Page 59 of In His Cuffs

She looked up and dug her hand into his hair. It was her first real, intimate gesture, and it meant something powerful to him. She trailed her fingers down his cheekbone and settled on his chin. “You’re insufferable, Sir.”

Insufferable enough, evidently, for her to move her hand lower to stroke his biceps.

“I’m glad,” she admitted.

He raised his eyebrows.

“There’s a certain comfort in that,” she said. “Which I wouldn’t admit if I hadn’t had that wonderful experience. If you bring it up again, I’ll deny I said it.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything else from you.”

“Keep that arm in flogging order for me, will you?”

“Your wish is my command, princess.”

“Do you need arnica for your wrist?”

“After your next spanking, I might.” He upended her, tossing her over his lap.

“You wouldn’t!” She brought her hands back to protect her butt.

He swatted them aside, and before she could protest, he plucked the plug from her anus.

“That was diabolical.”

“That averted a pointless debate,” he countered. He eased her from his lap and went into the powder room. He brought back a washcloth and cleansed her before returning to the bathroom.

“I’m not sure I’ll ever get over you doing that for me,” she confessed as he sat next to her and held her close again, mindful that she didn’t catch a chill now that her body was cooling.

“You said that as if you think you have any say in the matter.”

“Mr Tomlinson—”

“Master,” he corrected. “Master David.” In his arms, she froze. Time seemed to teeter on a precipice of disaster.

“I… Ah…”

He breathed out and the moment lurched forwards.

“You have no issue with using the title when you address Master Damien, or other Doms for that matter. I won’t demand it of you, but when you’re ready to show the courtesy, it will be well-received.”

“I’m not sure what to say. I mean no disrespect, but Mr Tomlinson seems unique and fitting.” She raised her palms as if beseeching him to understand. “It’s what I call you. To me, it is a term of respect. At the beginning…” She looked away. “Damn, I feel bad saying this… In the beginning, maybe it wasn’t. But it is now. When we’re alone, it’s…” She seemed to stumble for the word. “Different. I’m not making myself understood, but the distinction is clear in my mind.”

“I concede your point.”

“But it still matters to you?”

“I’ll give it some consideration.”

She scooted onto her knees and kissed him. Who knew this side of Maggie even existed? “I’m curious, with the way you want to be dominated, why aren’t you in a permanent BDSM relationship?”

“It’s complicated. All relationships are, right? I love my work, and since I joined the firm, a lot of my time has been taken up with that. Most men in my social circle are scandalised by any suggestion that I want to be hurt in any way. Doms… You can be a demanding bunch. I’m not sure I’m up for the constant battle. I want my kink in the bedroom, so I participate in a series of scenes that I keep confined to weekends. That works best for me.”

“The event I’d been watching you mark off on your desk calendar. That was the night at the Den?”

“I had today circled, too,” she said.

That pumped up his ego. A nice change from the way she usually deflated it. He thought about that calendar, with every detail of her life jotted in blue ink. “Is there a date circled for your next outing?”

“I put the ladies’ nights on there as soon as Gregorio sends the announcements,” she said. “Vanessa and I almost always go.”

The sensation of being knocked back a step was as unexpected as it was unwelcome. Did she have no regard for the fact he was human? “You won’t be attending.”

“Excuse me? That’s not part of our arrangement.”

“It is now.”

“Did your report cards in school have notes that you don’t play well with others?”

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