I steadied my hand as I swiped another coat of mascara on my lashes. I needed to stop stalling with the makeup and make a decision about what I was going to put on. What did one wear while meeting their Dom’s friends? Boyfriend, I corrected myself. He’d undoubtedly introduce me as his girlfriend. He’d kept cancer from them. His friends probably didn’t know he was into the BDSM lifestyle.
I gave up, left the bathroom, and snatched my phone from the dresser to text.
Which worked out better all around. I made my bed, laid out some options, and fifteen minutes later I opened the front door for him. My hand gripped the knob tightly. He looked amazing. Oh, God, he smelled amazing. I stood before him in stunned silence, wearing an old tank top and a pair of ratty pajama bottoms. I hadn’t thought this through.
“Hi.” He planted a quick kiss on my lips.
“Hey.” I struggled to keep my voice unaffected. When I’d crawled out of bed this morning, he’d been fast asleep, disheveled in his clothes, and sexy. But this version of him, when he was refined and prepared, this was when I had difficulty keeping myself from sliding into the shy girl I’d been.
“I put some different options out,” I said, le
ading him into my room.
“That.” He gestured to the simple sleeveless black top with a high neckline that I’d paired with a mango-colored fitted skirt.
“It’s not too summery?”
He gave me a look that made me think about sinking to my knees and undo his belt. “If you give me options that include a skirt, that’s what I’m going to choose.”
“Okay.” I looked at the clothes, then back to him. It seemed weird to get dressed with him watching. “I, uh, got you something.”
His gaze didn’t waver from my hesitant hands as I pulled the shirt up over my head.
“It’s in the fridge,” I continued.
His lips quirked into a slight smile. “It can wait. I’d rather watch this.”
Thank God I’d already put on my sexiest panties and bra, because getting naked in front of him would make us late. I had enough indecent thoughts in my mind and didn’t need the temptation. I was thrilled he was taking me to meet his friends and see another part of his life.
I tugged on the top and shimmied into the skirt. Even when I had my back turned to him, I could feel his hot gaze on my skin.
“I’m going to freeze in these shoes,” I said as I followed him into the kitchen, carrying my strappy sandals by the heels. Joseph opened the fridge and I pointed to the main shelf. “It’s in the white box.”
A suspicious look washed on his expression as he withdrew the medium-sized cardboard box and set it on the counter, and as soon as he lifted the lid, he began to laugh. “I told you not to get me a cake.”
I smiled and shrugged. “I thought you’d get a kick out of it.”
He had. I could see the warmth and amusement in his eyes, even if he wouldn’t say it out loud. And knowing I’d pleased him was worth the hassle I’d gone through trying to get the cake last minute.
He set his hands on his hips and gave me a smoldering look. “So, tell me, little girl. Did you write ‘Fuck Cancer’ on this cake yourself, or did you have to get the decorator to do it?”
“The woman at the store did it.”
He grinned. “What’d she think about your language?”
“Her mother’s a breast cancer survivor. She wrote it with pleasure.”
He took another look at the white, round cake decorated with elegant roses and seashell piping. The decorator had done it exactly as I wanted, in classy, tasteful script to play against the inappropriate words. But were they really inappropriate? I’d scolded Joseph for overusing the profanity, but he’d been through so much and almost died. If ever there was a time to use strong language, surely it was then.
“What are we going to do about this?” he said, gesturing to the cake.
“Nothing, it was just a joke. We don’t have to eat—”
“No, Noemi. I told you not to do something, and you disobeyed.” The wicked gleam in his eye had my pulse racing. “You’ll need to be disciplined. Should I do it now? Or later?”
“You said not to get you a sheet cake,” I reminded. “That one’s round.”
His eyes narrowed, but his expression remained playful. “Are you talking back to me?”