Page 77 of Bound to You

“Thank you, Master.” His smile turned sweetas he yawned again. “For everything.”

“You’re welcome, baby.” Giving me one lasthappy look, he stepped into the bathroom. It felt almost wrong to accept thanksover just being a decent boyfriend and Master, but I knew from his point ofview everything we did together was special and new.

I just hoped one day he’d come to expect goodthings from life instead of being surprised by them.

Chapter 23

Asa

I really shouldn’t say anything.

But maybe I could just say hello and itwould count?

I didn’t have to overshare or say anythingpersonal.

Small talk would have to count, right?

Master really should’ve made the rulesabout talking to someone a bit clearer.

“Are you okay?”

Shit.

He was right there.

When had he walked across the coffee shop?

Escaping down to the coffee shop for a fewminutes had been my manager’s idea because we both knew I didn’t deal with thebig bosses very well. They’d come by and want to pretend to be interested withwhat we did, but then they’d ask stupid questions.

My manager said I had good intentions whenI answered questions, but I had a feeling that was just a nice way of saying Ilacked people skills. Thankfully, he liked my work well enough not to care.

But the one thing I hadn’t counted on whenI’d come down to work in the coffee shop for a few minutes was seeing Coffee ShopGuy or, as Warner called him, Pizza Guy.

And he was still expecting a response.

“Yes, I’m sorry for staring. I was justtrying to decide if I wanted to say hello or not or if that would count as aconversation.” Shit.

Now I looked insane.

His lips tightened like he was trying notto laugh. “I think saying hello counts as a conversation.”

“I did too, but I wasn’t sure my…myboyfriend would.” Might as well make sure he didn’t think it was the worst come-onin history. “I’m supposed to have a conversation with someone who might be anew friend.”

He finally smiled. “And you picked me?”

“It’s not as random as you might think.”Yeah, I sounded insane, and trying to fix it wasn’t helping the situation any.“I’ve seen you flirt with the younger barista that works in the morning and youused to deliver pizzas to one of my boyfriend’s friends. So you’re not really astranger.”

Where was a sinkhole to swallow me up whenI needed one?

Why did Florida get all the sinkholes?

He coughed a few times, doing a terriblejob of covering his laughter, and shook his head. “I think you might be themost interesting person I’ve met in a while.”

“You have no idea.”

That just got me another odd look, butthankfully he didn’t press for details…because God only knew what would comeout of my mouth if he did. “How did you know I was your friend’s pizza guy?”

“My boyfriend’s friend. I don’t know Warnerwell enough to call him a friend.” Warner’s name had the guy’s mouth droppingopen. “Do you remember him?”