“I know, I know, but you love me anyway. Move. Now.”
“Has anyone ever told you you’d make an excellent Domme?”
“More times than I can count. Now, shoo before I spank you.”
A smile tugs at the corners of my mouth, despite the tension still lingering in my chest. It’s a small thing, but it feels real, something that cuts through the storm of everything. I pull Min into a hug, her warmth anchoring me in a way nothing else can. For a moment, I hold her, letting the comfort of the embrace settle over me like a quiet reassurance.
“Thanks for always being there for me.” The words slip out before I can stop them, and I realize how much I’ve needed to say them. There’s sincerity in my voice, a crack I don’t want to show, but it’s there. Min has always been the one constant, the one person I can count on without question, and I can’t even remember the last time I really thanked her for it.
She returns the hug. “There’s no place I’d rather be.”
The car rideto Marcus’s family home is forty minutes long but feels equally like it is over in five minutes and has taken an eternity all at once.
As we drive up the expensive driveway, the looming presence of the house grows with each passing second, and the knot in my stomach tightens, pulling with the pressure that won’t let go. The familiar sense of unease coils around me, making every turn of the tires feel like a step farther into unfamiliar territory. I try to focus on the beauty of the surroundings, the manicured lawns, and the grandeur of the estate, but it only highlights how out of place I feel.
How am I possibly going to feel at home here? The question spins in my mind like a broken record. It’s not the house itself; it’s the weight of everything that comes with it. The history, thetraditions, the expectations, the life I’m supposed to build within these walls. The sense of belonging feels impossibly distant, as though I’ve been dumped in a foreign land without any way to make my way home. I don’t belong here yet. Maybe I never will.
Min squeezes my hand. “Remember, I’m here with you.”
“Are you going to share a bed with us?”
“Oh hell no. You’re on your own with that. Although, sleeping in a bed with someone as gorgeous as Marcus is hardly going to be a hardship.”
Hmm, I’m not mad about the feeling that suddenly soared to life in the pit of my stomach. If I had to describe it, I’d say it was close to jealousy, and that can’t be right. “You know he’s the enemy.”
“Still easy on the eyes, though.”
The moment the car stops, the ornate front doors open, and Marcus steps out onto the marble stone steps. I didn’t expect him to greet me, but it isn’t the shock that has my breath faltering. It’s what he’s wearing.
I’ve seen Marcus dressed in a suit at our wedding, sharp and refined, and I’ve seen him in a bathing suit, all casual and laid-back, but none of that compares to this. As I step out the car, my eyes land on him, standing there in a brown leather tunic that looks like it’s been molded to him. Every curve and muscle of his body is perfectly defined beneath the rich, supple material. The sight of him sends a jolt through me, like electricity sparking under my skin. My mouth goes dry, and I can’t tear my gaze away, caught between admiration and something deeper, more unsettling.
“Holy goddesses,” Min exclaims on a whispered breath.
I almost blurt out “you can say that again” but I clamp my jaw shut so the words don’t spill from my lips. Marcus’s welcoming smile, although stiff at the edges, slips when he sees my tight-set jaw.
He strides down the stairs with the air of a man who knows where he belongs, and resentment builds like a tsunami. I don’t care that we mutually decided his home would be preferable to my high-rise apartment; I can’t help but feel like I’m playing on his turf with no rulebook.
“Welcome, did you get here okay?” His tone is warm yet guarded. I don’t see what he’s all guarded about; he’s living happily while I’m the one giving everything up.
Min nudges me—or shoves me, rather—and I’m forced to take a reluctant step forward.
“Yes. Your directions were very specific.” While polite enough, there is an edge to my words. A double meaning, thinly veiled, as if he not only gave me directions to his home but is also trying to direct my life. Which I know is not fair, but I gave up my home. He can survive a little discomfort.
He raises an eyebrow but ignores my snippy remark. Nodding to the driver, he says, “Aiden will sort out your luggage and bring it to our suite. I wasn’t sure if you wanted to unpack it yourself or if you wanted the staff to do it for you. I figured you might lean toward unpacking it yourself for the sake of privacy.”
Everything after “our suite” sounds like white noise. Until this very moment, a small part of me was clinging to the hope that we’d have separate rooms. After all, I doubt the council would take turns sleeping in our room to ensure we’re actually sharing. Then again, Marcus is such a rule follower that I should’ve known.
When I don’t respond, Marcus continues, “If you’re not too tired from your journey, I’d like to show you around.”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. It was under an hour. Maybe he would need a nap, but I certainly don’t.
I nod. “Lead the way.”
Marcus walks over to Min and takes her hand in his. “Minerva, Sebastian will show you to your suite. I want you to be comfortable here. This is your home too now.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Please, call me Marcus. We’re family now.”
