Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Silence stretched out between us but he didn’t seem nervous or upset. It gave me hope and made it easier to be patient. Thankfully, that paid off after a bit. “I think I’m more comfortable with the getting to know me description for right now.”
I could understand that, but he surprised me by continuing. “But I want you to be yourself too.”
No strong labels yet but I hadn’t scared him off?
I could deal with that.
“I think that’s very fair and thank you for making sure I understood how you’re feeling at the moment.” I was going to keep reinforcing that until I was blue in the face. “Can I ask you a question, though?”
Swallowing hard, he nodded and sat straighter. “Yes, that’s part of getting to know me.”
He was adorable.
And not wrong, even though the idea clearly made him nervous.
“I agree, but consent is important and not rushing you is important too.” Before he could overthink either of those things, I continued. “You might’ve said that you need a few minutes before I ask you something or you might’ve had limits on what you’re comfortable talking about.”
I could almost hear the wheels in his brain turning faster and faster, but his nod was slow and deliberate. “That’s very logical.”
He didn’t seem to know what to say past that point, so I took control again. “Are things like touching you and kissing you part of getting to know you, or should they come later?”
Silence stretched out again, but it seemed to be an important part of his thought process. Wanting to make sure he knew I respected that, I did my best to keep my expression pleasant and neutral and not to look bored or worried.
I was going to be patient.
Patience was important to my mate.
He needed silence to think.
He moved.
Thank the dragons above.
“Touching like the way you rested your hand on my back and buckled me in?” His question made me want to smile.
“First, I would like to point out that I kept my hands in appropriate places and I didn’t grope you.” My response had his lips trying to curl up even though he was doing his best to keep his blank face in place.
“You’re right.” He nodded again, his expression turning slightly suspicious. “But that’s not really an answer.”
He was so cute.
“You’re right too.” But I’d made him want to laugh and he’d softened a bit again. “Yes, those would be included in the touching part, but I’d also like to touch places like your leg or your arms. Maybe your face?”
Licking his lips as he processed what I’d said, he finally let out a soft breath. “Those are reasonable places to touch in the getting to know you phase.”
Perfect.
“Good. Then I also want you to know that you can touch me as well.” Paxton went still but didn’t move away or frown. “In any of those places or more intimate ones.”
He blinked but seemed to go even more still, and I wanted to ask if any of his ancestors had a hoarding problem.
“If I asked for a hug and you wanted to touch my chest, or if we were talking and you wanted to curl up on my lap, those would all be acceptable forms of touching for me.” My limits were broader than that, but he seemed to want us to move carefully while he sorted things out in his head.
I was hoping I’d explained it right when I went quiet and waited.
And waited.
“Everyone has different limits, so thank you for explaining yours and letting me know…letting me know what you’re comfortable with.” The way he structured the sentence said he was figuring a few things out, but it didn’t seem like anything had scared him too much.
“You’re welcome.” Shifting my arms so they closed in around him slightly, I leaned forward just enough to get a shiver from him. I took it as a sign to stop but didn’t pull back. He was too aroused for it to have been actual fear.
It’d just been a bit of spice that he loved based on how his pupils had gone wide.
“Do you remember how I said the locals would stop if you said red?” His eyes looked a bit like he was a cartoon character, but he nodded slowly to show me that he’d heard me. “I’m a local. I’ll stop if you say that too.”
There wasn’t really a question that time, but as I inched closer, his head gave a faint jerk like he’d thought he nodded. “I…I’ll remember.”
“Good boy.”
Then my lips brushed his and all thoughts of words and questions vanished from both of us as I swallowed his moan.
Chapter 5
Paxton
He kissed me.
There were more important things I should’ve been focused on other than where his lips were currently located, but they weren’t quite as important as they’d been a few minutes before.