The morning air was cool and clear outside the mansion.
Soft sunlight filtered through the leaves of the large tree near the edge of the garden path.
Naevora stood leaning against the trunk, one shoulder resting lightly against the bark as she held her phone to her ear.
"Yeah, I am here right now at this house. You got worried for nothing."
Behind her, quiet footsteps approached across the grass.
Brandon walked up directly behind her and, without a word, brought his hand down in a firm, open-palmed slap against her ass.
*Plah* The sharp sound of the impact cut briefly through the morning stillness.
Naevora's body jolted in surprise.
"-!"
On the other end of the line, the voice paused "…Is something wrong?"
She took a sharp breath, forcing her voice back into its usual composed tone even as a faint flush began to rise along the back of her neck.
"…No. It's nothing."
