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“It’s still new,” Salt said.

“So what do you do?” Beth asked. “I build furniture.”

“Sex furniture,” Nancy clarified.

“I think that’s fun,” I said. “I’ve never been good at building things.”

“That’s not true at all,” Salt quipped. “You built a whole company.”

Beth and Nancy both raised their brows.

His hand gave me a reassuring squeeze. “I’m the CEO of Rosethorn Records,” I said.

“That’s amazing,” Beth said.

Nancy studied me a little closer before pouring three glasses of wine. “Is that how you met Simon?”

“We technically met in a coffee shop first,” I said,

There was a warm timbre to his chuckle. “Coffee shop. Then one of my shows.”

“Isn’t Rosethorn who you’re signing with?” Beth asked.

“Yes,” we both said.

Nancy slid the wineglass toward me. “Sounds like you need this.”

I picked it up by the stem, swirling the wine in the glass. I took a sip and hummed in delight. It was delicious.

The timer on the oven went off. Beth started to turn for it, but Nancy held up her hand. “Go set the table with the good plates and napkins. Simon, give her a hand. Pepper can help me.”

Salt lingered for a moment, but I waved my hand at him. “I’ll help Nancy,” I said. “You help Beth. It won’t take long.”

He pressed his lips together, glancing at her and then me. “Okay.”

Salt slid off the stool, and he followed Beth to the dining room, where I could see a china cabinet just inside the space.

The moment he was out of ear shot, I looked at Nancy.

She was studying me. Scrutinizing.

I wasn’t going to beat around the bush, “You probably think I’m too old for him?—”

Nancy barked out a laugh, one that startled me. “No. I was thinking that you’re the first person he’s ever brought home, and you must be something pretty damn special.” She grabbed an oven mitt and pulled the lasagna out of the oven. “You feel that way though, huh?”

“I worry about how we’ll be perceived when we tell more people. The two of us tried to fight what we were feeling, but that didn’t work out. I realize that I’m in a position of power, but I’ve done everything I can to ensure that he’s protected in case our relationship doesn’t work out the way we’d like.”

“I don’t think you’re taking advantage of him, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

I frowned. “He’s not taking advantage of me either.”

“I know he’s not. There is a power dynamic here, but you are both adults. What are you worried about?”

I barely knew this woman, but I still decided to be forthright. “I worry that things are going too fast. And that everyone will judge us. But I don’t think hiding our relationship is working. I want to be out in the open with our relationship. I just worry about the rumors and the consequences. Do you know what I mean?”

She put her hand on her hip and gave me a withering look. “Darling, you’re talking to a woman who’s not only a lesbian, but a professional Domme. You want to know something? People are always going to judge.” She shrugged. “Does it matter if you’re happy and not hurting anyone?”

My reputation and career were everything to me. It was the only thing I had to show the world—proof I’d been existing and contributing in some small way.

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