Page 120 of Masters of Pleasure
“That’s exactly why I want to punch them,” she said, scowling.“He’s a dumbass who lost the best thing that ever happened to him, then slept around with literally an entire kink club’s worth of women.He’s lucky Kate will touch his penis again, considering how much spelunking he did in-between.”
Avery couldn’t help it.She snort-laughed.Thankfully, it made Iris smile, and her expression turned rueful.
“Sorry.I get protective of Kate.I swear, if something happens, I will Lorena Bobbitt him for her.I’m pretty sure she’s too nice to do it herself.”
“Are they getting married soon?”
“December.They wanted a Christmas-themed wedding for some reason.”Iris shrugged.
“Alright, everyone, you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.”Mistress Julie’s voice didn’t quite echo, but it was loud enough to make Iris and Avery jump.
They exchanged phone numbers in the lobby before heading home, which gave Avery an extra spring in her step.She’d made another new friend!The happiness that gave her helped wipe away the anxiety she had about Nick’s abrupt departure after the class.
Nick
Arriving at Avery’s apartment, for the first time, Nick hesitated before knocking.He wanted to see Avery but hated the way he felt.He’d been distracted the entire time he’d been working on the specials, unable to concentrate on food while his emotions warred with his desires, which warred with his logic.
He’d gotten it done, but it had taken longer than normal, and some part of him couldn’t help but wonder if he’d been procrastinating to delay having to face Avery.If it was, it was dumb because as soon as she opened the door and he saw her face, he felt better.Maybe it was the way she lit up from within when she laid eyes on him, or maybe he felt as if he lit up the moment he saw her.Maybe a bit of both.
Either way, delaying seeing her again had been stupid.
“Hello there, handsome.Late night.”It was commiseration, not a question.She on her tiptoes to give him a kiss, which he happily returned.Walking her backward into her apartment, he kicked the door shut behind them, his muscles relaxing with every step.
Holding her, feeling the press of her warm, soft curves against him, helped the tension melt away.How could anything be wrong when he had his arms around the woman he was falling in love with?
Holy shit.
The revelation was a kick to the gut, temporarily robbing him of speech, which might have been a good thing since he was tired enough to blurt it out otherwise.Not that telling her would be a bad thing.Would it?They hadn’t been together for very long.
But they felt right.So right.
Even if some of the kinky stuff felt wrong.
Which… that might be a reason not to tell her yet.Not until he figured his shit out.
Lowering onto her heels, Avery sighed and hugged him, snuggling into his front.Nick hugged back, still reeling from his epiphany.
“It was a long night, but I finished the specials, and I think I might have some ideas for next week.”
“That’s good.”Avery hesitated.He could see it in her face, the little hitch in her voice that indicated she still had something she wanted to say but wasn’t sure she should.“Do you want to talk about class tonight?”
Did he?
Did he want to revisit his conflict and failure?
Not particularly, but he could tell Avery did.Maybe talking would make him feel better.He’d felt betterandworse about spanking her harder after seeing none of the submissives had felt they’d been spanked hard enough.Doing it harder had worried him but knowing he hadn’t done it hard enough had helped motivate him—knowing all the submissives felt that way kept him from being ashamed about not doing it hard enough.
“I’m sorry if it wasn’t what you were hoping for,” he said, deciding to get that out of the way first.“I know you and the other submissives said we weren’t spanking hard enough, but I didn’t want to hurt you.”
“And I wanted you to hurt me.”Avery’s hands slid up his chest and around his neck, keeping him close.“I didn’t want you to harm me, and there’s a very real difference.”
“I know.I did listen in class.”He couldn’t help feeling a little defensive.“I was trying.”
“I know you were.”Her tone was soothing, the same one she used in the kitchen, and he narrowed his eyes.She was managing him.At work, it didn’t bother him so much, but he wasn’t sure how he felt about it here.“I just feel like maybe it’s different hearing it from me as opposed to Mistress Julie or Master Law.”
“That’s… true.”It was a little different.
“I think it would also help if I could show you… really show you.Not like at class.”Avery took a step back but kept her arms around his neck.He was big enough, he didn’t have to move with her unless he wanted to, but he did.“I think you’re not much of an exhibitionist, and it’s hard to make it sexy when there’s an audience, and you’re under pressure, not to mention you’re still learning, and there are teachers watching.”
