by Riley Murphy
Rene didn’t react and she started to panic.
“I-I didn’t want to make matters worse. I didn’t want to fight about this too. I—” She bowed her head and whispered, “I belong to you, Master. I love you.”
Silence.
She stayed in this position and figured that Michael was staring at the spectacle she was making of herself but she didn’t care. Her heart physically ached in her chest as if it had been cleaved in two. The only thing she cared about. The only thing she wanted was Rene’s attention. For him to look at her and when he still didn’t she began to lose hope. She moved to wrap her arms around his leg, intent upon laying her head against his thigh, but his quiet command stopped her.
“No. Hands behind your back, kitten. Good girl.” His gentle and patient tone slid into her heart and filled her with joy. “I want you to go to my room. Strip everything off. Everything but your panties. You know how I like to take those down myself.
“I want you to climb up on our chair on bent knees and hug the bolster tight. Press your cheek into the fabric and breathe nice and slow for a few minutes and then I want you to close your eyes and wait for me like that until I’m ready to deal with you. Do you understand?”
“Yes.” She hesitated for a moment, making sure that’s all he would say. When she was confident that it was she stood and left the room without looking back.
Rene waited for Alex to leave. He was reeling with the gift she’d just given him. His heart swelled with love for her. But there would be plenty of time later to praise her for courage. Right now he needed put his massive relief aside and focus on the misguided fool seated at his table.
“A kiss? That’s all there was?”
“I think that’s enough, don’t you?”
It wasn’t but Rene wasn’t going to tell him that. Instead he asked, “You care deeply for her I take it?”
“Yes.”
In this, Rene couldn’t blame him. His wife was a special woman. A really special woman and Michael obviously got that.
“That answer just saved your sorry ass.”
“What?”
“You heard me. Now, put the pride aside. The truth is I did what you couldn’t with her.”
“Fuck.” He threw down his fork and drilled holes in the table with his black look.
Rene studied him and sighed. “I don’t blame you. I would expect any guy worth a damn to want her from day one. In an odd, love-your-enemy kind of way, I like you, kid. That’s why I’m going to help you out.”
Michael’s frown deepened to a scowl. “Kid? Okay, I think we better straighten this much out. I think I may be older than you.” Rene stared until Michael dropped that subject and went on to another. “Ah, you said something about helping me out?”
He was glad to see the guy could be reasonable. “Yes. It goes like this. No more armchair philosophy about controlling men and the lives they ruin. The subject will never again be spoken between you and my wife for obvious reasons. I want you to keep your bastardized opinions to yourself. If you have plans to embrace the lifestyle you may want to do some research on the subject and I don’t mean internet look-up either.” Michael’s lips parted in surprise and Rene continued. “Because women generally respond in a positive manner when they put their trust into the hands of a man who knows what to do with it. And believe me, you can’t learn that from the so-called experts online.”
He continued to stare him down until the mortified guy looked away. “Good. I’m guessing I don’t have to say this, but I will anyway. If I ever discover that you embarrass, humiliate or degrade Alexis in any way because of the intimate scene and details she shared with you about our relationship, you will deal with me. On a very, very personal level. Do you understand?”
Michael begrudgingly answered, “Yes.”
“Good. Listen.” When Michael eyed him again, he lowered his voice and said, “I appreciate that you cared enough for Alexis to want to do something about her situation, but the next time you want to be the knight riding in for the damsel, make sure the damsel wants to be saved. Otherwise you come off looking like a home wrecker.”
Michael sat back fast. “That wasn’t my intent. I never did or said anything to advance my cause with Alexis this whole time. With the exception of that…”
For a smart guy he sure was a dumbass to nearly bring up that stolen kiss because Rene was trying his best to forget about it.
“Maybe it wasn’t what you did say that influenced her, but all that you didn’t. Think about it.” Michael came forward, looking ready to launch into a denial, so Rene held up his hand. “That’s all we’re going to say on the subject. Got it?”
Michael closed his mouth and took a deep breath through his nose.
Rene gave him a moment and then tackled the next order of business. “You have talent, kid. You’ve been an asset to the company. I like that about you. But you need to quit being an asshole. People don’t respond well to an asshole unless they own it or it’s theirs.”
Michael looked away and Rene had to give him credit once again. He was taking this verbal spanking rather well.
“Look, you got two gifts tonight so I want you be grateful for them.”
“Gifts?”
“Yeah, the woman I love above all else has shared something with you about herself that she hasn’t shared with anyone else. She must really like and respect you. Even though I have no idea why.” He made a face. “No offense. I trust her judgment. So, here’s the deal. I’m going to cut you some slack instead of cutting you off at the knees. Got it?”
Michael lips pressed together and then relaxed as he hissed, “Yes.”
“Good.” Rene was feeling magnanimous. He leaned back and sighed. “Dinner was delicious, wasn’t it?”
Michael blinked and looked down at his near empty plate. “Yeah. Yeah it sure was.”
“Do you like seafood?”
“Seafood?”
“Yeah, lobster and Ipswich clams.”
“I suppose.”
“Great. I need a capable guy to head up the new plant we’re opening in New England. You in?” He leaned forward and gave Michael a direct stare. “Say yes.”
Michael’s brows went up and then slid back down in place as he nodded. “Yes.”
* * * * *
Alexis heard the echo of the front door close and waited. Hearing the telltale tumble of the deadbolt, she let out a sigh of relief. Although why she should feel this at peace was a mystery. Given that her deepest secret walked away with someone else tonight. How did she feel about that? She searched her heart and decided as long as she had Rene she felt pretty darn good. Only problem at the moment? Her bottom was still sore from her last punishment. Maybe he’d go easy on her now.
Rene never went easy.
The bedroom door opened and a chill went up her spine. Not from the temperature. It was warm in the room.
“Who do you belong to?” her husband whispered. Coming in close.
“You. Always you.”
“Good girl.”
He slipped his arm around her waist and peeled her off the chair back. “Easy, let go, little one. There won’t be any punishment tonight.”
“No?” She threw her arms around his neck and spoke against the heated skin of his throat. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about that stupid kiss. I just—”
He squeezed her to quiet. “Shh. We don’t need to discuss this further. The matter is done.”
That’s one of the things she loved about Rene. There were no grudges, no recriminations and no guilt once they’d dealt with a matter. She sighed.
“I do want to sit with you here in our chair. I want to talk with you about something else that’s important.”
“About?” As if she didn’t know. She grasped the medallion in her palm and snuggled in deep on his lap.
“The kinky shit I might be into when you’re pregnant.”
Her head came off his shoulder so fast her forehead knocked against his chin. “You’ve got
to be kidding me.”
“No, I wouldn’t kid about something like this.”
“Right now. Right at this moment. Here?” She pointed for emphasis. “After what happened with…” She let go of the medallion. “At the dinner table and what Michael told you—” Not a good time to remind him about that, she decided. “This is what you want to talk about?”
He wrapped his big arms around her and drew her in tight. “Well, I guess I could tell you that I’ve never been more proud of you than I was tonight when you took off that scarf. That I’ve never loved you more than I did tonight when you came out in front of Michael.”
“Is that what they call it?”
“They? What they? How about we?”
She liked the sound of that. So much so, that it took her a full minute to realize that he hadn’t answered her. “Do we come out to your family?”
“God no. You think we’re bad? They’re freaks.”
“How about to my mom?”
“I don’t even think I’m strong enough for that.”
That made her laugh. “Are we okay then?”
“I think so.”
“You’re happy?”
“Why?”
“Because that makes me happy.”
He lean back and tilted her chin up so he could look her in the eyes. “Then yes. You’ve made me happy, little one. Very happy. Thank you for trusting me enough to allow me to reclaim your surrender. I promise to cherish this precious gift from now until the day I die.”
His husky and deep tone made her shiver and snuggle in against him. “I love you, Rene.”
“Master,” he corrected, but she knew he was only messing with her because he wasn’t in Dom mode right now. With a contented sigh, she found a spot between his shirt and one of his buttons and used her nose to touch skin. Nuzzling against it, she closed her eyes and purred, “Were you serious before about trying that kind of kink?”
“Yes. I can’t wait.”
“It sounds icky.”
His lips dropped to her ear and he breathed into it, making her shiver again. “It’s going to be great. I promise.”
Her eyes popped open and she stared at the rise and fall of his chest. “How would you know that? Have you done something like this before?”
“Not something. Things. And as to doing them with someone else that would be a no.”
She loved to tease him. “You’re sure?”
“Quit being a brat. Am I sure? What kind of a guy do you take me for?”
Kidding or not, she wasn’t going to answer that loaded question, because why start an argument now? She was curious though. “What kind of things? Tell me.”
He hooked a finger under her chin again and pulled up. When he leaned back to look at her, his eyes twinkled. “Maybe I should show you.”
Show her? “I’m not pregnant.”
“Not yet, but fortunately the act of getting you pregnant is on the list.”
She let out a low whistle. “You’re a strange creature, Rene Tanner.”
He smiled, leaned down and kissed the medallion “You have no idea, but I’m going to show you.”
When he found her mouth she was ready for him to do whatever he had in mind to do, because strange or not, he was definitely her kind of perfect.
The End
About the Author
Riley Murphy still gets a thrill when her honey walks into the room. Not bad considering they’ve been married for 26 years. She has two awesome kids whom she’d be honored to have as friends if they weren’t her flesh and blood. Gee, her life in Florida would be darn near perfect if not for the fact she’s currently being held hostage by a sassy English bull terrier who has delusions of being the Dom in their relationship. Riley loves to hear from her readers.
Riley welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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