The Gift
by Tiffany Reisz
Published by MIRA books
Prequel Short Story to the Original Sinners Series
A trained submissive, Eleanor will do whatever her master commands…even spend a week with a stranger.
Daniel has been a recluse since his wife's death, and Eleanor's lover thinks spending time with her will be therapeutic—especially since Daniel is also a Dom.
Despite her defiant streak, Eleanor can't resist giving in to Daniel's erotic demands. But while she'll let him have her body, she's determined to keep a guard around her heart. Even if Daniel wants to make Eleanor his permanently...
Genre
Triggers
Descriptive sex with BDSM, sharing a partner with a friend
As this is a short story, I will not be giving it a score, but wanted to share with you this prequel novella (a very short one), of Eleanor's time with Daniel, who is mentioned a few times in the series.
Anyone else fall in love with Daniel? He is kind of perfect.
Eleanor: "I'm not pouting ... sir. Pouting is what I do when you send me to bed without supper. You're leaving me for a week and just pawning me off on some stranger. Pouting is not what this is."
Søren sighed
Søren: "Then what is it?"
Eleanor: "Righteous indignation."
Søren: "Righteous indeed."
Daniel: "I understand that you're upset with this arrangement."
Eleanor smirked.
Eleanor: "I get it. This is good cop, bad cop, right? Bad cop works me over and leave and then good cop comes in and offers me the milk abd the cookies and the nice comfort chair. How cute."
Daniel: "He warned me you were smart. He neglected to mention you were a smart-ass as well."
Eleanor: "He may live to be a hundred and the word 'smart-ass' will never pass those perfect lips of his and you know it."
Daniel: "He is a bit too proper for that, isn't he? I suppose he would say you were -"
Eleanor: "Impudent."
Daniel: "A fair assessment, I think. He could have warned me you were impudent."
Eleanor: "I guess he thinks it goes without saying. Since you're playing good cop, should I expect a big dinner now? A massage maybe? Or how about the sob story about your poor dead wife and how you're so sad I should blow you nine ways to Sunday?"
Daniel: "I think we've left the kingdom of impudent and entered the realm of bitchiness."
She almost laughed.
Eleanor: "A fair assessment."
Daniel: "Responsive little thing, aren't you?"
Eleanor: "Oh my God."
Daniel: "What?"
Eleanor: "You're a nerd."
Daniel: "I am not a nerd. I'm a librarian."
Eleanor: "No way."
she said, recalling again the ferocious passion and the skill he'd demonstrated last night.
Eleanor: "Guess they were right."
Daniel: "Who?"
Eleanor: "You know, whoever said 'it's always the quiet ones.'"
Daniel's mouth twitched to a wicked half grin
Daniel: "I'm the quiet ones."
Eleanor: "Yeah. I'm curious. You're a curiosity. As long as you don't mind answering personal questions -"
Daniel: "How personal?"
Eleanor: "Unapologetically intrusive, knowing me. Unconscionably so."
Eleanor: "If you think that's a threat, then you don't know me very well."
Daniel: "I don't. But that will change."
Eleanor: "God I love a man who reads."
Daniel: "Contentment can be the enemy. But don't worry. Life, death, or an act of God will eventually intervene. Enjoy the contentment while it lasts. It won't last forever.:
Eleanor: "You've been content to be alone for three years. So am I the life, death, or act of God sent to shake things up?"
Daniel: "You are a force of nature.
Daniel: "You do recall I am the dominant in this particular relationship, yes?"
Eleanor: "Then act like it."
Daniel: "I will."
He scooped her up and threw her over his shoulder, carrying her squirming seld back to the case they'd been working on.
Daniel: "Back. To. Work."
Eleanor: "Yes, sir."
Daniel: "I suppose our mutual friend was hoping a week with you would give me a taste of what I was missing."
Eleanor snorts
Eleanor: "He's not that altruistic. Not when it comes to me. He thinks you'll fuck me until you fall for me. Hook, line and sinker and then when I go, you'll follow."
Daniel: "I've grieved in this jailhouse every day for three years and he thinks I'll be in love with you in a week?"
Eleanor shrugged and looked away from his face and into the fire. She started when she felt Daniels fingers slide under her hair and touch the nape of her neck.
Daniel: "I don't know. Maybe he's right."
Eleanor: "I'm a trained submissive. More like King's Consort. I'm not worthy to hold actual rank."
Daniel: "Well, I'm honored to consort with you."
Eleanor gave him her best wicked grin.
Eleanor: "Then consort with me already."
Daniel grinned back
Daniel: "Yes, ma'am."
Daniel: "Tell me your safe word, Eleanor."
Eleanor: "Doesn't matter. Do your worst. You won't hear it."
Daniel: "Arrogant, aren't we?"
Eleanor: "Not arrogant at all. Just very well-trained, sir."
Eleanor: "I leave Friday morning."
Daniel: "Friday. Still time."
Eleanor: "Time for what?"
Daniel: "Time to change your mind."
Eleanor: "If you want me back in the house, come and get me."
Daniel: "Don't do this to me."
Eleanor: "You're doing this to me. I love him with all that I am and you're asking me to let that go, to leave him. I won't do it. I can't do it. I love him as much as you loved her. More maybe because if he died I would live like he would have wanted me to and not like some hermit in a cave."
Daniel: "Then just say 'no' to me. Let me ask you to stay and just tell me 'no.' No frostbite or theatrics required."
Eleanor: "I can't let you ask me."
Daniel: "Why not?"
Eleanor: "Because. I'm not sure I'll be able to say 'no.'
Daniel: "I'll let you leave. But I'll make sure you miss me."
Eleanor: "Don't worry. I miss you already."
Daniel: "I won't ask you to stay. But I want to."
Eleanor: "I won't say 'yes' if you do ask ... but I want to."
Eleanor: "Daniel ... oh my god ... you're -"
Daniel: "I lied. I will ask you to stay. I will and I am. I'm begging you to stay. I need you."
He kissed and she kissed back, too startled to move, too moved to speak. She finally pulled away from him.
Eleanor: "Daniel, you did it. You left your house, the property. I can't believe it."
Daniel: "This just shows how much I need you. I haven't stepped foot off the property in over three years but for you ... here I am."
Eleanor held him just a moment longer, pressed her face to his neck and inhaled that scent that was him and only him. ANd in that one moment longer she say their life together - the days among books, the nights wrapped around each other, the mornings for anything they wanted ... and they would never have to be apart and there would never be another second of waiting for a door to open just enough for her to slip inside without anyone knowing ... she could be Daniel's and Daniel could be hers and all she had to do was say 'yes.'
Eleanor: "No."
Daniel: "What? Not what?"
Eleanor: "If you were still in there, then I would know how much you needed me. That you're here, you're free ... it's proof that you don't need me at all."
Daniel: "Eleanor. Please."
Eleanor: "I'm so sorry. I know it won't help anything but you should know ... only leaving him would ever hurt more than this."