Page 15 of Wear Me Out (The AfterGlow #3)

lilah

Adam cleaned me up, placed me on the bed after changing the sheets, and set our aftercare basket on my lap.

I rifled through it and grabbed the giant t-shirt I loved to curl up in, a fuzzy pair of socks, and a carton of coconut water with a Caramilk bar.

After throwing on the soft oversized shirt and slipping on the socks, I stretched out against him and cuddled into his side.

I popped a piece of chocolate into my mouth, then held one out for him.

He leaned forward and sucked it out of my fingers.

“You were fantastic tonight,” he praised, running his palm over my shoulder. “I know it was a lot. ”

Part of his job as my dom was to reassure me after a night like tonight.

When it came to aftercare, he never faltered.

He took it seriously to treat me well and provide anything I deemed necessary.

It took a few months to find what worked for us, but once we did, it was an easy routine to settle into.

I wrapped my arm around his chest. “It was intense but in the best way. I loved it all. I loved when you finally took me for yourself.”

Not all doms needed aftercare themselves, but some did.

Adam was one of those people who needed to hear if I enjoyed myself and know that he didn’t take things too far.

Of course, if things had gotten out of my comfort zone, I would’ve used my safe word.

But at no point in the night did I feel uneasy.

He made sure I was with people I knew and loved, who would be good to me, and who I would have fun with.

The consideration he put into our play and my punishments was always apparent.

“Are you sore?” he asked, kissing my forehead.

I laughed. “I feel like the answer to that question is always yes , but I’ll be fine. It’s no different than it normally is. ”

“Good,” he mumbled into the top of my hair. “Do you want to watch a show? Some trash TV or an 80s slasher or something?”

“No time.” I sighed. “I have to help Braden close the bar and usher out any stragglers. You kind of pulled me away from my job tonight, if you didn’t notice.”

He clicked his tongue. “I made sure everything was covered, but I’ll throw the staff that was working tonight some extra large tips next time, I promise.”

I took a long sip of my coconut water before answering. “You better. The last thing I want is my co-workers being pissed that I left early to go get railed.”

“Do you need another one of those?” he asked, pointing to the drink carton.

“No, this is enough.” He narrowed his eyes at me, so I added, “I promise.”

“I got us something,” he stated, sliding out from my grip and walking over to our dresser. “There’s no pressure. You can say no. This isn’t something I’m demanding you do, okay?”

The tone of his voice had shifted from protective lover to something more serious. Nervous, almost. It wasn’t often that Adam didn’t project the utmost confidence. It was endearing to see him falter, however slight.

I sat up on the fresh duvet and crossed my legs. “What is it?”

He pulled two rectangular pieces of paper out of the top drawer, sat on the side of the bed, and handed them to me.

The symbol in the top right-hand corner was one I’d seen countless times. “Two gift certificates to Velvet Canvas? The tattoo parlour I like?”

“We’ve been together for five years, Lilah. I know you’re not one for making things government official, but I’d like to officially call you mine for the rest of my life. Whatever that looks like to you.”

“Wait…are you kind of, sort of, asking me to marry you?” I asked with my jaw in my lap.

“No. Well, yes. But I know we’ve had countless talks about you not wanting to be in any sort of marriage, but I love you. Whatever this”—he gestured from his heart to mine—“is to you, I want a way to mark our devotion to each other.”

A grin overtook my face. So big, it made my cheeks ache. “You want to be with me? Stay with me forever? ”

He nodded. “Until death do us part, pet.”

I threw my arms around his neck, knocking him sideways onto the bed. “I want that, too. But wait…why the tattoo certificates?” I pushed up from the bed and hovered over him, staring down at the smile on his face.

“Figured we could do something a little less traditional than rings? Maybe get matching tattoos somewhere?”

I sat up and threw my hand to my chest in faux shock. “You would mar your virgin skin for me?”

Actually, my shock was only half fake. In all the time we’d been together, I’d never been able to convince him to get a tattoo.

Not even an itty bitty one. I was covered from shoulder to ankle with two full sleeves, thigh tats, and a splatter of designs across both calves.

Getting another was no big deal for me, but for him? This meant something more.

He cleared his throat and sat up beside me. “Anywhere you want, any design you want, as long as it means you’re mine for good. ”

“So, you would tattoo a ring on your finger for me?” I ventured.

He nodded.

“What if I wanted you to get daddy tattooed across your entire chest?” I teased, knowing it would make him panic.

This time, he shifted on the bed, clearly uneasy about the idea of a larger design. “If that’s what you think is best.”

I rubbed my hands together. “Oh, this is going to be fun.”

He took my chin between his fingers and held my face tightly. “Whatever design you end up choosing, I want yours to match. That’s the only stipulation.”

“Agreed. I love you,” I mumbled in his grip.

“I love you, too.”