pet. Bozo caught sight of him and bounced back toward the steps. He, for despite the squat to pee, the puppy had male paraphernalia under its belly, somehow clambered up the steps on his short legs and dashed back inside. Alistair secured the door and made his way back into the kitchen while Bozo curled up in the box Jackie had lined with what looked to be an old seat cover.
He set the table for three and then reconsidered, putting one place setting at the breakfast bar. Jackie wouldn’t be sitting tonight. He made some decaf coffee and frowned at the cream but put it out for her. Then he turned the heat on under the vegetables before checking on Jackie, who hadn’t moved a muscle. He wanted to stay with her so that the first thing she saw when she woke was him but knew he’d fuck her and take away the lesson, so he denied himself. Ashley was stirring when he returned to the living room and sat up when she heard him take a seat.
“Jackie?”
“Sleeping. I welted her pretty good.”
“That you did, buddy, that you did. If she learns to curb that insanely impetuous streak, then I’m good with it. Because if that didn’t work, I have no idea what will.”
They sat in silence for awhile as the smell of cooking permeated the room. Alistair wanted to ask Ashley what was going on with her but didn’t know to broach the subject. He could help a sub speak, communicate, but wasn’t so good in this case. Something more to learn.
“You made dinner.”
“We’ll see how it tastes, Ash, but I put some food on.”
“As soon as we eat, I need to talk to you and Jackie, ’Stair. It’s important and is going to throw a wrench in the works of all our careful planning. I need some feedback.”
A cold hand clutched his innards. He fought against the feeling but wondered if his dreams were going to be dashed again. Maybe Ashley found that she couldn’t share Jackie. He forced himself to nod, and she smiled wanly at him.
“It’s like kismet that you’re here, ’Stair. I so appreciate it.”
So she wasn’t going to tell him to back off, not that he was going anywhere. He felt nearly faint with relief and mastered his curiosity. “I’ll go and get Jackie up if you want to check the vegetables.”
* * * *
She watched him head toward the bedroom and pushed up from the couch. The little rest had done wonders. She went and turned the vegetables off and drained them. The chicken appeared to be cooked, and she speared the browning potatoes. Done. The place setting on the breakfast bar made her smile, as did the raised female voice from the master bedroom. Jackie was like a little bear after a nap, and her ass would be damn sore, too. The intensity of Alistair’s spanking had taken her breath away, and she’d actually felt kind of sick for Jackie. But it was controlled and done for a very good reason, not at all like what her father did to her and her sibs. If it hadn’t taken place so hard on the heels of the dog incident and if she hadn’t been fretting over the letter, she’d have been okay. As it was, she had been triggered a little and was now back to normal, or at least what passed for normal.
“I’m not hungry!” Jackie stormed into the kitchen, barefoot, wearing her short silk robe, her hair a tangled mess, cheeks red, eyes still swollen from her storm of tears.
“You’ll eat.” Alistair’s tone was inflexible.
“I can’t sit down!”
“You can stand.”
“I can’t stand you at this very moment!”
Ashley managed not to laugh out loud. Her girl was back. It would mean that sharing her news wouldn’t be influenced by what had transpired earlier. She didn’t want Jackie to make a decision based upon remorse.
“Alistair made dinner while I had a nap, Jackie.” Her comment had the desired effect. Jackie immediately came to her and kissed her.
“I’m being self-centered again, Ash. Sorry. He just makes me mad when he gets bossy. Are you okay?”
“I need to eat, Jackie. And then
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