Page 46 of Obey

“Are you sure? I can build a comfortable enough space on the floor if you’d rather.”

She rolls her eyes. “Just get in the bed, Grumpasaurus.” She leaps back into her side of the bed and waits for me to climb in and turn on my lamp before she turns off hers.

I’ve only been reading for fifteen minutes, but she’s moved herself right to the edge of the bed and is clinging on for dear life. If she moves, sneezes, or even coughs, she’s gonna eat dirt.

“Half-Pint?”

“Mmm?”

“Get your ass over here.”

“Aftercare?”

“Aftercare.”

She backs herself up toward me, but doesn’t turn over. I put my book down, pick her up and turn her so her head is resting on my chest.

“So bossy.” She’s giggling.

“You’re cold. And you’re gonna fall on your face if you stay all the way over there.”

“And I give good cuddles.” She tilts her head so she’s looking up at me.

“You do give good cuddles.”

She nods like she’s won something, places her hand on my chest and strokes gentle circles on my skin. “I know. I wasn’t expecting you to admit it.”

“I have no problem admitting when I like something. Or need something. You need to learn to use your voice, Half-Pint. I can’t read your mind. You’ve been quiet all afternoon. Do you regret what we did earlier?”

She jumps, but I’ve learned to move my head so she doesn’t crack my skull. “No. Of course not.”

The knot I didn’t know was sitting in my chest loosens. “You sure?”

She nods. I shiver when something cool hits my chest. It turns out to be a ring on her finger. “What’s this?”

She pulls her hand back before I can see what it is. “It’s nothing.”

I sigh. Again. This woman is going to be the death of me. “Half-Pint. You don’t have to hide anything from me. You have nothing to be embarrassed about. If you don’t feel like sharing, that’s fine. But if you’re holding back for some other reason, I’m going to call bullshit.”

It’s her turn to sigh. She buries her head in my chest before she mumbles against my skin. “It’s the promise ring Harry gave me right before we, uh, I lost my virginity to him.”

This woman has dirty talk on her to do list, but she can barely grind out the word virginity. I have my work cut out for me with this one.

“And you’re embarrassed that you’re still wearing it?”

She nods, her hair tickling my nose.

“Half-Pint, you don’t need to be embarrassed for having feelings. Those are well out of our control. If you want to wear the ring, wear the ring. If you want to take it off, take it off. You’re your own person, and you can make your own decisions and choices.”

The way her brows shoot up her forehead suggest she’s never been told that before in all her life, which makes my stomach sink.

“What are you reading?” She’s clearly trying to re-direct her discomfort, so I’m going to let her. At least this time.

“The latest Erica Swift novel by M K Farrar.”

“Mmm.” She hums like she knows who Erika Swift is.

“Would you like me to read it to you?”

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