Page 11 of Desire

Perhaps the floor would swallow her up now. Anytime. She wanted to disappear.

“But at the risk of making your cheeks any redder, I was bored with the lifestyle in that area there as well.”

“Oh,” she squeaked.

“Does your brother know you work in a place like this?”

In her brother’s eyes, she would always be an awkward teenager. Even ten years later, he still treated her like she was a little kid. He even still called her kiddo. “I figure if he keeps me on a need-to-know basis about location, I could do the same. My parents know I work at Couture, but like everyone else, they’re not aware of Club Inferno. It’s none of their business, anyway.”

“They must be disappointed that you’re not teaching,” he said.

“They’re not the only ones.”

“I can’t believe you couldn’t find a job in this economy.”

She gave him a tight smile. “I never applied.”

“Why not? Did you find that you didn’t like teaching small children?”

“No, I loved it. I miss that part of it. I’m just a big fat coward is what it comes down to.”

Dante took a sip of his drink. “That wouldn’t be a word that I would ever use to describe you.”

“Really?”

“I remember one time Joey and I decided that we were going to hide when the school bus dropped you off, and then we jumped out to scare you. You didn’t even jump. You just rolled your eyes and told us we were being ridiculous.”

“Well, you were being ridiculous. First of all, I don’t know how the two of you thought that you were hiding. I could hear you snickering and laughing from the bus. And then you decided to pull your hats down over your faces. It was a wonder that you didn’t crack each other in the heads when you jumped out at me. You didn’t scare me. You made me laugh.”

“We really weren’t looking to terrify you. But it would have made our day if you had screamed a little and maybe chased us around the house.”

“Is that why you found other ways to torment me? I was especially fond of when you used to play with my Barbie dolls and then leave them in interesting places around the house.”

“I didn’t play with your Barbie dolls,” Dante corrected. “I positioned them in places that I thought would amuse you to find them in.”

He had posed them innocently enough. She wondered how he would pose them now. Did he pose his subs in ways that would amuse him? Standing just a breath away from Dante, the air between them was thick with unspoken promises and the sweet tang of anticipation.

When a few of Couture’s models who were dressed like slutty nurses, even though that wasn’t the theme, came up to the bar giggling, squeezing in between her and Dante, Emma reluctantly slid away because she didn’t want to see them flirt with Dante or see his reaction.

She circled around the party, making sure that the candy bins and the other snack jars were well-stocked. The Halloween party was in full swing, the crowd around them a dizzying carousel of costumes and masked revelry. Anya, who was dressed like Puss in Boots, complete with a colorful feathered hat and knee-high leather boots with stilettos so high she towered over Emma, came over.

“Fabulous party,” she said, doffing her hat and giving her a deep courtly bow.

“Thanks.” Emma giggled at her antics.

“You certainly have caught the attention of our favorite grumpy Dom.”

Emma looked over to where Dante was chatting up the models. “Not really,” she said.

“His eyes follow you everywhere,” Anya said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you had him wrapped around your little finger after next week.”

“Shh,” Emma said. “Keep your voice down. It’s supposed to be a surprise.”

“Dante’s not a moron,” Anya said. “He’s going to know it’s you, even though you’re wearing a mask.”

“No, because he doesn’t really see me. He sees the girl next door. The last thing he’s going to expect is me at Club Inferno boldly propositioning him.”

“Don’t do it boldly,” Anya said. “You need to be submissive, or at least be willing to act submissive when you’re playing with him.” Then she shrugged. “Or be bold, knowing it’s going to get you a spanking or some other punishment you may or may not find as amusing. Dom’s choice.”

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