Page 139 of For the Sub

Her hand moved quickly across the page.

Engrossed, she never paused or looked up.

She’d dressed in jeans and the T-shirt he’d discarded last night.

That she was comfortable in his clothing spoke to an easy intimacy found between longtime lovers.

Is that what we are…? Lovers?

He waited for a panicky sensation to clobber him.

But it didn’t.

Intrigued, he continued to be a voyeur.

Her hair was curtained around her, still containing waves from last night’s bondage.

It suited her perfectly.

Until she tamed it, it would be a reminder of their time together, every bit as much as the couple of still-fading welts she was sure to have.

Images of their scene flashed through him, making his cock stir.

Then again, everything about her appealed to his baser nature.

A minute or so later, when she still hadn’t looked up, Niles returned to the kitchen to pour himself a cup of the coffee.

After the first strong sip, he decided this would be her chore anytime she visited his place.

He wasn’t sure what she did differently, but her brew tasted richer, more complex than the stuff that hissed into the bottom of the carafe when he turned on the coffee maker.

After pulling on a pair of jeans, he carried his mug to the door and watched her again, waiting until she took a break.

When she lifted her hand, then her head to stare into the distance, he walked out onto the patio.

Glancing toward him, she smiled.

The temperature seemed to increase by ten degrees.

Right away, she put down the pad and pen then rose onto her toes to kiss his cheek. “I hope you don’t mind that I raided your home office for supplies.”

“You keep making the coffee and anything I have is yours.”

“Yours really is dreadful,” she said with a cheeky grin. “Oh, wait. Did I say that out loud?”

“You’re referring to the coffee I made at your place?”

“I am.”

He put down his cup to smack her bottom, the sound more impressive because his hand had landed on denim.

She yelped, but grinned as she rubbed her rear. “Again, Sir, that’s no incentive to make me behave.”

“It wasn’t meant to.” His voice emerged gruffer than he’d intended.

“Then we’re thinking along the same lines.” Lifting up onto her toes once again, she linked her hands behind his neck. “I know I’m being presumptuous, Sir, but I’ve been thinking about you. Will you kiss me?”

He did.