It was an innocent comment, but she’d hit the nail on the head. A string of memories of slim women eating salads marched through my mind. Yeah, she was probably right, but I wasn’t here to dwell on the past, but to move ahead and correct it for a better future. One I was now hoping would be with Lena.
“I have a question for you. How do you feel about doing a scene with me today so I can give you something in return for this wonderful meal you prepared.”
She dropped her gaze to her now empty plate. “What did you have in mind, S–uh–Ethan?”
“I would like to give you some pleasure. Non-sexual of course. Sensory and positive reinforcement.” She seemed hesitant but said yes. “I will book a private room in the Dungeon for later. Until then, would you like to go for a walk?”
“I think I would like to go back to my place and clean up.” Lena stood and placed her plate in the sink. She reached for the soap.
“Leave it. I will do it after I escort you home.” She smiled and nodded her head. I hadn’t washed a dish since college and had never wanted to wash one again. But Lena inspired all types of things in me I hadn’t felt before.
We slipped on our shoes and I opened the door to warm sunshine and the sweet smells of nature.
CHAPTER 11
Lena
When I returned to my suite, Carrie was sitting on her yoga mat, encased in sunlight streaming through the window. With her blonde hair, it looked as though she had a halo. Her teacup was set at the edge of her mat and she was sorting through several sets of tarot cards.
Carrie looked up. “Hey, stranger. How are you?”
I kicked off my shoes and joined her on the floor. “Good actually. How are you?”
She pointed at the new decks. “Andy brought me gifts.” A huge smile lit up her face.
“Has he gone home?”
She nodded sadly. “He has but this is the last time. I’m moving.”
She indicated a few boxes I hadn’t noticed before. Panic welled in my chest. “What happened, is everything okay?”
Carrie smiled again. “Everything is wonderful. Andy proposed and I accepted. This is my last week at the Ranch. I’m moving to the suburbs with my handsome Dom/fiancé.”
“Wow, Carrie, Congratulations.” I leaned over and gave her a hug. She looked so happy. and the rock I now noticed on her finger glittered in the sun’s reflection. “That is quite a ring.”
She held it up. “Right? I love it.”
What wasn’t to love?
“Carrie. Can I ask you something?”
“Of course, Lena, anything.”
“How did you know Andy was the one?”
Carrie sighed contentedly. “I knew because he accepts me just the way I am. Loves me for me and appreciates all my broken bits. He’s never tried to fix me, just been there for me. I met him here, about a year ago. He attended with his friend, who was nursing a jaded heart over his slave who’d left him without a word. She ended up here and Andy knew, so he arranged for the two of them to come for a stay. When Cade saw River, it rekindled their old passion and after working through their issues, and a lot of proving himself on Cade’s side, she finally accepted him back. They have a super-healthy relationship now and he works hard to balance his work/home dynamic.”
Her words gave me hope. It wasn’t just me. I’d known that, in my head, but to hear aloud what had felt so dirty and taboo, cracked something inside of me. “Thank you, Carrie, you’ve given me hope for my own happily-ever-after.”
She smiled warmly. “From what I hear, Ethan Reacher thinks the sun rises and sets wherever you're standing. I’m pretty sure if you just let him in, you’ll find that HEA with him.”
“You really think so?”
“I do, but we can do a spread just to see.” Carrie chose one of the new decks with fairies on it. She pulled three cards and then showed them to me, wearing a huge smile on her face. “The cards never lie. Squee! Look, Lena, the energy coming toward you is ‘Awakening’. It means a cloud has lifted and you are beginning to see your old self re-emerge. You have recently gonethrough a bad experience where you gave up who you were to please someone else. Now that old self is coming back. Allow changes to occur that permit the real you to show up.”
I couldn’t believe how accurate that card was.
“Card two is what’s currently surrounding you.” It showed a woman with wings and it was called “Sexuality”. Carrie smirked as she read the card aloud. “Sexuality is important for our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. You are being guided to heal old trauma and negative experiences. Set yourself free to be truly open to experience the dynamic aspects of your sexuality.”
