“Oops,” said Michael, a wide grin spreading over his face as his eyes darted between the two of them. They’d both dropped their hands down but were standing far too close together. And she was pretty sure he’d seen a little bit of what they were doing before she and Luke had separated.

Olivia narrowed her eyes at him.

“Yes? Can I help you?” Her voice was like ice. Beside her, Luke shifted uncomfortably at her best unhappy Domme voice.

Looking sheepish, Michael glanced down at the laptop he’d carried upstairs. “I can come back later...”

“No, not if this is business related,” Olivia said, tugging on the bottom of her shirt and re-exerting her professional persona. The humming arousal in her blood didn’t go away, but she ignored it. She was at work. This wasn’t the play office at Stronghold. And Luke still had some thinking to do. “Luke was just on his way out... unless you think he needs to see this too?”

“If you want to,” Michael said, looking at Luke as he took a hesitant step into the room.

“No, it’s fine, like Olivia said, I was just leaving.” The blank expression on Luke’s face said he was unhappy.

She wasn’t feeling too thrilled herself, but she was at work and that was going to come first. Putting off actual work just to flirt and play around with Luke was not a priority. Especially when she really should give him time to think before playing with him again anyway.

An hour later, Michael left her office and she checked her phone. It had been blowing up that morning as word about her car got around to her friends, and she’d ended up putting it on mute so she still checked it every once in a while, and send out responses in a burst rather than being constantly interrupted. She didn’t worry about anyone thinking she wasn’t okay—tell one and the rest of them would know within minutes since they were all talking to each other too.

To no one’s surprise, the group chat with the other Stronghold ladies was going strong.

Angel: We need to have a girls’ night everyone can come to! Come visit me in my prison?

Leigh: Could you be any more dramatic?

Angel: Challenge Accepted.

Leigh: That wasn’t a challenge!!!!

Angel: NO ONE LOVES ME! YOU ALL WENT OUT WITHOUT MEEEEEEE!!!!! I’M SO DEPRIVED!!!!!

Jessica: So girls’ night at Angel’s on Saturday?

Angel: See, Jessica loves me. Why don’t you love me Leigh?

Sharon: I’ll bring the booze.

Maria: I can come this time, I’ve got snacks.

Hilary: I’m in! I think Liam’s going to organize a guys’ night for them.

Lexie: Just as long as they don’t crash our party at Adam and Angel’s. Patrick says I can come.