Page 214 of Masters of Pleasure
ChapterNineteen
Iris
“Be a good girl,” Law said, lifting his lips from hers.Iris stared up at him in shock.That had been the last thing she’d expected.She couldn’t come up with a response, which was kind of a moot point since she’d lost her voice.Was it possible for a kiss to cause temporary loss of speech?Because it felt like that’s what had just happened.
“Okay, well, that was hot as fuck,” Rae said, fanning herself as Law walked away.
The hot kiss he’d just planted still burning on Iris’ lips, she was a little swoony as she stared after him.How did his ass look just as good clad in leather as it did when he was naked?
She was pretty sure, as the woman, she was supposed to be the one walking away, having her butt stared at by him, but he’d turned that around on her.Not that she was complaining.It was a very nice view.
Hate to see him go, but love to watch him leave.
“Has he ever done that before?”Mitch asked.
It took Iris a moment to realize that he was asking Master Asad, not her.
Master Asad was one of Law’s friends.The two of them were complete opposites in a lot of ways.Master Asad was taller with muscles that were less bulky and always quick with a joke, though not in the same way Mitch was.Asad seemed more serious—and he definitely took his scenes seriously, even if he didn’t do serious relationships.
As far as she could tell, he was intent on working his way through every submissive in the club, unlike Law, who had seemed intent on scening as little as possible.Master Asad reminded her of her brother after he and Kate had broken up.Not that she’d been at Stronghold to witness his manwhore days, but she’d heard about it plenty since joining the club.
Blech.
Why people were so intent on talking to her about it, she didn’t know.Though to be fair, it wasn’t everyone, but still, more than she would have liked.
“I’ve never seen him publicly claim a submissive like that, no, if that’s what you’re asking,” Master Asad answered Mitch’s question, but he was looking at her, studying her as if he was trying to figure out what made her so special.Joke was on him—the answer was nothing—though she could understand his interest.
She was curious why she’d brought out that response in Law.After their discussion last night, she’d been pleased when he’d stood next to her and put his arm around her, but she hadn’t expected anything more.
“It was just a kiss,” she said, downplaying it, even though it had felt like so much more than a mere kiss.
“Law has never kissed a submissive outside of a scene that I can remember,” Asad answered quickly.“Hell, he rarely does it within one.”
Iris pressed her lips together to keep from grinning as widely.Why she felt the need to pretend as if it wasn’t a big deal, she wasn’t sure.Maybe because she was still afraid he’d change his mind.
Next to Iris, Rae made an unhappy noise.It kind of sounded like she growled.
Frowning, Iris turned to see Rae glaring across the room.When she followed Rae’s gaze, she winced.Master Brian had just come in, and Morgan was running from the Lounge to meet him as he entered.His expression brightened as she approached, though Iris noted he kept his gaze on her face and not on her barely-there black teddy.
While she was trying to decide if she should say something, there was a quick exchange of words between Master Brian and Morgan, then he grinned widely, pulling her in for a hug.Rae made another growling noise.When the pair broke apart, Brian kept his arm around Morgan’s shoulder and escorted her toward the bar.
Across the table from Iris and Rae, Domi spun back around, looking at Rae with sympathy.Mitch looked as uncomfortable as Iris felt, and she had a feeling he knew what was going on.
“Why is she always throwing herself at him?”Rae seethed, pulling the label off of her beer bottle.It wasn’t coming off easily, but that didn’t stop her.There was a little pile of paper flakes already on the table, and she kept adding to it with every bit she managed to scratch off.
“Um… well...”Iris shifted uncomfortably on her seat, but she didn’t feel right, leaving Rae in the dark.She was also aware of Master Asad’s confusion as he looked around, trying to figure out what had just happened.“I heard Master Brian asked her to move in with him… as friends.It looks like she might have just said yes.”
“They’re moving in together?”Rae’s voice was rising to a shriek.Domi reached across the table to put her hand over Rae’s, hushing her.Several people at nearby tables looked over at them, frowning, but turned away again when they saw nothing interesting was happening.Rae was frozen in her seat, breathing heavily, obviously trying to get a hold of herself.Unfortunately, Domi’s movement seemed to have drawn her attention to Mitch.“Didyouknow about this?You had to have known.”
“I knew he’d asked her,” Mitch said calmly, his blue eyes steady, his demeanor more serious than Iris had ever witnessed outside of a scene.There was sympathy in them, but his tone was firm.“I decided not to tell you in case she said no.There was no point upsetting you if it wasn’t going to happen.”
“Wait,youknew?”Domi’s gasp was outraged as she twisted in her seat to look up at her boyfriend.
Crap, this was such a shit show.Master Asad was frowning as he took in the conversation.Apparently, he hadn’t been in the know about whatever weird not-thing was going on between Rae and Master Brian.
“I knew.”Despite the glares coming from both his girlfriend and her best friend, Mitch seemed unfazed.He slid his hand up to the back of Domi’s neck as if he was taking control of an unruly puppy—an observation that Iris would never, never make out loud.“It wasn’t either of your business.”
Domi opened her mouth.Closed it.Looked at Rae.Iris looked down at the table, not wanting to catch either of their eyes.She’d known and was relieved neither of them seemed angry at her, but she also felt incredibly guilty.Should she have told Rae sooner?On the other hand, Mitch was right.
