Page 249 of Masters of Pleasure
Since Olivia had taken over managing Marquis, which was closed on Mondays, she was the perfect person to keep him company.Especially if everyone wanted to make sure he wasn’t doing anything he shouldn’t be.They would all trust her to make sure he didn’t.
It was definitely tempting.He had a feeling reaching into the upper cabinets to get himself a coffee cup was on the ‘no-no’ list, even though he was using his right hand.Thankfully, it was his dominant hand, but no one seemed to care about that.And it did hurt.
Fucking everything hurt.
Without Iris to distract him, it seemed to hurt even more.
By the time Olivia showed up with lunch for him, so he didn’t have to prepare anything one-handed, he was actually relieved to hear the knock on his door.He wasn’t prepared to open it and find herandJulie on the other side of it—not one Dominatrix, but two.
“How did I get so lucky to merit a visit from both of you?”he asked as he stepped back to let them in, eyes narrowing in suspicion.“I’m not that bad of a patient.”
They laughed as Olivia set the bag she was carrying down on his kitchen table, and Julie sat on one of the chairs.Outside of Stronghold and Marquis, they were both more relaxed in dress and demeanor.
Olivia’s red hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail, and she was wearing jean shorts with a green shirt that was fitted but not too tight.
Next to her, Julie looked even less imposing, and not just because she was so much shorter than Olivia.Her hair was in two low ponytails resting on her shoulders, and she was wearing a black sundress with bright sunflowers decorating it.If she walked into Stronghold like that, the Daddy Doms would come running before they realized their mistake.
“I didn’t have any clients scheduled for today and wanted to talk to you about Cassidy,” Julie explained, grinning.“And to see how you’re doing, of course.”
“Ah, I see where your real priorities are,” he replied, laughing.He didn’t take offense—Cassidy was where his priorities were as well.He’d already called the prosecutor's office and talked to Diego, who had been happy to do him the favor of not immediately pressing charges.He wasn’t surprised Julie had been apprised of the situation—it was likely Cassidy would end up as one of her clients.He didn’t know what the woman’s situation was, but if Patrick didn’t end up paying for her therapy, he knew Julie would move earth and heaven to get an abused sub the help they needed.“How is she?”
If anyone knew, it would be these two.
“She’s doing pretty well, all things considered.We spent a good chunk of yesterday with her,” Olivia said.Of course, they had.Law wasn’t the least bit surprised.“Thankfully, they hadn’t moved in together yet, though apparently, he’d been pushing her to.”
Law whistled low and shook his head as he sat at the table with Julie.It was odd to be sitting and watching Olivia getting out dishes and utensils, but he knew she wouldn’t accept his help.Heck, attempting to help would probably get him her best Domme look and an order to sit his ass down.
As much as sitting by his own choice grated, being scolded would be way worse.
“Was he abusing her before?”
“Emotionally, I believe, and some verbal, but according to her, Saturday night was the first time he’d really stepped out of line,” Julie said.“I’m surprised he escalated so quickly and in public.I think he might have been pushing her to see how far she would let him go.”
“Fucking shitgibbon,” Olivia muttered, setting a dish down with a little too much force and a loud clang.She winced and glanced apologetically at Law.He just shook his head.He’d probably have done the same thing.
“Had they been to the club before?”
“Yes, and trust me, Patrick is shitting ferrets over how Douchebag Don managed to fly under the radar.”
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Law had to smile at Olivia’s use of Iris’ insult for the asshole.It looked like that one was probably going to stick.
“I pointed out it’s not like abusers show their true colors right away.They’re good at fooling people.If they weren’t, life would be a lot easier.Plus, they joined as an experienced couple, which meant he had them under the observation of a Dungeon Monitor the first few times they played.”
Standard operating procedures for those in an experienced kink relationship who joined Stronghold was they didn’t plan on scening with anyone outside of the relationship.Law didn’t blame Patrick.They had plenty of safeguards in place, and every once in a while, an asshole would make it through, but he had every faith they wouldn’t last long.Just like Don hadn’t.
Patrick didn’t hold back on kicking an abuser to the curb, though he was also invested in educating those who were intent on being good dominants but made a mistake here and there.If Don hadn’t been so belligerent, if he had shown any remorse or understanding, he might have been given a second chance, though he would have definitely had to go through the Dominance class before he was allowed to play on the floor again.
They couldn’t save everyone but did the best they could.He knew it would be cold comfort to Patrick, who was even more of a control freak than Law was.He anticipated there would be some changes made to how those with experience and in a relationship were vetted when they applied.
They chatted over lunch.Julie wanted to know what Law knew about Cassidy and the altercation.He was able to give her a good rundown on what happened from both his and Iris’ perspectives, which should help her when talking to Cassidy.
Eventually, Olivia leaned back in her chair and pinned him with her gaze.
“How are things going with you and Iris?”She wasn’t the only one curious.Julie leaned her chin on her hands, staring at him just as intently.
Law made a face at them, but he knew Olivia was asking with good intentions.She was a mother hen to the single submissives in the club, and even more so with Iris because she was good friends with Andrew.
“Good.”He popped the last bite of his sandwich in his mouth.
