Page 54 of Wild Pitch
“I want to be here with you. The trip to Houston is optional, and I opted out. It gives me five days to spend at home before the second half of the season ramps up.”
“Luc, are we dating?”
I paid close attention as he ironed my clothes—a task most boyfriends wouldn’t do for their partners. And, fuck if he didn’t seem to enjoy it.
“I would say so. I mean, we’ve slept at each other’s houses. You have the code to mine. We aren’t seeing anyone else.”
“It’s a complete mind-fuck, honestly, this expiration date. Every relationship has the potential to end, but I’m trying my best to protect myself here, Luc. It’s like you’ve already promised to break my damn heart. Only a fool would continue to move forward in this situation.”
He finished ironing my pants, handed them to me, and started on my blouse.
“Kylie, I’m not ending things with you. I would leave only if I saw that I no longer fit into the future you envision. Kids and marriage are non-negotiables for me. I will not change my mind, and as long as you’re good with what we have, then yes, we’re dating. Call me whatever you want, your boyfriend, fuck friend, or partner. I won’t ever go by the name husband or daddy.”
In an attempt to bring some levity, I asked, “No, Daddy kink?”
“Fuck no.” Was that a gag?
“Good, it weirds me out.”
“Promise you will tell me if I’m no longer meeting your needs?” Luc handed me my shirt and stared into my soul. How could we be having such an important conversation in the middle of doing something as trivial as ironing?
“I promise.”
“As for your family, I won’t tell them, but I won’t lie to them. And that goes for Sam if this thing between him and your sister continues.”
“OK. That’s reasonable. I don’t like the thought of either of us lying.”
Luc had put on shorts and a polo; his casual look made him appear to be headed to a country club for a round of golf.
I finished my skincare and makeup and packed them back into my work bag while Luc went downstairs and made us both a cup of coffee.
“Don’t think this will get you out of a trip to Amanda’s.”
“Nope, not at all. But you’re going to be late if you don’t get moving.”
I looked down at my wrists, and the faint lines had faded slightly.
“I don’t think I need to stop at home.” I held up my arms, and Luc nodded in agreement.
“More time to relax at the coffee shop.”
“What time is your flight?”
“Late afternoon. What are your plans tonight?”
“I was going to read a book and relax.” And try to distract myself from wondering what the fuck I was doing with this relationship. I looked forward to the workday for precisely that reason.
“Wait, that reminds me. I still have two books I picked up for you in Minnesota.”
I smiled, “Thank you. I’m almost done with my current book.”
Zipping it, I fit the two books into my bag. “Ready?”
The fact that Luc not only remembered the books we talked about on the flight here but purchased them for me—found a deep well of emotion, one that I wasn’t sure I was ready to feel with him.
It’s only books, Kylie.
He didn’t look at me like it was only books. In the daylight, in these moments, his brown eyes softened, and he turned into a caretaker. My perception and research of D/s relationships never would have supported Luc as a caretaker. But thismorning, that is what he’d been. And while I’d always worried that this dynamic would make me feel used, I instead felt cherished.
