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‘She’s tiny,’ Louise states, her words brittle, though bright in tone. ‘Cute, like a pixie.’
‘That sounds right,’ I say, frowning. ‘Though not the Disney kind. Ruthlessly manipulative and cunning, but I’d rather not discuss her.’ I take a seat beside her, our thighs almost touching. This would surely be it. The straw to break the camel’s back. Finding out about Hal the way she had was bad enough, but I wasn’t going to let her leave without a fight. ‘Let’s discuss us.’ I nudge her playfully with my shoulder, heat radiating with the small touch.
‘There’s an us?’ She cocks a brow; a reflex reaction, I think.
‘I’d like to think there is. Perhaps, if you’re honest with yourself, you think the same. I want more from you, Louise.’
‘You mean moreofme?’ She doesn’t seem impressed by my honesty. Does she fear the sudden weight of my words?
I shake my head a little sadly, glancing around the kitchen as though seeing its condition for the first time. The abandoned dinner dishes. The bottles of wine waiting for recycling.
‘It’s such a fucking mess.’
‘Hey, I’m not slave material,’ she says, forcing a laugh. ‘I’m not the domestic type.’ I cock a brow, grateful for her making light of things. But more than that, she seemed to be testing the waters. Sounding out my needs. Would she ask me outright exactly where my proclivities lie?
‘I don’t mind helping out, maybe loading the dishwasher from time to time, but beyond that, my limits are hard.’
Good girl. Stop pussyfooting. Ask the questions out loud. But she doesn’t, her eyes falling to her lap where her hands rest.
‘I’m not looking for someone service orientated,’ I reply softly, taking one of her hands in mine. ‘I think what you’re asking is if I’m in the market for a sub.’
‘So maybe we’re back to my browsing too many dubious websites then, huh?’
She looks relieved as she stares up at me. The right thing to do at this moment would be to tell her what I actually do for a living. Tell her about the clubs. But then what? Watch the cloud of dust form as she runs? I think there’ve been enough revelations for one night.
‘You’ve been ruined by porn.’ I shake my head disparagingly. ‘I don’t want a playmate. Or someone to clean my floor in the buff. But I do want to hurt you. Bend you. Twist your mind and your body. I want to do it all while getting to know you. That’s what I want.’
For starters, that’d do. Probably still a lot to ask after the past few hours. The rest we’d get to.Hopefully.
‘That’s all?’ Sure enough, her reply I almost a rebuke. It’s a lot to take in, for sure.
‘Along with regularly fucking you into a state of inexplicable bliss, of course.’
‘Of course.’ Along with her smile, her eyes seem to discover some fascination with the kitchen floor. ‘Where do we go from here, then?’ she asks quietly.
‘Given the choice, today I’d continue where we left off. With you on all fours, my darling.’ My fingers find her chin, encouraging her gaze to mine. I push her hair from one shoulder, pulling the strands through my fingers where it shines like the sun. ‘Given time and opportunity, I’d place my hand around your neck... just to feel your breath under my palm.’ She swallows deeply as I lay my palm at the base of her neck to reiterate the point. ‘Given your encouragement, I’d peel you out of your clothes, spread you across my knee, and run my fingertips through the slick, pink ribbon between your legs.’ My words were meant to entice, but the images brand my brain. ‘And when you’ve given me everything, my darling, and you’re wrung wet and shaking, I’d make you come on my tongue.’
‘But those plans can’t happen today, right?’ There’s hope in her question, though her expression showed she understood our reality as I shake my head. She swallows audibly, the libidinous lilt in her voice clear as she says, ‘So what’s the alternative plan?’
‘Date night.’ I cup her face in my hands and rub my thumb across her bottom lip.
‘Wine me, dine me, sixty-nine me, huh?’
‘It’s like you know me already,’ I reply. ‘Date night. Next Friday, because I’m all about the anticipation.’
‘You mean you’re a tease.’
‘Darling, you can’t possibly know. But you could definitely find out.’
‘If I play my cards right?’
‘I’d show you my hand any day of the week.’
God, if she didn’t like the sound of that. She was probably wet. My hands move to her shoulders, my need burning her skin.
‘How much time do we have?’
My smile slips. ‘Hal’s due to wake any minute.’
