Free Safewords: Davenport and Chiffon by Candace Blevins Page B

ended up on speech restriction for most of a month, so I guess he really did throttle me. Speaking of which, how's the bathroom coming?"
    "It's getting there—did you see the fabric scan I sent?"
    "Yes, I love it; it's going to feel like a European spa when you're done. Which tub did you decide to go with?"
    When Zach came upstairs an hour later, she was still stretched across the bed talking to Jacob. They'd debated the merits of natural textiles versus the latest tech fabrics, phasing into a discussion about the newest bamboo materials. Zach walked into his closet and changed into pajama bottoms, listening to Dana joke and cut up with Jacob. She began wrapping up, and by the time he stepped back into the bedroom she was laying her phone on the side table.
    "You had a good conversation?"
    "Yes, we did. You didn't tell me they're coming in two weeks."
    "Brent didn't let me know for sure they could come until this afternoon; I'd planned to let you know this evening.” He leaned against the doorframe, thought about his words. “I've learned a lot about your business, but I had no idea you could talk at such length about fabrics. The two of you really do have a great deal in common, don't you?"
    She looked up, uncomfortable with his tone of voice. “You aren't jealous of Jacob, are you? I thought you were good with us talking."
    "No, not jealous. I listened in a few minutes before coming in the bedroom, and I love the joy in your voice when you talk to him. I'm glad you've got him in your life.” He shifted his weight, walked towards her a few paces, ran his fingers through his hair. “I've just spent an hour throwing a whip though, and I find I need to... I'm not sure what I need to do. We can start with you standing and stripping."
    She immediately came to attention, realized she was in the bedroom at night, with clothes on—a punishable offense. Worse, she'd been on the bed while dressed, which was strictly forbidden at any time of day. She stood and stripped, dropping her clothes to the floor, not daring to ask to take them to her closet to put into her hamper.
    "Ah, I see you've noted the time, and that you were lounging on the bed fully clothed?"
    "Yes, Sir. I'm sorry; there hasn't really been a schedule to follow today."
    "Mmm. Put your clothes away and get into the cage."
    She scurried to do as told, crawling into her cage and stretching out. He wordlessly locked her in and climbed into bed with his laptop. She heard him typing, then didn't hear any noises at all. She drifted off a few times and woke herself, it'd been a long day and she was tired, but she didn't want to fall asleep in the cage when he was upset with her.
    When Zach finally came to get her, she felt as if she'd been locked away for hours, though he'd purposefully kept all clocks out of her view from the cage, so she had no idea how long it'd been.
    He unlocked the door and opened it, saying only, “Out."
    Dana crawled out and stayed on her knees, for the first time unsure of whether she'd be welcome to touch him.
    "You've been in the cage because I needed to decide what to do with you. I was looking forward to using your ass as I came up the stairs, but then I discovered you hadn't touched the boxes in the bedroom as I told you, and you were lying in bed with clothes on."
    He sighed, obviously frustrated. “I don't want you to think you're being punished for talking to Jacob. I like that the two of you are becoming close and have so much in common, but I'm upset you blew off a direct order.” He paused, clearly working to stay calm. “And the fact you ignored one of your few absolute rules? Tell me, what do you think I should do?"
    "I'm sorry, Sir. I thought you just wanted me to go through the boxes first, before I started on my closet and office. I didn't realize it was an order to begin immediately. I have no excuse for being in the bed with clothes on, I just flat out forgot. If it'd been a normal day, so I was on a schedule, I don't think