Page 90 of The Dom with the Clever Tongue

Yes. I did.

Do you still?Before he could answer, a new text came through then several all at once.No wait. I shouldn’t have asked that. I’m sorry. So sorry. I’ll wait Malachi.

Fuck. Sorry again. Gotta go. Ttyl.

If you want me, you know how to get me.

I’m yours though Malachi. I figured out that much. Bye.

He held the phone awhile, thinking.

No. All he got was blankness. This was too complicated. Maybe he should get some advice.

He stood. “I’m going next door to Cross. If you need me...”

“Sure. I’m fine. Another ten minutes and we’re done here.” Jake rubbed a paper towel over the woman’s back.

She turned her head and smiled. “Good to know.”

Late afternoon and the front of the shops were in shadow. Hot day, so it was a relief really. He pushed open the door and was surprised not to see Winter at the counter. A very normal-looking, middle-aged couple walked past him and he held open the door.

Smartly dressed, no tattoos. Hmm.

“Thank you,” said the lady in the dark skirt and blouse. Her smile was timid. Her husband nodded.

Once the door had swung shut he strolled to the counter where Cross was totaling cash.

“Did you get customers off that bus too?”

“Yes.” He shut the cash register drawer, narrowed his eyes. “I think we’re part of some tour of the dark side. You?”

“The one in my shop is a romance reader. From what she said, they’ve come from a book convention in Felix. I had three customers get small tattoos. Plus her with her wings.”

Godfrey chuckled. “Now I get it. Izzy did another article on Gemma and tattoos, remember? She’s got followers to her writing blog.”

“So you’re the big guy with the tats she asked about then? Next time I’ll have to get you to stand out front, flex your big huge muscles, and hawk my wares.” He pulled up one of the two chairs Cross kept at the wall near the counter. “Do you have time to dispense more of your wisdom?”

He grunted then picked up the other chair and sat. “Sure. Should I sit andhold your hand?”

Malachi regarded him for a moment. He clasped his hands between his legs and hung his head, sighing. “Maybe.”

“Fuck. That bad? When you get all dramatic like that I feel like calling an ambulance.”

“Make sure they bring a fancy white jacket with sleeves that tie in the back.”

“Let me guess. Reece and Scarlet?”

“And Ivy.”

Cross settled back into the chair. “Ahh. Bad news, then. The three of them together might cause a black hole.” He shook his head, slowly, rumbling out a measured reply. “Spit it out. I will seriously try to help.”

Where to begin?

“You know Sabrina sent me to help them figure out their kinks. A sort of Domme trainer thing?”

“Yeah. And?”

“Well, they’re very much in love with each other.” He felt his eyes aching at the memory of the two of them kissing. It got him every time in the heart department. He cleared his throat. “Yeah, anyway. Don’t laugh at this. I think maybe I accidentally fell in love with them. Both of them.” He frowned. He’d never admitted it to himself, but with Cross listening it had come spilling out.

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