Page 9 of The Dom with the Clever Tongue

She scowled at her while she shook out her hair. “You call me kitten!”

Scarlet’s eyes half-shut then she glided toward her. “Mmm. ’Cause you are my little kitten.”

Great. Now her girlfriend was turned on, which meant she’d try to seduce her to play. “No, Scarlet.” She put her hands out to stop her. “I have to finish this then we’re meeting Malachi.”

Scarlet’s eyes narrowed – a signal she was about to pounce.

“There’s no time!” she pleaded.

With a long drawn-out sigh, she stopped and her shoulders sagged. “Fine.”

Reece chuckled at her pouty look. Sometimes she was just so cute. She’d be offended if she said it out loud but it was true.

Reece went back to work on the finishing touches for the dress while Scarletfiddled with one of the manikins in the other corner.

“So, why do you think you should change your name?” she asked.

“Huh?” Oh. She’d said that earlier then forgotten to explain. “Reece is just so plain. All the other buyers have fancy names. Farrah. La’Monica Sherise.”

“That’s fake.”

“Yeah. It’s Monica Schwartz. But if she can turn an ordinary Jewish name into something French, I should do something with mine.”

“Like what? Reesay?”

She laughed hard. “That’s actually not too bad.” With a dramatic flair, she tried it on for size. “Reesay!”

“No.” Scarlet frowned. “Your real name fits you perfectly.”

“Reece Duncan fits me?” She tossed her scissors onto her worktable. “Ugh. Then I’m doing something wrong.”

“Stop.” Scarlet slid her arms around Reece’s waist then pressed her lips against her neck. Reece melted into her warmth. “You don’t need a fancy name to be beautiful,” she whispered into her ear.

A shudder ran down her spine. Maybe they had time for a quickie.

“You’re kind and smart. That’s what makes you beautiful.”

She snorted. To Scarlet maybe, because she loved her, but to everyone else, it was the hefty dose of make-up, trendy clothing, and immaculate hair and nails that made her attractive. It was an annoying dichotomy that society looked down on women who didn’t take care of themselves but because she did made people assumed she was shallow and vain. It was just one of the ways she’d never be good enough.

“Oh shit.” The body against hers disappeared. “We’re late.”

“Aww. But I’m almost done.” She peered at the dress on the manikin – shimmery and ethereal – and smiled. It was going to make one girl very happy.

Scarlet grabbed her hand. “Come on. We can finish it tonight.” She tugged her toward the door of their condo.

“Wait!” She dug her heels in. “I have to fix myself up.”

Scarlet rolled her eyes. “You look fine.”

“Fine?” Reece perched a hand on her hip. She should really know her better than that by now.

“Beautiful. Gorgeous. Fucking hot as hell.”

“Flatterer. Give me a minute.” She was already traipsing down the hallway toward the bedroom. “I’ll be right back.”

At the vanity mirror, she gasped. “Scarlet!” Glitter stuck all over her skin on her chest and neck, glinting off the light with every move. “I’m going to kill you!”

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