I realized then that the song had ended and a soft jazz one had started. According to my watch, we had another thirty minutes before we needed to leave, so I disgruntledly handed Abby over to him.
I watched them as they made their way to the middle of the dance floor. Along the outer edges, other people joined in.
“Nathaniel,” Felicia said from my side.
I barely covered my shock. My relationship with Felicia was complicated. I knew she didn’t approve of the lifestyle Abby and I lived on weekends, though Abby had told me of the conversation the two of them had the day they looked at the church. For the most part, I still felt as if Felicia put up with me simply because she had to. Certainly, she never sought me out.
“Dance with me?” she asked in a voice edged with uncertainty.
This time I wasn’t able to cover my shock. Not only had she approached and talked to me first, but she was asking me to dance? I merely nodded and led her onto the dance floor.
The first few minutes were awkward. Felicia was obviously as uncomfortable being in my arms as I was holding her. Her back was stiff and her body tense. It was only as we drew close to where Jackson and Abby danced that I could discern Felicia relax.
“She’s glowing,” she said.
Jackson was spinning Abby around the dance floor and they were both laughing. She looked stunning, as always, but there was something more about her today. It was as if joy filled her so completely, it radiated from her. She caught me staring and blew me a kiss.
“She is,” I said in agreement with Felicia. “Thank you for standing up with us.”
Felicia took a deep breath. “I need to tell you something.”
I braced myself for the worst, though I couldn’t imagine what could cause her to seem so troubled.
She looked uncertain for the first time, glancing away, looking at the wall behind me. “I won’t say I’m sorry for the way I treated you in the beginning. I was acting in what I thought was Abby’s best interest.” She shook her head. “I won’t apologize for that.”
I was too stunned to say anything and we stopped dancing.
“But I will say I’m sorry for assuming the worst about you and what you and Abby do.” She finally met my gaze. “It’s nothing I’d want to participate in, but you’re what Abby needs. I know now you’re looking out for her and I thank you for that. I’m glad she has you and I was proud to stand up with you two today.”
To call me flabbergasted would be an understatement. “Thank you, Felicia,” I finally managed to get out.
She nodded. “One more thing. If you ever try to pull one of those public things like what you guys did at the Super Bowl again, I’m calling the cops. That’s just wrong.”
Her reference to my go big or go home method of introducing Abby to sex in public caught me by surprise and I threw my head back and laughed.
Chapter Six
Abby
Thoughts of the honeymoon filled my mind as we drove to the airport. Once in Switzerland, if we wanted, we could spend entire days in bed. With two weeks together and no set plans, I hoped several days would pass in that manner. I knew he had my collar packed somewhere. Though we’d agreed I’d wear it some, we’d left open exactly when.
The pilot waited for us. “Mr. West.” He nodded, then smiled. “Mrs. West. Congratulations.”
Nathaniel shook the pilot’s hand. “Thank you. Are we ready to leave?”
“Everything’s ready, just been waiting for you.”
We made our way into the main cabin. I loved Nathaniel’s jet. It was comfortable and modern, with plush leather captain’s chairs in the main cabin. Down a short hall was a small bedroom and bathroom. Most of our time in the jet had been spent on weekends, so I’d had his collar on. I wondered where he had packed it.
I walked over to the table between the chairs and opened the drawer Nathaniel usually opened when he collared me. The drawer was empty.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“I’ve never been able to figure out where you keep my collar during the week.”
“And you thought maybe I kept it on the jet?”
“No,” I said. “I just wanted to pick on you.” I had a good feeling he probably kept the collar in the playroom during the week. I’d never looked there. The playroom wasn’t off-limits to me Monday through Friday, but I never felt quite right in there without Nathaniel being present.
I sat down and tried to buckle the seat belt. I had to readjust the strap twice before I got it to fit over the yards of lace and silk of my gown. When it finally locked in place, I looked over to Nathaniel and laughed at the picture we made. Dressed so formally and buckled up on a plane.