"That is a surprise. We don't need to leave for another couple of hours so go and get ready, the old-fashioned way, if you please."
"But how will I know what to wear if you won't tell me where we are going?"
"I have taken the liberty of picking your dress out for you."
"Oh, really?" I raise an eyebrow at him.
"Well, you did say this morning that when you came back here, I could dress you up however I like."
"That I did," I say, tilting my head up for a kiss and he obliges me.
"Now go." He gives me a slight tap on my rear.
I giggle. "Yes, sir," I murmur. "Join me?"
"I have business to attend to. I will see you later."
Disappearing into his bedroom with a slight sulk at his refusal of me, I make my way to the bathroom. I could really do with a long bath after the day's events. I am mortified with myself over how much I lost control before. Vulnerabilities, indeed.
Discarding my clothes, I step into the bath and sigh as the water and bubbles lap over me. Closing my eyes, I think back over the last couple of days. I simply cannot fathom CK's change in attitude. Does he really understand my choices or is he just pretending because it gets him back what he wants? It's all very sudden and, not one to question things – well, actually, I am one to question things – I have to wonder what his motives are. I feel the tingle go up the back of my neck and I say, "Glad you changed your mind."
"Sorry, cherie. But it’s only me," Sebastian says with a slight chuckle.
I open my eyes with a frown and rub the back of my neck. That is very unnerving.
"It all feels the same at first. It gets easier to distinguish us the more you are around us all," he says.
"Oh? What do I feel like to you?"
"Not so much a tingle as a fizz."
"A fizz? That's interesting. Is that to all or just you?"
"All, probably. I don't really know." He shrugs and hands me a glass of wine. "Thought this might come in handy after your…troubles earlier."
I accept it with thanks and take a sip. "Troubles? That's one way to look at it."
"You are definitely an interesting creature. Even if you hadn't asked, I would have stuck around to get to know you better, now that our sire is being amenable about it."
I snort at him and shift in the water, teasing him. We’ll see just how amenable our sire is. Oh, I am so bad. R
eally.
His eyes shoot straight to my nipples, now peeking out of the bubbles and I revel in the lust in his eyes.
"I am going to tell you something," he says, still not looking at my face. "Something you need to know."
"Sounds serious," I murmur.
"It is." His face shows it.
I narrow my eyes at him as he pauses and takes a sip of his own drink. "I have clearly known him since day one, I have seen every side to him good and bad and even worse. You think you know him, but you don't. At least not like I do. This side that you see now? It’s one that I have never seen. I have seen him before you, with you, and after you, and never have I seen him so happy. So content. Whatever it is that caused your issues before, he has put aside with great effort. I can see the strain it has on him, but he does it to make you happy. Do you know that? Do you appreciate what it costs him?" he asks me and I nod without hesitation.
"Good," he says. "I think you need to re-evaluate your marriage."
I sit up then, forgetting about the naked issue and snap, "Excuse me?"
"Your marriage. It isn't in either of your best interests," he says mildly.