“It’s different for everyone. Leah can rebound fast. She’ll be dressed and back at the front desk in no time.”
“What about Eve?”
“Well, it’s different for her. She doesn’t go to the exact same place as Leah because she doesn’t get sexual gratification from a spanking. But it’s similar. She still slides into subspace and needs snuggling and fluid replacement. I’d say it takes her about fifteen minutes or so to feel oriented.”
I nod. Everything about this experience is eye-opening. “Like I mentioned at lunch, I don’t think her normal dynamic exists with me.”
Davis grins. “I can’t wait to witness this.”
“You’re not helping,” I point out.
He chuckles softly. “Sorry. Tell me more.”
“We haven’t had sex yet, but we came close last night. She wants to, but I’m worried because she doesn’t step out of her little space.”
“That’s okay. Not everyone does. As long as it doesn’t bother you.”
“It doesn’t bother me. I’m concerned that she’s out of her element and might make choices she wouldn’t normally make. I don’t want her to have regrets.”
“You’ve been in her home five days, Colt. Surely she knows her mind.”
I run a hand over my head and sigh. “Maybe. I just feel like I’m a catalyst in her life, inadvertently causing her to step out of her comfort zone.”
“And you’re worried about her recovering after you’re gone.”
“Yes.”
He lifts a brow. “Maybe don’t go?”
I groan. “You know that’s not an option. Can we not go there now? I need to deal with the present right now. A present that includes a woman who wants to have sex with me.”
Another chuckle from Davis. “What a horrible problem to have.”
I can’t help but smile. He’s right. I’m overreacting. If Eve’s life has been shaken up in any way, it was meant to be. Surely she wasn’t living authentically in the first place. After all, her complicated world leaves no room for a permanent relationship. She deserves to have someone in her life who knows all her sides. Someone who loves all of her.
That someone can’t be me, but opening the door to the possibility hopefully won’t hurt her. Right?
We wander from one scene to another for a while. The club is filling up now. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Owen arrive. I’ve been watching for him. Though I’ve seen him several times outside of the club, coming and going from both Surrender and his bar, this is the first time I’ve been able to study him closer.
He looks like an ordinary enough guy. Nothing about him screams criminal. Not that there’s a particular look per se, but it takes a very disturbed human being to sell another into sex slavery. I do not get that vibe from Owen. I’m also not going to rule him out. I hate that he recently started spending time with Eve. It feels like too much of a coincidence that someone called in a tip about her in the same time frame. It worries me that Owen might be involved.
I know from Roman, Julius, and Davis that Owen is a newer member. He greets several people as he works his way through the growing crowd of patrons. Every step brings him closer to the hallway that will lead him to Eve.
It doesn’t matter that I really don’t think Owen is a deranged madman, I still hate that he’s going to dominate her tonight while I watch. I need to watch someone else with her for personal and professional reasons, but I don’t have to like it.
Davis and I pass by him and head for the daycare so that we are casually milling around near the fenced area when he arrives.
Eve glances at me so briefly no one else would have noticed. She goes back to coloring.
I watch her closely, my chest tightening. If someone would have told me a week ago that I would enter into a relationship as a Daddy to someone who enjoys pretending they’re little, I would have laughed them out the door. But that was before I met Eve. She’s such a delight to be around. So genuine. I think that’s what tugs at my heartstrings. She’s authentic. Precious.
I set a hand on the fence and grip it as Owen arrives and enters the daycare area. I hope the level of my stress is not apparent to anyone else around.
Britney skips over to the fence and leans up on tiptoes to hug Davis over the side. He smooths her hair back and cups her face, speaking to her in a low tone that makes her smile and nod. Finally, she leaves him to hurry back to her coloring. Lucy is still with her, but Eve is standing now. She takes Owen’s hand and lets him lead her out of the daycare.
I don’t look at her directly, nor she at me. I can’t. Nor should I. Damn, this is harder than I expected. I shouldn’t feel this possessive of her. It’s irrational and dangerous. How many days will I get to spend with her? Single digits? Maybe two weeks tops?
Besides the fact that my heart is going to be ripped out when I get reassigned, I’m going to hurt her too. I feel guilty, but I can’t stop myself.
Davis steps in front of me as Eve and Owen disappear out of sight. “You okay?”
“Nope.”
He grins. “I didn’t think so. Gonna be able to fake it?”
“Yep.” I have to.
“Let’s go then.”
He turns around, and I follow him. For the next few minutes, we pretend to wander and observe while Owen and Eve talk in the far corner of the room. I’m not quite sure what to expect. “Any last-minute words of wisdom?” I ask Davis.
He shakes his head. “Not really. I’ve watched Eve many times. She’s going to have a mock tantrum of sorts, and Owen is going to spank her. Afterward, he will hold her for a while, then she’ll go back to the daycare.”
I nod. It sounds
