thoughts. “I want to tell you that I like how you are but I’m a little worried that will come out wrong.”
I almost laughed.
My boy liked that I was boring.
“We complement each other and there’s nothing wrong with that.” Smiling to make sure he could see I wasn’t upset, I stood up and went around my small kitchen table to crouch downbeside him. “I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you the past couple of weeks and I don’t need you to be anyone else but who you are.”
His brain still seemed to be going too fast, but he slowly came back to life as he nodded and leaned over to give me a quick kiss on the cheek. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Stealing one, I kissed his lips as I ran my hand over his still bare chest before standing. “Alright, first question before I decide the rest of our evening. Are you done with dinner?”
The quick chicken pasta I’d made was filling, so I wasn’t surprised when he nodded. “Second, what time do you want to leave tonight?”
Nothing.
After a few more seconds he made a soft frustrated sound he didn’t seem to notice. I did my best to keep apleased side of neutralexpression and waited. Eventually he got it out. “Do I have to leave?”
I’d hoped that was what he was going to ask, but it was good to hear.
