Page 193 of Masters of Pleasure
“So, you’ve eaten here recently.What’s good?”
Iris wrinkled her nose, obviously picking up on his teasing jab about how her time at the bar had spread the word they’d be here together tonight.
“I don’t know if I’d call drinking at the bar ‘eating,’” she muttered before pushing her voice back to its normal volume.“The sirloin is excellent… or the crab cakes if you don’t like steak.”
“I like crab cakes, but I’m not a huge fan of Old Bay,” Law replied, looking down at the menu, then jerking his head back up again when Iris gasped.Her hand was pressed against her chest, eyes wide, and her expression as though she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard.
“We are inMaryland,” she whispered.“You can’t just say things like that out loud.”
Law’s grin stretched wider.She wasn’t wrong, but he enjoyed her reaction.
Movement out of the corner of his eye had him looking up.Mark, dressed in Marquis’ uniform of black shorts, a tight dark red shirt, and a black server’s apron, stepped up to their table.His Dom was Victor, who had been standing guard at the door to the theater, so it wasn’t too surprising to find him working tonight as well.
“Hello, welcome to Marquis.”Mark grinned widely, his dark eyes sparkling with anticipation, thrilled to have them at his table.The gossip about Law and Iris must have really been flying.“What would you two like to drink tonight?”
“Just water for me,” Law said, glancing at Iris.Her eyes widened.
“Oh… I… should I not?”
The rule was a two-drink maximum for both Stronghold and Marquis—and the liquor drinks were always watered down unless you confirmed you had no intention of scening that evening.
“Get whatever you like.You won’t be having more than two.”Law smiled at her.Over the years, he’d gotten used to being the odd man out.That didn’t bother him much anymore.It was people’s reactions to why he didn’t drink that bothered him, which was why he usually didn’t give an explanation.
Thankfully, both Mark and Iris seemed to take at face value he wanted to be clearheaded tonight.It was one of the nice things about the clubs.While there were plenty of people who went there to hang out or get a drink before or after a scene, there were just as many who didn’t.
“I’ll have the hard cider.”Iris glanced at him as if trying to gauge his reaction.Law had to wonder if she really wanted the cider or if she was just testing to see whether he’d really meant it.Maybe both.
“Great!I’ll be right back with your drinks and give you a chance to look over the menu.”Mark smiled at them and whisked away.
“How much do you want to bet he’s going to repeat everything word for word to the other subs on duty tonight?”Iris asked with amusement.The look she gave Law made his chest tighten in an odd way.
“I’m absolutely not going to take that bet.”He was sure everyone who saw them would be hoping for some kind of a show, but they would be disappointed.Law was looking forward to watching the show, then taking Iris back to the Dungeon room where he could play with her to his heart’s content.
No, not his heart, his cock.Dammit.His heart was going to have nothing to do with it.
ChapterTwelve
Iris
Dinner with Master Law felt a little awkward at the beginning, but by the time the lights dimmed, they were deep in conversation about their love forSchitt’s Creek,and Iris had almost forgotten what they were actually there for.She was almost disappointed they had to stop talking.
During class, Master Law had always held himself apart from the students.Not tonight.She made a joke—he laughed.She told a story—he listened.And he had his own stories and jokes, too.Iris cracked up when he told her about the time he accidentally clotheslined himself on a tree in his front yard when he was chasing after his sister, Joanne.Turned out, he’d grown faster than the tree and tried to run under a branch that he’d run under the previous summer… but the branch had no longer been above his head.
He and Joanne sounded a lot like her and Andrew, in some ways—protective big brother, wild younger sister—but she could hear the caring, even when he sounded exasperated.It made her wonder if she tuned out the caring in Andrew’s voice.When she talked to her brother, she mostly heard the exasperation.
Not that she was comparing Master Law to her brother.
She’d never had less brotherly feelings for anyone in her life.
Although their conversation was completely innocuous, and he didn’t make a single move on her while they were eating, there was a simmering tension bubbling just below the surface.Iris could feel it every time their gazes caught and could see the heat in his eyes.The way his gaze dropped to her lips and her breasts when he thought she wasn’t looking.And the way her body reacted to all of it.
It was flirting without actually flirting.She was attuned to his every move.Which was why she saw the way his head jerked up, nostrils flaring slightly, as the lights changed.Anticipation thrummed through her immediately.
Their meals were long gone, and Mark quickly came by to scoop up their dessert plates, tipping them a wink as he did so.Iris smiled at him, the expression hiding the sudden increase in her pulse.Her heart felt as though it was beating twice as fast, and all the nerves that had previously settled surged upwards.
What was she supposed to do now?Did she move closer to him?Stay where she was?What did she do with her hands?
“Iris.”Master Law’s voice was low, almost husky.“Scoot a little closer to me.”
