Dominique smiled, charmed. ”Yes, yes it is.” She confirmed.

”Come on, try and catch me.” Elisa dared, kissing her briefly on the lips and running off.

Dominique was stuck a little dumb by Elisa’s impulsiveness, but quickly recovered and smiled a little ruefully herself, hurrying to run after her date.

They ended up at the conservatory gardens. Dominique managed to catch Elisa’s hand and pull her into her arms some small distance from the entrance. ”You caught me.” Elisa told her with an almost shy smile.

”I did, didn’t I?” Dominique asked with an answering smile; she was feeling, frankly, exhilarated… even joyful. She couldn’t remember in fact, if she’d ever experienced such pure, uncomplicated joy in all her life.

”I thought, if we went for a walk in the gardens, maybe we could find someplace with a little more privacy?” Elisa asked hopefully.

Dominique smiled just a little waywardly. ”You have the most wonderful ideas, detective, have I ever told you that?” Dominique asked, aching to kiss Elisa, but deciding she would wait until later, until they were alone and she would have her date all to herself. She knew they would only go so far, that Elisa wasn’t ready for that yet, no matter how much she herself very much was… but, somehow, she had made peace with that within herself now. Somehow, she was quite enjoying the game of it between them – Taking their time – Because she was certain, as certain as she had ever been about anything, that it would happen between them, that they would mate, that Elisa would be hers.

It might end in tragedy, that was true, but by this point, she was more than willing to take her chances.

So they parted and Elisa took her hand and they walked off into the park.

—————–

Robyn Correy sighed with relief as she entered her apartment. It had been a long day. First what had happened in the morning with Dominique’s appointment, then everything that followed had been… confusing to say the least, and then Dominique had basically left her in charge for the rest of the day (rewarding in it’s way, but tiring). Oh, there were department heads, but somehow she’d actually ended up earning Dominique Destine’s trust to the point that now, her boss had made it clear to everyone that, when she was away, they all reported to her. It had been wholly… unexpected… how easy it had been.