Page 46 of Tutoring Mr. Hotshot

My eyes go wide. “Oh, shit. We passed Ma didn’t we? I vaguely remember you talking to her. I can’t remember what about though.”

“We did talk. She just wanted to be sure you weren’t drunk.”

“Drunk? I don’t drink at all.”

“That’s what I told her. Aside from the party where I first saw you, I haven’t so much heard you speak of alcohol. When she didn't seem sure, I said your social battery ran out during the game. She quickly changed her perspective and let me bring you up here.”

“Then you stayed?”

He bends his knees up. I watch as he shifts forward, his arms leaning on them for support.

“I did. We hadn’t agreed to scene or anything. To be honest, I’m not sure how you wound up so deep in it. I had to make sure you were ok throughout the night. I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself is something I did harmed you.”

Dammit.

I can literally hear the ice I’d been keeping around my heart shatter. He does it with ease. Like it’s no big deal to take care of me.

Is this how Raymond feels? And Finn?

No wonder they’re so happy all the time. I would be too if I had a Daddy.

You do, my inner voice reminds me.

Technically he is and he isn’t. There’s still a lot for us to discuss before we’re official. Even then, it’s not like we’re going to tell a ton of people. My brother and his friends will likely find out, but that’s it. No one on campus needs to know. They wouldn’t understand.

Long ago, I realized how immature people my age were. They can’t handle anything that’s not the latest trend online or a viral video about their favorite celebrity. The deeper stuff in life, the things that matter most, evade them.

And with this being something kinky, I didn’t want to make it public knowledge anyway. I’m not as famous as my brother. Andry surely will be soon though. The articles they’d print about him would be damning.

“Breathe, little genius,” he says softly. I feel hands on mine. His fingers lace through them, grounding me to the moment.

I blink and shake my head. “Sorry about that. I’m not sure what’s going on.”

He gives me a sad sort of smile. “I think I know. You were upset about being little last night? Maybe you’re feeling concerned about how you were so relaxed with me that you sunk into a space so safe and carefree I had to ensure your safety. You are probably also probably worried about what this means for us, especially since I plan to go pro.”

“How… how did you figure it out so easily?”

Andry shifts into a kneeling position beside the bed. The new angle puts his face nearly level with mine. His stare holds me captive as he squeezes my hand.

“I figured it out because I was there with you. Because I’ve made it a habit to watch and learn you since we met. Most submissives are worried when new to the lifestyle. Especially when they’re in positions like yours.”

“Like mine?” Something about his turn of phrase rubs me the wrong way.

“People who have been bullied in the past. People who don’t trust their instincts. People who keep things to themselves most of the time. Should I keep going?”

Closing my eyes, I force myself to take a deep breath.

While I can easily get more upset at the situation, I need to stop to think of what it really means for him to be saying this.

It’s obvious he has been studying me. That he’s been cataloging things I don’t think anyone else has truly figured out.

“Then what do we do from here? How do we make this work without me having near panic attacks every day? And this space stuff you keep talking about,” I say, wanting to know more of his thoughts.

“Subspace.”

“Yes, that! If I went into so easily, how do we stop it from happening next time? I don’t want to lose time when we’re together. Not unless I’ve agreed to it and have it planned.”

Andry’s smile is near blinding. “Yes, little genius. That’s exactly right. We need to make sure to keep an eye on you now that we know your little side comes on quickly. With the right amount of time and dedication, we’ll get to the root of what makes you tick.”

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