Page 272 of The Daddy P.I. Casefiles: The Second Collection
I snort. “No, he said it in that totally cool, I’m your Dom and I know everything way.”
“Semi asshole.”
“All Doms are assholes, bitch.”
My friend the Domme chuckles. “No argument from me. You having second thoughts?”
“No. Kinda. Should I? Last time I saw you, we weren’t anything and now?—”
“You’re together and it’s freaking you out.”
She knows me too well.
“I never freak out.”
Ruby scoffs. “Not much. What’s bothering you, that you’re together-together after such a short time, or that he’s got you doing the twenty-four-seven thing, or that you’re more committed than he is?”
“I—ugh, I don’t know. I told him I’d try the twenty-four-seven thing since it’s something he really wanted and now that we are I kind of love it and how wrong is that? I’m not a slave. I don’t need to be controlled all the time.”
“But you like it?”
“But Ishouldn’t.”
“Eh,” Ruby grumbles. “Who says you shouldn’t? That Nilla who huffed out of the coffee shop? The dickhead Doms at your club who wouldn’t commit to you? ‘Cause you’re not hearing it from me. And you’re not hearing it from him. And most important, you’re not hearing it from yourself, and that’s the only voice you should be listening to. What doyouwant, B?”
The answer feels simpler than it should.
“I want Mac,” I say.
“Then you’re good. Talk to him. Tell him you’re loving the twenty-four-seven thing. Maybe he already knows, but he’ll like hearing it.”
I tip my head back against the rim of the bath and close my eyes. “I think he gave up something important for me this week, Rubes.”
“What d’you mean?”
“These bikers in Jersey wanted him to join their club but they’re a bunch of ex-cops and they weren’t happy about my juvie record. I’m not sure exactly what went down, but Mac told them no. He said he didn’t want to be part of a group who holds someone’s past against them.”
“That’s awesome of him but your record shouldn’t ever have come into it.”
“I know, but it always comes out, doesn’t it?”
“Fucking shouldn’t.”
“That’s what Mac said. He was angry for me. I don’t remember the last time someone got angryforme.”
“You’re usually angry enough for everyone,” Ruby sniggers.
“Bitch, I’m not the one who’s been sent to anger management three times.”
Ruby laughs. “If you’d tried to drive in this city you would’ve. So, what was this bike thing?”
“A motorcycle club? That’s what they called it. They wore those leather vests.”
“An MC? Damn, girlfriend. Those are a big deal to be asked to join.”
“See? I got that sense. I told you I thought he gave up something important for me. What if he regrets it?”
“Think he’ll tell you if he does?”
