look a bit down, man.”
Nolan gave a dry chuckle. “You could say that.”
He took a deep breath and looked out over the small park. “I’m dating this really nice guy. Really nice but really vanilla. Like so vanilla that when I asked him to spank me during sex after we’d been seeing each other for a few months, it killed the entire mood. He said he just couldn’t do that to me.”
That sucked.
“I’m sorry.” I’d met a few guys like that, but luckily, we’d drifted apart before I could get too attached to them. “Have you talked about what you need?”
Nolan shrugged. “He doesn’t understand it’s a need, not a want, so we just don’t talk about it. I like him. I really do. But…but it’s not enough.”
I nodded, then leaned into him and rested my head on his shoulder. “You know that it’s okay to want to get your own needs met, right? It doesn’t make you selfish or anything else. It’s part of who you are.”
Nolan let out a deep breath but shifted so his head was resting against mine. “I haven’t told him all of it either. I’m little and I’m pretty sure that would scare the hell out of him.”
“You’d be such a cute little.” Oops, not the right response. “Sorry, I mean, I’m sorry you’re having a hard time and can’t tell him about it.”
Nolan giggled. “You say whatever comes into your head, don’t you?”
I huffed. “It’s Maverick’s fault. They’re all so blasted honest that it’s contagious. They just say what they mean in that polite, factual way. I like it.”
Smiling, Nolan pulled away and glanced over at Maverick, who was trying to look busy. “They’re all that honest?”
I had a feeling he’d met someone interesting, but I didn’t poke. “Yes, they say exactly what’s on their mind, but they also read our reactions well too. That’s why Maverick knew you were safe to tease and to be ourselves around.”
Blushing again, Nolan chuckled. “I don’t seem to be hard to read to them. There are a few guys like Maverick that come in with their partners or even alone and say outrageous things that make me blush.”
I giggled. “Maverick realized pretty quickly I was a bit of an exhibitionist and said he knew just where we should go for our first date.”
Nolan’s face got even redder. “That really was your first date?”
Laughing, I nodded and waggled my eyebrows. “Yep, he knew exactly what buttons to push.”
Still blushing, Nolan giggled. “I could tell.”
“But he did that because he knew I liked it. If I’d been into something else like age play, he’d have treated me differently.” I barked out a laugh. “He likes to hold me when he feeds me at breakfast. They are the ultimate caretaker control freaks. I bet most of them would be fabulous Daddies.”
Nolan squirmed and his gaze dropped down to the grass in front of us. “You really don’t think that’s…odd?”
I scoffed. “You’re talking to the guy who has a thing for orgasming in your restaurant and who’s waiting for his Master to play with erotic asphyxiation. It’ll take more than binkies and diapers to freak me out.”
Nolan laughed as the nervous energy in him spilled out. When he could breathe again, he looked more relaxed. “I’ve never met anyone like you guys.”
“Because we’re fabulous and unique.” I shrugged. “What can I say?”
Still smiling, Nolan nodded. “You’re right.” He leaned over and knocked his shoulder against mine. “Unique is definitely the right word.”
Laughing, I nodded. “See, you’re learning.”
His expression turned less teasing and more understanding. “I think I am.”
“Going to chat with the boyfriend?” I gave him a one-armed hug as he nodded. “If you need anything, I want you to promise you’ll say something. We just live around the block.”
Nolan’s smile came back. “You two are already living together?”
I grinned. “He basically moved in on our first date and never left.”
“They don’t date like human men.” Nolan peeked over at Maverick and dropped his voice low. “But you think they wouldn’t be shocked by the age play thing?”
“Nope.” I studied Maverick. “You might have to explain it and you’re going to have to set boundaries. Like brick wall boundaries on things that are a no or they’ll walk right over you without meaning to. Especially if they think they’re doing what you want or what would be safest for you.”
Nolan grinned. “That sounds perfect.”
I snorted. “You’re going to end up with worse boundaries than me. I can already see it.”
“Probably.”