37 Lindsey #2
“Jeremy didn’t want to touch me, and every time I tried to initiate intimacy, he’d make up some excuse and spout asshole comments about my changing body.
It only got worse after I had Kas. He started constantly asking when I was going to lose the baby weight or get a consult about my C-section scar.
” I pause to wet my lips. “Then he started acting like a jerk about how much I was working.
He wanted me to stay home and raise Kas but also wanted me to pick up extra shifts.
Looking back on it, I think it was so he could have his affairs without the risk of me finding out. Eventually, I did, though.
“I came home from a shift early. Kas was at my mom’s for the night, and I walked into a candlelit dinner. I thought it was for me, maybe his way of trying to reconnect with me, until I heard the moaning.”
“Jesus Christ,” Dane mutters under his breath.
“Pretty sure I said something similar when I walked in on them going to town.” I groan, wishing I could burn that image from my retinas forever.
“Eventually, I found out her name is Ava. She’s the exact opposite of me: short, thin, and blond.
She’s also only twenty-four. She was younger then, but they’re still together. ”
“I know he’s Kas’s dad, but if you want me to put a hit out on him, I’d be happy to do it.”
I snort. “Do you know a lumberjack hit man?”
“It’s logger,” Dane playfully corrects like Kas would. “And no, I don’t know any logger hit men, but I bet I could find one on the dark web.”
I smile against his chest. “I appreciate the offer, but despite him not being there during my pregnancy, he does love Kas, and she likes seeing her dad. I think she’d be upset if I had him killed.”
Dane’s gaze is cool, but I catch the anger in his eyes. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. You deserved better.”
I don’t look away even though in the past, I might’ve.
I also would have disagreed with him, thinking that I did deserve what happened to me.
But Dane…he makes me want to believe that I deserve better, that I deserve someone like him.
Someone who is patient, who listens, who knows what I need to feel comfortable.
Like last night, when he took care of me, when he worshiped my body and even my scar.
He never pushed too much, only the right amount.
“Thank you,” I whisper, “that means a lot to me.”
He takes my hand on his chest and brings it to his lips, kissing my knuckles. “Can I ask you about one more thing?”
“I’m in a sharing mood, so ask away.”
He plays with my fingers before speaking. “In your finances, you have a lot of legal fees. You’re already divorced, but the majority of your income goes to your lawyer, and you didn’t mention any child support. Why is that?”
I sigh. “That’s because the asswipe isn’t paying it. He’s fighting the amount the courts settled on.”
“Prick,” Dane mutters.
I smirk into his chest. “Small prick.”
Dane’s chest shakes. “Noted.”
I’m silent for another moment before I ask, “Any cheating exes in your past?”
“No,” he answers. “No exes, period.”
I sit up so quickly, I almost bonk my head on his chin. “What?”
“You thought I had a lot?”
I chew the inside of my cheek, and Dane is quick to tap the indentation I’m making, so I stop.
“Good girl,” he praises. “You were saying?”
Heat creeps up my face as I go on. “I didn’t know how many, but I thought you’d have at least a few.”
“I had two different girlfriends in high school, but I don’t count them. Young kids doing what they do. But in my adult years, there’s no one I would consider an ex.”
I blink at him, and I can tell he’s attempting not to smile. “Not even before you moved to Starlight Haven?”
He shakes his head. “Nothing serious or long term. Like I mentioned last night, I traveled a lot when I was younger, then I moved here and have kept mostly to myself. As you know, my submissives are not intimate with me. We have our platonic online dynamics, and that’s that.”
“Except for me,” I say.
“Except for you,” he reiterates.
I’m about to ask him about the painting of the woman above the fireplace and what she is to him if not an ex, but my question is cut short by my phone going off. It’s sitting on the cushion next to me, so I reach for it, checking the caller ID.
“It’s Jeremy.” At Dane’s grumpy frown, I almost laugh. “That means it’s Kas. She doesn’t have a phone of her own.”
His features ease slightly, and he nods. “I need to use the restroom. I’ll give you some privacy.”
I nod and pick up the phone, watching him walk off as I say hi to Kas.
I smile when I hear her voice, and Dane looks back over his shoulder with a small grin of his own.
Rightness settles in my bones, not only at the sound of my daughter’s voice but also because a man I think I’m falling for is moving so easily through my home as if he belongs in it.
I don’t know what the future between us holds beyond what we’ve discussed, but I do know one thing: I’m happy. For the first time in a long time, I can honestly say I’m happy.
DAILY CHECK-INS
Sunday, 12:00pm PT
Me
Sir, I finished filling out the spending tracker you gave me.
Sir
How did it feel?
Me
Scary but good. Like I have a plan to move forward.
Sir
That’s what we want.
Wednesday, 10:01pm PT
Me
Can’t sleep, Sir.
Sir
Why, baby? You need your rest.
Me
I’m thinking about you…
Sir
Anything specific?
Me
What it would feel like if you were here next to me.
Sir
Soon. Would you like me to call you and talk to you while you fall asleep?
Me
Yes, Sir. I would like that.
Friday, 8:01am
Me
Scheduled a meeting with Jeremy and his lawyer.
Sir
Yours will be there as well?
Me
Yes, Sir.
Sir
Good girl. How do you feel?
Me
Like I want to cancel.
Sir
Journal on why that is, and we’ll talk about it tonight on our call.
Me
Can I skip that part, Sir?
Sir
Only if you’re looking for correction instead of comfort. Decide which one you want. But I don’t think you’ll like the punishment.
Monday, 10:30am PT
New voice note from Lindsey:
“I promise I’ll be good, Sir. Please, please, may I come?”
New voice note from Sir:
“Absolutely not. When you don’t follow through on what you say you’re going to do and sass back, you don’t get what you want. Now be a good girl, and drink your water before you have to go back to work.”
Tuesday, 4:00pm PT
Me
I packed my lunch for tomorrow.
Sir
Good girl. Did you remember extra protein? You have a twelve-hour shift tonight.
Me
I did, though I could think of a different kind of protein that I want more…
Sir
Such a cock-hungry little slut.
Me
Only for you, Sir. I hope I can show you again soon.
Sir
Keep being a good girl, and you will.
Friday, 8:00am PT
Me
Good morning, Sir. Kas is sad that today is the last obstacle course session.
Sir
Good morning, baby. I’ve been thinking about continuing it during the school year. I have to talk to the city about it.
Me
Really?
Sir
You know I don’t say things I don’t mean.
Me
I know, Sir. She would like that. I would, too.
Sir
When you drop Kas off, meet me by the bathrooms. I need to kiss you.
Me
Just a kiss?
Sir
Greedy girl. You’ll take what I give you. Now tell me, did you get your full eight hours of sleep last night?
[IMAGE ALT TEXT]: Dom is standing close to the camera. Only his jaw, covered in well-trimmed salt-and-pepper facial hair, and his lips are visible.
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Did you get in your full eight hours of sleep, baby?
Hmm, I’m so happy to hear that. You know I love when you take care of yourself for me.
Why? Because then I get to play with you.
What kind of play?
I guess you’ll have to continue to be a good girl so you can find out.
When?
Such an eager and impatient girl. But if you stay good, I want to see you tonight.
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