Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101902 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101902 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
“Yeah, I’mma let ’em out in a minute.” I helped Kyla to a stand, and she leaned against me so she could touch Monster’s head. He licked her hand but didn’t inch closer. “I gotta collect today’s eggs too.” In fact, I had neighbors coming over soon.
It was one of the many great things about living out here—and being part of a farmer’s collective. I left eggs and, when the season was right, crops and fruit in a small shed next to my front gate. Members of the group stopped by to grab their share, and I got various items in return. Cuts of meat, butter, milk, crops I didn’t have myself, and so on.
“I want to learn all that, Sir,” Archie said. “I want to know all your routines and tasks so I can serve you well.”
Ah, this was gonna be a fantastic week.
CHAPTER 9
Kyla had day care on Thursday, and I had to drag my ass back to work. It’d been a vicious stomach bug, and I wasn’t entirely sure Ben bought it. He studied me a little too closely whenever I returned to the warehouse to pick up the next delivery. But he didn’t say anything, and I traded in the work truck for my own at the end of the day and picked up Archie in the city.
His sister was watching Kyla tonight so Archie and I could get an hour or two of TPE training at the house in Mclean.
We had definitely landed in a love-sick bubble of domestic bliss and comfort, where we so far had spent our days in and out of my house. I’d shown him around, we’d let Kyla explore the backyard while I had raked leaves, Archie had learned how to collect eggs, and he had taught me some things too. His studies came in handy. I’d mentioned a bad lettuce harvest, and when you only had a small plot to grow on, you kinda wanted to make the most of it. I wasn’t doing this to be completely self-reliant or to become a farmer; I just wanted to keep my expenses down and have a hobby that was practical and useful. So Archie had immediately looked into different types of soil and fertilizer, and I was gonna try something new in the spring, thanks to him.
Aside from establishing his chores like making dinner, tidying up, and helping me wherever I needed—not to mention late nights of me screwing him into oblivion—very little focus had been on kink. And somewhere between movie nights, getting to know each other better, sitting on the porch talking for hours, and sweetheart this, honey that, we’d both realized we needed to up our game. Which was pretty fucking hard when all you wanted to do was kiss someone half to death and be lazy on the couch together.
This was the whole purpose of the trial run, though. We weren’t going to force anything—but some structure would do us good, and it was my job to take the lead.
It wouldn’t exactly stop us from enjoying all the wonderful things that came with a new relationship. And with Archie, it blew me away how life before him had been devoid of color now that I had something to compare past experiences to. My own feelings were already frightening me.
“I’m only asking this to make sure,” Archie said. “But I don’t have to worry about you thinking Kyla is a nuisance, right? That she’s in the way?”
I shot him a sharp look as I turned onto the private road leading to the estate. “What the fuck brought that on? Of course you don’t.”
“Okay—okay. I’m sorry. I already knew, but I wanted to ask. The shine wears off for some, and my involvement in kink will always come in second place.”
I unclenched and nodded; this wasn’t the time to get defensive. I understood where he was coming from.
“The shine definitely won’t wear off for me,” I replied. “She’s half the reason we’re here today, so we can establish structure that can be incorporated even when she’s in the room. Our lifestyle won’t come in second place, but it will be subtle and woven into the background when she’s near. We just gotta be creative. But of course she’s our priority.”
Archie released a breath in evident relief, and I would’ve been offended if I didn’t get his concern as a protective dad. I also happened to know—and relish the fact—that he’d wanted me for a long time, and it was easy to get spooked when you had a lot to lose. I knew the feeling.
“I’m sorry I brought it up, Sir. You’ve been nothing but wonderful with Kyla.”
I shook my head and gave his leg a squeeze. “You’re always going to speak your mind, pet. Always.”
“I don’t know about always,” he chuckled teasingly. “You didn’t react very well when I asked about Sloan.”