Page 23 of Releasing Reenie

“Yes, you’re probably frozen to the bone. A hot shower won’t be enough.”

“Have you done this before? Did you slick up the grass before our run in a grand plan?” I could picture her rolling her eyes. “Are you rolling your eyes?”

I heard a snick of a laugh she probably didn’t want me to hear.

“Can I hand them in to you?”

“Yeah, just a sec.” I opened the door and she reached in holding a pile of warm clothing. I took the clothes and she shut the door. They were warm. She was warm. If I’d been worried she’d hardened in the years we’d been apart, I shouldn’t have been.You’re still sweet as ever, Reenie.

She was a caregiver, one with walls to protect herself, but a caregiver, nonetheless. And somehow her walls had come down today, even if only slightly.

When I walked out fully dressed, she was sitting at the small two-person table in the nook by the window. She held a cup between her hands and there was another in front of the empty seat.

“I hope you don’t mind.” She motioned to her cup.

I shook my head. “Not at all. I’m okay, though. You don’t need to stay.”

Her eyes, which were staring out the window, shot to mine. “I can leave if you don’t want me here.” She started to rise.

“No, I didn’t mean it that way. I don’t want you to leave. I just meant you don’t have to stay because you’re worried about me.”

She swallowed, sitting back down, her eyes on her mug. “I need to shower, but I’ll just finish my hot chocolate first.”

I slid into the chair across from her and took a sip of my coffee. “It’s good. Just what I needed. Thanks again.”

Her gaze rose to mine. I knew by her behavior she was having some sort of internal battle but I said nothing.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Not a big deal, really. I’ve got a chill but I’ll be fine in a few hours. I shouldn’t have been so cocky and stayed in the water so long.” I smirked. “Death by stupidity. Or maybe death by trying to impress a beautiful woman.”

“Oh, you thought swimming in a freezing-cold lake like a nutjob would impress me?” The corner of her eyes crinkled with amusement.

“You were totally impressed,” I replied, my mouth curving in a smirk.

The mood shifted when she frowned contemplatively. Eyeing me, she fingered the handle of the cup. “You’re not a typical Dominant.”

I sipped my coffee letting her words sink in. “Why do you think that?”

“You didn’t try to control the situation. None of the situations.”

My brows rose and she made a frustrated huffing sound.

“You’re letting me handle Mira, you let me take control of…” She smirked. “Your near-drowning?—”

I laughed at that. “Near-drowning? Is that how you’re going to spin this?”

“Anyway, you know what I mean.” Again her eyes were on the birdfeeder outside the window. “And you didn’t… you weren’t…” She sighed. “Well, the sex was…”

“I’m a person, Maureen. Just like you. And I’m not your Dom. Are you trying to control everything all the time? Is that what you think being a Dominant is?”

Her eyes lifted, not quite landing on mine though. She turned her head slightly. “ No, of course not. But that’s because I’m not a typical Domme.” She stopped speaking so quickly I wasn’t sure if she had more to say.

Swallowing, her eyes settled squarely on mine.

“Can you explain what you mean by that?” I asked this gently because demanding anything from Maureen would be foolish, but also because I was genuinely curious.

“I should… uh… go.” She showed me her cup was empty and stood.

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