“Or maybe not.” She walked away from him and into the bedroom.
After repairing her tear-streaked makeup in the Capture Gardens’ side entry, Natalia followed Olivia through the clubroom. Her legs felt wobbly.
How many orgasms had the Mistress given her after giving her a ring? Wasn’t it awesome Natalia had been allowed to give her fiancée almost as many?
Fiancée. What an amazing word. Happiness fizzed in her veins.
“Mistress, I totally deserve a strawberry daiquiri.” Natalia gazed up at Olivia through her dark lashes. The Mistress was always teasing her about her puppy-dog eyes. She should put them to use. “Puh-leeze, Captain Janeway?”
Olivia touched her cheek with such gentle fingers Natalia’s heart simply melted. “I believe we can accommodate you, Counselor Troi.”
Josie wiped the bar top in front of them. “Captain Janeway, it’s good to meet you. I’ve been an admirer for years.” Observing appropriate protocol, the bartender only smiled at Natalia. “What can I get you two?”
Natalia settled onto a barstool and folded her hands on the bar…because she couldn’t help marveling at her amazing engagement ring. Small diamonds swirled around a deep red, round-cut ruby. The combination was so much warmer than a plain diamond solitaire. So very perfect.
“Oh, my sun and stars, Natalia!” Totally abandoning D/s protocol, Josie grabbed Natalia’s hand. “What a gorgeous ring! Are you two engaged?”
Olivia grinned. “Yes, we are.”
Josie’s delighted scream caught everyone’s attention. “Mistress Olivia and Natalia are engaged!” Then she winced. “Uh, sorry, Mistress Olivia, I shouldn’t have—”
“It’s good,” Olivia said, cutting her off as club members surrounded them.
“Do you have a date picked or any plans?” Josie asked. “Will you have a big wedding? Natalia’s family lives in Tampa, right?”
Natalia grimaced. Her family? Talk about awkward with a side-helping of ugly. Maybe she and the Mistress should have discussed this while they were outside. “Um, we’ll probably go with very small and private.”
Olivia turned and gave her a long perusal. “I rather thought you’d want a big, splashy wedding.”
The Mistress had remembered.
On their first evening at Olivia’s, they’d been in her pool, sharing a giant inflatable lounger, drinking wine, and describing their childhood dreams. Natalia said she’d wanted the white gown, friends and family, the walk down the aisle. The whole spectacle.
The dream had died the day she’d introduced Olivia as her girlfriend. That was when her family realized she wouldn’t accept their choices for her schooling, her career…or her partner.
Natalia shook her head. “We don’t need a bunch of people there.”
“Girl.” The Mistress’s hand closed over hers. “We’re going to talk about this some more. Don’t think we won’t.”
Natalia sighed. Olivia always knew when she was evading.
“Whether you have a big or small wedding, congratulations.” Ghost said.
Beside him, Valerie was beaming.
“Indeed, congratulations, Mistress Olivia. Natalia.” Z said.
Natalia smiled at them all as Olivia responded.
Jessica abandoned Z to edge her way to Natalia’s other side where she could admire the ring. “It’s absolutely stunning. Good job, Mistress Olivia.”
“Thank you, love.”
And Natalia leaned closer to Jessica. “You’re going to pop any minute, girl.”
“I know, right? I’m so ready. But my due date isn’t for another week, so I should be able to make your showing.”
Natalia’s eyes pooled with tears. “You don’t have to. It’s a small gallery and—”
“Pfft, of course we’re coming.” Jessica glanced at Olivia. “Will your family in England fly over for a wedding here? Or will you have it there?”
Natalia winced. Jessica had missed Natalia’s pronouncement of small and private.
“I rather think we’ll have it here with our friends,” Olivia paused and added, “then I’ll drag my sweet subbie home to England to meet the family.”
Olivia’s family? Oh no. Natalia squeaked like a trapped mouse.
And her evil Mistress laughed.
The announcement of Natalia and Olivia’s engagement had been a fantastic climax to a solidly good theme night.
Smiling, Ghost captured his own submissive and steered her into a sitting area sheltered by tall foliage. A perfect spot to have a word. Or two.
But first… Tangling his fingers in the heavy silk of her hair, he took her lips. The way she melted against him told him she trusted him as a Dom. She loved him as a man.
Her body didn’t lie.
He had a feeling she wouldn’t lie verbally, either.
“Since the evening is about half over, it’s time for an assessment.” Ghost ran a finger down her cheek and under her chin so she’d meet his gaze. “How many thoughts or verbal self-put-downs did you catch?”
She had the most luminous blue eyes he’d ever seen. Warm and open and…