Power exchange, p.10
Power Exchange, page 10
Phone sex has its place. But it’s more effective as a seasoning than a base.
Emotional intimacy is probably the biggest casualty. The loss of nuance in a conversation. Lack of visual cues. Sure, there’s video-chat, but even that doesn’t have the same effect on a conversation as physically being in the same room.
His flight is due to land any minute and my heart is fluttering against my chest. What if things aren’t the same? What if they are? Silly, scary thoughts about what this is between Stuart and me bounce around my head like a pinball.
FORTY-TWO
Stuart
Mel is there waiting when I arrive at the airport. I didn’t truly realize how much I’ve missed her until I have her in my arms.
I kiss her long, and hard and squeeze her tight. “Take me home.”
For the entire drive back to her house I’m either holding her hand or stroking her thigh. My need to touch her is insatiable.
As soon as we’re through her front door, I drag her off to the bedroom. “Strip. It’s been too long since I’ve had unfettered access to your delectable body, and I won’t wait another second.”
Once she’s naked I pull her into my arms and kiss her silly while I squeeze her ass. “I want to spend this week marking these cheeks up so you’ll think of me whenever you sit down.”
Moaning, she grinds against my straining erection. “I think someone is horny.”
“On your back on the bed, legs spread wide. I need to taste you.”
Pushing her thighs wider apart, I nestle in between and nip my way up, stopping just before I reach her glistening pussy.
Her frustrated groan makes my dick harder.
“Patience, love.”
I nip my way up the other leg, this time when I reach the top, I take a long, wet swipe of her pussy with my tongue.
“I’ve missed this, Ms. Seymour.” I take another long lick which makes her squirm and moan.
“Louder. I want to hear exactly how much you like this.”
Latching my lips over her clit, I flick it with the tip of my tongue, then suck hard and she moans louder. “You may come as much as you can, love.”
This time when I return my mouth to her pussy, I slide two fingers deep inside and stroke her g-spot. Her hips buck and I suck harder, flick faster, and piston my fingers inside her.
Her leg shakes and she lets loose a long wail as her orgasm grips her. I keep up the rhythm until I wring out a second and third from her, then kiss my way up her body, taking time to pay special attention to her breasts.
Her nipples are hard and I take one into my mouth, sucking gently as I roll my tongue around it. She rocks her hips, grinding against me.
“Please, Stuart.”
I don’t correct her. I want this connection. I release her nipple. “What do you want, Mel?”
“You. Naked and inside me. Please.”
“As you wish.”
After I shuck my clothes, I settle between her legs and notch the tip of my cock to her entrance.
“Ask me again.”
“Please fuck me, Stuart.”
Taking her mouth in a hot, hungry kiss, I rock my hips forward and slide in deep. I hold myself still inside her, savoring the moment before I take up a slow, steady rhythm. Out to the tip, in to the root, and grind against her clit. All the while, I keep kissing her as though my life depends on it.
Before long, Mel’s moans become frantic and I end our kiss. “Please, may I come?”
“As much as you like, love.”
I take her lips again, and when she starts to come, I pick up speed, moving faster and harder, holding back my own orgasm until she’s come a second time.
I roll sideways and wrap her in my arms. “Hi.”
She grins against my left pec. “Hi.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her how much I’ve missed her. To tell her other things, too. But something holds me back. Instead, I just hold her close and bury my face in her hair.
FORTY-THREE
Mel
After a long, sleepless night, I know I need to end it. It’s the end of another stolen week and I can’t think of any other way forward for me—for us, really—that won’t end up with my heart irreparably broken.
“Stuart, we need to talk.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I can’t do this anymore. We need to stop seeing each other.”
“Because…?” He lifts his eyebrow and I can feel my resolve weaken slightly.
“While what we have is fun, it isn’t sustainable. We both have established careers. You live way the hell up in Canada, and I live here. The best we’re managing is a week here and there, and I’m not interested in having a long-distance relationship. It’s better to call this done now, before this gets out of hand.”
“Out of hand?”
“You know…getting too comfortable.” I’m already getting too used to him being here to take care of me when I’ve had a hard day— I can’t afford to rely on that, then have everything go to shit and then it’s gone for good.
“Ah, you’re concerned we might start having serious feelings for each other.”
“I get phone calls at all hours.”
“Yes, you do. So do doctors, but they seem to be capable of maintaining relationships.”
“Cops, not so much.”
He chuckles. “I look on you more as a doctor who fixes things rather than a cop who has to hunt down the bad guy.”
Except he’s wrong. I’m more like the cop than a doctor. And, probably better he doesn’t know that.
“Stuart, I’m being serious, here.”
“So am I. I think you’re wrong, but I’m not going to argue with you on this right now. I have a plane to catch.
Part of me is a little disappointed that he doesn’t fight for us. But I did spend the entire night thinking about this, and really, it was the best solution.
For my heart, anyway.
We spend the next hour while Stuart gets ready to leave in uncomfortable silence, and I hate it. It’s not any kind of angry silence, not on my part anyway. More of a don’t know what to say kind of silence.
“Are you ready?” I ask. “We should get a move on, in case traffic is bad.” Who am I kidding? Traffic is always bad.
“Yeah. Just let me grab my bag.”
The silence continues the entire way to the airport, and I have this overwhelming urge to apologize and ask him to pretend like this morning’s conversation never happened.
But I don’t.
Because I know in my heart this is the best thing for both of us. I’ll carry on doing life the way I did before we met, and he’ll find himself a sweet little Canadian sub who’ll rock his world into happy ever after.
When I pull into the drop-off area, he leans over and kisses my cheek, removing any question of whether I should get out of the car for a kiss and a hug.
As soon as he shuts the door, I drive away. I can’t look at him, let alone wave goodbye.
FORTY-FOUR
Stuart
I’m not surprised when Mel drives off without even saying goodbye. Disappointed, for sure, but not surprised. She may be a great problem solver for the world’s rich and famous, but she’s kind of sucking at it in her private life.
But, isn’t that often the way? People who excel at things for the outside world aren’t so capable when it comes to taking care of themselves.
The first thing I do when I walk in the door is head straight to the fridge and grab myself a beer. Okay, so technically it’s day-drinking, but I don’t drink on airplanes, and I’ve had a seriously shit day.
I thought we were making the long-distance thing work. Okay, so I did a shit job of tapping into the fact that it wasn’t working for her. But that’s a two-way street. Maybe if she’d said something sooner, we could have found a way to make it work for both of us.
Then I start to get a little pissed off. How could it not be working for her, when I was doing most of the travel?
Fuck. I’m a ridiculous mess.
The next morning, I ignore the result of one beer too many last night and mainline coffee as I adjust my schedule. I was going to start on the quickie palate-cleanser project I had lined up to clear my head from the last big one. But I need to keep my mind off Mel. And the only way I’m going to manage that is if I’m focused on something complicated.
And it works. Kind of. As long as I’m working, I’m fine. The problem comes in those off hours. Like eating and sleeping. And showering.
I come up for air nearly a month after I’d returned home. My heart still feels like it’s been run through a military grade shredder, and I call the only person I know who could possibly understand.
Ethan answers on the third ring. “How are things with you and Mel?”
I let out a long, heavy sigh. “Done. The long-distance thing was too much.”
“Oh man, I’m sorry. But like I told you before, if you’re not prepared to give up everything to have her, then she’s not for you.”
“Thanks for the reminder, Ethan. Exactly what I needed. I hate to cut this short…”
“It’s all good. Glad I could help.”
After I disconnect the call, I think about what exactly I’d be giving up by moving. Ffion? I’ve seen her maybe once since I got home. She’s more into texting and video-chatting these days.
Work? I can set up to do that anywhere.
My house? I can keep it. It’s not like I’m moving to outer Siberia. It’s less than a three-hour direct flight.
My mood perks as the beginnings of a plan come together.
FORTY-FIVE
Mel
It’s been six lonely weeks since I sent Stuart packing back up to Canada. The longest we’ve been apart since Fetwrk went live. I know it was for the best, even if my heart disagrees.
My assistant’s voice over the intercom pulls me from my thoughts. “Mel, Eli Simmons is here to see you.”
“You can send him in.”
Seconds later, there’s a staccato knock on my door before it opens.
“Eli, come on in, have a seat. Can I get you coffee or something?”
“No, thanks. I’m good. What did you want to see me about?”
“I’m cautiously optimistic that Tara Langston will no longer be a problem. However, if she shows up in your life in any way, you’re to let me know immediately so I can take steps. Understood?”
“Got it.”
“Excellent. Now, if you’re looking to get down and kinky, there is now a safer way to do it. Do you know how to install apps on your phone that don’t come from an app store?”
“Uh, no.”
I stand and take the seat next to him on the other side of my desk.
“Unlock your phone, and I’ll show you. In case, for any reason you need to reinstall.”
A few minutes later, I have Fetwrk installed on his phone.
“There. You can set up your account in private when you’ve got a good chunk of free time. An hour or two at least so you can give it your full attention. The more accurate your information, the better your matches will be.”
“How do I know the person I connect with isn’t going to turn out to be another Tara? Or worse?”
“Access to this app is restricted to high-profile public figures. It’s mutually assured destruction. Outing you would out themselves, so they have everything to lose and nothing to gain. That said, there are some fail-safes in place. While users can use any screen name they like, the app has access through their phone to their identity and contact info which is kept securely on the back-end. I don’t understand the nitty-gritty of how it all works, I just know that if there is a real problem, we have access to real life identities.”
“Okay. So, what happens after I get all my information loaded into the app?”
“It’s like Tinder or any of those other hook-up apps, for the most part. There’s a match percentage threshold that you can set. So, maybe you’re only interested in hooking up with people who are a ninety-percent match, then the app will only notify you of potential partners who meet or exceed that threshold. Of course, the higher you set the threshold, the fewer available options you’ll have. So, you’ll probably want to find a threshold that will maximize the number of compatible partners, but still allow that neither of you need to compromise so much that a good time isn’t had by all.”
“Do you have a recommended threshold?”
“No. I’m afraid it’s a bit of hit and miss until you find it. Everyone is too different for me to be able to give a generic starting point. Spend some time with the app. I think once you’ve completed the account set up, you’ll have a general sense of what your threshold might be. You can alter it anytime and as often as you like. So, one day, you might be feeling a little more flexible and lower your threshold, another day, you might find you need to connect with someone more in tune with your own needs. Any more questions?”
“Not right now.”
As soon as Eli leaves, I go home.
FORTY-SIX
Stuart
While there are still a lot of arrangements left to be made before my move is complete, three months after Mel pushed me away, I’ve settled into a life here in L.A. I’m ready to see if Mel is willing to give things another shot.
“Hi Stuart,” Christine greets me with a wide grin as I enter the main reception area of Mel’s office. “How are you today?”
“I’m fabulous, how about you?”
“Pretty good. Mel should be finished any minute. Have a seat, and I’ll just go ahead and clear her schedule for the rest of the day.”
“Thank you.”
I’m only waiting ten minutes when Christine ushers me through. “I was able to clear her schedule until tomorrow after lunch,” she says with a wink.
I give a quick knock on the door, then let myself in. “Delivery for Mel Seymour.”
She looks up and grins for a moment, before wiping her face of all expression.
“Stuart. What are you doing here? I told you—”
“I know what you told me. You said you weren’t interested in having a long-distance relationship. I’m not either, so I’ve been busy removing that barrier to our happiness.”
I hand over the roll of papers I’ve tied with a purple ribbon. “I’ve brought you a present.”
She undoes the ribbon and unfurls the documents, her eyes scanning the pages at lighting speed. Then she looks up at me.
“You had Wil perform a background check?”
“Yes.”
“You do realize I had him perform one before I hired you to design Fetwrk, right?”
“He told me as much. But I wanted you to have the most up-to-date version.”
“Why?”
“No secrets. Well, except of the governmental top sort.”
“You’ve moved here?”
“Of course.”
“What about your house in Vancouver?”
“Home base for you and me whenever we’re there. I do like the house, and it’s nicer than having to stay in a hotel, don’t you think? Also, not many hotels equipped with a dungeon for when the mood to kink strikes.”
“You’re sure about this?”
“Mel, I love you. You are the most important person in the world to me. These past three months without you have been lonely and miserable, and none of that changed until I accepted the truth and did everything necessary to move closer to you.”
“You didn’t buy a house, did you? Because that would be ridiculous when—”
“I’m currently renting. You’re not ready for cohabitation yet. But when you are, then we’ll discuss our living arrangements.”
“It’s a ridiculous waste of money for you to rent when I have plenty of room in my perfectly good house.”
“Mel, we’ve taken a number of aspects of our relationship a little on the fast side. Living together is a big step, and I don’t want you to feel rushed, or pushed. We’ll know when it’s time. Until then, I still expect to share a bed every night whenever we’re both in the same city. We’ll just maintain our own space.”
She looks at her watch and I chuckle. “Christine cleared your schedule. You’re off the clock until tomorrow morning. Want to go get some lunch?”
“I’d rather you take me home.”
FORTY-SEVEN
Mel
I can’t believe Stuart just up and left his life to relocate here, with me. The idea of it is so overwhelming. And until I met him, it’s something I could never have imagined myself doing.
Yet, not that long ago, I started toying with the idea, myself. I even went so far as to assess the feasibility of me moving my business holdings to Vancouver. The realities of what that would entail were more than I could wrap my head around.
Meanwhile, Stuart just turned around and did exactly that.
Don’t go there. Think of something else
Like an office in Vancouver. Yeah, that might merit a little more consideration. Perhaps one in London, too.
“Where did you just go, Mel?”
“I was just thinking about opening a Vancouver office.”
He cocks an eyebrow. “Oh, really?”
“Well, before you showed up, making your grand gesture this morning, I had already been thinking about how I could swing moving up north. Would you have preferred that?”
“No. I wouldn’t ever want you to rearrange your life around me.”
“Yet you did exactly that. What makes it okay for you, but not me?”
“My work isn’t location dependent in the same way yours is. And no matter how you look at it, L.A. is the place where most of the work is that only you can do. Even if you had a private jet at your disposal, you’d still be hours away from a first response to a scandal if you were based in Vancouver. And besides, I’m here now. It’s done. If you decide to set up satellite offices in other cities because it makes good business sense, then I’m all for that. But, for now, I believe it’s in your best business interest to be located here. And I would be surprised if you didn’t agree with me.”
Emotional intimacy is probably the biggest casualty. The loss of nuance in a conversation. Lack of visual cues. Sure, there’s video-chat, but even that doesn’t have the same effect on a conversation as physically being in the same room.
His flight is due to land any minute and my heart is fluttering against my chest. What if things aren’t the same? What if they are? Silly, scary thoughts about what this is between Stuart and me bounce around my head like a pinball.
FORTY-TWO
Stuart
Mel is there waiting when I arrive at the airport. I didn’t truly realize how much I’ve missed her until I have her in my arms.
I kiss her long, and hard and squeeze her tight. “Take me home.”
For the entire drive back to her house I’m either holding her hand or stroking her thigh. My need to touch her is insatiable.
As soon as we’re through her front door, I drag her off to the bedroom. “Strip. It’s been too long since I’ve had unfettered access to your delectable body, and I won’t wait another second.”
Once she’s naked I pull her into my arms and kiss her silly while I squeeze her ass. “I want to spend this week marking these cheeks up so you’ll think of me whenever you sit down.”
Moaning, she grinds against my straining erection. “I think someone is horny.”
“On your back on the bed, legs spread wide. I need to taste you.”
Pushing her thighs wider apart, I nestle in between and nip my way up, stopping just before I reach her glistening pussy.
Her frustrated groan makes my dick harder.
“Patience, love.”
I nip my way up the other leg, this time when I reach the top, I take a long, wet swipe of her pussy with my tongue.
“I’ve missed this, Ms. Seymour.” I take another long lick which makes her squirm and moan.
“Louder. I want to hear exactly how much you like this.”
Latching my lips over her clit, I flick it with the tip of my tongue, then suck hard and she moans louder. “You may come as much as you can, love.”
This time when I return my mouth to her pussy, I slide two fingers deep inside and stroke her g-spot. Her hips buck and I suck harder, flick faster, and piston my fingers inside her.
Her leg shakes and she lets loose a long wail as her orgasm grips her. I keep up the rhythm until I wring out a second and third from her, then kiss my way up her body, taking time to pay special attention to her breasts.
Her nipples are hard and I take one into my mouth, sucking gently as I roll my tongue around it. She rocks her hips, grinding against me.
“Please, Stuart.”
I don’t correct her. I want this connection. I release her nipple. “What do you want, Mel?”
“You. Naked and inside me. Please.”
“As you wish.”
After I shuck my clothes, I settle between her legs and notch the tip of my cock to her entrance.
“Ask me again.”
“Please fuck me, Stuart.”
Taking her mouth in a hot, hungry kiss, I rock my hips forward and slide in deep. I hold myself still inside her, savoring the moment before I take up a slow, steady rhythm. Out to the tip, in to the root, and grind against her clit. All the while, I keep kissing her as though my life depends on it.
Before long, Mel’s moans become frantic and I end our kiss. “Please, may I come?”
“As much as you like, love.”
I take her lips again, and when she starts to come, I pick up speed, moving faster and harder, holding back my own orgasm until she’s come a second time.
I roll sideways and wrap her in my arms. “Hi.”
She grins against my left pec. “Hi.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her how much I’ve missed her. To tell her other things, too. But something holds me back. Instead, I just hold her close and bury my face in her hair.
FORTY-THREE
Mel
After a long, sleepless night, I know I need to end it. It’s the end of another stolen week and I can’t think of any other way forward for me—for us, really—that won’t end up with my heart irreparably broken.
“Stuart, we need to talk.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I can’t do this anymore. We need to stop seeing each other.”
“Because…?” He lifts his eyebrow and I can feel my resolve weaken slightly.
“While what we have is fun, it isn’t sustainable. We both have established careers. You live way the hell up in Canada, and I live here. The best we’re managing is a week here and there, and I’m not interested in having a long-distance relationship. It’s better to call this done now, before this gets out of hand.”
“Out of hand?”
“You know…getting too comfortable.” I’m already getting too used to him being here to take care of me when I’ve had a hard day— I can’t afford to rely on that, then have everything go to shit and then it’s gone for good.
“Ah, you’re concerned we might start having serious feelings for each other.”
“I get phone calls at all hours.”
“Yes, you do. So do doctors, but they seem to be capable of maintaining relationships.”
“Cops, not so much.”
He chuckles. “I look on you more as a doctor who fixes things rather than a cop who has to hunt down the bad guy.”
Except he’s wrong. I’m more like the cop than a doctor. And, probably better he doesn’t know that.
“Stuart, I’m being serious, here.”
“So am I. I think you’re wrong, but I’m not going to argue with you on this right now. I have a plane to catch.
Part of me is a little disappointed that he doesn’t fight for us. But I did spend the entire night thinking about this, and really, it was the best solution.
For my heart, anyway.
We spend the next hour while Stuart gets ready to leave in uncomfortable silence, and I hate it. It’s not any kind of angry silence, not on my part anyway. More of a don’t know what to say kind of silence.
“Are you ready?” I ask. “We should get a move on, in case traffic is bad.” Who am I kidding? Traffic is always bad.
“Yeah. Just let me grab my bag.”
The silence continues the entire way to the airport, and I have this overwhelming urge to apologize and ask him to pretend like this morning’s conversation never happened.
But I don’t.
Because I know in my heart this is the best thing for both of us. I’ll carry on doing life the way I did before we met, and he’ll find himself a sweet little Canadian sub who’ll rock his world into happy ever after.
When I pull into the drop-off area, he leans over and kisses my cheek, removing any question of whether I should get out of the car for a kiss and a hug.
As soon as he shuts the door, I drive away. I can’t look at him, let alone wave goodbye.
FORTY-FOUR
Stuart
I’m not surprised when Mel drives off without even saying goodbye. Disappointed, for sure, but not surprised. She may be a great problem solver for the world’s rich and famous, but she’s kind of sucking at it in her private life.
But, isn’t that often the way? People who excel at things for the outside world aren’t so capable when it comes to taking care of themselves.
The first thing I do when I walk in the door is head straight to the fridge and grab myself a beer. Okay, so technically it’s day-drinking, but I don’t drink on airplanes, and I’ve had a seriously shit day.
I thought we were making the long-distance thing work. Okay, so I did a shit job of tapping into the fact that it wasn’t working for her. But that’s a two-way street. Maybe if she’d said something sooner, we could have found a way to make it work for both of us.
Then I start to get a little pissed off. How could it not be working for her, when I was doing most of the travel?
Fuck. I’m a ridiculous mess.
The next morning, I ignore the result of one beer too many last night and mainline coffee as I adjust my schedule. I was going to start on the quickie palate-cleanser project I had lined up to clear my head from the last big one. But I need to keep my mind off Mel. And the only way I’m going to manage that is if I’m focused on something complicated.
And it works. Kind of. As long as I’m working, I’m fine. The problem comes in those off hours. Like eating and sleeping. And showering.
I come up for air nearly a month after I’d returned home. My heart still feels like it’s been run through a military grade shredder, and I call the only person I know who could possibly understand.
Ethan answers on the third ring. “How are things with you and Mel?”
I let out a long, heavy sigh. “Done. The long-distance thing was too much.”
“Oh man, I’m sorry. But like I told you before, if you’re not prepared to give up everything to have her, then she’s not for you.”
“Thanks for the reminder, Ethan. Exactly what I needed. I hate to cut this short…”
“It’s all good. Glad I could help.”
After I disconnect the call, I think about what exactly I’d be giving up by moving. Ffion? I’ve seen her maybe once since I got home. She’s more into texting and video-chatting these days.
Work? I can set up to do that anywhere.
My house? I can keep it. It’s not like I’m moving to outer Siberia. It’s less than a three-hour direct flight.
My mood perks as the beginnings of a plan come together.
FORTY-FIVE
Mel
It’s been six lonely weeks since I sent Stuart packing back up to Canada. The longest we’ve been apart since Fetwrk went live. I know it was for the best, even if my heart disagrees.
My assistant’s voice over the intercom pulls me from my thoughts. “Mel, Eli Simmons is here to see you.”
“You can send him in.”
Seconds later, there’s a staccato knock on my door before it opens.
“Eli, come on in, have a seat. Can I get you coffee or something?”
“No, thanks. I’m good. What did you want to see me about?”
“I’m cautiously optimistic that Tara Langston will no longer be a problem. However, if she shows up in your life in any way, you’re to let me know immediately so I can take steps. Understood?”
“Got it.”
“Excellent. Now, if you’re looking to get down and kinky, there is now a safer way to do it. Do you know how to install apps on your phone that don’t come from an app store?”
“Uh, no.”
I stand and take the seat next to him on the other side of my desk.
“Unlock your phone, and I’ll show you. In case, for any reason you need to reinstall.”
A few minutes later, I have Fetwrk installed on his phone.
“There. You can set up your account in private when you’ve got a good chunk of free time. An hour or two at least so you can give it your full attention. The more accurate your information, the better your matches will be.”
“How do I know the person I connect with isn’t going to turn out to be another Tara? Or worse?”
“Access to this app is restricted to high-profile public figures. It’s mutually assured destruction. Outing you would out themselves, so they have everything to lose and nothing to gain. That said, there are some fail-safes in place. While users can use any screen name they like, the app has access through their phone to their identity and contact info which is kept securely on the back-end. I don’t understand the nitty-gritty of how it all works, I just know that if there is a real problem, we have access to real life identities.”
“Okay. So, what happens after I get all my information loaded into the app?”
“It’s like Tinder or any of those other hook-up apps, for the most part. There’s a match percentage threshold that you can set. So, maybe you’re only interested in hooking up with people who are a ninety-percent match, then the app will only notify you of potential partners who meet or exceed that threshold. Of course, the higher you set the threshold, the fewer available options you’ll have. So, you’ll probably want to find a threshold that will maximize the number of compatible partners, but still allow that neither of you need to compromise so much that a good time isn’t had by all.”
“Do you have a recommended threshold?”
“No. I’m afraid it’s a bit of hit and miss until you find it. Everyone is too different for me to be able to give a generic starting point. Spend some time with the app. I think once you’ve completed the account set up, you’ll have a general sense of what your threshold might be. You can alter it anytime and as often as you like. So, one day, you might be feeling a little more flexible and lower your threshold, another day, you might find you need to connect with someone more in tune with your own needs. Any more questions?”
“Not right now.”
As soon as Eli leaves, I go home.
FORTY-SIX
Stuart
While there are still a lot of arrangements left to be made before my move is complete, three months after Mel pushed me away, I’ve settled into a life here in L.A. I’m ready to see if Mel is willing to give things another shot.
“Hi Stuart,” Christine greets me with a wide grin as I enter the main reception area of Mel’s office. “How are you today?”
“I’m fabulous, how about you?”
“Pretty good. Mel should be finished any minute. Have a seat, and I’ll just go ahead and clear her schedule for the rest of the day.”
“Thank you.”
I’m only waiting ten minutes when Christine ushers me through. “I was able to clear her schedule until tomorrow after lunch,” she says with a wink.
I give a quick knock on the door, then let myself in. “Delivery for Mel Seymour.”
She looks up and grins for a moment, before wiping her face of all expression.
“Stuart. What are you doing here? I told you—”
“I know what you told me. You said you weren’t interested in having a long-distance relationship. I’m not either, so I’ve been busy removing that barrier to our happiness.”
I hand over the roll of papers I’ve tied with a purple ribbon. “I’ve brought you a present.”
She undoes the ribbon and unfurls the documents, her eyes scanning the pages at lighting speed. Then she looks up at me.
“You had Wil perform a background check?”
“Yes.”
“You do realize I had him perform one before I hired you to design Fetwrk, right?”
“He told me as much. But I wanted you to have the most up-to-date version.”
“Why?”
“No secrets. Well, except of the governmental top sort.”
“You’ve moved here?”
“Of course.”
“What about your house in Vancouver?”
“Home base for you and me whenever we’re there. I do like the house, and it’s nicer than having to stay in a hotel, don’t you think? Also, not many hotels equipped with a dungeon for when the mood to kink strikes.”
“You’re sure about this?”
“Mel, I love you. You are the most important person in the world to me. These past three months without you have been lonely and miserable, and none of that changed until I accepted the truth and did everything necessary to move closer to you.”
“You didn’t buy a house, did you? Because that would be ridiculous when—”
“I’m currently renting. You’re not ready for cohabitation yet. But when you are, then we’ll discuss our living arrangements.”
“It’s a ridiculous waste of money for you to rent when I have plenty of room in my perfectly good house.”
“Mel, we’ve taken a number of aspects of our relationship a little on the fast side. Living together is a big step, and I don’t want you to feel rushed, or pushed. We’ll know when it’s time. Until then, I still expect to share a bed every night whenever we’re both in the same city. We’ll just maintain our own space.”
She looks at her watch and I chuckle. “Christine cleared your schedule. You’re off the clock until tomorrow morning. Want to go get some lunch?”
“I’d rather you take me home.”
FORTY-SEVEN
Mel
I can’t believe Stuart just up and left his life to relocate here, with me. The idea of it is so overwhelming. And until I met him, it’s something I could never have imagined myself doing.
Yet, not that long ago, I started toying with the idea, myself. I even went so far as to assess the feasibility of me moving my business holdings to Vancouver. The realities of what that would entail were more than I could wrap my head around.
Meanwhile, Stuart just turned around and did exactly that.
Don’t go there. Think of something else
Like an office in Vancouver. Yeah, that might merit a little more consideration. Perhaps one in London, too.
“Where did you just go, Mel?”
“I was just thinking about opening a Vancouver office.”
He cocks an eyebrow. “Oh, really?”
“Well, before you showed up, making your grand gesture this morning, I had already been thinking about how I could swing moving up north. Would you have preferred that?”
“No. I wouldn’t ever want you to rearrange your life around me.”
“Yet you did exactly that. What makes it okay for you, but not me?”
“My work isn’t location dependent in the same way yours is. And no matter how you look at it, L.A. is the place where most of the work is that only you can do. Even if you had a private jet at your disposal, you’d still be hours away from a first response to a scandal if you were based in Vancouver. And besides, I’m here now. It’s done. If you decide to set up satellite offices in other cities because it makes good business sense, then I’m all for that. But, for now, I believe it’s in your best business interest to be located here. And I would be surprised if you didn’t agree with me.”
