Page 255 of Masters of Pleasure
“I think we’re done in here,” Rae said, straightening from taping up the last box she’d packed.She looked around and grinned.“Now, we move you into Master Law’s.”
“Temporarily,” Iris said quickly.She didn’t want anyone getting the wrong ideas.
“Uh-huh, temporarily.”Rae finger-quoted the word.
“It is!”Iris narrowed her eyes.“I’m going to keep looking for a more permanent place.It’s way too soon for us to be moving in together.”
“Yeah?”Rae lowered her voice, glancing toward the bedroom door.There was a lot of chatter from the main room, where everyone else was.With everything pretty much finished, they were hanging out and waiting to head to Law’s, where most of Iris’ things would go in his basement.“Wanna move in with me?I’m pretty sure Domi’s going to be moving out soon.”
“I… oh…” Iris floundered at the unexpected offer.Her initial response was ‘no,’ although she knew it should be ‘yes.’“Um, well, I don’t know if I want to do another friend housing share, I mean, you know… no offense.”
“None taken,” Rae smirked.“Just out of curiosity, what was yourveryfirst thought before you reached for the whole not wanting to live with a friend again?”
“Ugh, that I don’t want to leave Law’s yet.”Iris rubbed her hands over her face.“This is so going to blow up in my face, isn’t it?We haven’t even said the L-word yet.This is too soon.”
“Kind of late to realize that now.”As usual, Olivia blew into the room with a presence that was almost physical.The Dominatrix was dressed casually in shorts and a green tank top with Stronghold’s logo across the chest.Her hair was piled on top of her head in a casual, messy bun.Somehow, she still exuded the same authority she did when she was wearing a business suit or her leathers.It was a skill.
“For what it’s worth, I think you and Law are on the same page.You two should probably try talking to each other about what that page looks like.”Olivia walked over and picked up the box Rae had just packed, hefting it easily.“Come on, let’s go get you moved into Law’s.”
She winked and walked out of Iris’ bedroom, leaving Iris and Rae staring after her.
“I hate it when she does that,” Iris muttered.
“Does what?”Rae asked, joining Iris as they followed Olivia.
The front room was already emptying, but Law was there, standing by the front door and waiting for Iris.
“Drops the advice I want to take the least, then dashes off before I can ask herhowI’m supposed to accomplish it.”She supposed it wasn’t that she didn’t know how to talk to Law.She just didn’t know how to talk to Law about her feelings.
They were supposed to be going with the flow, not making plans to move in together as a couple.
“Ready to go?”Law asked as she reached him, holding his hand out.Rae gave her a sympathetic smile before ducking out the door and leaving both of them there.
Pausing, Iris turned to look around, giving the main room one last look.Shockingly, it didn’t look all that different.Most of her stuff had been in her room, the bathroom, or the cabinets in the kitchen.Noelle’s things had taken up most of the main room.
“Yup.”Even though she wasn’t sure where this thing with Law would lead or if moving in with him even temporarily was a good idea, she knew she didn’t belong here any longer.She put the check for the next two months of utilities on the kitchen table.Locking the door behind her one last time, the sense of relief was profound.
She didn’t leave the key.Sadly, she wasn’t sure she trusted Noelle to return it to the manager.Tomorrow, Iris would take it to the management office, where she’d also sign her end-of-lease paperwork preemptively and also give them her portion of the rent, which would be noted.After that, everything would be up to Noelle.
Iris was done.
Sitting in the backseat of Mitch’s car with Law, she took out her phone and stared at it, trying to figure out what to say to Noelle that wouldn’t sound antagonistic.Finally, she settled on,I’m all moved out.Maybe I’ll see you around sometime.
Send.
Her phone quacked almost immediately with a message from Noelle.She could see Mitch glancing in the rearview mirror, and Law looked over, then away, reaching out his hand for her to hold, resting it on the middle seat between them.
Don’t think you can come crawling back when everything blows up in your face.
Ugh.
“Everything okay?”Domi asked.
Iris let the phone drop into her lap.Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Law looking over at her again.Reaching to take his hand, her fingers entwined with his.She didn’t have to answer Noelle right now.She didn’t have to think about being worried Noelle was right.Regardless of what happened with her and Law, she definitely wouldn’t be crawling back to Noelle.
Heck, she would happily move in with Rae if things soured with Law.
“It will be.”
