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Tamsyn’s head whipped up, obviously remembering how recentlyshe’dbeen that cat.

“Have they decided whether they’re staying or not?” Selecting the tumbler with only a finger’s worth of scotch, Fordham took a leisurely sip, but his dark blue gaze didn’t leave Tamsyn’s face.

“Elias mentioned extending Liam’s contract,” Merrick said in a quiet voice. “Jonah’s learning the ropes quickly, but he’s still lacking in confidence and social skills. He works best when Liam’s back there with him, and everyone loves Liam. Add in the stuffie sanctuary for Sierra and the fact Mack’s teaming up with Grit to boost the security systems, I think it’s likely they’ve made their minds up.”

“It must be hard, being torn between two places you consider home.”

Violet lifted her shoulder. “Just because you’re not there anymore doesn’t make it any less home. Phoenix is both heaven and hell for them; Sierra has a lot of bad memories there. She loves the people she left behind, but friends of the heart stay with you wherever you go.”

“Sounds like you’re speaking from experience, Vi.” Fordham flicked his gaze briefly in her direction. “How many friends of the heart did you leave behind in Louisiana?”

Merrick saw the pain flash across her face, a lot more fleeting than her melancholy smile. The Mistress had secrets of her own, it seemed. Ignoring the opportunity to pry, he took the other glass of wine and pressed the fragile stem into Tamsyn’s hand. “Take a sip, darlin’.”

“Just one,” Violet answered, then laughed when Tamsyn obediently sampled the wine. “It’s an acquired taste, sweetie.”

The conversation rolled on without him, little more than buzzing in his ears. He felt the shudder of revulsion ripple through the woman on his lap, then a second as she took another sip of wine.

In twenty-four hours, everything was going to change.

Would she feel different when she curled up on his lap? Would he still be able to hold her and feel her innocence seep into him as though her energy was his lifeline?

Fuck, by this time tomorrow, she might hate him.

Did it really matter if his cock wasn’t the first inside her? Christ, he’d already staked his claim on her in so many ways—his fingers and mouth were the first to touch her, taste her. He’d taken her first kiss, the purity of her mouth with his cock, and her first taste of cum came from him. One day, when he knew her limits by heart, he’d be the only one who fucked her ass.

For a man who stayed away from virgins, he was awfully hung up on being the man to sully this one.

He supposed that was what an idiot deserved for falling for a woman he had no right to lay hands on.

Maybe his punishment was having to watch his friend eyeing Tamsyn up as though figuring out how he was going to strip her, take her apart piece by piece, and make her come until those tawny eyes were blind.

“Merrick. Earth to Merrick.”

He blinked, casting off the horrible funk, and returned back to the conversation. “Vi?”

“I asked if you’re thinking about observing any interesting scenes tomorrow night,” the Mistress said with a slow, calculating smile. Her eyes were hard, conveying her displeasure, and warned him she was aiming for his heart. “Valentine’s Day is a special occasion for lovers, right? I know a lot of Doms who spend weeks planning the perfect scene for their subs.”

He glared at her. “No.”

“A quiet evening with Fordham, then—”

Anger and frustration tightening his guts, Merrick kissed his little owl’s temple and shifted her to the other side of the bench. “Wait here, darlin’. I need a minute with Mistress Violet in private.”

Tamsyn nodded slowly; he noticed her glass was almost empty.

“No more wine, little owl.” He plucked it from her hand, then stood and gestured for Violet to walk ahead of him. “Ford, if you’d keep an eye on her for a few moments?”

“Of course.”

“Where would you like to ream me out, Master Merrick?” Violet asked sweetly.

“Outside.” At least she wasn’t pretending she didn’t know why he was pissed and trying to hide it from Tamsyn.

They crossed to the exterior doors in rigid silence. Ever the gentleman despite his growing anger, Merrick stepped ahead to open the door for her, then followed her out into the cold, crisp night air. Before he could let loose with the half-formed lecture he’d been slicing together in his head, Violet took control from his grasp with ease.

“I’m begging you to reconsider this, Merrick. I understand you believe it’s your only option here, but you’re wrong. That woman loves you, she’schosenyou to be the man she shares herself with for the first time. Do you know how important that step is in a woman’s future? Virginity isn’t a prerequisite for an arranged marriage anymore—it represents a woman’s first major decision; it’s a statement of trust and freedom.”

“She comes from a community where her virginity is her only worth, Violet. They deny women the right to choose who they sleep with, when they have sex, and they’re traded like baseball cards from the age of twelve. From what we know, the survival rate is low.”