“Family? Friends?” Master Parker probed.
“I’m…uh… Sure. Someone’ll be nice enough to let me stay with them.” I took a sip of water, hoping he was buying the bullshit I was trying to sell him.
The two men shared a look. It had me getting to my feet so fast I nearly stumbled. Had Master Snowden not reached for me when he had, I would’ve taken a header when my blanket got caught on the chair. Once I was stable, I backed up as I secured the blanket around me. Yep. It was definitely time for me to go.
“Hey, you know what? I do have a friend I can stay with,” I lied. “She…uh…doesn’t live too far from here.”
They shared another look before Master Snowden turned to me. “Good. We were leaving anyway. We can drop you off.”
Shit.
I shook my head. “No…no, thank you. I’d…uh…prefer to walk. Exercise and all.”
“That’s not going to happen, little girl,” Master Parker said, his tone rich with irritation. “It’s the middle of the damn night, and I’m not going to let you walk the streets alone.”
“I’m fine,” I insisted, letting my temper flare. “And I don’t need a babysitter.”
Before I could get to the door, Master Parker inserted himself between me and my exit, his arms crossing over his wide chest. For half a second, I considered shoving him out of the way, but I knew the man wouldn’t budge unless he wanted to.
“What’s your friend’s name?” he asked.
“Dave,” I lied again.
“Dave? Seriously?” His face scrunched up. “I would’ve sworn you said your friend was a she.”
“I meant Beth,” I tacked on. “Beth’s married to…uh…”
“Dave?” Master Snowden supplied.
Shit. I should pay closer attention when I lied. It took too much effort. “Yes. Beth’s married to Dave.”
“And where do they live?”
“Down the road.”
“Which road?”
“The one behind the building.”
Master Parker clearly wasn’t impressed. “What’s Beth’s last name?”
I shrugged. “We’re not that close.”
“Call her,” he commanded, his voice lower than I’d heard it tonight.
“Well, I would, but I don’t have a phone.” I knew they didn’t, either, because phones weren’t allowed in the club.
“We’ll find you one.”
Crap.
I dropped my gaze to the floor. A second later, big fingers curled beneath my chin and I was forced to look up at Master Parker, his deep blue eyes focused on my face. He was so beautiful it hurt to look at him.
However, his current expression was not all that attractive. It was clear by the groove in his forehead that he was trying to figure me out. No doubt, he knew I was lying and he was likely trying to formulate a plan to handle me.
I could’ve told him no one could handle me.
“Do you know what I do to subs who lie to me?” His tone was calm—as though he were discussing what he was making for dinner.
“No, Sir, I certainly do not.” When I was nervous, my inner brat tended to come out.
Another of those devilish grins appeared on his face. “Generally, I’d lay them over my lap and they’d get fifteen swats from my hand.” His eyebrow lifted. “However, you’re not in any shape for that tonight. So, we’ll table that for another time.”
Another time?
“There’s always tomorrow,” Master Snowden added helpfully.
I glanced his way to see a smile tilting his full lips. God, those eyes. They were…mesmerizing.
Turning back to Master Parker, I pursed my lips. “I won’t be here tomorrow.”
The big blond man smiled and his face went from attractive to so sexy I felt my body temperature heat. “Neither will we.”
I glanced over at Master Snowden, who had come to stand beside Master Parker. Separately, they were intimidating. Together, they were scary.
They were evidently ganging up on me.
“Since you’re apparently not going to be forthcoming, I’ll make a suggestion,” Master Parker said, drawing my attention back to him.
“I didn’t know you were capable of that.” I flashed him teeth. “You know, making a suggestion.”
“Oh, little girl, you have no idea.” Those blue eyes pierced me and I had the sudden urge to drop to my knees and submit to him. In every possible way.
I didn’t, though.
I was made of tougher stuff than that.
“We happen to own a building here in downtown,” he continued when it was obvious I had no retort. “We both have apartments in that building and I’d like for you to come back with us. I’ll let you stay at my place and I’ll stay with Ben tonight.”
I frowned. “Why would you trust me to be at your apartment alone?”
“Because I have cameras everywhere.”
“Oh.” Well, that made sense. Sort of.
Then again, if he knew I was a homeless drifter, he might want to change his answer.
“But first,” Master Parker continued, “we’ll grab a bite to eat down the street. It’ll give us time to talk. That way I’ll know if I need to restrain you to the bed or not.”
