Page 9 of Master My Love

Chapter 3

THROUGH THE DOOR WASanother lobby with leather couches, dark wood furniture, and tasteful art on the walls. She could have been in any office in any professional building downtown. He led her down a long hall to a conference room and seated her in a cushy, high-backed chair on casters at a long table. The master dom appeared in the doorway at the same time Master T laid a clipboard full of forms in front of her.

“There’s a call on the red line for you, T. It’s Cap. He says it’s urgent.”

“Damn!” He looked at Val, his black brows slanting into a frown. “I have to take this. But what do I do with you while I’m away?”

“I’ll keep an eye on her until you return.”

“Good man,” he said, accepting the offer without Val’s input on this sudden change in plan, and headed for the door.

Once he left, Eric crossed the room and stood by her side. From her seat, he seemed broader and taller than he was in the lobby, and since they were alone, more overwhelming. When he offered her a pen, her hand trembled as she took it.

“Is it me or the situation?”

Though he spoke softly, his deep voice rumbled like distant thunder in the room and she jumped.

“Pardon?”

“You’re shaking.”

She looked down at her trembling hands then clenched them into fists to stop it. “I’m a little nervous, I guess.”

“You didn’t seem so with T,” he observed.

“He has a calming effect on me. Maybe it’s because of our agreement.”

“You have an agreement?” He visibly stiffenedbefore he leaned over her shoulder and retrieved the papers. “I misunderstood. I didn’t think you and T were together. Never mind these; you’ll need a couple’s contract.”

Their hands brushed as he took the clipboard. She flinched as a static charge jolted through her fingers. Her skin broke into goose bumps, and her hair stood on end as she recalled T’s words about Eric’s spark.

Holy moly! She thought he was joking.

Her eyes flew to meet his. Bent over her shoulder as he was, they were mere inches apart. She took in every detail of his gorgeous face, noticing his eyes weren’t the dark blue she’d thought but a steely gray with flecks of dark blue. They were beautiful, and this close, intimidating as hell.

When he stood and turned to leave, she reached out, laying a hand on his forearm. “Wait. T and I aren’t a couple, and we’re not together, except for tonight, sort of.”

Angling his chin down, he regarded her intently. “Maybe you’d better explain this agreement. It is important that I know the status of all my clients.”

“I was on the front steps, struggling to get up the nerve to come in by myself. He could tell I was two seconds away from chickening out and agreed to show me around—without strings. If I like what I see, he promised to introduce me to some fluffy doms. If I don’t, he’ll escort me to my car.”

A faint smile flickered across his lips—the first she’d seen from him.

“Why would you be interested in fluffy? Are you a switch? Or perhaps you’re a brat who likes to top from the bottom?” He tapped a long finger over his pursed lips. She could tell he was sizing her up from all sides. “You could be a SAM, which from a management perspective would be disappointing, but you don’t seem the type.”

She stared at him a moment then had to admit her ignorance. “I’m sorry. I only understood every third word of what you said.”

“She’s a novice, Eric. I told you that,” T said from the doorway. She didn’t know how long he’d been standing there, but he looked agitated. “Sorry, Val. I’m going to have to cancel our tour. I’ve been called away on urgent business.”

She watched as Eric and T shared a look of silent communication. There was tension between them, but Val sensed a level of respect as well.

“I understand.” A disturbing thought occurred to her. “Does my invitation expire? Can I get a rain check for another night when you’re here?”

“I can’t say when that will be. I’m heading home on Monday.”

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