“Sasha said she’d be over tomorrow to help,” Zee said.
“Help with what?”Ella said.
“Your corsets!”Mulberry said.“Show me what’s new.”
Ella darted a look at Zee, but she got down off her seat and led Sasha over to her sewing table.
“Gabe and Ivy are coming to the club’s anniversary dinner,” Nick said.
“It’s going to be a night to remember.Simone said she’ll be over tomorrow.”
“Why is Simone coming over?”Ella frowned.
“I’m going to try to come too,” Josie said, turning from packing the fridge.“It’s so we can get the details finalized.”
Ella winced and he rushed over to her, pressing his hand to the small of her back.
“Ella, sit down on the couch.You can share Annie’s latest piece.”
“Okay.”
He couldn’t swallow over the lump in his throat.
Her devotion flowed, even now.
“Look at the time,” Ares said.“Josie, we need to go and do that thing.We’ll come by tomorrow.Call us if you need anything.”
“Same.We should go do that thing too,” Nick said.He slung his arm around Mulberry and kissed her cheek.
“Yes, that thing,” Mulberry grinned, and Ella giggled.
“Ella, your Master means well,” Ares said, “Even if he’s overbearing.”
“Thank you for coming.You’re good friends.”
Zee said goodbye to their friends, leaving her in the kitchen.
“Maybe you should give Nora a call.”He stood at the edge of the counter.
“Of course I will.”Ella went to cross her arms and winced, a wave of pain making her hiss through pursed lips.“When you’re advocating for me to call the friend you hate, it must be bad.”
Zee clenched his fists, his jaw tight as he took two steps toward her, his breath coming in quick bursts.
He took two steps, crowding her against the counter.He lifted her chin with his finger, making her look him in the eyes.Her beautiful emerald eyes flashed annoyance.
“Got something else to say?”
“Zee, I could just scream.”Her tone was heavy as a stone; it clawed at his guilt.
“Ella, seeing you hurt…fuck.”Zee rubbed his thumb slowly across her chin.She sighed as he brushed it against her lips.
She pressed a palm against his chest.“Sorry.”
“You don’t have anything to apologize for.I said that, didn’t I?”He swept his thumb across her cheekbone, to the shell of her ear.
Her breathing steadied as she gazed at him, the well of emotion she was holding back clear in her eyes.
“You did, Sir.”
