Page 150 of At Her Will

Vera explained the Daddy Dom relationship to him. “I guess that makes sense for some,” he said, after taking a few minutes to digest it. “Hard to be an adult all the time, especially when the world all the time be demanding it.”

With Catalina, that was an understatement. She was an assistant district attorney.

“What does Master Bruno do?” Rev asked. “If he’s okay with people knowing.”

“He’s an oil worker. When he’s not out on a rig in the Gulf, he volunteers for the raptor center, helping rehab the injured ones. He and Catalina have played together for about a year.”

“Are they…exclusive?”

“No. He’s gone too much for that, and Catalina needs what Progeny provides more often. So she has about two or three Daddy Doms. He’s her favorite, though, so when he’s here, she’s with him.”

“It don’t bother him, her being with others?”

“No. Think of it like a friendship. You don’t mind if a good friend has other friends, because you know each friend may provide your friend something different. And you’re not in competition with one another, not if the friendships are good, open-hearted ones. You’re just glad your friend finds what they need, and that you can be part of that.”

That said, she thought if Bruno’s schedule ever changed, he might decide he did want that exclusive claim. And Catalina would be totally on board with that.

“Brandy, you a fine girl,” Rev hummed. “What a good wife you would be…”

She smiled, not at all surprised he’d picked up on her thought and reflected it in the 1970s classic song.

The waitress had brought another round of drinks, and Ros was taking a sip of Abby’s virgin daquiri. Declaring it good, she teasingly tried to swipe it, and Abby slid it away with a mock glare. Skye was showing Cyn something on her phone, signing one-handed as she did. Tiger peered over her shoulder, his brow raised, and winced. He threw a warning glance at Mick. “Brace yourself, man,” he said. “They’re surfing the Stockroom.”

Mick leaned in, pressing against Cyn’s shoulder, ignoring the elbow she threw to his midriff. Instead, he rested a hand on the curve of her neck and shoulder, his thumb caressing her. “That is anatomically impossible.”

“We should test it out to be sure,” she said. His steel-blue eyes went even darker as Cyn stroked his brown clipped beard and firm lips. “I think you agree.”

“I prefer to leave you guessing.”

“I never guess. Not with you.”

He pressed a smile against her lips and nipped her with a flash of sharp teeth.

“Eww, get a room,” Skye’s recorded voice was the whine of a petulant eight-year-old. Tiger chuckled.

Vera noted Abby had closed her eyes, and Ros had an arm around her. She was stroking Abby’s shoulder and upper arm in a soothing manner. When Vera mouthed, “Is she okay?” she wasn’t surprised everyone caught it, and glanced in the same direction. When Abby was with them, they stayed attuned to sudden changes in her head space.

Ros signed with one hand. “We’ll head out soon.”

“You know I can tell when you’re doing that. Going away, going back, going away.” Abby’s eyes opened and she sent Rev a rueful smile. “Don’t worry,” she told him. “My normal. Gotta go now. Word salad time and no steak to go with it.”

Rev and Vera moved out of the booth so Ros and she could slide out. Lawrence offered his arm to both ladies and nodded to the other men, a silent,got this coveredlook. Ros put her free arm around Vera, and Vera looped hers around Abby, including Lawrence in the hug she gave them both. “I’m so glad you joined us tonight. Me and Rev can come by and stay the night if you like.”

“No. I’m good. Just need to get home.” Abby’s gaze was moving in that way it did, not settling on one particular thing, and not making eye contact, but she managed to shoot Vera a smile. “Almost med time. Then bed time. Med time, bed time. Neil’s home soon. I hope.”

Lawrence gave Vera a nod, suggesting that would be the case. Though the former SEAL claimed he didn’t get classified details, he always seemed to know when a mission was drawing to a close.

Vera sent her usual prayer to the Universe, that Neil came home unscathed to the beautiful woman he loved—and who loved him just as vehemently, enough to insist he continue to do the work he needed to do to be fully Neil.

“Who wants to know what Bastion is doing tonight?” Cyn asked, after Ros, Abby and Lawrence headed for the stairs.

“What or who?” Tiger asked.

Cyn bounced her eyebrows at him. “He’s showing our new account manager around his preferred club digs. Apparently Ren’s a switch.”

“How did Bastion find that out?” Vera asked.

“He added a line on the HR form you have new hires fill out,” Skye responded without batting an eye, using her crisp Helen Mirren voice. “W-9, social security number, are you into the BDSM scene?”

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