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My kitten’s eyes are so comically wide I have to fight the urge to laugh.

“I’m not into bondage or rough impact play, but other than that I don’t really have many soft limits. Domestic discipline isn’t my favorite, but I’d be willing to explore it, if that was something you were interested in trying.”

“Domestic discipline?” His voice goes up on the last syllable, and I swallow back a smile.

“Fucking hell, Kitten, I love how innocent you are. Domestic discipline is a type of relationship where one person sets the rules and then holds the other accountable by using physical discipline.”

“Like they’d hit them?” He recoils at the idea.

“No.” I say quickly. “The person in charge would potentially use forms of discipline like writing lines, enforcing a bedtime, or grounding. Mouth soaping, spanking, or possibly humiliation, if that fell within their limits.”

“Why?” he asks, clearly unsure why anyone would want that.

“Because it turns them on, or because they need the physical threat to help them make good choices. Every relationship is different, especially within the kink community.”

“And you’re part of the kink community? Is that something you’ve done? Domestic discipline.” It’s clear he’s bracing for my reply, but I won’t lie to him, even if I wish I could.

“I told you I enjoy aspects of BDSM. I haven’t indulged since I moved to Montana, but in the past, I’ve been a member of a sex club. And yes, in a previous relationship, my partner asked me to incorporate discipline into our life. She enjoyed?—”

“She?” he blurts.

“I told you I’m bi, and yes, my last relationship was with a woman.”

“And she liked you to…” He swallows thickly, his throat bobbing with the movement. “Spank her?”

“Yes.” I could say more, but I won’t, because it doesn’t matter. The past is the past for a reason.

“I don’t think…I don’t think I’d…like that,” he stutters.

“That’s fine. Like I said, it’s not my favorite, but if it was something you wanted to try or something you needed, I’d be willing to do it.”

“You’d do it, even if you didn’t like it?” he questions.

“If you needed it, yes. But if I’m honest, I’d prefer not to have to constantly enforce the rules I set by spanking your ass red every day.”

“And that’s what she needed?” he asks, his cheeks red with embarrassment. It’s obvious that beyond his physical innocence, he’s not used to talking about sexual stuff either.

“Yes. She needed the physical discipline to help keep her focused. The moment she didn’t feel like she was getting what she needed, she’d act out to force a physical reaction from me.”

“That doesn’t sound…” Snapping his lips shut, he stops speaking.

“It was exhausting,” I admit. “I enjoyed some of the aspects of that kind of relationship, but she needed more than I could give her, and we both knew that.”

“How long ago was that?” he asks, then immediately lifts his hand. “I’m sorry, it’s none of my business.”

“Of course it’s your business. You can ask me absolutely anything, and I’ll answer. Erin and I parted ways three years ago. She’s happily married to a good friend of mine who enjoys keeping her in line.”

“And it doesn’t bother you that she got together with your friend?” he asks curiously.

“I introduced them. I went to their wedding. I’m happy they found each other,” I tell him honestly.

“Do you have any other limits?” he asks.

“No, I don’t think so. Now that we’ve talked a little more, can you think of anything that’s a hard no for you? This isn’t the only conversation we’ll have about this, so if you need more time to think about it, that’s fine. I’m not your Dom, and you’re not my sub, but I still want to make sure that you’re comfortable with the things we do, and if at any time you decide you don’t like something or something upsets you, then I want you to tell me and I’ll respect it.”

“I think mine are probably the same as yours,” he says quietly.

“That’s good,” I coo, letting some praise coat my words.