Page 12 of The Dom with the Clever Tongue

“You like bending Scarlet to your will? Bossing her around?”

“No. The other side of it is hotter but...” She thought for a moment. Why was she so hesitant to commit? She brushed the vision away. She liked being in charge. It didn’t give her a rush but... It was just her role. “I like being in control. It’s just part of who I am. Ask Scarlet. In my job, I get to pick what items we buy and reject the ones we don’t. I’m in charge of my charity organization. I...I’m just not sub material.”

He smiled like he knew something she didn’t then chuckled and shook his head. “Why would you think that just because you’re in charge outside of the bedroom, you’d want to be in charge inside of it too? Some of the most submissive women are in high-powered, high-stress jobs. The bedroom is the one place they can let go.”

She shrugged then looked at her girlfriend. Scarlet would set him straight. She knew how it was with her. Maybe she wasn’t a great Domme, but she was an even worse sub.

Scarlet nodded and said to Malachi, “She has submissive qualities. I’ve seen her melt when I grab her hair, but she doesn’t obey me. She gives me a lot of lip when it’s my turn to be in charge.”

“She might be a Domme.” He shrugged. “Or just a poorly trained sub.”

She cringed at the word “trained.” If training meant kneeling on command andbeing Miss Perfect every minute of every day...Ugh. No way.

He turned his attention to Scarlet. “And why do you think you’re a sub?”

“I like pain.”

“So?” His brows shot up. “Doesn’t mean you’re a sub. Just means you either need to get control of this one,” he nodded toward Reece, “and make her serve you better, or you need to find a Top.”

Scarlet’s forehead creased. “Really? I figured because she wouldn’t listen to me I was a crappy Domme and I really like pain so...” She trailed off, looking a little self-conscious.

This time it was Reece’s turn to soothe her. She leaned in and kissed her shoulder. Scarlet pressed her lips against her hair.

When she checked on Malachi to see if he was grossed out, she was surprised to find him smiling at them sweetly.

“So what gives you a rush then, Scarlet?” he asked. “Kneeling at Reece’s feet, or making her do what she’s told? Turning her into your good girl?”

Reece scoffed, but they ignored her.

“Making her your bitch?” he said with a secret look.

She turned to look at Scarlet, hoping she would answer no. A small smile started at the corner of her lips. Crap. It was clear the idea appealed to her. She turned that smirk on Reece.

“Mmm. But she’s not my bitch.” She slung her arm around her shoulders and pulled Reece against her body. “She’s my little kitten.”

Though she often pretended to be offended by the pet name, secretly she loved it. Still, in front of Malachi? “Scarlet,” she whined and tried to pull away.

“I’m looking forward to working with you two,” Malachi said.

Reece shot up. “What? What do you mean? I thought we were just talking.”

He nodded and leaned back. “I think I have an idea what’s going on but I need to see you play before I know for sure.”

Play? With him watching? No way. She’d be too nervous, too self-conscious. Relaxing would be impossible. She shook her head. “It won’t work. I won’t be able to be myself with you watching.”

“I’ll blend into the background. I promise.”

She was still shaking her head when Scarlet chimed in. “We can try it, Reece. We’ll go slow. You might get into it and forget he’s there.”

“No way am I lettinghim,” she threw a hand out toward him, “see me naked.”

“Who said anything about naked?” he asked, leaned back against the seat, looking all cocky male. How dare he sit there, all hot and tattooed and muscley? He looked like the centerfold in a male stripper magazine, even with his clothes on – albeit less sleazy. His form-fitting t-shirt hugged his lean muscles and made her want to see what he had under there.

She eyed him warily. “You want me to keep my clothes on?”

“No. Of course I want you to take them off.”

She rolled her eyes and he put a hand out to stop a potential protest.

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