“I’m still mad, but I’m sorry, too.”
“For?” Her eyebrows flew high.
“I don’t want anyone feeling like I did that night. It was….” I shivered and my stomach roiled. “It was really scary.” I straightened and rested my hands on the table, facing her. “What can I do to make sex-work safer in this city? You must have some ideas.”
She put a hand to her lips and stared at me so hard I thought I must have fucked up and was on my way to getting tossed in the middle of the lake with a cement block necklace, but she rose and came around the table. I couldn’t breathe as she settled her arms around me and gave me a soft hug. Her perfume reminded me of lilacs and had me taking a deep breath, almost against my will.
“You’re a better man than I guessed,” she whispered and planted a kiss on my cheek.
An hour later, Ms. Winters and I were sitting with our shoulders bumping as I took notes on a yellow legal pad the woman who seemed to run Grounds and Gears had brought out from the back for us. I had a list of programs already in place globally that protected sex workers. We could reference their programs in order to start one in New Gothenburg. She also had a massive list of other smaller ideas, of things the city could do that would protect anyone who was active sexually, whether or not they were getting paid for it.
“What the hell?” I startled as I glanced up, and Cam’s shadow fell over us. His face was a mask of worry and outrage, and his clothes were covered in gray dust. “Don’t ever take him anywhere again!” he barked at Ms. Winters as he crossed his arms. I didn’t know if he was aware, but that was the exact same way he looked when he was serious about scolding Addy, which was rare.
I chuckled weakly, and he gave me wide eyes.
Ms. Winters laughed and stood, patting me on the head, which I didn’t necessarily enjoy, even though I’d sat next to her for a while now. She lifted a small black purse from where it had been hanging on her chair. “I must be off. Good to see you, Camden.” She patted him on the shoulder on her way past, and he glowered after her as she clicked away on tall red heels, comfortable as any normal person would be barefoot. I didn’t even like women and I had to stare for a second.
“I am so sorry,” Cam said, dropping to a knee near me. People at the other tables watched us with interest, but he only had eyes for me. He searched my face and let out a long breath when I smiled at him.
“She’s terrifying and awful… but….”
“What?” He rested his hands on my shoulders.
“She has an amazing mind.” I glanced down at the airtight list of specific ideas I never would have gotten out of either Vane or Ross at the start of a project. “I don’t like her. But I think I admire her. Is that messed up?”
He wrapped his arms around me and gave me a hug that nearly knocked the air out of my lungs. “I’m glad you’re okay. You’re perfect, and I’m so….” He shot backward and cupped my jaw. With insistent fingers, he tilted my chin so he could kiss me. “I love you, too, by the way.” He smiled. “Let me take you back to city hall. Everyone’s probably worried about you.”
Nodding, I leaned my forehead against his. “Why didn’t you tell me you didn’t pay for me?”
He closed his eyes and grinned. “Is it wrong that I like the idea of officially owning you?” He shrugged. “I don’t know. You’re mine.”
My stomach twisted up warm and a little anxious. “I prefer the idea that you’re the Alpha who protects me, rather than owns me.” I planted another kiss on his lips.
“I like that, too, Mark. I don’t want you to run from me again. Ever.” He tugged on one of my curls. I hadn’t fought with my hair today because he liked it everywhere, for some reason, and I’d planned to see him this evening. “Our game is one thing, real life is another. I want you, and I want to know where you are so that you’re safe.”
“I’m happily caught,” I murmured. “I love you.”
“You’re mine, little rabbit,” he said and leaned in to give me a deeper kiss that we lingered over. Someone nearby giggled, and my cheeks flushed, but I didn’t care. I was satisfied with my place in the world.
“But,” I said as I sat back quickly. “You don’t need to think that just because you caught me, you’re going to tell me what to do.”
He snorted. “Wouldn’t dream of it. I still have that cage.”
My face heated and I kissed him again. I didn’t doubt I’d barely begun to see his toy collection, and I couldn’t wait to explore it all with him—along with everything else life had to offer.
Epilogue
Camden
One Month Later….
I stretchedout on the bed, groaning as my muscles ached in protest of the movement. I loved weekends off but hated them at the same time because I couldn’t move first thing Saturday morning. At least I got to spend time with Mark and the girls. That was something. While working long hours came with the job, that didn’t mean I couldn’t hate it sometimes. It kept me from spending more time with my partner and children.
“Are you awake?” Mark’s sleepy voice made me chuckle, and I moved under the blankets, turning to face him. At some point during the night I’d ended up with my back to him, while he’d plastered himself against me.
I curled my arm around his waist and kissed him on the mouth, and he blinked blearily at me, his red curls an untamed mess. I always preferred his hair first thing in the morning before he could attack it with product.
“Good morning, little rabbit.” I pressed my mouth against his forehead, and he sighed into my touch.
