To my readers: thank you for your kind words, your comments about the plot and your constructive criticisms. I truly value your input and feedback. Literotica isn't currently accepting .rtf files, so this will be my first chapter submitted as text.
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Grey met him at the top of the winding wooden staircase wearing only an oversized t-shirt, white socks and running shoes. His collar was buckled loosely around her neck and her eyes were bright with excitement.
"Now there's a sight that's worth walking up three flight of stairs for." he said, taking her in with his warm, hungry gaze.
She grinned, faced away from him and raised the shirt to her waist, baring her rear and giving him a playful look over her shoulder. He tried to swat her ass with an open hand but she danced away before the blow could connect. He chuckled and reached for her. She allowed herself to be gathered into his arms.
"You have to close your eyes, Master."
"Can't I enjoy the view for a few more minutes?" she could see his eyes linger on the obvious outline of her nipples through the thin shirt.
Only she and Robert had keys to the new building so he had felt free to dress her scantily while she painted the interior. The shorts and bra she'd worn on her walk to the new building were set aside, away from the dust and wet paint.
"You can enjoy the view for as long as you like." she purred, then tilted up for a kiss. He obliged, adding a tight hug for good measure. She breathed him in; his scent was familiar now, and welcome.
He held her for another few moments, then stepped back, keeping her hands in his.
"You texted that you wanted to show me something, kitten?"
"Yes Master. Eyes closed now."
He pressed them shut and she led him by the arm into the apartment. The clutter and debris had been removed and the floors had been swept so the path to the kitchen was clear. Finally she brought him to a halt.
"Okay, open your eyes, Master."
She watched his face as he opened his eyes and took in the newly painted kitchen. His eyes registered surprise, then delight.
"Hey! This looks really good, kitten!"
"What do you think of the colour?"
"I wasn't sure I'd like the Sea Foam when you first picked it, but you were totally right -- it's bright and welcoming. Good call!"
She beamed at him proudly. The kitchen had been an ordeal from beginning to end -- filling the drywall holes with putty, sanding, washing the walls and painting. It had taken hours to apply the two coats of paint. But it had been her project from beginning to end -- she'd done everything herself, and the result was easily worth the effort. She found it refreshing and motivating to work at a job where the outcome was so obvious and so pleasing. And the fact that she loved her new boss did wonders for her enthusiasm.
Robert stepped close to one wall and gave it an appraising eye.
"This is quality work! I've seen professional jobs that weren't done this well."
"Thank you Master. It sure wasn't easy."
"But it feels great when you're done, doesn't it?"
"It really does. I'm just so pleased with how this turned out."
He smiled at her and drew her close to him again, his eyes mirroring her own pride and excitement. She felt his warm hand drift lower to squeeze her rear.
"Oh -- don't forget to take the 'after' pictures." he said, fishing his cell phone out of his front pocket and handing it to her. She snapped pictures from several angles, capturing the results of her work for posterity.
"I don't suppose it's time for lunch, Master?" she asked, returning his phone. The physical activity of the past week had improved her appetite considerably.
Lunch was served on a rickety fold-out tea table. They sat side by side on folding chairs and shared the ham-and-cheese sandwiches he'd packed into a cooler.
"So when these apartments are finished, how much will you charge to rent them?" she asked.
"You mean how much will you charge, kitten."
"Me?"
"I told you that these apartments are your project from start to finish." he fed her a bite of sandwich. She chewed and swallowed quickly.
"I'm going to be the landlord?"
"Landlady. And yes, if you're willing to take that on." he said.
She took a moment to process his latest unexpected and unwelcome revelation.
"Wait -- you're telling me this now?" the frustration in her voice surprised her.
He regarded her with a cautious expression; the change in her tone hadn't gone unnoticed.
"You were so busy with the painting and cleaning, kitten. I didn't want to bury you with all these details at once."
"I thought I'd be helping you with the coffee shop." she tried to filter the aggravation from her voice.
There was a long pause. She could see him reading her expression and body language.
"I guess I didn't communicate that very well," he said in an apologetic tone, "I'm sorry about that, kitten." he held out another bite of sandwich as though it were a peace offering. She sighed and took it from his fingers.
"Sorry for snapping at you, Master. The painting may have tired me out a little. I was just caught off guard by the...sudden change." she tried to be graceful about it. After eighteen weeks of non-stop and unpredictable change, she found herself growing weary of not knowing what was next.
"My fault, you don't need to apologize."
"Thank you Master."
"Okay, so let me back up and ask which option you'd prefer. Landlady or coffee shop? Both? Neither?"
"Well, I don't know anything about being a landlady."
"Are you interested in learning?"
She tried to put aside her emotions and consider the idea objectively. She absolutely loved the process of fixing up the apartment -- renting it out seemed like the next logical step. And the rental income would be a useful contribution to the life she and Robert were building. It would be something new for her, a chance to pick up a new skill set. She found herself slowly growing eager for the challenge; the feeling of being totally in charge of a project was liberating.
"Are you going to teach me, Master?"
"I don't know anything about renting. Buying, yes. Renovating, yes. Selling, yes. Being a landlord, no."
"There are probably laws and regulations to follow, but I could get those from the library." she was thinking out loud.
He fed her another bite.
"Sounds like you're up for it?"
"Yes Master, it would be interesting. Are you sure you trust me with it?"
"A thousand percent sure, kitten."
"Thank you." she felt genuinely touched by his confidence, and her annoyance began to fade.
They ate together in companionable silence for several minutes. Her head was filled with questions that she'd need to find answers to. She vowed to make notes on her cell phone after lunch.
"When do I get to hear about the Ninth Gate, Master?" she asked between mouthfuls. That time had come again. More change, and none of it under her control.
"It almost sounds like you're eager for it, kitten." he teased.
"Curious more than eager. There are four Gates left and I've been trying to guess what they're going to be."
"You've been guessing? What have you come up with?" his voice registered real interest and he turned his chair to face hers.
She paused, reluctant to share her musings on the matter. But she knew Robert would insist, so she took a moment to collect her thoughts.
"Well, I subscribe to this blog. It talks about...alternate lifestyles." she said delicately.
"Are we living an alternate lifestyle now? My parents will be so proud." he teased.
"Do you want to hear this or not, Master?" she felt shy about sharing her ideas on the Gates, and his gentle ribbing didn't help.
"I'm sorry kitten. So what did the blog have to say about these Gates?"
"Well, not about the Gates specifically, of course. But there were articles about different kinds of activities that Masters get up to with their...partners."
