**Chapter 4: Establishing Boundaries**

As the warmth of the fire danced across their skin, Misty and Natalie sat down on the worn couch, their bodies angled towards each other. The air was still charged with anticipation, but it was tempered now with a sense of expectation. They had come here for a reason, and it was time to acknowledge the elephant in the room. Misty took a deep breath, her voice barely above a whisper. "So, what do we want from this?" she asked, her eyes searching Natalie's face for answers. Natalie's gaze was steady, her expression calm. "I want to explore," she said, her voice low and husky. "I want to see where this takes us." Misty nodded, her mind racing with possibilities. "Me too," she said, her voice firm. "But we need to talk about boundaries. About safe words." Natalie's eyes narrowed, her brow furrowing in concentration. "I've been thinking about that," she said, her voice measured. "I think we should use the standard ones. You know, red, yellow, and green." Misty nodded, a sense of relief washing over her. "I like that," she said, her voice sincere. "For me, red means stop, no matter what. Yellow means slow down or adjust, and green means go." Natalie nodded, her eyes locked on Misty's. "I understand," she said, her voice firm. "And I'm happy to respect those boundaries." Misty felt a sense of gratitude towards Natalie, mixed with a thrill of excitement. She had always been drawn to Natalie's confident, take-charge attitude, and now she was about to experience it in a whole new way. As they talked, Misty realized that she had a few hard limits, things that she was not willing to try. "I don't do needles," she said, her voice firm. "And I'm not comfortable with permanent marks." Natalie's expression was understanding. "I respect that," she said, her voice gentle. "I have a few limits too. I'm not comfortable with public play, and I don't do emotional manipulation." Misty nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. It was good to know where they stood, to have a clear understanding of each other's boundaries. As they talked, the fire crackled and spat, casting a warm glow over the room. The darkness outside seemed to recede, and all that was left was the two of them, lost in their own little world. Finally, they nodded at each other, a silent understanding passing between them. They had established their boundaries, and now it was time to explore. The air seemed to vibrate with tension as they sat there, their eyes locked on each other. Misty could feel Natalie's gaze on her, burning with a desire that seemed to match her own. Without a word, Natalie reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair behind Misty's ear. The touch sent shivers down her spine, and Misty knew that they were on the cusp of something big. "Are you ready for this?" Natalie asked, her voice low and husky. Misty nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. "I was born ready," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Natalie's smile was slow and sensual, and it sent a thrill through Misty's veins. "Good," she said, her voice firm. "Because I'm not going to go easy on you."