Page 16 of Healing the Heart

Despite the seriousness of their conversation, this made Noah smile. “Yeah? Does that usually work?”

“Here at the club? Yes.”

“And outside it?What’s your batting average, then?”

Eric’s confidence wavered. “If there was a DH rule at my house, he’d be hitting for me in the lineup.”

Unsurprised, he sighed. “I should go check on my patient again before I go.”

“I got her water because she asked for ice. I hope that’s okay,” Val said from the hallway behind her husband. He turned from where he was leaning against the door frame and welcomed her into his arms.

“It’s fine, and should help,” Noah told her.

“She’s wired. I don’t think she’ll be able to sleep here. She’s asking to go home.”

“She shouldn’t be alone tonight. I can give her something, if she’s willing,” he replied, striding past them.

Noah found Fiona in a loose, flowing satin robe standing at the window, staring out.

“You should be in bed with those ice packs on,” he gently scolded.

Continuing to gaze into the darkness, she replied, “I needed a break. My backside was frozen.”

“Which means it was numb to the pain; that’s the point of the ice, and to reduce the swelling.”

She turned, tears spiking her lashes. “I’m sorry for causing so much trouble. What I did... I feel like such an idiot.”

He moved closer. “I told myself I wouldn’t ask, but I have to know. Why did you turn me down but say yes to that heavy-handed sadistic fuck?” He kept his voice low and controlled despite being ticked off, insulted, and not least of all, confused as hell.

“I didn’t know that’s what he was. He seemed...” She shook her head and said between sniffles, “It doesn’t matter. Club Decadence isn’t the place for me. Tonight proved it. I won’t be back.”

“Never say never. You’re submissive and can’t deny your true nature. You’re going to heal and move on from this, but the desire to submit to someone worthy of you will live on inside you. It will burn until you’re engulfed by the flames or you resume your search for someone to extinguish it.” He reached up and brushed a single tear from her cheek. “When that day comes, call me.”

“And when that day has come and gone, what then? When the fire burns in the nights that follow, who do I call about that?”

He had the decency to flush because they both knew it wouldn’t be him.

“I appreciate your offer, Doctor, but you’d only be a Band-Aid for my problem. And you’re right, I am worthy of more.”

He wanted to provide the reassurance and comfort she needed, but he didn’t trust that he was thinking straight. With emotions running high, this wasn’t the time to make promises he might not keep come morning. Those kinds of wounds weren’t visible but could cut just as deep, and doing that to her would make him as big a prick as Jordan.

SILENCE SETTLED BETWEENthem and dragged on until it became uncomfortable.

“Is everything all right in here?”

Val had returned and even though Fiona had never been happier to see anyone in her life, she suppressed a sigh of relief because that would have been terribly rude.

“It’s fine,” she assured her, Master Noah saying nothing.

“Good. You seem better. Did you take something to help you rest?”

Surprisingly, she did feel better, less panicked, and the ice had eased the pain for now. Having clothes on and not flashing her naked rear end to whoever happened by also helped. “I don’t like the way sleeping pills make me feel the next day. So I’d rather not.”

“I was going to recommend Benadryl,” Doc clarified. “Just a small dose. Enough to make you drowsy.”

“Oh,” she replied, heat rising in her cheeks that she’d assumed wrong. “Still, I’d rather not. I have to work tomorrow.”

“No. You’re taking tomorrow and the new few days off,” Doc stated firmly, sounding like both a physician and a dominant. “It will take time for those wounds to close, and you’ll be tender for a while.”

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