Page 85 of Dual Surrender

I kissed him, then stepped back.

“I’ll get carried away if I don’t go,” I told him. “And I can’t be late today. I’m covering for someone else.”

“What’s another ten hours,” Kevin said with a smile.

“You’re perfect. Never change.”I kissed him once more, then finished getting dressed.

“What are your plans for the day?” I asked in the kitchen as he made me another cup of coffee.

“I have to go meet with Carmen. Some issue since Ben has gone missing.”

“No word on that?”

Kevin shook his head and sat down at the counter.

“Are you worried?” I asked.

“He’s an adult.” Kevin shrugged. “I’m more concerned with the impact it’s had on the job. Carmen sounded upset.”

“She always sounds upset. I’ve heard the way she talks to you.”

Kevin shrugged again, this time with a smile. “It’s not so bad.”

“It is.”

“You talk to me way worse.”

“I’m allowed.” I pointed at him over the counter. “No one else.”

“It’s just part of the job. I don’t want to talk about it. I want you to go to work and come home and beat me within an inch of my life and go to sleep in our warm bed without me.”

I couldn’t stop myself from laughing. “You know most people would be horrified at what you just said.”

“Good thing we’re not most people. Oh, and Ronan?”

“Hmn?” I twisted the lid onto my travel mug and gathered up my phone, wallet, and keys.

“Will you be vocal tonight?” Kevin’s face flushed, but he held my stare.

“Vocal?”

“Like…” He gestured toward his mouth.

“Did you want me to talk dirty at you, Kevin?” I smirked, cock twitching to life again. This was going to be a miserable shift.

“It makes me feel like you love me,” he muttered.

“Don’t you always feel that?” I asked. “Don’t you always know?”

“Well, yes, but it’s different.”

“I don’t know what happened in Colorado.” I reached out and tapped the underside of his chin with the side of my finger. “But I like this side of you. I like that you’re not meek and whimpery. That you’re not afraid to ask me for the things you need.”

He smiled, suddenly looking shy. “Then I won’t stop.”

I traced my finger up the edge of his jaw, and as he moved to lean into my touch, I slapped him across the face. He sucked in a sharp breath, then let out a low and rumbling groan. Fuck, I hoped this was our new normal because I could get used to it.

“I’ll see you tonight,” I promised. “Be home and waiting for me in the playroom. Naked.”