“What? Why? What’s wrong?” I reac
h for his face, suddenly worried. “That doesn’t sound like you. You haven’t said anything.” We’ve been talking so much this week that honestly, I feel like I’ve known Tony for years. I had no idea he was struggling with work, though.
“Honestly? It’s not just one thing. It’s a whole lot of things that just seem to be wearing me down.”
I want to comfort him. He looks so stressed, so anxious. He shouldn’t be feeling this way. I shouldn’t, either, but suddenly, I remember all of those books I’ve been reading. What’s one thing subs are really, really good at?
Comforting our Doms when they need it.
I just have to figure out how.
I’ve already made his favorite meal and we’re going to share that soon, but in the meantime, I can do something else for Tony.
“Master Tony?”
“Sweetheart, you’ve been doing a lot of reading. You know that if you call me Master, it’s going to make me think you’re in the mood to play.”
“Let me comfort you,” I tell him quietly, searching his eyes. “Let me help you forget. This week has been shitty for both of us. Let’s just forget, just for a little while.”
“Macie, I like you a lot. A lot,” he says again. “Much more than I should for someone I’ve only known a short while. I think you’re sexy, and funny, and incredible, but there is no pressure for anything to happen between us tonight. There’s nothing wrong with taking things slow.”
“You’re right,” I tell him. “There’s also nothing wrong with letting me take away your pain.”
“I’m not in pain.”
“You’re anxious,” I tell him, pressing my hands to his chest. “And you’re stressed. Please, Master. I know what I’m saying. Let me give this to you.”
“Are you saying you want to submit to me?” Something flashes in his eyes, something sexy. This idea excites him, and that makes me feel like I’m the sexiest fucking woman in the world.
I slide off the couch and kneel next to it, looking at him.
“Take me,” I whisper. “I am yours.”
Chapter 10
Anthony
Macie is full of surprises.
She made me dinner, which I didn’t expect, and it smells fantastic. The entire house smells like brisket and mashed potatoes, and I can’t wait to share this meal with her. She’s thoughtful, and kind.
Macie is much too good for me.
And she’s on her knees beside me, willingly offering herself up to me. Does she know she’s making a deal with the devil? Does she know that I will take her so far down the rabbit hole she’ll never be able to find her way back?
There are things I want to do to Macie, dark things. I want to play with her, tie her up, make her submit to me. I want to bring her to the edge of pleasure and hold her there, toying with her, and then I want to push her over that cliff.
I want to make her explode with pleasure.
I want to make her cry my name.
I want everything from her.
“To your feet,” I tell her firmly, and she instantly rises. “You’ve been practicing kneeling,” I notice. She’s very graceful.
“I’ve been reading a lot,” she tells me. “I read the books you recommended, and then I read some other ones, too. One of the things I noticed was that in the stories, a lot of Doms want their submissives to kneel for them.” She shrugs, like it’s no big deal she’s been putting effort into practicing her kneeling and rising. “I wanted to see if I could, so I decided to practice.”
“I’m impressed.”