Mal had practically melted into him when he’d so much as grazed his fingertips over his neck. The thought of actually getting to apply pressure and feel his pulse in his fingertips and watch his eyes roll back—fuck. He wants it. But it’s unrealistic to expect it, and not only because it’s forbidden at the club. Choking and breath play is the ultimate sign of trust in a Dom/sub relationship, at least to Rowan. Your partner’s life is literally in your hands.

“Right,” Rowan manages, clearing his throat. “Uh, me too, for what it’s worth.” The seemingly approving look Mal gives him nearly sends Rowan to the floor. “What, uh, what about planning out scenes?”

“A general idea’s good, but I like to be surprised,” Mal replies as if he hadn’t sent Rowan’s brain into a tailspin. “Don’t need to practice every fuckin’ thing you say.”

“You want me to pick stuff to do each session, or do you wanna tell me ahead of time?”

“Mmm… bit of both. I’ll text you before Saturday and let you know any specifics I’m feeling, and you can fill in the rest.”

Sounds pretty perfect to Rowan. That way he knows whatever they do will be something Mal will like, but with enough freedom to keep things interesting and not so rigidly structured.

“That works. Are your safewords always the color system, or did you do that only for the gangbang?”

“Colors, yeah. Hate actual words. Don’t need to be callin’ out my fifth-grade math teacher’s name while I’m gettin’ fucked. You good with that?”

Rowan snorts but doesn’t say that he could pick something that’s not his old teacher’s name. He’s fine with colors, though. It makes it easier.

“Yep. How about if you’re gagged or something—do you have a clicker, or is that somethin’ the club has?”

Rowan’s never actually had to use one before, but he did read about them during his short research phase while he was applying.

“I have one. I’ll bring it each time just in case.”

“Cool. Do you usually use stuff provided by the club or bring your own?”

Mal rubs a hand across his face, and Rowan fixates on the ink on his fingers a little longer than strictly necessary for the quick gesture. Thinks back to the sight of them wrapped around his cock, guiding him into his mouth—

“The club has pretty much everything, but I do have my own collection’a shit that I like using. Occasionally I’ll use some of the club’s stuff if they have a model I like better.”

“’Kay. I’ll prob’ly have to take a look at what they have next time so I know what the options are.”

Mal nods, and Rowan’s struck with another question.