Chapter 29: Protective much

Ren's POV

Just as I exited the bathroom, I heard, “Sunshine, Mama’s here. Come down and eat.”

I laughed. Reya was such a character—definitely crazier than my best friend. I quickly dressed. I didn’t need to pack a full bag; I still had essentials and clothes at my old apartment. Still, I slipped two lace panties into my backpack. Kai liked those, and so did I. Knowing him, he’d call later, and I could tease him. The thought made me giggle.

I put on my ring, grabbed my phone and backpack, and ran downstairs.

“Eya, I missed you,” I said as I rushed in to hug her. She wrapped her arms around me tightly.

“When you stay indoors and have Kai devour you like a daily dose of medicine, that’s why we never see each other.”

I blushed and laughed. Then she pulled back slightly, eyes narrowing.

“Where’s the ‘R’ in my name? You leave that upstairs too?”

I giggled. “Didn’t feel like calling you Reya today. Maybe tomorrow.”

She shook her head, but her expression turned serious. “I’m happy you’re with Kai. You’re a breath of fresh air for him. But listen to me carefully, Ren—don’t hurt him. Don’t manipulate him. If you’re ever going to do that, disappear first. Because if you break him, it won’t just be him you’ll answer to. Understand?”

A chill ran down my spine. I stepped closer and hugged her again. “Thank you for looking out for him. I promise I won’t hurt or manipulate him. I know what that feels like, and I hate it. He’s too good… and the sex, Eya—”

She shoved me away dramatically. “Ewwww, what’s that? What’s sex? Stop corrupting my ears!”

I muttered, “Dramatic much.”

She laughed and pointed to the table. “Sit. Eat.”

A bowl of yogurt and fruit was already waiting. She handed me a wrapped package next. “Sandwiches are here. Looks like you’re going out. Take a juice too, Ren.”

I nodded and started eating. After a moment, she tilted her head.

“You seem to not like using your words. Is that how your Daddy taught you?”

My eyes widened as I tried to swallow. She looked completely serious.

“No, ma’am.”

She nodded once. “Good boy. Now eat up so I can drop you off.”

“Yes, ma’am. Thank you.”

I finished everything, washed the plate, and followed her to the garage. She drove while asking where we were headed. When I said Willow Creek, she simply nodded. A few minutes later I asked if we could stop at a store for Ayesha. She agreed without complaint.

I bought chocolates, candies, ice cream, cake, and sour chips for Ayesha, plus a small something for Reya. When I handed her the gift in the car, she looked genuinely surprised.

“Thank you, sunshine,” she said, softer than usual. “That’s thoughtful of you.”

The praise settled warmly in my chest. I didn’t need it from everyone—but from her, it made me feel seen and worthy, especially from my husband.

When we finally pulled up to my old apartment building, the familiar scent of the hallway hit me the moment I stepped out—old wood, faint detergent, and the distant thump of music already leaking from under my door. Reya watched me carefully.

“If anything happens, sunshine, you call me. You hear me?”

“I will, Reya. Thanks.”

I ran inside. The door was unlocked. The second Ayesha saw me, she shrieked and jumped into my arms.

“Ren, my love, how’ve you been? I missed you!”

I hugged her back tightly. “I missed you more.”

She kept talking as we settled on the couch with the snacks, telling me how good and healthy I looked—how I was glowing. Then she launched into stories about going back to the club and her recent escapades, giving me every messy detail the way only she could. Eventually she grew quieter.

“I’ve been thinking about the upper floor,” she admitted. “The lifestyle.”

My eyes widened. “Lifestyle?”

“Yeah. The BDSM stuff.”

“Really? Why?”

She shrugged. “Don’t know yet. Maybe I’ll find my reason. My dad hates that club specifically cause of that and will be so mad if I do it.”

I hesitated, then said quietly, “My husband is a Dom. He wants me to train as his sub.”

Ayesha went still. For a long moment she just looked at me, really looked, like she was searching for something in my face. Then a slow, knowing smile spread across her lips.

“Your eyes spark when you talk about him,” she said softly. “Give him a chance, Ren. Fear and curiosity can live in the same place. Just… don’t shut the door before you know what’s on the other side.”

I nodded and slowly leaned my head into her lap. She ran her fingers through my hair while we put on a movie. The apartment felt smaller than I remembered, but safer somehow. We stayed like that until night came. Eventually I drifted off on the couch thinking about becoming a sub to a certain Dom that married me, and she did fall asleep too.