Page 32 of Melt For Us, Daddy
This was where her Domme wanted her. So this was where she needed to be.
“My good girl. Eyes on me, blossom.”
With that simple phrase, the worry over what she ‘should’ be doing faded as she lifted her gaze to meet Cordelia’s. Lips curving up in that approving smile that never failed to make Ivy’s heart skip a beat, Cordelia unclasped the necklace.
“Do you know what it did to me yesterday, knowing you were out in the world without my collar around your neck?” Her voice was soft as she looped the rainbow-colored flower around Ivy’s throat.
“No, Ma’am.”
“It nearly broke me. I thought you were done with me, with us. But then I realized you hadn’t done it on purpose. We simply hadn’t gotten to that part of our routine yet and you were too upset to think clearly when you left. Do I have that right, baby?”
“Yes, Ma’am,” she whispered, blinking back the tears burning in her eyes. “I'm sorry. I never should have left without it.”
“I understand. But it made me realize this should be a higher priority in our routine. And I know how hard it is for you to make changes, so I want you to know that I am not asking this of you lightly. I am asking this of you, knowing that you will struggle. And knowing that you will do it, even though it’s hard, because I asked. I don’t take that for granted, Ivy Mae.”
“Thank you, Ma’am.”
“That’s another issue we’ve let linger too long. We both agree we don’t like the title of Mistress, at least not between us. But Ma’am feels too… simple.”
“What did you have in mind?”
“I’m not sure yet. But I wanted to let you know that I’m thinking about it. That I’m thinking about us. I want you to know that I am going to be doing everything in my power to be more intentional about putting you first in my life.”
“You already do. This whole mess with Jacob and your past, it’s out of the norm for you. I think… I think that’s why it messed me up so badly yesterday. Because I am used to being the most important thing in your life, and feeling like I wasn’t, like you didn’t trust me the way I thought you did, it threw me for a loop.”
“I understand. And I never want you to have to worry about that again. So we’re going to be making some changes, and I have something to show you after breakfast.” Leaning down, she brushed a kiss over Ivy’s lips. “You may get up and make my coffee and those pancakes you never finished yesterday. I put the batter in the fridge in case it could be reused.”
“Thank you, Ma’am.”
It wasn’t as difficult as she’d expected it to be, making that little deviation from her usual regimen, though she knew from experience she would struggle over the next couple of weeks. She’d inevitably forget, which would earn her a stern ‘reminder’ over Cordelia’s knee. And, most likely, she would have a good hard cry over how hard it was to stick to the new schedule, which would end with her cradled on her woman’s lap with Cordelia telling her what a good, brave girl she was for making the change.
And eventually, the new routine would just become The Routine, and all would be right with the world again.
As she went through the rest of her morning habits, she found herself reaching for her necklace. Letting the feel of it anchor her as she worked. And by the time Ivy carefully settled onto the hard wooden chair at the kitchen table with a stack of pancakes between her and the woman she loved, she was feeling lighter than she could remember feeling in a long time.
“These look amazing, blossom. Thank you.”
Happiness welled inside her at the simple praise. “Thank you, um, Ma’am.”
Across the table, Cordelia raised a brow. “You don’t worry about my title until I tell you differently. Understood?”
Oh, thank god. “Yes, Ma’am.”
“Good girl.”
Cutting into her stack of pancakes, Ivy glanced up, taking in the sight of her woman, eating her food. The way it should be. It felt good to be back on steady ground with her. And as much as she hated to disrupt that steadiness, there was still a very large elephant in the room. “Did you go see Jacob yesterday?”
Cordelia’s hand, gripping her fork as she dug into her own stack of pancakes, went still. “I did.”
“How is he?”
“Good, I think. Still getting his bearings, but that’s to be expected. He wants to rescue his sisters.”
Her heart constricted at the thought of anyone being subjected to the things Cordelia had gone through as a child. “Do you think that’s feasible?”
“No. But I’m damn well going to make it happen, anyway. Holden has contacts, both at the federal level and with some other security companies. We’ll find a way.”
If anyone could, it was her woman. “What’s the plan for Jacob in the meantime? You’re not going to make him stay holed up in that apartment, are you?”
