Page 51 of Melt For Us, Daddy
It was weird, having someone understand him so clearly without him actually having to tell them what he was worried about. But then again, he supposed it wasn’t so strange, considering they were raised in much the same way. His doubts were probably the same ones she’d had when she’d first left.
“I know you said Ivy is your… partner. But she does things for you. It’s almost like?—”
“Like she serves me?” Cordelia’s lips curved up as she lifted her coffee cup to her mouth. “She does. But it’s not like what we grew up with. She enjoys her service. It fulfills her, much the same way being in charge fulfills me. We take care of each other, but there are certain tasks she’s assigned, because that’s what works best for her. She finds peace and calm in the structure, in knowing exactly what’s expected of her.”
“What happens if she doesn’t complete her tasks?”
Studying him over the rim of her mug, Cordelia tapped her fingers against the table. “It depends on the reason. I know her well enough to understand that if she misses a task it’s likely because she’s upset or there’s been a change to her routine. We’ll talk about it, and if it’s the first time, she’ll receive a warning about not letting it happen again.”
“And if it happens again, you punish her?”
“Yes. But not for my own benefit. I couldn't give two flying fucks if Ivy completed all her tasks for the day. But I know that structure is important for her. And because I love her, and I want her to be happy and fulfilled, yes. I would, and have punished her for missing the same task twice.”
“I don’t understand why anyone would like being punished like that.”
“Ivy?” Cordelia let out a low laugh. “No, my Ivy hates being punished. So she does everything in her power to avoid it.”
“But she said she likes to be spanked.”
“She does. Not all spankings are for punishment, Jacob. And there is a concept in our world of a ‘funishment’. Which is a bit like playing pretend. The spanking itself is very real, but the reason behind it is more like a game. Like what you saw at the club that first day, where Ivy was teasing me and I said I’d use my belt on her. It was just us playing pretend together.”
“And she likes that.”
“She loves it. And she knows I enjoy disciplining naughty subs, even if it’s just for play. So knowing that it pleases me brings her joy.”
“That’s all… very confusing,” he said with a sigh.
“I know. But just try to remember that whatever I do, I do with Ivy’s best interests at heart. She is my submissive, which means her needs come first for me, always.”
“Okay. I’ll try.” To remember, to give them the benefit of the doubt, and most importantly he’d try to stop reacting to them the way he had been.
Again, Cordelia gave him that approving smile and inclined her head. “That’s all I can ask.”
Chapter 17
Ivy
Standing in the bedroom she shared with Cordelia, Ivy frowned down at the bottle of vitamins in her hand. An unfamiliar feeling was rolling in her gut, one she hadn’t felt since her early days in the lifestyle.
Jealousy.
It gnawed at her stomach, making her feel vaguely ill.
And the worst part was, the logical part of her brain knew she was overreacting. Just because Cordelia said she was proud of someone else didn’t mean anything. She used that phrase in scenes all the time. Scenes they participated in together, with absolutely zero jealousy on either side.
Maybe that was the problem. They hadn’t been in a scene. She’d just been talking to him, praising him for simply being a decent human. And that green-eyed monster Ivy didn’t even think lived inside her anymore had reared its ugly head.
She should tell Cordelia. Whenever they scened with someone else, Cordelia made it clear that if she ever felt jealous or uncomfortable she could use her safeword and they would talk things out.
But she was being ridiculous. And she knew she was being ridiculous. So really, there was no reason to upset Cordelia when she had no right to be jealous in the first place.
Shoving the nasty, uncalled for feelings down, she made her way back to the kitchen, her steps slowing at the sound of her woman’s voice.
No. At the sound of her Daddy’s voice.
Pleasure fluttered in her chest at the thought. Cordelia was her Daddy. There was power in that, an implicit promise that she would always come first, that Cordelia would care for her above anyone else.
That was a promise she could cling to if that green-eyed monster popped back up.
