Page 189 of Masters of Pleasure
“Earth to Iris, hair up or down?”Noelle’s blue eyes sparkled in the mirror, a smirk on her lips.“Distracted much?”
“Maybe a little.Let’s do up, please.”Iris smiled at her in the mirror, and Noelle grinned back.It was as though they’d never fought and hadn’t been avoiding each other all week.Noelle expertly curled Iris’ hair and pulled it back, using a single clip from which the curls all spilled out.The clip was long and vertical, making it look as if they were pulled into an updo when in actuality, it would be very easy to take out the clip and let her hair loose.
Noelle had Iris flip around on the toilet, so she could do her makeup, updating Iris on everything that had happened with Tyler while they weren’t talking.Not that Noelle said it that way.She just told Iris what had been going on without mentioning why she needed to catch Iris up on a week’s worth of gossip.
“I don’t know if we’re going to last much longer.He blows hot and cold… I think his friends all hate me, and they’re influencing him.”Noelle made a face as she brushed some blush over Iris’ cheekbones.“Not that he says they hate me, but they used to be a lot nicer to me.”
“They’re mean to you?”Iris frowned.
“Not outright, but like… they’re always trying to get Tyler to hang out and have guy time without me.When we do all get together, nobody makes an effort to include me.”Noelle made another face.“Close your eyes.Do you want them smoky?”
“Yes, please,” Iris replied, grateful Noelle had changed the subject.She would have had to bite her tongue against the obvious question since she had to wonder how muchNoellewas trying to get along with Tyler’s friends.
From what Noelle said in the past, she hadn’t liked Tyler’s friends all that much.If they were sensing that, it wouldn’t be surprising that they weren’t into hanging out with her.
“So, tell me about the guy,” Noelle said as she did Iris’ eyes.
“He’s a lawyer, a little older but hot.Filipino.Bald.He has a beard and is pretty bossy.”
“Ooh, an older guy, thatishot.How much older?”
“Ten years.”
“Mm, so not too much older, but still hot.”Noelle giggled.“Where’d you meet him?Did you use an app?”
“No, I met him at Marquis.”Iris opened her eyes when Noelle moved back.The expression on her roommate’s face wasn’t happy, but she didn’t appear to want to pick a fight.
“Is this like one of those sex dates you told me about?”Noelle asked.
“Well, we haven’t talked about if we’ll be having sex yet.He’s taking me out to dinner.”At a sex club, but Noelle didn’t need to know that.
“Hmm.Well, I hope you have fun.If he’s older, that probably means he’s looking to settle down.”Again, it was unclear from Noelle’s tone whether or not she thought that was a good thing.
“Maybe.”Iris stood up to get her mascara.That was the only part of her makeup, Noelle didn’t do.When she saw herself in the mirror, she had to smile and pose.“Damn, I look hot.”
“Of course, you do,” Noelle replied smugly, squeezing in so she could see herself next to Iris.Her eyes swept critically over Iris’ reflection.“I do good work.”
“I’m gonna get changed.Thank you.”Iris reached her arm around Noelle to give her a hug, relieved they were back on an even keel.Still grinning, Noelle hugged her back.
“Have a great night!”
Iris definitely planned to.
Law
The Marquis manager’s office was decorated in a distinctly feminine way despite the heavy wooden furniture and red and black color scheme.Unlike the office at Stronghold, which was far more minimalist and designed more for function than visual appeal.Not that Marquis’ office wouldn’t function as effectively—Olivia, the manager, had made it both functional and beautiful.
She was the Mistress of Marquis, overseeing the second-floor operations and acting as the liaison to the restaurant beneath on the first floor.Not a job Law envied.Her boyfriend and submissive was one of the silent backers of the business and was sitting in a chair in the back corner of the office, seemingly engrossed with a book.
Despite being an owner, Luke never involved himself in the day-to-day running of the club.Probably for the best, since Law didn’t think Olivia would take that well.
Sitting behind the large desk, wearing one of her signature red suits, with her red hair pulled back into a tight bun, she exuded both an air of inherent sexuality and professionalism.She gave off a kind of naughty-librarian vibe that was extremely appealing.
“So, next month we have the class for newer submissives to the clubs, but we have a small problem, which is why I’ve asked you both to join me today.I want to talk through it and get your thoughts.”Olivia’s gaze passed back and forth between Law and Mistress Julie, the Domme who also taught the classes.
Mistress Julie was the shortest and least physically imposing of the three of them, but Law would also classify her as the scariest when she wanted to be.Especially since Olivia had softened after becoming involved with Luke.Not that he’d ever tellOliviathat.He liked his balls right where they were, thank you.
“What’s wrong?”Frowning, Julie leaned forward with interest.Like Law, she was still dressed for work, though she wore a pair of jeans and a polo shirt with the company logo.She liked to joke it constituted business casual for tech geeks like herself.
