“What about Nory?” Drina asked, concerned for her sister’s welfare.
“She’s already on a train headed to Spartanburg. Trixie and Brock will be picking her up there.”
Gemma poured herself a drink and teetered over to the sofa and took a seat. Strangely enough, Hales met her there. He took the tumbler from her hand and locked his arm around her shoulders. Surprisingly, she didn’t put up a fight. She didn’t look too happy about the arrangement, but she also didn’t shrug away the arm or the man.
“Kane, Peyton, I’m sorry for everything my father has put you through,” Drina said.
“You don’t have to apologize to us.” Peyton walked over and hugged her. “You and your sisters are family. And don’t you forget it.”
“I won’t,” she said, grateful for her support.
Kane clucked. “Well, crew, I guess we’ll be getting out of here.”
“Don’t want to stick around?” Brandon asked rolling his eyes around the room. “You can always spend the night here.”
Kane sniffed. “I think someone already has dibs on the bedroom tonight.”
Drina felt her skin heat. “I can change the sheets before I go.”
Peyton laughed. “Honey, don’t let him give you a hard time. Before we drove over here, I was in line at Clink and—”
“Peyton, let’s go,” Kane said, bracketing his arm around her waist. “Otherwise those licks I promised you will come sooner rather than later.
Peyton wiggled her bottom and met Kane at the door. He popped her on the rear. “See there, men. Find you a good submissive woman at the start and you don’t have to put up with a lot of sass.”
Drina rolled her eyes at Gemma and she returned the gesture. Peyton pointed at them. “They know the truth.”
“We do,” Drina said, laughing.
“A submissive woman holds all the power in a Dom-sub relationship.”
“Oh I don’t know about all that,” Hales said, tightening his grip on Gemma’s shoulders when she seemingly started to move.
“It’s true, son,” Kane said. “Talk to any Dom who has been in a committed relationship for a few decades or longer and he’ll tell you.”
“I guess
I’ve never found the right one to make me feel that way.”
“Looks to me like you’re finally headed in the right direction.”
Gemma shifted next to him and Hales dropped his arm. They all laughed, said their farewells, and discussed their plans for the rest of the evening.
“We’re staying here,” Zak said.
Dallas stuffed his hands in his pocket, shifted his weight between his feet, and looked at Hales. “Is it all right if I catch a ride back with you?”
“You aren’t staying?”
“I wasn’t invited.”
Drina felt as if her heart had been staked. She turned to look at Zak who stared at the choker around her neck, which instantly reminded her of one important fact.
She belonged to Zak Blazier. She was his woman. She’d made a commitment. And at the end of the day, it was his decision if she and Dallas played together on a regular basis or on rare occasions.
She had hoped for a more permanent arrangement.
Chapter Eleven