I start I might not stop. I have to get out of this house. “He won’t leave us, not completely. We’ll hear from him soon.”
I start toward the door. I’m being a horrible slave. All protocol has gone out the window of late and Master isn’t enforcing the rules. It would be so easy to be good if he would just lock me in my cage. But no, he’s letting me run amok.
“And if he does, if he asks you to join him wherever he is, will you leave me to go to him?”
What? I hadn’t considered that. Thank God and the angels of mercy Master didn’t ask me that before giving me a glimpse of Lord Ice . Is that why Thomas text me and wants to meet with me privately? No, I won’t believe that. He’s committed to the ménage as much as I am.
Circumstances have changed though. Garrett’s right about his brother bringing trouble into our lives. What if the only way for us to be together is away from here? What if he does ask me to go away with him?
I would refuse him.
I would.
This has been long coming, the last six months driving the point home as more and more business trips lure him away and all that time desperation has made me cling to him and in many ways left a wedge lodged between me and Master. Master has been the anchor keeping me grounded. That I see clearly now. “I love you, Master, my place is at your side.”
“You love him as much, if not more.”
There is a hurt in Garrett’s eyes I wish I could erase. I’ve caused this doubt with the chaos that is mine and Lord Fyre’s relationship. I press my fingertips to his lips. “No. Not true.”
“You can say that now ? With him God knows where?”
“I can promise you that I am not going anywhere. Even if he asked that. Thomas may come and go from our lives as he pleases, but I will never go with him. I was yours first. I will be yours always.” I look away, remembering how easily Thomas left us for Eva, the pain of his betrayal still fresh and unexplored. There hasn’t been time to think of that. So much has happened in the last few months. “I’m going to the office.”
* * * *
There is a deli around the corner and down the block from the penthouse. I know of it though I’ve never eaten there. His text said DELI , nothing more, nothing less. No day. No time. I do not know how he will know when I will be there; I only expect he will show up. It seems silly really that I have such blind faith.
The breakfast rush is in full swing, making the deli crowded and noisy. There are few tables, eight to be exact, and a bar that seats ten. Every seat is filled. I stand in the doorway, waiting for an empty seat. My heart skips a beat when I realize he is already here. I didn’t notice him at first though he sits at a corner table in plain sight. There are two seats, he occupies one, a man with his back to me fills the other. Thomas meets my gaze and his magnetism pulls me forward. God, don’t ask me to leave with you . I already promised Garrett I wouldn’t , and there’s been too many lies already. The other man stands and leaves before I get halfway across the long room. He doesn’t go out the front, choosing to exit through a back door instead, and I never see his face completely. He could be any man for as much as he stands out.
The same cannot be said about Thomas.
He is the face you notice when you walk into a room, stunningly handsome. He is wearing his hair loose today and his long dark waves cascade over his shoulders. He is wearing a knit tam, the kind I’ve seen Jamaican musicians on the wharf wear, and round sunglasses. Torn and distressed jeans, a tie-dyed t-shirt, and a well-worn leather jacket complete his look . If this is his disguise, he needs to work on it. I would not mistake him for anyone other than Lord Fyre.
I take the seat opposite him and just stare at him a moment, wordless. I have so many questions, but none of them are important. He is okay, he is fine. That is what matters.
“Thank you for coming.”
“How is your
I start toward the door. I’m being a horrible slave. All protocol has gone out the window of late and Master isn’t enforcing the rules. It would be so easy to be good if he would just lock me in my cage. But no, he’s letting me run amok.
“And if he does, if he asks you to join him wherever he is, will you leave me to go to him?”
What? I hadn’t considered that. Thank God and the angels of mercy Master didn’t ask me that before giving me a glimpse of Lord Ice . Is that why Thomas text me and wants to meet with me privately? No, I won’t believe that. He’s committed to the ménage as much as I am.
Circumstances have changed though. Garrett’s right about his brother bringing trouble into our lives. What if the only way for us to be together is away from here? What if he does ask me to go away with him?
I would refuse him.
I would.
This has been long coming, the last six months driving the point home as more and more business trips lure him away and all that time desperation has made me cling to him and in many ways left a wedge lodged between me and Master. Master has been the anchor keeping me grounded. That I see clearly now. “I love you, Master, my place is at your side.”
“You love him as much, if not more.”
There is a hurt in Garrett’s eyes I wish I could erase. I’ve caused this doubt with the chaos that is mine and Lord Fyre’s relationship. I press my fingertips to his lips. “No. Not true.”
“You can say that now ? With him God knows where?”
“I can promise you that I am not going anywhere. Even if he asked that. Thomas may come and go from our lives as he pleases, but I will never go with him. I was yours first. I will be yours always.” I look away, remembering how easily Thomas left us for Eva, the pain of his betrayal still fresh and unexplored. There hasn’t been time to think of that. So much has happened in the last few months. “I’m going to the office.”
* * * *
There is a deli around the corner and down the block from the penthouse. I know of it though I’ve never eaten there. His text said DELI , nothing more, nothing less. No day. No time. I do not know how he will know when I will be there; I only expect he will show up. It seems silly really that I have such blind faith.
The breakfast rush is in full swing, making the deli crowded and noisy. There are few tables, eight to be exact, and a bar that seats ten. Every seat is filled. I stand in the doorway, waiting for an empty seat. My heart skips a beat when I realize he is already here. I didn’t notice him at first though he sits at a corner table in plain sight. There are two seats, he occupies one, a man with his back to me fills the other. Thomas meets my gaze and his magnetism pulls me forward. God, don’t ask me to leave with you . I already promised Garrett I wouldn’t , and there’s been too many lies already. The other man stands and leaves before I get halfway across the long room. He doesn’t go out the front, choosing to exit through a back door instead, and I never see his face completely. He could be any man for as much as he stands out.
The same cannot be said about Thomas.
He is the face you notice when you walk into a room, stunningly handsome. He is wearing his hair loose today and his long dark waves cascade over his shoulders. He is wearing a knit tam, the kind I’ve seen Jamaican musicians on the wharf wear, and round sunglasses. Torn and distressed jeans, a tie-dyed t-shirt, and a well-worn leather jacket complete his look . If this is his disguise, he needs to work on it. I would not mistake him for anyone other than Lord Fyre.
I take the seat opposite him and just stare at him a moment, wordless. I have so many questions, but none of them are important. He is okay, he is fine. That is what matters.
“Thank you for coming.”
“How is your
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