Page 104 of Healing the Heart

When Val and Eric joined them, Fiona shot to her feet. “If you’ll excuse me, sir. I need to visit the ladies’ room.”

“Certainly, Fiona,” he murmured as he quietly sipped his beer.

She caught Val’s attention and tipped her head toward the hallway at the back of the lounge.

Immediately catching on, she leaned in to her husband and whispered something that was theirs alone. He inclined his head in agreement.

“I’ll go with you, Fiona.”

But before she had time to even think about standing up, Master Eric curled his hand behind her neck and drew her in, planting a kiss on her so smoldering, Fiona half expected the couch to burst into flames.

“Don’t be gone long, sprite. We’ve got a demonstration in an hour,” he reminded her when he released her.

“I...uh...um...won’t be,” Val stammered, completely befuddled by the potent dominance of her man.

Fiona was over the moon with happiness that her new friend had found her happily ever after, the second time around. A week ago, she would have bet every dime in her retirementaccounts that she and Noah were on that path. Now, she wouldn’t risk a single penny, and it was making her heart hurt.

When Val made it to her side, Fiona grabbed her hand and led her through the crowd, to hurry her along because she urgently needed to talk about this, and because she looked a little glassy-eyed and was definitely a little unsteady on her feet.

Distance must have provided clarity, or maybe it reduced the effect of the pheromones these doms emitted because, a few feet from the rear hall and a good fifty feet from Eric, she came out of the fog.

“Slow down,” she exclaimed. “Your legs go on for days, and I’m in five-inch heels.”

“Of course. I wasn’t thinking,” Fiona said, her voice cracking.

“Whoa, that doesn’t sound good.” Val yanked on her hand, stopping her. When she saw her face, she added, “And you look like you’ve lost your cat.”

“I know. It’s been three days,” she whispered, sounding weepy, on the verge of blubbering.

“I don’t know what that means. Is this about Noah or an actual cat?”

She drew in a breath, trying to keep from crying, and replied, “Both.”

“I think I need help.” Still holding her hand, Val twisted, and her gaze swept the crowd. Suddenly, she raised her hand and waved. “There’s Esme. She seems to have Doc pegged.”

The ladies’ room had a separate area with lighted mirrors lining one wall, and the decor and seating were as nice as in the lounge. Val sat while Fiona paced, both waiting for the two subs who were fixing their makeup to be done and leave. In the meantime, Esme arrived and joined Val on the couch.

“What’s going on?” she whispered.

“Something about a cat, and a problem between her and Noah. I didn’t know she had a cat.”

When the door closed behind the other women, and they had the powder room to themselves, Esme asked, “Now what’s this about a cat?”

Fiona lost the fragile hold she had on her emotions and half blubbered, half wailed, “He hasn’t called me kitten in days. I’m b-b-baby now, but mostly just Fiona.”

Esme popped up, rushed to her, and enclosed her in a hug. Before she did, Fiona caught the wide-eyed, desperate look she gave Val. She received no help from that quarter, however.

“If you know something, tell her!”

Esme hedged. “It’s just a hunch...”

Sniffling, she said with a shaky, hitching breath, “About what?”

“This is my fault. I pushed him,” Esme muttered, nearly as distressed as she was.

“I don’t understand.”

She glanced at Val, who nodded encouragingly, then explained, “Without a mission, and a fair maiden to protect at all costs, the white knight is raising his shields. The way he looked at you, Fiona. I thought he was ready.”

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