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A blizzard

No way to leave

When Abby woke up, I’d have her get dressed so she would be comfortable as we discussed this This

Abby and

I couldn’t shake the suspicion that this would not end well

Chapter Twenty-six

Before talking to Abby, I tried my best to plan the week We would take turns with meals Outside of the weekend, she was not to serve me She was my submissive, yes, but ere equals in every sense of the word I would not allow her to servethe week

Abby didn’t seem upset by the situation She asked a few questions, but overall appeared at ease I, however, felt on edge all day Sunday To say the blizzard put a kink in my plans would be a serious understateh, hopefully hidden away from Abby

I had no way of knowing how long we’d be stuck—I estie house and I was able to work from home

But so htened s buried for an entire week So would crack

Probably me

After I sent Abby upstairs to dress on Sunday afternoon, I went into the kitchen Hoood The repetitive action of kneading dough helped to occupythe piano

Abby walked into the kitchen at six thirty She wore a sih turtleneck and blue jeans I had spent the entire weekend watching her ned bodyfully clothed I gazed at her and, in my mind’s eye, remembered the places hidden underneath her clothes

“Ready to eat?” I asked, pulling out a seat for her

“Yes Thank you” She sat down “Smells wonderful”

Indeed, the kitchen sarlic, onion, and beef A perfect acco outside

I dihts on outside The snow still fell and the lighting cast it in a beautiful glow We sat in silence for so the snow

Do it, I told rasp on my spoon and felt my heart pound Do it

I cleared row up in New York?”

“Indiana Felicia and I h school” She sed a sip of stew “I like the city The way it’s always the sa”

I leaned back in my chair See? I told myself You can carry on a conversation “I like the way you think,” I told her

“Do you ever think about living somewhere else?”

I thought for a second “No, I once thought about Chicago, just to experience life in a different city, but my roots are here: my home, my business, my faht about living somewhere else The idea made me sad “You?”

“No I can’t i anywhere else”

We fell into a comfortable silence and watched the snow Made s in particular After dinner, I cleared the table and put away the dishes Abby wiped down the table and countertops, even though I told her she didn’t have to

Afterward, I headed to the living room and she went down the hall to the library Just as well, I decided I needed to catch up on the news Abby, it appeared, wanted to be alone

She , her special French toast The snoas still falling, but had slowed She told s seemed to be okay with her and Jackson I assured her that his penthouse would be completely safe for her to ride out the storm They would have plenty of company nearby and Jackson would take care of her

When breakfast was over, I took Apollo outside and then went upstairs to my bedroom Iout the ,bass of music came from downstairs

Abby?

I walked down the stairs, Apollo by my side

She was dusting At least, I thought it was dusting She had a duster in her hand and she twirled to the song co from the speakers Her body moved in time to the music as I stood, mesmerized I’d known Abby was a beautiful woman, but to see her move like that, to see her danceit stirred an ale inside me

The song went on for several, she’d have probably stopped

All thingsfinally caave my end table one last sweep of the duster and turned

She jumped when she saw me Busted

“Abigail, what are you doing?” It was hard not to laugh

“Dusting”

Dusting Like an employee

“I do employ a housekeeper for such tasks” She was notin my house

“Yes, but she won’t be able to come this week, will she?”

Okay, she had a point “I suppose not Although, if you insist onyourself useful, you could wash the sheets on , especially after our weekend activities, even though I rather enjoyed theot them all messy this weekend”

She placed a hand on her hip “Really? The nerve”

My ck hardened just thinking about the past weekend During our talk on Sunday, I’d told Abby I didn’t expect anything sexual fros naturally But the truth was, I didn’t think sex would be a good idea I needed to keep to our original agreement, and that meant no sex while ere snowed in

“By the way,” I said as a new thought caa from your exercise routine”

“You are?” she asked, and I’d never heard her sound so relieved

“Yes And adding dusting” I left her there and went to prepare lunch

I decided toAbby had made the day after her punishment Her chicken salad had cranberries and pecans—mine was more traditional, but not as tasty

“It’s not as good as yours,” I told her as I put her plate on the kitchen table “But it’ll do”

“You like my chicken salad?” she asked

“You’re an excellent cook” Had I never told her before? “You know that”