Page 14

Chapter Eleven

Harper

I wasn’t a mommy by any means and hats off to those in the lifestyle.

But taking care of Sonnet has become a high priority for me.

I’m getting a grasp on an artist’s mind, and I don’t wish to hush her muse in any way, just maybe get it on a better schedule if at all possible.

And if that meant showing up three times a day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, then I’d do it.

Though feeding each other as we had last night led to one of the best desserts I’d ever had.

Maybe the answer lies in spending more time together while monitoring her schedule. Bring my laptop over, and make sure she has solid meals and plenty of sleep. While in theory it appeared to be the answer, in the end, would taking that control away push Sonnet to later resent me?

It was a fine line for sure.

“Nap time, Kitten.”

Back into her comfy bed we went. Sonnet’s rapid-fire yawns and half-lidded eyes as we settled in assured me I’d made the correct decision. Conversations needed to be had, above and beyond those I was used to negotiating but defining all the questions in my head was a high priority.

Wide awake, my mind wandered while she slept. Should I set up a studio space for her at my place? Maybe if she did some work here and some there, splitting her time a little more, that would help? Or make it worse because she’d likely never take a break then.

So many questions, so few answers, though one thing was for certain—I wasn’t going back to sleep.

As I slid out of bed, I moved the pillow into place and watched as Sonnet curled into it as I tiptoed away.

I wanted to do something nice for her, but what could that be?

Cup of coffee in hand, I formulated a plan and got to work.

As soon as I opened the fridge, it came to me.

One very large rushed grocery delivery order later, I had made a list of meals to prep and freeze as soon as it arrived.

Lack of sleep combined with lack of eating was a recipe for disaster.

It was the least I could do until we figured out the boundaries.

While I waited for the delivery, I took inventory of her supplies—paint and material brands and sizes, canvas sizes, easel, and drop cloths, and made a list in my phone to research when I got home.

Fuck, it just dawned on me…I’m new relationship nesting. I’m moving a brand-new relationship into the living-together phase without actually…living together.

A studio in both our homes.

Remote work for myself.

Buying groceries.

Meal prep.

For the love of all things holy, my brain was wayyyy ahead of us.

How do I rein it in when suddenly these were all the things I wanted?

But what if Sonnet didn’t?

With Sarah McLachlan playing in the background from the playlist on my phone, I got to work sorting the groceries, leaving out what I’d cook first. Chicken and rice were easy, and since a couple of the recipes called for chicken, I got it sorted and baking in the oven while I prepped the vegetables.

Frozen meals heated in minutes, salads for grab and go, and assorted fruits diced and bowled.

A summery pasta salad was in the mix too.

I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed cooking, given how rarely I did it anymore for just me.

Funny how quickly the months of wondering what I’d do next were answered when Sonnet stepped into my life.

Who knew what I’d been missing all along was the right person?

Not a change in jobs but a change in life as a whole.

The reality of that left me feeling lighter, happier even as I danced around the kitchen.

Mentally planning a life so far into the future, it shouldn’t have been as clear as it was to me.

Envisioning Sonnet in her studio in our shared home, romantic meals, making love.

The firelight of the burning logs in the fireplace adding to the ethereal glow my beautiful angel had.

Goddess, I was in love with Sonnet.

Once upon a time, I enjoyed traveling, taking cooking classes while visiting Italy.

Would Sonnet love to travel? Indulge in local cuisine and learn about their cultures.

I wanted to show her the world and share everything I loved with her.

Vibrating with excitement, I did a silly dance as I pulled the chicken from the oven to add to our salads for lunch before I woke her.

Only when I turned toward the island there she was, hand to mouth masking her giggles, sketchpad on the countertop.

“Naughty girl, are you laughing at your mistress?”

“Mmm,” she cocked her head. “Right now, I’d say I’m enjoying watching my girlfriend.”

“ Touché, Kitten,” I kissed her, then bopped her nose. “Good nap?”

“Yes, though I’ve been up long enough to draw this.” She turned the pad toward me and there I was in all my glory. Likely gave the delivery guy a heart attack given my scantily clad attire. Good thing I wasn’t shy about nudity.

“That is fabulous, though I fear I may’ve scared the poor grocery guy.

” Her laughter was no longer contained. The naughty kitten lost it.

I’m sure imagining the poor guy’s face. “Laugh it up, girlie.” I couldn’t imagine ever truly being angry with her.

I’m sure heated arguments were in our future, I wasn’t foolish enough to believe otherwise. But damnit, I had it bad.

“I don’t think my house ever smelled this wonderful. What’re you up to?”

“It’s part of my desire to take care of you.

When I’m not here to cook, or for us to cook together,” I smiled at the wonderful thought.

Sharing a kitchen and cooking together would be amazing.

“I’ve made meals for you. Chicken and rice in the freezer, salads, and pasta dishes. I may’ve gone a bit overboard.”

“I-I can’t believe you did all this for me.” She came around the island and wrapped her arms around me. “I love you, Harper. I know it’s soon, and it’s okay if you don’t feel the same, but maybe someday you will. Or not, but that’s…”

I cut her rambling off with my lips. “I do feel the same. I love you too, Sonnet. So very much.” It felt so fucking good to say those words to her.

Like a weight had been lifted. “I was afraid of scaring you off, saying it so soon. But I love you, Sonnet, I really do. When we’re apart, I want us to be together.

I want to share everything with you. Take you places I’ve been and loved, share my life with you. ”

More adorable giggles. The more I learned about Sonnet, the deeper I fell.

“I’ve been on my own for so long, even when I lived with my uncle. He tried his best, but,” she shrugged. “I dunno.”

“Well, my love, I do. If you allow me to I’ll take care of you, but if it gets to be too much, you must promise to tell me. I don’t want us to fight and talking about everything is the best way to avoid that. We’ll be learning together.” And I was excited beyond words at what lay ahead for us.

“’Kay, but I don’t want to shut my muse out. I get super depressed when she doesn’t talk. Art is my life, my way of expressing emotions and thoughts. My therapy, to be honest.”

“And I love that about you, but maybe the Muse could work on more of a schedule?” Pot, meet kettle. Though I’d already been stepping back from the Domme side of Menotté . It was like my mind was ahead of me, but it would’ve been nice if it shared why we’d been backing off these last few months.

“We can try. She’s definitely working overtime right now. I’ll be done soon with the art for the club. Maybe we can take a vacation or something then.”

“That’s a wonderful idea. Anywhere in particular you’d like to go first? A number one bucket list destination we could cross off?” We had a club member who was a travel agent both Simon and I had used for trips before. I bet she’d find the best excursions for us.

“Hmm, let me think about it.”

“Good enough. Now, let me fill that grumbling belly of yours.” I whipped up a lemon vinaigrette, chopped up the chicken breasts, and then mixed it all with the greens and plated it. “ Voilà , lunch is served.”

“Yum, I could get used to this.”

“Music to my ears because taking care of you is number one on my bucket list.” When we were done, I grabbed our plates and started cleaning up. “What’s left to do on the art for the club?”

“I just need to sign them, order the crating materials, then package and ship them to you.”

“Do you have any canvases to hang in the lobby to sell?” I was ready to contact our handyman to start hanging everything.

These were perfect for the club, ideal representations for the live art that took place amongst our clients.

Life was sensual and sex was art. Love was art.

The more I thought about it the more excited I got.

“I do. Let me see how quickly we can get the crating materials. They usually take a couple of weeks to get here.”

“Do we need to crate them? I mean, can’t they be delivered as is or even wrapped in the sheets? I can call our handyman and have him pick them up and transport them if that helps?”

“Mistress, you paid me for a job, and that bid included proper crating and shipping.”

Glad to hear she honors her contracts, but in this case, that just won’t do. “Not gonna lie, I’m beyond excited to see this exquisite work on display. Can we possibly forgo the crating and just carefully wrap them so he can get them hung?”

“Let me sign them.” Sonnet took off down the hall, seemingly as excited as I now was while I fired off a text to him. Sonnet’s presence would be required when he hung them. Her eye for detail with her work I won’t allow to be silenced. She will pick the placement for each piece.

I finished cleaning up and met her in the studio space. “Almost done. What did he say?”

“He said he can pick them up in the morning and go right to the club. We’ll need you there to handle placement.”

“You want me to choose?”

“I’d not have it any other way. Now, show me the pieces you wish to sell.” Sonnet walked across the space to a door I hadn’t noticed before, took a deep breath, and opened it. “Wow, there has to be fifty canvases in there.”

“Fifty-seven, to be exact. Once upon a time I sold my work, then switched to commission-based pieces only. Hence why I still live where I do. I dunno,” she shrugged. “Wasn’t sure if these pieces were good enough to sell, so I stored them away.”

My breath caught as soon as I flicked the light on. “Kitten, how could you ever second-guess these? They’re wonderful.” Some were a bit more abstract than others, but each was a thought, a moment in time, a memory. Things Sonnet had seen or engaged in or with. “That’s the harbor at sunset.”

“It is. My muse had been silent, so I took a walk. There was an older couple,” she pointed to the park bench where two faceless bodies sat.

“They held hands the entire time, watching the sunset. Then they turned, kissed each other, and left. They captured my heart in that moment, and I had to recreate it.”

“Your talent blows me away. Why is none of this hung in your place?”

Another shrug. “Never felt right. Never felt good enough. I mean, look around. Outside of my bedroom, I never really made this place my own. Always thought of it as my studio and never my home. My muse was settled, but I never was.”

My sweet, sweet Sonnet strived for stability and a place to call home. One where she was nurtured and loved. Maybe I had no boundaries to worry about. Maybe I too was the one she’d been waiting for all along.

“Sonnet, we’d be honored to have you display any of these in the lobby. There isn’t a single one not worthy. My love, I will spend every day we have together proving to you how much you're worth.” Never again would my Kitten go a day without being told I loved her and how truly wonderful she was.

“If you think so,” she nervous chewed her bottom lip again, Poor thing was getting abused beyond repair.

I plucked it free and kissed her. “I do. Let’s pick a dozen out to start with.”