The stew was perfect—tender beef, hearty vegetables, rich broth. The bread was still warm from the oven. We ate with enthusiasm, the conversation flowing easily as Cami told Lex about the pottery class.
“We made a sculpture,” she said. “Three parts coming together as one. It’s beautiful.”
“I’d like to see it when it’s finished,” Lex said.
“We’ll bring it to you after we go back to glaze it and it gets a final firing.”
After we’d devoured most of the stew and made serious inroads on the charcuterie board, Cami leaned back with a satisfied sigh.
“Is there something else on the agenda?” she asked, looking at me. “Because I’m tired. That was a lot of activity for one day.”
“There is something planned for tonight,” I admitted. “But you can nap first if you want.”
“Will you nap with me?” She looked at me with those eyes that I couldn’t resist.
“If you want me to.”
“I do.” She ran over and kissed Lex. “Thank you for lunch, Sir.”
Lex smiled and pulled her between his legs for a hug too. “You’re welcome.” Lex stood and started collecting dishes. “I’ll clean up. You two go rest. I’ll make sure you’re up in time.”
“You sure?” I asked.
“Positive. Go.”
I took Cami’s hand and led her upstairs to my room. She immediately started stripping off her clothes, and I raised an eyebrow.
“What are you doing?”
“I want to feel you while we sleep,” she said simply. “Skin to skin. Is that okay?”
My throat tightened. “More than okay.”
I stripped down as well, and we climbed into bed together. She immediately pressed against me, her soft skin warm against mine. I pulled the heavy comforter over us and wrapped my arms around her.
“This is perfect,” she murmured, her head on my chest. “Just this.”
I stroked her hair, feeling the silky strands slip through my fingers. “Tell me about the pottery class. What was your favorite part?”
“The way we had to work together. The way I could feel you guiding me, supporting me, but still letting me create.” She traced patterns on my chest absently. “It felt like us. Like our dynamic.”
“It is us. That’s what we do. Guide and support, but never control to the point of taking away you.”
“I love that about you both.” Her voice was getting sleepy. “You make me feel powerful even when I’m submitting.”
“You are powerful. Submission isn’t weakness. It’s a gift. And we know how precious that gift is.”
She pressed a kiss over my heart. “Today was good. Even with the Iris situation. Today was really good.”
“It was.” I kissed the top of her head. “Now sleep. We have more planned for tonight.”
“Mmm. What’s planned?”
“You’ll see when you wake up.”
“Tease.”
“You love it.”
