“So, let’s check out the art.” He guided her through the brightly lit gallery, detouring around the clusters of people. Some were holding small plastic cups of wine. A few should obviously have stopped with one cup.
As they worked their way through the paintings, her smile grew. “I love the impressionist style.”
He nodded. “Monet and Pissarro are near the top of my list. But modern impressionism might be even better than the pioneers.”
“Hmm. Because there are more colors available, maybe? Or perhaps it’s because no one tells them they have to confine themselves to a certain style.”
“That might be it.” He stopped in front of one of Natalia’s paintings. From the long, high pier, he’d guess it was Naples Beach, a popular spot for photographers. Natalia’s painting held two dark figures sitting in the sand, leaning against each other, silhouetted by the light on the water.
A moment in time. And a universal feeling.
“Who hasn’t watched a sunset with a lover?” Valerie murmured.
“I think our quiet Natalia will go far.” Ghost tilted his head and grinned. “Although she might choose to flee, instead.”
Near another of her paintings, Natalia had been cornered by an older man. He was gesturing with his wine in a way that showed he might have already had a few.
“Time for a rescue, Colonel?” Valerie asked.
“De Oppressor Liber.” To free the oppressed, the Special Forces motto, seemed quite appropriate.
“Natalia, your paintings are stunning.” Valerie swooped in, cleverly maneuvering herself between the young woman and the pompous fool.
The man’s expression darkened. “Hey, I—”
“Natalia, it’s about time we found you,” Ghost growled, deliberately sounding irritated.
The man took a step back…and decided he needed more wine.
Valerie patted Ghost’s chest. “I love your sadist voice.”
“And your timing.” Natalia rolled her eyes. “He was telling me why I’d chosen the subjects I used.”
Valerie snickered. “Mansplaining, hmm?”
“Totally. I didn’t realize I had repressed sexual urges when I painted a great white heron in the Everglades.”
“Ah.” Ghost gave her a serious look. “It’s good to learn these important details about your motivation.”
When Natalia’s mouth dropped open, he chuckled. “And if you share his theory with your Mistress, I’m sure she’ll help you with the problem.”
Natalia broke into giggles, leaning on Valerie for support. “Thank you for the rescue. Some of these people are…well, really enthusiastic.”
And a bit much for the quiet artist. Until her Mistress arrived, they’d better stay close enough to break her free when needed.
“Where’s Olivia?” Valerie was obviously on the same wavelength.
“One of her clients had a break-in, and the police wanted the security camera recordings. Since she’s boss of the security firm, she has to deal with it. She texted to let me know she was stuck there for a while.”
“Did she now?” At Valerie’s raised eyebrows, Ghost explained. “She never used to let anyone know when she’d be late, and she’s almost always late.”
“She doesn’t like me worrying,” Natalia said, “so she texts now.”
Of course. To keep from stressing Natalia, Olivia would make the effort. Stressing out her fellow Dominants, however, wasn’t a concern. Ghost almost laughed.
“Nattie!” A group of people advanced toward her. Brown hair, brown eyes, familiar features. Natalia’s family had arrived. Three men wore tan coveralls with the logo of a local windshield repair service.
Arm around Valerie, Ghost backed away.
“Mama!” Natalia hugged an older woman who was babbling congratulations. The rest of the family was studying the people and paintings.
The two women close to Natalia in age studied one of her paintings, then read the tag. And exclaimed.
Ah, yes. Ghost had noted the gallery had gone for transparency and included the price on each info tag.
The two young men who weren’t in coveralls joined them. “The red dot means it sold. Damn, that one’s sold, too. Look at those prices!”
The men in coveralls went over. Their surprised exclamations didn’t hold the same tone of pride as the first group.
Valerie stiffened. “They didn’t realize she’s any good?”
Joining them, Olivia obviously overheard. “It’s partly denial because some of them don’t want her to be any good. The entire younger lot works for her uncle who owns some auto glass repair shops. Since she excelled in school, he’s pushing her to take accounting courses and deal with the licensing, taxes, employees—all of it.”
Frowning, Valerie studied Natalia. “She doesn’t seem as if an office job would make her happy.”
“She hates numbers. And managing people.” Olivia shook her head. “All she’s ever wanted to do is paint. To create. But they keep trying to shove her into a narrow little box.”
Ghost set his hand on her shoulder. “She escaped. With luck, tonight will make that clear.”
Unappeased, Olivia growled under her breath.
“I doubt she would want to lose her family, even if they don’t understand her. Although tonight might help.” Valerie nodded at Natalia’s mother.
Olivia followed her gaze, undoubtedly seeing the woman’s pride in her daughter. The mother smiled at Olivia.
Olivia nodded back and said reluctantly, “Some of them might have figured out how amazing she is.”
Valerie gave the Domme a sympathetic pat on the arm and pointed out, so very tactfully, “Isn’t it nice she has you to help set boundaries with them.”
After a second, Olivia chuckled. “There’s the difference between you and my Nats. You don’t have a problem with nudging someone in the right direction.”
Ghost smiled slightly and murmured to Valerie, “You really do have an amazing talent with people.”
“I know.” Her eyes lifted, holding a warmth for him alone. “But can I admit I love hearing you say that?”
Because her marriage had been a wasteland, empty of compliments and approval.
He kissed her forehead. “Both of you are excellent at management, but, after seeing Natalia’s paintings, I’d say she’s found her own way to steer people where she wants them to go.”
Because the shy submissive’s works were all about connection. To the world of nature—and to each other.
* * *
“I’m so proud of you. Did you see how many of your paintings are sold?” Natalia’s oldest sister whispered.
“I’m trying not to check,” Natalia confessed and hugged her, then her other sister and two big brothers. How cool they’d all dressed up. “I’m glad you came.”
She glanced at her uncle and his two sons and wished they’d stayed home. They were still dressed in their work coveralls.
She shouldn’t have been surprised or embarrassed by their disrespect.
But she was.
Hands stuffed in his pockets, Uncle Bartolo was checking out the room. “You got yourself a nice hobby, Nattie. But nothing you can make a living at, not like managing a business.” He gave her a patronizing look. “Get on back to the business classes so you can be of use to the company. To your family.”
Here? He was going to push his weight around here?
Smoldering resentment sparked into anger, and she tried to tamp it down. “No, thank you. This is what I do.”
“Yeah, then you’ll need a guy to keep you from starving.” Tadeo was the most obnoxious of her cousins. “Leonel still wants to date you, even if you are a fancy artist.”
She wanted to slap the smirk off Tadeo’s face. Her whole family knew she wasn’t interested in men. Knew she dated only women. Knew she was seeing someone.
And she was done with this bullshit.
“Actually, dating Leonel won’t be possible. Olivia and I are engaged.” She held her hand out to show her ring.
Her mother’s mouth dropped open, but Natalia’s sisters squealed and hugged her and admired her ring. And then her mother joined right in.
That was so very wonderful.
Her brothers managed to reach in to give her a squeeze, then one smiled over her shoulder. “Hey, Olivia. Congratulations, and um, welcome to the family.”
Olivia? Natalia spun and squealed. “You made it!” She launched herself, knowing her Mistress would catch her.
Arms closed around her, holding her tightly, and she felt Olivia’s cheek against the top of her head. “Of course, I made it. I wouldn’t miss your first opening for the world. Everything looks fantastic. Congratulations on your success, love.”
When Olivia stepped back, Natalia took her hand.
Her mother stepped up, smiling—and hugged Olivia. “I have another hija, now. I’m so pleased.”
Grinning at Olivia’s flummoxed expression, Natalia kissed her mother’s cheek, then giggled, because her sisters were all sentimental and teary-eyed as they hugged Olivia, too.
“Seriously?” Her cousin’s sneering voice made them all pause. “I don’t get the lesbian shit. Nattie, how can you know you’re gay if you’ve never slept with a man?”
“Good point.” Stepping away from Natalia’s sisters, Olivia studied him. “I do have to wonder, Tadeo, how can you tell you’re straight if you’ve never slept with a man? Or…have you?”
Natalia pressed her lips together because what answer could her cousin give? It took him a second to figure that out. He turned a furious red.
As her sisters snickered, one of her brothers knocked the idiot back a step, and the other snapped, “Give it up, idiot. She made her choice. A good choice.”
Natalia’s mouth dropped open. Her brothers were backing her up?
Her uncle scowled. “I don’t hold with gay marriage.”
“In that case, I’d suggest if a gay person asks you to marry them, you should probably say no,” Valerie pointed out ever-so-politely.
A snorting laugh escaped Natalia, and she plastered her hands over her mouth. A lot of others weren’t nearly so discreet, though.
“I must point out”—the authority in Ghost’s gravelly voice put every submissive in the room on alert—“anyone who isn’t stuck in the last century simply calls it marriage.”
Uncle Bartolo’s mouth snapped shut.
Because who would argue with the Colonel?
“Olivia, Natalia.” Valerie linked arms with them. “Let’s go check out the paintings and talk about wedding dates.”
So tactful. She was trying to get them away from the harassment, but her cousin wasn’t going to stop. “Jesus, Nattie, you gotta give this bullshit up. No one will come to your wedding—if you could even find someone to perform the ceremony.”
His rudeness shocked everyone.
“Indeed.” Master Z’s smooth voice broke the silence—and was so cold Tadeo shriveled at least a foot.
Natalia turned.
Master Z was wearing the tailored dark suit Jessica said made her mouth go dry.
On his left, his mother, Ms. Grayson, looked like European royalty.
On his other side, Jessica was in a beautifully billowy, maternity gown that matched her green eyes. Unlike Master Z, she was obviously spitting mad as she glared at Tadeo.
Uh-oh. It couldn’t be healthy for someone so very pregnant to get so angry.
Master Z tilted his head at Olivia and Natalia. “It would be my honor to be your officiant and marry the two of you.”
Natalia swallowed. “Ma—um, Dr. Grayson, it…” She glanced at Olivia who winked and nodded.
Natalia managed a breath. So much for a small civil ceremony. “We would like that very much, Sir.”
“All right!” Uzuri swooped in to hug her, then beamed at Mama and Natalia’s sisters. “Can I help with the planning?”
“But of course.” Mama smiled. “We’ll have fun, won’t we, girls?”
Her sisters bounced up and down in delight.
* * *
Fun? Mama was insane. Natalia remembered well when her oldest sister married. It’d been pure chaos.
“Perfect,” Jessica said. “We have someone to perform the ceremony and the planning is started.”
“Witnesses will be required.” Madeline Grayson tilted her head. “If Zachary is performing the service, I do expect an invitation.”
Natalia had no words. None. That was Master Z’s mother.
Olivia chuckled. “Madeline, we’ll be delighted to have you there.”
Cheers came from all around them…as well as orders: “You’d better invite me, too.”
“And me.”
“Do you need a volunteer flower-kitten?” Rainie called. “Or puppy?”
The Shadowkittens had arrived with their Masters.
Anyone who hadn’t been at the club last weekend now took the opportunity to congratulate and hug Olivia and Natalia.
Mama was watching Master Z’s mother who… Natalia’s eyes widened. Mrs. Grayson had bought one of her paintings and was telling the gallery owner she wanted it for her visual arts center in Sarasota.
“What center?” Mama asked.
“She owns the Grayson Center for Visual Arts in Sarasota. It has one of the best collections of modern impressionism in the country.” Natalia had loved going there as a child—and had been completely stunned when she learned who Master Z’s mother was.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t more supportive of your art, mija.” Mama put an arm around her for a quick squeeze. “I’m proud of you.”
Off to one side, Tadeo scowled at them, then yelled something nasty.
Almost as loudly, Rainie made a high-pitched voom-voom-voom sound. “That’s what motorcycles with tiny motors sound like. All squeals and no power.” As everyone stared at her, she smirked and patted her crotch. “Just like some guys and their tiny equipment.”
After a shocked moment of silence, Natalia’s brothers and sisters, then the Shadowkittens, howled with laughter.
If her cousin had any comment, it was drowned out completely.
A second later, her brothers grabbed Tadeo and force-walked him out the door.
“I owe your brothers some drinks,” Olivia murmured in Natalia’s ear.
Even as the congratulations continued, the gallery owner put a red “sold” dot on another of Natalia’s paintings.
Chapter Twenty-Five
After ending her phone call, Valerie raided Jessica’s fridge and made up a tray with iced tea and some of the cookies people had brought. Such a light white kitchen with gray granite countertops and suspended chandeliers from the coffered ceiling.
Carrying the tray, she passed the family room. Cushy soft furniture and warm-hued Brazilian cherry wood flooring made the room cozy. Master Z’s mother, Madeline, was reading a picture book with her granddaughter.
On Madeline’s lap, Sophia enthusiastically mooed her accompaniment to whatever farm story they were enjoying.
Madeline looked up, her silvery-gray eyes the same disconcerting color as Z’s. “How is Jessica doing, Valerie?”
“She’s holding up well.” Valerie shook her head. “Considering how far apart the contractions are, it’s going to be a while.”
Poor Jessica. Being in labor…well, it sucked.
“Of course it will be.” Madeline’s mouth pursed. “I believe the designer of female bodies must have flunked out of the engineering program.”
Laughing, Valerie headed through the house to return to Jessica and Beth, her sandals tapping on the pale marble flooring.
In the glass-enclosed Florida room, the ceiling fan was assisting the breeze from the cranked-open tall windows
Valerie set the tray down on the marble-topped table and handed a filled glass to Jessica.
Beth accepted hers with a soft thank you, then frowned at a streak of mud on her forearm. “Whoa, I’m a mess.” The slender redhead had been working on a landscaping design for the yard and was still in he
r tank top and overall-shorts.
“I’d want you here, even if you were covered in mud,” Jessica said. “I’d go crazy if I didn’t have all of y’all here to keep me busy.”
When Jessica had whined at Master Z that she needed diversions, he’d recruited the Shadowkittens bunch. They were all taking turns to visit during the beginning hours of labor.
Valerie settled into a wicker chair next to Jessica and glanced around the room. “I like your sunroom. It’s very serene.” With all windows and white trim, the room was filled with light. The bright blue Mediterranean tile floor, foliage plants, and blue-and-white chair cushions added color.
“That was the plan.” With one hand on her belly, Jessica gave a short laugh. “I’m not sure it’s working today. I can’t believe I probably still have hours to go!”
“One moment at a time.” Valerie settled in the chair beside her. “You can get through this moment. Don’t look at the future.”
Beth nodded.
“Right. Thank you.” With a sigh, the blonde relaxed before drinking some tea.
“Was your call from one of your children?”
Recognizing Jessica needed a diversion, Valerie nodded. “My son, Dillon.”
“You have a boy and girl, right?” Jessica asked.
Valerie nodded.
“I don’t know what I’m having. We already have one girl, and Z’s never said if he wants a boy or girl.” Jessica’s eyes filled with worry. “What if he wants a boy? Guys always want boys, right?”
“I have a feeling Master Z will love whatever baby you two made,” Beth said. “No matter what sex.”
Valerie couldn’t give Jessica the same reassurance. Barry had been disappointed to not have two boys. “Z would probably want you to ask him rather than be knotted up with worries. At least, that’s Ghost’s preference.”
“Those two are way too much alike,” Jessica grumbled. “And now I’m going to have to ask him. Because you pointed it out.”
Valerie snorted. “Sorry.”
“Is your son all right, Valerie?” Beth asked.
“He is. He wanted to confirm he’ll come to dinner this Sunday. Both of my children will be there.”
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