Ten Inches by Sillien

She wanted hot cocoa. She was sitting up on the couch with a blanket wrapped around her ,halfway through an episode of Supernatural, and god damn it she really wanted some cocoa. A few taps on her iPhone and the message was sent. George came in through the door three minutes later. He took off his snow-covered hat, coat and boots and knelt off to her side, uttering a slight whisper in order to disturb her viewing as little as possible.

“Would you like that with marshmallows, Mistress?”

All that was needed was a barely-perceptible shake of her head and he disappeared into the kitchen. A few minutes later he returned with a steaming mug that he set down on the coffee table. Under a coaster, of course.

“Make me a sandwich. Virginia Ham, Swiss, the usual. Get back outside once you’re done,” she whispered. He dashed off with a nod once more, did as she ordered, and got back outside to finish up the shoveling. Mary paused the episode once she started hearing the scrapes of the shovel against the pavement. She took her cocoa and sat down by the window and watched him. Watched him dig her car out of the ten inches that had blanketed the area.

“Faster,” she texted him. After he checked his phone he picked up the pace, put his back into it, and flung the snow into the pile. A smile formed on her lips. Ten minutes later it seemed he was almost done and another text came. “Would you like to come inside?”

“Yes, Mistress. Please?” he replied.

“No,” she replied. “Stand at attention when you’re done.”

He set the shovel aside with the last heap of snow and stood there, his hands clasped behind his back. For thirty minutes he stood there in the cold, the occasional passer-by giving him a strange glance, with Mary watching, amused, the whole time. And she called him back in.

She was back on the couch by the time he walked in the door. The chill sunk into his bones, he stripped just as the text instructed and kneeled beside his lady.

"Thank you, Mistress. Thank you very much."

"For letting you in? I suppose I couldn't leave you out there all night," she said with a smile.

"No, Mistress. Thank you for letting me shovel for you in the first place."

She smiled and ran her fingers through his hair. "You're welcome my pet."

They both smiled. He glanced at the coffee table. "I am so sorry, Mistress. Was there something wrong with the sandwich?"

"Oh." She had forgotten all about it. "Why don't you have it. You must be starving."

He grinned, said "Thank you again, Mistress," and bit down.

The end.