AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As soon as they were paid by the club, she, Helen, Evelyn, and even Etta pooled together their available funds until there was more than enough to pay off Gerome Warner’s debt to Jacqueline Love. Monique’s first interaction with Helen’s father came in the form of a phone call to Wyoming announcing that the debt was being paid off – and to never, ever do something as stupid as that again. The senior Warners were content to remain out west while their children cleaned up their mess.
Jacqueline turned away from Monique without deigning to touch her.
“Come.” Helen put a gentle arm around her girlfriend. “It’s a long drive back.”
The sun felt warmer when they stepped outside. The doors firmly closed, security guards standing before them, trying to look powerful and almost failing. Monique didn’t care. She was content to take Helen’s hand and walk down the steps to her car.
They were both free. Between the debt being paid off and Jacqueline’s lack of interest in her, Monique had never felt so confident about her future.
“Thank you for all you’ve done for my family,” Helen said in front of her car.
Monique turned to her, dumbstruck. “What are you talking about?”
Hand still in hers, Helen brushed the curly hair from Monique’s face and teased her ear with tender fingertips. “Who knows how long my family’s name would have been beholden tothat woman? If it wasn’t for you, my dear, the future would’ve been quite complicated.”
“Don’t do that. I should be the one thanking you.”
“All I’ve done is love you.”
“That’s what you think.” Monique turned from Helen’s touch and placed her hand on the hood of the car. “You’ve done so much more… you’ve helped me heal.”
Helen said nothing as she opened the car door for Monique and made sure she was comfortable in the seat. She closed the door and went to the driver’s side, the sun warming the leather seats to the point Monique shifted and pulled her hat over the top of her head.
“I take that back,” she said the moment Helen was in her seat and fiddling for her keys. “I haven’t healed.”
Helen looked at her, keys dangling from her hand but not nearing the ignition.
Monique explained. “I’ll always be moving on from that woman. There’s no fighting that. For the rest of my life, she will be a part of me. She’ll be souring my heart, just a little, but I think the longer I’m with you, the smaller that piece of my heart will get until it’s so insignificant that I can think of her without stopping my life.” She turned toward Helen. “But she’ll always be in there. Sometimes I’ll have a bad day because of it. Can you handle that?”
Helen lowered her hands and leaned in toward Monique. “I can’t understand exactly how you feel, as I’ve never been in your shoes… but I can be empathetic. Tell me what I can do to help you, and I’ll do it. Your happiness is my happiness.”
The terrible thing was that Monique didn’t know what she needed. The good thing was that she at least believed Helen.
“Just like you’ll always be healing, I’ll always be fighting to earn your trust more and more.” Helen embraced her, their lips nearly touching. “I want to take over your heart, Princess.”
“You already have.”
They kissed, the seat leather heating up between them as Helen buried her face in Monique’s hair.I didn’t think it was this possible to feel so safe with someone. Helen may have been boring to the outside world, but to Monique, she was enough mystery to keep her guessing – and enough security to help her trust for the rest of her life. She was the perfect Domme. No, the perfect girlfriend. Well, for Monique, those two things went hand-in-hand.
“Monique.” Helen took her hand, kissed it, and held it to her cheek. “Marry me.”
“Helen…”
“I’m the happiest woman alive. If you married me, I would never know sadness again.”
Monique wanted to cry, but all she could do was giggle.
“What?’ Helen sat back, her cheeks so pink that Monique could hardly believe she was embarrassed.
“You are seriously asking me to marry you here? Of all places!” Before Helen could open her mouth, Monique continued. “When I last left this property, I was full of fear and hurt. I didn’t know if I would survive the next few days, let alone the next year. I didn’t trust anyone… not even the people who helped me escape. I was nobody, both inside and out. My memories of this place are so bad that…”
“I know, love.” Helen took her hand between their seats. “I want you to have at least one good memory of this place. You’ll always be driving by it, remembering it, and hearing references to it. Let it be the place that I proposed to you and nothing else.”
Monique squeezed her hand.Marry Helen…Was she ready for that? She could say yes and put off a wedding until she was ready. That could take another year. Or ten. Who knew?I could be Monique Warner.A girlish thought sprouted from her heart.I could truly be hers. Not even Jacqueline had ever askedMonique to marry her in their ten years together. Jacqueline never intended to make her a wife.
“I’m not going to say yes…” When Helen looked as if she were about to die, Monique smiled at her. “You need to re-do this proposal first. Somewhere else.”
“I’ll propose to you on the fucking Eiffel Tower if that’s what you want.”
