“Ah well.” Ignoring glares that should have fried his ass, Buchanan grinned at Raoul. “How about drinks for two hard-working agents?”

“It would be my pleasure.” Raoul looked for the other agent.

Using his cane to block Jessica, Kouros cornered Sally again. When his eyes met hers, she froze. “We’ll continue this at another time, pet,” he murmured. “And I assure you, you will tell us everything we want to know.” He ran a finger down her flushed cheek and smiled.

As the Fed turned away, Raoul saw Sally shiver. Then her hands fisted. “Not until hell freezes over,” she muttered, just loudly enough to hear.

As Jessica slung an arm around her waist and escorted her friend back to the safety of the submissive group, Kouros joined Buchanan.

Raoul grinned at him. He had a feeling Sally would probably disappear into the bathroom the next time she spotted the agents. “Let me get you a beer, Kouros.”

After Raoul had taken care of his guests and introduced them to a couple of the doms they hadn’t met, he returned to check the barbecue. He loaded up a platter with chicken and handed it to Joey to put on the table.

“Hey, Raoul,” Gabi called from the back door. Her hand was in her dom’s in the way they had of walking with fingers laced, and Raoul firmly stomped on his envy. As she and Marcus crossed the patio, Raoul frowned at how stiffly she moved. Had she been spanked? No, it was the more gingerly movement of a submissive unaccustomed to walking around with an anal plug. Both her and Jessica? He’d think they’d been up to something together, but Marcus had said they weren’t going to the Shadowlands last night.

Raoul shook his head in confusion and kissed Gabi’s cheek. After dutifully admiring her current arm tattoos of SpongeBob—the same yellow as her halter top—he slapped Marcus’s arm. “Welcome, my friends. There is beer in the dark coolers and wine in the light cooler.”

“You look like hell,” Marcus said, his accent making the word sound like hey-all.

“Geez, Marcus, were you raised in a barn?” Gabi frowned, then looked over her dom’s shoulder and grinned, bouncing once on her toes.

Raoul followed her gaze, and his muscles went rigid. Kimberly?

Dios, she was a vision in the afternoon sunlight, wearing a pretty strapless sundress, the blue the color of her eyes. Her black hair shone like a raven’s wing, rippling over her tanned shoulders. He walked forward a few steps, then had second thoughts. Not your woman, Sandoval. Don’t want a woman. Be polite, then keep your distance.

Uncertainty crossed her face as she stared at him, and his hand went out before he knew, offering anything she needed from him. If she ran from him again, he wouldn’t be able to bear it. His mouth tightened. No. He did not want to walk this path.

Before he could withdraw his gesture, she crossed the last few steps and set her small hand into his. Unable to help himself, he drank in the sight of her, feeling as if the empty places in his heart were filling. Her hand in his trembled slightly, and he told himself to release her, but his fingers wouldn’t open.

“Kimberly.” His voice came out ragged. But at least she wasn’t throwing up at the sight of him, although it might be easier on him if she did. “I’m sorry about yesterday.”

“Yesterday?” Her gaze moved over his face, and she seemed as hungry for him as he was for her. “Yesterday. Oh…right. The courthouse,” she said. “God, I’m sorry, M—Raoul. Sam said you thought you’d made me sick, but that wasn’t it. I saw the Overseer. He came out of the courtroom right behind you, and when I heard his voice…” Her color faded.

She hadn’t been reacting to me. The blast of relief was like having his chest cracked open. His mouth tightened. He didn’t want to feel like this.

“Well.” He needed to stop this now, not lead her on. Not encourage her. He pulled his hand back. “It’s good to see you again. You’re looking well.”

Kim’s hand felt empty, as if yearning to take his again. She stared up at him. He looked tired, but oh, his face was even more darkly tanned, his black hair shaggy, brushing the collar of his blue short-sleeved shirt. The touch of his hand—just the damned touch—had sent a thrill through her.

For a moment, his eyes had started to smolder, but now he looked remote. Cold. Like he’d been at the auction. But that expression had been for the slavers—never for her. Did he no longer…?

She swallowed. “I—”

“They’re here!” Jessica yelled. People turned to look.

Dan walked out and held the door for Kari, who held a tiny bundle in her arms. The baby. “Oh, look how little,” Kim whispered.

Master R tilted his head. “You haven’t seen the child yet, have you?”

“But…” I want to stay with you.

“Go see the baby, Kimberly.”

An order. A definite go away. A frozen ball took up residence in the pit of her stomach.

She shouldn’t have come. Why had she been so silly, building a castle of dreams made of sand? It only took a wave to wash it away.

She made her feet cross the patio and joined the women surrounding Dan, Kari, and the baby. Beth frowned, cast a quick look at Master R, and put an arm around Kim’s waist. Andrea stepped to her other side, her brows pulling together.

Kari smiled a welcome and glanced in Master R’s direction. “It’s about time you came back, Kim. He’s been a bear.”

“No kidding,” Dan muttered.

Why did hearing that make her feel better? Not that it changed anything. Accept it, Kim. He’s made the decision for you. And she needed to concentrate on her friends now. Not spoil Kari’s moment with unhappiness. She forced a smile “Let’s see this new baby.”

Kari flipped back the light blanket to reveal the baby’s face and grinned at the “Awwws” and “Oooos.” “Meet Zane.” Black hair, blue eyes like Dan’s, a little chin and nose like Kari’s.

Grumbling, Dan retreated from the crowd of women, casting a glance over his shoulder as if checking to be sure his two charges were safe.

Unable to resist, Kim reached out. Look at the tiny hand. His fingers closed around her thumb. “He’s precious, Kari.”

Kari grinned. “He really is.” The tenderness in her eyes as she stared at her baby, then across to Dan, matched the way Dan’s face softened, showing his pride and…love.

Kim swallowed, her throat clogging with envy, then said, “I missed the baby shower, but Gabi told me this is a baby celebration, so I got you a present this morning. Got him a present, I mean.” She dug into the canvas bag she had over her shoulder and handed over the gaily wrapped package.

Jessica took Zane as Kari opened the gift, then laughed and held up the blue onesie to show the writing on the front: I give the orders around here, then the back: Master Zane. Kari gurgled a laugh. “Oh, it’s true. He’s totally in charge. When Zane cries, even the big dom of the house comes running.” She touched the baby’s hair. “And I love it. It’s just so…” Kari smiled down at her son.

Satisfying, Kim filled in. Up at all hours of the night, tending to every need. And Kari was happy.

Was that what a master got back from a relationship?

Kim shook her head. She’d never tended much except boats—then again, even boats need care. Patching and cleaning, oiling and barnacle scraping, doing all the tedious things that kept it running well. She never begrudged the chores, because a sturdy vessel would hold up in a storm, would bring you back to shore, would never let you down. She looked over at Master R. He was her boat.

Dan worked his way to Kari and kissed her. “I set up the carrier and monitor in the little living room for when you’re ready to feed him and put him down for his nap.” Grinning, he took the baby. “My turn to show him off before he decides he’s starving.” He snuggled his son against him and headed toward the doms.

Andrea grinned. “He’s so proud, it’s cute.”

Kari snickered. “Don’t be a smarty. Can you imagine how your Cullen would act?”

“Pretty much like that. Wouldn’t they all?” Andrea’s smile softened as Cullen touched Zane’s cheek, pleasure filling his face. “He wants children, so we’ll be locking up the dungeon furniture sooner or later.”

“Hiding the equipment?” Beth stared at her scar-faced dom and the gentle way he’d taken the baby’s fingers as if marveling at how small next to his big hand. Beth’s eyes narrowed. “That’s what Nolan was drawing last night—dungeon furniture that converts into bedroom furniture.”

“If he sells it, he’ll get rich. Richer.” Jessica grinned. “Dan and Kari have started a trend. Look at those so-called hard-asses.”

Kim sighed. The doms’ faces turned gentle when they looked at the baby. Then each would gaze over at his submissive as if imagining her with his child. “I bet some birth control pills are going to get dumped in the next few months.”

“Dios, after seeing the baby, I might not protest too much,” Andrea muttered. “Maybe I’ll let Cullen marry me after all.”

“Respectability sucks.” Jessica pouted. “Z said no babies until we get married, and Mom’s insisting on a church wedding. You know how long those take to plan?”