Alpha Dom and His Human Surrogate

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As Sarah and Jessica come to sit down at the table, I’m surprised to see Henry take the lead in speaking to them. I get a little cup of coffee for myself, and a bowl of sliced fruit – honestly, I’m going to be too distracted to eat much and listen interestedly to the start of the conversation.

I don’t know why I’m so surprised, but Henry really does shock me with how charming he is with Sarah and Jessica, immediately putting them at ease as he asks them very simple, easy questions about who they are and what they like. He doesn’t delve into any of the big questions that I’m sure we’ll get into soon where they lived, how they lived, and why they ran but instead 1 does a wonderful job of showing his interest in who they are as people.

As I sit down at my place next to Sinclair and begin to sip at my coffee, I’m interested to see how Henry concentrates his attention on Jessica. She’s so young and so shy at first, but his questions about what she likes – reading, and animals – and what she dislikes – cold weather, chores – really allow Jessica to open up. I see Sarah smiling warmly at her sister and then at Henry as she, too, sees Jessica shed her shyness and become the lovely, happy little girl that Sarah must know at home.

“Yes!” Jessica says, enthusiastic. “I love dogs! I wish I had one! We used to have one, but…” she hesitates, and then looks up at Sarah, biting her lip.

“Master Xander had lots of dogs,” Sarah says, smiling around at us. There was a puppy that we liked best of all we…called him our dog. Frisky, we said his name was.”

“Because,” Jessica says, laughing, ” He was always so playful! And he liked to get into trouble.”

I smile at the little girl, laughing and imagining her with the little dog. But I notice that Sarah’s face turns sad, and she looks away from Jessica, not wanting her to see. My own face falls as I realize that…this story must not have a nice ending. And that Sarah doesn’t want Jessica to remember that.

Luckily, Henry jumps in. “Well,” he says, raising his eyebrows at Jessica. Did you know that there is a mama cat, here in the palace? Who had her kittens just about a month ago?”

completely round as she gasps at the news. Henry leans

her hands together and holding them tight under her chin. “Yes, please! Oh,

my mate, who smiles and nods, letting him know it’s a good idea – and then Henry rolls away to a

excitement, and then down at my own baby, who sitting on my lap and blowing bubbles, grasping at the table cloth and generally exploring his world. When I look up at

a big smile to match mine. And I can see…a sort of pride there,

deep determination to give this woman everything she needs to build a life. She has given

Jessica gasps and stands right up on her chair, trying to get a better look as Henry beckons the young woman forward and directs her to the

Sarah,” Jessica says, her voice full of pleading as Sarah scolds her and tugs her

looking around at the rest of

wanting the little girl to enjoy herself. And so Sarah lets her sister dash off to the living area at the back of

I murmur to Sinclair, peering at Henry who follows Jessica to the

his dad. “You should have seen the clever things he did

Henry come back to his place at the table. Cora stands up, fetching Sarah a refill

especially to Henry but looking around at us all. “I -I am grateful to have her out of earshot. I know you have questions, and I want to tell you everything but…” she glances over at her sister, who is giggling madly as she lays on the floor, letting kittens climb all over her. “Well, I don’t think Jessica needs to relive any of it, or hear details which I’ve tried

down next to Sarah

deep breath then, pressing her lips together as she looks around at us. “Well, then,” she says, giving a little shrug.