Cody has been working constantly lately. Long hours, travel, conferences, airports, hotel rooms. Life gets busy. When he is gone, I spend a great deal of time with Ben, who fills the gap in the household beautifully. Still, even in a secure and healthy dynamic, distance has an effect.

Cody admitted recently that he sometimes gets homesick and a little jealous when he travels. Not jealous in a dramatic or unhealthy way. We are both very comfortable with our lifestyle. It was more the feeling of missing out on time with me, knowing life and structure continue at home while he is stuck in meetings and conference halls.

So I decided to surprise him.

He had a work conference out of town this week, and after he left, I quietly booked myself a suite at the same hotel. Ben stayed home to manage the kids and the house while I caught a later flight, arriving about six hours after Cody checked in.

At first, I was not sure how I wanted to reveal myself. Then I saw the absolutely adorable young man working the front desk. Very polite. Very eager to please. The kind of sweet, submissive energy that makes it obvious he would do almost anything if asked nicely by the right woman.

So I gave him a little assignment.

When Cody returned to the desk later that evening, the young man informed him there had been a maintenance issue with his room and handed him a new key card with a perfectly straight face.

The key, of course, was for my suite.

I had everything ready. Soft lighting, heels kicked aside, and nothing on except the strap. When Cody opened the door and saw me standing there waiting for him, the expression on his face was absolutely priceless. Shock first. Then relief. Then that look he gets when his brain catches up and realizes exactly who he belongs to.

Poor man looked like the stress of the entire week evaporated in seconds.