Page 32 of Caging Cessie
“Are you uncomfortable with the idea that I’m going to make dinner, feed you dinner, and clean up dinner?”
“That’s not an equal relationship.”
“When we’re at home, no it wouldn’t be. But we’re not at home. We’re here, and one of the reasons we’re here is to see if you trust me.”
“I do trust you. You keep saying ‘trust’ but I trust you?—”
“Do you trust me to still love you even if you aren’t taking care of me? Doing things for me?”
Again, she stopped cold, heart hammering inside her chest. She hated that she couldn’t see him.
“Do you think I don’t realize that you do a million little things to take care of me, no matter how much I try and take off your plate? I got us laundry service so you’d stop doing all our laundry at 2am while you were on call from home, so you made it your job to put everything away. I realize there’s no magical sock and underwear fairy who buys new stuff for me when I need it. I know that’s you.”
“I like taking care of you,” she said in a small voice.
“And I like taking care of you.” His hand cupped the back of her head and then his lips touched hers.
Cessie leaned into the kiss, suddenly desperate. She sucked hard on his lower lip, mouth open and ready for his tongue. But he only slid the tip of his tongue along the inside of her upper lip, an intimate but not penetrative touch, before pulling back.
“It’s time to get ready for bed.”
“Bed?” Was it dark out? How long had it been since he put on the hood?
Leon helped her to her feet. He took both her hands in his and clearly walked backward as he guided her through the cabin.Her bare toes curled as they moved from wood flooring to cold tile.
The bathroom.
Cessie stopped short.
“You’re going to take off the hood when I need to use the bathroom, right?”
“No.”
“Leon, I can’t… I need to be able to see.”
“No, you don’t. I’ll make sure whatever you need is laid out.” He tugged, pulling her over to the counter and pressing her hands against the cool stone. “The toilet is two steps behind you.”
“You expect me to use the toilet blindfolded.”
“Yes.”
“What about… brushing my teeth?” Her voice was rising with a mix of panic and outrage.
“I've seen you brush your teeth with your eyes closed. In fact, I'm pretty sure I've seen you brush your teeth while sleeping standing up.”
“That’s different.”
“Proof of concept.”
“Leon!”
He reached around behind her and pinched her ass. Cessie yelped.
“You know I don’t really care what you call me—I don’t need to be called Master to know who and what I am to you.”
Those words settled something inside her.
“But,” he went on in an almost growl, “I will do what it takes to help you remember who you are to me.”
