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"No." She shook her head, holding her palm up to me to stop me from getting any closer. "It's easier if I go alone."

"All right. Can you look at me for a minute, please?"

She listened to me and met my gaze, but her eyes flickered over my face with the discomfort. Her hands pressed deeper into the pockets of her jacket while we stood there.

"'Ana 'afahum tamamana." I spoke the Arabic phrase that expressed my understanding. For the briefest moment, her eyes welled up and she nodded.

"How long will you be?" I asked.

"An hour or two," she said, the weight of it evident in her softer tone.

"Okay. Come back here after and maybe I'll distract you by spanking my girl and letting you watch." I cocked a brow at her, and she laughed softly.

"No touching?"

"Nope." I grinned when she played along. "No touching, but plenty of watching."

"Well, what if Nora wants me to touch her?"

"Different story." I smirked and flicked her elbow. "But I'll tell you to fuck off anyway. You get to count the orgasms today instead of me."

Finally, her grin returned, and she nodded. "Deal. Maybe Marley's free tomorrow for one more round before I head back out."

"Good deal."

"Oh. There's a munch tomorrow night at Owen's barbeque joint. Have you gone to one recently?"

"Nah." I shook my head. "Not in a few years. Kinda stuck to Leather & Lace until recently…"

"Maybe we should go. Marley likes the social scene. Maybe Nora would, too," she said.

"We'll talk to her about it when you get back, cool?"

"Yeah." She smirked and nudged my shoulder when she headed down the hall. "Later."

"Bye."

I watched her angle toward the stairs, skipping the elevator as usual, she turned back to me and called, "Caroline?"

"Yup." I pressed my hands into the back pockets of my jeans.

"Shukraan," she said, her voice soft.

"You're welcome." I nodded in her direction, then headed back inside after watching her go.

"What did Samirah mean about the connection beyond work?" Anita accosted me as soon as I returned.

"What? You're asking me? No idea." I hugged Nora from behind, a little roughly for the moment, and she kissed my arms. She moved freely with me as always, never startled by anything I did to or with her.

"Well, I would like to know." Anita huffed and fiddled with the hem of her skirt.

"Well, then ask her." I smirked and Nora snickered while she looked up at me.

"I ordered," she said.

"Good." I stroked her cheek and her brow furrowed.

"What's wrong?"