Page 45 of Pretty Please Me
She sucks in a breath, recognizing the shift in my demeanor. Her eyes widen, her gaze curious, and I’m happy she doesn’t look quite as terrified as she used to, though I’ll admit I enjoy keeping her on her toes.
I pull the red silk eye-mask from my pocket and hold it out in front of me, “You remember this, don’t you?”
She buries her face behind her hands. “Sam! Are you ever going to let that go?”
“Not anytime soon.” I twirl my finger in a circle motioning for her to turn, and she immediately listens, turning her back to me without protest. My chest swells with excitement as I secure the silky fabric around her eyes, knowing she trusts me so much already. “You’re such a quick learner.”
“Or maybe I just have a really persistent teacher?”
“Persistent. Thorough. Hard…” I let my hands trail down her neck and then her arms before finally resting them firmly on her hips. “Willing to go above and beyond the call of duty,” I whisper in her ear as I lead her upstairs to my private rooftop terrace.
Chills spread over Maggie’s exposed forearms when I open the outside door, but as we move closer to the standing outdoor heaters, it feels more comfortable. I guide her to sit atop a pile of throw pillows next to a charcuterie board covered in specialty cheeses, meats, and fruits.
“Are you ready to see your surprise?”
Maggie nods excitedly, her smile spreading from ear to ear. I remove her blindfold, pocketing it in case I want to use it later, and watch her misty eyes take everything in. Elliot really outdid herself. I’d imagined a cozy campsite vibe, but this is more than anything I could’ve asked for. They moved all my outdoor furniture off to the side and put a fully made inflatable mattress in the center of the space, sitting atop a layered rug.
String lights hang in a circle, framing the space without blocking the sky’s view, and throw pillows are placed around for comfortable seating. They even lined the railing with rows of lit white candles in all different sizes.
“Sam, how did you have time to do all this?” Maggie covers her mouth in shock as she twirls around, taking it all in.
“I may have enlisted a little help from our friends.” I reach for her and pull her to me. “Do you like it?”
Her eyes sparkle as she beams. “I love it. It’s perfect, almost like a dream…” Her voice trails off, and I wish I could bottle up her delight and save it for a gloomy day.
I pour us each a glass of wine as we take our seats by the fire. “Oh, I almost forgot the best part.” I pull out a giant salted pretzel from a small heated bag and a bowl of nacho cheese for dipping.
“You didn’t!” She dives in, pinching off a piece of the pretzel and dunking it in the cheese. “Did you go to the mall to get this for me?”
“I did. I even waited for them to make a fresh batch,” I say with a grin.
“How is this real life? A romantic rooftop picnic under the stars and my favorite snacks?” She raises a brow and tilts her head. “Are you buttering me up for something terrifying? Because there’s no way I’m ready for the butt plug…”
I shake my head and laugh. “No, Maggie, I’m not veering off the contract—though the more you bring it up, the more I’m tempted to work it in.”
“This pretzel is amazing, maybe the best one I’ve ever eaten.” She licks the cheese off her fingers, making my dick harden.
Who knew eating a mall pretzel could look so erotic?
I decide to pull the conversation back to safer territory. “I’ve been meaning to ask you, how do you feel about everything between us? Do you still feel comfortable?”
She pauses mid-bite, eyebrows pulling down in concern. “Of course I am. Why? Are you changing your mind? Because it’s totally fine if you want to stop–”
I hold my hand out in a stop motion and laugh, “No, Maggie, I don’t want to stop.” I help myself to a piece of cheese, propping my arm on my bent knee. “I just wanted to check in with you, that’s all. It’s important you’re comfortable. I know I pushed you pretty hard today.”
She nods. “You did, but I’m so happy you encouraged me. No one’s ever talked to me that way, you know, motivating me.” She scoffs, “I guess I’ve never had anyone care so much. I’ve always had to cheer for myself…”
“You deserve so much more than someone just cheering for you. You deserve someone sitting in your corner and picking you up when you don’t have the strength, someone reminding you of how strong you are daily, not just when you feel like giving up. I’m really proud of you, Maggie. I want you to know that I recognize how challenging that climb was, and you shocked the hell out of me.” I laugh. “Those yoga muscles are no joke.”
She flexes her bicep playfully, then winces, shaking her sore arm out. “Yeah, I think I shocked myself, too. I don’t know what came over me. I was completely gassed three-quarters of the way up, but suddenly, I wanted it more than I’ve ever wanted anything.” She places her wine glass down and crosses her arms over her chest. “I began trying to please you like I always do, but then something changed, and suddenly, I didn’t care as much if you were proud of me or not. It was like I couldn’t even hear you or even think of you. It was just me and that giant wall; everything else just disappeared.”
She brings her fingertips to cover her mouth as if she’s ashamed of what she just admitted. “Is that okay? I mean… I didn’t mean to say I didn’t care about you. I just–”
I lean forward and take her hand in mine. “That’s the best thing I’ve ever heard you say. You did something for yourself. That’s all I wanted. I wanted you to be proud of yourself, love.”
“Thank you,” she says in a whisper, voice cracking with emotion. “I’ll never forget that feeling as long as I live.” She smiles with glassy eyes. “You’re so much more than a friend, Sam. I’m so glad to have you in my life.”
My chest aches at the reminder of what this is, but I force a smile to cover my discomfort. “Anytime. Speaking of our arrangement,” I change the subject, “what’s the deal with you and whats-his-name? Things going well?”
