Valorous(55)

“Thank you so much.”

“Yes, thank you,” Flynn says. “We appreciate your sensitivity.”

“It was a pleasure to meet you both.” She starts to leave the room but turns back. “What happened to you this week, Natalie… That kind of thing can be a trigger that reopens old wounds. Take good care of yourself, and please call if I can be of any assistance.”

“I will. Thank you again.”

“Take all the time you need in here,” she says before she leaves the room, closing the door behind her.

My hands are shaking so badly, I have to rely on Flynn to help me into my clothes. He works with silent determination to get me dressed. The dress comes over my head, and he adjusts it until it’s where it’s supposed to be. With a hand on either side of me on the exam table, he drops his head onto my shoulder as if he needs a moment to collect himself.

I run my fingers through his hair.

“I’m so sorry, Nat. I never should’ve let you go through this.”

“I would’ve had to do it eventually.”

“But you didn’t have to do it today.”

“I’m glad I did. I got the first time over with, and now we’ll soon be protected, too.”

He withdraws a piece of paper from his pocket, unfolds it and hands it to me.

“What’s this?”

“Proof that I’m clean. My doctor sent it over this morning. I had the testing done in New York.”

“A fresh, clean start for our married life.”

“Yes, exactly.”

“You said you did this in New York, but you only asked me to marry you yesterday.”

“I knew by the third time I saw you that there was no going back. You’re it for me.” He bends his knees so he can look directly into my eyes. “Are you okay? I would totally understand if you wanted to postpone our plans for today because you don’t feel up to it.”

“I’m okay now that it’s over, and you’re not getting out of marrying me today.”

He breathes a sigh of relief as he hugs me. “Thank God.”





Watching Natalie endure that exam was about the most torturous thing I’ve ever been through in my life. I can’t begin to know what it must’ve been like for her. We’re on our way to the Quantum offices for a meeting with the group that will soon make up the board of directors for my hunger foundation.

After Natalie’s emotional reaction to the doctor’s appointment, I thought about postponing the meeting, but it was too late to cancel with so many busy people already en route.

She’s quiet on the drive to the office, and I don’t push her to talk. I know she’s dealing with yet another reopened wound, which makes me want to start punching things again.

Bringing her to the office—again—leaves me unsettled in light of the secrets we’re hiding in the basement of the Quantum building. Like in New York, our secret BDSM club is housed there, not that Natalie will ever know about that. It’s not a part of my life that I can share with her, so I’ll put it in the past where it belongs.

After witnessing the trauma the medical exam caused her, I’m further convinced that my now-former lifestyle will never play a part in our relationship, so why would I ever tell her about it? She won’t understand it unless she experiences it, and after what she’s been through, there’s no way I’m bringing dominance or submission into our bed. I’ll find a way to live without it, because living without her isn’t an option.

When we arrive on the top floor of the Quantum building where our executive offices are housed, everyone is thrilled about the Oscar nominations. The receptionist tells me my parents are waiting for me in my office. I’m glad I’ll get a chance to talk to them about our wedding plans before the meeting.

We’re holding hands when we enter my office, where my parents are enjoying cups of coffee and sitting together on one of the sofas. I’ve asked them and my sisters to be on the board of directors for the foundation, and they were all thrilled to accept. My parents jump up to greet us. Both of them hug and kiss Natalie. I love their easy familiarity with her and the way they’ve welcomed her into our family. She needs that right now, and they seem to know it.

“I’m glad you guys were able to get here a few minutes early.”

“You said you had some news for us that has nothing to do with the meeting,” Dad says, his eyes dancing. “That’s going to get our attention every time.”