He pulled me close and kissed me. It was soft and gentle at first and then it was wild and passionate. I held him close, feeling his strong muscled bo...y. His hands roamed my back and then slid down over my ass. I felt him lift me up by my ass, holding me even closer. I was lost in the passion of kissing him that I didn’t hear mother walk into the room. I heard a light cough, and my betrothed and I seemed to jump apart, this made mother laugh.“Don’t mind me, it’s good to see you getting along so. ’ ‘You may exchange one embrace and kiss with Sally on her arrival. Go!’ ‘Yes, Master. Goodbye, Master.’ The phone went dead. Valerie briefed June rapidly and left. Valerie had taken the doula birthing assistant course the previous January, when Lady Nadine’s pregnancy had been confirmed. Charles had not taken the Lamaze course with Lady Nadine and her. That surprised Valerie, but she knew better than to ask. She had assembled her kit weeks ago and kept it close by, leaving only the perishables. She saw. She saw you staring. What the fuck are you gonna do now? “Dad,” Ari said, crossing her arms beneath her breasts, pushing them up to her clavicles. “Wh…what?” Blood roared in his ears, filled his face with white heat. She arched her eyebrows again. “What are we gonna do?” “About…about what?” She uncrossed her arms, said “Ugh,” and ran her fingers through her unruly blonde hair. “About my dog, dad. About Scout.” Relief flooded through him in a cleansing wave. She. We can pick a weekend when at least one of my kids is home. There is an extra bedroom in the house or I can get you a room at a hotel. The company has accounts with a couple of them. It will be your call when or even if."She put her coffee cup on the table in front of us. Mine was on the end table. She squirmed around to face me half in my lap. She said, "I think that day will come and probably fairly soon. Si, when I agreed to have supper, I never imagined that I would be sitting here with you.