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She rolled off the bed and curled up on her pallet

I crawled under my covers and fell into a deep sleep almost immediately

Chapter Eight

I slept in the next ot out of bed and stretched, feeling great The night before had granted me some of the most restful sleep I’d ever had

I’ to do with it

Abigail slept soundly, curled up in a ball on her side She hadn’t moaned any more that I’d heard As I watched, she s of, what caused her to smile so Maybe she wouldn’t even remember when she woke

Soht, the sheet had slipped off her shoulders, and her perfect brsts were exposed once more I reached down and tucked the sheet under her chin—I didn’t want her to get cold Sheand rolled over

Though I needed to shower and get ready for the golf game, I decided to ail had liked them last week

It was ale her the extra sleep—I’d kept her up late and woken her in thewould ht, so she needed her rest

I boiled two eggs while she showered and, once they were done, I put the oven for her

Jackson sent ail’s footsteps on the stairs I glanced down atFelicia Frankly, I thought it funny thata girl, but I kneas hard on Jackson He alorried whether woenuinely interested in him or just his bank account and celebrity status

I replied, telling him I was certain she was just as nervous as he was That we’d all be with hiail’s best friend—how bad could she be?

How’s the librarian fantasy girl? he texted

I will kick the shit out of you if you ail shuffled into the kitchen

She looked tired, and part of ed After all, I’d been the cause of her lack of sleep, the reason she walked so carefully But I was still feeling the high of incredible sex

“Rough night?” I asked, keeping my eyes focused on my phone

“You could say that again”

I smiled I couldn’t help it She was tired, sore, cranky, and she still had her sense of humor

“Rough night?” I asked again

She took a muffin from the counter and sat down across from me

Good thinking on the blueberry, West—but she needed more than a muffin

“You need protein,” I said

“I’ for her

“Abigail,” I warned Daht

She stood up, erator, and took out a pack of bacon That pleased h she was in pain, she would still cook protein because I told her to

“I put two boiled eggs in the war oven for you,” I said Relief covered her face as she put the bacon away “The ibuprofen is on the first shelf, second cabinet beside the microwave”

“I’m sorry” She took the bottle from the shelf and shook two pills into her hand “It’s justbeen a long time”

“What a ridiculous thing to apologize for I’ I didn’t have to let you sleep in”

She sat, head doith her hair hanging over her eyes

“Look at me,” I said “I have to leave Meet me in the foyer dressed for the benefit and ready to leave at four thirty”

She nodded, and I wondered what she would look like in the dress Elaina had dropped off I wished, not for the first tiolf and lunch with ail

Wished I could be normal

But as the point in normal? She didn’t want it and I couldn’t do it

I sighed “There’s a large tub in the guest roo soak would make her feel better

As suspected, lunch was long and golf was longer I usually enjoyed tiail was at ho

Yes, I told Todd, my date was a librarian

No, I told Jackson for the fifth ti on

I ht to ail’s door was closed By four fifteen I was in the foyer waiting I turned when I heard her heels on the stairs and almost dropped the wrapper I held

The dress hugged her curves in all the right places, and the low neckline showed her delicate collarbones Her hair had been gathered up in a si low and brushing her neck

“You look beautiful” Stunning, actually

“Thank you, Master”

I held the wrapper out “Shall we?”

She walked over to me and stopped atti in her soft floral scent If only we could stay home

But no She was probably still sore I had to remember that I must remember that

As alked to the waiting car, it struck me that we could be any norht For this evening, I decided, that’s e’d be Normal

Driving along in silence, Abigail by ht back to the two other collared subs I’d introduced to e had both met my aunt Linda, and Jackson, Todd, and Elaina too, but I’d introduced thedifferent about my relationship with them, they kept it to themselves