Yeah, she didn’t want to think about that. About all the subs that had come before her and the ones that would come after he left. She wanted to enjoy every moment with him. He was too good to be true.
“I’ve added a few more rules around safety.”
“Like what?”
“If something happens where you feel threatened, scared or hurt, I want you to tell me immediately.”
She guessed that was fair enough. She nodded.
“When I’m not with you, you need to be careful, understand? If you’re in this apartment, the door must be locked at all times. I’m going to get you another deadbolt.”
Another one? She already had two. Well, she guessed one more wouldn’t hurt if it made him feel better. “I always keep the door locked, Connor. I’m pretty safety-conscious.”
It was kind of her worst nightmare, to be in the shower and have someone sneak in when she couldn’t hear them.
“Good. I don’t like that these apartments have no security, anyone can get up here. I’m going to put in some extra security measures, unless you’ll let me move you to a more secure building.”
Let him move her? He did realize they were in a temporary relationship. She hated the sound of that, but it was true. There was an end date, even if they didn’t know when that date was.
“What security measures?” she asked.
“I want to put in an alarm. If someone tries to enter, it will let off a noise loud enough that even if you don’t have your hearing aid in you will hear it.”
She flushed a little. He spoke so casually about her hearing, as though it didn’t bother him at all. And she guessed maybe it didn’t. Why was it that the first guy she’d found who didn’t think she was odd because of her hearing wouldn’t be with her long term?
Just her luck, she guessed.
Her luck sucked ass.
“It doesn’t have to be that loud; I still have hearing in my other ear.”
“Hmm, right. You usually sleep without your hearing aid in, though, right?”
“Yes.” She hadn’t last night, though. A mix of embarrassment and nervousness. “But I’m a light sleeper.”
“I’m still going to put in a loud alarm.”
“It’s going to wake my neighbors.”
“Screw your neighbors.”
“I don’t need it, Connor.”
His face grew still. “I disagree.”
“But—”
“I’m putting the alarm in, Ria.”
“I can’t afford it,” she told him honestly. “I don’t have the money to pay for it.”
“Did I say you needed to pay for it?”
She folded her arms across her chest. Seemed like they were headed towards an argument, and she felt like she was on at a disadvantage, being naked and all.
“Listen—” She tried to pull back off his lap, and he grabbed hold of her hips.
“Did I say you could move, little subbie?” His voice was dark. Commanding.