“She really means a lot to you, doesn’t she?” Ruby said. “That’s why you’re going through so much trouble to get the money for her.”

“Yes. I owe it to her.”

“That’s sweet of you.”

“I’m simply repaying her for helping me, that’s all,” Yvonne said. “I’ll breathe easier once this money comes through and everything is sorted for her for good. Nicholas finding out the truth puts a wrench in the works.”

“It’s not like he has any proof. And you said all we need is a witness who will say our marriage is genuine. We have plenty of those, especially after the wedding.”

“That’s true.”

Ruby smiled. “We’re doing a great job at this whole marriage thing. We make a good couple.”

“You’re right. We do.” Yvonne picked up the photo and returned it to its place on the nightstand, then turned back to Ruby. “So, you want to go to culinary school, do you?”

“Right.” In the chaos that dinner had descended into, Ruby had forgotten she’d said anything about it. “I was only half serious. I like baking, but I’m not very good at it, so it could be fun to learn how to do it properly. And, when I was a kid, I had this dream of opening my own bakery.” She looked down at her lap, shaking her head. “I always thought it was silly. But right now, the idea doesn’t seem so silly.”

Yvonne took Ruby’s chin, tilting Ruby’s head up to look into her eyes. “It’s not silly at all. If it makes you happy, you should do it.” She leaned in and gave Ruby a brief kiss.

Ruby’s heart fluttered, the tenderness in Yvonne’s lips unexpected. She’d gotten that same fluttery feeling when Yvonne had stuck up for her at dinner. She didn’t need anyone to defend her. She could hold her own.

But it felt good, knowing that Yvonne had her back. Ruby was starting to see that her Mistress had a softer side. Hearing Yvonne speak of her mother, her childhood, filled Ruby with emotion. She’d never seen Yvonne so naked and vulnerable.

Ruby couldn’t deny it any longer. The feelings she harbored for Yvonne, they went far beyond what she should feel for a client. She was losing herself in Yvonne, and it scared her. Ruby didn’t want to feel the things she felt for Yvonne. Not when everything between them was so complicated. Not when Ruby had been here before, with someone so like Yvonne, and had gotten hurt, badly.

But Yvonne was nothing like him. Yvonne wouldn’t hurt her.

Could it be different this time?

Chapter 20

Yvonne raked her eyes along Ruby’s body. Ruby was stretched out across the playroom bed, clothed, for now, in a loose, casual dress. Her wrists were handcuffed to the headboard above her, and she was lying on her stomach, her head turned to the side, looking up at Yvonne expectantly.

Yvonne flicked the flogger she was holding against her palm, to Ruby’s obvious delight. After returning from Yvonne’s stressful family dinner, they’d both felt the need to blow off some steam.