Page 39 of Born to Make You Smile

“Not to worry, love.” He leaned in close.Damn. He smelled so good. “It’s all taken care of.”

***

After assisting the girls with their god-awful math homework, we all carved pumpkins together for Halloween. When we were done and cleaned up, I was exhausted, so I decided to call it anight. Before I left, Gavin handed me a fairly heavy silver gift bag.

“This was supposed to be for Christmas, but it came early, and I couldn't resist.”

“What is it?” I asked, confused.

He shifted on his feet. “Just a little something. Open it.”

Removing the single white tissue on top, I pulled out a rustic brown leather-bound book with a silver button latch. The wordPoetrywas embossed on the cover—as well as my name at the bottom.

By Grace Mayer

Running my fingers over the letters of my name, I felt the delicate depressions in the leather, and my eyes began to tear up.

“Gavin...” I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to get my words together. “This is beautiful.”

He leaned in and lowered his head. “You were always such a magnificent poet. I hope you’re still writing.”

“Not lately. But now I definitely will. Thank you.”

My heart became heavy, and I clutched the book against my chest to ease the ache.

This was the most wonderful and thoughtful gift anyone had ever given me.

THIRTEEN

Halloween had to bemy favorite holiday. There was something about the way the air smelled this time of year: refreshing and earthy, with a nose-tickling aroma of damp wood. The crisp fall leaves, the spooky decorated houses. Of course, the excitement of the children—how sweet or scary they looked dressed up.

The week of Halloween had been insane at X-PLORE with everyone taking advantage of spooky season with costumes and role-playing. On the Thursday, with my blond hair in pigtails, I dressed up as a sexy Harley Quinn with fish-net stockings and arm covers. My boobs were almost entirely on display in a black-and-red corset, and my ass cheeks were hanging out of my tiny bottom.

I had a chance to observe plenty of role-playing in the main areas—cops with convicts in handcuffs, teachers punishingstudents, and the usual pups on leashes with their owners. In the private rooms, the guests were more sexual. A blond man with two kittens at his command. One sucking his cock, the other sucking his toes. Not my particular kink, but it was wonderful how people could find others who shared in their kinks and fetishes. To be able to act out their deepest fantasies. In another room, a naked submissive whimpered as she was being spanked repeatedly by her Domme.

“One more,” the Domme said with a final spank. “Good lamb. You did so well.”

Then she took a large metal tool that resembled a spoon and scraped it on her sub’s lower back. The sub quivered.

“Do you like how that feels, lamb?” the Domme asked, her voice soft.

“Yes, Mistress. It’s very cold.”

Then the Domme kissed and licked the area she’d touched, and the sub moaned so loud I could have sworn she had an orgasm right then.

A rush ran through me. A mix of arousal and adrenaline. I loved the power exchange, the way the Domme cared for her sub, the pleasure they were both receiving, the mutual trust and understanding. Part of me wanted to experience that, but knew there was only one person in the whole world that would turn me on. Only one man I would trust with my body.

***

On Halloween evening, following a quick dinner, I put on my costume and headed next door. I’d turned off my house lights and left a bowl of candy on my porch, knowing it wouldn’t lastan hour. Likely, one devious but lucky kid would dump it all into their bag and skip along on their merry way.

I climbed the Brinley’s front steps and admired the jack-o’-lanterns we’d carved at the doorway: Mackenzie’s was happy and smiley like an emoji, Charlotte’s attempted to be spooky with angry brows and sharp teeth, but it still looked sweet. The candles weren’t lit yet, so I made a mental reminder to get a lighter from inside.

I rang the bell and waited, looking down at myself. To be honest, I felt a bit ridiculous in my goofy tooth fairy costume, complete with sparkling wings, a white tutu, a silver tiara, and a light-up wand. I even had tooth earrings, as well as a custom-made T-shirt with a big tooth printed on it. It was very modest. More on the cute side. Nothing like my sexy Harley Quinn costume I’d worn at X-PLORE.

Gavin answered the door with a growl. I jumped with surprise then took him in. He wore a white sweater, the neckline scattered in fake red blood. There were plastic vampire fangs in his mouth, and traces of fake blood and red makeup were all over his mouth and chin. And to top it off, he had large white bunny ears on his head.

“Gavin! Oh my God!” Clutching my chest, I fell over with laughter as I realized what he was dressed as. I couldn't catch my breath to get more words out.

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