Page 67 of Protected

“I’m OK with that, but I’ll talk to your detail and let them know to expect you to have company. They work for Peter so it won’t be a problem. Why did you feel the need to ask, pet?”

“I don’t know. I’ve been sexually active with them We haven’t talked about exes and pasts and all that yet.”

“Are you saying you want to sleep with them?”

She laughed. “No. I mean, I have and I would again if the circumstances were right but no. I’m content with you.”

“Good. I don’t share very well, pet. I also don’t want to keep you from an important relationship. We can talk about that when I get back. But you’re free to invite whomever you want to the apartment while I’m gone if it helps you not go too crazy.”

Darci let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Bradley.”

“Excuse me?”

“Thank you, Sir,” she corrected with a grin.

“Good girl. I’ll call you when we get to New Hampshire, baby. I miss you already.”

After they said goodbye, she returned Carrie’s text and told her they could meet for dinner or come to Bradley’s apartment.

She quickly showered and got ready, suddenly feeling excited about the day despite Bradley being gone.

The day seemed to drag on forever. Bradley sent a text to say he made it to New Hampshire but would have to call her later. Finally, it was four-thirty and Darci shut down her computer and headed out to meet her security. She called Carrie to find out where to meet them for dinner.

“No Bradley tonight?” her friend asked.

“He had to go out of town with his boss so it’s just us. Where we meeting?”

They settled on a restaurant and Darci gave the address to the driver.

When they arrived, Peter pulled her into a bear hug and kissed her cheek.

“Missed you, Kitten. It sounds like you’ve gotten up to quite the adventure.”

Carrie smacked her on the arm. “And hasn’t been telling me half of it. I’m your best friend, woman. I should not have to hear about break-ins and runaway trips to New York from my husband.”

Darci gave her an apologetic smile and kissed her on the corner of the mouth. “I’m sorry, babe. I really am.”

“Bradley OK with you kissing me?”

Darci shrugged. “He said we would talk about it.”

Carrie chuckled. “Fair enough. Now tell me everything. I have to make sure Peter didn’t leave anything out.”

Peter laughed and smacked her ass as they followed a hostess to their table.

By the time dinner was over, she’d caught them up on everything Bradley and felt lighter for having shared with someone.

“Come back to Bradley’s with me? We haven’t been together long but it’s weird being alone there without him. I want to go to my apartment but him and Michael won’t let me.”

“You mean him and Michael and Peter won’t let you,” Peter teased. “Of course we’ll come back with you. We can watch a movie or play some cards.”

It was after midnight and Darci was half asleep by the time her friends left. They’d watched two movies and she’d shared a bottle of wine with Carrie before she started to doze off and Peter ordered her to bed before he kissed her hair and took his wife home.

“If you need something to do, we can see if some of the other Exposure members want to do dinner or lunch tomorrow. I’m taking a few days off now that I’m back,” he said as they stood at the front door saying goodnight.

“OK. I’ll text Olivia and Elise, maybe Gage and see what people want to do.”

Not long after they were gone and she was climbing into bed, Bradley called to check on her.

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