Page 73 of Taming Her

He showered, skipped shaving—he’d do that the next day before reporting for duty—and pulled on shorts and a t-shirt. July was proving to be hot and steamy, just like his sex life.

Smiling, he wandered into the kitchen.

A loud whirring attacked his ears.

“What are you doing?”

“Oh, you’re awake, good, I’m making smoothies.”

“Smoothies?” He studied her. “What have you done with Ava?”

“Pardon?” She laughed and dropped a banana into the blender.

“Ava, my woman, left to her own devices she has toast dripping in butter for breakfast.”

“I figured this would be healthier.”

“You figured right.”

She whizzed up the banana then poured two glasses of the thick creamy liquid. “It’s banana, mango, and pineapple, with natural yogurt and a spoonful of honey, oh, and chia seeds too.”

“Looks great.” He took a sip. “Tastes it.”

She grinned. “Good.” She tried her drink. “Yes, it is.”

Griff took a few more mouthfuls then set the drink down. He walked past the open door to the patio and reached into the high cupboard. He stretched and grasped Ava’s purse.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“You’re starting the course tomorrow, right?”

“Yes, all signed up, looking forward to the first online lecture on the fundamentals of landscape gardening.”

“In which case you’ll need this for an hour.” He handed her phone over.

“I can have it for an hour?” She took it.

“Yes. You’ll need before photographs if you’re going to do something with my tangled mess of a garden. A proper before and after, the first in your new portfolio.”

“I did think yesterday I should have a record of before.”

“You should have said.”

“We were…” She raised her eyebrows. “Occupied with going to Cauldron.”

“True.” He smiled and picked up his smoothie again. He’d enjoyed every second of having Ava at his side at the club. No longer the dom hoping to join someone else’s party, or playing with a sub he knew he’d never want outside of Cauldron, he felt like he’d finally found his place.

He knew he’d set tongues wagging. Curiosity would be spiked. Who was his new girl? Not on the local scene and stunning, Ava had drawn admiring and jealous glances from men, women, doms, and subs.

Not that he’d let her see that, or would ever tell her. Ava needed to be taken down a few notches. Being ignored was good for her, so was looking a mess. Too much attention, adoration, and fawning had just about destroyed her. Luckily he’d been there to catch her and pick up the pieces.

“I need to charge my phone.”

He nodded at his charger. “Use that one.”

“Okay.” She plugged it in.

“One hour,” he said. “Take as many pictures as you need of the garden and if you want to message your friend, Mel, that’s fine.”

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