His Little Bird

Aftercare

Ethan's POV:

Birdie looks up to say something, her mouth pausing to hang open for a moment as she sees what I have set on the counter.

I silently pull out a bar chair, steepling my hands in front of my face as she takes it all in. Her gaze flicks from the objects to me at least twice before she wipes her hands on her apron and comes closer to get a better look.

"I thought you were just getting groceries?" My lips quirk up at her unspoken question.

"I know I have been driving you crazy with my... gentleness the last week," I admit and she just continues to look over the two options I have set out for her.

We've played, but I haven't been able to hurt her like usual.

"You do know how to woo a woman, don't you?" Birdie chortles, fingering the flogger. She seems tempted by the option, but I see the way her gaze flickers over to the other items. I know my little masochist quite well, she won't pick the flogger tonight. "Usually when husbands buy their wives jewelry they don't pair it with whips and such," she teases.

"I am not most husbands though, Little Bird..."

"No...No you aren't," she agrees, leaning against the counter on her elbows, now focusing on the two velvet jewelry boxes set out, one with each implement. "Do I get to see what is in the box, or do I just have to trust they are jewelry and not something like nipple clamps?"

"Would you be upset if they were nipple clamps?" I tease her and she just blushes, us both knowing the answer. "Are you going to choose or are you just going to stare between the two all night?"

"I can't decide, you choose."

"It gives me too much pleasure to watch you squirm. I won't put you out of your misery this time. Pick, Little Bird," I demand.

She hums, inspecting the velvet boxes closer, trying to see what is in it without opening it.

I debate making her pick now, but I think it will give me more pleasure to watch her squirm through dinner as she tries to decide what she would rather have.

"Can I have both?" Birdie asks hesitantly, running her hand over the tails of the flogger and then over the candles set with the other option.

"Not tonight, my greedy Little Bird," I taunt her, hiding my grin behind my hands. How did I know she would want both? Both implements, not both jewelry. I have started to think I have caught her attention more with pain than I have with diamonds.

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by this though, our relationship has always been this way. Birdie loves diamonds just as much as any woman, but she loves me because of who I am and the enjoyment we can share together, not because of what I can buy her although I do love to spoil her rotten.

"You can't blame a girl for trying, Master," Birdie replies, playing coy now.

"Oh, I think I certainly can. Especially, naughty little birds." Her smile only widens at my threatening.

Her smiles turns into something more serious as she regards the options again. "Do you really think you'll be able to hit me?" I force my eyes to the flogger instead of her stomach.

My biggest concern is hurting them, but Birdie has assured me over and over again that I won't. I don't mind her asking if I will actually be able to hit her because I've been asking myself that all day.

"I know I am able to." And that is true, how I will feel after is different though.

I've never really needed lots of assurance from my playmates that they like what I do to them and that they don't think me a monster for my sadistic ways. If me and her do impact play though, I know I am going to need lots of assurance that her and the baby are okay.