Her use of ‘our’ made him feel briefly included, as if they were profiting together for the benefit of their shared mortgage on a home. The feeling immediately passed and left a gaping hole, but he tried to smile. “Good.”
She leaned forward and patted his knee. “You looked so jealous when that man came over and asked for me.”
“I tried not to be.”
“Why?”
“Because.” Paul lowered his voice and leaned toward her. “Last time you spanked me for acting jealous.”
She laughed. “Oh, that’s right. I spanked you for trying to manipulate me, not for acting jealous. You can’t help how you feel.” She began unwinding her leash from around her forearm. “Besides, Paul,”—she made no attempt to match Paul’s hushed tone—”a grown woman spanks a grown man for one reason, because she wants to and she knows s
