Page 46 of Snow Bound

“How come?”

He let the interruption slide. “Because if I have a scene planned, I need to know you’re sober for it.”

“Oh.” Some of the mutiny left her expression. “I guess that makes sense.”

“You’ll need to ask permission to leave the house,” he continued. “Not because I want to keep you locked up, but so I’ll know if you leave. It’s a safety issue.”

“I could just tell you,” she muttered, “but okay.”

“And you’ll need to ask permission to come.”

Her eyes popped wide again. “Seriously?”

“Seriously.” He hardened his voice. “Your orgasms are mine, from here on. And that includes masturbating.”

She just stared at him, mouth agape, outrage in every line of her body.

“And if you’re amenable,” he continued blithely, “I’d like you to do the cooking.”

“Oh, sure.” She threw her hands up. “That I get a choice on.”

“You get a choice on all of it Anna,” he reminded her, and since she was staring at the ceiling as though beseeching the heavens, allowed himself an amused smile. “The choice is always yours.”

After a long moment she heaved a sigh and dropped her gaze from the ceiling. “I’m not cooking naked.”

He barely caught the grin in time. “You can wear an apron or a shirt when you’re in the kitchen, to protect your skin, and a napkin over your lap when we’re eating.”

She stared at him for a long moment, then jerked her head in a nod. “All right.”

“Is that a yes? To all of it,” he clarified.

“That’s a conditional yes. We haven’t talked about what happens if I break your…” She paused for a beat. “Rules.”

He bit back a grin, wondering what word she’d mentally inserted in front of rules. He didn’t think it was anything as benign as silly. “Ah. Well, naturally, there would be consequences.”

Her nose wrinkled, adorably. “Can you be specific?”

“I like a good spanking for punishment. Orgasm denial works too.”

“I hate orgasm denial,” she muttered.

“That’s what makes it punishment,” he pointed out. “I like to tailor the punishment to fit the crime, so I can’t promise to stick to just those two. But I can promise that whatever I settle on won’t be worse. Good enough?”

“Good enough,” she decided, sitting up straight. “From now until I go back to Chicago, I’ll be the s to your D.”

“Thank you,” he said soberly.

“You’re welcome,” she said equally seriously.

And Henry, sensing the humans were distracted, snuck in and snatched up the remaining pizza.

“Dammit, Henry!” Grant yelled, surging to his feet, but Henry was already galloping up the stairs, gobbling as he went.

“Fuck.” Defeated, Grant sat back down. “He’s going to be farting all night. And what are you laughing at?”

Anna was giggling so hard she’d fallen over on the sofa. “Nothing. Not a thing, Sir.”

“Suck up,” he grumbled, but he was smiling when he picked up his beer.

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