Page 150 of Innocent Intentions

“I’m sure Dotty drilled etiquette into him. She rules that kitchen like a dictator.”

“I believe it. She’s hounded me during breakfasts more than once.” She winks.

“She’s the only one I trust in my kitchen.”

“That’s because she babies you. She adores you so much. It’s sickening.”

“That was before you came along and stole her from me.”

“Wrong. You should’ve heard her the first day. She went on and on about how ‘sweet Matthias is’ and how ‘his brothers need to seek the Lord’s forgiveness.’”

I laugh loudly.

“Where did you even find her?”

“She’s good friends with my parents. After her husband passed, she needed income but refused charity. She demanded to earn her keep. She didn’t want to work for her friends, and with her opinions about my brothers, I was the only option. She’s been with me eleven years. I’ve offered to let her retire with full pay, but she refuses every time. I think she’s lonely. Not that I mind. I wouldn’t know what to do without her.”

“That’s really sweet of you. I’ll try to spend more time with her. I used to, but with how much I’ve been recording lately, I haven’t been around as much.”

“No, sweetheart. Do what you need to do.”

After a pause, I ask, “Why audiobooks? You had a good job. You didn’t need the money. It’s such a niche thing to do.”

“I’m a hopeless romantic. I love rom-coms, love stories, romance book, even trashy ones. Happy endings are my weakness. I’ve read over six hundred romance books since college. One of my favorite series didn’t have an audiobook, so I offered to narrate it for free. That turned into a demo. And the rest is history.”

She lights up talking about it. Her passion practically hums.

“You’re great at it. You bring your characters to life. And your voice… God, your voice.”

She blushes.

“Did you actually listen to my last book, or just the sex scenes?” she asks innocently.

“I listened to the whole thing. I’m not a pervert, despite what you said. I only have one of your books left. I listen to them while I work. It’s the only way to get my Margot fix without dragging you into my office. I’ve even delayed meetings to finish chapters. But honestly? It’s your voice. You could narrate a commercial for geriatric erectile dysfunction, and I’d enjoy it. The erotic scenes are just a bonus.”

She hides behind her wine glass, face blazing.

“I have a confession,” she mumbles, avoiding eye contact. My curiosity spikes. “I’ve been picturing you in everysceneI’ve recorded. Sometimes I mess up and call the character ‘Matty’ and have to redo a scene.”

“Fuck.” I groan, tipping my head back and pinch the bridge of my nose. “Sweetheart, you can’t tell me something like that during dinner. I’m trying to be a gentleman.”

I discretely adjust myself under the table. My cock rages, but I am trying to be a gentleman.

When I glance at her, she’s biting her lip and staring at where my lap is hidden under the table.

“Margot,” I warn.

She keeps staring.

“If you don’t stop looking at me like that, dinner won’t happen. I’ll break this damn table fucking you on it. Then I’ll spank you for ruining dinner. And Dotty spent all day preparing it.”

She’s still staring.

“Margot!”

She weighs her options. Defy me and get fuckedandspanked. Or behave. Eat. Then get fucked afterwards.

She finally looks up and smiles sweetly.

---