Page 18 of Their Naughty Student
She squared her shoulders.“Well, I mean, I didn’t expect you to be attracted to me just because you … were told you had to show me around.”
“I wasn’t told, either,” he clarified.
Jamie sighed.“Fine.Whatever.Zeke coaxed you into it.I don’t care.And like I said, I don’t expect you to be attracted—”
“No one said I wasn’t,” he noted.
I held back my grin.Edge wasn’t the sort who liked confrontation.I figured, because of his position as head Master of this club and the one we’d previously been members of, he didn’t get much of it.That didn’t seem to be the case here.
Jamie’s hands dropped against her thighs, a reflection of her frustration with this conversation.“Fine.I don’t expect you to be turned on by me simply because I’m here, but—”
Edge held up a hand, cutting her off.“First of all, this entire conversation is moot.Me being turned on by you has nothing to do with any request your brother made.”
I bit my lip to keep from smiling.Had he realized he’d just given himself away?
There was another gleam in Jamie’s eye.Clearly, she’d picked up on that, too.
“I’m doing a favor for a friend, Miss Lautner,” he clarified, his words flowing smoothly.“I agreed to give you an introduction.I feel as though I’ve succeeded.You’ve seen a variety of scenes tonight, as well as gotten a general feel for the atmosphere.”
“I agree.You have.”Jamie moved one step closer, and I felt the air in the room heat a few degrees.“But I have another request.”
Edge’s muscles tightened, his head tilting down slightly as he stared at her from beneath his lashes.“And that would be?”
“Since you know my brother, you can imagine what it took to get him to finally agree to let me step foot in the door here.Now that he has, I owe it to myself to grab hold of this opportunity as tightly as I can.”
“What opportunity would that be?”
Again, Jamie’s gaze drifted to me as though ensuring I was still there.Did she think I could protect her?Or maybe back her up?
I pressed my shoulder into the jamb, grinned.
She peered back at Edge.“I’m going to be honest.”
Edge nodded.“I’d appreciate that.”
“As I mentioned earlier, I’m working on my doctorate.The basis of my dissertation is on human sexuality, relating to Domination and submission and the power play that occurs within.More specifically, I’m looking to prove my thesis statement with substantial evidence showing that the utmost power in a D/s relationship is, in fact, held by the submissive.
“As of now, most of my discoveries are in direct correlation to the interviews I’ve performed, as well as the books I’ve read—both fiction and nonfiction.However, I’m a long way from proving anything.Now that I’m in the door here, I’m hoping to expand my interviewee pool dramatically, have more opportunities to prove my theory.”
Edge’s hands lowered to his sides.Slowly.He looked angry.Enough that it had Jamie taking a step back and me standing tall.I didn’t know why I felt the need to protect her should he lose it, but that was where I was at.
“Before you get upset…” she said quickly.
“Too late for that,” he snarled.
“I’m not writing about the club or the members.There will be nothing that even mentions this place.”
That seemed to settle the big guy a little.
“However, I am looking to get more interaction with both Dominants and submissives.Specifically, I’d like to interview and observe.”
“No,” he barked.
When most people would’ve turned and run, Edge’s definitive response seemed to trigger her need to argue.
“Only with your permission.”
“No,” he repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument.
