clarification.
“If I decide library time is over, that I don’t want you acting freely for whatever reason—that I want to play —I’ll let you know.” I watched her face for understanding. “Is that more clear?”
“If you decide you want to spank me with a coat hanger?”
“Yes.” I laughed. “If I decide I want to spank you with a coat hanger.”
“Got it.”
I glanced down at my watch and then looked out the window. We were flying smoothly and our ascent had leveled off. I unbuckled my seat belt and stood.
Her collar rested on the table near my wet bar. I lifted it from the box. Her eyes followed my every move.
I held it out. “Come here, Abigail,” I said. “And show me how much you want to wear my collar.”
Paul and Christine lived in a modest two-story house. As I pulled into their driveway, I thought back, trying to remember how long it had been since I’d last visited them—two years maybe?
I looked out the corner of my eye to Abigail. She sat rigid and unmoving beside me. She’d been that way since leaving the car rental agency.
“Relax,” I said, stroking her knee. “They’re two normal people who happen to enjoy the same interests we do. I promise there is nothing to be scared of.”
She nodded and took a deep breath, but didn’t talk.
“Remember what I told you on the jet,” I said. “I want you to feel comfortable speaking this weekend, not only to me, but to them as well.”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’ve really been looking forward to this. It’s just that now that it’s here . . .”
I patted her knee. “Everything will be fine.”
“Yes, Master,” she said, but unconvincingly.
“I don’t want a cookie cutter reply,” I warned her. “I want you to believe me.”
She didn’t say anything as I parked the car and got out to open her door. I knew there was little I could say to convince her. She’d have to learn herself that Paul and Christine’s house held nothing to fear.
Lights blazed throughout the house even though it was well after nine o’clock. Didn’t they have the baby? I thought I remembered Paul saying his mother-in-law wouldn’t keep Sam until the next day.
Then, as we approached the house, I heard it—the unmistakable sound of a baby’s high-pitched wailing.
“Looks like it may be a long night,” I said.
She opened her mouth to say something, but closed it before speaking.
I raised an eyebrow at her and turned to ring the doorbell.
Paul opened the door, and the screams got louder. “Nathaniel,” he said, pulling me into a hug. “I’m so glad you’re here.” He waved us into the house.
Once we were inside, he faced us again. “You must be Abby.” He reached out a hand to her. “I’ve heard so much about you. It’s good to finally meet you.”
Her cheeks flushed just a bit. “I’ve heard a lot about you, as well.”
“Don’t believe any of it,” he said in a low, joking whisper. “Well, don’t believe all of it. Some of it’s probably true.”
“Believe every word of it,” Christine said, stepping into the foyer. “Every word of it and then some.” She laughed and hugged me. “How’s it going, Nathaniel?” Then she held out her hands. “Abby, welcome to our home. As you can see, Sam didn’t want to miss your arrival.”
“Consider it birth control,” Paul said.
Christine shot a dirty look at her husband before turning her attention back to us. “Come on inside. Need some help with your bags?”
“Nathaniel?” Paul said, jerking his head to the door. “I’ll help you get the bags inside.”
“And Abby and I will be waiting in the den,” Christine said. “Can I get you something to drink?” she asked as the two of them left the room.
“She’s lovely,” Paul said, once they left and we were outside alone.
“She is, isn’t she?”
“Little jittery about this weekend?”
“Of course. But I have all faith in Christine. She’ll have her calmed down in no time.”
“Mmm,” he agreed. “She does have that effect.”
“I hope so. Abby didn’t talk the entire way from the airport.”
We collected the bags and started back inside.
“I’m putting the two of you in the guest room down the hall from our room,” he said. “I hope Sam doesn’t keep you up all night.”
“We’ll be fine.”
We made it back inside, and he set Abby’s suitcase by the door, excusing himself to step inside the den, where Abby and Christine talked quietly. He placed a hand on Christine’s shoulder, leaned down, and whispered something to her. Christine said something I couldn’t hear and got up to walk into the kitchen after placing a kiss on Paul’s cheek.
Paul motioned for me to join him in the den.
“Nathaniel and I are going to step into my office for a bit,” he told Abby. “I won’t keep him long.”
She nodded.
“We’ll be back shortly,” I told her. I knew Christine would make her feel at home, but I didn’t want to be gone from her side for long.
“Yes, sir,” she said with a quick glance to the floor.
It was the first time she’d called me ‘sir’ in the presence of someone else, and I wasn’t prepared for the fire that pounded through me. I fought the urge to jerk my head to the guest room and command her to meet me there. To take her hard and fast . . .
“Nathaniel?” Paul said.
Paul’s office hadn’t changed much since I’d last seen it. I noticed our checklists on his desk.
“Little light reading?” I asked, sitting down in a spare chair.
“Just in between bouts of colic.”
“What have you decided for tomorrow?”
“Well.” He picked up one list. “She looks to be rather adventuresome, even though she has limited experience. The thing that stood out to me, though, was her hard limit on canes.”
I nodded.
“I taught you about canes,” he said. “You’re an expert with them.”
“I think I’ll use the cane on Christine tomorrow, show Abby they aren’t to be feared.”
Part of me thought it was a good idea, to show her how a cane could be wielded when not used for punishment. Paul could use the cane; then Abby and I could discuss it. Abby and Christine could discuss it.
But I remembered a conversation just weeks before, the fear in her eyes as she spoke about the case in Singapore, and I knew now was not the time to introduce her to canes. Not our second weekend of play.
“No,” I said.
He raised an eyebrow.
“It’s one of her hard limits,” I said. “And since we’re starting what will hopefully be a long-term, if not permanent, relationship, I want to move slowly.”
“Long-term, if not permanent,” he repeated.
“What?”
“It’s just hard to believe you’re the same man I flew to New York to help months ago.”
“I’ve had a lot of help,” I said. “A lot of forgiveness and a lot more love than I deserve.”
“Everyone deserves love. I’m glad you finally realized that. I’m glad Abby didn’t give up on you.”
“Right,” I said. “So I’m not going to repay her by making her watch a caning scene the second weekend she’s wearing my collar.”
