Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Nigel
She really was beautiful. The glow of the chandelier above our heads was reflected in her eyes each time she broke out in laughter.
There was a relaxation in her body that was new to me.
One that was completely different from the way she would go limp as she lay beneath me after she’d come, or the way her muscles went lax as she fell into sleep in my arms. Hazel was a very compassionate woman, her empathy was a blessing in her chosen field of study as she’d make a fabulous nurse.
But I knew it could also be a burden in that she felt things so deeply.
While the physical pain would eventually heal, the emotional impact was impossible for her to simply slough off.
Not when it went beyond skin deep to be absorbed into the very tissues of her being.
Yet for the first time since I’d known her, I felt hope that she might learn a way to open the box where she’d locked away the memories of what had caused the submissive in her to hide.
Perhaps she’d finally be able to set free the woman she so desperately wanted to be.
“So, what happened then?”
The question reminded me that we weren’t alone around this table.
Wes sat across from me which had my lips twitch with the memory of Hazel shooting me a side-eye when we’d approached the table.
I had indeed pulled out the chair across from Mira which had always been my intention as now both Wes and I were within hands reach of either woman, a Dominant’s goal in any situation.
“Wes told him he was free to look all he wanted, but if he so much as touched, it was only going to happen after he handed over a nice fat check.”
Anyone at another table might think she was talking about being auctioned off to the highest bidder, but I knew she was speaking of her recent art show in New York. It might have been her first, but I guarantee it wouldn’t be her last. Mira was a seriously talented artist.
“Did he fork over the dough?”
“He did,” Wes said, reaching over to lay his hand over his wife’s. “Not only that, he has commissioned a painting as well.”
“That’s fabulous. I’ve seen the ones you did for Master Derek.
They’re incredible. I’m so happy for you,” Hazel said and then smiled.
“To be honest, you never did look all that excited over your courses. Not to say you aren’t brilliant, you obviously are, but just one look at your face now and anyone can tell where your heart actually lies. ”
Mira smiled and looked over at Wes. “Only because someone saw through all my walls and just refused to go away no matter how tall I tried to build them.”
I watched as Hazel’s gaze slipped from the other couple to me.
I’d told her back at the hospital that I’d come to ask Wes if he thought Mira might speak to me, but it appeared I hadn’t needed to.
It was clear from the look Hazel gave me that she’d just heard a piece of advice that not only had helped Wes and Mira connect to become what they are today, but that perhaps the words could help her as well.
Not that I believed it would be that easy.
It wouldn’t. Everyone was different. But if nothing else, Hazel knew she wasn’t alone in hiding behind walls that hopefully one day could be allowed to fall.
An hour later we’d had our dessert and coffee and were saying our goodbyes.
“Thank you for dinner,” Hazel said, holding her hand out to Wes who totally ignored it.
“Friends don’t shake,” he said, pulling her to him and wrapping his arms around her. “It’s been such a pleasure seeing you again, Hazel.”
“You mean not as yet another patient,” she tried but he instantly shut her down.
“I mean exactly what I say. How we met doesn’t matter…”
When Hazel’s mouth opened, his eyebrow shot skyward. “What matters, young lady, is that you are no longer that patient or that woman. And don’t even bother saying otherwise. I saw the proof of that the moment I opened the door to the lounge—”
“I told you he saw!” Hazel said, cutting him off and turning to swat at me.
I easily captured her hand and drew her out of Wes’ arms and into mine. “And as I told you, he doesn’t care. Naked or clothed, you’re a friend.”
“Listen to your Dom, Hazel. And once a friend, always a friend,” Wes said.
Mira laughed and shook her head, pulling Hazel from my arms and into hers. “Don’t pay them any attention. Sometimes men just have no manners, especially kinky men. That’s why we love them so, right?”
“Hmmmm…”
“Hey,” I said, sticking my bottom lip out in a pout.
Hazel laughed. “Let’s just say they do have a tendency to wiggle their way into one’s heart.”
“That’s good enough for now,” Mira said. “Don’t forget, lunch next week, and don’t even bother to try to make excuses. I’m well aware of how one tends to forget to eat, especially when cramming for finals, but you need the fuel.”
And the ear…
She didn’t say those words, but the look the two women exchanged said it for them both.
“I won’t forget, and again, thanks for tonight. I had a great time.”
“You sure you don’t wanna stay the night?” Wes asked. “I can hang a sign on that lounge door.”
I chuckled. “Thanks, but Hazel even turned down a night there,” I said, nodding toward the hotel behind us. “She’s determined not to miss any classes or work, even though I told her we were covered.”
“Beautiful, smart, and dedicated,” Wes said with a smile. “We sure can’t ask more than that, can we?”
“Nope, that pretty much covers it all,” I agreed.
With a final round of hugs and kissed cheeks, we left them and hailed a cab to take us back to the hospital parking lot.
I wasn’t thrilled with the fact that we weren’t driving back to Rawhide together, but logically I knew it was necessary as we’d both driven to Butte in our own vehicles.
“I’ll follow you and, young lady, if I see you speeding, you can expect a round of swats for every mile over the speed limit.”
She laughed. “Are you telling me you’ve got some sort of radar gun in your truck. Dr. Berringer?”
“Nope, I’m telling you that Master Nigel has the ability to know when his submissive is testing her limits. Speed if you want to try my radar out, but just know you’ll be sleeping on your tummy because your arse will be on fire. Understood?”
Her eyes widened, but her lips curled and I was sure that if I slipped a hand into her jeans, I’d find her panties damp.
“Fine, I’ll drive like a grannie.”
“Oh hell no, you won’t! My gran has gotten so many speeding tickets she could paper her parlor. And it’s ‘yes, Sir,’ not ‘fine,’ got it?”
“Yes, Sir,” she said, her eyes shining.
“Good girl,” I said, bending to kiss her after she’d slid into her car and buckled her seat belt. “And no texting or calling or…”
“Good grief, I’m twenty-four, not sixteen and I managed to drive here all by myself without a bunch of blah-blah-blah—”
“That’s one round.”
“Hey, that’s talking, not speeding!”
“And I’m the Master, so want to blah-blah some more?”
She stared up at me for a long moment and then closed her mouth and shook her head. It took me a moment to realize she was talking without opening her mouth.
“Cheeky girl.” I gave her ponytail a tug, kissed the top of her head, and then stepped back and closed her door.
She smiled and waved her fingers, not to say good-bye, but to send me off in the direction of my truck.
She also didn’t pull out until I was behind the wheel and ready to follow.
Unlike the trip from the Ranch where I’d been consumed with the fear that I’d never be able to breach her defenses, the drive back filled me with hope that the woman in the car in front of me was one day not just going to be driving but would soon be spreading her wings and taking flight.