That was when I noticed Dante. It was as though his entire being had transformed, from the inside out, he seemed to glow. Master. Huh. He’d finally found what he was looking for. That warmed me more than I expected, my heart seeming to swell in my chest.
I bit into my biscuit. And to think, it only took one stupid asshole to set the whole thing in motion.
“So, I have a request.” Heaven’s voice preceded her into the room.
“Good morning,” Ian said firmly. “How about you start with that?”
“Good morning.” She grinned, at the same time rolling her eyes, a move that would’ve gotten a submissive punishment.
I glanced at Ian then Isaac. Neither man called her on it. In fact, neither seemed to care.
“What’s your request?” Ian asked as she sauntered over to the biscuits.
She turned, propped against the counter. “Would it be possible for me to get a mani/pedi today? I know that sounds like a diva, but…” She studied her fingernails.
“I’m in,” I blurted, figuring solidarity couldn’t hurt. And I was so on board that train.
“Of course. Find a place nearby,” Ian answered, though his response seemed directed more at me. “I’ll take you.”
“Good.” Isaac pushed to his feet, picked up a stack of papers. “Some enlightening reading material while you wait.”
“What are you going to do while we’re gone?” I asked, simply to give him a hard time.
His gaze swung over to Dante. “I’ve got a submissive to deal with.”
The promise in those words was enough to get me hot and he wasn’t even talking about me.
Two hours later, I was relaxing in a big leather recliner, my feet in bubbling water while a woman with skilled hands kneaded my arches, another rubbing oil into my hand and some wicked machine working up and down my back.
“What’s going on with Dante?”
I looked over to see Heaven staring at me, her head resting on the back of the chair. She looked as blissed out as I felt.
“I think they’ve claimed him,” I said, keeping my voice low, not wanting Ian to hear me.
“That’s a good thing, right?”
“He seems extremely pleased.”
“He does, huh?” Heaven sighed. “I’ve never seen a situation like that. You know. With them and Dante. And you, for that matter.”
She didn’t have to explain for me to know she was referring to the dynamic at Ian and Isaac’s.
“Me, neither,” I admitted.
“No, but you’re part of that world.”
That world meaning BDSM, I knew.
“You’re familiar with the ins and outs. I’m lost.”
“You seem to be handling yourself well.”
Her eyes met mine again. Her face sobered. “It’s fun. Especially after all I went through with Danny, but Everly … the more I think about it, the weirder I feel. I’m much more suited to being with one man. But not Danny. I need a man who’ll put me first always.”
For whatever reason, that warmed me. For as long as I’d known Heaven, she’d been a slave to Danny and not in the fun, fetish way. He had treated her like shit time and time again, and she was always going back for more. The thought of her moving past him made me feel better. And though she wasn’t interested in the dynamic that Dante and I were, perhaps it had given her more perspective.
“I really do have to leave. I don’t care to stay with my sister, but I think it’s important. For all of us.”
I glanced over at Ian. “I get it.” I met her gaze again. “I just want you to be safe.”
“Oh, trust me. That’s high on my list of things to do. What that guy did to Danny…” Her eyes dropped to her feet. “I talked to him, by the way. Checked on him. He’s fucked up. And not just physically.”
I could only imagine.
“I’m not looking to go back to him, but I care about his well-being. Call me an idiot or whatever.”
“You’re not an idiot,” I assured her. “You’re a good friend.”
I looked down at my foot, realizing the woman had stopped, her full attention on our conversation. When she caught me eyeing her, she looked away.
“And just think, being free of him will allow Prince Charming to make his move. Have you talked to him lately?”
Her eyes widened. “No. He hasn’t come into the store in a while.”
“Well, the next time he does, perhaps you should ask him out.”
“Me? Really?”
“Why not? Women are allowed to ask men out, you know.”
“I know, but…”
“But nothing,” I picked up. “You’re single. And provided he is, what’s stopping you? You could play the pretty princess to his Prince Charming. Have some fun.” I lowered my voice. “Perhaps you’ve picked up a thing or two during your time with all of us.”
Heaven laughed, a sound so loud it had Ian looking up from the papers he’d been reading.
I smiled, waved. “We’re being good, I promise.”
