CHAPTER TEN
Marly
The next morning,I woke with a long stretch, reaching my hands overhead. The sheets were tangled around my legs, the comforter in a heap beside me. I was always a wild sleeper. Gliding my hands back down my sides, my pinky brushed the cool metal quarter that had slipped off during the night.
Tears flooded against the backs of my eyes and one spilled down my cheek. The salty drop pooled over my lip and I darted out my tongue to catch it. Last night was special. For the first time in years, maybe even decades, I had let myself be taken care of. It wasn’t exactly comfortable. Actually, at times, it was downright awkward. But undeniably, I had slept better last night than I had in years.
I threw the thick cotton sheets aside, and pressed my bare feet into the lush threads of the area rug. Still groggy, I moved to the sink and grabbed my toothbrush. A few minutes later, there was a light knock on the door. I had barely finished brushing my teeth as I hopped over, buttoning my pants. I swung open the door finding Jude there with a giant silver tray.
My eyes widened at the matching silver pot on top. “Please tell me there is coffee in there,” I grinned, my stomach fluttering. There was nothing better than a strong cup of coffee in the morning.
Jude matched my smile and the creases around his mouth deepened. “You know it,” he said, setting the tray down onto a side table. He tipped a small coffee cup over and poured the rich, steaming coffee into a mug. “How do you take it?”
“Just cream. Well, half and half preferably—milk turns my coffee a grayish color.”Ick.
“Hmm,” Jude pressed his lips together staring at the creamer.
“Or whatever. Whatever you have is fine.” I waved it off like it wasn’t a big deal. I mean, it was just milk. I didn’t love it, but it was fine. I’d survive.
Jude looked up, his green eyes sparkling. “It’s not a problem at all… just one second.”
“Seriously, Jude… it’s not a big deal.”
But he didn’t let me finish. He backed out of the room, leaving me there with a mystery tray of breakfast. I lifted the cover to find a plate of fruit, steaming oatmeal, bacon, eggs and sausage. I dropped the silver lid back onto the plate, falling back onto the bed.Ew, meat.
Jude was back in a minute with a little cup of half and half and he slowly poured it into my mug. “Just say when.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “When. But I could have poured it myself, you know.”
He smirked, handing me the piping hot coffee. “I know… but you’re going to spend the week subservient to me. I might as well give you a full-service breakfast prior to that.” He winked and I couldn’t help but laugh. He made a damn good point.
“Well inthatcase, I could really use a massage—”
His gaze narrowed playfully, with just a hint of a smile curving his lips. “Don’t press your luck.” But his eyes skimmed down to my shoulders, sweeping quickly over my body before he glanced away. He joked no, but his eyes said yes. Pulling the side table in front of me, he lifted the lid on the breakfast. “I wasn’t sure what you like, so I got you a little of everything. You’re going to need your energy, so eat up. I’ve got a lot planned.”
My stomach turned at the meat. “I’ll have the fruit and oatmeal. I’m a vegetarian.”
Regret flickered across Jude’s face and he quickly scraped the eggs, bacon and sausage onto a separate plate. “I’m sorry—I had no idea.” He muttered a curse, hands clenched onto his hips. “Damn.”
I shrugged, spearing a piece of pineapple with my fork. “Why would you?” I laughed. “We only just met the other day.” Chewing the fruit, delicious tangy sweetness exploded on my tongue.
“That’s my job as your Dom to know… to take care of you.” he said, sitting beside me and eating the eggs himself.
“So, would that have been in our Dom/sub contract? No meat play?” I grinned and nudged him with my elbow.
He shot me a humoring smile. “I know you’re joking… but yeah. It’s the sort of thing you would have told me, or put in your contract. Plus, it would have been easy enough for me to research on my own and find out you’re a vegetarian.” He waved his fork, falling back onto his elbows while eating. “Guess your first lesson of the day is being learned the hard way—it’s a Master’s job to take care of his sub. He or she is supposed to provide all things necessary to a comfortable life.”
I lifted a brow at that, taking another sip of coffee. “Oh, really?Comfortable?”
He laughed, shaking his head. “I mean… not everything we do to our subs is comfortable for them. But just because something’s uncomfortable, doesn’t mean it’s not also pleasurable.”
“Like what?”
Jude thought for a moment and then answered, “Nipple clamps.”
Coffee nearly spurted out my nose at that. I wasn’t sure what I expected the answer to be… but ‘nipple clamps’ were the last thing I ever thought I’d be discussing with Jude Fisher over breakfast. “How are they pleasurable?”
Jude shrugged. “Some of us have higher pain tolerance than others, so we need more… extreme means of pain for punishment.”
