Page 32 of Shattered Dreams
“Our?” She looked up through her lashes at him.
“Yeah, I’ve decided that all three of us need to clean up our mouths.”
“And why’s that?” She lay her head back down on his chest.
“Because it bothers me to hear you cuss, and I can’t very well demand that you stop when Maxwell and I both curse like sailors.”
“Why do you do that? Use our full names.”
He shrugged. “I’m not sure. I just always have. I don’t do nicknames.”
“But you use endearments. You call me young lady.”
“Because you are young. What? You’re twenty-five?” He smoothed a hand up her back, savoring the closeness. He wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. He’d take whatever she willingly gave him.
“Nice try. I just turned twenty-nine.” She jostled him with an elbow.
“Take it easy on the old man.” He trapped her arm against his side. “And why don’t you tell me exactly why your husband is a damned fool.”
“Language, Daddy.” She sighed, then squeezed him tighter. “Master thinks I don’t know.”
A sinking feeling pooled in the pit of his stomach. Had he inadvertently outed Maxwell? “Know what?”
She poked his side. “Bad Daddy. As Rainy says, I’m not a delicate flower who needs to be protected. I’ve known for years that Master is a switch. I knew before we even began our dynamic. Rumors fly at clubs; subs talk amongst themselves.”
“Yet you never said anything to him?”
She shook her head. “No. He puts too much stock in his role as my dominant.” She looked up at him. “Regardless which role he’s in, he’s always gonna be Master to me.”
Relief flared through him. “Then perhaps you should tell him that, Elizabeth?”
“You think so?” She looked scared. “I don’t want to upset him.”
He nodded. “I know it’s scary. But think how much happier he’d be if he knew you accepted it?” He cupped her cheek. “I’m not saying it has to be today. Let him settle in and then do it when you feel the time is right.” He smiled down at her. “The last thing I want is to wreck your marriage. What you and he share is…precious and not to be taken lightly.”
She swallowed hard. “How did you get so wise, Daddy?”
“The school of hard knocks, Elizabeth. I didn’t realize what I had ‘til I lost my wife. I’ve come to terms with her passing, but that doesn’t mean at times I don’t wish I would’ve remembered to tell her more often how much I loved her, or how beautiful she was to me.”
Tears filled her blue eyes. “Oh, Daddy.” Then she buried her face in his chest. “You understand.”
Chapter Thirteen
Max gritted his teeth as Storm helped him out of his SUV and into the waiting wheelchair. He’d wanted more than anything to walk up the sidewalk and through the front door with his arm braces - but that wasn’t about to happen. The heavy frost on the walk would have him on the ground before he even made it halfway there. He was getting better with the arm braces, but the doctor had told him until he was more proficient to hold off on using them outside, or on any slippery surfaces. And of course, Storm had been there to hear it, so it was the damned wheelchair once more. Thank God, he could go through the garage and into the kitchen without having to navigate any steps.
“You’re supposed to be happy that you’re coming home, man.” Storm pushed him toward the open garage. Max had texted Elliot and asked him to open it when they were a few blocks from his home.
“I know.” But the pit of his stomach was clenched hard and he was nervous. More nervous than he’d been when he’d taken two abused submissives under his wing and coaxed them back to healthy existence within a power exchange. Why the hell did Elliot make him so damned nervous? Aside from the fact he found the man sexy as hell.
“You know he’s not going to bite, right?” Storm guided him around Lizzie’s Soul and to the entryway of the mudroom that led into the kitchen.
“And you know I’m gonna kick your ass for telling him, right? Just as soon as I’m better.” He shot back. “I still can’t believe you did that.”
Storm sighed. “Like he didn’t already have an inkling with the way you responded to him at the rehab. You’re not as sneaky as you think you are. If I saw what you were trying to hide under those blankets, I’m sure he could too.”
Max’s cheeks heated. “Shit.”
“Language.” Elliot appeared in the doorway, more than looking at home in a pair of faded jeans, a snug t-shirt and bare feet. “I just had this discussion with your wife. How can I ask her to clean up her mouth if you’re cussing left and right?”
