Page 32 of Coulda

“And this is my nursery?” she asked in disbelief, quickly throwing off the vestiges of sleep.

“I think your Little is too old for a nursery although some pieces of furniture are the same. I think of this as your playroom.”

“My Little is too old?” she repeated, realizing that she’d done that a lot today. Rio always seemed a few steps in front of her.

“Ready to talk?”

She nodded.

“Come sit on my lap,” he invited and scooped her out of bed to carry her to the oversized rocker.

“Rio…” she began and then couldn’t figure out what else to say.

“How about if I go first?”

When she nodded, he continued, “I’ve always been wired differently from others. Even from a young age, I needed to be in control, not to simply dominate, but to care for special people. When I found that book with everyone’s notes in the margins, it confirmed what I already suspected—the popular head cheerleader who others relied on was actually a Little in disguise.”

He brushed the hair back from her face and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “I’m glad you had your friends for support when you discovered what you really needed to be happiest. Did reading that book scare you or arouse you?”

“Both. I always knew there were outgoing people and quiet people. I figured that’s how everyone was in their relationships, too. I didn’t know that the most in-control person could need to submit intimately.”

“But you do. Not only for pleasure, but to restore your energy and love of life,” Rio suggested.

“I’ve never found that, but I fantasize of finding someone who cares that much about me.”

Amber couldn’t believe she admitted that aloud. Somehow, here in his arms, she felt safe to express her most intimate dreams and needs.

“I think I can help you with that, Little girl.” Rio rubbed her back reassuringly.

“So, what do we do?”

“First, we have lunch. Then we spend time together to get reacquainted with each other.”

“We kind of put whipped cream and a cherry on top of the get-to-know-you part of our relationship today,” she reminded him with sass.

“I will make love to you often, Ella. I need to be close to you,” he said smoothly before continuing, “We need to set up some guidelines for our relationship and get you moved in here.”

“You want me to live here?” she asked, running her fingers through the hair that flopped artfully over his brow.

“I need you to live here, Little girl, until they finish our house. I can’t take care of you if you’re not with me.”

“You’re not one of those possessive jerks that won’t let their girl hang out with her friends, are you?”

“Jerk is not the right word for me. Depending on the type of hang out, I could be okay with you having some private time.”

She looked at him skeptically. “Give me an example of an activity you would veto and one you’d approve.”

“Going to the bar with friends and driving home after drinking—no. Being dropped off for a gathering of friends at someone’s house and calling when you’re ready to come home—yes.”

That made sense. It actually sounded good. Amber avoided drinking because she felt wonky after one drink when it came to driving. If someone else was transporting her, she could relax and have a glass of wine or a margarita.

She dropped that argument because she had nothing to disagree with him about. Running over his list of things they should do, Amber seized on one word.

“What do you mean, guidelines?”

“Are you ready to get up?” he asked.

At her nod, Rio helped her stand before taking her hand. “Let’s go get some lunch.”

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