“Not much.”
“I guess you need to eat.”
“I ate my feelings while we were apart, so I could skip a meal.” Her gaze dropped to his lips, which appeared fuller and more tempting from all the kisses they’d shared.
Spending what time she had left having more, sounded appealing. She licked her lips and admitted, “Besides, I’m hungry for kisses not food.”
She didn’t have to ask twice and, this time, he was the one to oblige as he lowered his mouth to hers.
***
DAN HAD DM DUTY UPSTAIRSuntil 2 a.m. Bella’s shift ended at midnight. He had given her the choice of going home and waiting for him there, alone, or in the lounge surrounded by laughing, dancing, slightly tipsy people and leaving together. Since the girls at the head table always went beyond their two-drink limit on LBD Wednesdays, they couldn’t play and lingered while the rest of the lounge and bar slowly cleared out.
“Time for the drop-in I promised,” she uttered, heading that way.
Elena, who had finished for the night, spotted her first. She leaped to her feet and met her halfway. “You’re Bella, Master Dan’s new sub. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you?”
“You were anxious to meet me? Why?”
“Because we’ve all been waiting for the right sub to come along for him, and everyone has been talking about how you’re perfect together.”
They had reached the table, where the other subs, all beaming and more than a little tipsy, nodded in agreement.
“Girls, this is Bella. She’s with Master Dan,” Elena announced, standing behind an empty chair like an award show host at a podium. “Bella, welcome to the owners’ table. Let me introduce everyone. This tall drink of water to my left is Angie. She’s with Lil T.”
“We met when she moved into my condo. Can you sit and have a drink?”
“Yes, I just got off shift.”
“Great. Name your poison.” Angie nodded at the two pitchers of cocktails. “We have margaritas in two flavors, or you can join Lexie”—she waved at the pretty honey-haired girl on the far end—“in a lemon drop.”
“I don’t know. I’m not a big drinker,” she admitted as she took a seat next to Val, whom she’d met earlier.
“You need a strawberry margarita, then,” she said as she poured her a glass. “I swear some diabolical dom put the bartender up to making it virgin because it tastes more Kool-Aid than cocktail to me.”
“On with the introductions,” Elena said pointedly to Angie, who had interrupted her.
“Sorry,” she said, making a face.
“No worries,” the tiny lead singer who seemed mighty bossy for a sub replied. “The petite Marilyn Monroe next to Angie is Megan.”
“We’ve met,” Bella said, smiling at her.
“Then you know she’s with Cap,” Elena went on. “The redhead beside her is her twin sister, Regan. She’s married to Master Rick. The hot AF blonde bombshell next to her is Joanna, the general’s subbie wife. Can you believe she’s fifty? We should all be so lucky to be half as gorgeous when we hit the big 4-0!”
“Correction,” the flawless, ageless beauty quipped. “I’m fifty-two and have a birthday next month.”
“We already hate you, Jo. Don’t push it.” Elena winked and blew her a kiss so that everyone knew she was teasing. “Rounding out the group is Mara, Sean’s wife, Lemon Drop Lexie, Jonas’ fiancée, and, next to you on your other side is Val, visiting from LA who’s with Master Eric, an older, hotter version of Thor.”
“If you’re not into superhero movies, she means he looks like Chris Hemsworth,” Megan explained.
“No, I don’t,” Elena corrected her. “He’s twenty degrees hotter. Poor homely Chris should be so lucky.”
“Thank you on his behalf,” Val said, smiling. “And I am that lucky.”
They all raised their glasses and agreed with her.
“Now that that’s over, tell us how things are going with Master D,” Angie prompted, her chin in her hand, all ears.