Page 212 of Masters of Pleasure
Maybe she was setting herself up for heartbreak.
“Iris?You okay over there?”Avery asked.
Iris realized the conversation had kept going on around her, and she hadn’t been paying attention.Oops.
“Oh, she spaces out like that all the time.”Noelle flipped her hand.“Off in her own little world, don’t mind her.”
“Sorry.I was just thinking that I am nowhere near thinking about that with Law.”Iris blushed.Even saying it out loud felt weird.It was way too soon.
“Not necessarily.At a certain point, you gotta figure out if you’re looking for something long-term, in which case why waste time with someone who won’t suit you, or if you’re still enjoying yourself without having to worry about the long-term.”
“Oh, she’s definitely not looking for long-term,” Noelle said, shooting an amused glance at Iris as though she was sharing an inside joke.While it was true, Noelle had always been more interested in serious relationships than Iris, that didn’t mean it was still true.
“I don’t know that I’m not.”Iris crossed her arms over her chest.She knew she sounded defensive, but… well, she was feeling defensive.“I told Law I didn’t want to keep doing anything with him unless there was at least a possibility of eventually becoming serious.”
“That’s smart.That way, you can let it develop naturally or not,” Domi jumped in.Noelle closed her mouth on whatever she’d been about to say, frowning at Iris.
“Here’s hoping, although he did say he’s not really a go with the flow kind of guy.”Iris wouldn’t tell them everything he’d told her, but she figured that much was okay.It wasn’t as though anyone who had met him would think otherwise.As if to prove that thought, Domi, Rae, and Avery snickered.
“That’s an understatement.”Rae giggled, tossing several lengths of her long braids back over her shoulder.Her dark eyes sparkled with mirth.“He is theLaw!”All of them cracked up at the way she’d deepened her voice to make it sound like she was introducing an episode ofLaw and Order.“In the BDSM lifestyle, inexperienced subs are considered especially dangerous.At Club Marquis, Master Law is the dedicated Dom assigned to babysit brats before they are formally expelled.This is his story…”
“Dun-dun,” Domi and Iris gasped between hysterical giggles.Avery was done, holding her hand to her stomach and laughing so hard, she was crying.Tears filled Iris’ eyes, too, realizing she couldn’t stop laughing, and Rae was laughing now.Their eyes met, which just made Iris laugh even harder.
She waved her hand in front of her.
“Don’t look at me… we can’t look at each other… oh God, it hurts…” She pressed her hand over the aching muscles of her stomach.
When they finally managed to stop giggling—which meant avoiding each other’s gaze for about five minutes—Domi cleared her throat and sat up.
“So, does that mean you’ve made plans to see each other again?”
“No.He’ll be at Stronghold tonight as a Dungeon Monitor, so he’s busy.”Iris shrugged.She’d hoped they might makesomekind of plan, but she’d been the one to say, ‘go with the flow.’She’d sensed he needed some time to get used to the idea.At least, she was pretty sure that’s what she’d sensed.
“Does being a Dungeon Monitor mean he can’t talk to you?”Noelle asked, her forehead wrinkling.Iris wasn’t surprised.Noelle wouldn’t like that at all.She expected her boyfriends to be available to her at pretty much all times.
“Not exactly, but it means he can’t talk to me much.I shouldn’t distract him.”Iris could only imagine what her brother would have to say about that.“Besides, Saturdays are Andrew’s night at Stronghold.”
“Yeah, but as long as you stay out of the play areas, you’re fine,” Rae pointed out.“It’s not like much happens at the bar, and I don’t think he and Kate have ever used the dance floor for anything except dancing.”
That was a good point.Iris wanted to see him, but she didn’t want to abandon Noelle.She looked over at her roommate, who had a slightly pinched expression.Iris wouldn’t ask, not while the others were around.Noelle didn’t mean to be judgmental, but she didn’t get the kink scene, and Iris didn’t want to risk her inadvertently insulting the others.
“Did you want to do something tonight?”she asked Noelle.“I just saw him last night.I don’t need to go see him again tonight.Or you could come with us.”
“No, go ahead.”Noelle waved her hands at Iris flippantly.“I don’t need a babysitter.I’ll see if Tyler can hang out.I want to have a talk with him, anyway.”
Iris bit her lip against protesting that she didn’t think Noelle needed a babysitter.No point.That would lead to a circular argument, and she didn’t feel like getting trapped in one of those right now.She also wouldn’t ask if Noelle wanted to talk to him about his friends since her opinion was Noelle probably shouldn’t, and she didn’t think Noelle wanted to hear it right now.
“Okay, cool.”Then Iris frowned.“Do you think I should text him and let him know I’m coming?”
“Oh, where’s the fun in that?”Rae asked, her eyes sparkling.“Aren’t surprises more fun?”
“Oh, good, a brat encouraging another brat.That won’t end terribly,” Avery quipped, making them all giggle.
She had a point, but so did Rae.
“I think surprising him sounds fun.”Iris grinned.
“This is one of those times when I wish Stronghold allowed cell phones in the club, so you could take a picture of his face when he sees you there.”Avery shook her head.“I’m sorry I’m going to miss it.”
