have had an odd relationship with his former girlfriend if he didn’t let her swear.
We both switch our attention to our plates and eat in silence for a while. The pancakes are amazing, and I’m pretty sure I moan around every bite. I also eat way too many of them. “Tell me about her,” I finally say.
“Who?”
“Your girlfriend. The one who wasn’t allowed to swear or…climb onto her own stool.”
He picks up our plates and takes them to the sink. I spin around and watch him rinse and load the dishwasher, thinking maybe I’ve gone too far. Maybe it still hurts that she left him, or wouldn’t move here with him, rather.
Finally, he turns around and leans his butt against the counter, facing me. “Collette liked me to take care of her. We were together for a year. It’s what I’m used to.”
“I see. You loved her.”
He shrugs. “I don’t know if I loved her or not. We had a lot in common, so we had an agreement, I guess you could say. A mutual understanding. We filled each other’s needs. Scratched an itch.”
I watch his mannerisms as he speaks of her. I’m not following. He describes his relationship so oddly. “Why didn’t she move to Seattle with you?”
“We were growing apart. We probably never should have been together in the first place. We had differences.”
He just told me they had similarities, so I’m confused, but I don’t press him further. He doesn’t look distressed about her though. Not sad, exactly. More matter of fact about it. For some reason, I like knowing this. He’s not hung up on her.
I set my hand on the edge of the counter, thinking to push to standing, but instead, I realize I’ve got syrup all over my palm. I lift it and glance around for a napkin.
“Hang on.” Davis turns around, opens a drawer, and pulls out a washcloth. He runs it under the water and then shuffles over to me. He takes my hand and wipes it clean before lifting his gaze to my face and then dabbing at a spot at the corner of my mouth.
He sets the cloth on the table next and lifts me to the floor. His hands are still on my waist, and he’s staring at me again. I can’t read his expression. He seems kind of…sad…or I’m not sure, but I step closer and wrap my arms around him, saying thank you without words.
He leans down and buries his face in my hair, inhaling slowly. “Mmm. You smell good,” he whispers.
When he releases me, I step back. “Did, uh, Collette like those particular bath products?”
He scrunches up his face. “Yeah. Does that bother you?”
I shake my head. “No. Just curious.” If he likes the scent of powder, I’m happy to oblige. It does smell fresh and clean. Maybe it’s a little hidden secret more people should consider.
“We need to talk,” he announces. “I have questions.”
I chuckle. “When have we not been talking?”
“Touché.” He pats my butt on the way by and points at the living room.
I follow him, beyond aware of the feel of his hand on my ass. I almost giggle when I think that word. What would happen if I cussed out loud? My curiosity is piqued. But I’m not going there now.
Chapter 10
Master Davis
I watch Britney as she climbs into the corner of the couch and carefully tucks her dress under her bottom. I don’t even get a glimpse of her panties. I wonder how she’s going to feel about the clothes I’ve ordered for her and if I’ve made a colossal mistake. I’m moving too fast. I’m tempting her with my preferred lifestyle and she doesn’t even know it.
But she’s so damn cute and every time I add something new and shocking to the mix, she takes it in stride. It’s both killing me and making me fucking happy at the same time. I must slow the fuck down though. She still has no clue about my relationship preferences, and I shouldn’t be luring her in as if she knows anything about being a little. She doesn’t. She’s just humoring me.
It would be easier if she just flat-out laughed at me and rejected one of my lures. But she has done the opposite.
I think back on how she hugged her stuffed animal against her chest in the night. She looked so young. I know she’s screaming for the attention she never got. I’m understanding better with every piece of information I get.