Page 101 of Renard's Deliverance

“Who?” Opal asked.

“The woman trying on the dress. Let out a squeal when she saw me.”

“Oh, dear Lord,” Opal muttered.

“What? She had clothes on, I don’t see what the big deal is. And I was looking for you. Don’t men come into this store?”

“Not often,” she replied dryly.

“Did you sleep?” He was thinking that she hadn’t and that she’d lied to him when he’d texted her this morning.

Which made him wonder if she’d lied about other things, considering she looked like she was in pain right now and she’d also told him her back was feeling better.

“Opal doesn’t sleep well,” Lilac informed him. “Not unless she hits a wall and then she will sleep like the dead.”

“I’m fine. I slept a bit last night,” Opal told them.

Right.

“I knew I should have come around to see you this morning,” he muttered. “Did you stop at the pharmacy to get your medicine?”

“I ran out of time.”

Oh, she was in trouble.

“What did you say before? That I have Big Daddy Energy? What kind of energy do I have right now?” He crossed his arms over his chest and glared down at her.

“Actually, it was Big Daddy Dick Energy. And I’d say that it’s a kind and forgiving energy that you’re exuding,” she told him.

“Nice try. Not even close.”

“If I had to guess, I’d say you looked constipated,” Ryleigh added.

He turned his glare to her.

“Yeah, constipated and hungry at the same time,” Lilac mused.

“Nope. Right now, I’ve got big spanking energy. As in someone is about to get their butt spanked. Any guesses who?”

“Ooh! I know that one!” Ryleigh cried, waving her hand in the air.

“You can’t spank her. She has a sore back.” Lilac stood up, looking defensive.

Oh shit.

The last thing Opal needed was her friends attempting to defend her from Renard. She had no idea how Renard would take that. Would he get offended?

Was she going to have to wade in? She would if she had to, there was no way she wanted him to hurt one of her friends.

Renard just nodded solemnly. “You’re right.”

Wait. Really?

“I would never spank Opal or do anything to harm her while she’s injured. And she will always have a safeword that I will honor. I never want to do anything to abuse her trust or to harm her.”

“Good answer,” Ryleigh said, staring up at him like she thought she’d won the lottery.

Only, it was Opal who had.

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