Page 36 of João
“What are we here for, Gisele?”
João let my name roll off his tongue, Gisele. Slow, filthy, reverent. The way he said it made my thighs press together on instinct.
“We’re here to explore a twenty-four seven power dynamic and enjoy many of our common kinks together.”
“That’s whatyou’rehere for,” he said quietly.
“João…”
“Nah, let’s keep it a hundred, and I ain’t about to change paths. You know what my intentions are. And I’ll continue to move accordingly unless you safe word out of things.”
“Funny,” I said, remembering him saying exactly this the first day we started discussing our negotiations.
“I said this to you in our talks; I don’t want to lie to you or myself. Now eat your food, boa menina.” He gestured toward my plate and scooped a big forkful of rice.
The urge to do exactly as he said versus rebelling waged inside of me, but my obedience won. I pulled my plate back close to me and kept eating.
“So, what did you have going on today, now that we know you were in your feelings? You gotta use your words, boa menina.”
“I texted you,” I scoffed, eating the remaining leaves of my salad.
“For check-ins only. That is not the only communication we need to have.”
“Fine, it was good. I was distracted, though; last night’s episode ofThe Sopranoswas stressful.”
“How did your ass survive all this time without watchingThe Sopranos?” He finished his last bite and relaxed back on the kitchen stool, satisfied. The same rebellious urge kicked in again, and before he could move, I snatched up his plate and mine, circling the island to the sink where I turned on the faucet. The heat coalescing behind me told me João had thoughts aboutwhat I’d just done, all to ignore his question and the first answer that came to mind.
My father. I hadn’t watchedThe Sopranosback when it was out because, at first, I was young enough that the intricate personal study of Tony Soprano went right over my head, and once I was older, it made me wonder about my father. But I wasn’t ready to share that with João. Not yet.
“Well, I guess I was probably busy with a church committee or something.” I shrugged. “Are you done with your water, or would you like another glass?” I smiled at him while he ran his finger over his bearded chin. The gesture seemed calming to me until I noticed his gaze. Pure danger.
“Did I ask you to clear the table?” That raspy, deep voice… He shouldn’t be allowed. He shouldn’t be able to use it as a weapon against my equanimity.
“I…well, I wanted to be helpful, Master.”
“Nah, you don’t use the honorific like it’s seasoning to a bland meal.”
I pressed my lips together, afraid I would start cackling and then really be in trouble.
My God, why have You forsaken me?This man is about to punish me and you have me here about to burst out in laughter.
“Oh, you think it’s funny?”
“No, no, I just wanted to be helpful. Truly.” I raised my hands in surrender as João stood up and grabbed our two glasses.
“Turn off the faucet and stand right there until I tell you what else to do.”
Transported to another plane, I slowly inched my hand toward the faucet and turned it off. The deliberate slowness probably came across to João as defiance, but I needed to keep calm because this whole day had been as close as I had ever been to living this dream of mine. Getting such a direct command turned a switch on, one I hadn’t fully understood whatit controlled until right now. If he asked me to get on my knees and kiss his feet, I would. An avalanche of unrestrained pleasure coursed through me as the trickle of water stopped and silence reigned in the kitchen.
Trailing his steps, I admired his smooth, thick arms, showcased by his sleeveless tank and how they flexed as he cracked his knuckles.
Oh my.I guess I’d made him mad. Maybe I shouldn’t have.
A swarm of bees nestled in my belly, a delicious trepidation creeping through me until he stood in front of me.
I inhaled, mesmerized. I’d always thought my favorite fragrance was the incense floating from the thurible as the master acolyte walked down the church aisle. But João’s scent had trumped that in a very short period of time. Leather, smoke, wood, and caramel; all combined with his virile pheromones to make a cologne I’d bottle up and spritz on my pillow every night if I could.
“Me siga, garota safada.”
