Chapter Eight

He grinned. “I brought a picnic basket.”

She smiled. “I’ve never been on a picnic.”

“Good. It will be one of many, I’m guessing. Let’s get you out.” His strong hands circled her waist and lifted her down. He took her hand and started pointing out what he would eventually have done.

“When do you think the house will be done?” she asked.

“They told me it should be ready to live in with painted walls and flooring in a few weeks.”

“Really? That soon?”

“Yeah. These guys work fast.”

He moved the tarp out of the way to let her through and then followed her. He walked behind her and answered her questions. They stopped by the basement door.

“Oh, I didn’t know you had a basement, too,” she said, looking down.

“There was one here, but I had it torn out and put a new one in because it was so old.”

“Do you know what you want to do with it?” she asked.

“I’m not sure, but I have a few ideas.”

“Can I go upstairs?”

Zeke looked at the stairs that had been installed with no railing, so they weren’t exactly safe. “I’ll take your hand.”

She nodded and reached out for him.

He walked them up the stairs, and they poked into the rooms that didn’t have the inside walls up yet. He was careful to steady her on the way down the steps.

“Which way is your bedroom?” she asked.

His body instantly hardened at the thought of her in his bed. “This way.” He took her hand again and led her down a long hallway to the end. It opened into a large room with two smaller ones attached.

“Wow, it’s huge.”

“I’m a big guy. I like space.” He let her explore and stood back with his arms crossed over his chest.

“This is your bathroom and closet?”

He nodded.

She walked over to another large hole in the wall with a tarp stapled in.

“What’s this going to be?” She touched the tarp and then turned to him.

“It will be the French doors to the back patio.”

He loved how her eyes widened, and a smile grew over her face.

“I love that idea.”

Good , he thought. He wanted her to love the house as much as he did because he planned to have her live in it with him eventually. He wanted to say it so badly but didn’t want to spook her.

“Let me show you this,” he said. He took her hand, lifted the tarp aside, and pulled her out the back. “Watch your step down.”

He steadied her as they walked a few feet from the house, turning and pointing off to the side. “This is where I’d like to put in a hot tub.”

“Why is there a roof and walls over the area?”

“I want a small room enclosed so I can use the thing year-round. It’s kind of like a four-seasons room. It’s large enough for a small a table, a few chairs, and a lounger. This will eventually have skylights and windows on the two sides.”

“This is amazing.”

He could tell she loved the idea. “There will be another set of French doors here to the back patio.”

They walked farther into the dirt yard. He pointed out where he thought he’d like things to be but asked her opinion every time.

“I thought about putting in a pool, but we’d only be able to use it a few months out of the year in Montana, and when I start having kids, I don’t want to worry about them being in the backyard.”

She turned toward him. “You want kids?”

“Yeah. Absolutely. How about you?”

“Yes. I’ve always wanted children.”

“How many?”

“I’d say more than three but less than seven.”

He laughed. “I think five would be a good number.”

“I do, too.”

He didn’t see her expression because she looked away from him.

“Are you hungry?”

She looked back at him and nodded. “Yes.”

He held out a hand for her to take. “Let’s go back into the house, and I’ll get the basket.”

“All right.”

He stopped her in the bedroom. “Stay here, and I’ll be right back.” He didn’t wait for her to agree. As a submissive, she should automatically listen to her dom. He returned with a big basket and a thick blanket within a few minutes.

He set the basket aside. “Here, Baby. Help me lay this out.”

She grabbed one side and helped get it to the floor. He knelt and pulled the basket onto the blanket.

“We’re not going to be able to see,” she said as she sat cross-legged on the blanket.

He’d thought of that and pulled a lantern and flashlight from the basket.

“That’s great,” she said. “You thought of everything.”

He grinned as he lit the battery-operated lantern and put it off to the side so there was a circle of light around them before he pulled fresh fried chicken and fruit from the basket. Next came slices of French bread with a bowl of oil and spices in it for dipping, and then cupcakes.

“This looks wonderful.”

“I had Sandra’s Café make it up for us.” He pulled out a few glasses and some wine. “I hope you like wine. If not, I brought water.”

“Wine is great. I wouldn’t have taken you for a wine drinker.”

“I’m usually not, but I can suck down a glass or two if I have to.”

She laughed out loud.

She helped pull out the plates and napkins and started opening the containers. They ate in silence for a few minutes.

“This is really good.”

“We’ll have to do this again,” he said.

“Oh, Lord, I’m so full, I won’t be able to walk.”

“Then I’ll carry you.”

Just with those few words, the atmosphere immediately became charged, and he could see she was as affected by it as he was.

“Are you done, Baby?”

“Yes. Let me help.”

“We’ll get the cupcakes out later.”

He set the basket to the side and folded up his coat. “Here, lay your head down on that and relax for a while. It’s been a long week.”

She laid down on her back, crossed her ankles, and closed her eyes.

He laid down and placed his head on her stomach. “Is this okay?”

“Mmm, yes,” she said, immediately running her fingernails over his scalp.

Jesus, he’d never had anyone do that, and it felt so damn good. He relaxed, closed his eyes, and then felt himself drifting asleep.

He realized she was asleep when her fingers paused in his hair. He glanced up at her and smiled. She looked so sweet and innocent, but he knew and loved the strength she’d shown him so many times.

Zeke lifted his head and moved to lay down beside her while supporting himself on one elbow so he could look down on her.

“Hey,” he whispered as he stroked her cheek.

She blinked her eyes a few times and then stared up at him in a daze.

He smiled gently down at her before he lowered his head and took her mouth in a kiss so hot and carnal it could have singed his hair. Her lips instantly opened to his tongue tangled with hers, making them both groan. It seemed to last for hours. The kiss went on and on as he explored her mouth in long, drugging kisses.