The Seller

"I will," she replied and there was relief in her tone. "I appreciate this."

Lucas's frown deepened. She really didn't want to handle this. That didn't bode well. If Toby was getting into trouble, he needed clear guidance and established boundaries, not a mother who didn't want to handle it. But that was Clara all over. She wanted the good times, the partying. She wasn't willing to work hard to get them though.

"Lucas," she sighed. "Thank you for doing this, I'd be mortified in front of the teachers and you'll handle it so much better than I could."

Jesus, thinking of herself as usual, not our son. Lucas was about to say his goodbyes, but she continued.

"You're so good at sorting things out. I always admired that about you." She paused. "Maybe I should come out to be with you. I could meet you at City airport."

Lucas rolled his eyes. He knew what this was about. She wanted to stand behind him looking glamorous while he tore a strip off someone. "I'm not in London."

"Oh…"

"I'm on it. I'll get in touch with Frank as soon as you hang up."

"Thank you, Lucas. Please keep in touch and let me know how he is."

Lucas ended the call and glared at the phone. What the hell did that mean – let me know how he is? She wasn't even going to speak to her son until it had been sorted. He shook his head and hurriedly pulled on his clothes.

* * * *

Naomi slipped away to the bathroom as soon as she realized he was dealing with a personal call from his ex. It felt weird being in bed with a man when his ex called. It was early too, barely sunrise. Did his ex often call at this time of day?

She tried to push the questions away. It wasn't her business.

Peering at herself in the bathroom mirror, she scarcely recognized herself. The last days had been the most incredible of her life, and as she looked at her reflection she saw that her eyes look different, somehow, as if meeting Lucas and discovering the joys of being his submissive had altered her life.

"I look like a woman, a self-possessed, sensuous, confident woman." She gave a soft laugh and ran her fingers through her tousled hair, trying to restore order to it.

She could hear his muffled voice through the shut door, but the words weren't discernible. She couldn't help being curious though. What woman wouldn't be? It sounded like a private matter, a family concern. If it was his ex-wife, she'd done the right thing leaving the room.

Weird that they'd spoken about her the evening before though.

Lucas had confessed a fear – something Naomi didn't think he had a single one of. That fear had been rooted in him by his ex wife, this Clara woman. Naomi had been able to be objective about

it, to sooth his concerns and remain outside, but that didn't mean she hadn't felt a tug of jealousy. When she pictured his ex-wife trying to wound him, she wanted to slap the woman. Then she'd phoned. It sent a shiver down Naomi's spine.

She emerged from the bathroom when all was quiet.

Lucas was pulling on a pair of black jeans she hadn't seen him wearing before. She looked at him buckling up his belt with a regretful sign. "You have to leave?"

"I'm afraid so. My son has got himself into a…situation. He's okay, he's safe, but there has to be consequences. He's on a school trip in Switzerland. I need to get over there, pronto."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I'll get dressed and give you some space." She stepped over to the bedside where her high heels were half under the bed. Before she got there Lucas closed on her, fast, and locked his hand around her wrist.

"Wait. I didn't say I wanted you to leave."

The possessive look in his eyes made her breath stall. "I assumed..."

He shook his head, emphatically. Tightening his grip on her wrist, he drew her into his arms. "I'm sorry about this. It has to be done."

Her heart melted. "Of course, it's your son. You don't have to apologize."

"I know." He put one hand at the small of her back, making sure she couldn't move until he set her free, and with the other hand he stroked her hair back from her face. "It's bad timing."

She nodded. "I'll be waiting to hear from you."

"That's good to hear." He rested a kiss on her forehead. His eyes flickered with thoughts. "Actually, I'd rather not have either of us waiting. Do you think Megan would cover the shop for a couple of days?"