Page 173 of Masters of Pleasure
“House manager?”
Iris took a deep breath.Explaining her job usually netted one of two reactions—the people who thought it wasn’t a real job, like her father and brother, and the people who thought it sounded cool.Domi, Rae, and Avery had thought it sounded interesting.She’d been pretty nervous when she told them but not as nervous as she was to tell Master Law.
“Um, well, I was a nanny through an agency, then they got a posting for a house manager, and I thought I’d give it a try.Basically, the couple I work for isn’t home often and needs someone to manage all their household stuff.Making appointments for repairs or anything around the house, walking their dog, running errands, getting groceries, decorating for the holidays, and cooking for them a couple times a week.Basically, any odd job they need done, I’m their go-to girl.”About the only thing she didn’t do was clean since they had a maid.
She loved her job—she really did—she just didn’t love how some people reacted to her job.The Hills were nice, albeit a little crazy at times, but when you had as much money as they did, you could get away with being a little crazy—except it was called ‘eccentric.’
“Oh, really?I could use someone to handle all that for me.”To her surprise, Master Law looked more thoughtful than anything else.
“Really?”
“Yes.Well, not the dog walker since I don’t have one.”The little lift at the corner of his mouth was an almost smile, and Iris giggled.“But having someone at the house to make the appointment with the plumber, then meet them, or to get my groceries or whatever… who couldn’t use that?”
Well, when he put it that way.Granted, Iris had to do all of those things for herself, but she didn’t work eighty-hour weeks like the Hills did.They were both lawyers, like Law, although she didn’t know what type of law he practiced.
“The family works pretty crazy hours.She’s a defense attorney, and he’s an attorney for a firm downtown.You’re a lawyer too, right?”She knew he was—that was how he’d gotten his nickname at the club.She was pretty sure he knew that she knew, but he played along and told her about his work.They were still talking about what contract lawyers did when her food arrived… and he didn’t leave.
Part of her wanted to ask him if he needed to get back to work.The other part of her was perfectly happy sitting there and talking.No one got to talk to Master Law like this at the club.She didn’t know why he’d decided to come over and talk to her, but she liked it.
Law
What the hell was he still doing sitting here talking to Iris?
Yet he had no desire to get up and leave.
The impulse to say hi had turned into a surprisingly interesting conversation.Something he couldn’t say about most people.Although he knew she was a hell of a brat as a sub, here at the restaurant, talking to her was easy.Enjoyable even.
“I should probably leave you to your lunch,” he said, even though he didn’t feel like getting up.He hadn’t meant to sit here this long.“I’ll see you tonight.”
“Oh, no, actually.”Iris made a face.“My roommate is having some, ah, personal issues, so I emailed Patrick and asked for the night off, so I can spend it with her.He said that would be fine, and he’d let you know.”
“It’s probably in my personal email.I check it first thing in the morning, then not again till the end of the day,” he said automatically, the answer covering up how disappointed he was, knowing she wouldn’t be there tonight.
That wasn’t right, was it?Why would he be so disappointed?He finally had a night off to do what he wanted, which was supposed to be a good thing.
“I should be back tomorrow.I’m not trying to get out of my punishment.”The way she said it was more than a little defensive.
Law blinked in surprise, focusing on her at the moment rather than thinking forward to tonight.
“I didn’t think you were.You’ve been nothing but a model submissive this month.”
“Even when I poured the drink on that Dom?”
Law felt his lips twitch.Hell, they weren’t in the club, so he could smile.As he let his true feelings on the matter show, her reaction was worth it, eyes widening and jaw dropping open.
“He deserved it.That’s why I barely punished you.”
Recovering quickly from her surprise, Iris snorted.
“As if that’s something new.”There was a bitterness in her voice that dug under his skin like a thorn.
“What does that mean?”
“No one there ever punishes me.Not really.Not the way the other submissives get punished.”Her gaze skittered away from his, and she stabbed at the macaroni and cheese on her plate with her fork.The bitterness hadn’t gone away, and looking at her, Law suddenly wondered if he’d done the right thing by giving her the essay punishment instead of a real spanking.
She didn’t look like a brat right now.She looked like a disappointed and frustrated submissive.
“Were you hoping to be spanked?”If she had been, giving her the essay had been the right move.He hadn’t pegged it as a topping from the bottom, but at that moment, it had seemed like a true reaction.
