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“I’ll let you ponder that for a while. Call me in a few days. I love you, Luxe.”
“I love you, too, Miss Vix.” My voice was barely a whisper, her words washing over me and sinking into my gut like a lead weight as we hung up the phone.
My mind reeled with the words she had spoken. I knew I didn’t need a romantic relationship with anyone other than Jamie. But did Iwantit? I didn’t before. But now?
Now I wasn’t so sure.
CHAPTER9
The next day,Pamela’s words still hung over me like a fog in the early morning. As soon as I awoke, I pulled up my phone to text Septus, or I suppose calling him Thatcher was appropriate in the light of day and away from Haven.
Good morning, Septus. I wanted to check in and see how you are feeling this morning. - Lady Luxe
My text was short and to the point. Drop affected each person differently. With some, it hit hard and fast and dissipated quickly. Others didn’t feel the drop hardly at all. For a few, drop could be delayed, affecting them in the days after, giving them moments of insecurity, worry, and sadness. All of which was my job, as the Dominant, to help the submissive travel through. Septus was no different. Regardless of the fact that he wanted to kiss me.
And definitely regardless of the fact that I wanted to kiss him last night. Oh, who was I kidding? I wanted to kiss him still, even with everything inside of me telling me to push him away and keep my happy, perfect life pristine and uncomplicated.
I set my phone back down, unsure if he would even be up this early. Jamie often gave me grief for getting minimal hours of rest most nights because of how early I often woke. I had only just gotten out of bed when the phone on the nightstand buzzed.
Lady Luxe, I am doing quite well this morning. Normal drop symptoms for me, but nothing unmanageable. Thank you for checking in with me. - Septus
His response warmed me. I realized I was smiling. I had only a moment after to think before the phone buzzed in my hand once more.
Though I am still thinking about kissing you. - Septus
That is a boundary. - Lady Luxe
Doesn’t mean I’m not thinking about it. Have no fear, Lady Luxe. I will not break boundaries. I promise you this. - Septus
With a shake of my head, I set the phone down and began to prepare for my day. It was going to be a long one. Tonight, Diana and her husband Craig were having a little backyard barbeque for the neighborhood. There was part of me that dreaded going to such a thing, when all I really wanted to do was lie in bed and ponder Pamela’s words — and my scene with Septus — until I felt better, but in truth, I enjoyed these events. There was something simple and quaint and wonderful about life here in Apple Grove.
I had told Diana I would assist with food preparation, so I would be spending most of the day in the kitchen, preparing enough side dishes to feed an army, with Danielle by my side. The woman could cook, but I would not allow her to touch any form of baking. Not in my kitchen. Not ever. She didn’t measure things. Shemeasured them with her heart, as she so often put it. That’s just not how baking worked. It was precise, calculated, and controlled. I’m sure that spoke volumes about who I was as a person, but I refused to give the thought any credence.
“Never fear, for I am here. And, oh, I must say, I am a dear.” Danielle announced herself with all the drama and pizzazz one would expect from a smutty romance author. She was a theatrical one, to be sure. There had been a time, for a very brief moment, that I had considered a possibility for romance between her and Jester. In fact, I had set up a dinner with the four of us: Jamie and I, Danielle, and Jester.Thathad been a night of epic failure. The two of them had no romantic connection whatsoever, but the night did end in the two of them creating a musical theater production of woodland creatures seeking love. It was hysterical, nonsensical, and a complete failure in the love department, thus ending any potential career for me in matchmaking.
“I see you are here, my dear, and I have nothingbutfear,” I answered with a snicker, tying the apron around my waist carefully, so as not to disturb my dress too much. I was feeling beautiful in my 50s inspired floral dress, my hair curled and tied up with a kerchief around it, looking every bit the epitome of Rosie the Riveter.
“Listen, I won’t touch the baking. Scout’s honor. But let me help. That was the entire plan.” She whined, hands on her hips as she literally pushed her lower lip out into a pout.
“You can help, you idiot. Just don’t touch the baking.” I waved a finger at her in mock warning. Well, maybe not so much of a mock.
“Yes!” She danced around in the most ridiculous victory dance I’d ever seen, but I simply shook my head at her antics, pulling ingredients from the refrigerator and the pantry. “Put me to work, Chef!”
“You can start on the baked beans,” I answered, placing a bag of dried beans in front of her, along with a bowl and colander.
“What is this?” she asked, holding up the bag of beans.
“Those are beans,” I answered pointedly.
“Where are the cans?”
“Cannedbaked beans? You expect me to make and servecannedbaked beans? Danielle, it’s like you don’t know me at all,” I answered, scoffing at her ridiculousness.
“So, what do I do then?”
“You rinse the beans, then set them to soak in that bowl. We’ll set a timer.” I pulled open a drawer, pulling out a container that held my timers.
“Virgin Mary on a donkey, how many timers do you have, woman?!”
