Yvonne thought for a moment. Perhaps it wasn’t a bad idea to let Ruby take care of her, just this once. “I could use a massage.”

“Sure. Anything you want, Mistress.”

Yvonne rolled onto her stomach and folded her arms beneath her head. Immediately, Ruby began kneading Yvonne’s shoulders with surprising firmness. Yvonne let out a contented moan. Ruby’s hands felt heavenly.

“Is that good?” Ruby asked.

“So good,” Yvonne murmured. “Don’t stop.”

Yvonne sank into the bed. As her physical aches eased, the deeper, vaguer ache within her only grew. Something was gnawing at her. Why had she found tonight so satisfying? There was a simple explanation.

It was because tonight, she’d made Ruby happy.

Yvonne hadn’t realized, until now, how much she cherished Ruby’s happiness. She’d never felt this way about anyone before.

“Yvonne?” Ruby said.

Yvonne returned to reality. “Yes?”

“I want to say thank you. For tonight.”

“You don’t have to thank me,” Yvonne murmured. “I wouldn’t have done any of this if I didn’t want to.”

“Yes, but you didn’t have to do what you did. You didn’t have to give me this. We could have just kept doing everything like we used to. But you did all this, for me, and then you held me in your arms, and kissed me, and made sure I was okay afterward.”

“I’m your Domme,” Yvonne said. “That’s just my job.”

Ruby pulled her hands away. “No, it’s not.”

“Yes, it is.” Yvonne turned over and sat up. “I know your past experiences weren’t great, but-”

“This isn’t about that.” Ruby crossed her arms. “I already told you, I know that ex-client of mine was wrong in the way he treated me. I know that a real Dominant takes care of their submissive. Do you think I’m so damaged that I’m grateful that someone is treating me with basic decency?”

“No, I-”

“Because I’m not some wounded girl. I’m not thanking you for showing me a sliver of kindness.” Ruby’s voice quivered. “I’m thanking you for understanding my needs. And I’m thanking you for believing I could handle this, despite everything. So just accept my damn thanks and don’t treat me like I’m broken.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry.” Yvonne shook her head. “I don’t think you’re broken. I just don’t want you to think that this was performing some selfless act. I enjoyed it too. Your gratitude is misplaced.”

Ruby let out an exasperated sigh. “That’s so typical of you. You’re always doing this.”

“Doing this? Doing what?”

“Pretending you don’t have a heart.”

Yvonne frowned. “I don’t do that.”

“Yes, you do. Whenever you do something nice for me, or for anyone else, you’re always so dismissive. You pretend that it doesn’t mean anything, that all your motivations are selfish.”

“Because they usually are.”

“What about this whole marriage thing?” Ruby said. “You married a stranger to help someone else, right? Nita?”

“It wasn’t just for Nita. I have other reasons for wanting that money. I didn’t want my brother to get it. And I need it to recoup my investments.”