Page 4

Four

Tyler

“As much as I want to spend all night with you, you need sleep.” I spoke softly. I didn’t want her to think that I didn’t want to spend time with her. I would give anything to know her better, but she’s already vulnerable tonight.

“What if I have another nightmare?” She mumbled.

“Well, if I hear it, I’ll rush back over. If not, you call me.”

“It’s hard to come out of them.”

“Do you want me to stay? Not in your bed or anything. But I can sleep here and wake you up?”

“You don’t have to do that.” Ava shook her head.

“I don’t, but I want to.”

She stood up, grabbed the glass of water I had brought her, and took a short sip. She was thinking about it. If she said no, I could understand. We had known one another for years but didn’t really know each other. I couldn’t blame her for not trusting me after one night.

“You promise to stay out here unless you need to wake me up?”

“I’d never hurt you.” I promised her.

“I need actions, Ty. I can’t just believe that.”

“And I’ll prove it to you. All I’m asking is to let me help you. Let me prove it to you.”

“You can stay.” She dipped her head, embarrassed. I decided to test my luck again tonight. I pulled her to face me, pressing my fingers under her chin. Her breath caught. Unsure whether it was nerves or excitement, I circled her face with my thumb. She leaned into my contact and closed her eyes for a brief second. “What are you doing to me?”

“Making you feel safe.” I said with conviction.

“I don’t need someone to take care of me.”

“I never said you did,” I rubbed her cheek again. “But wouldn’t it be nice for one night?”

“Yes.” She admitted, closing her eyes briefly.

“Then I’m yours for tonight.”

She backed away slowly, almost folding into herself. “I… don’t want to have sex.”

“No one said anything about sex, Precious.”

“I’ll get you a blanket and pillow.” She rushed out, leaving me standing there by myself. It was a step, a little at a time. Whatever I could do to help her come out of her shell.

When she returned, she hardly looked me in the eye. Making the couch before whispering “goodnight” and hurrying down the hallway again. I kicked off my shoes and attempted to get comfortable on the couch, which was too small for a guy my height. I stared at the ceiling with my hands hidden behind my head. I could hear Ava moving around until she calmed down and went to bed. Leaving the house in peace and quiet. It was not like this in my house. The silence there was depressing. This felt more comfy. I wasn’t alone.

I must have dozed off at some point because the next thing I knew, I was being awakened by screaming. I threw the covers off and dashed down the hallway to Ava’s room. She was flailing about the bed, fighting something in her head. After turning on the lamp, I leaned over and lightly stroked her shoulder.

“Ava, wake up.”

“LET ME GO!” She screamed, trying to make herself as small as possible.

“Ava, it’s Tyler, wake up.” I tried again a little louder, shaking her in the process.

She let out a helpless whimper, breaking my heart in the process. Her eyes shot open as she gasped for air.

“Tyler?” She cried.

“I’m here, Precious.”

She flung herself on my chest, clinging to me. I instantly wrapped my arms around her. Bringing her closer to me. “Shh, you’re okay. It was just a dream. You’re safe.”

I focused on my breathing, hoping hers would sync with mine. Her tiny hand fisted my shirt. Almost like she was trying to fuse herself into me. Her sobs wracked through her body.

“Can you look at me?” I asked softly.

She shook her head, possibly digging deeper into me. I shifted as much as I could, lying her down beside me on the bed. She placed her head on my chest while I wrapped my arm around her and rubbed little circles on her back. “You’re okay, Precious.” I repeated until her breathing returned to normal.

“I’m so-”

“Ava,” I growled. “Don’t finish that.”

“I soaked your shirt.”

“Good thing I can wash it.”

“I woke you up.”

“Stop trying to push me away again. I’m here. I don’t want to be anywhere else.”

“I just want to sleep.” She cried softly.

“Listen to my heartbeat. Focus on what is around you.”

“All I can focus on is your sm-” She stopped mid-sentence.

“What was that, Precious?” I smirked to myself, knowing what she was going to say.

“Nothing, forget it.”

“Mmm, I don’t think I can. Tell me.”

“Your smell.”

“Do you like it?”

“Yes,” she confessed. “A lot.”

“Good to know. I like the way you smell, too.”

“You don’t have to make the sad fat girl feel better about herself.”

“Do I have to spank you in order to get you to stop calling yourself fat?”

Her head shot up, focusing on me. I was afraid I crossed the line, but she had a tiny glint in her eye that hadn’t been there previously. When she blinked, her eyelashes touched her cheeks. “What did you say?”

“You heard me.”

“Spank me?”

“I’d never do anything to actually hurt you. Please know that. But if you want me to punish you in a fun and consensual way, I will.”

“I haven’t… there hasn’t been… I’m a…”

“You don’t have to tell me.” I promised her.

“I just… I’m not experienced.”

“I’ll teach you anything you want to know.”

“What are fun punishments?” She blushed.

“Well, it depends on the person. What I like in bed, you may not. We don’t have to get into that tonight.”

“What do you like?” She cocked her head at me, her doe eyes looking at me.

“I like it rough. I like to be in control. Truly, that means you have all the control and can stop me at any time you are uncomfortable. But I like a lot of things. It can sound scary.”

“Like BDSM?”

Well, this escalated quickly.

“I don’t think this conversation is a good idea tonight.” I pleaded.

“Ty, tell me. I won’t break.”

“I’m a Dom.” I started slowly, seeing how she reacted.

“Like from 50-”

“No, nothing like that.” I said sternly.

“I’ve read some smut books that have BDSM. Are those close to what you do?”

“I guess it depends on the book,” I shrugged. “There’s a lot of different things that go into it.”

“So, what do you like?” She cocked her head.

“Sometimes I like to use bondage. I mentioned the control thing; I like others to submit to me. I like to use pleasure with pain. That doesn’t mean I hurt anyone. I don’t. Anything I ever do is with consent, safe words, and knowing what is and isn’t okay for my partner. It’s a lot of talking. Making sure we’re both on the same page. But it also means aftercare and checking in to make sure they are enjoying it, too.”

“What… kind of kinks do you have?”

“I mentioned the bondage, dominance obviously, discipline, and sex toys. I get enjoyment out of seeing the other person have pleasure. To ring out orgasm after orgasm. It’s more than that, but that should give you an idea.”

“Oh.” She bit her lip, squeezing her legs together.

“Do you like that?”

“I don’t know. I’m curious, though.”

“What are you most curious about? With your past, a lot of these can seem scary or trigger something. I would never want to do that.”

“The discipline.” She blushed again.

“Before we get into this talk any more than we are, let me make it clear that I don’t do this with just anyone. This is about communication and being open. It takes a lot of trust. I don’t expect anyone to submit to me without any of that first. I would also never discipline you, even in a fun way, without that consent already being there.”

“I didn’t know there was so much involved.”

“It’s a lifestyle, Precious.” I tugged her hair a little. “Both parties need to know what each other is okay with, or it can make for an unsafe environment. Especially if there was breath play, blood play, or even just a riding crop.”

“Riding crop?”

“Oh, sweet girl. You have so much to learn.” I smiled at her.

“What do you do for punishments?”

“Well, I haven’t had a sub in a long time,” I tried not to think about Rosa. “While you can go to clubs and find a sub for the night, I prefer to have one sub at a time and know them beforehand.”

“So you like to be called Daddy?”

I couldn’t stop the laugh from escaping as she just looked up at me, waiting for my answer. “Some do. Some have a daddy/little kink. Nothing wrong with it, but that isn’t for me.”

“Do your subs listen to you outside of the bedroom?”

“So many questions, Precious.”

“I’m curious.”

I let out a little sigh, twisting her hair through my finger. “Some doms and subs have a relationship like that, yes. Some will tell you what to eat, what to wear, and other small day-to-day things. I really only want control in the bedroom. I don’t want to control who you are. But once we get into a scene, then you listen to me. If you’re bratty, I punish you. If you were bratty during the day, I might be a little harder on you. It just depends on the dom. I’m a bedroom dom. The biggest thing is your pleasure.”

“I wouldn’t have to think?” She mumbled.

“Not in the bedroom, no. You would trust me to make you feel good and do what is right for you.”

“I like that.”

“I want you to do your research. Really look into this. If this is something you would still be interested in, then maybe I’ll teach you.”

“Why maybe?”

“I don’t want to trigger you. Ever.”

“I want you, Tyler.” She bit her lip.

And if that didn’t have my dick paying attention. “Then give us time. We have to work on your healing first.”

“Okay.” She nodded slightly before laying her head back on my chest.

“Get some sleep.”

“I’m scared.”

“I’m right here. I got you.”

“Do you think you could lie with me?” She blushed.

“I think I can manage that.” I smiled softly at her.

Pulling the blanket, I laid it on top of us. Ava moved closer, took a big breath, and settled in. I didn’t understand why she trusted me and didn’t push me away. But damn if it didn’t make me feel like the luckiest guy on the planet.