Page 15 of The Dom with the Clever Tongue

As they were about to leave the room, she spotted Reece’s panties just visible under the edge of the bed. She scooped them up and tossed them in the hamper.

Reece looked mortified. “Thank goodness you saw those before he did.”

Hand in hand they went to the living room. Malachi stood with his back to them, looking out the window into the generally unused, park-like common area behind the building. For a man who didn’t do physically demanding work, the muscles in his arms were well defined. Her job would be so much easier if she wasn’t so small. Maybe he’d tell her his workout secrets, too.

She looked at Reece to see how she was fairing. There was no mistake, she was totally checking him out although, knowing her, she’d vehemently deny it. From time to time over the past week, they’d talked about him. There was a love/hate attraction there, under the surface.

“It’s mostly for show,” Scarlet explained. “No one that lives here really uses that area. It would be like trying to relax in a fishbowl, I imagine.” She laughed.

He turned and his gaze sharpened when he saw Reece. His eyes followed the lines of her body, barely concealed under the form-fitting clothes and he swallowed hard enough to notice.

So they were attracted to each other. That didn’t mean Reece was going anywhere, did it? Her stomach twisted. Dating Reece had been a gamble at first. She’d barely been bi when they’d started dating, and her relationship with Scarlet was her first serious one with a girl. She forced aside the uncertainty. Reece wasn’t the type to throw her aside on a whim, and she knew she loved her. Just because this was the first guy she’d seen her check out since they started dating didn’t mean anything.

“I thought maybe you’d decided to take a nap.” Malachi and Reece stared ateach other for a minute. Scarlet noted the blush creeping up Reece’s neck. Horny and embarrassed. This might get interesting.

“I checked my email. Work stuff.”

He looked amused and skeptical, but didn’t push it. Malachi sprawled back into the chair, his leg draped casually over the arm.

“Please, make yourself comfortable.” Reece arched a brow at him. Sprawling on the furniture wasn’t usually done in this room.

“Don’t mind if I do.” His gaze was sharp. He was assessing her again, as though they were playing chess.

Scarlet’s kitten perched primly on the trendy sofa, her body language implying that yoga pants were not her usual style of dress. She was so tense Scarlet could almost see the waves of it coming off of her. Maybe if she’d gotten her off she would have been less stressed out.

“So how do you want to do this?” Malachi asked. “Here?”

“What are you expecting us to do?” Scarlet asked.

“Just play. Pretend I’m not here and do what you’d normally do. Clothes on, of course. If I can figure out what’s not working, I’ll tell you afterward.”

“Fuck.” Reece’s curse came as a shock. She rarely swore. “I need a drink first.”

“You should have a clear head for this.”

“I know, I know. I’ve read a bunch of the kinkster handbooks, Mr. Johansson. This is just a little weird.”

He snorted. “That’s an understatement.”

Before they could get into a verbal sparring match, Scarlet leaned over and kissed her. Reece’s mouth was hard and she resisted her for a few moments, but as usual she gave in to her coaxing. She could never feign disinterest for long. Reece started to squirm against her, but froze when Malachi shifted in his chair. Scarlet buried a hand in Reece’s hair and forced her up, then marched her down the hall into their bedroom. Malachi trailed after them.

When they reached the foot of the bed, Scarlet pointed at the floor. “Kneel.”

Reece looked at her meaningfully, sighed and rolled her eyes before she dropped to the hardwood. Her expression was anything but respectful.

Scarlet glanced at Malachi, who’d settled into the wingback chair in the corner.He raised his brows in ayou’re going to take that shit?kind of way.

Grabbing her by the hair again, Scarlet yanked her back to her feet. She bent Reece over the bed and grabbed her belt off the dresser. Normally she’d warn her or ask first, but this was downright embarrassing. She hit Reece’s ass twice with the belt – hard. Her girlfriend gasped then gave her a dirty look.

“When I tell you to do something, kitten, you do it. No sass.”

“I didn’t even say anything!” she groused.

Scarlet gave her two more smacks with the belt and Reece danced from foot to foot, and covered her ass with her hands.

“Understood?”

“Ow! Jeez! Yes, Scarlet. Don’t be mean.”

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