Nathaniel nodded. “I think that’s a great idea.”

“And I’ve also been thinking. Henry is getting so active already, we might want to start him in preschool earlier than we did Elizabeth. I found a half-day school for two-year-olds nearby. That might be perfect for him. And if you can arrange to have some mornings at home, it would give us a lot more time soon.”

“Yes, I think I could arrange that. Especially now that I have Charlene taking over the nonprofit.”

I met his gaze, and had to smile.

He smiled too.

Encouraged, I went on. “I also think it’d be a good idea if we had some sort of signal we could give each other if we wanted to play during the week.”

He grinned at that one. “Been talking to Christine?”

Paul’s wife had been invaluable. “Yes, I thought it’d be a good idea to get the input of someone who’s been in the same situation I’m in.”

“I would expect nothing less and it’s a great idea. What do Paul and Christine use as a signal?”

“If he wants to play, he’ll put her collar on her nightstand. If she accepts, and he expects her to unless she has a good reason not to, she’ll bring the collar to him so he can put it on her.”

“And if she decides she wants to play?”

“She’ll approach him, kneel and ask to wear his collar. She said most of the time he’d agree, but sometimes she thinks he says no just because he can.”

He laughed. “I’m sure he does; that sounds like Paul.”

“Do you think those things will work for us?”

“The collar and kneeling?” At my nod, he consented. “Yes, I think we can go ahead and incorporate those into our weekday lives.”

We spoke a bit more about the finer details, agreed that we’d discuss how we each thought things were going on a regular basis, and decided that we should each redo our checklists about our preferences and hard limits.

When we were talked out, I took his hand and stroked his palm. “I’m looking forward to our new schedule.”

“Me, too,” he said. “But I want you to know that if for any reason you want to scale back, it’ll be okay with me.”

“I appreciate you saying that, but based on what you believe, I have a feeling I’m going to want more, not less.”

He cupped my chin. “Everything I do—everything—I do with you in mind. I may mess up on the execution, but please don’t doubt my intent.”

“Even when it feels like you’re being an ass,” I teased.

“Especially when it feels like I’m being an ass.”

“Let me write that down.” I started to make a note in my journal and yelped when he took the pen out of my hand.

“Write it down later.” He placed my journal and pen on the table. “Meet me in the playroom, naked, in ten minutes. I feel like being an ass. Or more to the point, I feel like spanking yours.”

Chapter Fourteen

“Are you ready, Abigail?”

His question was sincere, but in all honesty, he didn’t need to ask it. I’d been looking forward to this day ever since we visited the gallery in Delaware. DeVaan stood in the corner of the playroom with his camera and lights. Nathaniel blindfolded me as soon as we entered the playroom, probably as a way to ensure my entire attention was on him.

“Yes, Master,” I replied in answer to his question.

“As far as you’re concerned, who is the only person in the room other than yourself?”

“You, Master.”

I had no idea what he had planned for our play/photography session. Behind the blindfold my eyes were closed and I closed off my mind to everything but the sound of Nathaniel’s voice.

“Very good, Abigail. For this moment, you and I are the only people on Earth. This time is ours and I intend to ensure you enjoy it to its fullest.”

“You always do, Master.”

It’d been four weeks since we agreed to the new terms of our relationship. I didn’t believe him at first, that submitting to him more frequently in the bedroom would improve my overall ability outside of it. It didn’t make sense to me. Hell, I’d thought they weren’t even related.

But he’d been right. Setting up a schedule of playtime, wearing his collar all weekend, and kneeling at his feet every morning and night somehow made things seem less hectic. I had more patience when I was with the kids, and when problems came up at work, I had the mental focus to work through them.

“Come up to your knees,” Nathaniel said. “And put your hands behind your back.”