Page 29 of Learn Your Limits

Chapter twenty-seven

Reid

After our conversation last night, we moved to the bedroom where, despite wanting more, we spent the night kissing until we were both too tired to keep our eyes open any longer.

As much as I hate the idea of even pretending to date Avalon, I’m willing to do it if it means that my relationship with Milo will be protected.

We only have to keep up the lie until the semester is over and he’s officially no longer my professor.

Then we’ll be free to be out in the open together.

The thought brings an entirely new set of nerves coiling in the pit of my stomach.

Nerves that I brush away, not yet ready to examine them closely.

The bed is cool beside me when I finally peel my eyes open, blinking against the warm rays of light filtering through the sheer curtains.

For a split second, I fear that the last twenty-four hours may have been a dream and that I’m not actually on vacation with Milo, tucked away in the woods where nobody will bother us.

Then I remember how incredible it felt to fall asleep in his arms with my head on his chest, listening to the sound of his steady heartbeat.

With a groan, I throw back the sheets and swing my legs over the edge of the bed, reaching to check the time on my phone where it’s plugged in on the nightstand. It’s nearly ten a.m., and I feel bad for sleeping in when I know Milo is an early riser.

I don’t bother getting dressed when I finally pull myself out of bed, quickly brushing my teeth and running my hands through my hair in an attempt to tame the auburn mess.

The cabin—which feels a little too luxurious to even be called a cabin—is quiet and not at all what I’m accustomed to. Sharing an apartment with two other guys, both of whom are athletes, means there’s always someone stomping around and making a ton of noise.

I find Milo sitting out on the porch swing with a coffee mug in one hand, the other holding a book open in his lap.

The sight of him has my fingers itching to grab my sketchbook from my bag, aching to capture the moment.

My entire body feels captivated by the way the slight hint of silver at his temples catches the light, the way his lips are pressed into a soft smile as his eyes drag across the page, the way the steam from his coffee rises and swirls in the air.

He’s stunning.

My attempt at approaching him quietly is immediately disrupted by the wooden planks creaking beneath my steps. “Good morning, handsome,” I rasp, hints of sleep still clinging to my voice as I sink onto the swing beside him. “Sorry I slept so late.”

He looks up from his book, a finger keeping his place as he shuts the pages and focuses his attention on me.

“It looks like you needed it, Muneco.” A huff of a laugh escapes him before he shakes his head and takes a sip from his mug.

“I’d sleep in too if my body didn’t wake me up for coffee every morning. ”

I make a mental note to check the coffee maker in the kitchen to see if it has a timer. I like the idea of being able to make sure his early morning caffeine hit is ready for him, even if I’m still asleep when he wakes up.

“What are you reading?” I ask, leaning closer to try to get a peek at the cover of his book.

He raises an eyebrow and slowly turns the book toward me, revealing the title. It’s a plain black cover with large gray letters reading Think and Kink. “Heard of it?” he asks.

I shake my head with a smile. “I don’t think so. Usually, when I have free time, I end up drawing. When I do read, it’s just for fun. I do enough educational reading for classes.”

“Because you’re a good little student, aren’t you?

” he asks, and my cock stirs at his low, teasing tone.

“I’m aware this is our vacation from university, but how would you feel about reading a few chapters?

There’s also a questionnaire that may help you identify some.

..” He pauses, and it feels like his gray-green eyes are burning into me with their intensity.

“Preferences for the rest of our vacation.”

He wants me to read, and he’s giving me homework? I can’t even say I’m shocked. He is a professor, after all. “And what do I get if I complete the questionnaire?”

“You’ll get to see my answers.”

“Any chance I can do the questionnaire and skip the reading? You could just tell me what I need to know,” I say, holding my hand out for the book.

“No. The first few chapters will help you better understand the material in the questionnaire, and I won’t let my answers influence yours.

” His voice is stern, leaving no room for argument as he hands over the book and stands from his place on the swing.

“I’ll make us lunch while you read and fill out the questions.

I expect you to finish within the hour.”

I guess Milo wasn’t joking when he said he wanted me naked for our trip.

Granted, okay, I’m not exactly naked. But sitting on a wooden porch swing wearing only a pair of dark green boxer briefs feels pretty damn close.

When I woke up this morning, I thought I’d find him, we’d maybe cuddle a little bit and talk about our plans for the day, and then I’d shower and get dressed.

Instead, I’m sitting here, almost naked, reading about kinks, while Milo busies himself in the kitchen making lunch.

I don’t know what I was expecting to find in the book he gave me, but it definitely wasn’t this.

The few chapters he asked me to read dove into the science and thought process behind kinks.

Reading about some of the things that have always made me curious, and shedding light on the why behind them, somehow makes me feel more confident.

But I still wasn’t fully prepared for the assortment of questions that were waiting for me at the end of the book.

Questions that apparently Milo has already answered.

There is no easing into them, with the very first question being one that asks whether or not I like to be dominated in the bedroom.

It’s not something I have much experience in, but with the way my body melts from his commanding tone and stern voice, there’s no denying that I’d enjoy it.

Still, figuring out my answers isn’t as easy as I thought it would be.

The first few I try to answer from a general standpoint, but that leaves me with mixed feelings.

It isn’t until I start to answer the questions with only him in mind that my answers come easier.

Questions like if the idea of being marked in some way appeals to me, if I would enjoy being tied up or restrained, and if I like pain with sex are just a few that stood out in my mind.

As much as I want to skim over some of these questions, I don’t want to let Milo down by not doing what he asks of me.

I get the feeling that my answers actually matter to him, which makes me that much more curious.

Not just for his answers, but for mine as well. I’ve spent my entire life working toward being the person others expect me to be. I can’t say that I’ve ever taken the time to truly get to know myself outside of the parameters I’ve been forced into.

Will this test tell us if we’re compatible or not?

My stomach sinks at the idea, a knot forming as I sit up and refocus my attention on carefully reading over each one.

Just as I’m finishing up the last question, he steps out onto the porch with a platter full of whatever he’s made us for lunch, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

“Let me guess,” I tease, closing the book and holding it in my lap. “You were waiting until exactly an hour had passed.” I glance down at the book, tapping a few fingers against its cover. “I finished the questionnaire,” I murmur.

“An hour is an hour, Mr. Callahan. Not that I’m complaining about the view,” he says, setting the platter down on the wicker table in front of the swing. “But you could’ve taken a moment to get dressed. Aren’t you a bit chilly?”

If it weren’t for him, I probably would be cold.

But sitting here for the past hour, reading about kinks and imagining the things that he and I could possibly do together, has kept me plenty warm enough.

“I guess I was a little too distracted to notice,” I say, setting the book aside and standing from the swing.

“Give me a minute, and I’ll go get dressed.

” I quickly step around him and make my way to the bedroom.

It doesn’t take me long to throw on a pair of dark jeans and a long-sleeved henley, deciding to skip putting on socks and shoes for now.

When I make it back out onto the porch, I find Milo sitting back on the swing with the book once again open in his lap, a bottle of wine and two glasses on the table beside the platter.

My stomach flips with anticipation as I watch him trail his finger slowly down the questionnaire page.

According to the book, my answers dictate that I’m primarily submissive but a little bit of a switch and equal parts exhibitionist and brat.

I have to bite my lower lip to keep myself from laughing at that last one.

I wasn’t even a little surprised when I saw that.

“Please eat, I’ll need some time to thoroughly read your answers.” He nods his chin toward the spread of bruschetta. “And here,” he says, handing me a folded piece of paper. “You may need some time to process mine as well.”

His results.

It feels weird to sit here and examine a list of each other’s supposed kinks, but I guess that’s exactly what we’re doing.

I reach forward and scoop some of the bacon and tomato mixture onto a piece of toasted bread before I sit back and look over his results.

Seeing that he’s tested as primarily dominant has me chuckling to myself as my eyes scan over the page.

He’s also tested for primal, brat tamer, and rigger.

I don’t know what a rigger is, but the other two are fairly self-explanatory.

I’ve already been introduced to Milo the Brat Tamer, and I love pushing his buttons.

It’s been little things so far, but seeing as he actually enjoys correcting my brat behavior, I might have to step it up in that department.

Butterflies flutter in my stomach each time I tease him or give him a slight attitude about something.

Seeing the way his gaze heats with lust and hearing his voice drop when he’s taming me always sets my body on fire.

I fold his results back up and set the paper between us.

Reaching forward, I grab another piece of the bruschetta and pop it into my mouth as my gaze wanders over the expanse of wooded area stretched around the cabin.

I glance over at Milo to find his eyes glued to my answers still, his brow furrowed slightly.

Pulling in a deep breath, I lean forward and brace my forearms on my thighs, staring out over the autumn trees.

Milo tucks my results back into the book and sets it carefully on the table before he reaches over to lift his glass of wine. Right before the glass touches his lips, he turns to face me directly, his eyes equally intense and sparkling. “And the stars align.”