“I like touching you.”
She typed one-handed. Same. You make me feel safe.
“Good, baby. Because you’re always safe with me.” Leaning over, he kissed the top of her head, breathing her in. “You’re in the unique position of having time to find a job you really want to do. If you’re worried you’ll become a recluse, then we’ll come up with different reasons for you to get out and about.”
She gave him a shy smile then leaned her head against his arm. He just sat there for a moment. “I don’t like you putting yourself down.”
She tensed.
“Do it again and you’ll go over my knee, understand?”
I’ve never been spanked.
“Hm, that explains things.”
She leaned back to smack his arm playfully, rolling her eyes.
“No hitting, little girl.”
I’m not little.
She was kidding him, right? She was tiny.
“So, you haven’t changed your mind? About being with me? We don’t have to rush into, um, bedroom stuff.”
She grinned at him and he let out an exasperated breath. “Yeah, I realize I sound like an eighty-year-old spinster.”
A small giggle escaped her.
“Hey, are you laughing at me, brat?” He started tickling her, and her giggles turned into gales of laughter. Then he drew her onto his lap. As her giggles died away, he wrapped his hand around the back of her neck, then kissed her.
She was stiff for a start and he worried he’d made a mistake. But then she melted beneath him. But still, he kept the kiss light. Not wanting to push her too hard. When he drew back, she looked dazed, flushed.
Perfect. “I like kissing you.”
She smiled. Like kissing you too. I want to be with you.
“Thank fuck.” He kissed the tip of her nose then drew back. “Right. Then we need to go over the rules.”
That smile dimmed slightly and worry filled her face.
“You already have safety rules. Those still stand. When it comes to your safety, you’re to obey our orders immediately. Next rule, you have to spend at least an hour a day snuggled up on my knee.”
She gave him a shocked look then her lips curled up in a smile.
“Breaking that one comes with severe consequences,” he warned. “At least ten minutes of tickling.”
Who was he? Where was the big bad Dom?
But he had gotten her to loosen up in his arms.
She was already softening his harsh corners. But he wanted to be softer for her.
“If I say the wrong thing, hurt you, then you don’t shut me out. You tell me. Got me? Communication is important.”
You’ll do the same?
“Yep, it’s not always my strong point, but I’ll try. You feel sick, unsure, scared, I want to know.”