Page 72 of Redline Baby

His voice softens.

"The part of you that you thought disappeared when Charles left."

My eyes drop to the table.

"When you need to be small and let somebody else hold the wheel for a while, I'm willing to do that."

I look at him.

"If that's what you want."

I nod before catching myself.

"Yes."

"I'm willing to step fully into that role with you."

His eyes don't leave mine. "Daddy. Sir, if you ever want it. Whatever titles feel right between us. I'll hold the structure. You don't have to hold all of it yourself anymore."

I look down again. Terrified.

"And if I break a rule?"

"If you break a rule we've agreed carries a spanking as the consequence, I put you over my lap and I follow through."

A flush crawls up my neck.

"The way you did last night?"

"The way I did last night."

My throat works around a swallow. Then Soren's expression becomes more serious. "Which means we need to establish something now."

I sit a little straighter.

"Red is our safeword. Red means stop. Immediately. Whatever we're doing ends."

His gaze stays fixed on mine.

"No argument. No disappointment. No trying to convince you to continue. Yellow means slow down and check in. Maybe you need something adjusted. Maybe you're approaching your limit. It doesn't automatically end the scene unless you want it to."

I nod slowly.

"And if you can't speak?"

I remember last night. My face against the couch cushion. The point where words had become difficult.

"Three taps?"

"Three clear taps," he agrees. "Anywhere I can feel them. That means Red."

"Okay."

"Say them back to me."

"Yellow means slow down and check in. Red means everything stops," I say. I don’t even complain about having to keep repeating everything.

And three taps?"