Page 37 of The Dom with the Clever Tongue

“They’re sequins.” Reece said absentmindedly, still placing pins, but her girlfriend wrapped her arms around her from the back and kissed her neck. Then she gently made Reece stand and turn. Reece sighed dramatically. “I can’t pin anything if I’m not looking.”

“I know, baby, but your eyes...” She swiped a finger delicately under Reece’s eye. “So red.”

“It’s the hazard of this time of year. If I don’t get these done, I’ll let someone down.” She ducked her head to look at Scarlet from under her eyelashes. “It’s important to me. Youknowthat.” She popped another pin in her mouth then eyed the manikin.

“And I can’t even kiss you with all those pins in your mouth.” This time Scarlet sighed. “Malachi have you ever dated a girl who was a porcupine?”

He chuckled. “Can’t say I have.”

Ignoring them, she placed the last pin in the fabric at the bust. “You two go have a private pity party while I do the work. Just leave me alone. I don’t think I need any more muscle, but thanks for the help.”

Scarlet hissed between her teeth. “How long since she had a break, Malachi?”

He got the drift. “Too long. Where do you want her? Kitchen stool?”

“Sure.”

“I’ll do the carrying, but you need to disarm her.” He gestured at the pair of scissors in her hand. At least the pins were gone.

“Okay.”

Reece looked from one to the other of them, her eyebrows raised. “No. No way. Give me another half an hour.”

Mouth firm, eyes set, Scarlet put out her hand, palm up. “Scissors.”

“Ohhh! This is so annoying.” She shook her head, eyes shut, exasperationbrimming. “Fine!” But she didn’t give the scissors to Scarlet, instead placing them on the desk that held the sewing machine. “There. I can walk.” She scowled at Malachi.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Besides, how often did he get permission to pick up an armful of girl like this? Before Scarlet rescinded her agreement, he scooped up Reece. “Your eyes are probably so worn out you’d trip and land in a basket of sequins.”

“Put me down!” She huffed as he strode for the kitchen with her in his arms. “At least then you’d be allergic to me and have to stay away.”

Before he could check himself, he replied, “I’d rather die of sequins poisoning than stay away from you.”

Oh fuck. Before he could instead die of foot-in-mouth disease, both she and Scarlet laughed so he grinned and went with it. Thank god they both had a sense of humor.

“I’ll get the groceries I left at the door,” Scarlet said.

In the kitchen, he placed her on the stool at the breakfast bar then went to the coffee maker and switched it on. A herd of used mugs sat on the sink so he ran some water for dishes.

While it filled he asked, “How do you like your coffee?”

“Low fat milk and Splenda.” She reached down and rubbed her feet. “Stupid how sore my feet get sewing. My eyes, my feet, my head.”

“You have a headache?” The pleasant warmth of the dishwater, the conversation, the way they assumed he was here to help them...he just fit in. It made him feel like he was home, or somewhere so familiar he’d visited for years. It also made him sad, because it was a lie.

“Um. A small one.” Reece rubbed her temples.

“Maybe no more coffee then. Do you have tea? I think I saw some.”

“We have chamomile.” Scarlet came in and plonked two plastic bags of groceries on the counter and started putting them away. “It’s nasty though.”

“Eww.” Reece pulled a face. “Yeah, it’s gross. Coffee is fine.”

“So headache. Foot ache. Eye ache.” He put the last cup on the draining board. “No coffee for you for the rest of the day.”

After perching on a stool next to Reece, Scarlet beckoned to her. “Put your feet here.”

Reece leaned back into the corner of the counter and put her feet on Scarlet’s lap. “What are we having for dinner? Ohmigod, that’s good. Sooo good.” She groaned as Scarlet kept up the massage of her soles, digging her fingers in deep.

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