Page 21 of Melody’s Little Secret

“One.”

My mouth dropped open. Rules or not, apparently Boz would not tolerate my attitude. I glared at my plate, silently seething. Stuffing my mouth full of delicious pasta was a better choice than allowing more snark to fall out of my lips. I ate for several minutes while he watched. “This is my favorite meal,” I said when the silence became too much.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying it. When you’re finished, you can take some of the anti-inflammatory medicine Seth sent home with us. How is your pain?”

I shrugged. My physical pain wasn’t that bad, but emotionally, I was a pretty big mess. I was so tired and just really run down. It added heaps of stress onto my already overwhelmed plate.

“When I ask you a question, I’d like an answer,dulcita.”

I swallowed my mouthful of food and froze. Well, I froze on the outside. My insides were swirling all over the place. Did he know what it did to me when he said seemingly innocent but completely bossy things like that to me?

He’s a Daddy, of course he knows.

“My wrist and knees are okay,” I answered as best as I could without emotionally spewing all over him.

“That’s good. So, tell me what’s got you wincing like you’re being headbutted by an invisible goat?”

I couldn’t help but giggle at his ridiculous analogy. “Invisible goat?”

“It’s the first thing that came to me. So, what’s going on?” He was a dog with a bone, and he wasn’t going to let up until he got the answers he wanted from me.

Sighing, I decided to just let it all go. If he wanted to know what was going on, than I would just tell him everything.

“I’ve been such a wreck since I moved here. I’m chasing my dream, but it’s a lot of work and I’ve been so lonely, but I’ve also been too tired to do anything about the loneliness. Making friends is hard and takes a lot of time and energy. When Laney called me, as much as it sucked for her to lose her job, I knew it was an opportunity waiting in the wings. It bothered me because I felt selfish to be excited about her loss.”

“Don’t beat yourself up because you saw the silver lining in her pain,dulcita. She’s a big girl, and she makes her own decisions. If Delaney didn’t see the same opportunity, she would have stayed put.Sì?”

“Yes, Sir.” Heat flamed my face. “Sorry! I heard you earlier, there’s just something about you. That title keeps flying out.”

“I’m not upset. Let’s set some guidelines. Are you in a good place to have this conversation now?”

“Nope.” Fretting, I realized it sounded snarky. “I’m not trying to argue or sass,” I lamented. “My brain has been spiraling for a while, but it’s too much to make sense of tonight.”

“I’d usually prefer to establish rules before I spank, but I’m changing the order tonight.” Getting to his feet, he held his hand out to me. “Do you know what a safeword is?”

Robotically, I accepted his hand, and followed him out of the kitchen. “Yes. It’s a word that stops all the action. Then we can talk through whatever caused me to say it.”

“Very good,dulcita. What’s your safeword?”

“Mascarpone.”

“A strange choice, but fitting.”

Before I could awkwardly ask him what sort of position he wanted me in or overthink the situation, Bosco sat down and patted his lap “Move slow,dulcita, and put your tummy right here.”

I didn’t let myself think, just followed his instructions. Holding Boz’s hand, he helped me lay down and arranged me across his muscled thighs.

Holy strawberry macaroons! This is really happening.

Taking a deep breath, I settled against him. I knew in my head and my heart an adjustment would do wonders for my overall wellbeing. I had been needing this for far longer than I cared to admit. I knew how to be a good girl, but my brat roared when I wasn’t indulging in self-care or any basic care at all, really.

“I’m probably going to cry,” I admitted.

“Do you think I’ve never handled tears,dulcita?” He rubbed his hand over my sweatpants-covered butt. “Everyone releases differently. Don’t get caught up in the how.Sì?”

“I’ll try.”

“Whenever I’ve got you over my lap, you may call me Sir.”

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