Page 146 of Their Famous Dominant (Office Intrigue Duet 4)
“But did I tell you to keep your hands off her?”
“No.”
“Or your mouth?”
I wasn’t sure he could get redder than he was. “No.”
“Unless I instruct otherwise, you can safely assume it doesn’t bother me.” I turned back around to face my laptop.
“Is there anything I can get you, Master? Coffee? Breakfast?”
“Coffee would be great. Then we need to get down to the office. I’ve got a few things to take care of.”
“Of course.”
I could still hear him breathing behind me, so I knew something else was on his mind. “Spit it out, Troy.”
He moved into the room, so I turned to give him my full attention once more.
“I know this seems a little off the wall, but…” He squared his shoulders. “I’m just a little confused about what I’m supposed to call you. You know … when we’re not around other Dominants and submissives. I mean, so far, it hasn’t been an issue since everyone at Chatter appears to be somehow integrated, but what happens when we’re in public? I know it’s going to happen one of these days. I just want to be prepared.”
The boy could certainly ramble when he was nervous.
“What do you want to call me?” I asked.
He shrugged.
I motioned him closer with a crook of my finger. “Kneel.”
Without hesitation, Troy knelt on the floor in front of me.
I leaned forward and rested my elbows on my knees. “You can call me whatever makes you comfortable. I only ask that you refer to me as Master when we’re playing. Absolutely when we’re in the club. Any other time, that’s entirely up to you.”
“What about when we’re in public? I mean, Master is going to stand out. Someone is going to hear it and start asking questions.”
It was my turn to shrug. “Like I said. Up to you.”
“Would it bother you if I called you Master in public?”
I flipped it around on him. “Would it bother you?”
“I don’t know. But I don’t want to do anything to embarrass you.”
I frowned. “Why in the fuck would it embarrass me if you called me Master in public?”
“Because if someone heard it, then I’m sure there would be some speculation of some sort. Especially since I don’t refer to you by name at all.”
He was right. It would. It wouldn’t take a rocket scientist to put two and two together since I owned BDSM clubs. Someone would want to talk about it, to shine a light on my relationship, to find a way to make it derogatory. That was what they did.
“I don’t give a shit what people say about me, Troy. You should know this by now. And I damn sure don’t do things I would consider embarrassing. You’re my submissive, are you not?”
“Yes, Master.” His eyes had that glassy appearance I’d seen several times over the past week.
“Then that makes me your Dom. If you choose to refer to me as such in public, I will acknowledge you with the pride it gives me to hear you say it.”
He seemed shocked by this revelation.
“If Clarissa referred to me as Master in public, I wouldn’t be embarrassed, so why would I be with you?”
“Because you’re … not usually with men.”
Ah. So that was what he was getting at.
“Are you saying this is a game for me?” I prayed he wasn’t, but if that was the case, Troy was going to get intimately acquainted with my paddle.
“No, Master. Not at all. I just… I don’t want you to take heat because of your … choices.”
It was a little late for that, but Troy already knew that. I’d been informed that my face was on the front cover of every tabloid out there. Apparently, it was a big deal that I was potentially in a relationship with two people, one of them being my male assistant.
Granted, the noise had died down somewhat when I left town and Clarissa remained, but I was sure that would change again once they figured out she was with me. Honestly, I wasn’t worried about it. This was my life and I wasn’t going to make excuses for it.
“My choices are exactly that, boy. I want you. And Clarissa. I don’t give a shit who knows that.”
“What if this is only temporary?” he countered. “What if you realize you’re not really into men?”
I reached up and twined my fingers in his hair, tilting his head back and staring down at him. “I assure you, there is nothing temporary about this.”
“I … I’m sorry, Master.” His eyes were wide, but I could see the heat there. This turned him on.
“Is it temporary for you?” I asked.
“No, Master. Not at all.”
I studied him for a moment. I could see this from his perspective, even if I didn’t agree with it.
“Nothing is a guarantee,” I told him, keeping my voice low as I smoothed his hair back. “And I’ll tell you one last time. I don’t make excuses for my actions. I want you. Whether it’s in private or in public. I don’t care who knows that. I’m damn sure not the type of man who would make you my dirty little secret, if that’s what you’re insinuating. Is it?”
