Page 38 of For the Sub

Finally, after a few tension-fraught moments, she sighed. “I’ll try to do better.”

“Not good enough.” Resolutely, he shook his head. “Be unkind to yourself and deal with the consequences.” Niles paused. “And it won’t always involve a spanking. How are your skills at filling up a whiteboard with a thousand repetitions of I will be kind to myself?”

She gasped. “You wouldn’t.”

“Oh, most assuredly I would, my beautiful Brandy.”

“That’s…”

He waited for her to choose her words.

“Diabolical.”

“It is,” he agreed.

Wrinkling her nose, she continued the tour. “There’s only one bathroom. But since it’s just me, I manage fine.”

It, too, fit the cottage theme with blue wainscoting and a claw-foot tub. “That bath is deep enough for two people.”

“Is that a suggestion?”

“It could be.”

She shivered slightly. “I’m willing to try.”

A stackable washer and dryer stood in the far corner. Though small, the house had all the necessities.

“The last room is mine,” she said.

And the door was closed. “Do you mind me seeing it?”

“I’m sure it’s not your style.” She shrugged. “But you probably intend to see it at some point.”

“Only with your permission. But yes, I want to be in your bedroom.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.” She turned the knob. “This, really, is why I bought this house.”

“I would have, too.” While the room wasn’t large, its French doors made up for it. They opened onto a concrete patio that had a clay chimenea, two chairs, and a small table. “You can watch the sunrise and have a cup of coffee?”

“I do, almost every day. In the summer, it can be difficult to come back inside.”

No doubt.

Interested in her surroundings, he looked around.

Her bed had at least nine pillows, most of which were purple.

A white comforter stood in pretty, stark contrast.

Perpendicular to the wall was a chaise longue. In addition to a lamp drooping over it, she had a small table stacked with books and an electronic tablet.

A fluffy pink throw was an ultra-feminine, but fitting touch.

The queen-size bed with its wooden headboard had lots of potential. “What’s not to like about this room?”

“In my experience, it threatens some men’s masculinity.”

“Some men?” he repeated, a sudden possessive urge stabbing at him.

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