Page 110 of Tame Me

‘But not fromme—’

‘I know,’ he placates her calmly. ‘But I needed some time. It’s important Talia feels comfortable—I want her to be happy here.’

What I’ve heard should make me feel good, right? But there’s something off in that statement. He’s mentioned it before—that I’m to be happy. He says it to Simone soemotionlesslythat I start to worry that what he’s doing for me is simplyduty. It’s like he’s ticking off a checklist of things to keep me happy—putting me in a house to die for, giving me support in caring for Lukas, enabling me to regain full physical strength and energy, providing a workspace with every appliance imaginable to continue my career, taking me on trips on the sea. And, of course, sex. Fantastic, unbeatable sex to keep me satisfied.

Is it a formula he’s following? Like the amenities he ensures are present in his luxury apartment buildings. Everything is perfect down to the smallest, finest detail. And good for him, right? How can I possibly judge him for trying so hard to please me? But I’m not judging him. I’m despairing. Because I’m worried it’s not actually whathereally wants or desires. I don’t want him jumping through hoops trying to make me happy. That’s too much of a burden for anyone.

And the problem with that fantastic, unbeatable sex? It doesn’t keep me satisfied. It only makes me want more.

I brace and take the last few steps down.

‘Hi, Simone.’ I make myself smile, determined to show I don’t need either of them to ‘make me happy’. But at the same time I can’t help wanting her to like me. ‘Do you want to meet Lukas?’

Surely she can’t resist our sweet son.

‘Oh!’ She holds out her arms and I place Lukas in them.

Simone beams. I glance to see Dain’s reaction but he’s looking at me. A small smile plays at the corners of his mouth, grateful pride warms his eyes and I know I’ve done the right thing in showing her Lukas. My heart swells and I flash a conspiratorial smile back at him. His widens in response and that deeply personal fire that burns between us flares inside me.

‘How gorgeous...’

I turn at Simone’s comment, expecting her to be cooing over Lukas but instead she’s looking from Dain to me and back again. Her smile is bigger than either of ours. She walks to Dain and he takes Lukas from her with the protective gentleness he has for his son.

Now Simone looks positively rapt. ‘I’m taking Talia out for a late lunch, Dain,’ she declares brightly. ‘We’ll be back in time for the theatre tonight.’

He stiffens. ‘But—’

‘Sounds lovely. Thank you, Simone,’ I interrupt, because I’ve something I really need to do and Simone has inadvertently provided the opportunity. ‘Lukas is due for a nap so—’

‘So that’s perfect.’ Simone sweeps me out of the door before he can object again.

‘Thank you for this,’ I say to her a little nervously as her driver pulls smoothly away. ‘I’ve not seen much of the city yet.’

‘You haven’t been out?’ Her eyes narrow.

‘We have, just privately.’ I don’t feel as if I’ve missed anything. I’ve enjoyed being wrapped up in our own perfect paradise. I don’t want outside interference. Or judgement. To be honest I didn’t think our seclusion was actually a deliberate strategy of Dain’s, but of course it must have been—because he needs me to feel ‘comfortable’.

That wedge of doubt within me widens.

I know he’s intense about privacy, but maybe he doesn’t really want to present me in public? Yet we’re doing this theatre thing tonight. And I need to rise to the occasion.

Simone instructs the driver to take us past the city’s highlights. She points out restaurants and cafés, informing me which are the best and most popular.

‘I’m not going to ask you about Dain.’ The older woman smiles coyly. ‘I don’t need to. It’s obvious.’

I don’t know how to interpret that and I haven’t any spare emotional energy to try. I’m just glad she’s not going to subject me to an interrogation. That doesn’t mean I can’t interrogate her though.

‘Would you mind if we skip lunch and go shopping instead?’ I ask. ‘I don’t have a suitable dress for the theatre tonight.’

Simone sparkles. ‘Of course.’

She takes me to a lane lined with gorgeous boutiques. I glance through the dresses. It’s a good thing I’ve spent so many hours serving at high-powered functions. I know the sort of style that I can get away with—even if it is only off the rack.

‘Can you tell me about the guests tonight?’ I ask casually.

Simone shoots me a sharp look but then smiles. As I try on a few clothes she talks me through Dain’s senior management team. They all sound like highly articulate, highly educated over-achievers. Great. Nothing to feel nervous about, then.

I stand in front of the mirror and look at my reflection. The black gown hugs my waist and floats to the floor, setting off the dainty silver sandals the saleswoman encouraged me to try with it. The look is perfectly appropriate for the night ahead, though part of me wants to see Dain’s reaction to the small cut-outs in the bodice.

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