be discreet

[msmage]

It's not much later, in Isabella's room, that she asks:

"So... is Alex really a dom?"

Comments

[eclipsi]

"You will have to settle for a platonic relationship with physics."

[mrmage]

"I'm sure I'll be able to move on somehow."

[eclipsi]

"Good."

[mrmage]

"Helps that I have the world's best dom."

[eclipsi]

That will get him another kiss.

[mrmage]

It was the intended effect!

[eclipsi]

Isn't he clever.

[mrmage]

Yup! She probably wouldn't like him as much if he weren't.

[catalexis]

Driving driving. Eventually Alex turns the radio on. Apparently his tastes run to Top 40 pop.

[mrmage]

Sadde might catch himself starting to hum along a few songs.

[eclipsi]

Awwww.

[mrmage]

[eclipsi]

And eventually:

the restaurant!

[mrmage]

He gets out of the car and furrows his eyebrows at one other car he sees, but puts it out of his mind.

[eclipsi]

"Swan," Isabella tells the host, and they are seated at a table -

- for eight.

[mrmage]

Eight?

"Did your mom invite anyone else?" he asks Alex as they're led to the table.

[catalexis]

"Didn't tell me if she did. Maybe she thought it'd be fun to meet your folks? Do they live around here?"

[eclipsi]

Isabella squeezes Sadde's hand hard.

[mrmage]

"My-"

They're in view of the table.

Sadde stops walking.

[eclipsi]

"Do you want to go sit in the car while I talk to Mom?"

[mrmage]

"I- I- I-"

But Tobias has spotted them and stood up, beaming. He's a tall, handsome man, and he has enough presence one almost feels like he's carrying several implements on his person, but he's prim and proper as only a conservative dom can be. His wife and kids are present, too, and Sadde's half-brother stands up, too, though he's more neutral than anything, and certainly no older than twelve if that.

"Well, it's nice to finally meet you!" Tobias says to Alex. "You must be Sadde's dom, yes?"

[catalexis]

"Um," says Alex, "my sister is holding his hand, so I don't know why you thought that."

[kindestgarden]

"Alex," says Renée - that must be Renée - reproachfully.

[eclipsi]

"He's mine," says Isabella firmly.

[mrmage]

Tobias' smile doesn't falter, though there might be the slightest of impressions that he hadn't noticed Isabella there before. "Of course, of course. I'd love to get to know you. Let's sit." He's the first one to, followed by Jonathan.

Sadde looks at Isabella, his eyes suddenly devoid of emotion, and then moves to obey.