“Well, thank God for that.” Kayne rolls his eyes, the brown lightning bolt prominent in bright sunlight.
I kiss him again. Hard, but playfully. He tickles me, sending more water over the edge of the tub.
“Hey!” I squeak.
“That’s what you get.”
“For asking about Jett?” I laugh and squirm as his fingers dig into my side.
“For asking about Jett while you’re naked and wet!”
“I’m sorry!” I screech. “It just happened! Kayne!” I try to claw my way out of the tub, but he pulls me back and kisses me, wrapping one leg around mine.
“Forgiven. Don’t do it again.” He spanks me, but the hit is broken by the water so I barely feel it.”
“Yes, Kayne,” I purr anyway.
“Good kitten,” he patronizes.
“So really, what did he want?” I ask again.
Kayne sinks deeper into the tub, locking his arm around my lower back crushing me to him. “He wanted to make sure we were both alive.”
“What?”
Kayne nods. “Since he couldn’t get ahold of me all day yesterday, he wanted to check in. I think he was more concerned about you than me.”
“Me? Why?”
Kayne shrugs. “You were one of his girls once. For Jett, that doesn’t just go away. You were as important as any of them. Even more so.”
“Oh. Does that bother you?”
“No. I’m glad he cares. He’s the only other man I would ever trust you with.”
“I sort of got that impression.” I smile and hook my arm around his neck. The man did wax me, bathe me, and dress me up like his doll. “Kayne? Speaking of being someone’s girl.” I bite my lip. “How come you never made me call you Master?”
“What?” He eyes me surprised.
“Well, in the books I read and the research I did, most submissives call their Dom Master or Sir. You never made me do that. Not even now.”
“You did research?” He raises his eyebrows.
“I was curious. Being with you made me curious.” I blush.
“I guess that’s understandable. I did expose you to a lot of things in a short amount of time.” That’s putting it mildly. “Why didn’t I make you call me Master?” he considers. “To be honest, it felt too impersonal. I wanted us to have a connection, even if I couldn’t tell you that. I thought letting you call me by my name would somehow humanize me, even if I wasn’t acting very human.” He brushes his hand lovingly down my back. “And as for why I don’t make you do it now? It still feels too impersonal. I like hearing you say my name. It’s reassuring, and I need that,” he says apprehensively.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the very short time I’ve been with Kayne, it’s that he hates his vulnerability as much as he realizes it’s what makes him human. “I understand.”
“Does it bother you that I call you kitten?”
“No,” I answer honestly. “I like it. It makes me feel sexy.”
“You are sexy. And smart and funny and loved. You are so fucking loved, Ellie.” Kayne kisses me feverishly as if trying to personify his affection, but he doesn’t need to bring it to life, I can already feel its warmth and fluttering heartbeat.
AFTER A VERY LONG SOAKin the tub, until our fingers pruned and our muscles unfurled, Kayne and I lounged around the bungalow. It was a nice afternoon. Relaxing and stress-free.
Now, I’m just about finished with my makeup, swiping blackest black mascara over my eyelashes. I’m starting to get the hang of this, I think, as I inspect myself in the mirror.
