Adored: A Masters and Mercenaries Novella (1001 Dark Nights) by Lexi Blake

responsibility now and he had the paperwork to prove it. He had to be in the moment with her. That was what he would do. He would live in the here and now and not worry about the future or brood over the past. Now was truly all the time they had anyway.
    “About D/s? I’ve been reading a lot. Mostly Bridget’s and Serena’s and Chris’s books, but they’re all in the lifestyle.”
    “Yes, but they write a highly romanticized version of the lifestyle. How much real training have you had?”
    “I’ve been to the classes Eve and Grace teach to new submissives and I’ve done some work with the married Doms, but nothing serious since someone decided he didn’t want me working with Master T.”
    What the hell had Tag been thinking? The idea of her working with that dangerous Southerner…no. He wasn’t going there. He was being in the present. “So most of what you know is intellectual.”
    “Yes.”
    “Why don’t you show me how the submissives in Bridget’s books greet their Doms. I think it would be a nice ritual after being apart for long periods. Something for me to look forward to.”
    “You would, wouldn’t you? You would look forward to me greeting you at the end of the day.”
    Maybe that made him a pervert, but it was true. It would be the best part of his day. “Yes.”
    She stood up, setting the contract down beside her mug. She moved from behind the coffee table and sank down to her knees, her head dropping forward. Her knees spread and she placed her palms flat on her thighs. “Welcome home, Sir.”
    That wouldn’t do. “I hardly think that’s how Bridget wrote it. I know Will allows her to run wild, but he has his rules, too, and he would never allow Bridget to greet him like that.”
    Her head came up. “This is exactly how…” She turned a sweet shade of pink. “You’re talking about the fact that I’m dressed. You want me to greet you naked. Mitch, you know that might not be possible with a kid.”
    “The kid is in utero. He doesn’t care and can’t be embarrassed at this point, so I’ll have my naked time with his mom. He’s just renting. According to that contract, I own.” He owned her body. That gorgeous form was his to please, to hold, to lick and suck and fuck as he liked. He was plain about that in the contract.
    He hadn’t actually seen her naked. They’d made a baby, but he didn’t know what her breasts looked like. It had been so quick, and now he wanted to take his time. They had months before they were going to become parents, before they had to figure everything out. He was going to use that time to memorize her body, to teach her to expect pleasure from him. He wanted her to associate him with long nights in bed spent worshipping her body.
    She took a deep breath and seemed to come to some kind of decision.
    Before she could rise, he held out a hand.
    She looked up at him. “I thought you were a hardcore Dom. Shouldn’t I rise gracefully at your command?”
    “I’m the Dom who wants to make sure you’re safe, Laurel. I’m the Dom who will never watch as you struggle without lending you a hand. I like ritual, but I like being there for you more, so when you get up, I will always be there to help you.”
    “You know sometimes you’re really good at this.” She placed her hand in his.
    “Remember it because there will also be times I’m really bad at it. Laurel, I’m not very romantic. I forget things. I try to remember, but they slip away and I get caught up in work. I’m going to try to hold up my end of the bargain.”
    “Can you sum up your end of the bargain for me, counselor? In layman’s terms, please.”
    “To make sure you’re safe and happy and taken care of.”
    “That is a very good deal for me.” There was a sheen of tears to her eyes, but he was pretty sure she wasn’t sad because she moved toward him, placing her hands on his waist as she looked up at him. “And I’ll do the same.”
    She went on her toes and lightly kissed his