Her safe word

I lost.

Lurching up. I ran for the closest bathroom, my mind desperately trying to remember the floor plan of this huge labyrinth of a house. My hand over my mouth, I stumbled into the powder room just off the solarium and flung myself over the toilet. I puked my guts out until there was nothing left to come up. I wanted to run away.

I'd been here for the second time in less than twenty-four hours with my girl and it sucked. Especially for her. Talking seemed like a pointless exercise, so I didn't. I just held her hair and let her go to work on expelling the contents of her stomach. I wet a cloth with cold water from the sink and handed it to her. She took it from me, pressed it over her whole face and groaned. I felt completely helpless. You did this to her and she hates you for it.

Fred tapped on the open door. "House call," he said kindly.

"Can you give her something. Fred?"

Brynne took the cloth away from her face, looking pale and about ready to cry. Fred smiled at her. "I can gi