“But we haven’t actually started yet,” Kat said, unable to understand the words. People were coming to the exhibit to look at her art, and her agent had explained that it was common for only a few to sell the first time. They were creating buzz, mostly, getting her name out there.
“When we did the sneak peeks over the last week for media, we started getting calls from collectors who wanted to buy pieces before the exhibit so they didn’t lose them. They’reallsold, Kat, every one of them.” Her agent grinned even though Kat had trouble keeping up. “Smile, Kat, you’re a success.”
And right there… Kat thought she might just collapse.
* * * *
Dean took a drink of the champagne that a server had handed off to him. He wasn’t drunk, and he wouldn’t drink enough to get there. Still, it was hard not to celebrate as he watched Kat float around the room from person to person with that smile.
She’d doubted herself for so long, been so sure she wasn’t any good, that no one could really want her, that watching her finally realize people respected her was the best damned thing.
It only made him fall harder for the impossible, stubborn and infuriating woman.
And I’ve already fallen pretty damned hard.
“You look happy.” Ell smiled as she walked up, her smile easing Dean as it always did. She was his oldest friend, more of a sister than anyone else in his life. She smiled more than she had before, telling him that domestic bliss agreed with her.
“I am,” Dean said, not bothering to make a joke. Ell would see through it anyway. “Never figured I’d get here, but damn it, I am.”
“Girl talk?” Kat came up and wrapped her arm around Dean’s waist, snuggling in. It was one of the things he loved about Kat, that she never worried about who was watching, that she never tried to hide how she felt when it came to him.
He wasn’t someone’s dirty little secret, and Kat would stand up to anyone who treated him like that.
“Always,” Dean said. “You jealous?”
“Hardly. I know Ell’s Doms, after all, and Clint would murder you if you touched her.”
Dean snorted at the joke, especially the fondness in Kat’s voice.
“Congrats,” Ell said, breaking into the back and forth. “You did amazing, Kat! I had no idea just how talented you are.”
“Thanks.” Kat leaned more against Dean, her gaze moving over the room as if she couldn’t believe it. “It doesn’t feel real that everyone is here for me.”
Dean leaned in and pressed a kiss to Kat’s head. While those words might have annoyed him from someone else, someone who was just fishing for compliments, he knew Kat too well to think that of her. She really had thought she wasn’t capable of this, that she wasn’t any good, that no one would care about her if she behaved like herself, if she showed people her real self.
Stupid girl.
A commotion by the door made him frown, drawing his attention there. The moment he spotted it, he cursed softly under his breath. He wanted to escort Kat away from the room, to let her hide again until it was dealt with, to shield her from it, but Kat was too sharp.
She turned and went rigid at the sight of her parents walking into the exhibit.
Well fuck…
“I can’t believe how many people are here from Sanctuary,” Olin said to Toya as he marveled again at the tight connection between them all.
“That only goes to show you were away too long. We always look out for our own.” Toya looked toward Kat, a softness on her face that was rare for the Domme. “Kat is like the heart of Sanctuary. I don’t think it would be what it is without her, even if she doesn’t realize it.”
“Well, I have a feeling she can’t pull this whole, ‘I am an island,’ thing anymore.”
“Not with you, Dean and Bradley watching her, at least.” Toya let out a soft laugh. “Of course, if you hurt her…”Andthere went that rare sweetness she’d had, bringing her scary side out in force.
It reminded him why Toya ran such a tight ship with Sanctuary, why they had so few problems there. She was ruthless when it came to those she considered herself responsible for, which meantallof the people who went. Still, it seemed she had a special place for Kat.
“I wouldn’t do anything to hurt her,” Olin said instead of making a joke of the threat. “I love her more than anything, and nothing matters more to me than keeping her safe and seeing that mischievous smile of hers.”
Toya studied his expression, as if trying to determine the truth, before nodding. “You’d better.”
“What are you doing here?” Bradley’s angry voice made Olin frown and turn, the way it was lowered but still carried, as if he wanted no one to hear but couldn’t quite control it.