“I think my boss is up to no good,” he said, shutting his eyes as she went back to rubbing his neck. Apparently, releasing tension in his neck also loosened his tongue.
“Up to no good how?”
When he didn’t reply immediately, she moved her hands from his neck to his chest, rubbing just above his pecs. He kept his eyes shut as she worked, but he wondered how much he could say without giving anything away. Too much was riding on him to take William down at all cost, now more than ever.
Fuck, he’d already said too much. If Shelby knew anything, someone could hurt her. Carl knew too much and had to be dealt with already. The thought of anybody hurting one hair on Shelby’s head ignited fury. He couldn’t chance it. He was in too deep and wouldn’t tarnish any part of her with his dealings. He was getting close to her, and that was the problem. He had to put a stop to it, lock down his emotions.
Her hands traveled lower, caressing him on their path south. When she wrapped her oiled hands around his straining shaft, more tension flooded him, rather than leaving. He strained up into her grasp as she began to pump him because it had felt too good not to. He loved what she did to him, and he hated that. How could he push her away when he craved her so?
“Mason,” she breathed, moaned, and his gaze flew up to her, yanking him out of his passionate haze with stark reality. He grabbed her hair, directing her to look at him.
“No,” he bit out through gritted teeth. Her shocked expression tugged at his heart, which only spurred him on. “Don’t call me that, Shelby. When it comes to sex, I am your Master.” She let go of him, and he continued, “You’re getting too close. This is not a relationship.” His admonishment was as much for her as it was for himself. When she blinked a few times, he let go of her hair. Without looking at her, he rolled off the bed and stood. He needed distance right fucking now. “I think tonight was a mistake.”
Her mouth dropped open, and her struggle for words was apparent as she quickly shook her head. “I’m sorry,” she finally whispered, and looked down.
“We’re done.” He hated it, but pushing her away was his only choice. He reached for his pants and pulled them on. “I’ll talk to my associates about finding you another Dom.” He didn’t like backing out of their arrangement. It went against his responsibilities as a Dom, but it couldn’t be helped. Losing control was not a mistake he could afford to make.
“No.” Her head snapped up. “You promised.” Her hands fisted beside her. The defiance she displayed toyed with his emotions on so many levels.
“You’re in no position to fight me on this.”
“I don’t want to fight with you at all,” she murmured as she relaxed her hands. “Please don’t stop this. I trust you, and I want to keep going. I wouldn’t be able to do this with anybody else. Not yet. I need you to help me, Master.”
His eyes flared at her addressing him that way. He knew she did it because she was pleading, but he liked it all the same. He should stick to his guns and turn her away, knowing she could fall into the hands of an inexperienced Dom who could hurt her emotionally and physically. Or he could continue on with their scenes and risk being the Dom who would crush her in the end. He couldn’t win either way.
No matter how much he wanted to stop this madness, he knew he couldn’t, not completely, so he’d have to embrace another method.
If Shelby wanted to understand what being a real sub was all about, then it was time he damn well showed her…and hope she relented.
“Okay, Shelby. Be here at seven on Tuesday. Since you don’t have an aversion to dressing up, wear a French maid costume like Emory suggested.”
“Tuesday?” she asked, fidgeting with her hands. He could tell she saw where this conversation was going.
“Yes. The night we’re open to everyone. If you want to continue with your training, the next scene will be public.”
She swallowed, and he stood stock still, waiting, partly hoping she’d refuse, mostly hoping she wouldn’t. Public scenes were common at clubs, and if she wanted to be in the lifestyle, she had to prepare for the possibility. Not that that was his motivation behind the reasoning. Oh no, he’d thrown a gauntlet in his frustration with her, frustration with their situation. Now, he waited.
“I’ll be here Tuesday, Master.”
Jesus. That was not what he wanted her to say. Yes, it is, you prick. “Goodnight, Shelby,” he said, more clipped than necessary, and motioned toward the door. If she didn’t get out now, he couldn’t trust he wouldn’t be groveling at her feet. For what, he wasn’t entirely sure. He did know he’d always had precise control over his emotions and had never spoken to another woman like this. Sure, he punished subs when they were out of line, but this was different.
She picked up her bag and left without another word.
He heard the quiet click of the front door closing behind her, but felt it as if it was the door to his heart slamming shut.
As it should be.
He would do everything in his power to make sure it stayed that way.
Chapter Eleven
In public.
That was what Shelby had thought about since last night, and it was all she could think about as she stared at whatever this file was on her desk.
“Normal people are happy on Fridays,” Viola said as she popped over to Shelby’s desk. Shelby glanced up, but was unable to muster a smile. Her coworker’s face fell as she looked at her. “Did something happen last night?”
“Oh yeah.” Boy did it ever. Before the realization her next scene would happen before everyone’s eyes, she’d had amazing sex with Mason yet again. This time she’d planned on spending the night with him, only to be kicked out like a worthless slut. Then again, she was being paid to sleep with him, so if that was what he’d been going for, he’d nailed it.
“Uh-oh. Is that why Rick called the meeting this morning?” she asked, grabbing her arm. “Are you okay?”
Shelby was far from okay, but she couldn’t go into it now. With the next scene being in public, she had an even bigger obstacle to clear. One she created herself, and one she had to fix immediately.
It was time to bring her team up to speed on everything. Everything. But she didn’t have the strength to spew out all the sordid details more than once, so Viola would have to wait and hear it with everyone else. “Rick has new intel, and I told him I wanted to give an update since he was bringing everybody together.” She picked up her cup and downed the last of its contents. “C’mon, I need more coffee for this.”
Viola followed her to the break area and watched silently as she poured. “You don’t look so good. Did he hurt you?” Her eyes narrowed, Shelby felt hers watering. She blinked a few times to hold off the tears. Yes, Mason had hurt her, but not physically. Threatening to end their association, telling her he was going to put her on display, and then kicking her out all because she’d called him by his name? Every bit of it bothered her. She didn’t know what she expected, though. He wasn’t her lover, not really. He was part of her job. She’d done this to herself. If she hadn’t gotten too close to him, none of this would matter.